Mom Survey

Here you go moms - a different kind of survey for a change - it's all about your first born! Just copy and paste it in a new note for yourself

1. WAS YOUR PREGNANCY PLANNED?
yes and no, we were planning to start trying in October so I had went of birth control, but we got pregnant in September.

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME?
no :( but we were at the end of September. I found out 3 days before our wedding that I was pregnant. What a wonderful present from God!

3. WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION? !!
I took 4 pregnancy tests

4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU?
Nope.

5. HOW OLD WERE YOU?
I'm 33 now

6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT?
period was late

7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST?
I think it was Lisa then Caleb then my best girls

8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX?
Absolutely

9. DUE DATE?
June 1, 2009

10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS?
no, I was one of the lucky ones

11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE?
not really any one thing. I went thru phases with stuff.

12.WHAT IRRITATED YOU?
months of insomnia, being stuffed up, and my feet swelling

13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX?
boy

14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?
no.

15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY
Alot, I stopped figuring it out because of all the water weight gain I had.

16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER?
yes, 5 of them, I guess I am a lucky girl

17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW?
I knew about all except one.

18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY?
not really, I was being monitored closely for preeclampsia. I was retaining water, my blood pressure kept getting higher and some elevated protien levels.

WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Meadville Medical Center, Meadville, PA

20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR?
13 by the time I had the c-section

21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL?
Caleb

22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Caleb

23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION?
C-section

24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?
YES, Nuban and Epidural


25. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH?
7lbs

28. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN
May 31, 2009

30. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER?
Gaven James

31. BIGGEST SURPRISE DURING CHILDBIRTH?
That I couldn't calm myself down and that I had to have a c-section.

32. GREATEST MEMORY ABOUT CHILDBIRTH?
Holding Gaven and seeing Jen & Will when they were wheeling me back to my room and my friends coming to see us.

33. DID YOU BREASTFEED?
I tried but it was just to complicated. And I don't think I was producing milk.

New direction

Now that I am a mom and finally feel as though I have a better grasp on juggling motherhood, being a good wife and work full time; I want to start blogging more about motherhood. It is such an amazing thing and has so many wonderful and challenging times. So let's give it a try.

My son is now 15 weeks old. The first few weeks were pretty overwhelming for me. He did not gain weight at first. Gaven had trouble with reflux therefore, he was projectile vomiting all the time and it also turned out that his little tummy couldn't handle regular formula so we switched to soy. As I talked to old & new friends I found out that all of this was very common. That was comforting. I was very scared and nervous, I cried almost everyday. But as time went on and things got "easier" I felt more comfortable in my new mom skin. I already can't imagine my life with out him.

Caleb is a great dad. He has been very helpful. He would take care of Gaven after dinner and put him to bed so I could get some rest. Those long nights of getting up every couple hours for feedings were exhausting, especially after the months of insomnia while I was pregnant. Caleb is learning to be an amazing dad and bond with Gaven. I am so thankful to God for giving me my family.

3 Month old pics

Go Browns!!!

Our lil boy

Gaven James Rhodes arrived on May 31, 2009 at 12:34PM. He is truly my greatest accomplishment! More details to come soon...

Still waiting....

Gaven has still not arrived yet, but I still have 12 days to go until my due date. I have had swollen feet & ankles. But the swelling is getting worse, my legs, hands, and face are inclueded now. Along with the swelling I am retaining fluid around the tendon that causes carpal tunnel so my fingers are almost completely numb on my right hand and the left it is just my finger tips. The doctor has been worried about my swelling turning into preeclampsia but so far everything has been good. But today I am feeling nervous about the excess swelling. Last week my blood pressure was high for me but still within good pregnancy range. So we will see what it is today.

I want to have this baby. I am ready to meet my son!!!!

The final days...

The time to count down the days has started. I have 30 days to go. My feet and ankles are really swelling everyday now. I am tired more now than I have been during the pregnancy, not to mention I am not always sleeping well at night. My belly is stretched and I am not really sure how much more it can stretch. But I am extremely excited to know that really any day now I could meet my son! I wonder what he will look like. Will he have blonde hair like Caleb and I have. Will he have Caleb's blue eyes, will he have my skin tone, who's nose will he have and how big will he be.

The nursery is ready to go. Caleb still has the trim work to finish around the book shelf and window, but otherwise we are ready for Gaven to arrive. The crib is put together and the bedding is on, the stroller is put together, the pack n play is assebled, and the glider chair has arrived. We are just waiting for the baby now. I'll post pictures of the nursery soon. Have a great weekend.

Single digit weeks to go

So as of today I have 7 & 1/2 weeks to due date. I have started to be extremely uncomfortable, I'm not sure that my belly can stretch anymore, however, no stretch marks yet YEAH!!! I feel I am truly in the final stretch and there is a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel. I have started nesting.....ie washing baby clothes and putting away, cleaning and putting things together. I am getting extremely excited to meet Gaven and see what he looks like. But I want him to cook a little longer before we get to meet him. I am betting he will have a full head of blonde hair. Caleb and I were both blonde as children. I have scheduled professional pregnancy photo shoot for next week. Something exciting to look forward to.

My nephew Konner is coming home from the hospital today. He will have a heart monitor with him for a lil while but at least he will be home. I am so excited to meet him this weekend. He will be 3 weeks old on Sunday.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Easter weekend.