Time to come home!

Well we came home from the hospital last night. Here are some pictures of our beautiful girl to commemorate the event. It is hard to believe you can accumulate so much stuff in a few days but that entire cart is ours. Our precious little snug bug looking very grown up in her car seat. Can't hardly see little Caleigh... A very proud father getting our girl situated in the car. It was a beautiful blue sunny day when we came home - Caleigh is smiling and asleep despite the light. It has been a little crazy since being home. But our little girl is worth it. (Although I am very very sleepy.)

The gory details

So we will break down the timeline of events for everyone who is curious. I was induced 4 days early just as a precaution because Caleigh had a loop of umbilical cord around her neck at our 19 week ultrasound. This caused us to see a maternal-fetal specialist, have several follow-up ultrasounds, and get a non-stress test (basically a heart rate/movement monitor) for Caleigh every week starting at 34 weeks. We now know that all of the concern about the umbilical cord was God's way of teaching us that there is no way that we can possibly have any control over Caleigh - that God alone is the One who keeps her safe, gives her life, brings her into this world, etc. So Sunday November 26th we packed our bags and put up our Christmas tree (sans decorations - no time) and headed into the hospital at 7:15 pm to be induced. When I got to the hospital I was not dilated at all nor was i effaced. I got Cervidil that night to help me to dilate and woke up at 4 am on Monday morning having contractions. I was 1 cm and the nurse moved us from the regular room to the labor and delivery room. They decided to hold off on Pitocin because my contractions were regular and frequent. I got some pain medicine around 6 am and this helped the pain a little - but mostly just made me really out of it. Around 7 am I was 3 cm but my contractions were slowing down so the doctor started Pitocin. My water broke on its own around 8 am. (I was initially convinced I was peeing in the bed, but glad to hear this was not the case). By around 9-10 am I started having back labor and dilated to 5 cm. I was in so much pain and was pretty much hysterical. I asked for the epidural around this time but the anesthesiologist was in with a C-section, so I had to wait. This was the worst time and it felt like forever. Finally they called another anesthesiologist in the hospital to come do my epidural and as he was preping me the L&D anesthesiologist came in. The epidural helped with the back labor and it took the edge off of the contractions in my abdomen. I went from 5 cm to 10 cm in a couple of hours but Caleigh was still high in the canal, at -3. They were concerned that I may have to have a C-section because she was so high. Thankfully, our nurse was awesome and had me push in some interesting position to help rotate Caleigh and bring her down. I started pushing around 1 pm (which actually was so much better than the contractions) and Caleigh was born at 1:28 pm. There were absolutely no problems with the cord during the labor and there was no cord around her when she was born - an answer to prayer! Her Apgars were 9 and 9 and she was totally healthy.

More pictures...

The proud grandparents came in to the delivery room shortly after Caleigh was born... Introducing Gigi and Gramps (names subject to change) - Lindsay's parents And Grandpa and Grandma Dyer - Adam's parents Approximately 24 hours old! So I am looking a little beat up in the pictures but Caleigh is looking so snugly and cute.

More pictures!

The beautiful new mom... Seriously, these are my parents? Is that poop on my foot?

Caleigh Grace Dyer!

Caleigh Grace Dyer - born at 1328 on 11/26/07. 6 lb. 14 oz. 19.75 in. I like my fingers the best...

Tomorrow is the day!

We are headed into the hospital tomorrow evening to be induced. The induction may take a couple of days, but as of tomorrow evening Caleigh will be on the way out! Please keep us in your prayers tomorrow; we will keep everyone updated.

Adam's birthday bash continues

Little did Adam know his birthday bash would continue past his actual birthday... Adam thought we were headed out to dinner on Wednesday night, 11/15 but actually I surprised him with 3 tickets to the UNC v. Davidson basketball game at Bobcats stadium. Dave and Tyler showed up at our door with the tickets as Adam and I were supposedly leaving for dinner. I think he was actually surprised because when we were about to leave for dinner he said "I guess I better tape the UNC game" in a pretty sad voice. Here are some pictures from the big surprise. Tyler clearly thinks these guys are crazy... Tyler and Adam... Dave and Adam having a grand ole time.

Happy 26th Birthday Adam!

Well today is Adam's 26th birthday! I can't say that today was actually that special but this past weekend we had a birthday/ baby-free weekend extravaganza. Adam and I had the day off on Friday and we finished getting Caleigh's room ready, bought diapers ($$$!), and attempted to Christmas shop. I'm sure that doesn't sound too fun. But on Friday night we went to dinner at P.F. Chang's and then saw the movie, Dan in Real Life. We would highly recommend it - great movie! On Saturday we went to Blowing Rock / Grandfather Mountain for the day. We walked around Blowing Rock and went up to Grandfather Mountain to the Mile-High Bridge. Adam also got to drive on the Blue Ridge Pkwy for the first time. It was absolutely freezing on the swinging bridge. The car temp said 35 degrees but with the wind up there it had to be around 20.

Adam was making fun of me because I thought the bridge was going to be a mile off the ground so I was slightly disappointed to see that it was only a couple hundred feet off the ground. It was really scary though with the wind blowing and the bridge was actually moving and squeaking. I think I was for sure the only person that was 37 something weeks pregnant. I was secretly hoping that the high altitude and the hiking would induce labor or help her drop or something but to no avail. On Saturday night we went out to dinner with Adam's parents to Dressler's in Birkdale -it was really fun. I think Adam was disappointed because Caleigh got 2 gifts and Adam only got 1. Sunday morning we went to the early service at church and then we headed over to the Panthers v. Atlanta game. It was a fun cap to a busy and exciting weekend.Unfortunately the F15 flyover was canceled but it was a pretty cool Veteran's Day celebration at the game...

And our close-up...

Happy Birthday Adam!

Baby showers galore!!!

Here are some pictures from my baby shower at work that happened last week. Everyone convinced me to have Adam come and then when he got there it was a group of like 25 women... the guys didn't come until the gift opening was pretty much over. It was a great time (for me at least, you'll have to ask Adam his opinion). I feel so blessed to work with such great individuals!

Adam opened a couple of gifts and everyone thought it was pretty hilarious when he unwrapped the breastmilk storage kits. :) Here he is admiring the breast milk containers. We were thrilled to get lots of practical gifts. In addition to the breastmilk storage stuff we got a bunch of bottles, pacifiers, clothes, and onesies. Basically I got a bunch of stuff that will assist me in returning to work. Am I sensing a hidden motive here? ;0 Thank you so much to everyone!

Another baby shower...

A couple of my mom's good friends threw a shower for me in October. It was really cool because it was the same women that hosted and some of the same women that attended one of my wedding showers about 3 1/2 years ago. I got some great things for Caleigh and alot of encouragement from these women that are so close to my mom. Karen (left) is watching me open a gift from Jessica and her mom, Carole Lynn.

Jessica got me this very cute Christmas outfit for Caleigh - we can't wait to put it on her! We got some great pink basics... Jessica is hard at working leaving messages for me on some diapers as some of the other women watch me open gifts! Thank you so much!

More pix...

So I forgot to take the 6 months picture (just call it pregnancy brain). But here is my 7 month picture... And my 8th month picture (looking VERY pregnant)...

Baby Shower!

Here are some pictures of a baby shower that Carrie and Mary gave me on October 13th... it was great! Thank you so much Carrie for opening up your home. It was a great day and Caleigh got some awesome gifts... (we can't wait to use them with her!)

Carrie and I...

We had a slight problem trying to take the above picture... (see video)

Karen, Marcy, and my mom... Mary and Cherith... Lisa Marie and I... me and Marcy...

Thanks everyone for a great time and great stuff for Caleigh!

Uptown Picnic

Steph, Meredith, and me at the Uptown Picnic. This was followed by a fun night of watching the Emmy Awards at Mary Kulp's house. Very fun day!!!

Dilworth Walk

Some preliminary pictures of Dilworth walk... View of living room and deck... Hallway with 2 bedrooms on left... Kitchen...

random Saturday

Adam hanging out with Bailey on a random Saturday in October. Bailey looks like she is really enjoying it...

Tyler's ordination

Lindsay: "Tyler, where are your robes?" Tyler: "They were... stinky..." (in true Nacho Libre voices) So Tyler is a reverend... Congrats!!!