Daniel Ray

Well, the last entry I wrote on here was to tell everyone about how Daniel wasn’t ready to join us yet, and my water broke the next day. Daniel Ray VanDyke was born on June 24th at 3:31 am. He weighed 7 pounds 4.3 oz, and was 19 1/2 inches long. Despite being born three weeks early, he is doing very well. He has a little bit of jaundice, but it should go away soon on it’s own.

His labor wasn’t too bad either. I didn’t feel any contractions at all until I was dilated to five, and it started hurting not long after that. I made it to an eight before getting an epidural. I was hoping to not get one at all, but I caved in. I’m really glad that I did, too. Once it kicked in I was able to take a nap and rest a little bit. The nurse woke me up a few minutes before it was time to push. Unfortunately, Daniel was turned face-up, so I had to push on my side for almost half an hour to get him to turn around. Three contractions after he turned around he was born. I was happy to not have to feel any pain!

Daniel originally only got an APGAR score of 2, but his second one was 8, and his third one was nine. He didn’t cry very much after being born, he is a very happy baby. Daniel sleeps ALL the time. I usually have to wake him up to eat. He eats really good though. I’m so thankful that he is a natural at breast feeding.

We’re very happy that everything went so well, and are enjoying every minute of having Daniel with us. Phillip is adjusting amazingly well to having him home. Phil likes to push Daniel in the swing and he tries to feed him when I’m not looking. Last night Daniel was laying on a blanket in the floor and he started crying, so Phil went over and started rubbing his belly saying, “It’s okay.” It was just too cute! I think it’s going to be pretty easy getting everyone on a schedule and getting back to normal. Daniel is just such a great baby!

Thanks for all the congratulations and gifts! We hope you guys enjoy the plethora of pictures and videos that will soon be coming to our website. Have a great week!

Is it time yet... NO!

I thought I should write an update about the baby.

I went for my weekly checkup today. I explained to the doctor how much pain I have been having in my pelvis, so she said she would try and figure out what it was. As it turns out, while she was examining my cervix, she looks up and goes, " Wow, there's the baby's head, no wonder you are in so much pain." Apparently my behemoth of a baby has already decided to nestle his big head in my pelvis. She could feel his whole head almost. Unfortunately my body isn't as anxious as the baby though, because my cervix has only barely started to soften. Also, my fundus was still measuring a few weeks ahead of my actual pregnancy, so they want to do ANOTHER ultrasound next week to measure him again. Not that I mind, I love getting a chance to see my little monkey, I just hope they don't have any alarming news to give me, like, " You're delivering a toddler," or something like that. I'll be sure to let everyone know how it goes... wish me luck!

Controversial: Don't read if you can't handle other people's opinions.

I've noticed myself get upset on nearly a daily basis since I moved to Kansas. I don't know if it's from traveling a lot in my life, being in the Army, or if I was just born this way; but I can't stand racism, intolerance, and stereotypes. I very strongly believe in accepting others for who they are. Even when you don't necessarily agree with them or understand them. We are all God's children. We should be in the habit if practicing unconditional love, and not taking our love away when others aren't doing the things that please us.

I hear a lot of people from this area complain about the spanish population and use derogatory nicknames for them. I can't even begin to state my feelings about it. I honestly don't see how anyone can take such a terrible attitude towards a family who just wants to be able to work and provide for themselves. So what if you have to read a couple of labels in Spanish at the grocery store. Does that harm us in any way? I have a lot of respect for immigrants and for the sacrifices and decisions they have to make. It doesn't matter what your nationality is, or if your customs are different, just that you are a child of God, who loves all his children.

I know abortion is wrong, and I don't support it in any way. But at the same time, I am sick of people judging women for it. Maybe they are uneducated, maybe they feel like it's the only option, who knows? What I do know is that alienating women for their personal choices is no way to show them your love. Sometimes when people least deserve love is when they need it the most. And the same goes for people who are homosexual. Maybe I don't agree with it, but it's not my right to take away someone else's free will.

I realize a lot of people don't agree with me. Some people think it's their job to save the world from sin, some people were raised with intolerant ideals. Whatever the case may be, I just wish we could all learn to love each other.

Not my best day

I think there is something to be said when you have only been awake for two hours and you already can't wait for the day to be over. I'm normally very patient and understanding with Phil, and I don't typically get stressed out easily. I don't know what's making today so different, but I'm seriously not handling things well.

Could it possibly be that my body hurts... everywhere! It almost brings me to tears that I still have four more weeks in this much pain. At this point, I can't even concentrate on getting ready for the new baby because all I can think about is how to make my body feel better. The baby moves, kicks, and punches me all day long... my insides are so sore! That's really only the tip of the iceberg, though.

I know I just need to regroup and get organized, but doing it is a lot harder than it should be. Is it from carrying a bigger baby? I don't know. I'm just so exhausted.

Oh Baby! And lots of him...

Okay, today I had a prenatal appointment. It's been three weeks since my last one because they had to cancel last week, but that was my ultrasound appointment where they measured the baby. He was big then, and not much has changed. Today the doc said the baby is between six and a half, and seven pounds. Yikes! I still have like five or six weeks left for him to get fatter! But that's okay, it's possible for their measurements to be off slightly. I had to get an A1C blood prick to test my sugar. Apparently sometimes bigger babies mean bad blood sugar levels, but my results were perfectly normal. I'll be going back every week now so they can keep an eye on the baby and start checking my cervix. We're getting closer...