Our first bath at home

March 9th, 2007

I thought I would write down some information about Sydney's birth day, so that we can remember most of the details. Honestly, the day was great for me. We got to Baptist around 8:00am, my dr. broke my water and they started IV fluids and pictocin (spelling?). We did know that there was meconium (spelling?) in the fluid, which meant that the baby had pooped already, and we were informed that NICU would be with us for the delivery to suction the baby at birth. I started feeling some contractions, but they gave me a little medication via IV and I wasn't really hurting again until after 11:30. I did NOT like getting the epidural- people said the IV would be worse but that was not my experience. I was also nervous and started having a strong contraction right when he was saying "Don't move- Don't move". I felt a good bit of shooting pains up and down my back, and then I noticed Brent and my nurse Jessica (whom I adored!!) looking at me really worried. As soon as the needle was in they laid me down, and I hear I turned as white as a sheet and looked really lethargic for a second. But, it was worth it 110% because the rest of the day was pretty easy sailing! I progressed pretty slowly, and at one point we were thinking that the baby might not come until 9:00pm or later. So wouldn't you know, I was dilated to a 6 and I sent everyone to go relax and get something to eat, the nurse came in to check me at 6:30 and I had gone from 6 to 10 cms and was ready to start pushing. Once the dr. got there, I pushed around 7 times and she was here. However, the cord was wrapped around her neck and her coloring was not great, so Dr. Hubach rushed her over to the nurses and they started working on her. It was the longest 10 minutes of my life. I was crying and I swear I asked 100 times "Is she Ok?". Everyone kept telling me she was, but she wasn't really crying out and they just kept fussing over her. All in all though, she was great. Her apgar scores were 7 at 1 minute and 8 at 5 minutes, and once they got her lungs good and cleaned out she was so alert and beautiful!!! Brent and I got some precious moments with her before people started coming back, which was important to me. I hear everyone in the waiting room was freaking out because they were waiting so long, and when they called back the receptionist said "Someone will be out in a minute to talk to you". I wish she had said "Yes the baby is here and everyone is fine" but who knows...

Sydney's First Dr. Appointment

We went to see the pediatrician on Tuesday morning and LOVED Dr. Wilson. She was so wonderful to us and Sydney. She was down to 7.3 oz and so we go back in on Monday for a weight check to make sure she is back up to her birth weight. Sydney is just a touch jaundice still, which really makes her look pretty and tan, and if she takes after her mother she had better enjoy it now :). Other than that, she got a perfect bill of health and we are so thankful. Breastfeeding seems to be going great, so hopefully she will continue to gain weight over the weekend.

A few more pictures...

Thanks to Aunt Teeny for putting some great pictures up! Here are a few more...

More Pictures of Sydney

Hi Aunt Tenny here I am substitute blogging for Lauren she is a little busy!! Here are some pictures I took at the hospital on Saturday and thought they turned out pretty good! I just talked to Lauren and everyone is doing great just tired! They really appreciate everyones thoughts and prayers. And I am sure she will post more pictures soon!!! Sydney is so sweet and as you can tell from the last picture so loved!!! Lauren and Brent we are so proud of you and thankful for such a beautiful little girl for us to love and spoil as well!!! ily

Sydney Elise is HERE!!!

She is HERE!!!! Sydney Elise was born on March 9th at 7:29 pm. She weighed 7 lbs. 9 oz. and was 19 1/2 inches long. Thanks to everyone for their thoughts, prayers, and patience waiting in the waiting room Friday night! I wish I could upload a picture of everyone there, but here is a start. We got home today and we are all doing pretty well (thanks to an amazing support system of family and friends!!!). More details later about her Birth Day, but I know everyone really only cares about pictures...

Looks like March 9th will be a big day!

Yea!!!! I had my last drs. appointment today, and things were much more progressed today. In fact, I have hospital "reservations" for Friday morning at 8:00am for an inducement! Dr. Hubach said "I'll see you Friday unless you come in on your own before then". I am feeling- oh my gosh- every emotion in the book!!! I am going to work tomorrow to see a few more kids and then to tie up some loose ends in the office. We, of course, covet your thoughts and prayers during this special time!! Stay tuned for more news....

Thank you Granddad!

Joe had a "Granddad Shower" at work and he brought over the goods he got tonight- 17 packs of diapers (size newborn through 3) plus wipes and a few toys!!!! Yea!!!!! Thank you!!!!

Well...

My due date is NEXT WEEK!!! I saw Dr. Hubach today. Good things first: my blood presure is calm and cool, Sydney is measuring growth right on target, her heart beat is perfect, and Dr. Hubach is on call next weekend. Bad news: no major change in my progress towards labor. In fact, Dr. Hubach wouldn't even talk about inducement dates. So... I'll go back next Tuesday and we'll see from there. I'm still working and seeing between 10-20 kids a day for therapy. I guess if I was at home I would just be sitting around "waiting for the pot to boil", so I'm thankful to be busy. Looks like Sydney will be a March baby :)

38 Weeks

Well, only 2 more weeks to our due date! I am dieing to know when she is going to get here!!!! Right now it is 2:49 am, so I guess you could say that I am having trouble sleeping :). We had a great President's Day weekend- we slept in and put together Sydney's swing and got some other things done around the house. But I am definitely getting more and more uncomfortable! I go and see Dr. Hubach today at 11:15, so we'll see...

Update after my appointment: Well, everything looked healthy and normal today. Sydney measured 37 weeks, but she is still growing so Dr. Hubach had no worries. I did have change from my last appointment, 1 cm, nothing major, but we are hopefully on the right track. I go back Tuesday for another appointment and check. Thanks for your prayers, comments and support!!!

Sydney's Bedding

I've tried the bumper pads with the floral facing out and facing in and I like it either way. The nursery is done! Now we just need a baby...

Our first Baby Girl

Here a few pictures of our first Princess!

I know she will be a great big sister...

36 Weeks

Hello everyone from the Walkers! We did get to participate in the SARA Study at UAMS, and got a 3 D ultrasound as "payment". Somehow my child managed to have her foot, leg, and at least one hand in front of her face for the entire ultrasound! We didn't get a perfect picture of her pretty little face, but we did get some cool ones. I'll try and get to Erin's scanner so I can upload a few. She measured 5 lbs, 10 ozs (plus or minus 10 ozs) and it said March 9th as a due date- right on target! I don't have any other major news to report. I've started my weekly appointments but won't get "checked" until this Monday- yuck. Brent is flying to St. Louis from Monday through Wednesday night, so say a little prayer that Sydney doesn't suddenly decide she is ready to arrive! I can't WAIT for her to get here, as long as Brent is in town!!!!

Sydney's Room

I talked to the lady that is sewing Sydney's bedding, and it isn't quite done yet. But, my Aunt Sherri and Mimi are dying to see her room, so here is what we have done so far. The green paint on the walls is really pretty, but I took these after it was dark, so the colors don't look as pretty in pictures. I LOVE her room so far! I find myself going in there several times a day, just to see how different the light looks and imagining all the things we will do in there. I hope y'all like it! I will upload a picture of her crib once her bedding is done!

34 Weeks

I am still feeling pretty good, but very pregnant too! More heartburn and basically uncomfortable most of the time, especially at night. I can not WAIT to see my daughter (will I ever get used to saying that?!?) and start getting to know her. Mika got me this shirt- it says "Motherhood isn't for Sissies" and I already 100% agree. Thanks everyone for the feedback on trying to relax and enjoy the ride- I've taken it to heart!

A Newborn's Conversation With God

A Newborn's Conversation With God

I saw this on a blog that is linked to Casey's, and I teared up it is so sweet. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

A newborn's conversation with God: A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

The child further inquired,"But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."God said,"Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."

Again the child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak."

"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."

"Who will protect me?"God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."

"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name.

"God said,You will simply call her, "Mom."

Look what Dayle painted!

We owe Dayle more than words can say (or we can afford) for painting our table, chairs, and crown!!! And I'm sorry, but I can't post new pictures of the nursery yet because the bedding is supposed to be ready early next week and we still need to hang several things on the walls. One of the things we need to hang is a beautiful crown that David Geran made and Dayle painted to hang over the crib. Check out Sydney's initials on the top of the table. Please see the pictures above for just a taste of how things are shaping up!!! And Dayle-

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nesting

OK, I'm afraid that I must be nesting already. Now, given my OCD tendencies and anal personality, it really should not alarm me. But, this is a new low: I can't stop making lists of things I need to get down around the house and in the nursery, things I need to get done at work in the next 6 weeks, things we still need to get before she gets here, things I have learned and haven't learned in our classes, and I have 3 books started but not finished that I feel this need to read every word. HELP!!!! Please tell me that other new moms felt this overwhelming sense of... trying to prepare for the most life changing experience ever??? And I know in my head that I can't even begin to be prepared, but it is nice to plan, isn't it!?! We got a wonderful pack-n-play as a shower gift, and Brent put it together tonight while I watched American Idol (more just to get me off his back about putting the stupid thing together, but I don't care his motives). I think it is going to be perfect. Our plan (I know I will live to regret I ever said those words) is to keep it set up downstairs in the guest bedroom as a diaper changing station/nap time spot for the downstairs. These things come with everything: a music box, light, vibrating motion, diaper changing add-on, a canopy, and even a mobile. Please note that I even have a few newborn size diapers ready. Now, where did I put my list so I can add that we still need wipes...

OBU Shower

Erin, Scarlett, Katie, and Julie hosted a beautiful shower for my OBU girls. Everything was wonderful- from the invitations to the food and diaper cake, prayer cards for people to write special prayer requests for Sydney on (and Amber got confused and thought it was for anyone to make a prayer request, so please everyone be praying for Allen's grandmother and family :) ) and a wonderful mega-saucer for Sydney. It was so much fun to laugh and visit with everyone. Wait until you see the table and chairs that Dayle is painting for the nursery!!! They are almost ready and I know they will be a keepsake for many years to come. Oh, one more neat thing, the invitation asked everyone to bring their favorite Golden Book, so now Sydney has a start on a wonderful bookcase full of special books. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart to all of you for sharing in this special time!!!