A Wonderful Weekend

What a hard life!
Enjoying a quick bath
We definitely could use more weekends! They always seem to fly by way too fast. My nephew, Camden, turned 2 on Friday. He has grown so much and I'm amazed at all of the clever things he can do and say. He is just the absolute cutest. We enjoyed his birthday party on Saturday. Aaron and Amy did a great job throwing him a car theme celebration. The decorations screamed C-A-M-D-E-N! So cute!!!

Madden and Camden weren't too sure what to think about all the guest. They both stayed in close reach of mommy and daddy. We left the party a little early, so that we would have time to visit the cemetery. I couldn't wait to go see the special bench that mom and I designed for Erika, Mimi, and Papa. It turned out beautiful!
This is Erika's side, with her favorite scripture verse on it.

Mimi and Papa's side has one of their favorite songs, Amazing Grace.
Love, Love, Love it!

Teething

Here's Madden with Cynthia and Melanie. This was the day before I found the cute, little, pearly-white in the bottom of his mouth. I can't believe he already has a tooth!

This was taken an hour later after he had a chance to get a nap in:)

Oh My....5 months already!!!!

Happy 5 months, Madden!

We can hardly believe that our little butterball is 5 months old. Although it seems like just yesterday we welcomed our bundle of joy, it feels like I've been a mommy for a lifetime. It's as though we can barely blink and he's already changing. I can't imagine our life without him. It makes me so happy to see him grow, yet so sad. I have really learned to cherish every minute for what it's worth. Enough with the sappy talk..... My mom said Madden had a great day! He even got a special visit from aunt Judy. She and Grammy must have worn him out, because he didn't last very long with us tonight. We started our nightly routine at 5:30! As Nana would say, "Bless that sweet baby's heart!"

Thanks Grammy for taking sweet pics for us during the day:) It makes us feel like we are somehow not missing out as much. I love that you are helping us capture some special memories:) We love you!

MR. SMILES-A-LOT!!!

The smile that melts our hearts and brightens our days...

Madden has been smiling ever since I picked him up from Grammy's on Monday. I think he is enjoying his new routine. We have all seemed to adjust to the new schedule nicely. I know Grammy has been taking such great care of our little love bug! We are so thankful!

We gave Madden's old bouncer to Grammy to use at her house and pulled out this new one to keep at our house. Thanks, aunt Sandra! Madden loves his new seat. It's a fancy little upgrade for him:)

This is poor quality, since it was taken with my cell phone, but it was too sweet not to share.

We also sent Madden's playmat over to Grammy's. Now he has this new one to lay on at home.....he feels like it's Christmas all over again, with all of his new stuff:)

I took this pic first thing in the morning. He sure was happy to see me! I'm smiling just as big... right back at him. I just can't get enough of our little guy:)

Family Fun Day

We finally got a chance to hang out with my brother and his family today. We have been trying to get together for a while now and I guess everyday life just kept getting in the way. No excuses anymore....this

is something we want to make time for. We had a blast! It started out with Kaitlyn and Mike battling each other on the wii, while the rest of of just bonded and played with Madden and Camden. Madden was being such a little angel today. I loved seeing Camden interact with him so sweetly. Camden is such a cutie pie and I'm amazed at what a smart cookie he is.

Later on, the rest of us decided to get in on the action. After Aaron, Amy, and Kaitlyn put on an awesome Rock Band performance for Mike and I.....They bravely handed the guitar over to me. Apparently I'm horrible! I thought I was getting the hang of it, but it kept firing me off and I got a blister. That's what I get for being dedicated. I really did deserve an "E" for effort. Once I was done with my All-Star performance, Mr. show- off wanted to give it a go. Mike was so good! He's a natural. I think we are going to invest in this game for our house. The Sossamon's better watch out! I'm going to polish my skills before our next throw down!

Anyhow, we seriously had an amazing time! We are definitely going to start having Family Fun Day at least once a month. We really appreciate Aaron and Amy having us over. Love you guys!

Thanks for all the pics, Amy!

Amy and Mike made a really great team!

Seriously, Give me a break!

Future best friends....Awwwwww!

No Pain, No Game!

CUTE, no matter what he's doing:)
The Sossamon Boys

Yummy Hand

Being a good boy
L-O-V-E this picture!

Aunt Amy loving on MaddenMama's Big Boy

The "E" Word

POOR BABY!

This is on our way home from our visit with Dr. Nguyen.

I know Madden looks sad, but this is just his serious face; which happens to be his favorite and most popular expression.

Today didn't exactly go as planned. We were supposed to go hang out with Aaron, Amy, Kaitlyn, and Camden. Then, Dr. Mann's nurse called and said she took the pleasure of making Madden an appointment. So, Madden had his first dermatology consultation today. Over the past couple of months, Madden's skin has been flaring up and getting progressively drier. His pediatrician kept chalking it up to extra sensitive skin, but unfortunately it turned out to be a little more than that. The dermatologist diagnosed him today with eczema. He gave us several different remedies for managing it and a few prescriptions. We are hoping that his beautiful, soft, glowing baby skin will return soon. I'm really going to miss giving Madden his nightly bath. He loves bath time, but that's something that we are going to have to cut back on for the sake of his skin. The dermatologist was incredibly nice and we will go back for a follow-up in 3 weeks.

Madden Relaxing in his Bath...Pre-Eczema

We decided to go eat while we were waiting for Madden's prescriptions to be filled. This was his second time going to a restaurant and he did fairly well. We don't venture out much, but we are looking forward to getting out this weekend to visit the Sossamon fam . We are really going to enjoy spending quality time with my brother and his family.

Some thoughts from Madden

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Love,

Madden

My mommy has been waiting to try this cute toboggan on me. I got it from the nurses at Cooks. I've finally grown into it. Wow! I sure look like my daddy's baby pics in this picture.

I'm ready for Grammy's retirement party! This was just seconds before my big meltdown. I do not like being strapped into my carseat. Once we start driving, I'm good to go. I was really good at the party. Everyone kept telling me how big I was. This one guy even thought I was 7 months old. I did have on my big boy clothes and I was looking very sophisticated. Yes, I know....I'm a little chubby, but my mommy and daddy say there's more of me to love!

Happy 4 months to me! I just got weighed and I was waiting to get my icky shots. I weighed in at 16.9 pounds. My Dr. said I am ABSOLUTELY PERFECT! He is so proud of me for putting on healthy weight. I've come along ways since my feeding tube days. I don't mess around anymore when it comes to food! Just count my rolls if you don't believe me:)

Excuse me, I'm trying to relax in my crib. Enough with that bright flash! My Daddy put the Christmas lights up in the cold rain. He's the best!

This is the only reason my mommy sleeps soundly at night. She stares at me every chance she gets. She's just a worry wort, but I love her.

The Secrets Out!

It's Official!

Yes, you read right! Grammy is retiring to watch Madden! My mom gave me this message in a frame on my Birthday; which means that I've been keeping this secret since July! Mike and I are so lucky that our little sweat pea will be in such good hands. Madden has been lovingly watched by daddy, Grammy, Mimi, Nana, and Aunt Jayme since I've returned to work. Mike and I really appreciate our family for rearranging work schedules and taking turns caring for Madden. We love you guys! Starting in January....Madden will be 100% Grammy's while Mike and I are teaching. YAY for retirement!!!!!!!!

Madden loves putting anything and everything in his mouth right now. Who needs toys? He's happily entertained with just his burp cloth. He is also in love with anything that is shiny, lights-up, or makes noise.

On another note....Madden is sleeping anywhere from 10-12 hours a night. He's also transitioned into his big boy bed. He sleeps so soundly in his crib. Mike and I are so proud of him.

We go to doctor Mann for Madden's 4 month check-up pretty soon. I'm excited, because we are really close to starting solid foods. We have come such a long way from the "Cooks Days". His eating issues are definitely a distant memory for us now.

This sweet chunk of love would never dream of skipping a meal now:)

He's Mr. Serious in this picture. He smiles and giggles out loud when he's in the mood. I just love his little personality. He's so fun to watch. I sure wish I knew what he was thinking sometimes. Mike and I laugh so hard when he starts babbling for long periods at a time. It honestly sounds like he has something very important to tell us. We are pretty sure he's saying, "I love my mommy and daddy!"

Finally...a quick picture update!

Madden is now 13 weeks and 5 days old!

It's been over a month since I posted some new pics of Madden. As you can clearly see...Madden is growing up way too fast. He loves to sit up against the couch and just hang out. He has so much control now. No more wobbling all over the place:)
Showing off his strong neck muscles and holding his head up like a big boy!


I see so much of Mike when I look at Madden. I love that! Some people think he looks a little bit like me, but mostly think that he resembles his daddy.

Madden is finally starting to get some hair on the top of his head. It's nothing to brag about yet, but some is better than none:) He's so sleepy in this picture.
Madden absolutely loves his bath now and admiring his own image!


Well, that's my short and sweet post for now. I will try and update more often. I hope all is well with everyone.
Much Love!

Time is Flying by

9 Weeks 3 Days

I've almost captured a smile, but I'm just not quick enough! He is definitely flashing us a big grin now! It's so cute! Our little boy is growing up before our very eyes. I started back to work last week. My kids are wonderful, but I miss Madden so much. I feel like I'm already missing out on some special moments. Nana has been watching Madden. We are so lucky to have her here with us. She loves taking care of him. He sure does love "talking" to Nana and bonding with her during the day. Thank you Nana for all that you have done for us the past couple of weeks. We appreciate it more than you will ever know.

Nana & Madden

Mike and I had a busy weekend. Friday, we went to Emily's rehearsal dinner. Saturday, we attended the wedding. Then, on Sunday we went on a double date with Jay and Charity. We ate lunch at Olive Garden and went to see Couples Retreat. We always have a great time when the four of us get together. Grammy, Mimi, and Nana were nice enough to babysit Braden and Madden for us. Here are a few more pics I took over the weekend.

Mom & I at Emmy's Wedding

Emmy, me, Aunt Jayme, & Laura..... Congrats Emmy!

Sweet Bailey Girl goes back to the doc on Thursday for X-Rays

Last Week as a Stay-at-Home Mommy:(

7 Weeks 3 Days Old This will be my last week to stay home with Madden. I have truly enjoyed every minute of it, so I'm going to cherish every moment we have left. Every morning we watch the CMT music videos. Madden loves music! Then, we just play all day and cuddle. Madden is definitely a mama's boy so far. He is starting to develop a really sweet personality. He coos, grunts, a speaks baby talk. I wish I knew what he was saying. We have seen a couple of smiles, but he's not very consistent yet. I can't wait to capture one in a picture. Just wait....his smile will melt everyone's heart....it did mine:)

Yesterday, Mike and I went out to eat with Charlie, Pariya, and Pont. We had a nice lunch at Chili's. This was Madden's first time to be out, other than going to his doctor appointments. We were so proud of him. He did not cry or scream at all. We were amazed!

Madden Loves Tummy Time....and Sucking on His Hands

Madden and JoJo

He Does a Mean Stare...He Looks at his Toys Forever at a Time
He Hits Them Really Well, but Hasn't started Pulling Down on Them Yet

Mommy's Night Out
Charity and I went to Emily's bachelorette dinner at PF Changs on Saturday evening. It was nice to hang out with my best friend, my cousins, and their friends, but I really missed Madden. I didn't want to stay gone too long. I've learned that when you are a mommy, your child will always be on your mind, no matter where you are or what you're doing. I think that's how it should be:)

6 weeks

6 Weeks Old

He's Getting So Big!

I got to be an independent mommy this week. I didn't need any help, because.....I QUIT pumping! Yes, I finally did it. It was keeping me from spending quality time with Madden and I was having to rely on others too much for help. I loved getting to care for him all by myself. We did a lot of cuddling together while Daddy was at work. It will be difficult to return to teaching in a few weeks. I constantly find myself laughing at Madden. He is too stinking cute. He has started to really notice his surroundings and he gets fixated on things very easily. I love how big his eyes get. He also does a really good job holding up his head and turning it from side-to-side. He's getting so strong! One thing that Mike and I are VERY excited about is that Madden is pretty much sleeping through the night; or at least he has the past 4 nights. We'll keep our fingers crossed that he's just not teasing us. I've posted some pictures of some other things that went on this week. Much Love!!!!!

Our Little Chunky Monkey....Looks Like Papa Layne in this One:)

Bailey's Surgery Went Well

Mickey Really Misses Playing With His Big Sister

Taylor Swift Concert

Mike and I went on our first date last night, since before Madden was born. We had a nice dinner at Outback and then we went to see Taylor Swift. It was a great concert. I've seen a lot of really wonderful artists, but she was definitely the best so far. Even Mike enjoyed the concert:) Thank you Grammy and MiMi for watching Madden, Mickey, and Bailey for us. A night out was exactly what we needed.

5 weeks

5 weeks....already

Well, we made it through another challenging week, but we survived. Sunday night, Madden didn't feel well at all. He was screaming for 4.5 straight. Luckily, Mike was able to settle him and I both down. I was crying, because Madden was crying. I felt so bad for him and there was nothing we could do to make him feel better at the time. Monday Morning he had a doctors appointment. Dr. Mann thinks Madden might have a touch of acid reflux/colic. He put him on Previcid and that seems to be working pretty good. Other than that, he passed his 1 month well-baby check-up with flying colors. As of right now, Madden is eating every 2.5-3.5 hours. We've had to pull some all-nighters with him, but he's worth it:) There are times when I think that I am going to HAVE to quit pumping, but I'm not ready to give up yet! We've also been a little stressed out about some other things. Bailey tore her ligament in her foot, Mickey is having stomach issues again, and Mike was in a car accident. Mike is OK, but it just seems to be one thing after another. Our mom's have helped us out so much. We really could not have made it through this week without them. My mom has to return to work next week, but I've recruited some other wonderful family and friends to help me. Mike is going to take off Thursday and Friday to be with Madden and I. Although, he might have to take off sooner, because he's in a lot of pain from his accident and he has to get his car fixed. With all of this said....I only have to take one look at Madden and all my worries seem to disappear. Mike and I love Madden so much! He really is the drive that keeps us going.

Madden + Pacifier = BFF I love to watch him sleep
Sweet Baby Boy


Madden is going to be tall like his Daddy....Look at those legs!

Madden and Grand-Bob

Madden and Aunt Judy

4 weeks

4 weeks

9 pounds 1 ounce

Sorry for the delay...but I don't exactly have any extra time right now (luckily...MiMi & Grammy are helping me out so that I can update this real quick). I can't believe our little guy is already 4 weeks old! We have been home for 10 days now. It's been very challenging, but Mike and I have tried really hard to help each other out as a team to make it work. I am the queen of diaper changing and Mike is the king of bottle feeding. I'm also still breast feeding and pumping, so I'm still learning how to manage my time better. Being a mommy is definitely the hardest job I've ever had....but it's the BEST! Anyhow, We are all doing well. Madden is a little piggy. He definitely knows how to eat now. It's amazing to see how much he's changed. It's nice not too have to worry about him not eating. He still has to be on a high calorie diet for one more week, but as you can tell by his weight...I don't think it's necessary. Madden takes his food very seriously now and he gets very impatient when he's hungry. Enjoy some pics from our first week home:)

Blue-Eyed Baby

Bath Time

Sleeping Soundly


Daddy's Boy


Mommy's Boy

(While Daddy's at Work)All Ready For My Doctor Appointment


Madden's a Big Thinker


Madden, Becky, and I the Day Before Logan was Born


Aunt Jayme & Madden

Aunt Amy, Cousin Kaitlyn, Madden, and Uncle Aaron

Grandpa Charlie

Home, Sweet Home!

There's No Place Like Home

Yes, I AM A BiG Deal!

I Love My Swing

Mike and I can hardly believe that we are finally home with our sweet baby boy. This has been the longest 20 days of our lives. Madden will be 3 weeks tomorrow. We are going to see Dr. Mann in the morning at 9:00. That will be Madden's birthday down to the minute; which we thought was neat. Last night, we roomed-in at Cook's. Since we survived the night alone and Madden passed all of his requirements, we were released this afternoon around 3:00. We are absolutely exhausted, but are looking forward to spending the next 4 days at home as a family of three. Mike is off tomorrow and Monday is a holiday, so everything worked out perfectly. I know many of our friends and family are anxious to see Madden, but Mike and I need to get caught up on our quality time with him first. Apparently the power of prayer works...thanks for everything everyone has done for us. Like many of you have been telling us: EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON! Madden was very well taken care of at Cook's and he had some amazing nurses. Mike and I are reassured more than ever now that Madden is one healthy baby! He was checked daily from head-to-toe and monitored as closely as possible. All of this could have been a blessing in disguise....so I'm not going to regret one minute of it. This quote pretty much describes what I realized about Mike and I during this whole experience:

S-E-R-I-O-U-S Progress!!!!!!

Dreaming About Coming Home Soon

The Light Bulb Is

DEFINITELY

Turning On

Madden has made great strides in the past few days. Here are a few highlights:

Monday- Madden's umbilical Chord fell off:) This was the day that his doctor increased his feeding order; which means he didn't have to have scheduled cavages as often.
Tuesday- The doctor took out his feeding tube and Madden ate GREAT all day. Yes, it's finally out!!!! He also got circumcised yesterday....poor baby. As of last night, at 8:00, Madden weighs 8 pounds and 1/2 an ounce.

Looking At Daddy

Focusing REALLY Hard on Coming Home
If Madden continues to do well without his feeding tube today, then there is a good chance we will be rooming in tonight and Thursday night. We really were hoping to come home by Friday. It looks like we might get what we wished for. We are so incredibly proud of Madden. It's amazing to see how everything just "clicked" for him. The doctors kept reassuring us that he would wake up one day and just start eating. It's the neatest thing to experience.

Real Boys Sleep In PINK Cribs:)
On Monday, when Reda and I were putting Madden back in his crib, we noticed that the latch was broken. The only other crib they had available was this pretty pink one. At least it's safe though. Madden is just as happy in this crib as he was in his old one.

Madden and Aunt Judy
I want to thank all of my family and friends who have been helping us out this week. Reda took me to my doctor appointment on Monday and then over to Cooks to spend the day with Madden. Then, Mike and I went back together that night, while my mom watched the dogs. Tuesday, Judy took me over to see Madden and Mike's mom stayed with the dogs that night. Today, aunt Jayme is taking me and then Mike will come after work. If Madden keeps up the good work today, we are planning to start rooming in between 3:00-5:00 this afternoon. Hopefully Mike will make it in time:)


This will more than likely be my last post until we bring Madden home, because we will be staying at the hospital with Madden full-time now. We could not be happier with Madden's new progress. We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this little guy so much!!!!!!!!

Weekend Update

I'm Definitely a Daddy's Boy

I Love When My Mommy Holds Me

Notice Anything Different?

My nurses added a musical toy to my crib. I love it! It really helps me calm down when I'm fussy. I've been a cranky little boy the past few days, but it's only because I've been getting really hungry. That's a good sign that I'm doing better though. I can scream louder than all of my friends:)

Showing off My Cute Legs

Do I REALLY Still Need This Tube???

Well....my doctor still thinks I do, but I'm starting to use it a lot less. I am making a lot of progress and I think I'm getting the hang of this eating stuff that everyone has been talking about. Look at me go! My mommy has gotten me to breast feed really good now and I still usually take at least 50 ml of my bottle afterwards. I'm still getting higher calorie formula mixed in with my mommy's milk, but I'm getting to be a chunky Monkey, so maybe I won't need the extra calories too much longer.

My Mommy Wishes I would Look at Her When She's Taking My Picture

Cheeks For Weeks

2 Weeks Old

Madden's starting to make a lot of different facial expressions.

Here he is.....

Being a Pouty Little Boy

...And Smirking Like His Daddy

When we got to Cooks yesterday, Mike freaked out when he didn't see Madden in his crib. Then, the sweet nurse pointed down to the ground. They had Madden sitting in a bouncer. He was sound asleep. I can't wait to get him home and put him in his own little bouncer that Grammy bought for him.
I could watch him sleep all day long. This was right before we were leaving. It's so hard to leave, but many of the nurses have encouraged us to go home more often and get some rest. We are trying to take care of ourselves, but Madden is our top priority right now.

My Daddy Adores Me.....And I Adore My Daddy!

Look how big I'm getting? I now weigh a little over 7 pounds and 7 ounces.

My mommy is always going

C-R-A-Z-Y

with her camera. She just can't get enough of me!

Madden is definitely going to be used to taking photos. We probably take AT LEAST 20 pictures of him a day. We don't won't to miss a moment. Not being with him 24/7 is very difficult.

Mike and I can not believe that our little boy is already two weeks old. We both kind of feel like we are in a dream still. Cooks has been our home-away-from-home for the past 13 days and it's so surreal that we are going through all of this right now. I now know how difficult things must have been on my mom when Aaron, Erika, and I were in the hospital. Although this feels like a dream right now, I know it will soon be a dream come true....because I have faith that we will be home by Madden's 3 week Birthday. That's our goal!


I want to apologize to all my friends and family. I have been terrible about returning phone calls and staying in touch....that's why this blog has been so helpful. It's not that we don't want to talk to everyone, it's just that I don't get the phone calls until late at night, the middle of the night, or the wee hours of morning. I love listening to all of your sweet voice mails though. It's a great feeling to know that our family and friends care so much and that Madden is already so LOVED by EVERYONE. Please dont' EVER doubt how much we truly appreciate all of you.


Change of plans....Mike and I have thought carefully and due to the situation that we are in with Madden, I am going to have to go back to work earlier than expected. It's only two weeks sooner than planned. I will still get to be off a full 10 weeks. Mike and I did not for see having all of these medical bills rack up so quickly, so we just need to be realistic and smart about me not getting a paycheck. We have to do what's best for our family. We want to thank Nana for the generous gift we received in the mail yesterday. It's going to help us out SO MUCH! We love you, Nana!


Although our life revolves around Madden and it seems that I'm not paying attention to anything else...I want to take the time to say congratulations to Mike's cousin. She had a sweet baby girl yesterday. When Madden gets well, we will definitely come and visit. I also want to let everyone know that I will be a new aunt in the Spring. Aaron and Amy are pregnant!

I started this post last night, but wasn't able to finish it. My eyes just wouldn't stay open any longer. I was so tired! I slept 7 hours straight; which is a good thing and a bad thing. It's good, because obviously that's what my body needed. It's also bad though, because I missed 2 pumping times, my medication, and Mike had to wake up and turn off my alarm several times. I've promised him I will try to listen for my alarm better. I guess my body had just had it!

Thursday Update

Mama's Sleepy Boy

I was too tired to update last night when we got home from the hospital. We were so happy yesterday when we found out that our friend, Janet, was going to be Madden's daytime nurse. We knew if anyone could get him to eat, it would be her. Sure enough, he ate his full feedings with her BOTH times! We were so proud of him! Last night, when we went back up to visit, he was really pooped out. He only did 45 ml at his 9:00 p.m. feeding and 40 ml and his 3:00 a.m. feeding. We were a little bummed, because we really wanted yesterday to be the day that it started "Clicking" for him. The good news is that as of last night he weighs 7 pounds and 5 ounces. His sweet little face is getting chunkier and chunkier. I love it! Mike and I are going to be going up to Cooks shortly. I will post tonight for sure, because today is Madden's 2 week birthday!

Madden's Growing

It's hard to believe that today was supposed to be my scheduled C-section date. Part of me will always wonder if things would have been different if Madden wasn't born at 37 weeks, but I can't dwell on that....I just need to be grateful for the blessing that God has given us.

Mike and I loved being with Madden today. The Dr. said Mike should be well enough to hold him tomorrow. I know he's anxious to hold his baby boy again! He is definitely starting to eat a little bit better. My favorite moment tonight was getting to breastfeed him while he was cavaging. It was such a sweet bond and I can't wait to do it again tomorrow. He was a little fussy this evening, but he was perfectly content being in my arms; which made me feel wonderful. We were so excited when the nurse told us his weight. He now weighs 7 pounds and 1 3/4 ounces. He needs to gain about 10 ounces before Friday. We all need to cheer him on!

Madden's Got Beauty & Brains!

Madden's Ultra-sound

Our precious little Madden had to have an ultra-sound done on his brain today. The doctors wanted to rule out any serious problems linked to his eating. We got the results back this evening and his brain looks beautiful! So, he definitely is capable of learning how to eat more consistantly; it's just going to have to happen on his own terms. They switched Madden's eating schedule up again. He will now be rotating evenly between bottles and cavaging. They are also going to let me breastfeed while he's cavaging, so he could possibly be getting double nutrition during those feedings. I need to start producing more milk though. The lack of sleep is definitely taking a toll on my body. The fact that Madden and I are separated also plays a big role in my milk supply.

He's been scratching his face, so they put these socks over his hands. I loved the way he had his arms positioned. I am so in love with this baby boy! I just wanted to put him in my purse and leave tonight:)

Saturday, Sunday, Monday Update

Our Sweet Bundle Of JoyToday, Melanie took mom and I over to Cooks. We got to spend the whole day with Madden while Mike was at school. Mike has been sick and has not been able to see or hold Madden since Friday night. I know it's been extremely hard on Mike, but I'm giving Madden lots of kisses from his daddy. Today was a very exciting day, because Madden ate 55 ml for me. That's a really big deal. He only had to have 15 cavaged into his feeding tube. Then, he burped 3 super loud burps. It made me feel really good that I got him to eat that much. Our great friend, Janet, is a nurse at Cooks and she shared some eating secrets with me. I really think they are going to start making a difference in his eating. Thanks Janet!
Look at My Big Boy Bottle! There was a volunteer at the hospital today donating crocheted items. We found the perfect blue toboggan to match Madden's outfit. We also picked out 2 blankets and 3 more toboggans. Madden seemed to be a fan of what we picked...he looked all warm and snuggly cute:)
Melanie, Grammy, and Madden

This picture is from last night. Mike took me to Cooks, but had to wait in the waiting room since he's sick. So, I dressed Madden up in his "Daddy's All-star" sleeper. I wanted him to know that he's Daddy's pride and joy. I can see a lot of Mike in Madden. He definitely has Mike's pretty blue eyes. He's changing so much every day. I cherish every minute that I get to be with him and can't wait to bring him home. I'm trying to be patient, because I know he is getting the best care possible right now. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that he can come home before the end of the week.

Here is a picture of our little love bug from Saturday night. Uncle Aaron and Aunt Amy took Mom and I over to Cooks to see Madden that night. This was the first night that Mike started getting really sick again. He doesn't want to take any chances of giving anything to Madden. He plans on going to the doctor again tomorrow after school. Mike will be off from school Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday this week. I really hope he's all well by Wednesday, because I so badly miss our family time together. I think it's important that Madden be able to see his Mommy and Daddy as much as possible.

Guess how much I weigh now? I am all the way back up to 6 lbs. 15.11 oz. My newborn clothes are still swallowing me up, but I'll eventually grow into them. My doctors say that I will wake up one day and everything will click. I'm still learning the process of eating. Everyone calls me a lazy eater! My Mommy and Daddy are proud of the progress I'm making and I know we will all be together soon. Give me a break....I'm only 11 days old!

Again, Mike and I want to thank our amazing friends and family. All the phone calls, emails, prayers, rides to and from the hospital, meals, and dog babysitting has been more helpful than you know. I also want my Team and friends at school to know how much I appreciate all their help. All of you have really stepped up and prepared me for the next 12 weeks of maternity leave. I can't thank all of you enough!

Trying To Catch Up

Happy 1 week Birthday to Madden! Mommy & Daddy love you so much!Madden has had a hard first week of life. Mike and I were so anxious to see him for his 1 week Birthday. Our day didn't exactly go as planned, but we have quickly learned to always expect the unexpected. Mike and I both attended Sneak Peek at our schools yesterday. Then, we had planned to spend the rest of the afternoon and evening with Madden. Well, I ended up having to go to the emergency room. I had another allergic reaction and spent over 6 hours at the hospital. It was 10:30 by the time we got to see our baby boy. Once we got to Cooks, we had completely forgotten about the bad day we had been having. Madden is definitely our medicine! I felt like a real mommy. I got to do all of the "first time" stuff that most mommy and daddy's get to do on day 1. I took Madden's temperature, changed a wet diaper and a poopy diaper (and LOVED every minute of it!), changed his clothes a few times, cleaned his umbilical chord, weighed him, gave him a sponge bath, fed him, and burped him. The nurse was there to assist me, but it felt nice to finally be able to get involved. Madden has gained a little more weight. He's up to 6 lbs. 13 oz. His goal is to be back to his birth weight by the time he's 2 weeks old. They have changed up his eating schedule a little bit. He still has a 65 ml requirement per feeding, but they are rotating his feeding schedule. He'll alternate between taking as much of a bottle as possible and then doing only his feeding tube the next feeding. It seemed to help a little bit. At one of his feedings, he ate a full 65 ml bottle on his own. Go Madden, Go! Although that's great news, he still has to prove to everyone that he can do that independently and consistently for over 48 hours. It's going to take some time, but I'm finally starting to believe that he's going to get there. Mike and I are just taking it one day at a time. We got home at 3:30 in the morning and were absolutely exhausted. I will try to be better about updating more frequently.

Mommy's First Feed

The Two Loves Of My Life

Let's rewind back to Thursday...It felt like we just couldn't catch a break that day. Our morning started by taking Mickey to the vet. He has lost over a pound and the vet pumped some liquids into his neck. Now we have two baby boys who are having trouble with their weight. Shortly after Mike got home with Mickey, I called to check on Madden. My heart just broke as soon as the nurse told me how he was doing. She gave me his numbers from his 12:00 a.m., 3:00 a.m., and 6:00 a.m. feedings. He only ate 5 ml, 10 ml, and 15 ml. Remember, he has to eat a minimum of 65 ml per feed. Whatever he doesn't eat independently, has to be cavaged thru his feeding tube. I spent the rest of the morning crying. I've always thought of myself as a super strong individual, but the situation we are in with Madden is really testing my strength. Mike and I are both struggling, but we just have to have faith that everything will be alright. My mom came and stayed with the dogs, so that Mike and I could spend the rest of the afternoon and evening with Madden. It felt so good to get some quality time with our baby boy. Some of his numbers started to improve throughout the day. He ate 24 ml at 9:00 a.m., 40 ml at 12:00 p.m., 20 ml at 3:00 p.m., 17 ml at 6:00 p.m., and 35 ml at 9:00 p.m. Mike fed him at his 9:00 feeding and Madden burped super loud! I was so proud of Mike. He's definitely a natural daddy! This has been the worst week and the best week of our lives. We never dreamed we would be going on this journey with Madden, but we couldn't be happier that our baby boy has finally entered our world! I will do a Saturday update when we get home...it won't be until like 1:00 a.m. though, but I need to stay caught up. Thanks for all the sweet comments. They are very encouraging and uplifting. Much Love!

Eat Baby, Eat!

Get Well Soon, baby boy!

When we got to Cooks today, we found out that the doctors increased Madden's eating requirements. His new goal is to eat 65 ML per feeding. Mike fed him tonight and he took 30 ML, so the remaining 35 had to be put into his feeding tube. We really enjoyed the time we got to spend with Madden today. Mike even got to change his diaper. Hopefully I'll get to change it tomorrow. It's sad that Madden is 6 days old and his own mommy and daddy haven't even got to do the normal things with him yet. I'm hoping to get some more bonding time with him tomorrow. The doctors say the only thing keeping him at Cooks is his eating issues. I called to check on him at 11:00 tonight. I was disappointed to hear that he only took half of his feeding at 9:00 and he lost a little more weight. He is currently weighing in at 6 pounds 10.8 ounces. We just want him to hurry and turn into a little piggy. It kills us to walk pass his nursery or just to know that our home is not complete without him. Please continuing praying for baby Madden.

Mike and I wanted to say thank you to Melanie, Judy, Grammy, and Laura. Melanie, your dinner was so delicious! Grammy, thank you for the super cute baby book! Judy, Mike loves your Neiman Marcus bars! Laura, it was so nice visiting with you. I really appreciate all of you for coming to visit tonight.

Let's pray for a better day tomorrow for Madden....More eating....less feeding tube!

BABY MADDEN

Fresh Out Of The Oven!

Madden Reid Morris

7 lbs. 11.5 Oz.

21 Inches Long

Born 8/14/09 at 9:00 a.m.I was originally scheduled for a C-section on 8/26, but my doctor admitted me to the hospital on 8/12 due to high blood pressure. We spent Wednesday and Thursday in the hospital on bed rest. They ran a lot of tests on me and my doctor re-scheduled my C-section for 8/14. Madden was born at 9:00 a.m. As soon as he was born, he was taken to the NICU due to some breathing problems. He was in the NICU for just over 6 hours. It was there that they first noticed his blood sugar was low. He then went to the regular nursery, where we got to see him and try to get him to eat. He had a lot of trouble eating Friday and they told us early Saturday morning that if his levels didn't improve he would have to go back to the NICU. At noon, we were told that the NICU was full and they could not wait for a space to open. Madden was transported to the NICU at Cooks in Fort Worth. They put him on an IV and continued to monitor his sugars. They improved that day, but on Sunday he started having more trouble eating and had an apnea episode. Monday morning they put a feeding tube in Madden's nose. I was discharged from the hospital at 5:00 in the evening and Mike took me straight to Cooks to see Madden. Mike had been really great about taking pictures and video taping Madden for me while we were separated. Monday night, while I was holding Madden, he had another short apnea episode. His lips turned purple and his monitors started going off. It was very scary, but he came out of it on his own; which showed it was just some temporary shallow breathing. Madden is continuing to be fed by a combination of bottle and a feeding tube. I am also taking everything I pump over to Cooks. We still haven't had a full day where he has eaten independently, but we are hopeful that he will get to where he needs to be. Last night, on our way to visit Madden, we had a blow out on highway 820. Aunt Jayme was able to come pick me up to see Madden; while Mike waited on the tow truck. Then, the police officer drove Mike to the hospital after that. As of this morning, Madden has lost a pound. He is down to 6 lbs. 11 oz. We do not know how long Madden will be a patient at Cooks. Yesterday he was moved from the NICU to the PNICU; which shows he is now in the progressive stage. Once he gets out of the PNICU, they will put him with Mike and I in a family suite where he can be monitored. This past week has definitely been a whirlwind of emotions for us, but we are trying to hang in there. We want to thank our friends and family for supporting and loving us during this difficult time. We know Madden is in good hands at Cooks and his pediatrician, Dr. Mann, is keeping a close watch on him. Since Madden's condition and status change from day-to-day, I will start updating the blog nightly. I hope this will allow everyone to keep up with the latest details of Madden's progress. Enjoy the pics!

Mommy Loves Madden!

Our First Family Photo

Daddy's Boy

Here's Madden at Cooks. This is my first time to hold him since the day he was born....It was the best feeling EVER!

Last night we took him his own hat to wear. We know it's too big, but he still looks sweet in it.

Mommy, Madden, & Grammy

MiMi & Madden

The day it all started...

My final pregnancy pic! The night before Madden was born.

Official Due Date!

Today was our 36 week check-up. My c-section has been scheduled for 8/26 @ 1:30. It feels so nice to know an exact date. I was measuring at 40 weeks today, but my doctor said that has a lot to do with my high-level of amniotic fluid. I'm hoping everything stays well and I can make it 3 more weeks. My doctor feels like this is a safe delivery date for Madden, so we are thrilled! This means that I will be able to teach the first two days of school and stay home with Madden until 11/18!

28th Birthday

The Birthday Twins

Today was a nice relaxing day. Aaron and I turned 28! We didn't do anything too crazy....I had a sonogram at 7:45 this morning. Then we went to see Funny People with the family and to eat at Chili's. I got some VERY special gifts from my mom and mother-in-law. Of course Mike bought me some beautiful roses...he knows those are my favorite! We are also going to the Taylor Swift concert, but that won't be until September. After lunch, I enjoyed shopping with my mama's. The rest of my family continued celebrating, by going to the Ranger game this evening. My pregnant body just doesn't have that kind of energy right now....maybe next year. Thanks to all my friends and family for the sweet phone calls and birthday wishes. It really made my day!

Mike is a sweetheart...I love him!

This will be our first date after Madden is born....already looking forward to it:)

35 weeks and growing a BIG BABY!

Madden is approximately the size of a mini-watermelon!

(according to his weight)
A lot has gone on since last week! Monday, we attended Infant Care Class. The only thing I really learned was the appropriate way to bath a baby. It was fun to dress up our pretend baby and change his diaper and everything. Wednesday, I had to take my first trip to Triage. I had a little bit of bleeding, but everything checked out just fine. Friday, we had our 34 week sonogram. Madden is BIG and BEAUTIFUL! He weighed 6 pounds and 13 ounces. He also has a full-head of hair. He is off the charts and above the 100th percentile now...oh my goodness! I have an excessive amount of amniotic fluid, so I am not allowed to workout anymore and I have to limit all other activities, or I could go into labor. Last night, we went to Infant Safety Class. The most valuable thing we learned was infant CPR. I would highly recommend this class to everyone. It has been the most beneficial class we have taken by far. Today, we saw doctor Greve for our 35 week check-up. All is well and I have officially gained 7 pounds total. I measured at 38 weeks today; which didn't surprise me. I am so excited, because Dr. Greve is going to schedule my C-section date on Monday!!!!!!!!! I'm anxious to see what day he picks! Yes, it's been confirmed that I will have to have a C-section. He said I'm not built to deliver a 8 pound baby. I'm OK with a C-section now, I'm just not looking forward to recovering from it. Tonight, we are going to Breastfeeding Class. Then, We have another sonogram on Friday. I can't wait to see Madden again in a few days!

Here's the last pregnant pic I have taken. This is me and my wonderful friend, Becky, at her shower last weekend. She is due 9/18...Logan Brent. It has been so much fun being pregnant together. That's it for now:) Lots of Love!!!!!!!!!!

34 week Check-up

Quick update...Not much to report. Today I saw Dr. Greve for my 34 week check-up. Blood pressure(120/80), weight(+ 5.4 from pre-pregnancy), sugar levels(normal range), and Madden's heartbeat(132) were all great! I am measuring 37 weeks; which makes me even more anxious to see how much Madden will weigh on Friday at our sonogram. Dr. Greve will begin checking my cervix in two weeks, so hopefully we will get a better estimate at how much longer we'll have to wait for our little one to arrive. Things are going so good right now, that Madden might not be early at all, but we won't really know much for a few more weeks. Mike and I have infant care class tonight and I go to the dietitian in the morning. I'll post on Friday after the sonogram with Madden's weight and some new pics. Much Love!

33 weeks & More

This has been a hectic week....Where to start? Last Friday, we had a bio-physical profile sonogram. This is just like a regular sonogram, except they don't do all the extensive measurements. Madden looked so cute up on the screen. He is definitely a mover and still has those cute chubby cheeks! Amniotic fluid, heart-rate, and fetal movements all looked fabulous.

Saturday, we attended our first Prepared Childbirth Class. Mike left the room a few times during the actual birthing videos. They were pretty graphic and he wanted no part in seeing all of that! We have three more classes to attend this month and we'll be done.

Monday, the Mansfield Fire Department put in our car seats, so that's one more thing we can check off our list!

Tuesday, Mike and I took a tour at the hospital. The tour was great! They walked us through the process step-by-step. The tour made all of this "REAL". Yes, I know it should feel real by now, but sometimes I'm still like, "Oh my, We are having a baby!"

Dr. Greve is out on vacation this week, so I didn't get to go to my weekly Monday check-up. Instead, I had my 33 week check-up with Dr. Walker (one of Dr. Greve's partners) on Wednesday. She was super nice and Madden and I checked out just fine.

Today, we had another bio-physical profile sonogram done. These are all starting to become very routine, but I love that I get to see Madden and hear his little heart-beat twice a week. It really puts my mind at ease:)

I will see Dr. Greve on Monday for my 34 week check-up, my dietitian on Tuesday, and then we get a FULL sono on Friday. I am anxiously awaiting that day, because we get to find out how much Madden weighs. Mike predicts he'll weigh 6 pounds and 5 ounces. I don't care how much he weighs, as long as he is healthy. We only have 34 more days to go.....assuming that Madden will be here by 38 weeks. I'm getting very nervous, but at the same time- I am over-joyed!

Mike's Car Seat

My Car Seat

Madden's Coming Home Outfit

We are also packing this snuggly little blankie....so cute!

32 weeks

Today was a very busy day! First, we went to my 32 week check-up for a NST. Dr. Greve didn't like the readings he was getting on the stress test. They were all over the place. He sent me straight over to the hospital to get a sonogram done. It turns out that Dr. Greve's monitor was picking my heart-rate up with Madden's, so it was making the readings inconsistent. Everything looked perfect on the sonogram! Madden weighs 4 pounds and 13 ounces! We have another sonogram scheduled for this Friday, so maybe he'll fatten up to 5 pounds by then.

After all that, we decided to do what we do best....SHOP! SHOP! SHOP! Of course when we got home, that meant that Mike had to hang up all the new stuff we had bought. Here it all is! Enjoy!

Our Hospital Bags

Wall Canvases for the Playroom

Madden's Playroom Bookshelf

Alphabet Picture for Playroom
Wall Tiles for Playroom

Madden's New Clothes Hamper

Mike Drew these and Painted Them

This is what happens when we go to Babies-R-Us.....Dangerous!!!!!!!!!!!

Lots of News and Updates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

31 weeks.....measuring 36 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes...5 weeks ahead of schedule!

This picture is evidence that my belly has EXPLODED!!!! I feel like I can't get any bigger! Today was my 31 week appointment, but I'm already measuring FULL TERM...*GASP*. Since I have gestational diabetes, Dr. Greve doesn't recommend I go much past 38 weeks. Madden will for sure be here by 8/21! I don't think that I will last that long. I'm predicting I'll just make it full-term....so 8/7! I will have a sonogram in a few days to see how much he weighs. My doctor is predicting that he will be an 8-8 1/2 pounder! If he's bigger than that, I will have to have a C-section; which I'm really not looking forward to. I do have to start having 3 appointments each week: a weekly check-up, a sonogram, and a consultation with the dietitian. Not exactly how I planned to spend my summer...but I am excited about getting to see Madden every week! Overall, I was happy with my appointment today. Dr. Greve said my sugar levels couldn't be any better and my total weight gain is below 5 pounds; which is probably hard to believe when you look at how huge I am in this picture! I almost forgot to mention my favorite part of going to the doctor: Madden's little heart was beating at 150 today! Let the countdown begin.....I'm now officially due in August!

The Playroom is Coming Along!!!!!! Mike has done a fabulous job!

Here's a few more updates that Mike has done to the nursery....Madden has the best daddy!

30 Weeks

My New Best Friend (a sugar monitor)

Today was my 30 week appointment. Dr. Greve was happy with my sugar levels, but wants to start seeing me EVERY Monday until Madden arrives. I'm hoping this will make the next 6-10 weeks fly by. Nothing has changed too much.....Madden and I are both healthy and his heartbeat was 140. My belly is measuring at 33 weeks...YIKES! I will have a sonogram next week to see how much our little boy weighs. I'll post some big belly pics on Monday with my weekly update.

4D SONO- My Daddy's First Post

I have my Daddy's smirk!
Dude, why is everything upside down? Is it time to come out yet?

Man, does she ever stop talking? (My Daddy told me to say that:)

My Daddy is cooler than your Daddy!

Everything Happens For a Reason

Bad news.....but not horrible news. I just barely failed my glucose test. You have to pass 3 out of 4 sections. Here's what the numbers are supposed to be and what mine actually were:

First blood drawn:
Needs to be below 95/mine was 75
Second blood drawn:
Needs to be below 180/mine was 188 (The nurse said I was at my sickest during this time)
Third blood drawn:
Needs to be below 155/mine was 135
Fourth blood drawn:
Needs to be below 140/mine was 143 (Most doctors want you below 145...but my Dr. isn't most doctors)

I do have to go to a dietitian on Friday and get my sugar monitor. The nurse said I have nothing to worry about, because I just barely failed. I'm actually not bummed out about it. She said I shouldn't lose more than 10 pounds on this special diet and that I can still workout. The upside is that we are going to get a lot more sonograms now! After getting my results, I'm actually in good spirits!

Our 4D sonogram got moved to tomorrow, so be looking for pics tomorrow night. I hope Madden puts on a good show for us!

Glucose Update

As you all know, I failed my 1 hour glucose test. In preparation for today's 3 hour glucose test, I ate a diet low in sugar and starches for 4 days. It was very hard, but I thought that's what I was supposed to do. In actuality, I should have been eating 150 carbs per day prior to taking my test this morning. So, I believe I did myself a disservice by going on a strict diet like that. I also had to fast for today's test. This is how it all went down......

I had my "fasting" blood drawn at 8:30. Then at 8:40 I had to drink 100 grams of glucose. I had my "1 hour" blood drawn at 9:40. At about 10:00, I started to feel very nauseated, dizzy, hot, turned extremely pale and everything short of literally passing out. Let me remind you, I wasn't allowed to drink ANY water. They moved me from the waiting room to an examination bed. My mom and three nurses laid me down and put wet towels on my head, face, and neck. I still felt very weird, but I was determined to stay and finish this test. I had my "2 hour" blood drawn at 10:40. After that, my body went through another crazy spell. At that point, they said they would stop the test and just put me on a diabetic diet. Again, I was not going to give up after coming this far. The nurse patted me down with ice cold water again and turned the lights off so that I could rest before my blood had to be taken again. I was so thankful that Grammy was there with me. No matter how old you get, sometimes you just need your mom. Finally, at 11:40 I had my "3 hour" blood drawn for the final time. I was so relieved that it was all over! I won't know my results until Wednesday or Thursday. After all of that, I really think I deserve to pass.

On a happier note, I got to hear Madden's heartbeat today. It was nice and strong at 154! That was the highlight of my day. The things you have to go through when you're pregnant.......Madden's MORE than worth it though!

Disappointing News

I knew my pregnancy was going way too well. I received the phone call that I was dreading...I failed my 1-hour glucose test with a 159! My doctor wants it to be under 130. I go back Monday for the 3-hour test. I'm hoping to pass that one. If anyone has passed either one, please tell me your secret:)

Glowing And Growing

7 Month Belly Up-Close

As you can clearly see, I've really POPPED!!!!Today was my 7 month appointment. Madden's heartbeat was 135. It's usually in the 150's, but the doc said it would decrease throughout my pregnancy. The normal range is anywhere from 120-160. I have gained another pound; which puts my total weight gain at 4 pounds. That's so hard to believe! I feel huge, but apparently it's all baby. I was very sick in the beginning of my pregnancy and lost a little bit of weight, so I think I'm just starting to catch back up to where I need to be. Although I'm measuring close to 30 weeks, Dr. Greve is not going to change my due date. I'll be full term on August 7, so we'll just have to see when Madden decides to arrive. I also had my glucose test today. They gave me 2 minutes to down a PURE sugar drink on an empty stomach.....that's just wrong! I felt horrible after drinking it. An hour later, I had my blood taken. I should get my results by Thursday. Wish me luck! I go back for my 30 week check-up in 2 weeks:)

This morning before I went to the doctor.......feeling GREAT!

This is what I felt like after the BIG BAD glucose test.

Shower Collage

I know this is M-A-J-O-R picture OVERLOAD, but I couldn't figure out how to create a slideshow. Thank you, Cousin Laura for being my little photographer yesterday. You captured some special memories for me:) I have the best friends and family that anyone could wish for. I hope everyone enjoys the collage. I realize that the pictures are a little squished, but if you want a better look at your picture, you can double click to enlarge it. Love ya!

Baby Shower

Grammy and I with Madden's Diaper Bag

Nana, Me, and MiMi Morris

Madden's Cake

I was definitely given a shower filled with LOVE today! I want to thank Cynthia, Jayme, Melanie, and Connie for throwing me a beautiful shower. It was absolutely perfect! My friends and family came together to celebrate Madden at Nelda's. We feasted on yummy food and delicious cake. I am so grateful for all of our fabulous gifts......so incredibly generous! My sweet friend, Amy Cook, recorded all the gifts. She did a fantastic job and I'm sure her hand is VERY sore! Today was a very special day! I really appreciate everyone for celebrating my first baby shower with me. It's a day that I'll always remember. Much LOVE!!!!

Williams is Wonderul!

Madden's
Super Cute Money Tree

Mike and I want to thank the Williams faculty and staff for Madden's VERY generous gift! It turned out so adorable and we REALLY appreciate it. We were able to purchase a flat screen monitoring system and a camo blanket. These were two of our favorite things on our registry. Again, thank you all so much for your kindness and support during this special time. Much Love!

26 Week Sono

Front of Madden's Sweet Face

Little Profile

We had another sonogram today. Madden is doing so good! The Dr. said his heart is healthy;which was the most important thing we wanted to hear. His heartbeat was 158. The little guy weighs a whopping 2 pounds 2 ounces now! I have my 7 month check-up on 6/9 and we go for our 4D sono on 6/20. We can't wait to get a better sneak peek at our precious Madden!

Our Mom's Are The Best!!!!!!!

Grammy (my mom) and MiMi Morris (Mike's mom) are so loving. This week we received special gifts from both of them. Grammy bought us our rocker combo and MiMi Morris bought us our Pack-N-Play. We love them both! We hope they know how much we appreciate everything they do for us. We love y'all!

I can't wait to rock Madden...thanks mom

Love, Love, Love our pack-n-play

Worried Mama

Our sweet Bailey was sick today. I had to take the day off to take her to the vet. We were really concerned. If you've met Bailey, you know she's usually a rambunctious ball of fire. The vet couldn't find anything wrong with her today. The only explanation they gave me was that she probably had temporary loss of circulation. I love this dog so much! I was thinking on the way to the vet, as I was trying not cry....GEEZ...I can only imagine what I'm going to be like when Madden isn't feeling well:)

6 months and GROWING!!!!!!!

The Big Belly Close-Up!

Today was our 6 month check-up. Madden's heartbeat was 150. It's pretty much the same every time. My blood pressure was good and I gained my first 3 pounds(I feel like I'm toting around a lot more than that). Dr. Greve was really excited to finally see me in the positives. I am supposed to go back for a check-up in three weeks, but he's going to let me wait until 6/9, so that school will be out. We figured it would be very difficult to escape early the last week of school. After every appointment, it is tradition that we go and get a yummy cheeseburger. I love cheeseburgers! With all the hype over the Swine Flu, Mike doesn't want his pregnant wife eating from fast food places or restaurants. Therefore, he made me a delicious home-made cheeseburger and home-made fries. Mike is the PERFECT husband!

Watch Out Sonic!

Happy Mother's Day

Mike and I had our moms over tonight for Mother's Day. Mike cooked us fajitas and mexican cassarole for dinner. He made a red velvet cake for dessert. It was all so delicious! Even though I'm just a mother-to-be, everyone celebrated Mother's Day for me too! I felt very loved with all my gifts and flowers. I can't wait to be celebrating Mother's Day with Madden next year! Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mommies out there:)

Our Moms with their flowers and cards

Me with my roses and card from Mike

All my gifts....too sweet

Thanks mom for the super cute frame....love it!

A Big Thanks

I wanted to let my Starrett family know how much Mike and I appreciate their generosity. Instead of a shower, they provided me with a money tree and a yummy cake. Today, Mike and I went and used the money to buy one of our car seats. This particular car seat is transitional and holds a baby 5-80 lbs. So, we will get much needed use out of it over the years:) Thank you all so much for helping make this an extra special time for us. Love ya!

6 Month Sono

Today was our 6 month sono(although I won't officially be 6 months until next week). Madden weighs 1 pound 4 ounces. His heart is still beating strong at 151. The doctor says everything looks great. He saw the 4 chambers of the heart, but Madden was positioned in a way that he wasn't able to get a good look at the blood flow from the heart. Therefore, we get to go back in 3 weeks! This will be sono number 4, so we are very excited!!!!!

Anxiously Waiting for Madden!

I know I need to settle down, considering I still have at least a good 3.5 months to go. It's just that Mike and I are so ready for Madden to be here! The crazy parents-to-be that we are....already have the high chair in the kitchen, the bassinet put together, and the bouncer assembled. I will be posting pics of the playroom within the next couple of weeks. Mike is almost finished with it. Poor hubby, can't get a break from the baby projects. It's all for Madden though, so he enjoys getting everything ready. We have registered for my shower at Babies-R-Us and Target. More importantly, we have registered at the hospital for labor and delivery. We start child birthing classes in July; which I'm really excited about! Our 6 month sonogram is Wednesday, so be looking for new pics soon.

Five Month Appointment

Our 5 month check up went great! Madden's heartbeat was 150 again. We finally got back the results of our downsyndrome/spina-bifida screening. All the results came back negative, so that's one less thing to worry about. Although my belly is growing rapidly, I still haven't gained any weight. I guess I'm going to pack on the baby pounds in the end, instead of nice and gradually. My docotor says I'm doing wonderful and my blood pressure was 112/80. My next sonogram is on 5/6 and my 6 month appointment is on 5/11. It feels nice to be half way through my pregnancy. We appreciate all the support we have received from friends and family. Madden is already sooooo loved!

Madden's Nursery

Mike is almost finished with Madden's nursery, but I just couldn't wait any longer to post some pics. One day, Mike decided that he was in charge of designing and painting the nursery. I had no say-so and the whole thing was a complete surprise. When he finally let me see it....I absolutely loved it!!!!!!!! I think Mike did a great job. Madden already has the BEST daddy ever! Enjoy the pics and let us know what you think:)

Madden's entry-way

Mike is so talented!

Madden's Crib

Madden's Changing Table/Dresser

This is where my chair is going to go. We still have to hang the window treatments.

A small portion of Madden's closet and storage...already SPOILED!


The inside of Madden's crib. Yes, I know it needs to be pressed.

Madden Reid Morris

Mike and I are completely surprised that we are having a boy, but overly excited! It will be crazy when I can actually start to feel him move. He weighs 6 oz. and he seems to be developing perfectly. We will get to see him again on 5/6 at 23 weeks!

This is all so incredibly

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!!!!!

Four Months and Fabulous!

Today was my 4 month check-up. I don't know where the time has gone. I was really nervous this morning about going to the doctor. I had a papsmear done at my 12 week appointment and it resulted in a lot of bleeding and clotting, so for the last month I have been worrying myself sick. All my worries turned to smiles today when I heard a strong heartbeat. It was so much louder and clearer than last month. I got good news all around from the doctor. Baby's heartbeat was 150, I had only lost 1 pound since my last visit, my blood pressure was 118/81, and baby is exactly in the location he or she should be:) I went ahead and had blood work done to test for downsyndrome/Spinabifida. I will have my results by next week.

After our appointment, I was starving! Breakfast food did not sound good, but if you know me...you know what did.....YES, a cheeseburger at 9:30 in the morning. That has pregnant lady written all over it!

Once I was finished with my hearty breakfast, we went shopping at Babies-R-Us. We tried to buy our crib and changing table, but they were both on back order until April. I guess that will give me time to clean out the nursery. I have really been procrastinating with that room. Mike was pleasantly surprised when the lady told him they would assemble the furniture for only $25. That makes us both happy, because that takes all the nagging out of the equation. Here's a sneak peek of what the furniture looks like:

We go to the doctor again in 1 week to find out what we are having. I added a poll to our blog last night. I'll be back in a week to share the exciting news!
Much Love!

Let's Play Catch-Up!

I'm starting this whole blog thing a little late, considering I'm over 3 months pregnant. I guess it's better late than never. Here it goes...Mike and I started trying to have a baby in September. We weren't obsessed about it, but we definitely weren't preventing a baby from being made. Well, let me clarify....we weren't obsessed with "trying", but I was obsessed with taking pregnancy tests! 3 months went by with about 30 negative tests. So, I decided that my New Years resolution was to try harder to get pregnant. On New Years Day, Mike wanted me to take another pregnancy test, so I did. It came up as an error, so I decided I would just wait and take one the next day. Well, the next morning at 5:00 I saw the magic word....

P-R-E-G-N-A-N-T!

I woke Mike up right away! I had to take 3 more test throughout the day to be sure. I was definitely pregnant! That's how the journey began.

On February 16, I went to the doctor for my first sonogram. It was very exciting! I was so nervous that I wouldn't be able to see or hear anything, but right away it was all so clear. The baby was measuring well, I had only lost 3.5 pounds, my bloodpressure was decent, and most importantly the baby's heartbeat was strong (125 sleeping and 175 while awake)! Enjoy the sweet picture:)

Blogger in Training

Well, I finally gave in! I am going to try my best to figure all of this blog stuff out. I am not promising that I will be great at it, but I'm going to give it a try. The purpose behind starting this blog is that Mike and I are expecting a baby! We are very excited and hope that this blog will keep our friends and family up-to-date on the progress of my pregnancy.