More Baby Pics

Ashley is still pretty tired and recoverying, but I promise she'll post in the next day or so and then you wont have to hear from me anymore. Both Caden and Ashley are doing great. I think we will be discharged Sunday morning. It will be nice to get back home and be able to have Caden in our own environment. Although it is kind of scary not having nurses and doctors around. But we have the next best thing around: my mom. She is always willing to give advice (even when it is not needed or asked for)! I'm just about cought up on sleep; I'm at least to the point that I can function (Caden's birth was from about 6pm to 8am, so we didn't get any sleep that night). But everything is good and we appreciate all your thoughts and comments. Enjoy the pictures . . . or not.

Introducing (for real) . . .

. . . Caden Bryan Paul Phipps. So after a whole night of labor and no sleep our little boy finally came. Ashley did such a great job, especially considering her epideral stopped working about half-way through. He weighed in at 7.0 pounds and 18.5 inches long and was born at 8:15am. When Ashley starts feeling better I'm sure she'll give you all the details, but here are some pictures to tide you over.

Welcome to Room 22

So after some crazy Sacramento traffic we finally made it to labor and delivery. We have a really nice nurse named Tami who is taking great care of us. After arriving we received the second greatest news of the day: We are in the hospital's biggest delivery room. This thing is huge. I'm guessing about 35ft by 30ft!

The amenities are pretty sweet too: valet parking, wireless internet, strawberry cheesecake frozen yogurt (for me, not Ashley; she just gets ice chips for the time being). I'm thinking about scheduling our next vacation here. I found a USB cord, so I'll put some pictures up and keep everyone updated.

Bryan out!

We're Off . . .

Time to go have a baby.

Life Sentence of Pregnancy.

The latest up-date:
It has been quite the week of ups and downs for us. It's been very hard for me having the original mind set of not going past the 24th to where I am now. Yesterday we went to our appt. fully expecting to be induced last night. The doctor said we would be--we believed him. Plus the fact he knew our insurance from my work will run out May 31st made us pretty confident that he would take compassion on us (since again he said he would never let it get that far). Last night his compassion ended with "you can always spend $1,500 and get Cobra insurance; it's not really my problem." Apparently doctors forget what it is like to be starving students that spent the last year planning exactly how they would make this all work. They can't fathom how we stretch that amount of money that they probably throw into their monthly Ranger Rover payment.

It was a huge disappointment when they sent us home telling us that although it wasn't looking good to call in the morning. After crying for so long my head hurt Bryan pointed out that it wasn't doing us any good to be mad and that we needed to just place our faith in Heavenly Father. So listening to my wise husband that's what we have done. Today again we called like directed and after two calls were told that they planned to get us in by 4 o'clock today. She even went as far as to give me instructions on what to do through out the day. I was over joyed to hear this news! But when 3:30 rolled around and they hadn't called like they promised I started to worry and call them. Actually Bryan forced me to because I hate taking initiative. Now again they are saying that it doesn't look good which leaves us with two options:

1. Go into labor naturally so we actually have my good insurance. (If this were actually an option I would have done it a long time ago).
2. Be induced Monday when I am 10 days over due and my insurance no longer covers us.

I feel like the high school girl friend sitting next to the phone praying it rings, double checking every 2 minutes to make sure the battery isn't too low or that the ringer didn't somehow get turned off. MONDAY?!? I seriously have my doubts that I will be alive by then. But once again...what can you do but have faith that it will all work out in the end.

And Now Introducing . . .

. . . a guest-poster to the blog: Bryan. Sorry to tease you with the post title, but no baby yet. I'll let Ashley give everyone the details of the drama of the past five days; afterall, she is the drama queen. But the latest word is that Ashley might be induced this afternoon at four (Pacific Time). It isn't a for sure because I guess they have to keep beds open for people who are in real labor or some crap like that. Whatev! We did get to have another sonogram of the baby yesterday, though. Since he is five days overdue he is a little big for his age. In this shot I think he is trying to break Ashley's water.

I'll keep you all posted on the happenings.

Hopefully until later this afternoon, Bryan.

D-Day Belly

Our last nine months:

It's my first time through this so I'm allowed to make a big deal of it, right?!? :) Our prayers were answered!!!
Positive Test=Tears of Joy!
One of the happiest days of our lives: having our first ultra sound at 7 weeks and seeing the babies heart beat! I will never, ever forget this day! 14 weeks: I remember looking in the mirror thinking...I look so pregnant; this is so cool. HA! Little did I know of what was to come.
16 weeks: I started feeling the baby move this week and it was the most incredible feeling in the world. It still amazes me. 20 weeks: Half way there and still sick as a dog!24 weeks: Finally feeling good!
Happy Valentine's Day Belly28 weeks32 weeks34 weeks36 weeks: Heading to Cali; Praying for no delivery in Nevada.38 weeks: Thinking delivery in Nevada wouldn't have been so bad. :) Only kidding.40 weeks: The Due Date Belly. Almost there! (Pretty sure I doubled in size this last month!!)

This has been the most amazing journey of my life. Although some parts of it have been difficult--(I don't think a day has gone by where I haven't worried about something)--every part has been worth it. I thank Heavenly Father every night that he blessed us with this miracle. I just cannot wait to meet this little boy that I've spent every second of the last nine months with.

My contractions are still getting closer together--so we are hoping we have some news to share with you all soon! We'll definitely keep you posted...well probably Bryan...so I'm guessing you should get ready to laugh. Thank you so much for your messages, thoughts, and prayers! I have the best friends!!!

Oh my gosh...I just reread my last post and I sound so pessimistic. I'm sorry!!! That is so not my personality. I'm really so blessed and have absolutely nothing to complain about. I'm just really, really, really, really, ready to have my baby here. :) I think I will go shopping now...that makes everything all better.

Sarcasm Saves the Day.

Highlights from my first Labor and Delivery trip:
* The doctor sent me into L & D because I was having sharp pain in my lower abdomen which turned out to be contractions every 6 minutes....who knew! Didn't feel like a contraction to me.
* They had me walk around the hospital for an hour to see if things would progress. My contractions did but I didn't dilate further so they gave me some drugs to sleep and sent me home saying they'd see me back in 4-24 hours. It has now been about 60 hours and I'm still contracting every 5 minutes but making no progress.
* I have decided that I am more likely to end up in the psych ward than in labor and delivery again.


Good news from the doctor yesterday:
(Yes, this is me being very, very sarcastic...it's my survival technique.)
* I have not one but two placental lobes.
* I wont be induced til at the earliest next Wednesday. Last time I checked my calender that was still 6 days away. I'm currently contemplating flying back to Utah where my doctor promised me I would have delivered 7 days ago.
* My baby has "probably" gained about 2 pounds. So what--now we are up to 15 pounds?!? No problem! What's another 2 pounds?!? I should probably just return all my newborn clothes and go for the 3-6 months.
* Natural redheads tend to bleed and hemorrhage the most.
....awesome! I'm so glad you shared that bit of information with me.


Bryan has me on a strict walking schedule. All it does is inflict useless pain. I no longer find my husbands jokes funny and whenever anyone asks me about how I am feeling I instantly start crying. Like I said, I think I have bought myself a one way ticket to the psych ward. Gosh, I can't even imagine what I am going to be like by Wednesday. Scary.

...AND yes, I know I am a big drama queen. My doctor also told me this was allowed. I'm so grateful for his permission.

I think I need to go pray for patience.

The Scream

News on the baby front:

Not too much to tell except that I'm dialated to 2 cm and will supposidly be induced by the 28th if the little guy isn't here by then. I've been having tons of contractions that get my hopes up every day but nothing comes of it. It's such a mind game. I'm still crossing my fingers that he makes his debute before then because things are getting mighty tight and uncomfortable! At my appointment Friday the doctor striped my membranes. To describe that experience I'll say that Bryan started laughing when he saw my face--he said I reminded him of The Scream painting by Edvard Munch:

Apparently the doctor saw my face too because afterwards he immediately asked if I planned on getting an epidural. "Uh...do you even need to ask me that?!?" Saturday we went to Bry's cousin Olivia's Wedding. It was a beautiful outdoors reception and so fun to see all the extended family.
The girls: Me, Megan, Tami, and Jolene.

Right before this picture was taken Megan says to me, "I want to stand by you so I look small." Thank you Megan. We are no longer speaking.

The first time through Megan actually caught the bouquet: My guess is because these three girls were her competition. Makayla was quite happy to take it off Megan's hands though.

Bless the Mani/Pedi's!

My wonderful mother in law took me to get a full mani/pedi yesterday...massage included. She is basically my favorite person in the world right now. It was just what the doctor ordered.

Besides the lack of news on the baby front things here in Shingle Springs are going great! Bry is really loving his internship and gaining lots of useful knowledge. He told me he's surprised at how much he actually learned this year in school. Glad all his time studying wasn't wasted. :) He has spent the last few days in court and almost witnessed a brawl; Today he informed me he will be doing depositions. I, on the other hand, will be sitting by the pool reading Work and the Glory praying this baby decides to listen to his father. (Bryan gave him an eviction notice yesterday...how loving is he?!?)

I also thought this would be appropriate being that it was just Mother's Day. I was able to read Elder Ballard's Daughters of God talk this morning which touched me deeply. Because of everything Bryan and I have been through to bring this little boy into our family I have never REALLY stopped to think how much work being a mom will be. Maybe that's the wrong way to put it--I have definitely thought about it--but to me the blessings and desire to be a mother have far out weighted anything else, as I'm sure they always will. As I read his talk I felt a strong need to remember what he said and how I feel at this point in my life.

He said, "recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction."

I just always want to remember that when things get a little difficult, as I'm sure they will, that I want to be a mother more than anything. This little boy is one of my biggest blessings from a loving Heavenly Father; I am elated to experience the joy that comes in the little moments of motherhood. And to all you mothers and mother-hopefuls out there: I have such a deep respect for each of you and all you do.

Burp Cloths!

My mother in law taught me how to make these adorable burp cloths. I'm pretty excited about my new found domestic abilities. :) Bry came with me to the fabric store and we picked out all these cute patterns and colors to match the baby's little outfits. We've made 8 so far and now I'm working on some receiving blankets. (Please ignore the swollen face).

I had another doctors appointment yesterday which proved to be a little frustrating. My doctors in Utah had told me that because I have gestational diabetes they would probably not let me go passed 39 weeks and definitely not passed my due date because of the risk of delivery a large baby. Well, like I wrote last time I've actually been measuring about 3 weeks small, so at my appointment yesterday they did an ultra sound. If he was 5 pounds (which is what the doctor was thinking) they were possible going to induce me today because they were worried about him thriving. Turns out the baby is anything but small! He is totally hiden and already weighing in at 7 1/2 pounds!!!!!!! So in my head I'm thinking...well I guess the diabetes is effecting him and I can plan on being delivered around my due date at the latest. Apparently doctors here don't hold the same policy as Utah's doctors. This doctor said there was no way he'd induce me before 41 weeks. This sent me into a major panic! I am so not okay with delivering a 10 pound baby...is that even possible for me?!?!? His logic makes zero sense...

He says that first time mothers that are induced are 6 times more likely to deliver by c-section. Fair enough. BUT HELLO my other doctor said that small moms that have diabetes and who's children get above 8 pounds are way more likely to have c-sections. Please explain that one to me. I wasn't a very happy camper last night. This discussion is NOT over! Okay and I act all big and tough on my blog but at the actually appointment I was ready to cry like a little baby. I'm making Bry go with me to my next appt...he is the tough one. :)

The Joys of Living on Property...

I grew up in the city, surrounded by neighbors, where fences weren't allowed because it messed up the neighborhood aesthetics...Bryan on the other hand grew up on "property". Apparently this is what the wealthy California people call it...back home we call it the country, or the boonies. :)
Well I got yet another new "property" living experience yesterday. It's called shearing the sheep. Supposedly they have done this before, but the pictures might give you a different impression.

"Uh...what now?"
"I guess we have to try and get the sheep on his butt or he'll buck and run away."

20 minues later... "So now we start shearing?"
"This is disgusting."

Bryan: "WHAT IS THAT?!?!" Father in law: "His talliwacker. Don't shear that."A painfully long time later....

Poor Rambo. It's not a good looking hair cut but it's free.

On the way home more comedy ensued...

I wouldn't let Bryan drive because his hands were covered in sheep. Actually, I wouldn't even let him sit in the front...he sat in the back on the way home.

Me: "I haven't driven in a week. This feels weird."

Two seconds later, out of no where, a deer jumps off the hillside we are driving next to and almost lands on my car. I have a heart attack.

Bryan: "It shows."

Then we get home and I back into a pile of bricks. Awesome. Love living on property.

Fortune Cookie

Bry and I had Chinese food the other day and one of our fortune cookies said...

"A small stranger will soon come into your life and bring you joy."

Too perfect. :)

I had my first doctors appointment out here. We had to wait 2 1/2 hours to see the doctor but in the end it was worth it (although I don't know that Bry agrees) because he told me I'm 1 cm dialated and 60% effaced. I never thought hearing that could make me so excited! He also said that I'm actually measuring pretty small, so he wants to do an ultrasound to make sure that he's not too little. Always something to worry about! Either way 22 days to go...