We wanted to share that Tues. Jan. 17, 2012 will be the big day! My appointment on Friday was uneventful so the delivery date is official! We will check in early that morning, and hopefully sometime that day, we will get to meet Nathan.
We are making all of the last minute decisions and taking care of the last minute details. Thanks to Richard and Barbara Franklin for spoiling Andrew rotten while we are at the hospital. Andrew is already asking to leave for Nonna and Granddad's house. Also, thanks to Pam and Ed Hawley for safely delivering Andrew to Salisbury Tuesday morning and helping to take care of our Golden, Sydney. We love you all and your help will make this exciting time so much less stressful for us.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Holding Steady
We had a doctors appointment this morning. Everything went as well as can be expected. My latest round of tests showed that the preeclampsia is holding steady. Not really any worse, not really any better. My labs were fine. My BP was 110/75 which is good. We ran into a slight glitch when Nathan wouldn't hold still for the non-stress test. He would move and then the monitor would switch and pick up my heart rate which would set off the alarm. In the end they sent me to HP Regional to be monitored. Nathan looks happy and healthy. That observation also showed I was having some pretty strong contractions too! Nothing regular but they hurt. We scheduled another appointment for Friday. If everything looks good at that appointment we will be induced on TUESDAY Jan. 17th!!! I can't believe that we are going to meet this little guy NEXT WEEK! I am switching between periods of crazy excitement and being completely freaked out. Thank you everyone for all of your thoughts and prayers.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
It's Baaaaaccccckkkkk.....
I thought I would share a little update. In my last post it seems I spoke too soon. At my last doctors. appointment my protein levels on the preeclampsia tests were abnormally high. The doctor requested that I do a 24 hour test. The results from that test also came back very high so on Friday night we were admitted to High Point Regional Hospital for observation and some further testing. Don't worry...Baby Nathan is still very happy and healthy. It is more my health the Doctor is concerned about.
The 24 hour preeclampsia test we did yesterday came back worse then the ones that landed me in the hospital to begin with. If you only go by the protein that my kidneys are spilling then I have moderate toxemia. However, all of my other "PE markers" are really good. My BP is 125/75 ish (give or take 5pts) and all of my other blood work came back normal too. There was some discussion about me staying in the hospital for the duration of this pregnancy. The idea of spending 6+ days away from my family in the hospital where I was able to get little or no rest was pretty scary. After some further "discussion" with my doctor it was decided that it was still ok for me to come home and continue my testing and appointment schedule. My next appointment is on Tues.. If this current round of tests comes back significantly worse then we will be induced Tues. night/ Wed. morning. If the tests are not significantly worse I will be allowed to remain on bed rest and continue the testing/appointment schedule. This pattern will continue until sometime in my 37th week (aprox. Jan. 18, 2012) when they will schedule the induction. We want to give Nathan a chance to cook as long as it is safe.
I don't really have a feeling about what will happen. My protein is increasing for sure. I haven't really gotten out of bed in the last 24 hours and it still made a large jump. So bed rest isn't completely helping. I am pretty sure I am past the point of being able to control it like that. It will be a matter how quickly it rises from here on out. Which will get here first the 37 week mark or the Dr's. threshold for my protein level?
I feel fine. I am not even really swelling. Nathan has been tested extensively as well and is doing better then great. Kyle is home all this week to help take care of Andrew. My mom and sister are going to help me get the last few things done. I plan to sleep and lay in bed as much as possible for the next couple of days. I figure it is my last chance for a looooonnnnnggggg time.
The 24 hour preeclampsia test we did yesterday came back worse then the ones that landed me in the hospital to begin with. If you only go by the protein that my kidneys are spilling then I have moderate toxemia. However, all of my other "PE markers" are really good. My BP is 125/75 ish (give or take 5pts) and all of my other blood work came back normal too. There was some discussion about me staying in the hospital for the duration of this pregnancy. The idea of spending 6+ days away from my family in the hospital where I was able to get little or no rest was pretty scary. After some further "discussion" with my doctor it was decided that it was still ok for me to come home and continue my testing and appointment schedule. My next appointment is on Tues.. If this current round of tests comes back significantly worse then we will be induced Tues. night/ Wed. morning. If the tests are not significantly worse I will be allowed to remain on bed rest and continue the testing/appointment schedule. This pattern will continue until sometime in my 37th week (aprox. Jan. 18, 2012) when they will schedule the induction. We want to give Nathan a chance to cook as long as it is safe.
I don't really have a feeling about what will happen. My protein is increasing for sure. I haven't really gotten out of bed in the last 24 hours and it still made a large jump. So bed rest isn't completely helping. I am pretty sure I am past the point of being able to control it like that. It will be a matter how quickly it rises from here on out. Which will get here first the 37 week mark or the Dr's. threshold for my protein level?
I feel fine. I am not even really swelling. Nathan has been tested extensively as well and is doing better then great. Kyle is home all this week to help take care of Andrew. My mom and sister are going to help me get the last few things done. I plan to sleep and lay in bed as much as possible for the next couple of days. I figure it is my last chance for a looooonnnnnggggg time.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
An addition!
Early this summer Kyle, Andrew and I were thrilled to announce that we will be adding to our little family. Did you miss the big announcement? You can catch up here...
Here is our video announcement!
We found out a few weeks later that our new addition would be another little BOY!!! We are super excited that Andrew is going to have a brother. That is such a special bond. It is true what they say...little boys do love their Mamas and think their Daddys are super heroes. Having the chance to raise another good "man" is just priceless. We truly can not wait to meet our baby boy.
Kyle in listed the help of our friends in the naming process again. We picked our "sweet 16" favorite names which Kyle then added into a single elimination tournament bracket. Our friends and family all were able to cheer and boo for their favorites. (We made the final decision on the winners) Wondering about the winning combination? Nathan James Franklin will be joining our family sometime in late Jan.!
Both baby Nathan and I are happy and healthy. I have not had the blood pressure issues with this pregnancy that I did with Andrew. So far, we have avoided bed rest and pre-eclampsia tests. I am on blood pressure medication more as a prevention then because it was really needed. The doctors are still treating this pregnancy as "high risk" so I have had lots of extra appointments and non-stress tests. Nathan is much less active then Andrew was. He is also a big boy...measuring a month ahead at the last ultrasound.
Andrew is taking all of the changes in stride. He will tell you that "baby Nathan" is in HIS belly. He has asked several times to sleep in the "baby bed" and would like to go for a ride in the baby seats. Kyle has also been taking the lead on Andrew's care. It has been helpful to a very tired Mommy and hopefully will make the adjustment of having Nathan at home a little easier when the time comes. I don't know what I would do without my wonderful husband.
We didn't get our Christmas cards out this year. We hope to send out a birth announcement/ Valentine update when the time comes. We hope that you and your family have had a wonderful Christmas season. You have our best wishes and prayers for a Happy New Year as well.
Christmas Tree Shopping 2011- Sparta, NC
Christmas Card Photo Shoot 2011
Christmas Card Photo Shoot 2011- 28 weeks pregnant
Here is our video announcement!
We found out a few weeks later that our new addition would be another little BOY!!! We are super excited that Andrew is going to have a brother. That is such a special bond. It is true what they say...little boys do love their Mamas and think their Daddys are super heroes. Having the chance to raise another good "man" is just priceless. We truly can not wait to meet our baby boy.
Kyle in listed the help of our friends in the naming process again. We picked our "sweet 16" favorite names which Kyle then added into a single elimination tournament bracket. Our friends and family all were able to cheer and boo for their favorites. (We made the final decision on the winners) Wondering about the winning combination? Nathan James Franklin will be joining our family sometime in late Jan.!
Both baby Nathan and I are happy and healthy. I have not had the blood pressure issues with this pregnancy that I did with Andrew. So far, we have avoided bed rest and pre-eclampsia tests. I am on blood pressure medication more as a prevention then because it was really needed. The doctors are still treating this pregnancy as "high risk" so I have had lots of extra appointments and non-stress tests. Nathan is much less active then Andrew was. He is also a big boy...measuring a month ahead at the last ultrasound.
Andrew is taking all of the changes in stride. He will tell you that "baby Nathan" is in HIS belly. He has asked several times to sleep in the "baby bed" and would like to go for a ride in the baby seats. Kyle has also been taking the lead on Andrew's care. It has been helpful to a very tired Mommy and hopefully will make the adjustment of having Nathan at home a little easier when the time comes. I don't know what I would do without my wonderful husband.
We didn't get our Christmas cards out this year. We hope to send out a birth announcement/ Valentine update when the time comes. We hope that you and your family have had a wonderful Christmas season. You have our best wishes and prayers for a Happy New Year as well.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Welcome to 2011!
Belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Franklins! It is the most wonderful time of the year in my opinion. This time of the year is full of joyful endings and hopeful beginnings. Our Christmas was wonderful. I don't know that we could have packed anymore into the few short weeks of the Christmas season. I had set several goals for this December. I wanted to do some Christmas cooking. I wanted to really decorate this year and I wanted to be present in the Christmas season instead of rushing through it as I have the past couple of years.
We started out the season with our traditional trip to Sparta. Then there was Breakfast with Santa at Andrew's preschool. All of the preschool students and teachers wore their favorite PJs to school. Then everyone had pancakes and got to sit on Santa's lap. Andrew loved the pancakes and would wave at Santa but when the time came to sit on his lap Andrew kicked the crap out of him and started screaming. Yes folks, that is my kid. Thankyouverymuch. So needless to say visiting with the big guy in red didn't really happen.
I had completed most of the Christmas shopping very early this year so there was only a handful of loose ends to tie up. I got the house decorated and through a small Christmas miracle Andrew didn't not show any interest in our tree or other decorations. I had fears he would try to pull the tree over or climb it. I was surprised and thankful for his disinterest.
One of my favorite Christmas traditions that Kyle and I started a couple of years ago is adopting an angel or two from the Salvation Army Angel tree. This year's Angel was actually a project for Andrew's class at school. Out of all the Christmas presents I buy, Kyle and I feel that these are the most important. We will continue this this tradition and develop some new ones to help teach Andrew that this season isn't about what he gets, it is about what he gives.
I started a new tradition this year with Christmas Cooking Extravagaza 2010. I invited a group of my friends for an evening of Christmas cooking and good food. Each friend brought ingredients for their favorite Christmas cookie or candy recipe. While we cooked, we snacked on several Fondue choices and enjoyed an evening of grown up conversation with lots of laughter thrown in for good measure. Everyone took home a container of the goodies we all made.
We hosted our annual Christmas Eve party again this year. Our family does "Aunt Shary Sandwiches" aka an Italian Subs and lots snacky stuff. Then we open our Christmas Eve PJs and read the Christmas Story in the bible and the "Twas the Night Before Christmas".
Christmas morning Santa had arrived and left Andrew big loot. He got a new train table and tracks, tent, easel, trucks, puppets and puzzles. He loved the toys but still didn't understand exactly what was going on. We are lucky to have our family close. We spent Christmas morning with the Hanf family eating Pluck-It Bread and opening presents. Then it was home for nap time. Once we were all rested we headed to the Bingles for more food and presents. The whole day was made perfect by the 6 inches of snow that fell outside. It looked like a postcard.
Our New Years Eve was spent with good friends eating good food and playing board games. What more could we ask for? It was the perfect end to the year and a wonderful start to 2011. Here is some pictures of all of the fun. Sorry they aren't in order.
Andrew's first time playing in the snow. 12.26.10
Our House under 6 inches 12.26.10
Aunt Mary is happy to be cooking at CCE 2010
Nothing says Christmas like Fondue...CCE 2010
Breakfast with Santa 2010
. Andrew and his buddy Will on the hayride in Sparta.
Andrew was a good boy this year.
Daddy and Andrew shopping for a tree.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
It Takes A Village.
Last weekend Kyle and I had dinner with another couple who had twins a couple of months ago. We all got babysitters (aka the Grandparents ;) ) and went out child free for a few hours. My friend and I were discussing her new part time work schedule and how she felt about it. She mentioned that being home with the boys sometimes felt very isolating. She wondered at how I managed to stay at home every day and love it. Without a second thought my answer was..."my mommy friends".
We met when Andrew was 3 weeks old (2 years ago this week). I stumbled into a Mommy and Me meeting here in High Point sleep deprived and overwhelmed. Mommy and Me is a support group for new moms. It is open to any mom with a child newborn-6mo. It is run by a lactation consultant who is also a pediatric nurse at an office in town. That day I met Sara and Zane for the first time. Actually all I remember is that Sara carried baby blankets instead of burp clothes due to the amount Zane spit up. A couple of weeks later Sara brought Tucker and her son Will. My first real thought of Tucker was that it was cool she did cloth diapers but that I couldn't do it. After a few short conversations we realized that we were all feeling trapped and bored and needed to get out of the house more. So we decided to meet for lunch at Panera before our weekly meeting. A couple weeks later Kristen and Micah joined our lunch bunch. My first memory of Kristen was learning that she had been my niece's daycare teacher and was married to a person I knew from high school. Those lunches became my lifeline. We met every week and talked about anything and everything. We were just thankful to have other adults around it didn't really matter what the conversation was about. Other friends joined us occasionally but the four of us were always there. One week I randomly decided to attend a Mommy and Me session that was at a different location to catch a speaker I had missed while Andrew was sick. At that session I ran into Dana who I knew through my work at the Red Cross. We became facebook friends and after seeing the millions of pictures that I post of our buddies Dana asked if she could join us. She fit in immediately. Her daughter Hollis became our only little girl. Hollis Claire has the most envied wardrobe ever...All of the boy mommies ogle her pink polka dots and adorable bows. She may be adorable but that little girl is smart and tough. Our group was finally complete.
A year and a half later these four woman are my best friends. I love their kids to pieces too. We still meet officially on Fridays at each others houses. We rotate so that everyone has a turn. Aside from those play dates we spend hours together each week while the buddies play. We have an "it takes a village" approach to our kids. We run in and out of each others houses without knocking and we know where stuff is in each others kitchens. We go on field trips together to the children's museum, science center, zoo, park, pool etc. Our kids are best friends. We also go on Mommies Nights Out and have regular covered dishes. We even include our husbands in on the fun. Because we spend so much time together we have given up thinking of each other as company so it isn't a big deal if your house is a mess and there are dishes in the sink or you haven't showered. We insist that when we are together it is a judgement-free time. There is enough Mommy guilt in the world without having your friends help you add to it.
I have learned so much from this amazing group of women. They conquer each hurdle of motherhood with grace and humor. Admittedly...sometimes it is heavy on the humor side. Their friendship and support allow me to remain at home with my son. I could not do this everyday without them. They have made me a better Mom and they keep me sane...well saner. They have truly given me a priceless gift. Sara, Dana, Tucker and Kristen THANKS doesn't even begin to cover it. I heart you guys!!
We met when Andrew was 3 weeks old (2 years ago this week). I stumbled into a Mommy and Me meeting here in High Point sleep deprived and overwhelmed. Mommy and Me is a support group for new moms. It is open to any mom with a child newborn-6mo. It is run by a lactation consultant who is also a pediatric nurse at an office in town. That day I met Sara and Zane for the first time. Actually all I remember is that Sara carried baby blankets instead of burp clothes due to the amount Zane spit up. A couple of weeks later Sara brought Tucker and her son Will. My first real thought of Tucker was that it was cool she did cloth diapers but that I couldn't do it. After a few short conversations we realized that we were all feeling trapped and bored and needed to get out of the house more. So we decided to meet for lunch at Panera before our weekly meeting. A couple weeks later Kristen and Micah joined our lunch bunch. My first memory of Kristen was learning that she had been my niece's daycare teacher and was married to a person I knew from high school. Those lunches became my lifeline. We met every week and talked about anything and everything. We were just thankful to have other adults around it didn't really matter what the conversation was about. Other friends joined us occasionally but the four of us were always there. One week I randomly decided to attend a Mommy and Me session that was at a different location to catch a speaker I had missed while Andrew was sick. At that session I ran into Dana who I knew through my work at the Red Cross. We became facebook friends and after seeing the millions of pictures that I post of our buddies Dana asked if she could join us. She fit in immediately. Her daughter Hollis became our only little girl. Hollis Claire has the most envied wardrobe ever...All of the boy mommies ogle her pink polka dots and adorable bows. She may be adorable but that little girl is smart and tough. Our group was finally complete.
A year and a half later these four woman are my best friends. I love their kids to pieces too. We still meet officially on Fridays at each others houses. We rotate so that everyone has a turn. Aside from those play dates we spend hours together each week while the buddies play. We have an "it takes a village" approach to our kids. We run in and out of each others houses without knocking and we know where stuff is in each others kitchens. We go on field trips together to the children's museum, science center, zoo, park, pool etc. Our kids are best friends. We also go on Mommies Nights Out and have regular covered dishes. We even include our husbands in on the fun. Because we spend so much time together we have given up thinking of each other as company so it isn't a big deal if your house is a mess and there are dishes in the sink or you haven't showered. We insist that when we are together it is a judgement-free time. There is enough Mommy guilt in the world without having your friends help you add to it.
I have learned so much from this amazing group of women. They conquer each hurdle of motherhood with grace and humor. Admittedly...sometimes it is heavy on the humor side. Their friendship and support allow me to remain at home with my son. I could not do this everyday without them. They have made me a better Mom and they keep me sane...well saner. They have truly given me a priceless gift. Sara, Dana, Tucker and Kristen THANKS doesn't even begin to cover it. I heart you guys!!
Friday, December 3, 2010
Gobble Gobble...HoHo
I love love love this time of year. My two favorite holidays are almost back to back. We had a great time on Thanksgiving day. It started early...I mean EARLY. Mary and my parents were here around 6:30am to get the 21lb bird in the oven. That is a lot of stinkin turkey people. Since we added John Bingle to the family several years ago we have started stuffing our turkey with his mom's stuffing recipe. It came out of the oven 5.5 hours later looking like something from a magazine. We were joined this year by my parents, my sister Mary and her family, my cousin Cammy and her son, my Father-in-law and his wife Barbara and her daughter Melissa and granddaughter Kendyl. If I counted correctly that is 14 people. I think we had food for 40 though. There was lots of eating and football watching...and then a lot of cleaning. How come really good meals have to make such a mess? I haven't mastered completely the clean as you go concept. One of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving is that when it is over and it is officially time to decorate for Christmas.
The year we got married Kyle and I started a family tradition of driving the 1.5 hours to Sparta, NC (aka the mountains) to cut our own tree. You should really try it one year. The place we go takes you on a hayride up the mountain. You choose your tree and then they cut it for you. You get back on the tractor to ride back down the mountain. When you get back there is hot cider and snacks. It was beautiful and cold. This year Andrews favorite part was the tractor. Nothing else really came close. Our friends the Campbell's joined us. Our tree is outside waiting for decorations. I am little nervous about bringing it in because I just know Andrew is going to want to play with the ornaments and lights.
I have our Christmas cards ready to go out and am looking forward to having some friends over in a couple of weeks to do some Christmas cooking. I trying to think of some other traditions to start with Andrew now that he is a little older...any ideas?
The year we got married Kyle and I started a family tradition of driving the 1.5 hours to Sparta, NC (aka the mountains) to cut our own tree. You should really try it one year. The place we go takes you on a hayride up the mountain. You choose your tree and then they cut it for you. You get back on the tractor to ride back down the mountain. When you get back there is hot cider and snacks. It was beautiful and cold. This year Andrews favorite part was the tractor. Nothing else really came close. Our friends the Campbell's joined us. Our tree is outside waiting for decorations. I am little nervous about bringing it in because I just know Andrew is going to want to play with the ornaments and lights.
I have our Christmas cards ready to go out and am looking forward to having some friends over in a couple of weeks to do some Christmas cooking. I trying to think of some other traditions to start with Andrew now that he is a little older...any ideas?
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