Cole is HERE!

Our family of 3! :)

and he is absolutely perfect! He was born Wednesday morning at 7:19am. He was 8lbs 7oz and 19 1/2 inches long. It was the most amazing experience. We are in bliss with this amazing little guy. He did not want to come so we did have to do a c-section. That was really crazy. We go in on Wednesday morning at 5:00am, do some paperwork and then go back to a room. That is where I met nurse Bonnie, who was so great. They prepped me and got me ready for surgery. Casey was with me and before they wheeled me off I was able to see my mom, dad and brothers. I got to the OR at 6:45 am and there were about 10 people in there. Everything was happening so quick. They gave me my spinal tap to numb me and we were off. They brought Casey in all suited up and it was game time. If you have not had a c-section it is very weird. You cannot see anything they are doing, but you feel all the pressure and right before he came I had two nurses basically jumping on my chest. Then Dr. Macey lifted him over the curtain and said "hi mom and dad" as he was holding Cole up to us. I just started crying. It was so overwhelming! and truly an amazing experience. I could not believe that was him, my little man. The one who had given me so much heartburn and made me so big. He was here and perfect and everything was wonderful.
I had to go to recovery for a few hours after I was put back together. I got sick a few times from the anesthesia, but I also think from them pushing on my belly/uterus. I know that did not help. They would check me about every 10-15 mins and push on my uterus. I cannot remember why now, but it was sensitive and uncomfortable. After I left recovery I went to my room, very drowsy. They had given me finagrin for the nausea, which makes you very tired. I could barely hold my eyes open. My whole family was there and Casey's brother Lincoln and wife Pam. They all came in to tell me how beautiful he was and congratulate us. We were at the hospital til Saturday and now we are home. We are adjusting to our life of three and just enjoying this blessing that God has blessed us with.

Justin and Lisa came to see you!

Thank you to all of you who have been on this journey with us. I know that we have this little guy because of all your prayers, love and support for us. Thank you just doesn't seem like enough. I cannot wait for you to all meet him. He is just the best thing ever! :)

Pure sweetness-your a miracle

Right out of oven-waiting to get checked

Getting checked and hair washed

Worn out after being checked out

JuJu came from Alabama

Hello everyone :) 1 day old

Cole is coming....Wednesday!

...if not sooner, but I highly doubt it. It looks as though he is going to have to be taken from his home hahahaha I still have not done anything, as far as dilation or effacement. Nothing! Zero! Are you kidding me?
 Dr. Macey really believes that it will be a c-section. He says that he has had a few women in the same situation as me and they all turn into c-sections. After talking to a lot of people, I have probably had a dozen or more tell me that they were not doing anything and after being induced they ended up having to do a c-section. Apparently you can only have pitocin for so long and if your body is not moving in that direction already it is just really hard to get your body where it needs to be. So in the end you are completely exhausted and you have gone through a long labor only to have to do a c-section. I have just prayed that whatever happens is what is meant to be and I am good with that. At first I was a little bummed that I would not get to experience a vaginal birth, but then I just thought about it and realized that I did not know if I would ever experience this at all. I am just grateful and blessed to have this little guy and be here in this moment right now, no mater how he comes into it. We are just ready to meet him and have him apart of our lives, healthy and happy.
So at the appointment Dr. Macey checked me and nothing, then he went to listen to his heart and Cole went crazy! :) My whole belly was shaking and you could just see movements everywhere. Dr. Macey's eyes got big and he laughed a little. Then he put the  monitor on and it started beeping. I said what is what? he said " Oh, that is just him screaming get me out of here!" He said I think he wants out, but he doesn't know what to do to get out. His heart rate was the highest it has been, 175. I think he was mad and had gotten all worked up :)
Dr. Macey looked at my chart, told me to get dressed and he would be right back.When he came back he asked if believed in superstition? I said no, why? he said the stars must be aligning correctly because my flight has been put back, so lets have this baby Wednesday. I said seriously? he said yeah, why not? Be here at 5am and we will do this. I said what does superstition have to do with this? he said Wednesday is the 13th; I said my dad was born on the 13th so we are good. I still was not sure if he was kidding or not, but apparently not. He came in with the paper work and said it was a done deal, so do not be late.
So that is what we know. We know that we are to be at Baptist hospital on Wednesday morning at 5am and I guess we will see from there. It is all so crazy to think about, but very exciting. We will post as soon as we can to let you know when he is here and how everything went. Please pray that everything goes smooth and that this little boy arrives healthy. It has been a long time coming-waiting on this little man and now the time is here. It is really just hard to believe. We are SO excited!!!

Surprise!

So the people that I work with had a surprise shower for me on Friday. I was surprised for sure. I did not look cute at all. It was a Friday, I could not find anything to wear, I was running late, so I told myself you will be doing paper work and in a meeting...who cares what you look like? So I threw my hair up in a messy bun, no make-up and decided it would do. I also had on jeans and a dress/shirt. It was to cool for the leggings and sandals, so I switched to jeans and boots, kind of a weird combination, but like I said I was not going really going to see anyone today, WRONG!
We were in our afternoon meeting and we got called downstairs to discuss something, but really it was to go into the room where they had set up a shower for me! They made it a book theme, which was so cute! Krista was in charge of it and it was so cute. All the Instructional Facilitators helped, and really did too much! I enjoyed every minute of it though. Krista had invited my mom and brothers to the shower too! We had a really great turn out and Cole got lots of books (53 books-a whole big basket full) and goodies. Here are some pics Craig took at the shower...

Me with the presents

Table decorations

The cute cake

The basket of all the books for Cole

Swollen and not moving

Oh goodness am I swollen. I cannot imagine women who go through July and August in Tennessee. How in the world do you do it? I do not even recognize my feet.

Are you kidding me? Total cankles (is that how you spell it? is it actually a word?) Anyways, I think you see what I mean. I had a few people who see me regularly tell me that I looked like I had dropped and I had a lot of pressure the past few days so I thought for sure he had done something, but no! Dr. Macey does not think this guy is coming on his own. He actually went ahead and scheduled a c-section for Monday, April 18th if something does not happen before then. He has scheduled the c-section because he is so big and I am not progressing at all, which with that combination does not make for a good induction and 9  out of 10 times when they do induce someone like me, it turns into a c-section he says. I guess we will see? I am trying to coax him out. I think Casey actually likes the idea of the scheduled c-section. A guy he works with, his wife had two scheduled c-sections and he has convinced Casey that is the way to go. Plus Casey likes the idea of not having to wonder if this is it, the drama and the waiting that comes along with a vaginal unscheduled birth. I am not sure how I feel? except I just want him to be healthy, which Casey wants too, don't get me wrong, but the scheduled c-section sounds like a better option he thinks. So I am just trusting that whatever happens is what is meant to be. I go back next Tuesday, April 5 for the 3rd of my weekly visits. Guess we will see what is going on with him then. It really is hard to believe that no matter what happens, in 17 days (at the latest) our little guy will be here! How exciting!!

Cole, please drop!

So I went for my appointment yesterday, which was the first of my weekly visits. At my last visit he checked me and said Cole had not dropped any and usually they have already (at least a little), but we will just wait and see in two weeks, which was yesterday's appointment, and nothing! Apparently Cole likes his home up high and does not want to drop. I have a little over three weeks left so he still can drop, but Dr. Macey seemed sceptical that he would if he has not moved at all yet. So what does that mean? That means that Cole may not come on his own and Dr. Macey is not going to take me early just because he is big and he is out of town the week I am due, so he said we would schedule a c-section for April 18th and we would have a 10 or 11 lb baby!!! Are you kidding me? I thought I was going to cry. Mainly because I have hit that stage of I am over being pregnant, I am big, uncomfortable, swelling and just exhausted. So he is saying another month!?! Holy Moly! So please pray that Cole decides to drop. I talk to him all the time and tell him he needs to go to the light. When he is kicking I tell him to kick a little harder and break my water! Well, whatever happens will be fine. I am in good hands and I trust that whatever happens is meant to be.

On a fun note...I had a baby shower at church for Cole. It was so wonderful. I have been blessed with so many wonderful people in my life who came out and celebrated Cole's arrival with me. It could not have been any nicer. The hostess' did a wonderful job and it was just great. I had a lot of friends and family come out and share in the celebration. It is fun to see how much this little guy is loved already :)

The wonderful hostess'
Mrs. Cindy, Anna, Me, Jana, Cathey Brown, Mrs. Donna, and Delana

The table and set up at the church

The diaper cake made by Delana

Some of the wonderful girls from my Sunday school class.
Jana, Cara, Me, Lynda, Rachel and Tonya

The wonderful gifts we got from everyone :)

Mom and I (and Cole :)

Me and my big ole belly!

Alabama Baby shower at 35 weeks

Julie and I

I went down to Alabama this past weekend for a baby shower. It was so much fun! The girls really did too much. I was completely spoiled and overwhelmed with everything, but it really was wonderful. We got lots of great stuff for Cole and I was able to see friends that I have not seen in a while. It was very special. A huge thank you to Julie, Shea, Elizabeth, Whitney and Amber, you guys are the BEST!

The invitation

The table with the cute diaper cake made by Angie

Opening gifts!

Whitney, Me, Julie and Amber
I forgot to take a group picture of the wonderful ladies who did all of this for me. So we are minus Shea and Elizabeth :( I obviously remembered after the shower, notice our change of clothes! :)

Ultra Sound at 34 weeks

So today was my ultra sound since I was measuring big last time, which it seems like I say that every time I go to the doctor. Anyways, it is always fun to see him. You could tell that he was a little chubby thing :) His little profile was so cute and she didn't even take a picture of it for us :(  she thought she did and then after she was done, she felt bad that she had not. He was measuring on the ultra sound around 36 and 36 1/2 weeks, which was 6 1/2 pounds. At 34 weeks he should be almost 5 pounds. The ultra sound technician was laughing and saying things like "Look at that belly, look at those cheeks! oh it looks like he has a lot of hair. She said he was already storing up his baby fat in the belly and she said his cheeks looked like a squirrel saving up for winter with nuts in his cheeks". It was fun to watch him. After she saw how big he was-she said "you are all belly girl". That was nice to hear since everyone tells me how huge I am all the time. Now I can say I have a reason, I have a big boy in me!
It gets a little more real every time we see him. The doctor said I look great and so does Cole. He was head down with a heart beat of 144. The technician said he would most likely stay in that position since he is so big. He is running out of room to move around. We are on his time, but I am really hoping he decides to come on his own around 37 or 38 weeks. I really want to try and have him naturally and if he goes full term and continues to grow the way he is that is not looking possible. Dr. Macey has already mentioned C-section could be a possibility, which I guess it always is, but he said as long as he is ok and I am ok, he will not induce just because the ultra sound is saying he is big. I guess we will just have to wait and see. I go back in two weeks, March 21st. Then I will go every week after that appointment. Whoo Hoo!!! I can't believe how close it all is; it is a little overwhelming. Something you have wanted and prayed so long for to be happening is just an amazing feeling. We truly have been blessed.
Look at this cute little outfit we got for him...