Photos of Luke Thomas Meyer

I am going to post some photos from today and yesterday for you, and then I will write the story of how it all went down...it has been an eventful 48 hours to say the least.  We are so proud to introduce or newest (and final) addition to our family: Luke Thomas Meyer.  Warning- I had a c-section, so some of these photos contain blood...don't scroll down if you get queasy easily. :)

I am ready and waiting to be wheeled into the OR.

Andy had to wait awhile for them to get me prepped and ready...

He was  born at 10:50 a.m.on 9/27/12
Dr Mills showe me Luke for the first time through my little window in the drapery.
I know I am biased, but I immediately think he is gorgeous and perfect!

The OR from Andy's point of view.

Luke getting intubated before going to the NICU

He is bundled up and on his way. He weihted 3 lbs 5 oz!

Mommy sneaks a peek in (but don't really remember this because of the meds, so I am glad Andy took this photo)!

Luke dares to open his eyes and check out his new environment.  He is such a miracle!!!

Later in the day, Daddy holds Luke so the nurse can change his bedding.

We are having a baby today!

I have already had my ultrasound this morning, and Baby Boy's fluid is very low (1.5 cm). He continues to do well, but his risks increase the longer we try to keep him in utero. We are scheduled for a c-section at 1:00 pm, so please say an extra prayer for us then. I had the blessing of Pastor Mark coming to visit yesterday, and God used him to help calm my fears. I have prayed this whole time for us to just know when the time was right, and now we do. He has thrived in utero for FOUR weeks here at the hospital, and I know he will continue to grow and develop in the NICU, with the Holy Spirit with him.

Ultrasound Today!

I had my weekly ultrasound today. I haven't gotten to talk to my doctor about it, but I do know that Baby Boy's estimated weight is 3 lbs, 2 oz!! Unfortunately, his amniotic fluid is back down to only 2 cm, which is where it was the night we came to the hospital. So, he and I are on monitors for the night to make sure he is doing okay, and that I am not having contractions. So far, I am only having small contractions that they call "irritability.".

So, once again, we wait, wonder and pray. I told Andy that the ultrasound left me with more questions than answers!! However, we trust in the Lord and know Baby Boy will come in his own time. We just have to be patient, which I am not always the best at! We will focus on his growth. He is above 3 lbs (which is actually big for his gestational age of 29 weeks, 4 days)!!

Great End to a Great Week!

This was such a good week compared to last.  I stayed off the magnesium, had several visitors and phone calls, and the visits with thet kids (and Andy) were longer since the kids are getting used to being here.  We played, ate, snuggled, and just enjoyed being together.  They came on Friday and Saturday night, which has been so good for my soul.  I had what seemed like a very long day earlier in the week, and was really missing them.  I was talking to Andy on the phone and Jordan got hurt.  He asked her if she wanted to talk to Mommy, and she said (in tears), "NO!  I want my real Mommy!", which meant that she wanted me in person, not on the phone.  Needless to say, it broke my heart and didn't make my long day any better.  Really, though, we are so blessed at how well they are adapting, and that we are able to see each other a few times a week.  Here's some photos from our fun tonight.  Enjoy!

Having a playdoh picnic again. Thanks Fischers for the fun supplies!

Pastor Mark and Chantelle stopped by and asked for a photo for church tomorrow.
We are blessed to have so many people praying for us!

Hospitals can be fun!

I am going to attempt to upload some great photos from this past week from when the kids have visited me here at the hospital.  The WiFi is acting slow, so I hope it works.  We are just cruising along (at least for the past 3 days we have...).  Tomorrow, I will have been here for 3 weeks, and Baby Boy will officially be 29 weeks in utero!  On Monday, we had an ultrasound that estimated his weight at 2 lbs, 12 oz, which is so great!  I have set a personal goal of getting him to 3 lbs, so I think that is achievable.  The fluid around him was the same as last week, measuring about 6 cm.  This is still low compared to the average, but he is moving, growing, and it isn't lower than before, so we are happy about it.  Also, the ultrasound showed that my hematoma is a bit SMALLER than last week...more great news.  It is still right above my cervix, and connected to the placenta, which I don't think will change.

I had a pretty rough week last week, and finally got off the magnesium sulphate late Sunday afternoon.  I was on and off the magnesium a couple of times (4 total now) because of contractions, which I was not feeling, but they were consistent enough to worry the on-call doctor and nurse.  I also was battling a head cold and was so congested that I felt like I was drowning in my own snot.  That, with the higher dose of magnesium, which made every limb feel like it weighed a ton, made for the "rough" days.  I had talked with my Grandma that week, and she was talking about how it was so frustrating for her sometimes because she knew what she wanted to say, but by the time it processed and came out of her mouth, it was all wrong (she has had several strokes over the years).  I could empathize because that is how I felt.  My brain was processing everything so slowly, and I was not making sense some of the time when talking to Andy or others.  But, that is done for now, and I am very thankful to feel like myself again!!  I have showered, gotten to eat, and had bathroom privileges for just over 3 days now!!  Dr Mills and I have discussed our plan, and as of now, we have a goal of  32 weeks, which is 3 weeks from tomorrow!  At that point, we will assess how I am doing, how baby is doing, and determine what is best for both of us.  She said she will consult my high risk doctor, and we could keep baby "cooking" longer; however, I told her that I can only mentally handle thinking of doing this for 3 more weeks, so we will just keep that date in mind and cross that bridge if/when we have to!!  I mean, I am one tough Mama (so you all say...), but everyone has limits, and thinking of being here, away from my other kids and laying in bed getting more out of shape for 7 MORE weeks is too much for me to think about.  So, I don't.  I think, "We are halfway there!  Been here 3 weeks, and have 3 more to go."

Andy and the kids are doing great.  Andy is packing lunches, grocery shopping, keeping up on housework, and managing bedtimes by himself.  He is working some, has some playdates for Jordan and Drew, and has a couple meals a week coming from church friends.  He brings them up to see me a few times a week, which you will see from the photos, is a wild time.  Last Friday, Jordan challenged him pretty good by not wanting to wear her tights for dance class.  After some tough negotiating, she made it to class in her tights (but without underwear), so I would say it was a win on both sides!  Eli has had a couple mornings of not wanting to get ready and go to school, so he and Daddy have worked out a reward system, which Andy said is helping alot.  He has admitted that there is no way he would do this forever, but he is handling it so well.  I am so proud of all of them for adjusting so well!!

Eli getting some much needed Mommy snuggle time in!

Believe it or not, there are plenty of places to hide in a hospital room!

Our Group Silly Photo

40th Wedding Anniversary

You would think that with all this time on my hands, I would pay more attention to dates.  I knew that my parents' anniversary was coming up (today), but didn't give the year another thought until today.  After doing some calculating, I realized that today was their 40th wedding anniversary!  Andy and I celebrated 12 years earlier this month, which I thought was a big deal, but 40?!  I hate that I didn't do the math earlier, and have some spectacular surprise for them today.  They do deserve it!  So, instead, I am sharing their celebration with all of you, and asking you to pause and say a special prayer for them after reading this. 

I will not pretend to know it all when it comes to love, marriage, and well, life in general; but, I do think that I had some great role models.  Some of my favorite memories growing up are times when Mom and Dad would express their love to one another in front of us girls.  Usually, it was as simple as Dad grabbing Mom's hand (or vice versa) when a coutnry love song (usually Alabama) came on the radio, and they would dance around the room together, with us girls laughing and eventually, cutting in to join the fun.  I also remember the "last minute" shopping trips at holidays with Dad, where he would get Mom a completely unexpected gift, like new living room furniture, or a new piece of jewelry.  More subtle signs of their love include Mom's patience with Dad over his passion for pigs.  I don't know how many times we would come home from a sale with a new pig, when Dad was "just going to look."  And, I have to mention the thousands of times that this "city girl" rolled up her sleeves and helped with the farmwork, even though it probably wasn't top on her list of fun things to do. 

Most of all, I just love how they have always put family first.  It is so easy to get caught up in the "rat race", that many people forget the small details that make everyday living so great.  Small signs of our love for one another...a kiss hello or goodbye, a special note in a lunchbox or backpack, a text or phone call just to check in or say "I love you".  The way in which we show our loved ones we care is so important because it is supposed to be an example of God's love for us.  I am so thankful for the love Mom and Dad have for one another, and for the ways in which they have shared that love with us over the years.  Thanks Mom and Dad, and here's to 40 more...

Quick Update

Hello all!  Andy and the kids are on their way up, but wanted to let everyone know that today was a great day compared to the last two days!  My contractions stopped overnight, so this morning, I got to go off my iv fluids and get my catheter out.  I showered, and feel much better.  My doctor's associate, Dr Robinette, was in this morning, and agreed that a few steps to the bathroom and back should not start contractions, and if they did, then there was something we needed to be concerned about.  For clarification, my cervix is still closed, so I am not at risk for preterm labor because of that.  It's the hematoma (and our suspected hidden partial abruption) that seem to cause my uterus to start contracting when there is too much blood in there.  So, they tell me that we WILL stop continue to stop contractions with the magnesium as long as baby is good, and I am not "gushing" blood.  Nice, huh?!?  I know this is alot of detail, so if it's too much, then you should just keep up to date on Facebook.  Ha ha! 

Andy's parents left this afternoon, and we are thankful they were able to stay for an extra couple days as we waited to see what happened.  Andy is now in full single parent mode, so please keep him and the kids in your prayers.  I don't think that I shared Eli's big news-he lost his first tooth this weekend!  It was on Saturday.  The men were outside working on our fence, and Eli came into Gigi with his tooth in his hand, saying he was wiggling it and it just came out.  :)  He called me right away to share his news, and the tooth fairy did pay him a visit that night.