Oh, what a day...

So, as you all know, today was my first day alone with the baby. It seemed like things were starting to go off at an okay rate. Blake went to work, I gave Cara a bath..things were going okay. I needed to run to the commisary to grab a couple of things (milk, bread, food), just groceries in general. I was feeling up to the task, so I started getting ready to leave. This takes a lot longer than before because I now have to get Cara ready as well. I pumped a bottle of milk for her, becuase Blake wanted me to stop by and show one of his airmen the baby. I put a couple of things in the sink to soak, turned the water faucet on and went upstairs to get dressed. For some reason, it didn't occur to me to turn the water back off. Ten minutes later, I was on my way back downstairs and I could hear what seemed to be a waterfall. Oh boy. I got to the kitchen and it was completly flooded! There was an inch of water across the entire floor!!! I quickly turned the faucet off and ran upstairs to get every towel I own. The towels did nothing. The water was everywhere. The silverware drawer was completly full of water, I havn't yet looked in the lower cabinets...I can only imagine. I ran to the commisary and bought a mop. When I got home, I put all the towels in the washer on the spin cycle to get the water out of them. This is where I am at as we speak. I fed and changed Cara and I am waiting for her to fall back asleep so I can get a little more of the kitchen cleaned up. What a day!!

On another note..here is the daily picture of Cara. She brightens up even my darkest moments!

Goodbye Mother

My mother has gone. We dropped her off at the airport bright and early this morning. I can't believe she was here for 6 weeks! It didn't seem like it at all. She was such a huge help with everything. I can't thank her enough for coming. I don't know how I'm going to do life without her now, but starting today I find out.

:)

As for the thank you gift we got her...that was totally Blake. He wrote from work and asked for her address. He wrote the note and everything. He told me about it when we were driving back from the airport. Just so everyone knows...he got her flowers. They are beautiful! They should be waiting for her when she gets home this afternoon. I already miss her and can't wait for her to come and visit again. It was so nice having her here. We love you Mother!

The Daily Pics

Mimi and Cara

She's not quite sure what to think here...I think she's plotting to destroy the camera.

Surprise, surprise...more shots of Cara

No more crusty belly button!

She no longer has a crusty belly button!!!

She reminded me of Elizabeth in this one...could be the hair :)

This was after the bath was said and done. She's getting happy again!

Just another day in the life of Cara

So, I'm sure Cara is tired of the camera..She is just so cute and adorable! This is such a cute outfit. I wish she was a little more coherant for the shot. She was out a minute after taking it.. but she's sleeping, and really, that's all that really matters!

Naptime

How adorable is this kid??? I just can't get enough of her!

True enjoyment...or just gas?

Does it really matter?

Just a few shots from today.

Mommy and Cara

Just sleeping the day away...

Look at that hair!!

She was quite done with pictures at this point.

Mimi and Cara

First try at the video function...

I can't guarentee how great this video is....We are working on the whole video process...Hopefully better ones to come!

Introducing Cara

The labor process went so well. Mother and I went in for an appointment on the morning of the 14th. It was just a routine stripping of the membranes. We had our appointment to get induced scheduled for Monday morning. Well, after the doctor stripped me, he asked me what I was doing for the rest of the day becuase he wanted me to stay and have the baby. Color me shocked! We went up to labor and delivery and the checked me in. 12 hours later, we had our beautiful baby daughter in our arms. I have to say...yay on epidurals! I was so set on just going naturally. They started the pitocen drip at noon, but the contractions weren't dialating me past a three. Finally, at 5, they came in and decided to break my water. It took 30 seconds for the first major contraction to hit. Wow! I guess I was trying to crawl off the bed...they really hurt. I decided to have the epidural, and ten minutes later, I got it. The contractions were still the same strength, but I could no longer feel the horridly intense pain. I don't know how people can handle hours of that! I think had we been further along in the labor process and had been close to delivering, maybe I wouldn't have needed it, but we were still 6 hours away from delivering. I know now that if I ever have to be induced again, I will be defenilty getting the epidural right away. The pushing took about 35 to 40 minutes and she was out. I can't believe how wonderful she is! We had her on Valentines Day with 22 minutes to spare. I am so happy!

God's special Valentine to us!

Announcing the arrival of

Carolyn Sue Henry

February 14, 2008

7 pounds 12 ounces

11:38 pm

19 3/4 inches long

Cara has a head full of light brown hair!!!

The winner of the baby game was Grandma Diane
who guessed a very accurate
February 14 * 7 lbs 12 oz * 18" * Nice job!

All is going very well with both Mama & baby Cara.

Pictures will be posted soon!

At last we have progress...

We had our baby appointment this afternoon. Finally we have progress!! I am 2cm dialated and the doctor swept my membranes (ouch!) and now we are waiting. The doctor is going to call tomorrow morning with our next appointment date. He wants to induce before the week is out. Seeing as how it is a holiday weekend, we may have to wait until Monday, but yay!! I love having a plan and information. I am really hoping that we go naturally. I am crampy. Last night I had actual timeable contractions. I thought it was so great that it finally happened! I was so hoping that maybe we would have to go in, but no. Still, we had progress and that is all I was hoping for! We are still praying that maybe I'll go tonight or tomorrow. That would be great! I can't believe that within a week, I'll be holding my little girl! Blake had a dream that she was actually a boy and we named in Ivan. I don't think that will be happening. Mom had a dream that she was a boy too. I am really hoping for her sake that she is a girl! We have no clothes for a boy. I guess he would be one cutely dressed boy until we got some different things!
Well, here's hoping that the next blog you see will have a birth announcement on it!!!! Thank you for all your prayers!

40 Weeks...Will she ever arrive??

40 Weeks

So here we are at our due date. Our little baby is due today. I don't think she's coming today. We had our 40 weeks appointment yesterday and the results were grim. Okay, so they weren't "grim", they were just the same as they were last week. No progress. The doc says if I am still at this no progress stage at my appointment next week, they'll let me go into my 42nd week. However, if I have any dialation at all next week, they will schedule a NST and try to get the baby out next week. Blake was on leave since this is the due date week, but since it looks like she won't be coming for another week, he is going back to work. He now says it would be okay if she came next Friday. Now that I have a plan, it's not so depressing. I can wait another week. I had a dream last night that she was so big when she was born, she didn't fit into the little outfit she is supposed to wear home from the hospital. Mother laughed at me...I have to admit, thinking about it, I laugh at myself! Mother's stay is already half over. I can't believe how the time has flown by. Here's hoping that maybe you all won't get a next week update...maybe she will be here by then! Either way, I am really glad she is healthy. That's all that really matters.

Trying to get a good family picture...(the cat was coughing...)

Mom's pick for our pic

The two of us...Blake and a barn.

I'm just trying to get some love...

39 weeks and counting...

We had our 39 week appointment this past Friday. I am sad to say there is nothing going on yet. The doc thinks 41 weeks is a good reality to look foward to. Oh well, at least she's healthy...and getting bigger everyday! I do seem to get bigger by the week. It is so nice having my mother here. She is such a stress relief! She thinks she isn't doing much, but just having her here makes me feel so much better. Some mornings I wake up and come down the stairs and can hear her and Blake in the livingroom, talking or debating something interesting. I think Blake is loving having someone else with a brain in the house. I've been a bit brainless these last few months. Our next appointment is on Wednesday. I cannot believe we will have gone the entire 40 weeks by that point. It just amazes me. I was just telling mom that the last 9 months have just flown by. All my stresses and worries are gone and I am ready to be a mom. I can't believe the time is here. I still can't really imagine what it's really going to be like. I try, but it's just too much to imagine, I guess. I am excited, as is Blake and Mother (and everyone else). Here's hoping that maybe we won't make the next appointment....(yah, yah..I have high hopes).