Valentine's Day As An Afterthought

Every year I work myself up into a tizzy with hopes, high expectations and dreams of a perfect birthday (February 12) followed by a romantic Valentine's Day. I figured that when I got married my dreams of such would always be carried out to a tee now because I had a loving husband who would do anything for me. Now before I continue I must add that I do have a very loving, kind, husband. And he would do anything for me.
Unfortunately, after a few dramatic, tear-filled birthday/Valentine's Days, I learned that he didn't  know what I wanted unless I straight out told him. I, the girly wife, imagined what things he might do for me and he, the handsome husband, frantically waited for me to tell him what I wanted. The results? Disappointment verging on devastation, frustation and drama drama drama. This year, as the notorious birthday/romantic holiday approached, we both joked that it would be a miracle if I didn't cry.

I did cry. But that was only because I cut onions for a soup I made on my birthday.

This year both my birthday and Valentines Day were wonderful and I reflected on why I enjoyed both so much this year. Yes, Jason got me a wonderful gift. He surprised me with a big, beautiful, cozy gliding rocker with an ottoman.

And yet, there seemed to be something more this year. It didn't bother me that I didn't have  the romantic, candlelight dinner with Jason showering me with flowers, chocolates and other tokens of love. It didn't bother me that I didn't have breakfast in bed, or a big birthday cake ( although I did make myself a little German Chocolate cake). It didn't bother me that I didn't have the "ideal" Valentine's Day. Instead, I realized that I already had the best thrill/excitement/joy given to me in the form of my little girl. Nothing could surpass the thrill I had in bringing her into the world. Nothing could surpass the joy I experience every day when I look at her beautiful little face and she smiles at me. Nothing could surpass the excitement I have when I wake up and remember I have a beautiful little baby waiting for me in the next room. Step aside birthday and Valentine's day, I already got my gift this year, and she is the greatest token of love.
And yes, you can say that Jason is the one who gave her to me.

Waiting until the 11th Hour

I am going to get up on my soap box for a minute and ramble about why it is so important to NOT procrastinate and to always be prepared. Ok, I guess I should actually step down from the box now because I am not the person who should be preaching about the evils of procrastination. Procrastinating should be labeled as one of my favorite things to do. :)

Getting ready for Claire to come is one example. I guess you can say I waited until the 11th hour to get her things in order. I was meaning to organize and wash her clothes earlier but I figured I was only 38 weeks pregant and I would probably have her late anyways. So here is what happened:
Let's backtrack a second
Thursday, December 21: Jason and I officially finish the couch we had been working on for 6 months. There was a lot of procrastination and delaying in that time frame.
Thursday, December 29: Jason and I finally go buy a dresser for Claire. Ikea closed at 9 pm; we left our house at 8:30. Last minute people? I think so.
Friday, December 30: We finish puttting together the dresser.
Saturday, December 31: I spend the whole day washing her clothes, cleaning out our bedroom and doing a general cleaning of the house.
Sunday afternoon, January 1: I finish putting away and hanging up her clothes. I also get the stroller and bassinet ready
Sunday evening, January 1: Jason and I go to the hospital. The next time I am home it will be Friday, January 6th and Claire is with us!

Whew! When the nurses and doctor told me Sunday night that I would probably be induced I think I was able to handle the news better knowing that at least her dresser, clothes and general things were in order. But I shouldn't have waited so long! My poor little OCD brain would have been in agony the whole time if things weren't in order. But they were, and I was able to enjoy the idea that I was going to have a baby!!

Moral of the story: you never know when your high blood pressure may put a twist on things in your life.

Here are some pictures I took the night before I went into the hospital.

For Lizzie and Emily...

I dedicate this blog post to my friends Lizzie Jones and Emily Olson who told me tonight that they enjoy reading my blog and that I should be blogging more. Thanks guys! I don't consider myself any sort of skilled blogger. I'm not one of those stay-at-home moms who perfects the art of blogging by documenting their amazing skills at cooking or quilting or sewing or carpentry, dolls it up with incredible photos,gains a following of thousands of readers and ends up making a nice residual income that supports her whole family.

I wish.

Just like it says, this blog is about me rambling about stuff in my life. Rambling. That's it. But it was still very nice of them to compliment me and encourage me to continue. So, Lizzie and Emily, I will continue to blog and this year I will make it a goal to learn a thing or two about the art of blogging, hopefully sprucing up this, my little corner of the internet.

p.s. I think I made the necessary adjustments to the comments :0)

The Before and After

I thought it would be fun to post some before and after pictures from the pregnancy. No, I'm not showing any belly shots--my whole abdomen area is still very much in recovery mode, as well as some other parts of me. But I have seen drastic improvements in the foot department. A few weeks ago I thought it would be fun to scare people with my elephantitis feet. Well I am happy to report that they are no longer the size of squashes. They look like my feet again! I would add that  my ankles, calves, knees and thighs ( well, more or less with that last one) have also deflated. :)

Here are the pics to prove it:

Before

Even Crystal is scared!!

AFTER

Hm... why do my feet seem more tan when they were fat??

Claire Eva Casebolt

This post is long overdue and I really  had good intentions of doing it for the past week...but it just didn't happen. You'd think that lying around the house all day I would find some time to blog about my baby girl. But anyways, I am finally doing it!

Claire Eva Casebolt was born Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 10:05 p.m. She came into this world weighing 6 lbs 15 oz., measuring 20.5 inches long and looking absolutely perfect! She had beautiful, flawless skin, big attentive eyes and a head full of hair. Our little angel had finally arrived. However, we had not been expecting her quite so soon. New years day Jason and I went to the hospital because my blood pressure had been measuring high and my OB had told me to check in with the hospital nurse if it was over 140. The nurse asked us to come in so they could double check my pressure so we went, casually thinking they'd give me a baby aspirin and tell me to put my feet up.

We couldn't have been more wrong.

With my pressure consistently measuring in the mid 140s over 105 the nurses seemed pretty concerned. They told me that I probably had a mild form of preeclampsia and the only way to resolve it was to have a baby! The doctor decided that they would monitor me for the next 24 hours and then decide what to do. Jason ran home to grab more stuff and they moved me to a labor and delivery room.

Monday night they began the induction process with a Foley catheter and Tuesday morning they started giving me pitocin. Luckily  I progressed well enough throughout the day without any problems. The worst part of the whole thing was that my epidural only lasted for about an hour before I began feeling INTENSE pain in my lower abdomen and back. The anesthesiologist never did figure it out--I was completely numb up to my hips and that was it. But by that point I was completely dialated and I pushed little Claire out in less that 45 minutes! Oh the relief! And oh, what a beautiful baby!! She really was perfect. :)

We stayed in the hospital 3 more days so that Claire could be treated for jaundice. She is doing well now and putting on lots of weight! She is our precious little angel and we love her so much!

She had daddy wrapped around her little finger the moment he first held her.

Getting her tan on under the bili lights :0)

Grandma Casebolt flew in the Friday after she was born and was a great help to us!

Patiently waits as dad changes her diaper--what a good baby!

Jason actively "fathering" his child ;0)

Tummy time!

Look at those eyes! So alert and attentive.

2012

The year 2011 brought its fair share of sorrow and grief to our little family. Jason and I learned a lot about what it meant to lose something important to us and we learned how to cope, relying on each other, our wonderful family, friends, and especially on our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. We grew closer as a couple and I believe we have come out of this past year stronger, more grateful for what we have and with a better realization of how precious this life is. And now, with the close of 2011 we are looking forward to this new year and the opportunity we will have shortly to become parents to our little baby girl. What a great way to start off a new year than by having a precious little child sent from God! Looking back over 2011, I know we were richly blessed by Him and I can see His hand in our lives. Now, as we move forward into this new year, we can continue to count our blessings. I can only hope and pray that I will remember to always give thanks to my Father in Heaven and remember how much He loves me, no matter what happens this year.

All I can say is, bring on the new year! I have a feeling it's going to be a good one. ;0)

Happy New Year!!!

The Interesting Things That Can Happen When You Are Pregnant

I don't mean this blog post to be a complaining post. I have absolutely loved being pregnant and I have embraced every part of it--the good with the ugly. But when I say ugly, there are some things about my body that have become, literally, down right scary! Pregnancy has been an amazing journey and watching how my body has changed in order to support a living being inside of me is nothing short of miraculous. However, sometimes us pregnant folk must adjust to a body that is less than, eh, ideal. :) I have been extremely lucky in that I have had minimal aches, pains and general issues that can plague a pregnant woman. However, I did not escape this pregnancy problem free.
In the last few weeks, I have watched my feet, ankles, legs and hands swell to unusual sizes. Wearing compression socks have been the only relief for my legs and my hands have not worn any sort of jewellry for some time. While generally uncomfortable, it has been the source of amusement for me, Jason and, while they were in town, my in-laws. We played the game of Lets-See-What Sort-of-Indentation-We-Can-Make with my feet. Here were the results:

Behold the fat foot

Sinply press in...

 and, Voila! your very own indentation.

Impressive, no?