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!

Our weekend in Houston!

This past weekend  Chris and I went to Houston to visit our friends Tim and Randi Jones.  They are also expecting a little girl!  They are due at the end of May.  We went down Thursday night and stayed up way too late for two pregos but we had a lot of catching up to do!  Friday we did some shopping for baby stuff (even the boys) and Friday night we celebrated their dog Molli's birthday!  I think it was just an excuss for us to have cookie cake!  Saturday was Randi's baby shower that I was helping give!   It was a great success!  She got a lot of much needed baby items.  We came home Sunday very sad to leave our friends :(   Here are some pictures of her shower and Molli's birthday! 

This was a candy buffet.  Guest got to take home candy!

The Theme was tropical.  Just like her baby's room!  We even served drinks with little umbrellas!

Molli is the cutest dog ever!  Chris and I tried to bring her home with us!  This was her second birthday!  Happy Birthday Molli!  The cake was great!!!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Saturday April 10th was my Mom’s birthday. I will not tell you have old she is but I will say she doesn’t look her age! I hope I get those genesJ I just wanted to take a moment and tell the world how special she is to me. My Mom is my best friend. I talk to her daily and trust her with my everything. She has been such a role model to me through the years and continues to be. I am so grateful to my grandmother for giving birth to her so that she could later have me and I would have my best friend. Through thick and thin she has always been there for me. I can’t wait for my daughter to meet her and realize what a great person she has for a grandmother.


Mom, I am so proud of you and love you with all my heart. Thank you for everything you have done for me over the years. I can’t wait for you to meet Madelyn. I know you will be an amazing Mimi!

Happy Birthday!

Love Erin

What a weekend!

Wow what busy weekend we have had! First of all it was such a treat to have my Dad in Tyler for the whole weekend! We got to spend some great time together! On Saturday we had breakfast with my Dad and spent the day with him. We went to Cade’s first T-Ball game and got to cheer for him! He looks so cute in his uniform! Saturday night we went to Mamaw and Papaw’s house for my mom’s birthday dinner. It is always good to have home cooked food and birthday cakeJ Then on Sunday we ate breakfast with my Dad before he had to head out of town and then we were off to the Dallas area for a couples baby shower for one of my best friends. Yep we are pregnant at the same time and we are both having girls! We got back home about 6:30 Sunday night and we both crashed. It was a very busy weekend but very fun!