Sunday, October 31, 2010

Happy Halloween!

Lucy's first Halloween was pretty uneventful. She's been a little fussy and very hungry today...I think we're going through her first growth spurt.

Happy Halloween from Lucy Kate!!

Lucy loves her bouncer....and I think she sees something she wants! :)
She was not very happy about taking this pic...
We love our little bumpkin!
Lucy and daddy discussing the baseball game. Let's go Rangers!!
Lucy's Halloween treats from Uncle Jimmy, Aunt Jill, Dorothy (Kalie) and Ironman (Cole)...

Friday, October 29, 2010

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Lucy's Birth Day...

Monday, October 18, 2010 was hands down the best day of my life....of course our wedding day ranks a very close second! I was a nervous wreck on Sunday evening...excited to meet our little one the next day, but fearful of the unknowns of the labor process and how the next day would pan out. Josh and I went on our last date as a family of two on Sunday evening and prayed fervently before we went to bed that evening for our child's health, my health, the labor process, the nurses and doctors that would be involved, our child's salvation and that his/her birth would bring nothing but glory and honor to God. Thankfully, I slept really well that night. We woke up a 6am to get ready for the big day....or as Josh called it, "Go Live Day." We left our house at 7am (I took a good, long look as we left knowing that when we walked back in, we'd have a baby in tow) and checked in to the Plano Presbyterian Labor and Deliver Wing at 7:30am. After signing a ton of paperwork, we were escorted to our L&D room by my nurse, Brandy. She was a doll...I absolutely loved her! I changed into a hospital gown and was given an IV shortly after. The heart and contraction monitors were put on my belly and about 30 minutes later, Brandy started the Pitocin drip to get the contractions going! I started having contractions about an hour later per the monitor, but it took about 3 hours before I started feeling anything. When I started feeling the contractions, they really were not that bad....very manageable. At 1:30pm, my doctor broke my water. After my water was broken, it didn't take long at all until the contractions became extremely painful! I was dilated to a 4, so we decided to go ahead and get the epidural....no need to suffer through the pain if I didn't have to! I was so nervous about getting the epidural (I shed a few tears as they were getting me ready for it) but it really wasn't that bad, especially compared to the contractions. It took about 30 minutes to get everything in place with the epidural and then baby's heart rate dropped significantly (to 70), so they had to give me a shot to stop the contractions in order to get baby's heart rate stabilized. They kept making me turn from side to side to regulate it. Once they got the heart rate back to normal, they started the Pitocin drip again and the laboring process continued. Throughout the afternoon, I had to continue switching from side to side to keep baby's heart rate stable and they put me in other awkward positions to help open my cervix and get the baby to drop. I was just thankful that I couldn't feel the contractions anymore and praising Jesus for modern medicine! All of the nurses were convinced that we were going to have a boy (they said that boys tend to be a little more high maintenance during the labor process and baby's heart beat averaged around 130 most of the day). I think they even had Josh convinced that it was going to be a boy! (Come to find out, her umbilical cord was wrapped around her arm, which was causing her heart rate to dip throughout the day.) My doctor came back around 6pm to check my progress. I was dilated to a 6 (he was hoping that I would be a little farther along than that), but he was patient and said that we'd keep waiting and see what happens. Sure enough, I started progressing pretty quickly after that. By 8:00pm I was dilated to a 9 and almost ready to start pushing. Brandy's shift was over at 7pm, so another nurse, Laura, took over from there. She was fantastic as well! A little before 8:30pm, I started pushing. My doctor thought it wouldn't take long (20 minutes or so). Boy, was he wrong! An hour and 15 minutes later of pushing, sweet baby girl was born at 9:43pm! Pushing for that long was one of the hardest things I've ever done physically, but SO worth it. When Josh told me it was a girl, I was completely overwhelmed and SHOCKED....it was one of the most amazing moments of my life! We were both so excited!! They cleaned her up a bit and then placed her on my chest, which was amazing. My heart melted when our eyes met for the first time! I will never forget that day. It changed our lives forever. I definitely could not have done it without Josh....he was incredible to me all day long....and the best birthing coach ever! I love you so much, honey. More than you will every know. Thank you for giving me the most amazing gift ever....our precious baby girl! And thank you Jesus for hearing our prayers and blessing us abundantly...our cup truly overflows.
Our L&D Room...
All hooked up and ready to start the day...
Josh prefers this version...
Baby monitor...baby's heart rate is on top, contractions on bottom...
Patiently waiting on our little one to arrive...
SHE is here!!!
Getting weighed and measured....7lbs, 6oz and 19.25" Long
Much better now...all warm and wrapped up!
Our first family photo...
(I'm looking a little rough and swollen here...I'll blame it on the 13 hours of labor!)
Dad and Lucy Kate...
Mom and Lucy Kate...
Proud Grandparents...
The most precious toes I've ever seen...

Friday, October 22, 2010

Tickled Pink!

IT'S A GIRL!!!

We are thrilled to announce the arrival of our daughter...

Lucy Kate Rives
10.18.10 | 9:43pm | 7lb 6oz | 19.25" long


We are so in love, it's ridiculous! Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers over the last few days. We are home and getting settled. More updates and pictures coming soon....I don't have much free time anymore!

Josh has been updating his blog regularly...
joshrives.posterous.com

The big reveal caught on camera...

Saturday, October 16, 2010

10 Year High School Reunion

I didn't expect to be 10 months pregnant at my 10 year high school reunion! Even though I was EXHAUSTED and waddled my way through the party, it was such a fun evening at Hard Eight BBQ reconnecting with old friends! Hopefully I'll look a lot skinnier at our 20 year reunion.  Lucy was born 2 days later...

Megan, Jamie, Nicole, Me, Leah, Liz and Lauren...
Baby Womack and Baby Rives...
Mary Lee, Megan, Nicole, Emily, Leah, Amanda and Me...

C-O-P-P-E (double) L :: Everybody yell :: COPPELL!!

Friday, October 15, 2010

The million dollar question...

How are you feeling??

Short answer: READY!

Long answer:

Physically....I'm feeling quite good. I wouldn't say that I'm not miserable yet, but definitely a bit uncomfortable. Everyone told me that the last couple of weeks are hard and seem to drag on. For me, it hasn't been too bad, but I'm definitely at the point where I am ready to have this baby! I'm sleeping decent...still waking up every 2-3 hours to use the bathroom and re-adjust all the pillows! Afternoon naps are wonderful! The skin around my belly button feels like it's about to rip open. I still have a nice appetite, although I get full much faster than I use to and I occasionally get heartburn at night when I lay down to go to sleep. Tums are my new best friend! I'm having mild cramps here and there throughout the day, but no full out contractions....yet. And it doesn't look like the baby has dropped much, although my doctor said that some babies don't drop. Baby is still moving a ton, which is starting to hurt since there is not much room in there anymore. I AM SO READY TO KNOW IF IT'S A BOY OR A GIRL!!! And we are still working on picking girl names. We have 3 boy names chosen that we both love, but no girl names. So frustrating.

Mentally/Spiritually....I cannot believe that I'm about to become a mom....literally, any day now. I mean, wow....it really is an overwhelming thought. I have so enjoyed carrying this baby inside of me for the past 10 months, but now the reality is hitting that it really is a BABY (not just the nice/flowery thought of having a baby)....an actual human life that I (along with Josh, of course) are fully responsible for on this side of heaven. A friend emailed me last week and told me "Don't forget to look back before you close the door when you leave to go to the hospital. The next time you open that door you will be carrying your new baby". I cried when I read that. Our lives are about to change forever. I know for the good....but it still scares me. Now that we're so close to meeting our little one, I am getting a bit nervous (but excited) about the birthing process. I know it will be one of the greatest days of my life, but I would be lying if I didn't admit that I'm a little scared/fearful of the unknown....how the day is going to pan out....how it will feel....will I deliver vaginally or by c-section, etc. Yikes, it scares me! But, I keep reminding myself that birth is a completely natural and normal process and millions and millions of women have done it before me. I can do this....I can do this! I've had a lot of time this week to reflect and pray. I am completely overwhelmed at God's goodness. God provides. Thank you, Lord. Our nest is ready....house cleaned, laundry done, errands ran, a few of our favorite meals cooked/frozen. WE ARE READY!!

Today is my mom's 54th birthday....she is hoping that today will be the day! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! Today is the day that Josh picked too. If no baby today, we're going to our 10 year high school reunion tonight. NEVER did I think that I would be 10 months pregnant at my 10 year reunion! Makes me laugh....

Thanks to everyone for the phone calls, texts, emails, Facebook message this week. I so appreciate your thoughts and prayers during this very, very sweet time in our lives!

Monday, October 11, 2010

What a difference 39 weeks makes...

Hopefully this will be my last belly pic of this pregnancy. Literally about to BUST at 39 weeks...but, enjoying every last minute of it! It's weird to think that this time next week, I will have a sweet baby in my arms. I will be induced on Monday morning if baby doesn't decide to come before then. I'm officially on maternity leave, which is a great feeling! I did some major nesting today....made a HUGE trip to Wal-Mart and the grocery store to stock up on household items and food. I starting cooking some of our favorite meals that freeze well...hopefully I'll have a couple more days to get all of it done before baby arrives. Tomorrow my house is being deep cleaned...I will feel so good once that is done! Had my last doctors appointment today....everything is still looking good, but no major changes from last week.

39 Weeks...
If this picture grosses you out, I'm sorry. I just want to remember what my belly really looked like! It's truly a miracle that there is a baby in there!

A trip down baby bump memory lane...

13 Weeks (and 45 glorious pounds lighter)...

16 Weeks...

19 weeks in Zambia...

22 Weeks in Zambia...

25 Weeks in Zambia...

29 Weeks...

33 Weeks...

35 Weeks...

36 Weeks...

38 Weeks...

39 Weeks...bet you weren't expecting this beauty! :)
I hear that modesty goes out the window once you've given birth, so I might as well get over it now!

Saturday, October 9, 2010

GO #54!!!

My sweet (I mean ROUGH AND TOUGH) Cole Jackson Popelka is playing football! We had so much fun watching him this morning. He's a little stud out there and definitely gave those Southlake Dragons a run for their money! I can't believe that Cole is old enough to play football....the first of many games I'll watch him play, I'm sure!

My brother was #54 in high school...how cute is that?!

Hamming it up on the sideline for his MiMi...
Cheerleaders...GO #54!!
After the game, I had breakfast at Cafe Brazil with some of my besties...Gillean (due with baby boy Wade in January), Caroline and Karen. Gill and Carol are in town from L.A. and St. Louis for their high school reunions. We had a great time catching up!