She's a beauty :)

Noelle is sleeping on daddy's lap right now... so I have some time to update ya all!!

We are MORE than excited to finally see her and hold her and feed her and ALL that good stuff! This past Sunday night/early Monday morning, my belly was cramping a bit and I couldn't sleep. It started to really get to me where I couldn't sleep at all. I woke Ryan up, we called the doctor, then headed to the hospital @ 2am. After we got there, they told me my contractions were 10 min. apart! I was in pain to say the least. It all happened SO fast. I went from having NO contractions the day before to immediately having them over night, 10 minutes apart. The doctor broke my water around 10a then got the epidural around 11a. I thought FINALLY I'M GOING TO START FEELING BETTER!!! Wellll, the epidural was wearing off on my right groin area. That was not a good feeling to say the least. The anesthesiologist came in and gave me a stronger dose of the medicine. It started to feel better, BUT during all this, I was vomiting :( I had heartburn so bad that it was not wanting to stay down... SO, it just came up. TMI? The epidural was wearing off on my right groin, yet again in the afternoon, so the anesthesiologist came in once more to pump me w/ the same stronger dosage. It worked pretty well that time.

They gave me some pitocin after I got the epidural in the morning because I wasn't dilating as fast as they wanted me to. By 5p I'd dilated to appox. 7 cm... BUT.... my cervix was swelling they think probably due to her size and the fact that she'd been head down, ready to come out for a while, but I hadn't dilated quick enough for that to happen. They told me I would most likely not dilate anymore and my best option was to have a c-section. I said OK! It was pretty emotional. I really wanted to deliver naturally, but I knew my best option, and Noelle's best option was to have a c-section... so we were all for it. We were ready to see her and get this labor thing over with! I went into the operating room at 6p and had her at 6:13p. Talk about a whirlwind... WHEW!!

The feeling Ryan and I had seeing her for the first time is inexplainable. We couldn't believe she was finally here! She was ours! We were taking that little girl home with us! I could go on and on... but I think you all understand what I'm getting at :) We went to the recovery room for an hour after having her and I breast fed her for the first time. All I can say is .... she's a born natural. She latched on and went to town!!! It was a refreshing and overwhelming feeling for us to see her feeding for the first time, and she did it like a champ.

We came home Thursday, Sept. 24th. We have had help from family members and are very thankful for that. Lack of sleep is an understatement :) It's truly amazing how ones body can still function on no sleep. Thank you Lord for that gift!!

Noelle is doing wonderful and we'll keep you all posted!
Being a mommy and daddy is truly the best thing that has ever happened to us.

9.21.09
6:13pm
8 lbs 13 oz.
21" long


Noelle sleeping on daddy
She's less than a day old


Home Sweet Home!
Thursday, Sept. 24


Our Sleeping Beauty :)


Daddy & Aunt Morgan took her to the hospital today (9.26) to get her weight checked out! She's doing very well!!
(I would have gone, but I'm not getting around the greatest :)

Thirrrrrty Niiiine Weeeeeks

Had another appointment this morning. Went in with a positive mind hoping I'd dilated a little more and things were moving along nicely. Only to find out..... that's not the case! I'm STILL only 1 cm dilated. Sooooo, I need to get movin!!!! I am going to walk - walk - walk this next week. I need to if I want to get things moving along. IT'S JUST SO HARD TO WHEN LYING ON THE COUCH SEEMS SO MUCH MORE APPEALING!!! I've still had no contractions of any kind, Braxton Hicks or REAL contractions. The only thing that's probably changed is Noelle's size :) Yikes!!!! I pray every night... "Please Lord, don't let her be over 9 pounds... I DON'T KNOW HOW I'D DO IT?!?" Ha! Ha! We know everything is going to work out just fine.... it's just the thought of a 9 + pounder kinda freaks me out a little!!!!

And I have to brag on my husband. He has been SOO extremely helpful running ALL the errands lately; grocery store, Target, Home Depot, CVS... you name it! He's gone on a few ice cream runs for me AND he's even mowing the lawn and weed eating (oh wait... he's always done that :) I just want to say I am very lucky to have a husband that does so much and NEVER complains. Because if it were ME...uh... HA! HA! ONLY KIDDING!!! No really, he's the best!!!!

My next appointment is a week from today (Thursday 9/24 ((my due date)). If I haven't had her by then, we will schedule a day to induce me for the following week (around Sept. 30/ Oct. 1) She may come on our 3 Year Anniversary.... the 30th!! I'll keep ya all posted........

38 Weeks... and making SOME progress!

My due date is exactly two weeks from today. We had another doctor's appointment today and got some good news.... I am 1 cm dilated and 70% effaced! That was music to our ears :) I have had NO Braxton Hicks contractions OR real contractions at that. Soooo, we'll see what happens in that department in the next week or so?

I packed Noelle's bag the other night. She's all set for the hospital. Ryan and I on the other hand... we still need to get stuff together. Luckily, since we live so close to the hospital, he won't need to bring a whole lot as he'll be able to come home to take a shower or what have you. I'll need to pack a few things... and I probably need to get on that!

Noelle is still a very active, uh, kick boxer if you will. She has mastered the right foot JAB pretty well :) The muscles on the right side of my belly have about had it! Again, I can't complain too much because it's nice to feel her moving all the time.... and I mean.... all the time! But sometimes momma needs a break! I have been reading a lot the last several months sitting the book on my belly when I read. That's sorta taken a turn lately..... my book just bounces up and down when I do it these days. It's so funny! She's like "Get this thing off me!!!" I seriously have to laugh everytime my book goes UP AND DOWN AND UP AND DOWN :) Ha! Ha!

Grandma Kirkpatrick AND Great Grandma Bradley will be happy to hear we bought her first Illinois, PINK, (infant) Fighting Illini hat last week! It's soo cute! Basketball season is right around the corner, and we want Noelle to be nice and prepared. (We can't wait to take pictures of her in the hat.... she's gonna be a cutie.)

Noelle 4D pics @ 36 weeks (8.25.09)

She did GREAT for the camera! She stood very still and let us get some really good pictures.... we're so proud of her. Ha! Ha! Towards the end I think she got a bit tired.... as you'll see she's yawning :) Enjoy!