The Path from Kathy to Mommy

Sorry for the delay on this blog entry. Needless to say, things have been a little crazy lately. But everything has been great and going smooth. So lets start from the beginning... and I will go ahead and apologize for such a long entry. It all started Saturday, September 21st. Reiggin was at work and I was just doing some house work. Drying some dishes and all of a sudden I felt a big leak. Needless to say I was freaking out.  So I quickly called Reiggin and told him I thought my water may have broke but I wasn't sure. So he rushes home and I scramble around to put some last minute things in my bag. Then we are off to the hospital. Well to make it short, it turned out to be a false alarm. Yeah I felt a little silly but I know that going to the hospital was the right thing to do. So we headed back home. 

Sunday comes and we are doing our usual Sunday routine. Watching some football and just hanging out. Luckily, our crib furniture had come in Saturday so, during commercial breaks, Reiggin was setting up the crib and the rest of the furniture. I was playing on the computer and doing some house work when I started to notice I was having contractions. They were pretty far apart at first, about 18 minutes. So I didn't say anything to Reiggin yet. I just kept on with doing what I was doing. Then they started getting closer. So I let Reiggin know that they were 13 minutes apart. He was like okay, just keep track of them and we will go from there. So I was cool and kept track and tried not to get too excited and nervous at the same time. I had to cancel plans to go with my family to see my sister Lisa's new house. My contractions were getting  closer and I figured I shouldn't be walking around construction sites. I kept timing and it was getting closer like 7 to 8 minutes so thats when I told Reiggin it may be time to go. So we rushed to the hospital and got checked in and into the observation room. I was only 2 centimeters dilated so the nurse had us walk around the floor for an hour. That was tough. Contractions were coming on strong. The nurse checked me again after the walking and I was still only 2 centimeters and the doctor wanted to send us home. I was like, heck no, there is no way I am going home! I was in so much pain so I asked the nurse to watch me a little longer and she agreed. She left and said she would come back in about 30 minutes. Well the contractions got worse and 30 minutes turned into 45 minutes. So Reiggin went out to find the nurse and about 3 minutes passed and I really had to use the bathroom but I was hooked up to wires and all so I was stuck in bed. Well my body decided to go ahead and use the bathroom... at least that was what I thought. So I rang the nurse and said, "I am so sorry but I believe I just wet the bed." That was a little embarrasing. Reiggin and the nurse came in and I went to the bathroom. I could hear the nurse talking to Reiggin and telling him that I hadn't wet the bed but that my water had broken. Yep, so it was game on. 

Things went smooth from there and pretty fast. And before I knew it little Virginia was here at 5:50am on Monday September 22nd. She gave us a little scare and had to spend about 12 hours in the special care nursey under oxygen. But she is all better now and is as cute as a button. And Reiggin and I are getting into some what of a routine. Sleep is definetly not always something that happens but it hasn't been too bad. Luckily, Virginia is super and doesn't cry unless she is hungry or has pooped her diaper. I count myself lucky. 

Today we had our first doctor's appointment and she is doing great. She weighs 6 lbs. 14.5 oz. now. Which is great since she weighed 6 lbs. 9oz. at birth and 6 lbs. 2 oz. when we left the hospital. So I am excited to see where this path of becoming mom takes me and I just hope I can live up to the examples in my life like my mom.  For more cute baby pictures, check out our photo gallery or Virginia's site.

One Busy Weekend

It has been one busy weekend for me. But it has also been one fun-filled weekend. Saturday my sisters, Lisa and Susan, and my Mom threw us one awesome baby shower. So I made the ride down to good old Gastonia to my parents house. And saw the usual scene... my dad hard at work in the yard. My sisters and mom were in the kitchen slaving away, getting the food finished. And my mom, like always, running around like crazy getting the house just the way she wanted it. I hope one day I can keep my house as clean as hers. I truly am amazed at how she raised us three girls and still kept the house in perfect condition. But they pulled everything together and the shower was a hit. We had a good turn out of people. The cake, decorations, and games were a blast. I always get a kick out of the "measure my belly" game. 

It was also great that my friends Susan and Sylvia from the Gazette days made the trip over. I had a blast catching up with them and getting some good gossip about what is going on at the newspaper today. I do some what miss working at the paper and I very much miss all the people. 

After everyone left, I had about a hour or so to chill out before I went to Longhorn Steakhouse to meet up with Sylvia, DJ, Jackie, and Rocky. Longhorn was good times. Of course, I made the rounds and said hey to everyone that I use to work with and gave them the update on how I was doing and that I was having a girl. Longhorn has been like a second family for me and my sisters. The food was great and the conversation at the table was even better. Finally made it home for a good night's sleep. The next day was a big day also -- it was Reiggin's Birthday! I had already given him his gift; we went to the Jon Reep comedy show in Charlotte. It was a blast. I laughed so hard and I believe Reiggin laughed so hard he got the hiccups. Anyhow, on Sunday after he got off work, we headed up to Hickory to the Babies R Us and picked out our nursery furniture and some super cute outfits for baby Virginia. It was too much fun looking at all the cute outfits and baby items. I was also happy to get Virginia's baby book. We did have a little bit of a scare... I was having contractions on a regular basis while we were there but they turned out to just be Braxton Hicks contractions. 

After we finished up there, we headed to Texas Roadhouse to have a birthday dinner for Reiggin. The food was so good. After we stuffed our faces we made our way back to his parents house to say hey and hang out for awhile. His mom had a nice birthday cake waiting for him and some baby gifts for Virginia. So Virginia is going to be styling with all the nice outfits I have gotten this weekend. 

Needless to say, I was quite happy to know I was not going to work Monday because of Labor Day. But I am spending Monday cleaning house.  So much fun since I have sort of let the house go for awhile. But it will be all better by the end of Monday. I hope! Ok well hope everyone has had a great weekend and a great Labor Day!

Scary and Funny!

Ok so this is very random but it was just that kind of night. Here are some pictures from this week. First the number one reason I never step foot onto our deck. Second the cutest dog you have ever seen. Also not very fond of clothes on her. Ok that is about it hope everyone is having a great week.

Virginia has company.

Well, it looks like Virginia is going to have some company. My sister Susan found out Wednesday that her and her husband Joe are having a baby girl. She was not too thrilled at first because she had her heart set on having a boy. But after awhile, she did get excited. I mean, because girls are just plain cool and rock! And I mentioned to her that I will be able to give her some hand-me-downs since our girl is due Sept. 25th and hers is Jan. 18th. And, on top of that, we will both hopefully have some kick butt softball players.  

But I do need to remind my sister that the first girl is always much cuter and way cooler then the second granddaughter. Sorry, I couldn't help but pick. But to end this entry, my sister does need some help with ideas for girl names. So please, fill my comment box with suggestions!

First Child Preparation Class

Well today Reiggin and I went to our first Child Preparation Class. I was super excited about going today just because I was ready to start getting more information about the labor and delivery of the baby. I only have 6 weeks left so more and more I am thinking about the delivery day and what to expect.  There were about 8 couples in our class. All the couples were very different. There was one very immature couple which just made me crack up laughing. At one part in the class we were passing around tools that the doctor could use to help bring the baby out. And this one tool was a vacuum that the doctor attaches to the babies head and will help the mother by adding pressure and pulling along with her. Well this idiot guy actually attaches it to the girls arm but can't get it off her arm. Of course it starts to really hurt the girl and finally the teacher got the vacuum off and it left a huge red hicky on the girl's arm.  I would have had to smack him silly if I were her. Thankfully, Reiggin behaved just fine through the whole class. Which I was just glad he managed to stay awake.  But overall the class was informative. I learned that the placenta is quite nasty and large. Learned about the mucus plug. And that I could develop a brown line down my stomach the further along I get.  I also learned about the pain relief medication that I would like to have and ones I will not be taking. And I did get some relief learning that the epidural is not as painful as I had thought in my head. I already knew about the possible chance of tearing or the doctor having to cut which still weirds me out.  I was kind of disappointed that we didn't do much relaxation exercises and we didn't get down in the floor like you see on TV.  We have one more class next Saturday and then it is just a waiting game for Virginia's arrival. 

Also, to finish off the day, I went to the Prickly Pear, a Mexican restaurant, with my two sisters, Lisa and Susan.  It was quite fancy. We got some appetizers and one of them was guacamole. It was really cool -- the waitress came to the table and made the guacamole right at the table. All the food was great.  And presentation was a ten.  We all walked away full.  We headed back to Lisa's house for some girl talk and a couple of episodes of Jon and Kate Plus 8 and some show that is the female version of the Dog Whisperer.  Needless to say, the whole day was a blast and it was great hanging out with my sisters.

Oh Yeah Chick Flicks!

I must say, I love my movies. I have been known for liking pretty much anything. Which, in some eyes, can be good and bad. But I think I have great taste in movies, the only exception I can think of, which I know Reiggin will bring up, is The Fountain. That movie was just plain strange.  And there have been a few no name rentals that turned out to be duds. But I can't help myself.  I love watching no name movies and taking that chance of them being good or bad. But my biggest love is chick flicks and, of course, the good old romance movies which technically could still be considered chick flicks. My best friend Lisa Harland has always been my movie partner for all the good chick flicks and Disney movies. But sadly she has moved all the way across the country to California so I am left searching for a new movie partner. Because, truthfully, there are just some movies that I cannot bribe Reiggin to go see.

Two in mind that are coming out that I am just so excited about that it makes me jump for joy are The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 and High School Musical 3. Both are awesome movies but there is no way Reiggin is going to see either one with me. Even though, let me point out, I am carrying his first born.  But my good friend Lisa sent me a link to HSM3 that was just great.  I caught myself singing and dancing.  Also, I found out that they are making a 3D Step Up 3 movie. Not sure when this will be coming out but you better believe I will be seeing that one also. But for now I will just have to deal with the fact Lisa is in California and find that lucky someone that loves chick flicks just as much as me.

Extra note, I have just found out that Reiggin will go see High School Musical 3 with me so all is well. I am super excited! He knows he will so be singing and dancing with me at this movie.

Found my way

Ok so this may not seem like a big deal to many. But Tuesday I had a doctor's appointment and
I was determined to not take the interstate. Like I usually do since I don't know the shorter way
that goes though downtown Troutman. Yeah I know stop laughing Troutman is not very big I
know. But as many of you know, well mostly Lisa Harland knows I am directionally challenged.
I mean I have been known to get lost in my own hometown that I grew up in for 25 years. Directions
and me have never been very good friends. I mean you can give me detailed directions street names and
all and I will find a way to get lost. But not today I was so proud that I made it all the way though downtown
with all its twists and turns and arrived even early to the doctors appointment. Which was also amazing since
I didn't really get up at the time I should have. Mornings and me are also not very big friends. Which should be
really interesting when the baby is here and we are going to have to be getting up all hours of the night and in
the early hours of the morning. Be praying for me and my beauty sleep.