It's a Girl: Brieleigh Tempel Willers

On December 15, 2009, God blessed us with the most precious daughter at 10:10pm. She weighed 7 lb 15 oz and was 21 inches long. It was a long hard day. After 12 hours of natural labor with 3 hours of pushing, the baby just would not move down the birth canal. My doctor recommended an epidural thinking a c-section would be our only option. At this point I was pooped and just wanted the baby out safely. After resting and waiting for the shot to kick in, my doctor let me push once more before going for a c-section. Miraculously and to everyone's suprise, she had moved down the birth canal b/c the shot had relaxed my muscles. It got a little scarier again though when the cord was wrapped around her neck and the heatbeat started greatly fluctuating. A rush of people came in, I was drapped in alot of sterile cloth, and the doctor pulled her out with forceps. We were so happy for a healthy baby! God blessed us so much with two great nurses and an amazing doctor (who did not rush things or send me earlier to to OR for a C-section, prayed with us before labor, checked on me often throughout the day, helped coach me through much of the pushing rather than coming in at the very end, and knew how to use forceps)- I am convinced he is the best OB ever! God provided us a safe delivery and healthy mother and baby in the end which we can not be thankful enough for.

Brieleigh is such a great joy to our family. David and I are so blessed to be the parents of such a precious little girl. We already love her more than words can describe. God is so good!

Life at 40 weeks

Well, I have not posted lately because frankly there is not much to post about. I only want to post about the baby these days, but he/she is too shy right now.
I went to the doctor Wednesday again. He said that I was just enjoying being pregnant too much. I told him that I did not like it THIS much. Every week I think he is suprised that I keep coming back (as apposed to already having had the baby not just stop coming for no reason). I am now 3 cm dilated and the baby is still very low. He also stripped my membranes since I am full term to see if that did anything. He said people often come back within 24-48 hours after that procedure (which is basically when the MD seperates the amniotic sac from the cervix with his finger during the exam to release hormones that help the cervix dialate more). Well, we are very quickly nearing the 48 hour mark, and here I sit. I have definitely lost my mucus plug since then though (sorry if this is too gory or TMI for you- I haven't even gone into labor yet!) which usually happens due to your cervix opening up/dialating so that is never a bad thing I don't suppose. If I make it until Monday, then I am going back in for another appt and to discuss induction options which I pray doesn't happen because that is not natural nor cheap.
My mom and little sister said that enough is enough. They are done waiting and are just going to come..tonight! Yay! I miss them alot, and hopefully the baby will gain some courage to finally come out to met us now that they will be here.
Oh, and for the record- I have a HUGE pet peave that has developed while pregnant. People ask me everyday- in person, text messages, facebook, email, etc., "No baby yet?" "Has the baby come yet?", or "Are you in labor yet?!?" Well, thank you kindly for thinking of me, but NO, I am well aware that I do not have a baby yet and that I have not gone into labor yet! Thank you for so generously reminding me. And btw, I can't make it happen. Ok, I know I sound harsh (and I can always blame some of it on being a hormonal 40 week pregnant woman), but I sit here hour by hour, day by day, week by week waiting on this baby to pop out. The waiting is getting pretty agonizing and slightly depressing so I try my best to distract myself by staying busy. Then I get these nice little reminders that I am still waiting basically. Don't get me wrong though. I love it when people check on me, pray for me, etc., but I would rather them tell me they are thinking of me or praying for me rather than "No baby yet?!?" Especially since everyone who asks such things are usually close friends or family who will be alerted when the baby arrives! So don't worry... we have not (and most likely will not have) forgotten to tell everyone that we have had a baby! Thanks for the support!!

Snow and Pregnancy

So this morning, December 2nd, we woke up to a downpour of snow flurries here in Texas! Not much stuck for very long since it had rained all night and the ground was soaked, but it was so beautiful! How can you look at something like snow and not believe in the Creator? It is just so amazing. David jumped out of the shower when I told him and ran to the window. We briefly went outside to take these pictures, but David had already slept longer than planned and had to get to work. And we were already freezing inside since our heat is not working. But we thoroughly enjoyed watching it. I keep thinking it would be so neat if my baby was born today, the same day it snowed!

I also went for my weekly OB appointment. Not a whole lot different. Still dialated somewhat, and the baby has moved down more and is now at zero station! (Which means it has dropped kind of in line with the base of the pelvis- when it gets to +5 that is when you can see the head at crowning.) So at least when my labor does start I have alot going for me. I feel like I have tried all the tricks in the book to start labor but my body is just not ready quite yet. Apparently though it has worked to get the baby down pretty far! My doctor expects to see me sometime this week, but he said he doesnt know for sure. Everything is looking healthy and fine though so we are very thankful and will continue to wait somewhat patiently. Anyday now we could be parents- forever!! I am so ready to see our little one as is David! He calls frequently from work to check to see if anything is happening. I couldn't do it without him!

Thanksgiving and Christmas Trees

Well we survived Thanksgiving. Somehow I managed to pull off cooking a full meal consisting of sweet potato casserole, dressing, gravy, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, pineapple casserole, creamed corn, rolls (I didn't make them), and 4 pies (pecan, buttermilk, sweet potato, and pumpkin)- all while being 9 months pregnant. I froze some of it beforehand (which I learned from one of the best cooks I know- my mom. She always has everything done and ready to go which makes cooking seem so easy.) David cooked the ham and turkey before the meal as well. It was fun to cook the whole meal though I was not very motivated since I get tired easily. David's family came (parents and 3 younger siblings) since we could not travel for Thanksgiving, so thankfully we were not alone! It was the first time though to not be with my family on Thanksgiving which was a little hard for me. I have so much to be thankful for though: being a child of God, David, the healthy baby in my womb, my family, a house/home, clothes, a running vehicle, jobs, money which always seems to pay our bills even when we sometime doubt... I could go on and on because of God's goodness to us! We are so blessed!

David and his brothers raked some leaves Thanksgiving day, and although I couldn't really jump in them this year, I still enjoyed sitting in the pile. I love fall leaves!

David, Ethan, and Nathaniel though found it more fun to wrestle trying to knock each other into the leave pile. They only came out with a few injuries from falling on sprinkler heads.

And they also enjoyed brying each other- that would be Ethan underneath there not breathing.

Saturday afer Thanksgiving, David and I went to a Christmas tree farm in the country about 45 minutes away and pick out and cut down a Virginia Pine Christmas tree. We now have it all decorated and lit, ready for the baby!