More Pictures

Here are some more pictures of little Miss Gracyn! I really can't believe that she's already 3 weeks old....they have just flown by--and the days have all blurred together. I remember hearing people say that they couldn't remember what life was like before they had a baby and I would think, "Really??....that's crazy!" But, it is so true! She is such a joy--even at 3 in the morning and I love being her mommy! It's been a rough couple of weeks, but it's been so worth it!

Good/Bad Knee News

Well, the good news is that the MRI and brain scans came back showing no signs of problems. What a blessing! But, there really wasn't much the doctor could tell us about what caused this or a way to treat it. There isn't any surgery, medicines, or physical therapy we can do to fix this. All he said was that we needed to give it time. UGH! Since it's only been a little less than 3 weeks, it's too early to tell at this point if it's permanent or not. He wants me to come back in a month to do some tests and to see if it's gotten any better. I think that I'm over compensating with my left leg because I'm afraid of falling if I put all my weight on it....and so it makes it weaker without me using it as much. So, he said to go about my life as normal and even said that I could drive. I'm so thankful that it's not anything too serious, but wish that there was a way to fix this now instead of waiting. Hopefully it will get better in time. The nerves grow an inch every month, so I may have a long ways to go. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Thanks so much for your prayers!!

Knee News

Well, it turns out that my "temporary" knee problem isn't so temporary. I don't have any feeling in my right knee and it gives out on me. I fell pretty bad on Monday and was so thankful that I wasn't holding Gracyn at the time. I decided to call my OB/GYN to see how long they thought this should last since it'd been close to two weeks. She told me that I needed to make an appointment with my regular doctor. So, yesterday morning Drew and I went to see him. He looked at it and then did a reflex test....and my leg did nothing--there wasn't a reflex at all. He looked kind of worried, which made me panic. He sent us immediately to get an MRI done and was setting up an appointment with a neurologist. Drew just talked to the Dr. and the MRI showed a bulging disk but was inconclusive. So now they want me to go back tonight and have some more tests and scans done on my brain. We'll meet with the neurologist on Monday afternoon. I'm really nervous about all of this and just want to hear that there is something that they can do to easily fix this. I just really want to get back to "normal" and feel better. If you would, please keep me in your prayers...we'd really appreciate it! I hear the little one waking up and she's hungry.....

Gracyn Kate Herron

Gracyn Kate Herron was born on Wednesday, November 26th at 8:10 pm weighing 8 lbs. 11 oz. and was 21 3/4 inches long. We went into the hospital to be induced on Tuesday night. They started me on a slow drip of pitocin. I had mild contractions over night, but nothing really started happening until they turned up the dosage at 5:00 am. At 11:30 I was at 3 cm. and they broke my water and started me on my epidural. At 3:00 they checked me and I was at a 5. A little later I started to feel a lot of pain and told my nurse and she had them turn up my epidural just a little. (But, I think he turned it up way too much.) She came back to check me at 4:30 and I was at a 10...no wonder I was hurting. So, around 5:30 I started pushing....and I couldn't feel a thing. They turned off my epidural so I could feel the contractions to start pushing. Two and a half hours later... I was still pushing. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do and I really wasn't sure if I was going to be able to do it. My doctor told me she was going to have to do an episiatomy, and at that point I could care less and just wanted her out! I also got 3rd degree tears as well. At the end, my epidural had pretty much worn off and I could feel everything. When she started doing my stitches, I was screaming at her because I could feel it! After that they gave me some drugs and I was really out of it. Once she was finally out, the cord was around her neck. She wasn't really responsive and took a while to cry. So, that's when they whisked her away to the NICU. It was kind of a good thing that I was so out of it because I didn't realize what all was going on to be really scared. Everyone else was freaking out though. She was there for a few hours where they could monitor her and everything looked good so they moved her to the regular nursery. While she was there, her oxygen levels went low and she turned purple. They say that bigger babies have a harder time transitioning from the womb to the outside world. She is doing just fine now. Since she went straight to the NICU and then had to stay in the nursery, I didn't get to breastfeed her right away, so we've had some struggles with that. But, she is eating great now. Drew has been home all week and I don't know what I'd do without his help. I am dreading Monday morning when he goes back to work. During my 2 1/2 hours of pushing, I temporarily damaged the nerves around my right knee and have trouble walking because my knee gives way. To say the least, things didn't turn out at all like I had planned. Pretty much everything that I was worried about happened. But, we have a beautiful baby girl that we are so in love with....God is SO good! We're still trying to get used to our new life...with no sleep and I'm having a hard time typing with one hand while tring to hold Gracyn too. Here are a few more pictures....and yes, I think she looks just like her daddy!

PICTURES!!

As promised, here are some more pictures of our sweet Gracyn! Blogger has the pictures all out of order...but I don't really want to fix them right now. Some are right after she was born, on her way home from the hospital, and at home today. I'll write more about her delivery when I've got more time and I've had more sleep! It's been a rough couple of days...but we're getting through it. Prayers for a speedy recovery would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!

The End is in Sight!!!!

39 weeks and 5 days pregnant!!!

Well....it seems that no one else wanted to spend Thanksgiving in the hospital either and there aren't any openings for me to go in tonight. :( But, I have a "reservation" for tomorrow night!! I have to be there by 8pm. I'm 100% effaced and have dilated 1.5 cm. So, things are starting!! YEA!! They'll start me on a slow drip of Pitocin over night on Tuesday and hopefully she'll come Wednesday morning. (That's been my due date all along.)Of course, Gracyn could decide to come earlier, but I really doubt that because it seems she's really comfortable where she is now. I'll probably still be in the hospital for Thanksgiving, but I'm okay with that....my mom has promised to bring me a plate of all the good stuff because I'm sure the hospital version will not be what I'm used to. :) Plus my grandparents will be here by then and they're really excited to be here for the big day. It's just nice to know that I'm not going to be pregnant forever!! We'll try to get pictures up soon after she gets here...but I can't make any promises!! Stayed tuned.....

Happy News!

Just wanted to share that my little brother, Ryan, got engaged Sunday night! We are SO excited for him and Virginia! This is a picture that I used to make a book for Ava. I couldn't get my other ones to come up. Hopefully we'll have another addition to our family soon!! :)