Ally turns 10!

Happy day to Ally! I was concerned that Ally's day would get lost or that she'd feel neglected on her special day because everything would be about the new baby! (I wasn't even sure I'd be home from the hospital yet) Luckily everything worked out great and she didn't get forgotten! Melanie and kids were in town along with Gramma Susie, Pa Bob and Aunt Anne. Everyone was here on the day before and we had a big dinner party with yummy cupcakes that Aunt Anne made! My parents were still here on her day and Aunt Vikki came over with her boys and we had another mini party. Our tradition on the 10th birthday is to go bowling...this year we had a Wii bowling party and will all go real bowling later! She loved every minute of her birthday bashes! I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE'S 10!!!



Ally has been in gymnastics all and is loving it! I'm amazed at how fearless she is! She will be continuing throughout the year, because she loves it so much!!!

Maxwell James Cannon

Finally getting to hold my Maxwell! Maxwell James Cannon was born at 9:49 August 3, 2011 weighing 6 lbs 7 oz. He is perfect!!!Meeting big sister Brittany
Meeting Ally (she has since perfected her holding of Max...the first time was awkward for her but now if you ask her she's a pro!)
Getting some lovin' from daddy!
Meeting Jay for the first time. Jay was at EFY when Max was born on a Wednesday and Jay came home on Saturday. As soon as he walked in the door I handed Max over.
Can I just say watching my big kids with Max is the most amazing thing ever! I love that this little bundle of Heaven has melted the hearts of everyone in our home. They have each told me individually that me being in bed was totally worth it to get Max! (they weren't sure of that going through the bed rest experience)

More pics to come...ya'll know I have a million of them!!!

Stage 1...

We arrived at the hospital at 7 am. We were immediately taken into a room and they hooked me up to the fetal monitor. (I hate those things!) We loved our nurse Julie. She was great and made me feel comfortable, which wasn't an easy task because I was FREAKED OUT!!!


Below we are preparing to go into the operating room. This is our nurse Julie! I had to go into the OR by myself while Wayne had to wait in the recovery room...I didn't like that part AT ALL!
Below you can see me through the window of the OR...Wayne knew I wasn't happy to go in by myself so he stood and watched from the window. (I didn't know he was there, but still super sweet)
I had to go in by myself to get my spinal and my epidural prep. I've never had so many needles in me in my life! I had the regular pregnancy IV in one hand another IV in the other hand that was just preparatory in case I needed a blood transfusion which they thought would be likely and had two units standing by (made my nerves really calm) Luckily I didn't need them. I personally think all the poking of needles is the worse part of labor! I didn't like that Wayne wasn't in there but I lived and I was told they do it that way because during the spinal you have to be really still and when a loved one is in the room patients tend to look for them and it makes the process painful! As soon as I was numbed up they let Wayne in.
This is what I got to look at during my delivery...yes it sucked and yes I got claustrophobic! I'd love to say that this whole experience was beautiful and amazing, but I can't it sucked until I heard little Max crying and it made it all worth it. I threw up, I hated the air mask, I hated that I didn't get to push, but I LOVE that I got a baby! I didn't get to hold him for almost 2 hours after he was ripped out of me and that was really hard and I was a crying mess until they put him on my chest and wheeled me into the recovery room. I was in the recovery room for several hours and almost the entire time Max was on my chest and that was heaven! Our nurse Julie broke all rules and let Ally and Britt sneak into the recovery room one at a time. I think it scared them a little to see me looking like I did, but they were thrilled to see Max!

I still get emotional thinking of this whole experience but everything I went through has been to get Max and he is here and I love it!

My first AMNIO and hopefully my last...

I had to go in for an amniocentesis today to check the maturity of our babies lungs. It was HORRIBLE...it was over quickly but I cried! I didn't really know how painful it would be or what to expect. It hurt a lot more than I thought but it was over faster than I thought. I think the roller coaster of emotions just hit me when the doctor pulled the needle out filled with amniotic fluid. They of course had to explain all the risks and I would've been so upset if something had gone wrong and I was so relieved that it was over! We had to wait all day for the results and that was nerve racking too! Finally at 4:30 we got word that our little guys lungs are strong and we will proceed with delivery tomorrow...hooray! I of course cried again! I'm so excited to move onto the next phase and hold my little man!

Still a little freaked by the C-section, but I made it through the amnio so I'm a little more calm!!!