And we're back...

 

To say an update is long overdue is a massive understatement. However, those of you who have kiddos can surely relate to my online hiatus…I've been a bit busy lately. Juggling a new baby, going back to work, attempting to keep up with the house “stuff”, trying to be the best wife possible & keeping up with Miss Piper’s social life is turning out to be quite demanding. But I love every single moment of it! Its hard work some days but the payoff is too amazing to put into words.

Piper is now almost 20 weeks…aka 5 months!!! At her 4 month checkup she was 26.5 inches and 15 lbs 6 oz. She’s still an overachiever, hanging out in the upper percentiles with the standard averages. And that was a month ago so she’s grown since then. She’s rolled over a couple of times and has achieved the “assisted sitter” status but she isn't really impressed with either. She’d rather stand up and walk around (with assistance of course).  She is still waking up at night to nurse, usually around 2 and 5:15 am. Sometimes this makes for a sleepy mommy but I’m cherishing our late night pow wows for now since they’re not going to last forever.  We got the green light to try rice cereal at 4 months and she didn't really take to it or the whole spoon thing for that matter. So we held off and gave it another try today. She did pretty well. She’s super animated in her faces and has a lot to say these days. Diner time & 2 am seem to be her chattiest moments.

 

As for me…I’m officially a “working mama”. I must admit the anticipation of going back was far worse than physically doing it. The first week or so was a bit of an adjustment period but overall it’s been terrific. I have a new appreciation for OC and all the great folks that I work with. Most importantly, I have an amazing mother in-law (Regenea) and a wonderful nanny (Kristen) that watch Pipey while I’m at work. Not only do they take super care of her but they even help out around the house, cooking dinner, putting the dishes and laundry away, vacuuming etc. This allows me precious time in the evenings with Chad and Piper.  I can’t even begin to say how thankful I am for that and for them! They are such a blessing!

One of the best mommy moments so far was on mother’s day. Of course it was so awesome to be an actual member of the mommy’s club this year. The past couple of years, this day was somewhat of a challenge at times given our journey. But looking back, the tougher times really make me appreciate where we’re at now and where we've been. To add to the excitement of the day, Chad, Piper and I had parent/child dedication at Cedar Creek Church. We stood in front of our church family and pledged to raise our daughter in a Christ centered home. I have been dreaming, praying and hoping for this day for years. It was a moment I will truly cherish forever and give all the glory to God. I also continue to pray for all those “not yet but will be someday” parents. I know it’s a tough road. My hope is that our testimony offers a sense of hope and helps in some small way.

Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it”.

This photo is how I've spent the last half hour writing this entry…isn't she just precious!?!?! J    

Adjusting to life as a Mama!

It’s incredible that Piper is over 7 weeks old already! She is growing and developing in the most amazing ways. A couple weeks ago at her one month checkup she weighed in at 9 lbs 11 oz and measured 22.75 inches. That put her in the 98^th percentile for her length. ..WOW! She has outgrown her newborn clothes and is already in 3 months sizes (She’s got super long legs like her mama!).  She’s become so interactive in the past week or so and entertains us with a variety of adorable faces and sounds. She’s reaching for toys on her activity mat, recognizes voices and can lift her head high when we do tummy time. The best part is that she’s smiling like crazy! It melts my heart every single time! There is truly nothing better! And I don’t care how cheesy that sounds, it’s completely true.

 

In addition to Little Miss Piper changing, life for Chad and I has drastically changed too. Of course for the better but I must be honest and admit that this parenting gig comes with some challenges.  First thing, sleep! I expected my sleep to be less however I failed to realized that I wouldn't get a “full night’s sleep” for quite a while (especially since I’m breast feeding). She usually eats every 3 hours so I've learned to sleep in 2-3 hour intervals. It was rough in the beginning but now it’s just part my routine.  Even at 4am when I closely resemble a zombie as I feed her, the moment I look down and she flashes me a smile I’m reminded what a blessing this quite time with her really is. It’s also comforting to know that I’m not the only Mama awake in the middle of the night. Thanks to Facebook I see my fellow mom’s posting/replying to comments throughout the night too.  Don’t judge us…it’s not exactly easy to stay awake some times. In moments of desperation I have my routine of checking Facebook, emails, Etsy, 13 ABC news, Pintrest etc. Luckily my credit card is safely tucked away so I’m not making any late night purchases. It’s funny the things that appeal to me when I’m sleep deprived. I recently put a tie-dyed sweatshirt in my Etsy cart! Umm …really Courtney? Where in the heck am I going to wear a tie-dyed sweatshirt?!?!? Another new challenge is leaving the house. I imagine that this might get easier after your first child because I as a new Mom I pack everything  under the sun. I even had to go get a larger diaper bag because my original one just wasn't cutting it. This could explain why my arms don’t seem strong enough to balance all the goods and the carrier. (Side note: I aspire to be that mom that seems to glide so effortlessly from the car to the store with bags, carrier and smile without breaking a sweat. Let’s just say I have a long way to go because I’m sweating just thinking about packing things up!). In addition to that I’m adjusting to getting another person ready to leave the house. I've found that I've cut my personal “get ready time” down to 30 minutes (which will probably explain why I look like a disheveled mess the next time you see me. Please just be polite and not mention it. We both know it but there’s no need to discussJ). However to get this tiny little person ready takes me twice as long! Craziness! I could go on and on with the countless other things that we’re getting adjusted to but at the end of the day I can simply say that our lives have been altered in the most amazing and miraculous way ever. I've realized quickly that it’s important to carefully choose where I allocate my time now. There are so many things that I used to do habitually. It was so important for our house to be spotless, the laundry to be done and everything to be in order. I've found that those things aren't really important at all. God and my family are truly the most important components of my life. I need to strive to make sure that’s where my focus is always. The bible says, “So then, let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and of the sin which holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us” Hebrews 12: 1b What do you need to eliminate from your life to make time for what's truly important?

Answered Prayers!

On Tuesday January 9^th my water broke at home around 9:30 pm. We headed to the hospital and were admitted around 1am. I was only dilated to one cm so they started me on a drug called Pitocin to get things moving.  After several hours, I was contracting but unfortunately still wasn't dilating any further. I even sat on a birthing ball for two hours hoping to speed things up. No dice. This baby was obviously in no hurry to make his/her big debut. The baby’s heart rate was a bit of a concern throughout labor as it dropped and spiked with my contractions and position changes. I stared at the monitor constantly praying that he/she was going to be alright. I was really uncomfortable as the contractions got stronger so the doctor gave me a drug called Nubain, (she recommended to delay the epidural as there was a risk it might slow my labor down).  Some ladies may love Nubain but I learned that I am absolutely not one of them. It was terrible! I instantly felt dizzy, nauseous and it did very little to take the edge off of the contractions.  After 3 more hours the nurse checked me…I still wasn't dilated any further and I was in major pain. I think the nurses must have felt bad for me because they finally ordered the epidural. The anesthesiologist instantly became my new best friend (however I wasn't very nice to him due to my current condition).   It was not my finest moment but thankfully he had a good sense of humor. I immediately felt more relaxed and after about 3 hours I felt lots of pressure. When the nurse came in to check me again I was dilated to 9 cm! Woohoo! If my entire lower body wasn't numb I’m certain I would have jumped up and done a celebratory dance at that point! So much for the epidural slowing things down. It had been over 28 hours and I was exhausted to say the least. I remember looking at Chad and telling him that I had no idea how I was going to have enough energy to push our little one out. The good news is I didn't have to worry about it. Apparently part of God’s birth miracle includes an automatic overdrive feature for mothers. When it was time to push I remember a rush of excitement and it was like my body just knew what to do next. Chad was an amazing coach! He encouraged me the entire time, took me to the restroom about 100 times, helped hold my legs while pushing and kept me focused. After 30 hours of labor at 3:39 am on Thursday January 10^th 2013 we were blessed with a healthy baby girl, Miss Piper Tova (means God’s goodness) Wagner! The moment they placed her on my chest and I looked into her very alert little eyes my heart melted. Chad and I immediately fell in love with her in the most indescribable way. I remember Chad looked at me and said “I wasn't prepared for a girl!...but I just love her!” It was the most amazing experience ever.  As the nurse took her to get her measurements I watched Chad dote over her. At that moment I flashed back to earlier days of our journey where I shed tears at the thought “what if I never am able to experience birth” or “what if I can’t give Chad the child we both so desperately long for”. I had to continuously push those fears out of my heart for years and replaced them with hope in the Lord. And on January 10^th in His perfect timing He blessed us with our very own miracle that has and will forever change our lives in the best way possible. For anyone who thinks that God no longer performs miracles…I must challenge you and refute that He absolutely does! I experienced one first hand! We’re forever grateful and looking forward to the future for our new family!

Miss Piper Tova Wagner

7 lbs 6 oz & 21.5 inches

Psalm 127:3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. 

Counting down...

9 days until our due date….Ahhh!!! I must admit Chad and I both thought that baby Wag’s would make an early debut over the holidays but clearly we've been proven wrong. No 2012 tax break for us, but that’s ok. The anticipation and excitement are certainly building up at this point. Will we have a baby boy or baby girl??? We'll find out soon! We had a doctor’s appointment yesterday and received a terrific report. Praise God! Baby is still in a head down position, heart rate is strong at 150 bpm, my weight is on track and lots of baby movements going on. We found out at our appointment a few weeks ago that I tested positive for group B strep. But no worries it’s nothing to be concerned about. It’s just a bacteria that I am currently carrying. It’s actually commonly found in 25% of all healthy adult pregnant women without any symptoms. As a preventative measure I’ll receive some antibiotics via an IV during delivery to prevent passing it to baby Wag’s. The doctor estimated that the birth weight likely won’t exceed 7 lbs 8 oz. That sounds good to me! Apparently that whole “nesting thing” has kicked in. I might have a small obsession with laundry these days. I may as well just wash one outfit at a time as we wear them. Every closet has been reorganized at least twice. I've packed and repacked the hospital bag more times then I'd like to admit. And while many other husbands were watching bowl games over the holidays poor Chad graciously cleaned carpets. I love that my husband just rolls with my insanity at this point. He’s truly amazing and is going to be the best Dad!

So as we approach our due date I've had quite the realization…I’m going to give birth soon! Yikes! I know that probably seems like a no brainer, but up until now I really haven’t given that part too much thought (maybe because I didn't want to freak myself out). I know this will surprise a lot of your considering what a planner/control freak I am, but Chad and I didn't take any of “the classes”. So in an effort to prepare, I looked to my copy of “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” and a plethora of YouTube videos for breathing/pain techniques. Needless to say, I’m not sure those were the best resources. Ha! However, some of the videos I stumbled upon were highly entertaining…ok downright hilarious. Then all this talk of labor stages, positions, c-sections, episiotomies (umm…OUCH!) are enough to make a pregnant girl’s head spin. So I've decided that we’re going to go into labor the same way we started this journey…trusting God! After all, birth is truly His miracle and He has prepared my body for it. I've educated myself appropriately and the rest is up to Him. I’m confident that He will work through the doctors/nurses to ensure that Baby Wag’s, Chad and I have a safe delivery and that we’re all healthy as we begin a new chapter as a family together!

“When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world”. John 16:21

36 weeks and counting!

Baby Wags is movin and groovin these days! We’re 36 weeks and I swear there must be a dance party going on in my belly to celebrate. It’s still so amazing! Well, except when little feet get caught in my ribs. J But that’s ok I’m sure my ribs will recover. Baby Wag’s heart rate is strong at 150 bpm and our doctor said that baby is head down. Praise God! As we approach our expected due date (Jan 13^th) we’ve graduated to weekly doctor appointments now. So our next one is coming up on Thursday! Chad and I went on our birthing tour at Toledo Hospital yesterday. There were about 5 other couples participating. We must have looked pretty funny roaming the halls. I told Chad I felt like we were in a pregnancy parade (a bunch of pregnant ladies accompanied by husbands who were trying their best not to look overwhelmed)! So now we’ve got the lay of the land. It’s just so awesome to think that in a few short weeks we’ll be there for one of the biggest moments of our lives! In other news, physically I’m doing great! Chad kindly pointed out that my belly now sticks out “about a foot!” He always knows the right things to say…J. I went back to the ENT doctor to have my nose cauterized again because my nosebleeds started up regularly. Hopefully this will last the rest of my pregnancy. Sleep is quite interesting these days. Not only have I’ve turned into the Macgyver of pillow stacking to curb the late night heartburn but I also mimic the movement of a rotisserie chicken. Rotating each night from my right side, to my back, to my left side, then back to my right side and repeat. Thank goodness Chad is a heavy sleeper so he’s typically unfazed by new antics. All in all everything is just fantastic and our excitement is growing each and every day! To capture this special time my friend Sarah Kraft snapped some maternity photos for us. She’s a very gifted photographer and we look forward to sharing these with baby Wag’s.

Psalm 127:3 Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.

So…an update is long overdue. So much has been going on and I have lots to share. For starters I did end up getting my nose cauterized a few weeks ago. I wouldn't put it on my top ten “fun things to do list” but it was tolerable. I've only had about 3 nose bleeds since which is a huge improvement…Yay!

Also a few weeks back I got the opportunity of a lifetime. My lovely Mom, step-Mom, Mother In-law and Sister In-law threw me the most amazing baby shower! The venue, food, cake and décor was just awesome! In addition to, that there were so many friends and family that came to celebrate our little miracle! These generous folks showered us with gifts upon gifts. I was seriously working up a sweat opening all these presents!  Baby Wags is already spoiled beyond measure!  I must admit the most amazing part of the day was looking around the room and thanking God for each and every one that was there and those that weren’t but wanted to be. Each person has played such an important role in our journey. The support, love, prayers and compassion is what has gotten us to where we are today. God uses others to provide His unconditional love and peace.  Philippians 4:19 “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus”.  We even had all 5 generations of ladies in attendance, my great grandmother (who’s 104), my grandmother (from FL), my mom, me and baby! It was so great to celebrate with everyone!

Baby movements are super strong now. I still can’t help but smile every time I see/feel a little arm or leg whoosh across my belly. We’re 33 weeks and counting…woohoo!!! Baby is growing healthy and bigger by the day. I have the belly and acid reflux to prove it! The reflux is worst at night. I’ve found that sleeping at an incline (instead of flat) is helpful. But regardless I’m happy to take any/all pregnancy symptoms that come my way. It’s defiantly worth it! I’m also pleased to report that the nursery is pretty much ready for baby Wag’s arrival! Check out the pics! We have our next doctor’s appointment this Friday. Looking forward to it!  

I’m happy to report that our first appointment with our new doctor went great! She’s terrific! She took time to get to know us, our background and shared her faith.  We felt totally comfortable and walked out of our appointment very happy.

So those pesky nosebleeds I mentioned in the last update seem to be making more cameos recently. I’m getting them about every other day now (sometimes multiple times in one day) and they are taking longer to clot. The additional exposure unfortunately is NOT making Chad any more comfortable with them. This week while attempting to “help” he actually physically gagged before he fled the scene. LOL! I think it’s safe to say that he’ll be seated near my head in the delivery room. J I have an appointment with an ENT doctor this Wednesday. I’m hoping they can just cauterize it. And don’t worry I’ll be going to my appt solo. We don’t need Chad passing out or anything.

Baby movements have been pretty strong until the past few days. It seems like within the last 48 hours kicks and jabs are less intense then they were. They also seem to be much lower then what I’ve been used to. I’m trying not to be overly concerned as I’m sure our little one has just decided to change positions. But I must admit I’ve had some weak moments where I’ve had to talk myself off the ledge and remind myself that everything is just fine. I just have to keep reminding myself…Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see". Ok I’ve gotta run…no joke my nose just started bleeding…LOL!