Better late than never ;)

You will never guess what I did on Tuesday! I got my driver's license!!!!! It has been a huge fear of mine to drive forever, but I just refused to let it control me any longer...so I did it. I got my license. I even have a story to go with it. It was not as easy as walking into the DMV and taking the test...here's the story:

Tuesday, December 15th, Mom and Dad came down so that Mom could watch Bethanie while Dad took me driving. We left the house and drove to Casa Grande (I drove)...it's about 35 miles or something. Well, we get to the DMV and because my permit was expired the lady said that I would need my birth certificate! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! So, we had to drive all the way back to Maricopa to get my birth certificate...I thought I'd cover all the bases and grabbed my passport too. We had lunch and then headed back to Casa Grande. We got back to the DMV and waited for about an hour...you know how it is waiting at the DMV. Anyway...they finally call my number and I gave my paperwork to the lady...BUT she didn't even ask me for my birth certificate! So, I asked her if she needed it and she said no...but then I told her that I just went all the way back home to get it so she better check. So she checked and come to find out she was doing it wrong and she really did need it. She looks at my birth certificate and says, "Uh oh, this has a different name on it (my maiden name)"...good thing I had my passport with me because it has Rector on it instead of Barton...thank goodness!!
So, I finally get to take the written test and I pass...yippee!! Then they tell me to take my car around back of the building so that I can take the driving test. The driving instructor lady had me park and she had to check to make sure all of my lights and blinkers worked...well guess what?!?! The left brake light was out...so she told me I'd have to come back another time to take the test because she could not take me on the road with a brake light out. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!
So, I ask Dad if there is a way that we could just replace the light in Casa Grande instead of going all the way back home. We went to Auto Zone and replaced the light...and headed back to the DMV.
All the lights work now, so the test could begin. Here comes the next challenge...That morning I had called the DMV to find out if they did parallel parking or three point turns in their test and they told me it would be parallel parking, so before we left that morning I practiced parallel parking. WELL, THEY LIED!!! The first part of the test was a three point turn within a bunch of cones...I had 3 chances to pass that portion and I finally got it right on my 3rd try. IF they would not have lied to me I would have practiced that.
ANYWAY...the rest of the test was easy and then we get back to the DMV and the lady says, "It's illegal to drive barefoot, but I won't fail you for that." (I had taken my flip flop off because I did not want it to get stuck on the pedals or something...thought it was safer that way).

So, after all of those challenges...I GOT MY LICENSE!!! YIPPEE!!!!!! :)

Christmas Fun

So, Bryan was off painting a house and I got BORED...so I decided to play around with the camera, Bethanie and Trooper. It was fun. Hehe.

Pictures

Just thought I'd add some pictures...enjoy!

Proud new Daddy

Sleeping in my Hospital Bed

Big Yawn

First Bath

Not a Happy Camper

Very Concerned Trooper

Pretty in Pink

Aw, so cute!

Chubby Bunny...haha!

Had to tape on her mittens so she wouldn't scratch her face. Gotta love her boxing gloves :)

Loves her Daddy...Daddy multi-tasking

Pacifier = Content

Take the Pacifier away...Watch Out!!

She's Arrived! :)

Bethanie Lynn is here at last and we are completely overjoyed! We love her to pieces! I just cannot get enough of her...I could just sit and stare at her all day long. She is beautiful.

Friday, November 6th, we sat around waiting ALL DAY LONG for a call from the hospital to let us know when we could come in for my induction. All of the waiting just about drove me insane. Finally, at 9:03 pm we received the long awaited call. We were told to come to the hospital as soon as we could and they would get me right in for my induction.

After arriving at the hospital we were taken to our room and the fun began. Around 11:20 pm that night the process was started and I was given a cervix softener...this basically made me have contractions ALL NIGHT LONG to help my cervix thin out enough to start the actual induction. I asked for a sleeping pill thinking that I would definitely need a good night's sleep before everything happened...well, the sleeping pill FAILED! I got no sleep whatsoever that night. Then around 11 Saturday morning they started the pitocin drip.

I asked for an Epidural when the contractions became too much to bear. I felt great after the Epidural was in...and it was just a long day of waiting. Well, around 9 or so that night I was feeling a lot of pressure and pain that I should not be feeling, so I asked what they could do for the pain. They sent in another guy to give me another Epidural because they said the first one must have just been wearing off. So, I got the 2nd Epidural and went completely numb from waste down...I was feeling great again. Then around 10 the doctor came in to check me and we all thought that I wouldn't be ready for another couple hours...but guess what? TEN!!!!! WOO HOO!! The doctor said to let the Epidural take effect and she'd be back to check on me in a while. Well, 11:00 pm rolls around and we are pumped and ready to go. We did some practice pushes and started to get real nervous. The showtime lights came on, the bed was transformed into a labor "chair" and we were ready. I started pushing around 11:15 and didn't know if it would ever end.

Bryan was amazing through this whole process...he fed me ice chips (not too many because quite frankly you just aren't in the mood for anything while pushing). He also kept my face cool with a washcloth because I was dying! He told me over and over how great I was doing and how amazing I was. It was nice to hear because like I said...I thought it would never end.

Midnight rolls around and the nurse looks up and says, "Well, I guess it won't be an 11/7 baby." And then 22 minutes later, Bethanie Lynn Rector was born. They put her up on me and she was beautiful! She came out with a cute little pouty lip. Bryan cut the umbilical cord and says that it was much harder than he thought it would be. He had to nip at it 3 times to finally get it to cut. I think he was glad he did it.

Bryan and the nurse took care of Bethanie while the doctor took care of me and we were all extremely happy and of course exhausted!

Bethanie Lynn was born at 12:22 on November 8, 2009. She weighed 7 lbs. 9 oz and was 21 inches long. She is beautiful and we are so excited to be parents.

We stayed in the hospital until they finally let us go home Tuesday afternoon. It is great to be home and we are loving it all even though I still have not slept as much as I need...but it's ok, being a Mom is better than sleep. ;)

Packed and ready to go

My beautiful blue baby :)

Bryan was right there making sure Bethanie was taken care of

So proud...and SO tired :)

Our beautiful little girl

Glad my hospital bed was comfy for someone! :)

Bethanie's Hospital Picture...she's gorgeous!

Another update

Man, working with these doctors is a joke! Today might be the day...after the doctor's appointment yesterday they called us back and had us come back to the doctor's office and wanted me to do some more blood and urine tests and another ultrasound...which was confusing because the last tests came back perfectly fine. ANYWAY...since all of these doctors keep giving us different answers we were obviously pretty upset. Bryan went off on the doctor and I started crying...and after all of the tension and frustration was out, the doctor decided that she'd send us in to be induced. (Seems like we've been there before...) Well, so we got excited AGAIN and came home and made sure everything was packed and just as we were about to get in the car we get a call from the doctor. She says that even with all the strings she pulled there is a good chance that triage might still send us home...so we gave up and said forget it. We stayed home. WELL...this morning I get up real early to make Bryan breakfast before he went to work and before I crawled back into bed I checked my phone. There was a voicemail from the hospital saying that they were calling to schedule my induction. WHAT?!? So I call them back and they say that my induction was scheduled for 7:30 this morning but they just got really busy so they will call me back when a room opens up. So, I asked them if this was a REAL thing and made sure that if we do go to the hospital when they call us that they will NOT send us home. They said, since I'm on the schedule, it will actually happen. SO...now we wait once again for a phone call...it probably won't happen until tonight, but let's hope that it actually happens this time because I don't think I can handle another false alarm. Sigh...this is going to be a long day!

Doc Appointment today

Well I went to the doc today...1-2 cm dilated and 70% effaced. The doc says that the baby should arrive sometime within the next week to week and a half...WELL DUH!!!! I am due on the 16th which is in 11 days, so I would surely hope that she'll come within that time frame. Haha. Dumb doctors! The doc said she could feel the baby's head and water sacs...so I am hoping that is a really good thing and that labor will start SOON!!!! I don't know how much longer I can wait! :) Well, there's the update for the week. Will keep you all posted on facebook and the blog. :)

Back and Forth...ugh

Well, bed rest is driving me crazy, but having to go back and forth to the hospital all the time is even worse. We spent last weekend in the hospital because of my mild preeclampsia, and then they sent me home on bed rest because things were looking better and they said bed rest would keep things under control. They had us go back to the hospital on Monday afternoon for another ultrasound, blood work and more monitoring and sent us home again. Then they had us go to the doctor on Tuesday (not the one in Maricopa, one that was a 30 minute drive) and they checked me over and sent me home once again. Then we had Wednesday as a normal day and then yesterday went back to the hospital (which is a 30 minute drive each way I might add)...everything is still looking good apparently except for the fact that they found more protein in my urine...so they sent me home AGAIN to do yet another 24 hour urine test...have to collect my urine for 24 hours and then go BACK to the hospital again today to take that in and to be monitored again. All of these tests and traveling back and forth to the hospital is really starting to wear on me and Bryan. We are at the end of our rope. It is definitely getting frustrating. So, pray with us when we pray that they will keep us there when we go today and that they will induce us. I am SO ready! If they send me home one more time I'm just going to stay home and deliver at home because I don't think I can handle going back there again without being able to bring home my baby in my arms. As we sat there yesterday in the waiting room I saw 3 new moms taking their babies home...I JUST WANT MY BETHANIE OUT!!!!! So, keep us in your prayers and hope that we will get what we want today.

Update

Well, we were at the hospital all weekend having blood and urine tests done to see how my mild preeclampsia was doing and to see how Bethanie was holding up. Everything looks good and being in bed for 2 days at the hospital seemed to help with everything. So, they sent me home on bedrest. I am now at home on bedrest and just waiting for the next step. We go back to the hospital this afternoon to have another ultrasound and some more tests and monitoring done so that's all we know for now. They do not want to pull Bethanie out too soon which is good because we want a healthy baby. So, we will keep everyone posted as soon as we know more. But for now, I'm just chillin' at home. :)

YIKES!!!

Well, it looks like the day has come!! We went to the doctor today for our 36 week appointment and got test results back from a urine test I had done last week...I've got mild preeclampsia. No good. My blood pressure has been a little high and then with that urine test coming back really high in protein, the doc said it was time! EEK! We were just joking around with her when we told her that this weekend would work for us...but then when she said she was going to call the hospital to schedule us for an induction it all became real...and REALLY scary!!

Bethanie is doing great...she's growing like a champ. Even though I am technically at the end of my 36th week, our ultrasound shows Bethanie measuring at 39 weeks...so I guess we will see. The ultrasound also says she's already 7 lbs 9 oz. Good thing she's coming early so she doesn't have time to grow anymore...that's plenty big for me since I am the one who gets to give birth to her. :)

Well, we go in at 10 am tomorrow morning to be induced...I am excited but extremely nervous. I think the anticipation is going to kill me.

We will keep you all posted. Can't wait for Bethanie to join us!! :) Bryan is SUPER excited too!!!!

Baby Shower

Yesterday was my baby shower...it was amazing!! We had such a great time and got TONS of great gifts! Bethanie is so blessed and she will definitely be the BEST DRESSED baby on the block. Her nursery is packed full of presents...now we just have to figure out how to organize everything. So much still to do...and so little time. It's all becoming so real now and we are definitely getting nervous. She'll be here before we know it! Enjoy the pictures from the shower. :)

Sheree, Mom, Me, Mandy

Aunt Kaye, Me, Chelsey

Diaper Cake...no you can't eat it ;)

Presents

Food

Bottle Chugging Contest

Katie won by a long shot...I still had 3 oz left

Opening presents...look at those adorable shoes

Beautiful blessing gown...Bethanie will look like an Angel

Bouncer chair

Olivia is due 4 days before me, crazy how everyone carries so differently :)

Tickle, Tickle, Tickle...think Bethanie can feel that?

Baby Shower

I haven't posted anything in a while. I keep meaning to take more pictures of myself so that I will remember what I looked like at different weeks, but when I get home from work, I am too hot and tired to think about posing for pictures. Well, hopefully we will do some pictures tomorrow.

Tomorrow is my baby shower and I am SUPER excited!! I've been looking forward to this forever. My Aunt Kaye is amazing and is throwing my shower for me...I just can't wait. I know it will be amazing!

This post is just to hold you over til tomorrow when I actually have pictures and things to talk about. :)

28 weeks...Hello 3rd Trimester! :)

28 weeks...YIPPEE!! We had our 28 week appointment yesterday and got to have another ultrasound. We sure are lucky to get to have so many ultrasounds to keep an eye on our precious little girl. She's doing GREAT! She's growing like a champ and her heart is beating at 154 bpm right now. As the ultrasound tech measured Bethanie, she is measuring at around 30 weeks...but the tech says that this will not change the due date. How much sense does that make?? Anyway...Bethanie is now 3 pounds 3 ounces and is measuring at 30 weeks 3 days. She's in the 91 percentile already...oh dear. So, either we are going to have a real big baby, or she will come earlier than the doctors are saying. We are hoping for the latter. :) The tech also says that it looks like Bethanie is going to have Daddy's nose...Bryan's not so sure, but check it out. Very cute!!

Check out little Bethanie's pictures below...she's being shy and covering part of her face, but it's amazing how much she's looking like a real baby. We are getting SO excited! I can't wait for her to join our family!!

Hahaha

Made a baby on MakeMeBabies.com...so funny! Check out our little girl:

http://www.makemebabies.com/viewbaby.php?bid=baby_13_395421

The Joys of Pregnancy...

The Joys of Pregnancy...

• Waking up with leg cramps
• Waking up in the middle of the night to pee
• Not being able to get comfortable no matter where you sit
• Feet and Legs getting extremely tired just from standing up for a little while
• Feet getting really hot and swelling up like balloons
• Being HOT all the time
• Having a hard time getting up out of bed because you feel so heavy
• Feeling like you have to pick up your belly when laying on your side because it's so heavy
• Having your bladder used as a trampoline
  
• Stressing about money and being prepared for when the baby comes
• Having every ache and pain be "normal"
• Feeling like you are eating way too much but not being able to control yourself
• Not being able to shave your legs as easily as before...got a big belly in the way
• Not being able to reach my toes to paint them even though they need it
• Not being able to get comfortable at work no matter what you do
• Not fitting into any of your clothes anymore
  

The REAL Joys of Pregnancy...

• Knowing that you are growing a miracle inside of you
• Knowing that even after all the aches and pains, it will all be worth it
• Knowing that there is a real human inside of you
• Feeling the baby kick and move around
• Seeing and hearing the baby's heartbeat
• Seeing your baby grow and get stronger with every ultrasound
• Knowing that your baby is developing perfectly
• Knowing that you will soon get to hold that precious child in your arms
• Feeling the joys and fears of parenting
• Decorating and getting the baby's room ready
• Seeing other babies and thinking that I will have one in a few months
  
• Looking in the mirror and enjoying your belly because it's not just fat...it's a baby!
• Watching your husband's face light up when he gets to feel the baby move for the first time
• Knowing that your baby is healthy
• Imagining what life will be like in a few months

There really are ups and downs to pregnancy...but just knowing that little Bethanie will be here before we know it excites me beyond belief. :)
"I'm so excited and I just can't hide it!!" That's how I feel. LOL

Silly Trooper!

Well, we got Bethanie's crib all set up and put her mattress in there today. Trooper was VERY curious and was sniffing all around, hiding under the crib and everything. He was not so sure about what was going on. So, we thought it would be fun to see what he would do inside the crib. Here are some pictures of Bryan tucking our little Trooper into bed. Funny stuff!

Goodnight little guy...sleep tight...

"Ok Dad, let me out of this thing!"

He was so done! This bed is just not as comfortable as his Love Sac ;)

WE CAN'T WAIT FOR BETHANIE TO ARRIVE SO THAT WE CAN TUCK SOMEONE IN WHO WILL APPRECIATE IT. ;) HEHE!!

24 Weeks...Moving right along! :)

We had another ultrasound yesterday (7/27/09). We are at 24 weeks and just pushing right along. The ultrasound tech confirmed that Bethanie really is a girl because Bryan still wasn't believing it...but it's for sure! Her legs are extremely long and everything is still going great. Four chambers in the heart, beating beautifully...153 bpm. She weighs 1 pound 10 ounces right now. She's nice and healthy and happy...she was being shy yesterday. First she was trying to hide behind her arm...and then she was smooshing her face up against the placenta, guess she was too tired to be modeling. She had a long day yesterday jumping on her trampoline (my bladder). Haha. Anyway...everything's going well, so here are her 24 week ultrasound pictures. ENJOY!!

Spine...just thought it was a cool picture

Hiding behind the Placenta...silly girl!
Again, smooshed up against the placenta

ALL GIRL...sorry Bryan!

Hiding behind her long arm