Mommy and Cale Update

Morning, friends and family!

Just wanted to give y'all a quick update. Both Cale and I are still hospitalized :/

Since he was four weeks early he is spending some time in the NICU working on getting stronger. I've been so proud of his accomplishments over the last four days, though! He is completely off any oxygen now, and they've moved him to a big boy bed--not an isolette. His current goal is to work on his feedings. He started out eating 5mL per feeding, now we are at 20mL. He's such a strong, brave boy! I'm ready to be snuggled in at home with him, though!

Me? Well, Im still a patient too. I've had some trouble recoverning from the surgery---not necessarily pain wise, though. We're still having trouble controlling my blood pressure and pulse rate, and as of this morning, my hemoglobin was a 6 (very low!) leaving me quite, quite anemic. To spare you with all the details, getting you to pictures of my handsome son more quickly, I'll just tell you that I've spent the majority of my day today in my hospital bed receiving FOUR units of blood. Yes, four.  Geez Louise, this 'ol body of mine!

Feast your eyes on the most perfect thing that Alan and I have ever done, the perfect culmination of our love for each other.

The Day We Became PARENTS

We welcomed our sweet, precious, tiny miracle into the world today!

Cale Michael Hancock
6 Pounds, 5 Ounces
19.5 Inches
12:42 pm

Can't wait to share his birth story with y'all. It was truly the most magical, beautiful thing I have ever been apart of! We are so thankful for this blessing!

Cast Your Vote

Feeling a little competitive this morning?! Go visit our voting website: Expect Net to cast your vote on a) Cale's birthdate and b) Cale's birth statistics.

We are needing an aversion during this little waiting period, so why not make a game out of it?! :)

Thanks for participating!!

Y'all Wanna See a Nursery?!

Do you LOVE, LOVE my bedding?! It was made by a sweet family friend who poured her heart into the project. I'm in love :)  It is perfect for a sweet, rowdy, growing, fun little boy. I wanted something hunting/camo/warm/homey---perfection!



The only thing I didn't get to finish up before I got 'put down' for the rest of my pregnancy was a few window treatments. I was waiting for the bedding to arrive PLUS I was completely indecisive about what specifically to do with the window areas. But, guess what?! Cale will get here and I'm pretty sure he won't care that his curtains aren't up......do boys even like curtains?! Ha!!  He will still be loved, fed, rested, and cleaned just the same.

Overall, I'm pleased with the nursery room. I didn't want to go over the top, as tempting as it was with everything that is available for babies these days.  I also didn't want to overcrowd it with silly little baby decorations, knowing that Cale wouldn't stay super tiny forever (gasp! makes me sad already). He needs a room where he can grow and have plenty of room for all the toys that I'm sure he'll acquire!

Hope you enjoyed these snippets from the nursery!

35 Weeks

How far Along: 35 Weeks

Size of Baby: 6 Pounds, 7 Ounces
on ultrasound today :)

Total Weight Gain: Let's just say I'm about 3 pounds over my "goal" gain range. Oops.

We had another weekly doctor appointment today. I was pretty nervous, just cause last week's appointment didn't bring the best news in the world. My blood pressure has finally settled down with my new medication---it stays a steady 130/90ish.  Cale and I both checked out awesome today!  Swelling was good and blood pressure was good, that's all I can ask for at this point.  He was very thorough in his check-up on Cale, who continues to thrive in my little large belly :)  Nothing really new with him, other than he has settled into his final resting position. Doc confirmed that he has officially "dropped" in my belly.

They moved our appointment to Monday next week (only 4 days between appointments!), and they explained why the need to watch me more closely at this point. He explained that the medicine I'm on for my blood pressure usually offers a temporary relief in pregnancy induced hypertension, ranging from day(s) to week(s). He warned me to keep a close eye on rising pressures despite my rest and medication.  They are also concerned with my clotting disorder, which I've been on medication for since day one.  The nurse explained that it usually is an issue early in pregnancy AND late in pregnancy (the middle part is the easy part). They just want to be a step ahead of these issues, which I appreciate! :) 

Sorry for all the medical jargon, but I try to keep my friends and family updated---and this saves me from offering 27 explanations.

They are not "pre-scheduling" Cale's birthday, even though they know I will be a c-section when the time comes.  With the hypertension issue that has arose, it will totally depend on how my body responds over the next day(s) and week(s), so keep on praying for my 'ol body to cooperate!  They seem to be working :)

Here we are this week, do you think my belly has dropped?

Not that it was ever attractive, but I think it's not as cute of a pregnant belly now that it just hangs down low. If I've been sitting/laying down for an extended period of time, it feels like he is going to fall out whenever I get up. Ha!

Happy Anniversary

Today I'm thinkin' mushy thoughts about one of the GREATEST men I have ever known! :) 

Alan, I am truly blessed to be your wife, and I'm so humbled by this life that the good Lord has given us together.  Our marriage is the one accomplishment in my life that makes me the most proud.  You are an easy man to love. You make everyday challenges and trials easy to face.  You are the kind of man I've always dreamed about being a father to my children, and I'm so BLESSED to be starting this new journey in our lives together.  You are admirable and respectable, making it easy to honor you as the head of our household. Thank you for calling me your wife and loving me so! :)  Happy Anniversary!

(I'm working on Day 5 of bedrest. Naturally I have more time to blog, but given the circumstances I have nothing to blog about ;)  I'll promise I haven't fallen off the face of the universe.)



34 Weeks, Wordy Update

How Far Along: 34 Weeks

Size of Baby: 5 Pounds, 14 Ounces
by ultrasound on Wednesday

Lots of new things have happened since my last post......for starters, I turned another year older. Yikes! Yesterday was my birthday. It was quite a bittersweet day for me honestly. We had a doctor's appointment scheduled, and Alan had plans to take off to Texas Motor Speedway for Nascar for the entire weekend afterwards. I'd been having frequent headaches the last several days---nothing migraine-ish or nothing that scared me, just plain 'ol headaches. At my appointment the nurse discovered an elevated blood pressure (130/90), which cause them some alarm. My blood pressure had been steady as can be allllll pregnancy (116/70's).  The blood pressure change, along with the swelling in my feet and legs, made them leary. I got sent home with orders to 'take it easy' and monitor my blood pressure and headaches. So, with doctor's orders I took my blood pressure again before bed.....150/100. This caused me some HUGE anxiety---more so because I thought I was going to have to have a baby while my husband was 4 hours away. Our doctor was very frank with us during the appointment about the risks associated with my symptoms, stating that if they got out of control he had no choice but deliver Cale for the safety of both of us.

I returned to the doctor's office this morning for a check-up, and my blood pressure was 'down' to 146/92. I got put on bed rest and a new medication (Aldomet).  Cale looked fantastic, plenty of fluid and no distress!  Our doctor is hoping to "buy us another week" with this treatment plan.  Say a little prayer for us :)

The whiny, pregnant part of me REALLLLLLLLY wants my husband here.  Now that I know it's our last week "alone," I'm really craving some time with him. Plus, I could use his support, encouragement, cuddles, and massages during this time.  I have some awesome family members that are helping me out plenty in the meantime, though!  Got my mom helping me with the grocery store. Got my Aunt and Grandma doing some house cleaning for me. Got girlfriends bringing over dinner and a movie tomorrow night :) It makes me feel blessed.

This obviously isn't how I pictured the remainder of pregnancy going down, but I know that God is in control.  I like to be an over-achiever a lot of the time, so I've been a bit frustrated the last 24-hours. Cale is great, but my body isn't cooperating with his growing demands.  It frustrates me that I cant just do something to make it better on my part.  While you're praying for all the medical things, pray for me too--just for peace and acceptance of this situation.

Grow, Cale, grow! :)