Happy one week Caleb

Caleb is very sweet baby and we love having him at home! Juliet is being great big sister and seems to really love her baby brother and always gives him sweet kisses. She has been adjusting very well and does not seem jealous. I am making every afternoon to hang out with Juliet as much as I can so she doesn't feel like the attention is all on the baby.  But the little guy does like to eat a lot so that takes up a lot of my time. He is able to go about three hours of night before he needs to eat again some a little tired but hanging in there :) So far it's been pretty cut and dry with him & when he cries I know what he wants (most the time just to eat!) I love  my wonderful family.  Here are some pictures from the hospital and the first week of being at home.

Caleb's birth story

The practice that I went to decided to schedule to induce me on 8/21. So the morning of 8/21 I had to call the hospital and see if there was enough beds for me to get in. It was a long day to wait but I finally got admitted into the hospital at 4:30 PM :) The head nurse said the only reason she admitted me my last name is Collins and her last name was Collins, I guess it was my lucky day! The hospital was very busy that day and after they admitted me they got five more people coming in in labor and they told me I was lucky to be there today. In fact I think there was someone giving birth in the hall. Oh my! I felt bad they told me to come in since it was so busy but they did...

I had to wait till 8 o'clock to see my midwife and she was delivering babies pretty much the whole time from 4 to 8.  When she came and she decided the best plan of action was to break my water and see if I would go into labor on my own.  Which I did! The midwife also asked me if I wanted an epidural if I wanted to do this naturally.. I said I wanted epidural!  It took me about 20 minutes to start contracting heavily. In fact the nurse said "your uterus was not impressed by usbreaking your water" And of course as soon as she said that I went into contractions one minute apart. After about 30 minutes of going through really bad contractions I told John "please look into where my epidural is???" The nurse came in and said she had to get enough fluids in to me before the epidural came plus The anesthesiologist was really busy so he would be here soon as he could. Well after an hour and a half the anesthesiologist came in so they had contracted for about two hours before the epidural came. At that point they made John leave because he's not allowed to be in the room when I get an epidural they told him to leave for half an hour, get some food, and then it's okay to come back. They sit me up for my epidural and I feel like I'm going to die because I have been contracting for two hours nonstop and I don't even know if I can sit up to get it :( He marks the spot on my back and is ready to put in the epidural when I feel the big urgency topush  and I tell the nurse. She checks me and tells me I'm about to have a baby!!!! 

John almost missed the birth of his son... The nurse tells me to hold my pushing till we can find my husband that is very hard to do but I do it. The nurse finds mycellphone, calls John and luckily he answers and comes rushing back to the room. I only pushed for about 15 minutes but luckily he made in time to see Caleb born :) Right after he was born they let me hold them for a while and feed him. 

It was really nice tonight have to go to the  NICU this time.  My total labor was 2 1/2 hours all natural! Well technically they did get the epidural in last-minute so my legs were numb after I gave birth which just meant I had to stay in the room for about an hour and a half till I got my feeling back. By the time the nurses were done with us and then checking  Caleb we were in our next room by 230am in the morning. I was tired but happy! Caleb slept in the room with me the next 2 tonight. He slept pretty good the first night but was up every hour the second night feeding. I soon nicknamed him my little Shark b/c eat so much. We were discharged about 1 PM on Friday and went home to start our adventure with Mr. Man! 

Caleb John Collins

Came into this world last night 8/21 at 10:30pm and he was 8 pounds 3 oz and 21 inches long :) he was healthy and we are all doing well. I will post the birth story soon! 

Waiting for Caleb!

Today was my induction day. I was scheduled for 7:30am but they were busy so they called me at 4pm to come into the hospital. It's almost 7pm and they have not started the induction yet! They keep saying I'm lucky to be here (which I am!) because the hospital is so busy and lots of mama's are here giving birth. So more waiting... But hopefully a healthy baby will be here soon.

Happy birthday Juliet

My beautiful smart kind little girl turned three today!!!! I love her more than life and we had a great day together that started with cake for breakfast (Juliet's birthday wish!) she is such a joy and I am so lucky to have her in our lives. HAPPY BIRTHDAY :) 

In Caleb news.... I will be induced on 8/21 :) the midwife gave me another sweep and I was having contractions today but they went away. I am 4 cm dilated. 

Juliet's family b-day party and overdue day #3

We had a family b-day party for Juliet and she had a great time opening presents and eating cake!!! We did the party a day early so Ba Ba could celebrate with us since she was in town for a wedding. There are some pictures below the fun. 

I am now three days overdue and Juliet's birthday is tomorrow so I hope I don't have the baby tomorrow but Tuesday works for me, ha ha! We had a fun weekend and spent Friday night at the Diamonds house having a BBQ & Juliet had a great time playing with her friend Elizabeth. Juliet visited with Ba Ba Saturday and we went to her friends pool party later in the day. Today we made cookies with her friend Kendall and Olivia and then had the family party... So keeping busy. I feel a little like my stomach will explode at any minute but hanging in there as best I can. I will find out a little more at the doctors tomorrow. 

40 weeks!!!

Happy due date to me & Caleb :) feeling pretty good, just tired and slightly uncomfortable!!! I have no feelings about when I will give birth but I won't be surprised if I'm still pregnant through next week. This guy seems snug as a bug in a rug. No other news. Here is my belly at 40 weeks and some cute pictures of Juliet!  

My appointment at 39 weeks

The midwife told me I was almost 3 cm dilated, 70% thinned out, and still at a -1 station. She also gave me a "sweep" which can start labor in 24-48 hours if you are ready. We shall see what happens. Was having mild contractions for about 2 hours today, then they stopped. :(

Fun with Juliet's friends!

We have been having fun with Juliet's friends at the Howard county fair & Clark's farm. Here are some pictures :) 

39 weeks

I'm feeling pretty good! Just tired because its hard to sleep having this belly, peeing 8 times a night, and having contractions at night! Otherwise, I'm hanging in there. I guess I can deal with another 2 1/2 weeks of this (worst case and they have to induce me) everyday I wonder, will this be the day I get to meet caleb? But most likely I will have to wait at least another week! 

38 week check

I am 1 cm dilated and 60% thinned out (my cervix - sorry TMI) And the baby is dropped to a station negative one (which she says is very low!) the midwife also told me I'm not gonna say when you're going to go into labor but she said its possible we will have to cancel your appointment for next week. Excited but I know this could all mean nothing and I will still go late... You just never know! 

Baby Caleb's tiny room

We have been very productive this weekend and have started to put together the baby's room and get all the baby stuff out and put away!!! Here is a sneak peak at the room 

38 weeks

What 38 weeks already???? so close yet so far away! I'm predicting I'll go to 41 weeks again. I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas but I don't know when Christmas Day will come. I am super excited to meet baby Caleb which makes it hard to wait. It's starting to get really hard to sleep and i'm getting at most six hours a night. I have started to have really small and irregular contractions. Other then the top of my abs feeling like they are going to rip apart, the trouble sleeping, and the shortness of breath I get.... I feel pretty good!!! Ha ha. 

Here are some pictures of Juliet in her yoga class: she is doing the tree pose and cobra pose! And helping take the trash in ;)