Officially Overdue...AGAIN!

Yes, Monday was our due date, and yes, we are still prego!  Our babies just never want to leave the oven.  We were scheduled for a routine induction on Monday night starting with cervidil to help me dilate, but the hospital has called to "bump" us three times.  Now, we aren't scheduled until Thursday night.  We went to the doctor yesterday, and she still didn't see much change in dilation.  She also examined an itchy and annoying pregnancy rash that developed on my stomach last week and has spread to my arms and legs.  She recommended a lotion with cooling menthol and camphor in it so I am using that now.  She also had me do some more blood work to see if the rash is related to my liver enzyme levels so we are still waiting to hear about that.  They also had me hooked up to the monitors for a fetal nonstress test to make sure baby was still doing well in there.  I had been feeling some light contractions for the last few days but wasn't really sure if they were actual pre-labor contractions or just Braxton Hicks (which I never have felt very much).  I had about 3 contractions during my 20 minutes on the monitor so it does seem to indicate my body is in the beginning stages of labor.  The baby's heart rate seemed to respond well to these contractions and other stimulation so all still seems well.  We hope to have a sweet baby boy in our arms by the end of the week! 

Our Easter Weekend

This Easter was very special as we awaited the arrival of little Brody.  We stayed in Charlotte and spent a wonderful weekend together as a family.  Brody is scheduled to arrive either late Monday night or Tuesday so we were all a little anxious.  Evan still participated in several egg hunts, and we took a few more family pictures.  Daddy and Evan looked very handsome in their Easter clothes.  We went to church on Sunday morning to hear a beautiful message about God's redeeming love and Jesus' loving sacrifice. 

EVAN'S SCHOOL EGG HUNT


Evan is ready for the hunt.  He made his basket at school this year. 



All the kids are ready.



Evan's first egg of the year. 



So proud of his finds.



Evan and his school buddy show off their loot.



A Class Photo ~ Thanks to Daddy for taking this because this was Evan's last day at school.  He will stay home with mommy for the summer and then will start his new preschool in the fall.


THE NEIGHBORHOOD HUNT


He's ready for more egg hunting. 



He is such a big boy now as he goes for the more challenging hidden eggs. 



His bucket filled up quick.



"Look what I found!"



So proud of himself!



The Easter Bunny made an appearance too!


KITE FLYING

Evan had been wanting to fly kites for a while, but the weather just never cooperated at the right time.  He picked out a Star Wars kite as his treat at the neighborhood egg hunt and wanted to try this one out as well as his Transformers kite.  The wind picked up on Saturday afternoon so we headed over to the ball fields to try them out. 


Mommy and Evan flying kites together. 



Not bad for his first time.



He grew tired of flying kites and decided to run the track with some other runners.  He was about halfway around the track before we realized it...he's getting pretty fast on those short legs!



So proud after his run!


EASTER SUNDAY


Evan's Easter basket awaited him.



Pure excitement!



The Star Wars legos he begged for at Target.



Sweet boy posing with his Easter basket.



Checking out his egg collection.



What a poser!



Such a cutie!



Mommy and her sweet first baby!



Sweet Mommy kisses!



Our Family (perhaps the last photo of just us 3)



He's such a ham!






A little egg hunt in his Easter clothes.



Mommy hid the eggs in the flowers...he wanted a more difficult hunt.



He found them all!



His favorite egg...camouflage!  He's all boy!

Baby Update

This whole pregnancy I have been expecting and planning to have a similar birth experience as my first.  I know, I know, all pregnancies are different...I hear this every time I go to the doctor and explain my concerns.  But really, I am getting prepared for that "I told ya so" real soon!  With Evan, every visit that last month was a little disappointing as I kept being told "no change" because I never dilated past a centimeter on my own.  This was very depressing at that 40 week check up.  On Friday of last week, I had an ultrasound to check baby's size and position.  He is in position to launch and seems to be measuring a good size.  The doctor "guesstimated" that he weighed 8 and 1/2 lbs., and I just laughed.  I really don't expect that big of a baby.  They thought Evan was in the 7 lb. range, and he only weighed 6 lbs. 4 oz.  Genetics seems to rule that my brother and I have small babies.  All of his have been under 7 lbs. too.  But I am prepared for a 7 pounder so we'll see.  I am pretty sure he is bigger than Evan was because I have horrible stretch marks this time...ugh!  Anyway, where was I?  Oh yeah, at the Friday appointment, I was again disappointed that I had not progressed any more although I expected as much.  The doctor wouldn't make any decisions about inducing until the official 39 week mark so I scheduled a follow up appointment for Monday.  The female doctor I saw on Monday was understanding and did think I would need help dilating to get labor started so she agreed to put me on the schedule for Monday the 25th to start the dilation medication first.  I was very happy about that because it was what I hoped they would do, and I hadn't received any positive feedback on this issue the whole pregnancy.  It seems like this is not a common method of inducement, but it doesn't make sense to me to give someone a contraction-inducing medication like pitocin if they aren't dilated.  I spent an entire day in the hospital with Evan on pitocin without any progress occurring, and I wanted to avoid that scenario this time.  I am hopeful that the cervidil will work its magic and that I won't even need pitocin at all.  Then, I will get my "I told ya so!"  We expect that Baby Brody will arrive sometime on the evening of April 25th or on Tuesday, April 26th at the latest.  We are so excited!

Spring Family Pictures

Mommy wanted some pictures of our family before Brody arrives in the next week or so, and today after church and lunch, we took some pictures outside.  Mommy has had a head cold or allergies for about a week now so she isn't really feeling her best, but she still is glad she got these pictures. 


Evan wasn't really smiling in this one, but it was one of the best of us. 



Evan gives Mommy a flower. 



Mommy with her sweet first baby.



Daddy and Mommy together. 



Mommy is ready for Baby to arrive.



Our family of almost 4!



Evan spells Baby Brody's name on Mommy's tummy.



Daddy wanted to take this belly shot of Mommy and with a little editting, it's not so bad. 

Evan's Spring School Picture

We think Evan just looked so cute and grown up in his school picture this Spring.  Mommy dressed him like a little prep, and his outfit matched the background perfectly...that was just luck!  Daddy took him to school that morning and hung around to make sure Evan would cooperate for his picture to insure we would get a good one.

Evan does karate!

Video:  Evan has "learned" karate in some fashion.  We believe he picked this talent up from some of his favorite superhero cartoons.  He really likes the new Batman Beyond cartoon.  I guess karate lessons may be in our future too!

Cousin Lanny's 1st T-Ball Game

Wolfpack Red v. Tarheel Blue  :-)

We were so glad cousin Lanny's first t-ball game was against Evan's team so that we could see him play.  His game on opening day was cancelled due to the weather.  Lanny and Evan did not seem to even care that they were on opposing teams and were just so happy to be playing together! 


Cousin Lanny gets warmed up before the game.



Uncle Paul and "Little Jeter" help Lanny with his catching. 



Evan and Lanny warming up together.



Lanny the third baseman!



Lanny is ready at 3rd.



Evan makes it to 3rd base where Daddy is coaching.



Lanny is up at bat.



Lanny makes it to 3rd where Uncle Eddie gives him some coaching tips.



Cousins greet each other at 3rd base. 



Lanny is ready to run.



Evan plays 3rd, and Lanny prepares to run home. 



Sweet cousin Reade is ready to get on the field.



Someone is getting tired...or bored!



But he's ready for some action!



Evan is at bat.



Nice batting form, Evan!



Run, Evan!



Evan begins to get tired. 



Nice hit, Lanny!



The teams lineup.



Evan is ready to give high fives!



Best buds after the game!



The 3 cutest baseball players!