Oh my goodness!!

I know, I just wrote a ridiculously long blog and now I am writing another one. I didn't want to include this in the last one because I felt like it deserved it's own post!

Drumroll please.........

DAVID SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT!

Now, I am sure it is a one time thing, for now... but he did! I ended up feeding him early last night, around 9:30. (We usually feed around 10 or 10:30). After eating he went right to sleep, so I put him down. I just knew he was going to wake up around 1 or 2 to eat. Well, I woke up to hear him squirming and do you know what time it was????? It was 5:30!!!! He slept from 9:30-5:30! I jumped out of bed and was so excited... it's amazing how much better you feel after getting a full night of sleep!

Well, I'm sure we will be back to waking up once a night tonight, but I just had to brag!

5 weeks old!

Let me start off by saying... this is and will be the longest blog I will ever write. I decided to include a lot of pictures since so many of you haven't been able to see David.

Yes, I know... I have received several "hate" emails and phone calls because I have not updated my blog in a whole month!! I am terrible... I know! At least now, I have alot to talk about! :) Sadly enough, I have gotten on the computer a couple of times to pay bills, but I just signed on tonight to actually read emails and "play" while the little man is asleep! I am sure he will wake up any second for his 10:30 feeding.

Let's start from week one and move forward...(there's so much to tell!)

Well, David's first week home was so much fun... very interesting, but fun. My mom stayed with us for the first two weeks, so that was so much help! I couldn't have done it without her. You don't realize how much you appreciate your own mother until you have one of your own. I will forever regret anything negative I have ever said about my own mom in regards to "moving slow" or "not getting things done." From someone who went by a strict schedule, checked her email every day, balanced her checkbook weekly, showered every day, cleaned EVERY DAY and loved it, never paid a bill late... things have SURELY changed! I have now experienced what they call "motherhood."

So, back to the first week... I had to learn how not to go by a schedule and how to expect the unexpected. Being a mother is a wonderful thing, but my best bit of advice is don't do it unless you are ready! I love David more than words can say, but it isn't hard to see how people could get frustrated and become depressed. Don't get me wrong... I am not and was never even close to feeling that way, but it is hard, very hard and a HUGE adjustment to life before a baby. I couldn't imagine having to raise a child, especially a newborn on my own or without family around. So, kudos to anyone out there who has had to endure this. I have a new respect for anyone who has ever been a mother, is a mother or had to raise a child. I now understand why mothers don't answer their phones, return phone calls and/or emails, and can't get to places on time. (Could someone please explain that to my husband!)

Let me preface this with a little information...Matthew and I had a bet going. I knew it was a boy and he knew it was a girl. Whoever was right, would have to change the first 20 poopy diapers. Well, guess what... I won! So, the first night home, Matthew got to experience a poopy diaper to the fullest extent. I couldn't post this blog without a picture of the unforgettable event...




In case you can't tell from the pictures... as soon as Matthew took the diaper off, David shot poop all over Matthew's hand and arm! It was great!

That same day,we experienced bath time! What a fun time that was...there were so many people over here. If you got a birth announcement, that picture was from our first bath. David was so worn out from screaming that I grabbed him up in his bunny hooded towel and Gina Gunnin (a good friend of ours) snapped that picture. I swear... it was NOT posed! The child LOVES his hands...even in the womb he always had his hands in front of his face and now I don't have many pictures without his hands near his face!



The first week was so much fun, very hectic, and quite an adjustment, but we made it through!
I must say, the first night home, was a rough one. Let me paint the scene for you...I think anyone who has ever had a child will relate with me! I woke up to the first cry around 12 a.m. I picked up David, walked into the nursery, sat in my glider and attempted to nurse David. Meanwhile, David is screaming his head off and my mom peeks her head in the door to see if I need some help. Well, the screaming continued...we tried everything. We changed the diaper, I tried to nurse again, we fixed a bottle, I tried his paci, I rocked him...NOTHING worked. I sat in my glider and sobbed my eyes out to my mom because I had no idea what to do. It was the most helpless feeling having my son cry uncontrollably and nothing I would do would help. Well, God took over and thankfully that was the last night that happened. Since then, David only gets up once a night...usualy around 3 or 4 a.m. Now that, I can handle!
The second week home was a lot like the first...except that Mom left us. There again...I sobbed my eyes out. I felt like I was being dropped off at camp (which I hated when I was little because I was always homesick). How on earth would I know what to do with David with her gone? How would I nurse him first thing in the morning and not have someone to bring me my glass of milk so I didn't faint? Who would grab the phone for me when I couldn't or change the T.V. station for me? Who would tell me, "it's okay." ? Well, for those of you out there wondering the same thing... we survived!!!
Over the 4th of July, we packed up and headed to the lake. Wow, I thought it took me forever to just pack for myself...but, it literally took me hours to pack for David and for me. I really felt like I was moving my house. I had to pack for me and then clothes for David (we go through about 2 outfits per day and sometimes 2 at night), bottles, bottle warmer, formula, diapers, wipes, the boppy, the bouncer seat, the pack-n-play, the bassinet, burp cloths, blankets, swaddle blankets, the bath tub, lotions, diaper cream, shampoo... well, literally everything. We finally made it to the lake and here a few of the highlights of the long weekend (Wednesday-Monday).
David got to meet Gain... my grandmother, (mom's mom), who passed away a couple of years ago.


David also got to meet his first cousin, Will. Will is Blake and Laura (Matthew's older brother and his wife) son. Will is 17 months old.


David also enjoyed the fireworks on the 4th of July!


The next week home...we took it pretty easy! We went for David's two week weight check and he was back to his birth weight at 6 lbs. 6 1/2 oz. (actually a little over) which was great! We headed back to the lake for the weekend where David met his new best friend Harlie (Mandie, my best friends, little girl). Here are a few pictures from the weekend:
David and Harlie racked out in the car

David and Harlie

David enjoying a day in the sun...or shade!

David and "Big" (my dad)

David showing off his new "thing"...Smiling!

David sucking his favorite fingers


During the midst of all of this, David was one month! We went for his one month check up and he has grown an inch and a 1/2 and weighed 7 lbs. 1 oz.! I am so proud of my big boy! :) Everything looked great too!

This week David is 5 weeks. Since David was three weeks old, I have made a point to get out of the house almost everyday. Some think I am crazy, but it really hasn't been too bad! He is SO good when we run errands. Once he hits the car, he racks out and sleeps the entire time. I have come to realize how much I took advantage of running errands. Just "running in" somewhere has taken on a whole new meaning. In 100 degree heat it isn't easy to find a close parking spot, climb in the back seat and lug around a heavy carrier. It now takes twice as long to do things, but that's okay. Over the last two weeks, here are a few things David did.
David now LOVES bath time!



David loves to sleep in his Boppy while mom "jumps" in the shower!

We started "tummy time," but David would rather sleep!

David hung out with Gainie

We had lunch with Nana and David enjoyed hanging out with his great-grandmother!

David started looking like his dad...


Well... that's about it for now! I know this was SO long and I do apologize, but I wanted to redeem myself from not posting in over a month! Enjoy reading!

Here are a few pictures of our sweet angel!

First of all, I apologize to all of you now for not getting this out sooner. Also, I am sorry if you have called us or written us and we have not called back. If you can imagine... things have been a little crazy around here. We truly appreciate all the prayers, calls, emails, dinners, gifts, visits, etc. Also, if you have called my cell phone... it broke on Tuesday, while we were in the hospital. Matthew had to run out and get me a new phone while I was there and they weren't able to transfer my new numbers over.

As for the news everyone wants to know about.... David Matthew Coblentz, Jr. (David) has arrived. He was a little stubborn as for coming into this world. Labor wasn't bad... only 9 hours. Sweet David came into this world at 3:45 p.m., June 16, 2008. He weighed 6 lbs. and 6 oz. and was 19 1/4 inches long and just as cute as ever. When he was born, they had to take him to the NICU and there he stayed until Wednesday night. During the delivery, he swallowed some fluid and his breathing was off. Alot of his levels were high too, so they hooked him up to a breathing mask, etc. I didn't get to see him until late Monday night and when I did, I was pretty loaded up on pain medicene. The sweet angel was lying in his incubator, looking as beautiful as ever. Over the next few days, Matthew and I were able to go see him, but I was the only one allowed to hold him. Finally, on Wednesday, they let him stay in the hospital room with Matthew and me... of course, we had a NICU nurse coming in to see him and run tests every hour, but we managed. (I must admit, it was a little scary.)

Thursday, we had to wait for his cultures to come back and when they did, they were negative. David Coblentz came home with mom and dad Thursday night (last night) at 7 p.m. Everyone is doing great... of course, Matthew and I are adjusting, but things are going good. I have never been so in love!

The Day Before...

I always wondered what this day would feel like. Would I be anxious, nervous, sick, scared?? What I am referring to is what I would feel like the day before I gave birth to my first child. Well, that day just happens to be today. Tomorrow morning, Matthew and I will wake up (or rather, get out of bed), shower, load the car, close up the house and head to the hospital at 5 a.m. to start the process of having our first child. (Yes, my heart is racing as I write this).

So, the question... what did I do today? What did today feel like?

Last night I woke up at 11:30 and was having intense, very painful contractions. They were coming every 5-8 minutes. For someone "normal" (which no one considers me that), they would probably have rushed to the hospital. Not me. My body has been so unpredictable this entire pregnancy that I decided to just suffer and if I was still feeling them in the morning, then we'd think about it. The contractions lasted until about 5 a.m. this morning when I was finally able to get some relief. The pain would start in my back and move to the front and last about 30-60 seconds. I found one of those cherry pit things that you heat up in the microwave, put it around my back and then sat on my ab ball and just rocked back and forth. I feel asleep around 5:30 and finally got up around 8:30.

Yes, that is how my day started off.

When I woke up, I gave Matthew his "father to be" Father's Day card and gift. That was pretty fun to be able to celebrate that. Then I fried a piece of pound on the stove and had some milk with it. What followed next was my usual routine for the last month... I made the bed, swept the floors, vaccumed the carpets, fed the dogs, took a shower, and plopped myself on the end of the couch to watch T.V. and return some emails.

After church, my mom, sister, and brother's fiance', Alexia came over. We watched a movie on T.V. and then they left. (Matthew's playing golf with his dad and brother). So, in a nutshell, I haven't really done anything today any different than any other day.

Now, I am sitting here in my house, by myself, and I finally had the opportunity to reflect on what as about to happen. A minute ago, I got a little sad at how much I am going to miss my belly. I have loved being pregnant, but I know that I will love being a mother more. I must admit, I am nervous and anxious. I am not scared at all about labor. I am just anxious to see what tomorrow morning will feel like. I can't imagine! I know that tonight Matthew and I are going to eat dinner together (not sure what) and then attempt to get some sleep. (Yeah Right!)

I guess I really don't have much else to say, but that next time I write a blog, I will be a mom!! I am looking forward to writing about my experience and posting some precious pictures of our sweet little angel!

Baby Coblentz Update

For those of you who haven't heard what's been going on the last week and a half... I will give you a quick update.

Two weeks ago, I went in for my 36 week check up and I was already 1 and 1/2 cm dilated and 50% effaced. Dr. Connor (who I LOVE) was surprised that I was already progressed that much. That Sunday, I was sitting on the couch watching a movie with my mom and sister and I started having contractions. They were really intense and very close together... so I was a little freaked out because we weren't sure what to do. After about an hour, I called the Dr. on-call and he said to monitor them for about another hour and if they got more intense to call back. I didn't call back and decided to wait and see how I felt in the morning.

About 10 the next morning I woke up still having contractions. We called Dr. Connor's office and they told us to go straight to the hospital. We got there and they hooked me up to the monitors and my contractions were ranging from 5-10 minutes apart and pretty intense. After 4 hours on the monitors, Dr. Connor came in and checked me and I was only 2 cm dilated and about 75% effaced. Slightly progressed, but not enough to admit at 37 weeks. So, we went home.

I continued having contractions the rest of the day, night and through to the next day. After lunch I started feeling pretty bad and Matthew and I decided to monitor the contractions for a couple of hours. The first hour they were coming every 7-8 minutes and the second and third hour, they became more intense and were every 2-3 minutes apart.

We KNEW it was time... I felt it. We were leaving our house and the next time we came back was with our little one. Matthew got out the video camera... I said my goodbyes to Shot (my baby for the time being), and we left the house with everything.

We got to the hospital and, no kidding, the same nurses were there that were there the day before. They were all rooting for us! They kept saying, "This is it, you are staying this time." "You REALLY have the I'm in labor look." They hooked me up on the monitors, again, and sure enough, the contractions were real and intense. The nurse came in to check me and what do you know... nothing had changed. I was still 2 cm and about 75% effaced! Next, one of the nurses peaked her head in to see what I was... and she was even disappointed. No one could believe it. I looked over at Matthew and it broke my heart to see his face. He was so disappointed and so was I. So, for the second time, we got in the car and headed home.

I had my doctor's appointment for my 37 week check up the next morning and when I went in we were waiting and hoping to see if I had progressed any. Nope... no progression. Still having contractions, but that's about it. Everything is in place... the head is done and in position, the heartrate is strong, I am having contractions (true contractions), and pretty much anything that begins or happens with labor has, except that I am not dilating. Dr. Connor went ahead and made my appointment for my 38 week check up, but really didn't think I would make it back to see her.

Well...today was my 38 week check up. I went in at 9 with no expectations. She checked me and I am still the same. Nothing has changed. I have been having contractions for ten days now, but I am just not progressing. Dr. Connor said that there could be two possibiities...1) I have a cervix of steel and 2) The baby may be down as far as it can go, but just can't fit through and that is why I am not dilating anymore than I have.

Dr. Connor said that there is no way for my body to take another week of contractions and the sweet little angel has basically, run out of room. So, if it doesn't come before... we will meet our little blessing, Monday the 16th! We will head to the hospital at 5 a.m. on Monday morning. That is five days away and I couldn't be happier!

When I called and told everyone this morning that there was still no change, people were disappointed. One thing that I have found is that my strength in the Lord has truly gotten me through this entire pregnancy. For those of you who don't know, I was in the hospital twice during my pregnancy and stayed sick up until about two months ago. The last ten days have been very emotional...alot of ups and downs, but I look at how blessed we are to be where we are and my worries and anxiety go completely away.

Everyone today has asked if I was very disappointed. You know, this morning and the last couple of days, I have spent many hours in prayer. I have always believed that the Lord does things on His own time and that He has a hand in everything. When I went in to the doctor this morning, I went in with no expectations. When I left, I left with no disappointment. I know that our baby will come when it's ready and I feel 100% confident knowing that if it doesn't come before, then he or she needed five more days.

Pregnancy is an amazing thing. It is truly a miracle and a blessing from God. Even though I haven't had the easiest of pregnancies, I have loved every minute of it. No matter what happens, I can't wait to hold my child. I can't wait to see Matthew hold our child. That will bring me the most joy!

Speaking of how God works:
As for now, I am sitting on my couch, staying out of the heat, watching A Baby Story on TLC. What do you know, but the girl was 2cm dilated and 75% effaced and she went in to be induced. Sound familiar!?! Wow...I had to pause to watch the birth and now I am balling my eyes out! :) Anyway, it is so encouraging to see this, at this time. I have had so many people say things to me about being augmented/induced and worrying that I will have to have a C-Section, especially since I haven't progressed any so far. (I am one of those people who really doesn't want to have a C-Section, but I also will do anything to make sure my baby is healthy.) Well, this girl (Jennifer) was exactly what I am now when she went in to be induced. She progressed pretty fast and just birthed a very, healthy baby girl. I know that I may be different and I am prepared for that, but I may not be. All I know is that I can't wait to meet my child and love it with all my heart... no matter when or how it decides to make an appearance into this world!

Here goes nothing...

Well, I have to admit, I never thought I would have one of these... but, as the saying goes..."Never say never!" I finally decided to begin one and I figured now would be the perfect time. There has been so much that is going on in my life right now...so many ends and so many beginnings.

For starters...a beginning...I got married a year ago, April 7, 2007, to my wonderful husband, Matthew. The year has flown by, but I have loved EVERY minute of it. There is something to be said about waking up next to the person who you have prayed for your entire life and knowing that this will never change.

Another beginning...Matthew and I found out we were pregnant in October and thus began a journey of many emotions. They don't tell you what all goes along with starting a family... tears, joy, fear, laughter, happiness, etc. Our due date was June 23, but as I sit here, I have been told any day now and if it doesn't come before then, we will have our first child on June 16th! We decided not to find out what we are having... so, the biggest surprise of our lives is, literally, just around the corner!

An end...Our family will no longer be a family of two, but a wonderful family of THREE!

Another end... I quit working two Fridays ago. What a blessing that Matthew has let me do this, but what a scary thought that I will no longer receive a paycheck! I will miss my good friend Randee! I am looking very forward to spending my life at home with our child.

Another end... About two and a half years ago I went back to school to get my Master's in Elementary Education. Well, I finished my LAST class this morning and what a WONDERFUL feeling that was!!

So, now that you have heard all my beginnings and ends, on to why I decided to start this blog. I have never been a very good writer. If you know me, my "claim to fame" is editing. I can take something someone has done and make it a masterpiece, but I have never been good at writing or creating myself. I have also never found myself very interesting. Now that we have a child on the way, everyone has told me that the easiest thing to do is create a blog. This way I can post pictures and updates on the baby and anyone who wants to read it, can. I must admit, I have found much pleasure in reading my friends' blogs and seeing their updated pictures.

Well, I have finished my first blog and truly can't believe that it wasn't so bad. My friends and family that know me so well are going to be SHOCKED! Trust me...