Cheyenne's Birth Story

FYI...this is a long post.  

Well, my due week had come and gone and I was getting to the really uncomfortable stage.  I had already decided earlier that if she wasn't here by 11-2-11, I would go get the same acupuncture that "helped" Dylan make his entrance into this world.  I mentioned this before in Dylan's birth story, but supposedly if the baby is fully developed and ready to come, you can go get 2 rounds of acupuncture and the babies are normally born within 24 hours of your last treatment.  This worked for Dylan AND Cheyenne - WOOHOO!!!

On 11-2-11 I went and got a round of acupuncture at 5:30pm.  During the session I could feel major Braxton Hicks (BH), but nothing painful.  That night I woke up with a few more BH, but other than that I had a decent night's sleep and woke up feeling good.  I had my Dr's appointment at 11:20am and I hadn't progressed any from the week before.  I was still at 3 cm and 70% effaced.  My Dr informed me at the appointment that I could very well go another week and she had me set up my next appointment for 11-9-11...not what I wanted to hear.

 Trey and I both left the appointment a little bummed.  We went straight from the Dr's office to my next acupuncture session.  The acupuncturist that I saw this time (there are a bunch that work at one facility) had been a midwife for 10 years before she started practicing Chinese medicine.  During my session she felt all around my belly and realized that Cheyenne was posterior instead of anterior.  She told me that the reason I had not gone into labor was because the baby wasn't able to get in the right position in the birth canal because of the way she was turned.  She had me stand up and she stood behind me and lifted my belly up and brought it back to my spine.  As she was lifting she was kind of making a turning motion at the same time.  I could feel Cheyenne moving and by the end of the session she had turned 1/2 way around.  She told me to go home and keep doing the abdominal lifts and a few other exercises and she felt like I would go into labor rather fast....boy was she right.

 Even after the acupuncturist had told me all these things, I still didn't "feel" like I was going to go into labor anytime soon.  We came home from our appointments and had a normal rest of the day.  Dylan and I went to Publix, Trey and Dylan went to the park and that night we ordered pizza and finished getting all of Cheyenne's clothes washed and put away.  Throughout the day I would do my exercises, which would cause me to contract some, but again...nothing painful.

 By 11pm I was laying in bed watching Trey clean out our bathroom cabinets.  I kind of feel like this pregnancy Trey was the one that nested...the cabinets had been bothering him for awhile and he decided that night to organize and clean them out.  That took him about an hour and we talked while he worked.  He took a shower after and went to bed.  I was wide awake...sometimes acupuncture can give you a lot of energy and I wasn't sleepy at all.  I was reading in bed and at 1:15am I noticed I was having some consistent BH, but nothing painful.  At 2:30am I felt like the BH were getting stronger, but I was still reading and laying in bed.  I got up at 3am to go the bathroom and for the first time had a contraction that took my breath away.  I went and got Trey's phone, which has a contraction app on it and started timing the contractions.  I quickly realized things were getting going and happening at a rather fast pace.  I woke Trey up at 3:50am as I was bent over the bed having a major contraction-what a way to wake up!  He called Jess at 4:05am and told her to come over quickly and to let my parents know they needed to start heading this way.  At 4:30am Trey realized the contractions were 2 minutes apart and he called JD to come and watch Dylan while Jess drove us to the hospital.  JD got there at 4:55am and we quickly left for the hospital.  The car ride was by far the worst part of the whole experience.  I was in transition, so the contractions were very uncomfortable and coming quickly.  We got to the hospital at 5:20am and the check-in people took one look at me and immediately called labor and delivery and had someone come and wheel me upstairs.  I got to the room at 5:30 and when the nurse checked me a few minutes later, I was 100% effaced and 6 cm.  I changed into a gown and she was trying to get a hep-lock in my arm when I got the first urge to push.  About that time, the Dr first came in, and I told her I was having the urge to push.  She checked me again (about 30 minutes from the last time she checked) and I was 10 cm and the baby's head was crowning - She immediately called for the delivery team.  The Dr broke my water as I was pushing, which was an extremely odd sensation to be delivering a baby and your water breaking at the same time. Within 15 minutes I was holding Cheyenne in my arms.

 So, basically the labor came out of nowhere and it was fast and furious, but once it was all over I am so glad everything happened the way it did.  The nurses were awesome and the Dr on call was amazing.  Trey and I were both hoping she would be the one delivering Cheyenne and everything worked out just the way we prayed it would.

 Since she came so fast, my parents were still in Chattanooga when she arrived.  JD was still at our house watching Dylan and Jess was with us in the room sending updates to family and friends.  Once my parents got to the house they loaded up Dylan and brought him to the hospital.  At first Dylan didn't really care one way or the other about Cheyenne.  He would look at her and say baby, but was more interested in his new toys.  By the end of the second night he was more aware of her and wanted to kiss her head and would ask to see her face. Once we got home he warmed up more and wanted to hold her and kiss her.  So far he has been really good with her and I can only hope it stays that way.

 Cheyenne is a pretty chill baby so far.  She sleeps all day and wants to party all night.  She isn't fussy during the night, but she wants to be held, which is a little hard to do when you are trying to sleep.  Trey and I both are taking this in stride.  We now understand how fast this stage flies by and we want to cherish each phase she goes through, so we are cherishing the sleepless nights right now :) For the next 2 weeks we are going to have family here to help us, which makes it easier to function during the day :)

 It's crazy to think we are now a family of 4...that I now have a son and a daughter.  God has truly blessed us.  We thank Him daily for these blessings and pray for more blessings (children) in the future, as He sees fit.  His will is our will!

Cheyenne is HERE!!!!

I am in the process of writing up Cheyenne's birth story, but until I get that posted I will give you her stats...
-On 11-4-11 at 6:39am she made her arrival
-Weighing in at 8 lbs and 9 oz
-19 and 3/4 inches long

At her one week appointment she was back up to her birth weight (8.9 lbs) and was 20 inches long.  We are all doing well and adjusting to being a family of 4. Dylan loves her and calls her Baby Shiney...I hope he calls her that for awhile...love it!

Check back for an update soon. 

Getting Well and Staying Well

We have been in "get well and stay well" mode around our house.  We started this week off with Dylan not feeling well on Sunday.  By Monday he still didn't feel good so we took him to the Dr.  We normally wait to take him to the Dr, but with Cheyenne making her arrival anytime now, I thought it best to see what the Dr said.  Dylan had/has viral croup.  We have had it before, but this time around is not nearly as bad as last time.  Trey and I are not feeling 100% either, so we are staying in and trying to get healthy.  The last thing I want is to go into labor and feel like junk...I have been willing Cheyenne to stay in for at least another week! Hopefully by next week everyone will be healthy and ready for baby time.

 This past weekend, my in-laws came over.  We spent Saturday hanging out at a local farmers market at an old factory that has been converted into little boutique shops.  We had a great time window shopping and buying things from the local farmers.  Dylan had a great time looking at and petting all the dogs that people bring to the market.  We do that every Saturday, but it was fun to have others enjoy it with us.

My sister-in-law, Jenny, was speaking at a women's conference in Atlanta and staying with my parents that weekend.  She finished her speaking engagement around 2pm and her and my mom surprised us by making a quick trip up for the night.  She is expecting a baby in January, so it is always fun to have her around and talk baby talk. Our families won't be traveling over the holidays, so it was good to see her one last time pre-babies!

 I have my 39 week appointment tomorrow.  I really don't think she is going to tell us anything different than last week, but I love going and hearing Cheyenne's heartbeat and knowing everything is okay.  Last week my BP was a little high (still in the normal range, but I always have low BP so it was high for me) and they were going to keep a close eye on it.  I am sure it is nothing...I did the same thing with Dylan at the end of my pregnancy with him.  Last time I went I was 1 cm, 50% effaced and she had partially dropped.  That was farther than I ever got with Dylan, so I am happy, but I would love to be a little more tomorrow-we shall see!

 Besides not feeling well this week, Dylan is doing good.  I have been watching birthing videos to prepare myself for what is to come and Dylan will watch them with me.  At first he didn't like them, but now when I am watching one he will come up and sit in my lap and point things out.  Sometimes we mistake the baby for......well....other things, but that doesn't happen often :)

October or November????

I loved turning the calender to October.  I like to think Cheyenne will make her arrival this month, but if I am COMPLETELY honest with myself I think I will have a November baby.  The "due week" my Dr gave me was October 26 to November 2nd.  I want her to stay in as long as she needs too, but I am definitely getting more uncomfortable as time goes on.  As of last Friday I had not progressed any.  My Dr told me my cervix is still really high, I'm not dilated and I'm completely closed (sorry if that's TMI) so it doesn't look like she will be making her arrival anytime soon.  But I do know that I will have a baby within a month's time - That doesn't sound so bad :)

 This past weekend Trey flew down to FL for a chorus reunion.  My mom came up and we got all the last minute baby things I needed.  My mom got her coming-home outfit and another smocked dress for church.  I am a little in awe of how much baby girl dresses cost-my dresses don't even cost that much!  We also made a Target run and got all the last minute baby things-NB pacies, NB diapers, Burt Bee's wash and lotion, bottle nipples, etc.  I think we are officially ready for Cheyenne.

 When I think about Cheyenne making her arrival, I have mixed emotions.  I'm super excited for her to get here, but at the same time I am dreading leaving Dylan for 2 days.  I think the longest I have ever left him was 5 hours.  I have started a list of "Dylan's Daily Routines" for my mom (and anyone else who is going to be watching him) and it is literally 4 pages long.  I would rather have too much info than not enough.  We are hoping he can come visit in the hospital, but starting in November anyone under 2 can't come visit the maternity ward during flu season...another reason we really want Cheyenne to come this month!!!

 Dylan is doing well.  He likes to kiss "sister" and give her strawberries.  He still thinks he has a baby in his belly too :) He likes playing with his baby doll, but he isn't that gentle with it.  He likes to feed the baby food, ride the baby on his shoulders and run his cars up and over the doll.  I bought the doll to try and get ready Dylan for having a new baby in the house, but it really hasn't work out that way........oh well!

I think my phobia of germs has rubbed off on Dylan.  Trey look this picture when he and Dylan made a Publix run for me...Dylan is wiping down the cart with a sanitizer wipe :)

Showering Cheyenne

I joined a play group about a year ago and I have met some wonderful mommies and their adorable children.  It's nice to have friends who have kids around the same age so you can bounce ideas/problems/concerns off them.  This past week they threw me and Cheyenne a little shower and we had a great time.  One of the moms has a tea room in her house and that is where the shower was held.  I love all things girlie and it was fun to see all the pink.  Dylan's showers were great, but opening cute girl outfits are so MUCH fun.

And She Has a Name...

I don't know why coming up with a name was so hard for us, but it was and I am happy to say that we are done with the search.  She will no longer be referred to as Baby Girl, but as Cheyenne.

Trey and I have an extremely hard time coming up with a name we agree on.  I would look through tons of books and websites and write down all the names I liked.  Trey would look at them and nothing would grab him or stand out to him.  One day I went searching for names with the intent of only writing down different/unique names.  Some of them were a little out there, but I had written down Cheyenne as one of my unique names.  That night I read them all to Trey and when I came to Cheyenne he said, "I love it - spelled like the town: Cheyenne".  He reminded me that we had talked about that name a few years ago when talking about names that we like.  At first I wasn't as "in love" with it as Trey was, and we both wanted to keep considering other names we liked, but for the last few months we have secretly called her that and it has grown on me.  SO....her full name will be Lillie Cheyenne Keller and she will go by Cheyenne.  It's kind of nice to not call her Baby Girl anymore :)

Speaking of Cheyenne, we have slowly started getting her things ready.  We have cleaned out two drawers of her dresser and she now has NB and 0-3 month clothes folded.  She also has a few things hanging up, but we still need to clear out closet space for the rest of her things.  We have done some major cleaning this week.  Our realtor gave us staging ideas and some other areas that we needed to tackle and that is what we have been doing this past week.  I have to say, our house looks better than it ever has and Trey and I both wish we had done this a few years ago!  I'll have to try to remember her tips for our next house - LESS IS MORE!!!

I will leave you with a few pictures...like always :)

This was Jessica's kitchen when she was little.  Dylan had fun playing with it while we were visiting Mamaw and Papaw. 

Dylan was helping us pack and showing off his luggage.

The Bassetts came to Atlanta for Labor Day weekend.  If was fun hanging out with everyone.  This was taken right before they left on Sunday.

The kids

This was at a rest stop...daddy and Dylan were bored while momma stood in line. 

Dylan sporting his Lufkin hat...actually it's momma's, but Dylan loves to wear it.

A Little Bit of Everything

I turned 32 weeks on Sunday...8 more to go!!!! I love that I am officially in the single digits :) These last two weeks have been uneventful.  We are in a nice routine that I am not taking for granted...I know it is about to be disrupted with a baby and I am enjoying while it lasts.  Speaking of baby, Dylan felt her kick the other day and thought it was hilarious.  His new trick is to suck in his belly and then push it out and say "baby kick".  If you ask him where the baby is, he will lift up his shirt and point to his belly.........crazy kid.
As I am typing this post, Dylan is in the living room dancing his little heart out to Yo Gabba Gabba.  I can't stand that show, but Dylan LOVES it.  I know I have mentioned this before, but I am not a big "TV" person.  I don't like for Dylan to watch much of it, but I will say that he has learned a lot from watching this show.  He's learned how to jump, beat box, stand on one foot, flip (can't do a full flip, but he tries and usually lands on his side), shake hands, and some other things that I can't think of right now...... baby brain. 
My parents were here last weekend helping my brother move into a new apartment.  We were over at JD's helping unload boxes and Dylan was walking backwards and fell over his cat.  Neither one was hurt, but it scared Winston (cat) and he wouldn't come near Dylan the rest of the day.  On our way home Dylan was in the backseat and I heard him say, "JD-Meow-fall-bonk-waaa (crying noise)".  This was the first time he put more than two words together and I totally understood what he was saying-"I fell on JD's cat and cried when I bonked myself" or something like that.
We are going to my parents house this weekend for Labor Day and my birthday.  The Cabbage Patch factory is about 45 minutes away from where I grew up, so we're going to the "hospital" (factory) on Saturday and getting a baby.  I did this with my grandparents years ago...you watch a baby be born out of the cabbage...it's cute.  They name it and wrap it up and you take it home...it has a birth certificate and everything.  Anyways, I am going to use this baby as practice with Dylan and then when baby girl gets here the doll will be hers.  Hopefully after this trip, when we say momma is going to the hospital to get a baby, he will kind of understand a little more than he did before.  I will let you know!
I will leave you with a few pictures from the last two weeks.  ENJOY!!

When my parents came last week to help my brother move they brought their truck.  Dylan loves trucks and spent a good amount of time "driving" while they were here. 


Dylan got this toy for Christmas last year.  He loves his Elmo Airplane.


This was our 2nd apartment after we got married.  I am 30 weeks in this picture.
 

This picture was taken at our friend's birthday party.  Daddy had been squirting Dylan with a water gun and he was soaked.
 


















Dylan obviously thought momma wasn't doing a good enough job when she was cleaning the other day and decided to take matters into his own hands.




















 We thought it was cute the other day when Dylan was talking to my mom on the phone and wearing nothing.  Dylan would rather go around without clothes on. 



















Finally...This is a picture of my dad when he was 2...looks like Dylan. 

30 weeks!!!

I can't believe I only have 10 more weeks.  There are times this pregnancy drags, but for the most part it has flown by.  When I was pregnant with Dylan, we had everything done by now.  The room was ready, crib was made, his swing was set up downstairs, clothes were hanging in the closet, etc.  Ask me what we have done for this baby girl...nothing!  I haven't wanted to do anything because I am holding out that we will move before she comes.  I told Trey the other day that we will start getting everything ready when I am 38 weeks-2 more months.  If our house doesn't sell soon, I think we are going to rent it out, which can still happen before baby girl makes her arrival.

Dylan has no idea what is in store for him in 10 weeks.  We talk about the "baby" in mommas belly and how he is going to be a big brother, but I feel like he is still too young to comprehend everything....he thinks everyone has a baby in their belly.  Anytime he sees a baby, he will look at them and say "oh cute" and then he is off doing other things.  His world is about to be rocked!!!

Dylan and I are in a play group and the sweet moms in the group are throwing me a small shower in a few weeks.  There are a bunch of us having our 2nd baby, so it's fun to be going through the same thing with friends.  I will post pictures after I have my shower.

I randomly went to a consignment sale this past weekend and I found a killer deal on girl bedding.  I got a Pottery Barn crib set (bumper, skirt, sheet, quilt, pillow case and 2 shams) for $30.  It was put back in the original package and it still had the original price on it...$189.00.  I love a good deal.

A few pictures

I love how he sleeps with his luvie.  

One of our photos from the family photo shoot we did 2 weeks ago.

Giving Winston (Uncle JD's cat) a kiss

He had something on his bottom lip that was bothering him...don't know what it was, but it made a cute picture. 

Mine and Dylan's checkup

This week Dylan had his 18-month checkup and I had my 27-week prenatal checkup.  Dylan is not a huge fan (an understatement) of going to the doctor's office.  Ever since his traumatic ER experience, he really doesn't like anyone wearing a white coat or scrubs to touch him.  However, this appointment went surprisingly well. We go to a family practice and they had hired a new doctor - we loved her!  She was really good with Dylan and he didn't do his normal screaming...which was great.  He weighed 30 lbs and was 35 inches long...no wonder my back hurts when I carry him!!!!

 I had my 27 week appointment on Friday and everything looked good.  I had to do my glucose test, which really isn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be.  The stuff tastes like orange soda pop, but with a horrible aftertaste.  I've gained 15 lbs so far and I'm measuring right on track for my due date.  I keep hoping this little one won't be a week overdue like her brother, but I have a feeling she just might be a November baby instead of an October baby :)

 It's kinda fun to know that I am now going every 2 weeks to see my Dr...it's getting closer and closer.  I saw a mom the other day at a play place and she had a 22 month old and an almost 2 month old.  That is totally going to be me in a few months...kinda exciting and scary all at the same time.  Dylan is used to "going and doing" during the day and I hope I will still be able to do that once I have the baby.  I'm glad I will have family here to help right after delivery, so they can take Dylan to all his favorite hangouts :)

 So, our appointments went well and everyone is healthy.  Dylan is excited he doesn't have to go back until January for his two year (gasp) appointment.  Momma is excited that she gets to go back in 2 weeks to her appointment :)

18 Months...

In the last month, Dylan has officially turned into a toddler.  He no longer looks or acts like a baby.  This revelation is bittersweet.  On one hand, I love that he is getting more independent and self sufficient, but on the other hand...I miss my baby.

Fun things about Dylan...
-He LOVES to eat and he is not picky.  The only thing he hasn't eaten was my Beef Stroganoff...not a fan.
-He likes for me to do his hair.  Every morning after he gets dressed, he will bring me his hair brush and spray and sit in front of me. While I am doing his hair, he is usually brushing his teeth.
-He has started singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and The Wise Man Built...we have to sing both songs 5 times before he will go to sleep.
-He loves anything with wheels-cars, trucks, trains, planes and boats.  This month he started associating each vehicle with where they go.  He will play with a car and truck on the floor, fly the planes in the air and take the boats to the bathtub.
-He is all boy - rough and tough!!! He loves to wrestle and roughhouse, which makes me a little nervous when sister makes her arrival.  He has no qualms about immediately tackling anyone who walks through the door.  Luckily we are in a play group with a lot of little boys, so he gets weekly wrestling matches with his buddies. 
-He is starting to grasp the fact that if he does something wrong, he will not like the consequences momma and daddy give him. You can tell when he is about to do something he knows he isn't supposed to do because he will say "no no Dylan" right before he does it :)
-Church is still rough for us.  It's not that he is being bad, but we have a really hard time keeping him quiet.  He loves books, but doesn't understand that at church he isn't allowed to point out everything in each book.  He also likes to wave to people behind us, which is a huge distraction, so we spend a lot of time standing up in the back of the auditorium.  I'm really hoping we get this under control before the next one comes.
-He still loves to listen to any music and dance...he even dances in church when we are singing :)
-He says everything twice...keys keys, night night, ball ball, no no, bite bite, milk milk, vroom vroom, swim swim...just to name a few.
-He no longer takes a bottle and we only allow the pacie at night and during church and sometimes when we are in the car :)

FUN PICTURES

This past weekend we went to Jonesboro and hung out with the Bassetts and Grandpa and Nema.  He liked the horses.

My mom was here for her bday and we went to a Japanese Steakhouse to celebrate.  Dylan LOVED the fire!!!

Dylan loves when daddy puts his headphones on him and lets him listen to music.  In this picture it might look like he is upset, but that is his look of concentration.

 

Belly shot...I took this picture today...27 weeks and 1 day :)