A Special Day

So, I know she'll probably be mad at me for doing this, but I couldn't let the day get too far without wishing my beautiful wife: Happy Birthday!!!

She hates being the center of attention, but I feel she deserves recognition for how incredible she is. It has been especially amazing for me to watch the transition she's made in the last few weeks to motherhood. To me, it has been such a natural step for her, something she was born to do, and has been preparing for since before we ever met.

More then that, though, the last few months have helped me to realize and appreciate all the things she does for me and our family. I knew I would be, but now I know, that I am totally helpless without her.

Thanks Keriann for being my wife, and for being such a great friend and companion!

I love you!!!

New Young Women Value

"Virtue is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards. It encompasses chastity and moral purity." (http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17802,8449,00.html)

I just learned today that on November 28, 2008, virtue was added to the Young Women Values. I remember the last change to the Young Women Theme and how hard it was for me as a Miamaid Advisor to adjust to saying it differently, even though the change was for the better.

I found it interesting today as I read about this new addition. Virtue is a great addition, and something, I think, we all need to work on. To read more about this change click here or on the link about.

Visitors

Here are a few pictures of people that have visited James in his life time. There are others that I did not get pictures of. Sorry.

Grandma, my mom. Thanks so much for coming so far to help while I was on bed rest and now that James is here. You have been a huge help!The Toller Family. Jenni, come hold James when ever you want.Sherri and Rachel Ziemer. Rachel loved feeding James.

More Pictures

Apparently people have been bothering Jon about posting more pictures. Things have been a little busy, with recovering from major surgery and getting used to motherhood. It has been a huge help to have my mom here and willing to do night duty with James so I can get some sleep and feel that I am healing as a result of enough sleep.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures. First, how many have seen a baby with breach legs? If you look closely at this picture you will notice that his foot is in his hand above his head and the other leg is behind the other arm. It took a while before he would bend at the knees.

He looks like Jon.Like father, like son.I love his face here. He has this look a lot. As if he is saying, "What's going on?"First time in the car seat. He looks so tiny.He has been a little yellow as you can see here. He had his bilirubin levels check pretty much everyday. Good news is they are headed down, so we did get to come home as scheduled. I also love his scrunched face here.

We Are Home!!!

James and I made it home yesterday afternoon. We even survived our first night at home, but of coarse, we are all tired. I will post more later (it is slow with one hand) with pictures (have to get them off the camera).

Making his grand debut...

Here are some pics to wet your appetites. The majority of the "birth pics" will have to be edited to provide for some modesty... Don't think he'd appreciate later knowing that all his little parts were visible to the world.

A lot brighter and colder than he thought.


In the NICU for some observation.


A happy mom.

James Gary Felt

Well, he's here!

Keriann started having contractions pretty hard and fast Friday evening. We went into the hospital, where they determined she still hadn't dilated enough, so we took an hours walk, and the doctor checked again, still not dilated enough. We then remembered that they were supposed to check his position with ultrasound to see if he had indeed turned over...

He was breach! He either never turned, or was turning back (we think the latter is the case). Soon we were in the middle of a flurry of activity (because of her active labor, it was decided to do a C-section and get him out).

James was born at 12:14 a.m. Nov. 29th, was 7 lbs. 9 oz., 20.5 inches long, and 4 weeks early. Mom is doing great, and the little guy gets to spend his first night in the NICU for observation until he can get everything out of his lungs (nothing the screaming at his first bath can't cure), and then he'll be free to move in with the other kids in the nursery.

Happy birthday little man. Welcome to the world.

Car Seat

Last night, we finally got a car seat. Jon decided that it was time so he went out and got it all by himself. I think he did a good job of picking one, too. He chose the one that was soft, but seemed really sturdy, and it will work with the stroller that was given to us (thanks Wahlquist Family).

What finally got Jon out on his own to buy a car seat, you might ask. Well, my contractions are getting slightly more painful and are about 6-7 minutes apart. Plus my kidneys have been hurting like they were when I went into the hospital and ended up staying for 17 days. Will it be soon? I do not know, but we will be able to bring him home now when he does decided to come.

Another Week of Waiting

When I went off the Procardia Friday, I was having contractions that I could feel every 10-15 minutes. That continued all weekend, except Sunday. I did not feel any contractions on Sunday for some reason. They started back up this morning, and I guess they are dilating me more.

At my doctor's appointment today, there were no restrictions lifted. I am still on bed rest, because I am now 3-4 cm dilated and 70% effaced. The baby is turned (head down, finally), and I have dropped a lot in a week. She was trying to be really careful because she was afraid she would break my water.

The doctor said she would like to see me in the office next week, but gave me things to watch for and go to the hospital. She also said that two of the nurses want me to remember to request to be in the North Wing after I give birth, because they want me to come back, so they can take care of me again. Dr. Rhee said she has never had a nurse tell her that before.

That is all the new stuff for now. Looks like I will not be doing any of the cooking for Thanksgiving and no Black Friday Shopping. Oh Well. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Enjoy the Turkey!

Family Feud

LET'S PLAY FAMILY FEUD!!!

YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE MY ANSWERS!!!!!!

Copy and paste message to a new page. Erase my answers and fill in your answers. Remember, you can't use the same answer as the person before you. Remember, if my answers are dumb, it's because the last person had the good ones.

1. Name something you use in the shower. Shampoo

2. Name something a football player wears under his uniform? Underwear, I hope

3. Name something people hate to find on their windshield? Religious Ads

4. Name something a man might buy before a date? Movie Tickets

5. What is another word for blemish? Pimple

6. Something you cook in the microwave? Oatmeal

7. Name a piece of furniture people need help moving? Piano

8. Name a reason a younger man might like an older woman? Smarter

9. Name something a dog does that embarrasses its owner. Barks all night

10. Name a kind of test you cannot study for? Blood Test

11. Name something a boy scout gets a badge for? Swimming

12. Name a phrase with the word home in it? Home is where your rump rests

13. Name a sport where players lose teeth: Hockey

14. Name something a teacher can do to ruin a student's day? Detention

15. What is a way you can tell someone has been crying? Puffy Face

16. Name a bird you wouldn't want to eat? Parakeet

17. Name something a person wears even if it has a hole in it? Coat

18. Name something that gets smaller the more you use it? Checking account

No More Procardia

I just took my last Procardia. I will see what happens now.

One hard thing to adjust to when I came home from the hospital was setting my alarm for every four hours at night so I could take a pill. No more of that. I'll just be getting up for a little one soon, but that is a little different.

It Is Here!

Monday night, Jon received a package. It was a few copies of his book! He is now officially a published author. The book looks so much better than we ever imagined, and it now in stores to purchase.

Here are some pictures I took of it. The Cover.Back inside flap. About the authors.Side bars. Jon wrote the side bars (gray boxes). Most of the book is a compilation of people's stories of their experiences in Germany during World War II.

34 (and a half) Weeks

At my doctor's appointment today, I found out that the new insurance, which UTCOM (University of Toledo College of Medicine) uses, does not cover ultrasounds at my doctor's office. I would have to go somewhere else for it. So Dr. Rhee decided that I did not need one.

Here is what will be happening on the next few weeks. I will be going off the Procardia on Friday morning. Then I will go into the doctor's again on Monday, and she will do a Beta Strep test and see how dilated I am. She will also check to make sure there is a "good" body part down (head or bum). Then she will also lift some of the bed rest restrictions.

Dr. Rhee also handed the doppler to Jon when she walked in amd told him he could find the heart beat. He did, but the baby moved.

So the boy has turned a little. He is sideways now, and either his shoulder or elbow is now poking in in the top of my stomach.

Here I am at 34 and a half weeks. My black skirt does not currently fit over my hips, which have widened significantly in the last two or so weeks.I did not get the picture sooner because I was in the hospital and things have been a little crazy since I have been home. Also, here is the slide show updated.

Baby Shower

It is so good to be home! One really nice thing about being home is that I did not have to have my baby shower in the Toledo Hospital. Instead, I sat on my couch (put of my bed rest) and the shower came to me. Thanks to all who came.

I forgot to pull out the camera during the shower, but Jon snapped a few pictures when I was going through things.

Here I am sitting and organizing the mess a little.