The dreaded flu bug attacked our family! Jinx started feeling bad early last week, which quickly turned into 'too sick to get off the couch' and he tested positive for the flu on Thursday. He was sick as a dog! It takes alot to get this man down, but the flu did the trick. He kept his distance from Adalynn as soon as he suspected he was coming down with something, but unfortunately it was too late. Monday morning Adalynn woke up fussy and feverish, so off the doctor we went. They tested her for both the flu and RSV. Sure enough she had the flu. There are few things more pitiful than a 4 month old battling the flu. :( Jinx and I are learning just how difficult it is to see your child suffer. Breaks our hearts! She is showing improvements daily and with lots of love, hugs, and kisses we pray she will get better soon!
On a happy note, Jinx is going back to school!! I am so proud of him for deciding to finish his degree. Tonight is the start of his first class. I know it will be hard for him to have to spend time away from us while he is in class and studying, but it will definitely be worth it in the long run. We are anxiously looking forward to a graduation in 2012.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
We're back!!
It's been a while, I know...a long while, but the blog is back! :)
The last 4 months with our darling daughter have been nothing short of amazing! We have learned so much about her and about ourselves. You know the commercial that says, "A baby changes everything..."? Well, they are right! How selfish we were before, and now our entire world revolves around this precious little girl. We really enjoyed sharing our first Christmas together as a family, and look forward to all the other "first's" to come.
Adalynn is a GREAT baby! We are so very blessed! Don't get me wrong, she can really turn on the waterworks when she wants to. But in general she is a super happy baby! At her 4 month check-up today, she weighed in at 13lbs 6oz(50%) and is measuring 25.5inches(95%) long. Healthy as a horse! She hit a huge milestone last week with her first roll over from back to tummy! Now we can't get her to stop rolling! :) She'll be crawling in no time. Can't believe how fast she is growing! Some of her favorite things at the moment are: bathtime, giggles and tickling, watching football on the big screen, and bouncing(non-stop).
After 10 weeks of spending nearly every second of the day with Adalynn, I went back to work and had a really tough time with it.:( Thank goodness I am only working 3 days a week and she is with my Mom while I'm away. This makes it more bearable!
Here's a quick re-cap of the last 4 months in pictures (newest to oldest)
The last 4 months with our darling daughter have been nothing short of amazing! We have learned so much about her and about ourselves. You know the commercial that says, "A baby changes everything..."? Well, they are right! How selfish we were before, and now our entire world revolves around this precious little girl. We really enjoyed sharing our first Christmas together as a family, and look forward to all the other "first's" to come.
Adalynn is a GREAT baby! We are so very blessed! Don't get me wrong, she can really turn on the waterworks when she wants to. But in general she is a super happy baby! At her 4 month check-up today, she weighed in at 13lbs 6oz(50%) and is measuring 25.5inches(95%) long. Healthy as a horse! She hit a huge milestone last week with her first roll over from back to tummy! Now we can't get her to stop rolling! :) She'll be crawling in no time. Can't believe how fast she is growing! Some of her favorite things at the moment are: bathtime, giggles and tickling, watching football on the big screen, and bouncing(non-stop).
After 10 weeks of spending nearly every second of the day with Adalynn, I went back to work and had a really tough time with it.:( Thank goodness I am only working 3 days a week and she is with my Mom while I'm away. This makes it more bearable!
Here's a quick re-cap of the last 4 months in pictures (newest to oldest)
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Adalynn Renee' Dresser
I am FINALLY getting around to updating the blog and still trying to get adjusted to my new life as a Mom, sorry it has taken so long to update but here it goes:
Tuesday, September 14
With our scheduled induction for Wednesday night, this was my last day at work. I was an emotional wreck all day as I nervously anticipated the induction that was approaching. My nerves were shot and I cried most of the day. I was considering calling the hospital to cancel our induction because I wasn't sure if it was really the right thing to do. Yes, I was already 6 days past our due date. But what if they had the due date wrong and she just wasn't ready to be born yet. I prayed and prayed that God would help us to make the right choice and that we wouldn't have to go thru with the induction.
Jinx and I made plans to go to dinner at Carraba's that night. I had a salad with eggplant on it, since I'd heard that eggplant can send you into labor. When we got home, Jinx went to shoot his bow with some friends(stress-reliever) and my Mom came over to walk the neighborhood with me. I was determined to walk this baby out if it took all night long. We walked for over an hour - no contractions. When I got home I made my list of things to do the next the day and then spent an hour or so bouncing on my exercise ball in front of the tv. All the while praying that Adalynn would come on her own. After a long, exhausting day it was off to bed.
Wednesday, September 15
At 3:18AM, I got up half-asleep to go to the bathroom and was suddenly soaked when I stood up out of bed. I ran to the toilet and then realized - I didn't have an accident, MY WATER JUST BROKE!!!! :) I've never been so excited about wetting my pants in my whole life! I yelled for Jinx and he was out of bed in a heartbeat. When he came in the bathroom I proudly announced that my water had broke! :) We both remained calm, but were super EXCITED. I told Jinx that there was no need to rush, I needed to take a shower, blow dry my hair, and do my make-up before we could leave for the hospital. While I got ready, he gathered all our things and packed the bag. We called our doctor, parents and siblings to let them know that Adalynn was on her way. My sister lives in West TN, so it was about 2:30AM when she got the phone call but she wasn't going to miss this for the world. She and her husband loaded up the car and their one year old son and hit the road. They drove all night to get here and made it by lunchtime.
I started having some contractions around 3:30AM, but they weren't too bad yet. We were in the car and on our way to the hospital by 4:15AM. Once we were in the car the contractions really seemed to pick up. I had been too distracted getting ready to time them before, but by then they were coming every 4 minutes. We stopped at Pilot for Jinx to grab some coffee and a Red Bull, where he happily announced to the cashier that we were on our way to have a baby! :)
Once we arrived at the hospital everything started moving pretty quickly. They got us in a room and hooked me up to the IV and monitors. It felt surreal at this point, we were going to be having a baby that day! After my first dose of IV antibiotics, we set off to walk the halls to help things progress. Contractions at this point were 3 minutes apart and pretty painful. I gave up on my hopes of a natural childbirth once I got to 5 centimeters and had been contracting for over 6 hours. The pain was INTENSE!! I have a whole new respect for the women who have given birth without drugs. There is no way to accurately describe the pain, because the miracle of birth and holding your baby for the first time makes you somehow magically forget just how bad it really hurt.
Once the epidural was in place, everything was suddenly happy and the worst pain of my life turned into the BEST DAY EVER! :) It was amazing! The afternoon carried on and by 4:00 PM I was fully dilated and ready to start the hard part - pushing! At this time the epidural meds had just run out. And instead of letting the kind nurse give me more, I requested that it be left alone so that I could regain some feeling while pushing - not sure this was the best decision in hindsight. I had excellent coaching from both Jinx and my Mom while my sister filmed from the head of the bed. After an hour and a half of pushing, Adalynn was born! For as long as I live, I will never forget this moment. After 9 long months of waiting, she was finally here! And much to my surprise, Jinx cut the cord! The smile on his face when he saw his daughter was priceless, he was beaming with pride!
I will never forget the feeling of holding her in my arms for the first time. It was a very special, emotional moment for both me and Jinx! My heart was overflowing with love for her. After having some quiet time alone with our sweet baby we welcomed in the grandparents, who were dying to get their hands on her! :) We had a whole waiting room full of family ready to meet our baby girl and welcome her to the family! It was great to be surrounded with love and excitement from both our families and friends. What a blessing! Life will never be the same, and we are enjoying every single day with our precious little angel! Adalynn is a great baby and I can't wait to have more!
Coming Very Soon: "Adalynn~the first 6 weeks"
Monday, September 13, 2010
Still no baby
We are still anxiously awaiting Adalynn's arrival! She is one stubborn little lady. We took advantage of our last weekend as a couple and had a wonderful dinner and a movie date on Friday night. Then we spent the rest of the weekend trying to stay busy while waiting. Since she still isn't here, I'm back at work today but my last day is tomorrow.
Our doctor's appointment this morning went well, except for the fact that I am still pregnant! :) We got another ultrasound today since we are past due. They checked on the baby, amniotic fluid levels, and placenta function. Everything still looks great! Her weight, per ultrasound measurements, is guessed to be about 7lbs 9oz. They expected her to be much bigger being past due, but bear in mind that their calculations can be off by up to a pound. My guess is she'll be every bit of 8.5lbs and then some. Very healthy! Even though we are both still doing well, the doctor is getting anxious about getting her out of there. So, if she hasn't arrived by Wednesday at midnight she'll be evicted. :( I REALLY do NOT want to be induced!! We have been told to show up at the hospital after midnight(9/16). I will then be started on Pitocin and the doctor will break my water when he makes his rounds in the morning. Sounds like fun, huh?
Please pray that she'll come on her own before then. I've pushed the induction off for as long as my doctor will let me, so her birthday will be 9/16 if not sooner. We are very excited about meeting our little girl, but I am very nervous about being induced. Maybe the stress of an induction will send me into labor on my own. I was 2 1/2 cms dilated at our appointment today, so hopefully things will continue on their own like nature intended. We'll keep you updated and will hopefully be sharing the news of her long-awaited arrival with the next post.
Our doctor's appointment this morning went well, except for the fact that I am still pregnant! :) We got another ultrasound today since we are past due. They checked on the baby, amniotic fluid levels, and placenta function. Everything still looks great! Her weight, per ultrasound measurements, is guessed to be about 7lbs 9oz. They expected her to be much bigger being past due, but bear in mind that their calculations can be off by up to a pound. My guess is she'll be every bit of 8.5lbs and then some. Very healthy! Even though we are both still doing well, the doctor is getting anxious about getting her out of there. So, if she hasn't arrived by Wednesday at midnight she'll be evicted. :( I REALLY do NOT want to be induced!! We have been told to show up at the hospital after midnight(9/16). I will then be started on Pitocin and the doctor will break my water when he makes his rounds in the morning. Sounds like fun, huh?
Please pray that she'll come on her own before then. I've pushed the induction off for as long as my doctor will let me, so her birthday will be 9/16 if not sooner. We are very excited about meeting our little girl, but I am very nervous about being induced. Maybe the stress of an induction will send me into labor on my own. I was 2 1/2 cms dilated at our appointment today, so hopefully things will continue on their own like nature intended. We'll keep you updated and will hopefully be sharing the news of her long-awaited arrival with the next post.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
and waiting...
Went to the doctor this morning, and have made no change from last week...again! Very disappointing! I didn't expect to hear any different, but secretly hoped I would. Tomorrow is our official due date, but it's not an expiration date. I absolutely dread the idea of being induced and pray that she will come on her own very soon. She and I are both still doing well and the doctor has no concerns about giving her a little more time to make her appearance. However, if we make it to next Monday's appointment(10:30) then we will likely be scheduling an induction for later that week. :( I really hope we don't make it that long, but that is entirely up to her at this point!
On a positive note, I was able to get my hair done on Friday and have never been so glad to make it to a hair appointment in my life! Now I am completely ready for her arrival! :) We had a GREAT Labor Day weekend with family, and it was nice to have an extra day off work with the holiday! I thought we might have been successful in scaring her out at Boom's Day. She was moving around ALOT during the fireworks. I had several contractions on the way home and for a few hours after, but like normal they died off when I went to bed and I woke up still pregnant. Back to the grind this week as we try our best to concentrate at work with nothing else but our daughter's impending birthday on our minds. At least it helps to pass the time while we wait!
On a positive note, I was able to get my hair done on Friday and have never been so glad to make it to a hair appointment in my life! Now I am completely ready for her arrival! :) We had a GREAT Labor Day weekend with family, and it was nice to have an extra day off work with the holiday! I thought we might have been successful in scaring her out at Boom's Day. She was moving around ALOT during the fireworks. I had several contractions on the way home and for a few hours after, but like normal they died off when I went to bed and I woke up still pregnant. Back to the grind this week as we try our best to concentrate at work with nothing else but our daughter's impending birthday on our minds. At least it helps to pass the time while we wait!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Still waiting...
This last week has been a wild roller coaster ride of emotions. It all started with mild contractions that lasted all day Tuesday, 20 minutes apart and were 10 minutes apart by bedtime. We were starting to get excited wondering if this would lead to full blown labor. I ate eggplant for dinner, walked the neighborhood for an hour, and there was a full moon! The house was clean, laundry and dishes done, and our bags were packed - the timing would've been perfect. I just knew I'd wake up in labor...nope. Just a tease! She apparently does not care what we would like her to do, there is no rushing the PRINCESS!!
All week I had contractions off and on, but they were never what I would call painful just uncomfortable. I took every little thing as a sign that labor was coming soon. No more googling "early labor signs", it makes me a crazy lady! With all the excitement, I did earn myself a Spa Pedicure, which was super relaxing and fabulous since I can barely reach my toes at this point! So, here we are with 8 days till her due date and we're about to explode with excitement, anticipation, and nerves!
Our appointment this morning was uneventful...no change, again! My doctor will be on vacation from the 2nd-6th, so you can bet she will come some time between those days. He is only out of town for 36 hours on the 3rd and 4th. So, he said that once he is back, if I go into labor he would be willing to come in and deliver our baby if the hospital called him and said it was me. What a great doctor! We have a long family history with him though, my Mom and Grandma also see the same doctor and have for years. I really hope that he will be the one to deliver our baby instead of a complete stranger, but some things are simply out of our control.
We have alot going on Labor Day weekend, which will be a nice distraction. Jinx's relatives(Missy, Casey, and Camden) will be in town for the weekend and so will my sister, brother-in-law, and nephew as we celebrate Wrigley's 1st Birthday! With so much family in town, it would be nice of her to make her debut during their visit. Maybe we can coax her out with all the excitement of Tennessee's first game on Saturday or at Boom's Day on Sunday - she does get really jumpy at the sound of fireworks. :) If we make it thru the long weekend, then our 40 week appointment is Tuesday at 11:15am.
All week I had contractions off and on, but they were never what I would call painful just uncomfortable. I took every little thing as a sign that labor was coming soon. No more googling "early labor signs", it makes me a crazy lady! With all the excitement, I did earn myself a Spa Pedicure, which was super relaxing and fabulous since I can barely reach my toes at this point! So, here we are with 8 days till her due date and we're about to explode with excitement, anticipation, and nerves!
Our appointment this morning was uneventful...no change, again! My doctor will be on vacation from the 2nd-6th, so you can bet she will come some time between those days. He is only out of town for 36 hours on the 3rd and 4th. So, he said that once he is back, if I go into labor he would be willing to come in and deliver our baby if the hospital called him and said it was me. What a great doctor! We have a long family history with him though, my Mom and Grandma also see the same doctor and have for years. I really hope that he will be the one to deliver our baby instead of a complete stranger, but some things are simply out of our control.
We have alot going on Labor Day weekend, which will be a nice distraction. Jinx's relatives(Missy, Casey, and Camden) will be in town for the weekend and so will my sister, brother-in-law, and nephew as we celebrate Wrigley's 1st Birthday! With so much family in town, it would be nice of her to make her debut during their visit. Maybe we can coax her out with all the excitement of Tennessee's first game on Saturday or at Boom's Day on Sunday - she does get really jumpy at the sound of fireworks. :) If we make it thru the long weekend, then our 40 week appointment is Tuesday at 11:15am.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Some things are worth the wait
Our doctor's appointment this morning went well. Adalynn and I are still healthy, and don't have any problems to speak of. After a weekend of off and on contractions I expected to have made some progress...but I was mistaken. No change from last week. :( She'll come when she's ready, and not a minute sooner. Then again there is a full moon tomorrow night, but I'm not getting my hopes up. She is definitely worth the wait! While I'm tempted to feel disappointed about not being any farther along, I have to stop myself and praise God for this amazing blessing He is giving us and for the health that He has granted us throughout the pregnancy. I am so thankful to be expecting a health and whole baby, what more can you ask for?
Jinx and I are full of excitement and anxious anticipation as her due date gets closer. Our dear friend,Rick Slagle, put it best by telling us, "Freeze that feeling you and Jinx have right now. It is pure love and eager anticipation of a gift from God. May you treasure this feeling in your heart forever." How true! I can think of no other experience on this earth that compares to expecting your first child. In a matter of days, our lives will change in a way that we can not even begin to imagine. We will never have this exact feeling ever again. It is truly an amazing high, and we are cherishing these last moments of it!
I know that I said we were done with classes, but since we've made it this far and the hospital offers one more class that we haven't taken I figured why not! So, tonight we will be taking "Advanced Labor Support". This class is designed to teach relaxation techniques and comfortable positions during labor for those desiring natural childbirth. Yes, that would be me. I desire a natural childbirth, without an epidural. Notice I said desire, not promise to have. I've read many books on the Bradley method, watched a 6 hour DVD on Lamaze, and hope that these things have equipped me with the necessary tools to deliver this baby without medication. However, I reserve the right to change my mind on this issue at any given moment during labor. :) To aid in my med-free delivery, my bag is packed with motivational flash cards, lavender aromatherapy, and an IPOD full of songs that I hope will motivate me during this process. Jinx did a great job finding and downloading all of the songs for my labor playlist, which includes:
The Good Stuff
Kenny Chesney
There goes my life
Kenny Chesney
The Lord works in a strange way
Corey Smith
I will always love you
Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers
Because you loved me
Celine Dion
Baby Mine(Dumbo)
Toby Bluth
You are my Sunshine
Brahm’s Lullaby
I will survive
Gloria Gaynor
Ring of fire
Johnny Cash
Come away with Me
Norah Jones
Somewhere over the rainbow
Only Time
Enya
Sweet Caroline
Neil Diamond
Remember When
Alan Jackson
I got you babe
Sonny & Cher
My Girl
The Temptations
Isn’t she lovely
Stevie Wonder
What a wonderful world
Louis Armstrong
The way you look tonight
Frank Sinatra
At Last
Etta James
Our next appointment is Monday at 8:55am. Please continue to pray for us as the big day draws near. We ask for a healthy mom & baby, an uncomplicated delivery, and the wisdom to be the parents that God wants us to be.
Jinx and I are full of excitement and anxious anticipation as her due date gets closer. Our dear friend,Rick Slagle, put it best by telling us, "Freeze that feeling you and Jinx have right now. It is pure love and eager anticipation of a gift from God. May you treasure this feeling in your heart forever." How true! I can think of no other experience on this earth that compares to expecting your first child. In a matter of days, our lives will change in a way that we can not even begin to imagine. We will never have this exact feeling ever again. It is truly an amazing high, and we are cherishing these last moments of it!
I know that I said we were done with classes, but since we've made it this far and the hospital offers one more class that we haven't taken I figured why not! So, tonight we will be taking "Advanced Labor Support". This class is designed to teach relaxation techniques and comfortable positions during labor for those desiring natural childbirth. Yes, that would be me. I desire a natural childbirth, without an epidural. Notice I said desire, not promise to have. I've read many books on the Bradley method, watched a 6 hour DVD on Lamaze, and hope that these things have equipped me with the necessary tools to deliver this baby without medication. However, I reserve the right to change my mind on this issue at any given moment during labor. :) To aid in my med-free delivery, my bag is packed with motivational flash cards, lavender aromatherapy, and an IPOD full of songs that I hope will motivate me during this process. Jinx did a great job finding and downloading all of the songs for my labor playlist, which includes:
The Good Stuff
Kenny Chesney
There goes my life
Kenny Chesney
The Lord works in a strange way
Corey Smith
I will always love you
Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers
Because you loved me
Celine Dion
Baby Mine(Dumbo)
Toby Bluth
You are my Sunshine
Brahm’s Lullaby
I will survive
Gloria Gaynor
Ring of fire
Johnny Cash
Come away with Me
Norah Jones
Somewhere over the rainbow
Only Time
Enya
Sweet Caroline
Neil Diamond
Remember When
Alan Jackson
I got you babe
Sonny & Cher
My Girl
The Temptations
Isn’t she lovely
Stevie Wonder
What a wonderful world
Louis Armstrong
The way you look tonight
Frank Sinatra
At Last
Etta James
Our next appointment is Monday at 8:55am. Please continue to pray for us as the big day draws near. We ask for a healthy mom & baby, an uncomplicated delivery, and the wisdom to be the parents that God wants us to be.
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