Patty Cake

So Much Fun

Just some fun pictures we took the other day. Ty is so much fun and we love how wide-eyed and alert he is.

4 Weeks

I can't belive Ty is 4 weeks old today! Time really does fly by once you have kids. He is so fun and is getting more animated every day.

More pictures of Ty

So Cute!

Ty's first night home he had to sleep on a "blue light bed" to help with his Jaundice. It was a horrible night because I was only allowed to take him off for 20 minutes to feed him and that was it. So I had to feed him, burp him and change him in 20 minutes. I couldn't hold him, snuggle with him or console him if he was screaming. It was REALLY hard. Thank goodness it was only 1 night.

He is so tiny in his big crib. Ashley Gates-you can see his sound machine in the corner of his crib...it has been a godsend-he loves it-Thank You!

He's Here!

Friday night (Dec. 21) at about 11:50 PM I started having contractions. They were 8 minutes apart for 2 hours, then they went to 5 minutes apart for 3 hours, then 3 minutes apart for 1 hour, which is when we called the hospital and told them we were coming in. The drive is a 45 minute drive so by the time we got to the hospital it was 10:15 AM Saturday morning. They checked me at 10:35 AM and I was dilated to a 3. My contractions slowed down a bit so I started walking which, of course, made them more intense. At 1:55 PM the doctor broke my water, then things really started to pick up and I got an epidural at 2:20 PM. At 3 PM we had a scare because Ty's heartbeat dropped dramatically. The nurse pushed the red emergency button and said, "I need some help in here", then all of a sudden about 5 people came running into the room. They put me on oxygen and flipped me to one side...didn't work so they flipped me to the other side...didn't work so they wanted me to get on my hands and knees....don't forget I am completely numb from the waist down. That was a challenge but I had like 3 people holding me up and I was using a lot of arm strength. That seemed to help and Ty's heartbeat picked up but only a bit. They put me back down on my side. My doctor showed up and checked me and I wasn't really dilated anymore and he had only moved down the birth canal a little bit. The doctor and nurses sat with me for a while watching every move the baby made and then at 4 PM another little scare. The nurse pulled my gown to one side and saw some blood and pulled my gown up and I guess there was blood everywhere. The doctor jumped up and checked me again and they didn't really know why I had started bleeding really bad. Anyway, they removed Ty's heartbeat monitor from my tummy and switched to the internal kind they put on his head. The doctor and nurse intensely watched the monitor for about an hour. It was really intense. I'm not sure at what time, but the decision was made to do a c-section. His heartbeat never came back up and every time I had a contraction it would drop pretty far, and they said I was having some really intense contractions. They think his umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck, which was also causing the problem of him not being able to move down the birth canal. I was prepped for the c-section and was being wheeled down the hallway to the operating room and I told them to stop, that I had to sit up for a sec...I couldn't really breathe. They stopped and I sat up and threw-up about 5 times in a row all over myself in my bed. It was really bad. They rushed me into the operating room and tore off my gown and and tried to clean me up as fast as they could. They needed to know why I was throwing up so the anesthesiologist could be confident I could have the pain medicine to go ahead with the c-section. They got it all under control and started the procedure right away. Whew! After all of that...Ty Spencer Jarvis was born Saturday December 22nd at 6:19 PM. 6lbs 6 oz, 21 inches long. I only got to see him for a second then he was wheeled off to the nursery. Spencer went with him and they finished stitching me up. I was taken to "recovery" and had to be there for 1 1/2 hours and Spencer or the baby couldn't come and see me yet. It was really hard to not have Spencer by my side and to not be able to see my baby yet. I finally saw Spencer at 8:30 PM and then Ty got to come into my room at 9:30 PM. It was so good to hold him and get to know my new little son. He is so cute and precious. He is a little small for how long he is. The first night was good but by Sunday morning it all went down hill. Sunday morning his respiratory rate jumped really high. It is supposed to be about 60ish and his was 120-130. They had to hook him up to all sorts of monitors. Then his blood sugar levels dropped and his oxygen level dropped. Poor little guy. As you can see he was on all sorts of machines and I couldn't see him anymore. I was on strict bed rest for a full 24 hours. It was so hard to not be with him during this hard time for him. Spencer was by his side all the time taking care of him through all of this. Finally Sunday night at 6 PM I was taken of bed rest and made my way down to the nursery to see him. It was so hard to see him on all his machines but he was staying strong. All of this lasted about 1 1/2 days, then he started to get better. His levels slowly returned to normal and today, Tuesday, Christmas Day he was taken off all of his monitors but his IV. He has made a quick recovery and is doing much better. We think they will let us take him home tomorrow. We have been so blessed through all of this and are so happy Ty is doing better. I am recovery very well and doing great!

Baby Update

Tuesday, December 18th, was my due date and it came and went without a baby. I did have a doctor's appointment that afternoon to check my progression...or lack thereof. I am still not dilated but I am 50% effaced and at a stage -1. Finally, my body has decided to do something. I have another appointment Friday and then if nothing has happened I am scheduled for induction on Sunday, December 23rd. We are so excited and can't wait for our little bundle of joy to arrive. I am feeling fine, still up and moving around...even went to Wal-mart today to pick up a few items. Spencer is done with finals and can relax now and just focus on, well....me and the baby! We will keep you all posted!

Patiently Waiting...well maybe NOT!

I'm sure a lot of you are wondering if I have had my baby and the answer is no, not yet. I mean I am due in 6 days so you would think things would be progressing and happening. Well, my body has decided to take its sweet ol' time and do well...nothing. I was checked yesterday, mind you, at 39 weeks and have yet to dilate at all, not even in the smallest sense. My doctor just laughs!! So at home I sit counting down the days. Here are the latest pictures of my tummy. The first one is at 38 weeks and the second at 39 weeks. Pay no attention to my weird lazy eye...I have no idea what is going on there!

Christmas Parade

Lexington doesn't put on a Fourth of July parade but don't worry, they do have a Christmas Parade! This little town is so funny. I went with my friend Amber and her husband and little girl (Spencer couldn't miss some big basketball/football games, so I went solo)! It was a lot of fun and nice to be out on the town with friends.

37 Weeks

Well here is another picture of my growing tummy. Only 2 1/2 weeks to go and I can't believe it. I know I say this every time but it has gone by so fast. I am so excited. I still feel pretty good...I mean I have my good days and bad days but I'm hanging in there. I haven't tied my shoes in over a month (thanks Spencer!) and I waddle a little bit...I'm trying not to because it looks funny. I haven't been "checked" yet so I don't know if and how much I am dilated and all that good stuff. I get checked for the first time next week so that will be exciting. I started non-stress tests last week and have to have one done every week now until I deliver. They said the baby is measuring small so they are just being extra careful. He sure moves around a lot so small or not he is very active!

Thanksgiving Dinner

Last night was our Law Families Thanksgiving Dinner. It was so much fun to get together with everyone and share good food!

Spencer's Pie

I had to create an entry just for this because it was so amazing! I was so busy with work and other things that I didn't have time to make the pie I was planning on making for the Law Families Thanksgiving Dinner. I hesitantly asked Spencer if he would make it for me. He said, "Sure!" I was kind of surprised. I left the recipe on the fridge and off to work I went. I knew what time he would be getting home from school and knew when he would start to make it. I kept checking my cell phone every 5 minutes to make sure I wasn't missing calls from him in a panic on what to do or how to mix or measure this or that! Time went on and nothing. I started getting a little nervous. I didn't want to call him and make him think I didn't trust him or think he couldn't do it. So I waited. After work I quickly drove home and when I walked into the house, it was filled with the yummy smell of just baked pie. I went into the kitchen and saw this wonderful Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie. He just smiled and was SO proud of himself! The pie was a huge hit and was absolutely delicious! I am so proud of him and thankful I have such a wonderful husband that would willingly bake a pie.

Here is the recipe, for those of you interested:
1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell
2 large eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup (6 oz.) Chocolate Chips (we use the "swirl" kind)
1 cup chopped nuts (we use pecans)
Sweetened whipped cream or ice cream (optional)

Directions:PREHEAT oven to 325° F. BEAT eggs in large mixer bowl on high speed until foamy. Beat in flour, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat in butter. Stir in morsels and nuts. Spoon into pie shell. BAKE for 55 to 60 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between edge and center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. Serve warm with whipped cream.

Hosting TNLC

It was my week to host Tuesday Night Ladies Club. I decided to talk about inexpenisve holiday decorating ideas. I came up with a few cute cheap ideas. I also made seven-layer bean dip for the first time and tried a new recipe called Chocolate, Cranberry & Oat Bars. They were a hit and so I am including a link to the recipe. http://www.kraftfoods.com/main.aspx?s=recipe&m=recipe/knet_recipe_display&u1=keyword&u2=cranberries&u3=**6*187&wf=9&recipe_id=107778One of my creative ideas was this paper wreath. This didn't cost me a thing because I used a wire hanger from my closet and old wrapping paper. Just cut out rectangels from paper (you could use pages from an old book, wrapping paper, scrapbook paper, brown paper bags etc.) and then string them onto the wire hanger. I then wrapped the top of the hanger with rafia and tied a little bow. It took me about 20 minutes to make this and I think it is pretty darn cute!

Some other things I made were these two centerpieces. The candycane centerpiece cost me about $3.00. I bought the vase from Goodwill for .35 cents and then candycanes from Wal-mart for .88 cents, you could use anything to fill the vase, but I bought Holiday M&M's. The next centerpiece: I bought the vase and ornaments from Goodwill for a total of $1.30! Talk about a bargain.

Overall, it was a fun night. This is a picture of (left to right) Ashley, Neely and Wendy.

This is a picture of (left to right) Amber and Lindsay.

I also had to include a picture of my Thanksgiving Banner. I made this banner last year, stealing the idea out of Pottery Barn Kids Catalog. I love how it turned out!