Home alone

Today is the first day for mommy and Ryland to be home alone. All of our family has gone home, and John Chris is back at work. We don't have any big or exciting plans for today. I think we will try to take a nap and get some household chores done. Ryland is already behind on his chores, but he his way ahead on the napping.

Family is gone

Our family has all gone home, and John Chris and I are figuring out how to take care of our little man on our own. It has been great to have our family here to help, and we look forward to them visiting again soon. John Chris and I find ourselves napping more than we ever have.

More family visits

Feel the love! Since Ryland has been at home, we have had several family visitors. We think he really likes all the attention. He loves to be held and cuddled.

John Chris's mom and dad came out for the weekend. It was the first meeting for his dad, and we had a great time. Everyone got a chance to hold and help spoil Ryland.

We made it back out to eat dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Bellisimo's. Ryland behaved perfectly; however, he was asleep.

Family time

Nana loves to hold and cuddle with Ryland. He is spoiled already!
Ryland loves his Uncle Clint. Ryland sucked down a bottle so quickly, unfortunately it came right back up on Uncle Clint. It was Ryland's way of saying "I love you, man".

Ryland and Aunt Kristi enjoy a moment.

First ride in the truck

Ryland had his first outing today. We didn't have any where special to be, but we just had to get out of the house. Ryland, John Chris, Grandmother Liz, Cooper and myself went for a short ride in the truck.

We rode around for a while and went by the "animals" for Cooper. He was so excited to see the miniature pony. He jumped out of the truck window. You should have seen that pony scatter. Good thing for fences!

Meet, greet, and lots of help

John Chris's mom came out to help us at home. She was great, and she really helped take care of Ryland. We were also thankful for all of the cooking she did. We had gumbo, chicken and dumplings, meat pies, and tons of other food. We appreciated all of the cleaning, cooking, and help. Ryland still hasn't given her a name, so for now Cooper still calls her Doodle's mom.

Ryland is released from NICU

Ryland is going home! After his bath, he was decked out in his going home outfit. He wore a special gown that was worn by his daddy as a baby. John Chris and I are beside ourselves with overwhelming joy and excitement.
The nurses in the NICU were amazing! They were full of helpful information and knowledge. They were a great source for John Chris and I, and they spent time showing us how to care for Ryland. Before he came home, he got a bath. He was not very excited or happy, but he his so darn cute.

So fresh and so clean, clean!

Another day in the NICU

Ryland is still in the NICU, and we continue to visit every chance we can. We have "touch times" at 3, 6, 9, and 12. At these times, we are able to hold him and change his diaper. He currently has a feeding tube in his nose, an IV in his head for medication, and several different monitors. He looks so sad, but he is strong.
John Chris loves to hold Ryland. These times are so special, and we hope to take our little man home soon.

We should be getting some test results soon, and we are praying for negative results. This time is very hard and emotional for us both, but we just keep our heads up and pray for the best.

Ryland goes to the NICU

Our precious little Ryland is having some breathing problems, so he is going to the NICU. The doctors are concerned because I ran a maternal fever during delivery and his breathing is extremely fast. When he breathes his chest has a retraction which is an indention between his ribs. The doctors will run a few tests and get a chest x-ray to see what is going on. The lab test for an infection takes 48 hours, so it looks like we will be staying around the hospital for a few extra days.

Ryland Christopher Allison has arrived!

We are excited to welcome Ryland Christopher Allison to our family.

He was born on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 3:05PM. He weighs 7lbs 14oz and is 20 1/4" long. We are very fortunate that he arrived safely, and we are truly blessed to have him.

The labor took a little over 12 hours, and I had some complications with a fever. I tried having an epidural, but unfortunately I dilated so quickly it could not catch the pain. Everyone says you forget the pain. I don't know about that, but I only truly remember the overwhelming love.

Final appointment???

John Chris and I went to the doctor today for the final ultrasound and a check up. The ultrasound looked great, and the baby has really put on some weight. He is estimated to weigh around 8lbs. The doctor is very concerned about my blood pressure getting higher. On this visit, my blood pressure has reached 140/100!!!
She told us she would like to go ahead and induce for the baby's safety and mine as well. She told us we would be having a baby tomorrow. What?!? We are not fully prepared, but I guess we will be having a baby. Oh my gosh!

Blood pressure is too high

My blood pressure remains high for me at 130/90. I have lost one pound, and the baby's heart rate is 144 bpm. I am really glad his heart rate is back down to his normal range. My cervix has softened, but I have not started to dilate. My doctor wants me to continue to take it easy, so we can reach full term. She did warn me that if I had any spike in blood pressure, she will induce labor. At this point in the pregnancy, she feels that the baby is healthy and will be fine if we have to deliver early.

Bed rest is terrible

I am not one to just lie around all day, and I am finding it very hard to just take it easy. My severe swelling is going down, and I am starting to recognize my ankles and feet again. John Chris is being wonderful. He is constantly watching me to make sure I am obeying the doctor's orders. He seems concerned, and I am very glad I have his support. We want our little man to stay put a little longer.

Blood pressure scare

I received a phone call about a doctor's appointment that I did not schedule. Come to find out my new doctor wanted me to come back in to have my blood pressure re-checked. When I got to her office, I was called back for a sonogram. What? I was not prepared to have a sonogram, and I began to get scared. Everything with the baby looked fine, but my blood pressure was even higher than my previous appointment. The nurses ordered some blood work, and I was sent immediately to the hospital.

I called John Chris to meet me there. I was hooked up to monitor the baby and my blood pressure. The nurse started asking me questions about pain management, epidural, circumcision, and living wills. I started to freak out. I thought I was ready to have Ryland, but I quickly realized that I was not. I spent several hours in triage being monitored, and I am now on bed rest.

Doctor appointment

I met with my new doctor today at my check up. She seems very nice and was easy to talk too. My blood pressure was high when the nurse took it at the beginning of the appointment. My belly is measuring right on schedule, and the baby's heart rate was 156 bpm. I was a little concerned that his heart rate was elevated. The doctor took my blood pressure at the end of the appointment, and it was still high. She told me to take it easy and slow down. Easier said than done.

Babycook

Did I really just get one of these? Me? Really? This is a Babycook. It is an appliance that is very popular throughout Europe and is now available in the states. It is a steamer, blender, warmer and defroster that makes baby food. I never thought I would "make" my own baby food. That just really isn't me, but this little gadget is so cool. It creates food that retains vitamins and doesn't have perservatives and all that other bad stuff that is in store bought food. Don't get any ideas. I will not be cloth diapering!

Texas baby shower

What a great side shot! I was looking for a pen, and my mom snapped this picture. It is one of the few side shots I have while pregnant. My belly is so huge.
Emily, Liz, and myself before the shower.

Me and my mom. Next time I see her I will be a mom and she will be a grandmother. Crazy!

The cake was from Society Bakery in Dallas. It was delicious red velvet! Thanks to Valerie for the cake. Mmmmmmm. The punch was Chanda's recipe, and it was the best.

I don't know what we were grinning about, but it must have been funny. I am opening gifts, and Chanda is being the best hostess making notes. I had a great group of people at this shower. I felt so very blessed to have such great neighbors and friends.

Work baby shower

John Chris's office gave us an awesome baby shower. We were very touched that they put together a great potluck lunch and decorated the conference room for a baby boy. They hung balloons and had confetti, cake, and presents. We were blown away by their generosity and thoughtfulness. I was able to meet John Chris's boss and co-workers. They are a great group of people, and I look forward to getting to know them better.

Furniture is here!

The crib and dresser arrived today, and we were so excited to get it in the nursery. It only took 17 weeks! John Chris and I really enjoyed putting the crib together and unpacking the dresser. We are very happy with the finish and overall size. The rocker/glider chair and ottoman still haven't arrived, so we are using a chair from the office for the time being. The letters are striped and polka dotted, and they look great with the bedding.
We put all of Ryland's clothes, socks, blankets, diapers, and other necessities in the drawers. The changing pad is now attached to the dresser, and the cover is so very soft. One of my favorite things in the nursery is the airplane picture. It is dramatic, and the colors are perfect.

This shot is from the nursery door. We can't wait to bring our little man home. We sit in his room at night and talk about our family's future. It is nice to dream and try to vision what our lives will soon be like. The nursery feels cozy and inviting. We love it!

Great news about the furniture

We were told by the manufacturer that our furniture has shipped! Hooray! The trucking company says it will be delivered on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. It is the crib and dresser, and they will make such a huge difference in the nursery. We will be able to put his clothes in the dresser drawers, and we will be able to put out all of his crib bedding. We are thrilled beyond words with this good news.

We purchased the curtain rod, hooks, new drawer hardware, baskets, and a lamp. We are ready to put this nursery together. I have charged the video camera battery, and I am ready to capture the moment.