First Santa Photo!!

Talkie, Talkie!

The Entire Month of November!

Wow! November FLEW by!

Tommy and I went to the Marine Corps Ball on the 6th and little man stayed with my great friend, Loretta! He did wonderfully during his first babysitter stay and Loretta had a blast with him too. He loved her!

We also celebrated my birthday on the 10th by hanging out with some friends. Tommy went on a trip for work to Alaska, so it was just baby and mama for about a week.

Baby Randy had his 2 month check up on November 15th and got a clean bill of health. He is growing nicely (9 pounds!) and he got 3 shots and one oral inoculation. He cried for a minute after the shots, but bucked up pretty quickly. I took a bit longer to calm down. LOL I think it was worse for me than it was for him!

We decided to go home to Texas for Thanksgiving so baby Randy could meet all of his Nana, Papaw, and wonderful aunties! We bought our tickets and due to some unforeseen circumstances, Tommy's trip was extended and me and the baby had to take his first plane ride without daddy! Once we were back in Texas, we made our rounds and introduced our precious little guy to his closest family members. Grandparents, Aunts, uncles and cousins. Randy found out that he pretty much has the best family ever! Cousin Bailee gave him a sock monkey, a lion and a few other toys and when we went to cousin Zethan's house, he gave him a jiminy cricket toy and a cute bug toy. we had a very nice trip, but it went by way too fast! He loved hanging out with his only boy cousin, Zethan! Lisa and Chris just loved him and we heard his first laugh when uncle Chris was talking to him. He was all smiles while home! He also started cooing and "talking" to us while there. I'm sure he got that from the smith side of the family for sure. Little man can also support all his weight on his legs when we hold him which is advanced for his age. We are so proud of him and so in love!

Once we came home, it was already December!

October's 365

Randy's First Halloween!!

Well, October has gone well for us! It has been a fairly busy month. Mom Came up to help us with the new little guy the first of the month. It was nice to have her here! Got some great pics of Grammy and Baby Randy! Mom also brought the one gift I think I was most excited about. The white blanket in the pics below is my wedding dress! mom made it into an heirloom baby blanket. it is absolutely gorgeous!!

Randy had his one month check up and he is in great health!

He weighed in at 8 pounds even and 20.18 inches. My growing little guy!
I'm working on doing a 365 project with him. I take a photo of him everyday. I have missed a few days. Once I finish up putting in October's Photos, I'll add them to the blog as well!

And for the photos you have all been waiting for...
HALLOWEEN PICTURES! Randy and Chesty both were skeletons! and I made the little hat for him!

 

Well, thanks for visiting our blog! Check back often for more updates!

Randy Wayne's Birth Video!

2 week appointment today.

Our little guy is growing well!
We went to the Doctor today for his 2 week check up and he is up to 6 pounds 14 ounces and 19 1/2 inches!
He is such a trooper too. They had to stick his heel for bloodwork and he hardly cried! Super baby!

On another note, Loretta finished our birth photos and I'd love to share them with y'all! If you want to see a larger version, just click on the picture. Thanks to Loretta Hughbanks Photography for capturing the birth of our first baby. We will treasure these FOREVER!

Photos by Loretta Hughbanks Photography. www.lorettahughbanksphotography.com
These photos are absolutely priceless to me and I would like to urge anyone who is currently pregnant or plans to be to consider having a photographer document the birth. I look at these photos and will cherish them for the rest of my life.

Introducing......Randy Wayne VanTilborg!!

Randall Wayne VanTilborg

Born: September 21, 2010

6 lbs 0.6 oz

17 inches

Natural, Un-medicated

So our birth story begins on Sunday night about midnight. Tommy noticed I was bleeding and when I went to the restroom, I realized it was my bloody show! I called the midwives and they said it was a normal occurrence and that I should be just fine. The next day I had an appointment scheduled with my midwife and I figured I would see how things were progressing then. I awoke to some cramping 4 or 5 times throughout the night, but it was mild and I was able to go back to sleep. At 7:30 I got out of bed for the day and was online talking to a friend. I noticed I was getting waves of cramps that felt like menstrual cramps and it seemed they were quite close together. I downloaded an app on my iPhone for tracking contractions and realized they were between 5 and 7 minutes apart all morning. I drank a few large glasses of water thinking I might be dehydrated and the cramps eased up to about every 8 to 13 minutes apart but definitely growing in intensity.

Tommy was supposed to meet me at the Midwifery center for my appointment at 4:30, but I called him at work and asked him to come and get me so we could go together “just in case.” When we got to the office, I told my midwife what was going on all day and she seemed to want me to not get my hopes up, after all, people can be dilated to “2” for days or more! So when she checked my cervix, she was surprised to find I was dilated to a 4 and 90% effaced! She proceeded to strip my membranes to encourage labor and sent me home to take a nap and get ready for tonight. When we got home, my contractions were definitely stronger. At around 8:30pm, They were intense enough to decide to go to the hospital and at least get checked again. So we called my friend Loretta and we all headed up to the birthing center.

They checked me in and hooked me up to the monitor and took my blood pressure. The midwife, Ann, came in and checked my cervix. I was so sure I was at a 6 or 7! But I was only dilated to 5 centimeters. So they checked me in and walked us up to labor and delivery room where I would spend the next 2 ½ hours laboring with no pain medication. Ann checked me again at 11:00 and I was disappointed to learn that I had not progressed at all! So I kept with it and decided to get in the bath to see if that would ease the pain of my contractions. It definitely did NOT. It made them worse and I had to get out every time a contraction would come. I asked the nurse if she would give me some Tylenol in hopes that it would maybe take the edge off and she obligingly gave me 2. After another hour and a half, I was so tired and the contractions just kept coming I told Tommy I wanted to go ahead and get the epidural. I was just so tired and wasn't confident that I had progressed at all but when the midwife came in and checked my cervix I was at 8 ½ centimeters dilated and she recommended that we wait on the epidural another 20 minutes and see how it went. She also suggested we not even bother with trying the water birth since I had such an aversion to laboring in the regular bathtub. I agreed to wait another 20 minutes and when that was up, it was time to push a baby out!!

Ann proceeded to break my water at about 1:15am and I started feeling the urge to push. The midwife and nurse were wonderful about encouraging me as I pushed. I kept saying I couldn't do it, and I didn't want to push anymore, but my body didn't agree with that. Once his head was out, Ann pulled his umbilical cord from around his neck and I pushed a few more times and Tommy and I were finally parents at 1:43am. They laid him on my chest and we were both amazed. He was so beautiful!!

Baby Showers, slide shows and my 37 week appointment!

Well, My baby showers have come and gone and they were wonderful! The lag in blog posts is due to my serious nesting problem. Well, I guess it's not too much of a problem since I now have everything ready for the baby in his room, all my craft junk organized, a super clean garage and some of the cleanest floors you could imagine! I've also been finishing up thank you cards, volunteering with Tommy's Squadron and have been trying my best to be social and make new friends.

Back home in Texas, I was amazed at how many of our family members and friends showed up to celebrate with us. We were truly blessed by their presence! My sister in law, Lisa and my sisters really spoiled me with the cowboy themed shower! We were truly blessed by our wonderful family as well and were able to fit everything into our 4runner, however, poor chesty had to sit in the front seat with me!

Here is a (very long) slide show with the pics from the shower!



Then, when we got back to Colorado, Amber threw me another shower for my friends here. The theme was "little prince" and was really adorable! What an amazing group of ladies I have come to know here in Colorado. I really believe God blessed us when we got orders back here.

Another great slide show...



And Today, at my 37 week appointment with my midwives, I found out baby Randy has indeed "dropped." There are no other signs pointing toward labor at this point, but we will see how long that takes! Anyone want to pick the date you think he will be here? I also got to hear my little man's heart beat (140 bpm) and we put in our deposit for the water birthing tub. I know most people will think I'm crazy for that, but I'm actually really excited. I can't wait to hold him in my arms, but I'm glad he is still cooking.

Tomorrow is the big day!!

My BABY SHOWER!!

I have to say, I am so BLESSED to have such wonderful friends and family to share in our joy as we welcome our little man into the world!  I hope he is active so everyone gets to feel him move about! I'm definitely bringing a Dr. Pepper to help him along and the cake will help too. (there is ALWAYS cake, right??)

My family has worked so hard to put all this together for me and my sis in law, Lisa, has been the ring leader. I'm so thankful to have her and my sisters and my mom and my mother in law all working on this shower to make it amazing.

However, No one will spill about the secret beans!! I know they are throwing me a cowboy baby shower, but that is about it! It has all been very hush hush!!

Tonight is going to be like Christmas when I was little. I may not be able to sleep from the anticipation...or the heartburn...it's gonna be one or the other I'm sure!

OK, I have to go at least TRY to sleep soon! Good night all!!

Just sent out address change cards...

Well, I finally did it...I sent out our address change/mini announcement post cards!
I ordered them before I started this blog, so I included a label with the blog address and I hope to have lots more family members visiting the site soon!

Hope everyone enjoys it!

JUST ADDED:


Apparently our local post office likes to stamp over the top of the printed area!! Some have let me know that they aren't able to read our address. I also realized that my email address is not on this blog!

I have added a "CONTACT US" page on the menu bar above. On that page is a contact form that goes straight to my email.  Let me know if you need our contact information. I love staying in touch with our family members and friends!

Mondays appointment

Went very well. We are measuring just right and so far, the baby is in the right position. We also met another one of the midwives at the clinic we are going to. She was really nice and gave me a few different options for retaking my 3 hour glucose test. Baby's heart rate was about 160 ish per the nurse.

After our appointment with the midwife, we got another ultrasound! They ultrasound tech was very nice, but seemed a little weird. He confirmed that the baby is growing as he should be and his due date is still right on.

We got another 3D picture of our little buddy! Still looks like Tommy. So cute! I've included one of the pictures they gave us today. It's the best one. I just can't wait to squish his little cheekies!!

On another note, we left for Texas today! Our baby shower is this weekend and I feel completely blessed that my sister and sister in law have put so much work and effort into it. I just can't wait to see all my family and celebrate!

Appointment on monday and then heading home!

I have my next appointment on Monday and I can't wait! We have another ultrasound and I just can't wait to see my little man again. He looks so much like Tommy already! I just stare at Tommy sometimes with googly eyes to annoy him. Lol.

On another super exciting note, my baby shower is next weekend and I'm so excited I can barely contain myself. Lisa texted me some teaser pictures and I'm just flabberghasted at what Lisa and Nicole have done for me. I feel completely beyond blessed. I can't wait to celebrate with my family and show them all the ultrasound pictures and let them feel my little monster kick! I hope he is active that day!

I thnk I have the best family and friends in the world!

PS. Like the midnight posting?? Lol. Gotta love 3rd trimester insomnia. I have the worst time getting to sleep now!

I have shingles!!!

Last week I noticed was getting a small rash above my right ear. It kinda burned so I thought somehow I had burned myself with my flat iron. By Thursday it was worse and spreading so I made an appointment with my regular doctors on base.

The rash didn't get any worse this weekend but today I woke up with a sore neck and an ear ache.
So off to urgent care we go!

The PA comes in and starts a line of questioning leading to Lyme disease, but I haven't had any ticks. So she brings in the doctor and she immediately thinks I have shingles. I was devastated.

As I googled it, I learned that since I'm over 30 weeks along the baby is at very low risk from the virus and the acyclovir is safe to take too. But I am contagious to anyone who has not yet had chicken pox or the vaccine.

I have to say, it's pretty painful. And I remember my dad getting it a few times on a much larger scale than what I have it and boy do I feel his pain now. Ugh!

I hope the antivirals kick in soon and this goes away soon!

3 Hour Glucose Test

Well, my 1 hour glucose test was a tiny bit high last week and since my grandpap has Diabetes, my medical provider thought it would be a good idea to have a 3 hour fasting glucose test.

I was SOOO not looking forward to it. Fortunately, Tommy was off work today, so he kinda did it with me! (Sans blood draws and having to drink a whole bottle of that nasty stuff!!) He did taste it, although, you just don't get the same nauseous feeling from a small swig of glucose mix.

Oh, and the only flavor they had was lemon lime. Blech.

So my fasting blood level was on the high side (95) but the cookies and ice cream I ate late last night could account for that... hmmm...

Long story short... and 4 pokes later, I can go online to get my results and I officially do NOT have gestational diabetes!! Thank you GOD!!

Fasting Pre-sample - 95
1 hour post - 171 (high is over 180)
2 hours post - 136 (high is over 155)
3 hours post - 114 (high is over 140)

I'm so glad that whole thing is over with!

And for lunch, Tommy took me to Jack in the Box for an ultimate cheeseburger and a Dr. Pepper. (I needed some dairy and Iron!!) I think he is the best hubby ever.

NOW, to take care of that anemia issue...

3D/4D Ultrasound today!!

What an awesome experience for us!!
Isn't technology amazing? We get to see our little man before he is even born!
We are pretty excited about the whole thing. I think he is his Daddy's little mini me. He definitely has Tommy's dimpled chin and his toes. Does anyone see any of me in him at all?? Perhaps he will get all my great personality traits...such as my stubbornness, my creativity and some musical ability! LOL

There are a few posted on the photos page as well!

28 week Appointment Today

Well, today's appointment was a bit of a fiasco.

Aside from the fact that it took me 3 1/2 weeks to be seen there, we got to the appointment 20 minutes early to fill out whatever paperwork might be needed and they send me to the "other midwives" desk. I was pretty upset to know that there were 2 practices and I wasn't being seen at the one I had originally requested.

So, we sign a few papers and sit down. All the other ladies were called back and we were sitting there waiting patiently. Our appointment time comes and goes and I'm getting pretty upset. Especially when another patient  shows up and is taken back within 3 minutes. Then another. So I go up to the front desk 20 minutes after our scheduled appointment time crying, asking why we haven't been called back. They call me back right after that and put us in a room. The nurse gives me this cup and tells me I have 2 minutes to drink it, so I chug it as fast as I can. YUK!! Man, she didn't even warn me!! It was that flat sprite syrup to test for gestational diabetes.

Well, the midwife finally comes in about an hour after my appointment time and hardly talked to me about birth plans or anything the practice offered as far as birthing options. She also tells me that there are "8 or 9" midwives in the practice and they don't try to put you with each one so you are familiar with them all before your baby is born. So a stranger could potentially be delivering my sweet little baby! I'm not cool with that!

So overall, the appointment went OK in general. Mr. Randy's heart rate was about 140 bpm, and my tummy is measuring right as it should. We are still on for late September. I also got my Rhogam shot and some more blood work done today.

I won't be going back to that midwifery group though. We made an appointment with the center for midwifery where I *thought* I was supposed to be going to begin with! There are 5 Certified Nurse Midwives who actually take turns seeing each of their patients so my sweet baby son won't be sliding out into the arms of a stranger!!

Welcome to Our baby blog!

Well, I'm a bit late in getting this started and it's still currently a work in progress as I try to WD-40 my HTML knowledge!

I started this blog to hopefully keep our family and friends updated with everything that is "Randy Wayne!"

With Tommy being in the military, we have family back in Texas and our friends are spread to the wind from state to state and even from Japan to Europe to the Middle East.

We love our family and friends so much, we want to keep everyone updated on our new little one!