Labor Day Weekend!

Labor Day Weekend we went on our first trip with Maddie! We traveled to Houston to visit our good friends Tim and Randi Jones. They have a beautiful little girl , Tessa, who is 3 weeks and 3 minutes older than Maddie. The trip was a wonderful experience. We learned a lot about traveling with a little one. I was never good at packing light but packing with a little one was a whole new experience. We did manage to fit everything in the car without needing a trailer!!!! Maddie slept most of the way there with one pit stop for a feeding and a clean diaper.
Saturday we all woke up and let the kids play and we did some shopping at Costco. (Chris and I love going to Costco since we don’t have one in Tyler). Saturday night we celebrated Chris’ birthday with steaks and cookie cake. Sunday the guys went fishing and Randi and I took the girls shopping at the outlet mall. Sunday we all went and great dinner. It was a great weekend! We love spending time with them and I am always sad when our visits have to come to an end. We have all been friends for a long time and we hope the girls grow up as close friends too!

 

The girls in the car.  Tessa is on the left and Maddie is on the right.

 

Maddie on Tessa's tummy mat.  She loved it so much we had to go buy her one.

Randi with both girls.  Maddie is on the left and Tessa is on the right.

Chris' birthday cake.  It was supposed to be a hunter and it looks more like a baseball player!  Every time we get together with the Jones' we find a reason for cookie cake!

The boys caught blue crab! 

Chris and his flounder!

 

Well coming home took a bit longer than getting there.  We had to stop 3 times for diaper change, twice to eat and burp, and one bathroom stop for Mom.  We also had a few more items to bring home since we did some shopping!  Thank goodness for SUVs.

 

We came home Monday evening and went to my grandparents house to celebrate my grandmother's birthday.  It was a special treat because my Dad came in town to see Maddie.  We all had a great time at Mamaw's and Dad got to catch up with Maddie!

 

Mamaw with the Grandkids and great- grand!

Happy birthday Mamaw!!  We love you and are so thankful to have you in our lives!  Maddie is so blessed to grow up and have you to look up to.

Learning lessons

Last Tuesday was my first day back to work after having Maddie. First of all let me start by saying that I do realize how lucky I am to have such a flexible job and that I only work 3 days a week. I am also very lucky that I do not have to put my darling in daycare. She stays with my mom, Michelle, and mamaw while I am at work.
Even though I have the best care a mother could ask for this day was extremely hard for me. I no idea this would be so very hard. I learned a lot this week and grew a lot as a person.
I dropped Maddie off Tuesday morning at Michelle’s house. I knew she was in the best hands but leaving her was hard. I have left her for short periods of time before but not like this. I did good till I had to drive away. I had to keep reassuring myself that she would remember me and know that I was her mother when I returned. I was so worried that I was going to miss so many milestones that I forgot to be grateful for what I had. The day went great and she did amazing! I didn’t miss her first crawl or walk and the world didn’t end.

What I learned…

I learned that everyone wishes something about their situation was different. (stay at home moms need an outlet, and working moms feel guilty)

I learned that wasting time worrying about what I missed that day took time away from being the best mom I can be to her.

I learned that I may miss certain things but to cherish each and every moment I have with her and be thankful for the milestones I can witness.

I learned that her spending time with my loving amazing family will expand her heart and make her an amazing woman that many will love.

I learned that things could always be worse!

I learned that sometimes we have to take a moment and remind ourselves how great God as been to us and to stay confident in the person he created!

Play Date

Last Wednesday Maddie had her very first play date!  My friend Randi Jones, from Houston came in town with her 7 week old daughter, Tessa.  Tessa and Maddie are 3 weeks apart.  We got them together for a "play date".  There wasn't much playing going on...more sleeping and eating with the occasional diaper change.

Tessa is on the left and Maddie on the right.  Maddie had to take a little nap. 

We couldn't seem to keep them awake at the same time. 

Tessa wanted to try on Maddie's huge bow!

Our Birth Story

Mary Madelyn Thiem arrived July 1, 2010 at 8:02 pm. She weighed 6 lbs 15 oz and was 19 ¾ inches long.

On Wednesday June 30th Chris and I checked in to Mother Frances Hospital at 6pm for a scheduled induction. My Dr wanted to induce me because I had been so ill that I was dehydrated. That night I received two doses of a drug to soften the cervix and dilate me. At 6 am the next morning I was dilated to a 3 and they started a drug to start the induction. Madelyn did not tolerate the drug very well so they had to slow the drip way down. Sometime late that afternoon I was dilated to a five. I started to progress quickly once I was at a five. Once I was at an 8 I felt an uncontrollable need to push but I had to wait. Chris and My mom were in the room with me.  I was finally at a 10 and they let me start pushing but Madelyn was turned facing up instead of down. The Dr. turned her once and I started pushing again and then she turned back around again. After an hour and a half of pushing and turning I started running a fever and Madelyn's heart rate sky rocketed We went in for a c-section. They gave Chris his scrubs and took me in the room to start my spinal block. The amazing staff already had the NICU standing by. They started the c-section and brought Chris in the room. Madelyn was born but Chris and I didn’t hear any crying. We could hear the nurses talking and trying to get her to breath. They rushed her and Chris to the NICU and left me with the Drs to finish the surgery. After they got Madelyn stable Chris came back to recovery with me. At 11 pm on the way to taking me to my room they wheeled my bed through the NICU and I got to see and hold by beautiful baby girl!!!! Madelyn was doing well. They started her on an antibiotic because she received an infection during birth.
After six nights in the NICU we got to move her to the pediatric floor and sleep in the same room as our baby like a normal family. We got to bring her home the following Friday. This was the best day of our lives. We are all doing well now! She is beautiful and healthy!!!

waiting on her arrival

she's here!

The first time I saw and held her!  Our first family photo.

Doctor Appt

Today was my first "check" at the doctor.  I go every week now.  Today the doctor told me that he didn't think I would make it to my due date.  He said for my sake he hopes I don't because she is HUGE!  He thinks she is already 6.5 lbs.  That would put her at 8.5 lbs on July 3rd.  Wow!  She gains more weight every week than I do.  I have been gaining around 1/2 lb a week to every two weeks.  This is on the low end but it is because I still get sick atleast twice a week.  As long as I'm not losing weight Madelyn should be fine.  He says that we will see how things go but he thinks she will come early.  I asked what the plan was going to be if she didn't because if she is like me she will not be very predictable!  He said that if she didn't he would induce around July 4th.  He also assured me that  he was going out of town this weekend but after that he would be around to deliver. 
Everytime I turn around I feel like someone is telling me that she can't come this day, she has to wait till or she needs to come before...well I have news for you...she will come when she wants to.  If she is anything like me she will not listen to demands and she will most likely want to make a statement with her arrival!
I will keep you updated!

Prayers for my friend Lindsey!  Tonight she is being induced and like all first time moms is scared to death.  I know she will do great but pray for her peace of mind and a safe healthy delivery!  I LOVE you Lindsey.  I know you can do it!!!!  We can't wait to meet Lillian :)

License to Carry!

Well as of last Tuesday Chris and I have completed all of our "parenting classes".  They included birthing class, newborn care class, and breast feeding.  Tuesday night when we left our last class and I felt very good about all that we had learned.  Chris said he felt good too.  But something was missing!  We left without a parent certificate, parent license, or a money back garentee!  You can't have a hand gun or drive a car without a license but they are going to let me have a baby!!!  Something just seems wrong with this picture!!! 
All joking aside...We feel very confident that we are going to be just fine!  We can change diapers, bath the baby, feed the baby, swaddle her, and we know what to expect durning delivery.  We are ready!  We just need her to arrive.  Thank goodness we got to practice with a plastic baby so our little angel is not our ginny pig.  We may not have license to be parents or carry her around like a hand gun but we have love and knowledge that will do just fine.
Tomorrow we go to the doctor for out 37 week check up.  I will keep you posted! 

Showers Galore!!!

I want to start this blog by saying how sorry I am for letting so much time go by since my last blog. I blame it on the tiredness that goes along with pregnancy. Since it has been so long I am going to try and catch you up on the month of May.

May was filled with shower galore! I had three baby showers given by dear friends. Here are some pictures of my shower that was given by my girl friends. I will post pictures of the other showers when I get them.

These were the hostess.  (from left to right) Jodi Jones (friends since highschool), Lindsey Spraggins (Friends since 4th grade, she is also having a baby girl very soon!), Sheri Thornton (friends since 9th grade), Angela McCool (Friends since 6th grade), and Carol Starnes (Sheri's Mom, was another mom to me in highschool).

This beautiful cake was done by Angela McCool.  Her cakes taste as good as they look!  She does amazing work!!!

Lindsey made this adorable banner which is now hanging in Madelyn's room.

me opening gifts

Thank you all so much for a perfect shower!

I promise to do better at keeping my blog updated!!!  I will post pictures from the other showers when I get them.   Stay tuned .....Pictures of Madelyn's completed room coming soon!