I am so happy because Levi's cord thingy fell out of his belly button yesterday, and today the ring thing that they put on circumcised boys came off. Finally, I can give him a bath!! His little booty was raw from the antibiotics giving him the runs - and that is finally much better. Poor little boy - he had so much going on down there!!

I am having a rough time because I am still extremely, extremely nauseous all the time. I am having a hard time eating because it makes me feel so sick. I have thrown up 3 times since having Levi - it is nothing compared to before. Matria told me I need to eat the same things I was eating before having Levi and gradually add in different foods. I have lost over 20 pounds so far and I didn't gain that much in the first place. Plus, food doesn't even taste very good!! I was NOT expecting that at all!! Just an update on me and how my body is doing!!

I will post some more pictures later today!!

Too Sweet

Levi kept me up all night last night...it is a good thing he is so cute!! :) My friend Rachael, from college, sent this amazing blanket that matches Levi's room perfectly. My friend Brenda, made this little onesie for Levi!!

We had Levi's first doctor appointment today. My friend Kelley, who is scheduled to be induced October 2nd, and her husband researched doctors, met with them and then told me who they chose!! Thank goodness - we love Dr. Kautz!! He said Levi is one healthy little boy. He weighed in today at 5 lb. and 14 oz. We had originally put him on formula in the hospital so that he would gain some weight and be able to get his IV taken out and go home!! He is now breastfeeding awesome! I learned a lesson last night though...I had my favorite Spicy Spinach Cheese Dip last night at Rock Bottom...that did NOT agree with Levi and we were up all night!! I will definitely think about what I am eating from now on!!

Home At Last!!

We are finally home!! Saturday morning we were discharged from the hospital. It is so good to be in our own bed and territory again!! Levi is doing awesome. He is way too dang cute!! I am finally feeling better. The first 4 or 5 days after he was born I was very weak, dizzy, nauseous and lightheaded. I got my PICC Line pulled out Thursday evening and my body is adjusting to life outside all my medical supplies!! YEAH!! Once I find the energy I will take my first shower in a long time without having my arm wrapped and taped with saran wrap - freedom at last!

As you all know - John is a fabulous daddy! I am so thankful for him!! We are having lots of fun and enjoying this time in our life!!

Pictures!! YEAH!!

Wendy and Brannan had their 2nd baby girl 5 hours before we had Levi...right across the hall from us!!

Surprise!! He is here!!

Today was a happy day. After the whole ER ordeal my friend Wendy suggested that I call the doctor and ask for an amniocentesis to see if Levi's lungs are mature. I called immediately and they set up the test for Tuesday at 10 am. They stuck a needle in my tummy and drew some amniotic fluid out. After an hour we found out that his lungs were mature and we could have him today!! I started sobbing and sobbing - the relief I felt was enormous. I was filled with thankfulness.

We immediately came to the hospital. Our friends Wendy and Brannan were also having their baby at the same hospital. We were placed in a room across the hall from them!! Amazing!! Wendy and Brannan actually introduced John and I!!

They hooked me up to the IV through my PICC line and Pitocin to start contractions. Unfortunately, my PICC line wasn't running fast enough so they decided to start another IV site. This was beyond traumatic. It took them 6 tries before they finally got one to work. I was sobbing and sobbing, again. The contractions began to pick up and Levi's heartbeat would drop with each contraction. They stopped the Pictocin so that Levi would stabilize. At this point Dr Jordan came in and told us that he wasn't handling the contractions well and it was very possible that we would need to do a C-Section. We all came together and prayed. After several different times of prayer Levi began to respond perfectly. God really moved.

At 11:31 pm, after 10 minutes of pushing, Levi was born!! He was 6 lbs. and 9 oz. and 19 inches long!! Praise Jesus!!

ER...Again

The last 3 days I have had a "bug" that is going around. I will get a fever that makes me feel awful for about 3 hours and my nauseau and vomiting has been about 3 times worse. I called the on call doctor Thursday night and she said to go in when my temp goes above 100.5 - well, last night it was at 102. My PICC line has to be watched closely because a high temp could mean I have an infection - which could be very serious. I was so mad. I did not want to go to the ER again - pay the deductible and hang out there all night - plus, i just felt awful and didn't want to get out of bed. I was sobbing and sobbing and sobbing as we got ready to go and drove there. I am going nuts!!

The ER sent me to the Birth Center - which they didn't need to because I wasn't there for the baby. So I had to get monitored for contractions, Levi's heartbeat, check my cervix - all of that when I wasn't even there to have Levi checked. I am still having very consistent contractions but am only dilated 1 cm. Plus, the nurses in the Birth Center know absolutely NOTHING about a PICC line. They still all want to look at it and make sure it looks alright. Every time I've gone this happens, and the nurses say the same thing, "Oh that doesn't look good. I think it's infected." I try to tell them it has looked the same since day one - but they insist it must be infected. I get annoyed with this because I know they know nothing about it - yet they all have to give me their opinion. (You can see how much patience I have right now).

Finally, after 2 hours in the Birth Center we were sent to the ER to get checked for an infection. Once there i was informed that they would start an IV in my right arm... This did NOT go over well. I fought with all the nurses and the doctor - please, do not start another IV!! Is there any other way to go about this? They informed me that it was the way it had to be. I informed them that was NOT the way it was going to be.

I lost. They drew blood and started an IV in my right arm - I was sobbing and sobbing. I am so tired of all this. And the IV hurt SO bad - I have never had one hurt like that. Then I was hooked up to a machine to monitor my heart rate, another one for my blood pressure - I had tubes coming from my body all over the place. I was not happy. I could barely move with all the cords and was so uncomfortable. I am SO thankful for my PICC line - it was the best thing that happened throughout all this. Thank you Jesus!!

They told us that if my PICC was infected, they would take it out, admit me to the hospital and possibly induce me. It was quite exciting to think I could be having Levi this week - but we knew my PICC line was fine and it wouldn't happen. It is amazing because God has given John and I such peace throughout everything. We have always known everything was fine and haven't panicked each time we go to the ER.

After waiting and waiting the results came back that my PICC Line is fine. I finally got all the tubes and hook ups taken off and went home. We got home at 4:30 am.

For all you that have told me I am strong - you should have seen my last night. I was, and still am, a mess. I never thought that I might not want to ever be pregnant again - but after the last few days - I think we should consider adoption. However, I hear that once you have that baby in your arms it is all worth it. Thank goodness this journey is almost over - I can't take much more.

John had the virus I have last week. At one point he was complaining about the nauseau and aching and how badly he felt. I said, "Imagine feeling that way and throwing up several times every day for 8 straight months." He looked at me and said, "Yeah, imagine LIVING with someone who feels that way for 8 months." I said, "Oh yeah, good point." We are both ready to be done with the phase!! It has been a rough year!! We are due for some great times - coming soon!!

The Rope

I am 36 weeks and will be induced 3 weeks from today. You know how people say "I'm at the end of my rope" or "I am at the end of my rapidly fraying rope"? Well, I am not even on the rope anymore. I can't even see the rope. The rope is nowhere to be found. I am tired physically, emotionally and mentally. I am sure I will bounce back soon - but the last few days have been awful!! I am thankful that there is a prize at the end of this road!!

Shower #2

We had tons of fun yesterday at the shower that Brenda threw for us!! Unfortunately, I was feeling crummy and I threw up twice during the shower - I could not keep anything down yesterday!! I have had a bug that is going around and it has really been hard on my body - it has intensified all the things I am already dealing with!!

Here are some fun photos!! Brenda made all the dots and hung them from the ceiling, and she put together the frame with Levi's name in it!!

We had another doctor appointment today. I continued to have quite a few contractions during the NST test. Levi continues to be head down and really low in my pelvis. I am dilated 1 cm - I am praying like crazy that I continue to dilate and have him early!! We set an induction date for October 7th so we have an end in site!!

Levi's room is coming right along! I am having so much fun painting bubbles!! Here are some updated pictures!! We just got the wooden letters that spell Levi's name as a gift!! They are so fun!!

(Yes, it is safe to paint when you are pregnant. They don't make paint with lead anymore. For all you pregnant women - Sherwin Williams has a paint called "Harmony" it is very low in fumes and dries quickly.)