Surgery will be tomorrow

The surgery to check Lincoln's condition has been postponed to tomorrow. It was supposed to be today around 1:00 but due to scheduling conflicts of the the doctors included it was pushed to tomorrow morning sometime. It has been a frustrating day of waiting to hear on a time of surgery, being told different rules of the NICU, having to be on my feet and walking more today (that is just me, Carrie), and mostly being physically and emotionally drained.

The highlight of my day was getting to hold my sweet boy for longer than 2 minutes today! He is so stinkin' cute! He rarely is fussy like I said before and he makes the sweetest faces. All 4 grandparents were able to hold him and love him.

During the day, I feel confident and ok with the situation we are in. I am not sure if it is the fact that I am rested or that I have so many supportive visitors who keep me occupied but either way I can get through the day without crying. But the nights are different. I have had emotional breakdowns both nights after all the family has left. Last night was just the truth of it all sinking in and realizing that my new baby was different than others. I am thankful that we have him as many people are not able to when they plan to and that Lincoln's condition can be treated and not have lifelong struggles but it is still hard to not be able to hold my baby when I want to. I hear the other babies up and down the hall in their parents' rooms and my heart hurts knowing that my Lincoln is in a crib alone far from me. Tonight was looking like a better night, Shane and I headed down to the NICU to tell Lincoln good night and hold him one last time before surgery because we are unsure what time the surgery will be tomorrow. But when we got there, our friendly nurse was gone and a new nurse on the clock. We are told that we couldn't hold him because it wasn't "touch times" which we have NEVER heard of before. I thought Shane was going to physically fight this woman as I sit struggling to hold back tears. She did let me hold me but the time was short because I didn't want to burst into tears in front of her, so I held them back until we were in the room....then the floodgates opened! Between me crying and Shane being angry, we were quite the pair! We are back in our room and I am ok now (I think Shane is still a little tiffed!) and I am about to shower so I feel like a new person! I know that God has a plan for this special boy and he is already proving to be a fighter. I am anxious, nervous, scared, but mostly ready for tomorrow's surgery....I want to know how we can "fix" our boy!
Thank you all for listening as I spill out my heart...it helps to vent. I will try to post as soon as we know a time and after we know anything but at the moment we just know it is sometime tomorrow.

Thank you all for your prayers and keep them going up! (Sorry no pics but I promise there will be tomorrow when my brain has rested!)
Carrie

Pictures of Little Linc

Blogger was being difficult so I had to start a new post for pictures!

Enjoy!

Lincoln has arrived!

Here is our sweet baby boy who made his appearance at 12:25 on 9-29-09! He is 6lbs and 14oz and 18.9 inches...I think he is tiny but he is called "The Giant Baby" in the NICU. When he came into this world he had a "raspy" cough that concerned the pedi nurse so she tried to stick a long suction tube down his throat and it wouldn't go far. This alarmed her so they decided to get an xray. I got to hold him for a brief couple of minutes then he was whisked away. Shane went with him and my mom came to sit with me. My epidural started to wear off a little too quickly than normal so my nurse gave me some heavy duty pain medicine and I felt GREAT!

After about an hour, I was told that they couldn't see anything on the xray so they were taking Lincoln to radiology for a better look. I was trying to stay calm and it helped to know that Shane was with me and I was busy with family and visitors. After what seemed like HOURS, Shane, Lincoln and a nurse came in and told the heartbreaking news that something was wrong with my precious boy (the nurse was going to make Shane tell me but he told her that she had to!) The news was that his esophagus is not connected to stomach but is connected to the backside of the trachea (sp?). This can cause major issues with feeding and such, so he was taken quickly away (I did get to hold my crying baby while receiving the news so it helped a little) to the NICU to get an IV started to keep him fed. After that was a rollercoaster of emotions and I don't remember too many of the events of the day. We had a few doctors come through and explain more of the details. My aunt Amy, who is a doctor, came and went to the NICU with Shane and talked with the surgeon herself and she is now helping us with all the medical jargon...which is a HUGE help! The pedi surgeon came to our room about 10:00 and described the surgery more in detail and helped us understand all the pros/cons, side effects, and complications. We felt more comfortable and confident about the surgery. The best case scenario is the esophagus and stomach are close together enough together that they can go in and connect it in one surgery. Then he would stay in the hospital until he gets feeding in control which would be about 2 weeks. The worst case scenario the esophagus is too far from the stomach and we would have to wait until his body lets it grow closer then we would do surgery in about 6 months. This would require a feeding tube to be placed and I am not looking forward to that. So that is a quick recap of what we learned. Shane and I finally got to bed about midnight from a day that is described as our best day and worst day all in one!
We woke up this morning (Wednesday, 9-30-09) ready to see our baby boy. The NICU nurses said I could hold him once I was checked on...I was ready for that! When I finally got to the NICU and got ahold of my baby, I never wanted to let him go! He is so sweet! He is very alert and only fusses when the suction tube sucks the "gunk" from deep in his mouth (and who would like that?!!) Both grandmothers got to hold him and later today the grandfathers will get their chance.
The surgeon called back and said his surgery is getting pushed back from 1:00 to late this afternoon/early evening. The surgeon says he is a priority but there are many people involved and a few are pretty busy today. So we will see when he goes to surgery to get all this fixed.
That about summarizes our last couple of days. We can't believe that he is finally here and we know that God is watching over our baby boy.
Thank you for all your support and prayers!


Until next time!
Carrie

I can see the end!

Well this could possibly be my last of being pregnant so I thought I would jot down a few thoughts about this pregnancy!

This pregnancy was a complete surprise and shock to Shane and I (and I think everyone else that knows us!) but we are blessed and thrilled! I still at times wonder how Shane and I are going to do it because I don't feel grown up yet. (I tell my mom that we are going to "wing it" and that makes her nervous!)

So as my last few days (maybe hours!) of being pregnant I will post what I have loved and not so loved about being pregnant!

What I will NOT miss about being pregnant (always start with the negative!)

• Gaining the weight....I know you have to for the baby but it is no fun to think of getting it off!
• Being tired all the time!
• Body aches towards the end....my knees hurt so bad
• Carpal tunnel syndrome in my fingers....not sure if that is what it is called when you are pregnant but it is all the same symptoms (fingers are always tingling, fingers cramp up and hurt!!!!)
• Not sleeping due to having to pee, it just takes so much time to get comfortable again in bed
• Not getting to travel
• Not having a wide variety of clothes to wear....during the summer it was ok but since starting back to work I have had to wear many of the same outfits over and over!

What I will miss about being pregnant

• Feeling Lincoln move....he has not been a real active baby but towards the end he has been
• Wondering who he will look like
• Wondering about his personality...Shane and I were pretty opposite as babies and young children so I am interested of who he will become
• Having an excuse that no one can argue with.....this goes for many aspects in life (working out, cooking, what I eat, cleaning)

That is about all I can think of now. It has been an adventure and I know I have been blessed to be on this rollercoaster called pregnancy but I will be happy to see it over!

The next time I blog we might have a baby!!!

Until next time!

And the doctor said....

I went to the doctor yesterday and got some bad news. My BP was WAY high so my doctor wanted to deliver him on Wednesday! I think she saw the panic on my face because she suggested we retest and see if it goes down. The only thing I said was "That stinks! My dad won't be here until late Wednesday night!" My BP did go down and it was in the normal range so I am going back on Thursday afternoon. If it is high on Thursday then they will admit me and we will have this baby on Friday (yes this Friday!!!!) Friday works great for me so I am secretly hoping he comes that day!
Yesterday after the appointment was a rollercoaster of emotions but I am back to "normal". I am ready to have this boy and be DONE with pregnancy!

So that is my doctor update. I will try to update on Thursday if we are going have him on Friday or if we are waiting until Tuesday. Either way Lincoln will be here in 7 or less days!!!

Until next time!
Carrie

Checklist

Anyone who knows me knows that I love lists and checking off things that are done! Well with less than 10 days away from Lincoln's arrival, I decided to get my booty in gear and check some important things off!

Pack my hospital bag: Check!
Lincoln and I are packed, Shane feels that he still has time to pack so if you come and visit me in the hospital and Shane is wearing something "odd" then you will know that he ran out of time to pack!
Wash and fold all of Lincoln's 0-3 month clothes: Check!
This only took me 3 loads and I know it will be the only time I wash these clothes and not find stains that I couldn't get out!

Carseat installed in my car: Check!

I am not driving around with the carseat without a baby but the base is installed and secure but the base is not cute so I took a pic of the carseat!

Stroller put together: Check!

My FIL bought our stroller because he felt he needed to buy Lincoln something that came from him so he did! Shane put it together and it is now waiting in our living room for the first walk with Lincoln. I can't wait!Maternity Leave Lesson Plans Done: Check!!!!

This was probably the most stressful thing I had to do this whole pregnancy! Planning for 8 weeks in about 4 while teaching was a little hard but it is all done and I am ready to be done teaching for a little while! I know my kiddos are in great hands so I am ready for my last week to be over!

We are done to one more full week until the scheduled c-section. I am happy that I have a date to look forward to and not just wondering when he will come. I go to the doctor tomorrow to check if he still breach (I am about 100% sure he still is) and to go over everything to expect in the process. I am pretty anxious! Shane and I are ready for this and I am very ready to not be pregnant anymore!

I will update if I get any exciting news/updates tomorrow!

Until next time!

Carrie

Lincoln's baby "wash"

I had my first baby shower on Saturday (the reason for the title is that I had a student last year who told me that he went to a baby wash for his cousin....pretty cute!)
It was a great shower consisting of yummy brunch food, great friends and family, precious gifts and no games! All my favorite things. Lincoln got lots of goodies and lots of clothes. I am thinking he will not have to repeat any outfits in his first year! (well maybe the cute ones he can repeat!)
I put my sister in charge of taking pictures on her awesome camera so these are the few that I stole from her blog and I am waiting on the rest (hint, hint Jordan!)
The amazing baby boy goody tub that Jordan and her family gave me. I think everything in it was a favorite, especially the Lincoln Mom shirt that I will proudly wear after he makes his appearance!

Miss Phoebe got to make the trip with Jordan and enjoy the shower. Her favorite part was the cupcakes...when she heard "Cupcake time" she came running from the bathroom! This girl knows what she likes! I am just happy that she chose to share with me!

It was a wonderful shower! Thanks a bunch to Casey and Brooke for all your work!

Now for the really exciting news.....we have a date set! Lincoln is still breach (at 37 weeks) so the doctor went ahead and scheduled a c-section for September 29 at noon! His birthday will be 9/29/09, pretty fun date! If he doesn't turn (I am thinking he won't but I can always be surprised!) then we will have him here in 2 weeks!!!! That is very exciting and I am ready for him to be here but it also makes me anxious with all the little things that still need to be done!

Well that is about it! I will post if he changes positions since I know that everyone is waiting on that exciting news!

Until next time,

Carrie

Maternity pictures and Doctor updates

I debated whether or not take maternity pictures since we just had engagement and wedding pictures (which we "oodles" to look through) and Shane despises having his picture made (and it makes the whole experience not so fun). But after much thought and advice from friends, we went ahead and had them done. We found a very reasonable photographer who would give us the cd with our prints so I felt it was a good decision. I knew if we didn't get them made then one day I would look back and regret it. So here a few that we had made.....

I went to the doctor yesterday and discovered that our son is already stubborn with a mind of his own....he has turned AGAIN and is in the breach position at almost 36 weeks. My doctor was surprised (but for some reason I had a gut feeling that he was!) and doesn't "think" he will turn back to the right position (yet he did it once so I am hoping he will again). So she told me to get used the idea of a c-section at 39 weeks, so my mind is prepared for just that. I am getting a little anxious knowing that he will be here in probably 3 weeks! The doctor said even if he does turn then she will probably induce a week early because he is measuring big and she doesn't want it be traumatic for me (I agree with that!) So I am gearing myself up for having Lincoln in roughly 3 weeks....crazy! I think we are ready here at the house but school is a whole different issue so I try not to think about it!

That is about all the exciting news here at the Nimz house. We are spending our weekends doing nothing and I am enjoying it. Our world will be changing very soon so it is nice to relax now!

Until next time,

Carrie

His room is finally ready!

I had hoped to post more often than once a week but back to school has been a little hectic this year! We are in the second week of school and I get home late almost every day due to getting ready for my maternity leave....not fun to plan 8 weeks in about 3 weeks!

In baby news, he finally turned!!!! YAY, no more breach baby! I am praying he stays in this position and stays put for awhile. The doctor did tell me that he is measuring big which makes me a little nervous for selfish reasons but she said there is nothing to worry about (yet!) I have exactly 5 weeks until my due date but I am thinking he will be here in 4 weeks so I am planning on that but hoping for the 5 weeks. I am experiencing the achy joints and swollen feet but nothing too major except I am very tired after school and I rest all weekend. I go to the doctor on Friday so maybe I will more news then.

Now to the really fun part....Lincoln's finished nursery! I didn't really have a theme but I knew I wanted to use a little sock monkey with reds, navys, and light blues. My talented mother made all the bedding and curtains and I love the look. It is not too babyish so it can grow with him and I can add more big boy themes to it as he gets older.



Here is the dresser/ changing table.....the changing pad has sock monkeys all over it and I think it is my favorite fabric in the room.
The pillows inside his bed (yes they will be moved when he starts to sleep there but for now they take over his bed.) The pillows are a combo of all the fabrics used in the room.

The crib altogether. The sign above his bed says "No more monkeys jumping on the bed", I love it! I am going to hang 2 pics above his bed but I haven't yet.

The "L" wall. I stole this off another blog and I loved the idea of having various Ls in the room. My mom, sister. and mother-in-law did lots of looking for me and I have a great variety of Ls.

The "reading center". The books are hanging in planters (idea from my sister) and hopefully it will keep my books from getting ripped to shreds (for awhile at least!)

Well that is Lincoln's room, hopefully he will like it! Shane didn't understand why he needed all the color coordination but he finally shut up about it and helped make it complete!

Maybe I will be back soon for a blog of doctor's appointment news, Lamaze class, and maybe a belly pic!

Until next time,

Carrie