lots of visitors!

We have had another good week with lots of visitors that have come to see little baby Hayden.
Here are some pics....

I just love this face!

Ashley, one of my best friends from high schoolHayden got to meet his uncle brian and tia jessica (justin's brother and wife) this weekend and GiGi (justin's mom) came to stay and help out for a few days

One of Hayden's many girlfriends, Maddie
her daddy is a friend we went to PT school with

We told Hayden he wasn't going to get the girls acting like this!
little miss kaley came to play with us one afternoon, she loved hayden's play gym!
kaley bouncing hayden in his bouncer, she is going to be such a good big sister!

p.s. if you go back and notice in all of the pictures, my son favors looking to the right! i know you are thinking, "oh you are just being a super paranoid PT mom" And that is what i thought too at first.... but being the PT mom that i am, a couple of days ago i thought to myself, i am going to feel of his SCMs (sternocleidomastoid muscle, the muscle tight in torticollis) and just make sure they feel normal. and just as i suspected, not tightness but a knot on his left scm muscle! and i mean a knot, these are the kind that i say to myself when i see one a work, which isn't that often, "man that is a big knot"
anyways... i know i am rambling but i just can't believe it!! i am going to be a working mom alot sooner than i wanted to be! we are going to the pediatrician on friday to get it checked out just to make sure that it is what it is. but all in all, God has still blessed us with a healthy, perfect, little miracle and i couldn't ask for anything more.
i will keep everyone updated after the friday appointment

week one

We have officially had our first week at home with baby Hayden! It has been a very busy week as we have been to four appointments now, getting Hayden's bilirubin levels checked, second PKU screening and first pediatrician appointment. His bili levels started to come down on the fourth day, so we did not have to the photo therapy which was a blessing. We were very thankful and happy about this. He had his first pediatrican appointment on wednesday and got a great report! Dr. K said she thought his color looked great and she was so impressed on his weight gain. He has already surpassed his birth weight, plus some in one week! He weighed 8 lbs 10ozs at one week old!!! (8.54 at birth) We were so happy to hear such good things. We don't have to go back now until one month old. Hayden also has had lots of visitors, he got to meet auntie Ali and uncle Matt for the first time! Mommy and daddy even attempted a photo session with him. We got some cute pics at the expense of a few accidents on the ottoman!! but thats ok, it was worth it!
It has been absolutely wonderful welcoming him into our family and home. We are cherishing every minute of all of his sounds, smells, and movements. It is amazing how much joy he has already brought into our lives in such a short amount of time. Thanks for every one's prayers and thoughts for his jaundice, God is good and Hayden is better!
Now for some pics.....

No matter what, this is how he ends up when he is sleeping, with his hands by his face
makes my heart melt!
(oh, and yes my husband stole the hospital swaddle blankets) hes a rebel

getting our "sunbathing" in

some pics from our photo session at home!

his introduction to the boys guitar playing, i think he slept through most of it!

auntie ali and poppa ted

Happy Birthday!

Little baby Hayden is finally here! Born 8/5/09 at 1:32pm weighing 8.54 lbs. and 20.5 inches
Here is the story....
Tuesday night Justin and I went into L&D to start the process. At 10:30pm they inserted a medication similar to Cervadil to get things started. It helped to start my dilation and effacement. Wednesday morning, Dr. New came in to break my water, I was only dilated to a 3 but totally effaced. After my water was broke, things really took off. I dilated from a 3 to 7 in about 3 hours. Contractions became very strong and yes, unbearable. I really wanted to try to make it the rest of the way without the epidural since I was going pretty fast but I was not able to relax, focus, or concentrate on anything and did not think I would be able to get the job done once it was time to push. Once I got the epidural I was actually able to relax and enjoy the experience, and so was Justin. I was dialated to a 10 about 1pm and had him at 1:32pm!!! It was an absolute miracle, as all of you mother's out there know. I too now understand what mom's talk about when they say it is the hardest but most amazing experience you will ever have in your entire life.
We are all doing well, we were able to come home friday afternoon. I am still sore, which is to be expected but feeling better. Justin is doing such a wonderful job, waking up with me to help with every feeding and has become a diaper and swaddle champ! Hayden did develop a little jaundice so we are having to deal with that. We have had to go back up to the hospital to have his bilirubin levels checked today and tomorrow. Depending on the results tomorrow he may have to have some photo therapy, but we are not sure yet. Please pray that they start to come down and we won't have to go down that road. Now for the most important part, lots of pictures.


Big boy!

first family photo!

first bath, i love this picture!
what a cutie!
ready to go home!
the two loves of my life!

Update

An update from my 39 week appointment yesterday. My blood pressure was up significantly and I had gained 4 lbs in one week, which leads Dr. New to believe I am retaining water and starting to show signs of preeclampsia. In his words we need to "get this show on the road." So we are going to the hospital tonight at 9pm to "get the show on the road." In trying to cater to my wishes of a natural pregnancy, they are going to insert a medicine that will hopefully help progress my dilation and send me into labor, (best case scenario) If this doesn't work, he will break my water or we may have to resort to pitocin. Whatever the case may be, I am just praying for a safe and healthy delivery for both Hayden and I. Please keep us in your prayers throughout the next couple of days!

38 weeks

I saw Dr. New today for my weekly appointment and he checked to see if I have dilated at all. He said my cervix was very soft (which is good) and that I am 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced. Really this doesn't mean anything or predict anything, just that Hayden is definitely getting ready. He is in the perfect position, head really far down and with it facing towards my back. I am having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions and lots of pressure, but nothing consistent. I continue to pray that he comes within the next week and a half before Dr. New goes on vacation! But most of all I pray for patience, and a safe and healthy delivery for both Hayden and I whenever that time may be!

What a wonderful and productive weekend. Friday the girls from work threw me a baby shower and showered Hayden and I with lots of fun stuff! All of the last little things that we had not gotten off of our registry as well as the cutest clothes ever!! I have truly been blessed to work in the facility that I have been working in the past two years with such wonderful women. I have not only learned sooo much professionally but have gained lots of friends that I know will last a lifetime. I am so sad we did not get a group picture from the shower, I totally meant to! Anyways, thanks to all of you girls for everything, the shower was so much fun and Hayden is definitely going to be stylin! I am so blessed to have each and every one of you in my life! I also look forward to joining the play dates!!
The rest of the weekend Justin and I spent cleaning the house, assembling all of the baby gear, washing all of his clothes, and putting the finishing touches on his room, all it needs now is the little guy! We are so excited and can't wait for his arrival. Please keep us in your prayers the next several weeks as we just patiently await God's plan for his arrival.
Here are some pics of the final outcome.

belly pics!

Here is the link to Glimpses of Grace photography, a lady by the name of Ginny Dodson took maternity pictures for us. She did a really great job. She has posted only a few on her blog right now. There will be more to come soon. Here is the website...
http://www.graceglimpses.blogspot.com/