3 months and sorry I haven't updated for awhile!!

3 months old and this was the first smile we caught on the camera . . . shy guy!!



He's getting so big! I can't believe the changes he's going through!



Sorry I haven't updated for awhile. Just been enjoying every moment of motherhood and started back to work when Cooper was 4 1/2 weeks. Thank goodness for the salon in the house!

**Moms that have to go back to work and do daycare my heart aches for you**

Blessed to be so fortunate to work from home. Thanks to my clients understanding too!!

This is short but the best I could do for now!!

Take care all you waiting, preggers, new moms, and back-to-work moms!!

Cooper's delivery details and pics!!

Finally I feel I have time to update. It seems like just yesterday everything took place and then again it seems like forever ago.

Lets go back to June 1, Monday. Nothing really unusal going on, me starting to feel really pregnant and up early that morning because I was pretty uncomfortable and the rest of the morning and afternoon kind of crabby. Wondered how I was gonna make it another 6 weeks being preggo.

Luckily work wasn't crazy and had just a few clients to finish in the evening. Two of my regulars (high school boys) came in for haircuts and just finished the first one and was taking off his cape while asking the second one what his haircut plan was and all of a sudden I felt this trickle. At first I thought I started to pee my pants and then the "GUSH". I quickly excused myself and dashed for the bathroom. Talk about bag of water, it seemed endless!! After a moment I peeked out the door and told the other stylist the situation and asked her to get my phone. Also gave a quick and already understood explaination to my waiting client. I called my husband who just happened to be two minutes away with my mom and sister (an RN). Talk about stunned, at first he didn't know if he heard me right! Off to the hospital I went, I even managed to call the Birthcenter to let them know I was coming and cancelled my last appt. before my family picked me up.

At this point, I'm definitely in shock knowing I was only at 34 weeks, but also knew that baby could survive at this point. Still shocked and scared for it all to be happening. No bag packed, no car seat, no idea of what to expect!!

They monitored me and immediately told be they were transferring me to Duluth (at this early they knew I needed and hospital with an specialized NICU). I used to work at this hospital for about 4 years so I knew their reputation.

Within an hour I was loaded up and on my way to St. Mary's 80 miles away. DH couldn't come in the ambulance, poor man had to drive himself while my mom and sister ran to our house to pack a bag for the both of us!! Halfway to Duluth the ambulance broke down and I was picked up by another ambulance. Kind of funny sitting in a gas station parking lot waiting to be put into another ambulance. What must have people be thinking watching that?!?

I forgot to mention the best thing was that I wasn't having any contractions (that I could feel). Before I left for Duluth I was dilated about a fingertip. The rest of the trip was uneventful. Got to the hospital and settled into my new room. Doc came in to examine and give us a rundown of what was going to happen next.

They gave me some meds to help ripen my cervix and in the morning they would induce if I wasn't in labor on my own. One last thing they mentions was the event of an emergency C-section. I was also given an ambien to help me sleep through the night.

DH slept just fine (snoring even). I was anxious and excited to think that with all my issues of low lying placenta they were gonna let me go naturally. WRONG! At 4:30 AM I woke up and had some pain (not at all what I thought a contraction felt like) I got up to go to the bathroom and noticed alot of blood. Still didn't know what to expect with delivering naturally I didn't think anything was wrong. I called the nurse for a new bed pad because of the blood and they came in calmly and changed it, made me lay down and checked my cervix right away.

Nurses converstation:

Nurse 1: What is the cervix at?

Nurse 2: Four? I don't know.

Nurse 1: Whats the read on the cervix? (confused)

Nurse 2: Odd.

Nurse 1: Odd??

Nurse 2: We need the Doc.

Me... still in shock ... and confused since there was no mention of "ODD" in our birth classes.

Doc comes in, quickly gloves up and I'm in for the hurt of my life. Talk about pain!! They threw the oxygen mask on me and had two nurses hold me down. Doc had to feel all the way to baby's head and I was only dilated to 4. Oowwiee!

The next thing I hear is a calm . . . Code Red.

Within seconds I was loaded up with everything and in the operating room before I knew it.

The worst part here was that DH was left in the room by himself after witnessing all the blood and pain. His side of the story breaks my heart more than what I went through. By the time my mom and sister got back to the hospital, Cooper was already delivered.

The C-section went fast initally, and Cooper James was born at 5:09 am June 2. I was pretty calm (in shock) til I heard his crying and then I bawled!! I was so relieved and they quickly held him for me to see before they took him away.

It seemed like forever to get put back together and sent to recovery. The recovery room was dim and I vaguely remember a little boy about 8 years old in there too. I wasn't nervous or anything and I wonder if they gave me something to calm me or if I was still in shock. Weird now that I look back on it.

After recovery they took me to the NICU (on the stretcher still) to see Cooper. This was my first look since the operating room. I was not prepared! He was temporarily on a C-Pap to help him breath.



The good news is by 2 that afternoon it was removed. Replaced with an IV in the top of his head (because it was the only place that worked for his tiny veins) and a nasal canula for oxygen. Still not prepared for seeing him this way.



Our first family photo!


Cooper James, 4 lbs 10 ozs, 18 inches long!


After 11 days in the NICU we finally got to take him home! How tiny he looks in his car seat.


Welcome home Cooper!!


At 20 days!


Today at three weeks old. I can't put him down or take my eyes off of him!


We are so in love with our little man and he was totally worth all we had to go through to welcome him into the world. We are so blessed and would like to thank all you out there for all your prayers and support!!!

He decided to come early!!

Cooper James Gilbert is here! He was delivered by emergency C-section on June 2 at 5:09 AM, 4 lbs 10 ozs and 18 inches long. We are both doing well and I will have the complete adventure soon.

ABOUT 6 weeks left. . .

I can't believe how soon our little man will be here. Right now I am still SUPER excited and only a bit anxious about the labor and delivery part. I figure I need to think less about HOW he gets here and keep the priority as to WHEN he is finally here. The pain and process will be what ever it needs to be.

DH noticed the slight beginnings of stretch marks on the underside of my BIG BELLY. I was hoping they would skip me this first time, but on the other hand the last time I wore a bikini, or showed by tummy in public was at least 10 years ago anyways!!

Getting more tired these days and need to take more breaks through out the day, feet have started to swell on occasion and hips are really starting to ache more. Another ache down there started on Friday, I assume its baby moving down.

Last ultrasound on Thurs only showed my placenta moved .4cm. The Doc wanted at least 1 full cm. We find out more June 10, and I will update again on how that affects delivery (will he let me go "naturally" or C-section??)

Take care.

I AM HUGE!

Wow! I am big, at 32 and 1/2 weeks I am on my way to getting some serious stretch marks soon (none yet). Yes, there is only one little boy in there!









At our last Doc appt last Thurs we found out that my placenta is slowly moving up and we are currently on the borderline of C-section or natural delivery. Now I'm getting more anxious realizing that I may have to actually push this little boy out myself. I can do it . . . right? **Just smile at me when I start to freak out :)**

Still feeling good and keeping up with work. Did throw in some breaks just to get through the days on my feet (starting to get some swelling towards the end of the day now).


Here's mine and DH's baby pics I copied and put in the nursery so we can see who he's taking after as he gets bigger.


The salon is coming along at a nice manageable pace.


Work in progress, what a mess!!

I'm still here . . .

Just wanted to pop in and let you know I was still here. All is going well and keeping busy with all the prepping for our little man while taking care of work stuff and prebooking clients for next month.

We had a ultrasound on Monday the 4th and our little man is 3lbs. 1oz. already and looking good. My placenta is still low lying so we will find out more at our appt tomorrow morning.

Plenty of pictures (U/S, nursery and salon) to come soon.

Hope all is well with my expecting bloggers!!

Tick Tock

I have just realized that time is not slowing down, it's speeding up. We have the nursery done and have started our childbirth classes (only 3 weeks left). *Tick* The salon is coming along nicely and might be done in May sometime. *Tock* Our last big project on our list is selling my house, my brother-in-law will be moved on by May 1st. We have some DEEP cleaning and some minor repairs to make before we put it out there. Now it is deciding between taking an easy route by getting a realitor or selling it ourselves. *Tick Tock*

We had a Dr. appt yesterday and got to do the one hour glucose test. Not bad, just drank a bottle of "orange pop" which tasted pretty good. My glucose came back normal so NO gestational diabeties (yeah!) Went over just a few questions with doc and discussed my last U/S. My placenta is slowly moving up just not out of the woods yet. Next U/S is May 4th, next OB appt is May 14th. *Tick Tock*

Feeling great, a little more tired at the end of my day but hubby has been wonderful! I've also experienced my first couple contractions (braxton-hicks), it seemed odd and at first I was in denial but DH felt my belly and noticed how hard it was too! They didn't last very long, and no pain or any other symtoms with it. Just felt weird, and silly enough to make me smile a bit realizing we are coming into the third trimester! *Tick Tock Tick Tock*

Nursery Pics!

My mom came and helped all weekend with getting this task accomplished and now I love just going in there and wondering how it going to be when our little boy is finally here!!

We had to remove two borders (one that had been painted over, the other on top of that), then sand the edges between paint and where borders were, clean walls, paint walls, touch up and finally freshened up the trim to a lighter beige.

What a relief to have that done. Still have to get the dresser cleaned up, was going to paint it but instead I will just add new handles and knobs. Will add more pics with those updates.










Belly pics to come next time.

Lots of updates . . .

A thoughtful and "loved" gift from Gramy Steph.

He loves it and says "rank ru"



We celebrated our 1st Wedding Anniversary on March 29th! Hubby and I agreed that with my birthday in March, his in April, putting in the salon, and getting ready for baby that we wouldn't do gifts for our anniversary. Well my hubby is sweet, so very smart and obviously knows just enough about women (me-especially) that he had to made some sort of romantic gesture . . .

I'll keep him!!



Had another u/s on Weds and still so exciting to see our little man (yes, reconfirmed 'It's a BOY'). My placents still is touching my cervix and we will know on the 14th weather it has made any progress or not.

Here are the lastest of our greatest!!



Working on the nursery and will have pics soon, I promise!! Went with a jungle theme and painting the walls Celery Sprig green, very light and bright. So far I really like it and will take the pics when we are done with the trim today!!

How do you keep up!

I can't believe how fast time is flying by and I have lots to do before our baby boy gets here!!

We had another check-up yesterday and all is good. Amazingly my blood pressure is pretty low, which scared me at first when the nurse asked if that was normal for me. I never paid attention to the numbers and this one was 92/56. Doc reassured me that this was a good thing as long as I didn't have any bad symtoms such as dizzyness or fainting.

Next appt I get to do the one hour glucose test(gestational diabeties), Oh joy. Also we get another ultrasound (April 1st) to check on my placenta's hopeful rise. Right now it is only partially covering my cervix and we have plently of time for it to move. As I understand he wants an ultrasound every 6 weeks to make sure of its progress, but he did add that if it moves away from my cervix it won't "fall" back . . . sigh of relief.

Haven't gotten to the nursery yet. Work is still staying busy as ever and I've been keeping up just to make sure we have enough money saved for my leave. Being self-employed has its perks but no room for maternity leave.

We (my dad) has been working hard on getting the salon in our house so that when it is time to get back to work it will be a little easier. Here are a few pics of the progress. . .


This is the door to the salon coming from our dining room:



This is entering from the outside door looking to the right where the bathroom will be:


Panning slightly to the left to see the door from the dining room:


More to the left, where my station will be:



A better look at the window I get to look out all day as I work:


And finally, this is the view from my station to where the bathroom is and to the right of it is where the entrance from the outside will be:


I am soooo excited to see the progress and to know this is finally working out. I wouldn't be able to do this if it wasn't for my dad. He has been working hard so I can be home more with my little man and still earn a living. I can't thank him enough!! Also thankful that my Stephmom is patient and understands how much I need his help, while his honey-do list at home gets longer.

Ultrasound Pics!!

What a great feeling to see the first pics of our little one! Everything is in the right places and accounted for. Healthy and on schedule! Its a great experience and hugh relief. Check out the pics . . .

Little Gibby's face and belly . . .


. . . side view of ribs and arm on the bottom . . .


. . . crossing legs . . .


. . . bottom of feet, blurred due to lots of moving. . .


. . . It's a . . .







Keep going!








Little more. . .








Almost there. . .









. . . BOY!!


We are thrilled and DH was still in shock hours after. It was so funny watching everything become more real for him.

Baby Gibby's heartbeat was 167 and heart looked great!

Only one thing that raises some concern, nothing that will affect baby, is that my placenta is on my cervix. Meaning that if it doesn't move up more then I will have to have a C-section. This is ok with me, as long as baby is not affected and pregnancy continues to go as well as it has been.

Now to get started on the nursery!!

What a great weekend!

This week is flying by so fast that I didn't get a chance yesterday to post about my great weekend with the girls!!

I stayed at Ali's on Friday night and true to her word we we up by 6 AM to get ready and get on the road. We drove straight to the Mall of America, Carrie's daughter Keifer hadn't been feeling good all week and decided to take an early nap that was about 3 hours long (she really needed it, and we hoped it was a good sign she was feeling better). Poor Carrie finally got to meet us around 1 while K spend the day with Carrie's MIL and family.

We had a great day shopping and catching up.

Where I live we don't have many places to shop, Target and Walmart are pretty much it. Carrie took us to a couple shops and showed me all the things that I should or shouldn't have. It was so helpful and a bit overwhelming. Thank you, I am so grateful. I will definitely be taking a couple more trips down to check out more things.

She also gave me THIS link to another blog on baby needs products with the research already done. Check it out, its alot of the product Carrie showed me and many of which I plan on getting. **Carrie got me The Happiest Baby on the Block, and I have no doubt Jerry and I will need it.**

Ultrasound tomorrow!!

Quick update #2 . . .

Check up yesterday went great. Baby's heartbeat is in the 160's still (maybe a girl??). He/she was kicking the doppler, everytime we would find the heartbeat you could hear this big swoosh or squelch. The way I was laying I couldn't really feel baby move but later that night I was sitting down waiting for my client and I got a couple thumps from him/her.

Our ultrasound is next week, like I figured. Weds, Feb. 25th in the afternoon!! I can't wait, super excited for the first real glimpse of baby!

Quick update . . .

Today we have our Dr. appt. I really want to hear baby's heartbeat, it still makes me tear up a little. We also find out when we get our ultrasound. My wish is that it's this week but I'm sure I won't get in til sometime next week!

Looking forward to Friday and beginning of the weekend. I head to my BFF's (Ali, 85 miles away) on Friday night and then we leave from her house in Duluth to go to the Cities (another 180 miles) to hang out with Carrie and her fam. Carrie is over at Life in the Soupbowl, we all graduated from high school together and it's been so long since we've gotten to see each other. Man, how our lives have changes since that last time. Carrie is also PG and in just over 3 weeks ahead of me. We have so much to catch up on!!

Movement Moments

This part of pregnancy is so far the best. I am starting to feel and discover new moves baby is making. Last week it was more of "bubbles" bursting, slowing turned in to quick flutters. The other night while I was finishing my last client, I turned on the hairdryer to style her and must have startled baby. It was quiet the flutter go across my belly under my bellybutton!! It stopped me in my tracks and I just had to giggle. I knew without a doubt that baby was making his/her presence know!!

I can't wait for more. The bubbles and flutters are going great and can tell baby is growing and slowly getting stronger but call me crazy . . . I want a good strong kick!! I want to see DHs face when he experiences the feel of baby moving and kicking.

17 weeks

We are in the 17th week starting tomorrow! I am getting more and more excited. Evertime I see a baby I find myself imagining what ours will look like, how it will feel to be out with him or her, and watching DH be a father! Breathtaking already.

I have started to feel slight flutters and some faint "bubbles". It happens so quick that it stops me in my tracks and leaves me wondering and waiting for it to get stronger.

My new "diet" is going very well. Lots of fruits and veggies, soups, chicken and some sandwiches. Popsicles are my new fav desert. All it takes is for me to remember the pain of the gallbladder attack and the fact that I don't want surgery while I'm PG. Cutting out fats and oily foods is hard but knowing its for baby makes it so worth it. Bright side I won't have to lose 80 lbs.

Next appt is Feb 16th, then we will schedule the ultrasound. I've been checking Youtube for the weekly u/s videos. Can't wait for a glimpse of our little one and find out if its a boy or girl!!

Watching what I eat from now on!!

Everything was going great on Monday until that evening. Had pizza for dinner and watched TV with DH. At first I thought maybe it was a little indigestion. Then my back started to ache, nothing out of the ordinary with my job leaning over the sink and cutting hair. Later my stomach felt like I'd swallowed a brick and pain went right through and connected to my back. I couldn't lay down, lay on my side, sitting up didn't help, nothing gave me relief. DH even tried giving me a back massage. Then came the vomiting and more stronger pain with no relief. Funny thing is I didn't think I needed to go to the ER, DH mentioned it so I tried to call the on call ER nurse . . . no answer. By now it's 1:30 am, still not getting better and in tears. I called my sister, RN and ER charge nurse herself, woke her up to tell her what was going on, her advice was obvious . . . go to the ER!!

Yep, gallbladder attack. Got a nice little (big, long) shot in the arm that wouldn't affect baby but made me feel better in minutes. Got to hear baby's heartbeat again too!! Finally got home at 3:30 (which really amazed me, very prompt service), and in my loopy stuper fell asleep painfree. Up at 7 am to go get ultrasound to verify gallstones, then home again. Took a nap, hungry but still to scared to eat . . just had water. Back to clinic at 2 pm for follow-up with my Doc.

I was still a little sore and very tired but managed to go into work to get a couple client done. Had a great nights sleep and feeling 98% better today. I got a little nausated from the medication but still better than the pain!!

Still afraid to eat much, toast with a little jelly, water, chicken broth. Nothing says "Change your diet" as much as gallstones. Hopefully if I watch what I eat I can avoid surgery til after baby is born. Bright side is that I won't allow myself to indulge anymore like I was doing and maybe I won't gain an outragous amount of weight like I was heading towards!!

15 weeks plus

We had our 2nd OB appt today and it was much faster than the first. Got to listen to the heartbeat which put me on cloud 9 for the rest of today (and will keep me patient until our next appt). We are babysitting our nephew so he was with us at the appt. Mitch is a not so patient 7 year old but kept us entertained during the wait. After we asked him what he thought about hearing the heartbeat . . . "it was weird".

Baby's heartbeat was in the 160's and Doc found it right away! I am still so amazed at that wonderful sound which is the only thing (other than the expanding belly) that makes this so much more real. Up next I can't wait to start feeling the flutters and movement, hopefully I recognize it when it happens.

I am officially in maternity pants but still wearing regular shirts with longer tanks underneath.

In other parts of life, work has been steady. Its so great to keep busy with the way the economy is. Thank goodness people consider their hair appts as a necessity!!

The weather is starting to warm up, at least its above 0, not by much. I still love seeing the snow fall, it's very calming and keeps me inside to work on paperwork (trying to prepare taxes) ;P

Jerry and I had a date on Sat., went to "Grand Torino" with Clint Eastwood. Loved it. Very humanizing, some (ok, lots) of racial name calling, but it makes it more realistic. Has humor, grief, and "life purpose" aspects.

Finally, here are the first baby belly pics:

Coming to the end . . .

of the first trimester!! Just a quick update, feeling great, energy is coming back and excited about our next appt with the doc in a week and half.

Its a great relief to have made it this far without any problems! I feel very lucky especially after seeing how my other pregger friends are doing and hearing the stories of past pregnancies!!

I'm starting to show, though sometimes I wonder if its just from the wonderful treats at Christmas!?!? I bought some maternity jeans and yoga pants (on sale) and after trying to wear them I realized I should wait a few more weeks.

Sleep is going well even though I'm a stomach sleeper and have been working on staying on my side through the night. The last month I have had a problem with insomnia. I usually awake at 2:30-3:30 AM and am wide awake for 2 or more hours. Leaves me a little tired right away in the morning but makes me ready for bed at 9:30 in the evening. I hope it gets better, but if thats the worst I'll be happy with it!!

Happy New Year!

Pretty uneventful night for us! I did manage to stay up to watch New York ring in the new year, fell asleep, then woke up at 12:30 to give my DH a kiss . . . "Happy New Year", back to sleep.

Hope all of you, that had a glass of wine, champage, beer or shot for me, don't suffering too much in the celebration aftermath!!

Thanks to all of you making 2008 a great year to remember, and cheers to what memorial moments 2009 has in store for us!!

**Baby Gibby this is your year, and many joyous ones to follow!**