watch me grow!

Here are pictures of Saffryn from birth to age 1. Enjoy!!!

Saffryn's Birth Day

The day I found out I was pregnant!!! So exciting!

Tomorrow is Saffryn's first birthday and I realized recently that I never actually wrote out her birth story. I know I don't want to forget it, so now seems to be an appropriate time to remember that special and wonderful day!

During my pregnancy my doctor tested me to see if the clotting that has happened to my family is a genetic trait that has been passed down to me. The answer is yes, I have a "genetic mutation" called Factor V Leiden. This basically means I am extremely more likely to develop a blood clot than a "normal" person. There are several things that make a blood clot more likely for anyone: smoking, birth control pills, being over weight and pregnancy. Since I clot more easily anyway pregnancy just makes it that much more likely I could get one....I guess...LOL

That being said, we had to see a maternal fetal specialist and take a few procations for both our safeties. I need to be on baby aspirin and during delivery needed to do a few things. My doctor didn't want me going too much past my due date because of all of this. So since it was not looking like I would go into labor before/on my due date we scheduled an induction.

I was really excited about it, because it means you can actually plan on the day the baby is coming!!! So on Wednesday, November 11 my mother flew in from Colorado Springs to be with us! We went out to dinner with Dan's parents then went off to the hospital!

On my way to the hospital. Almost 40 weeks!

We had to wait for a while to get checked in and situated and after a LONG process of getting an IV in (did I mention my viens are really small and diffcult on top of everything else) we were ready! They gave me a cervadil (spelling) to help soften my cervix and make my body ready for pitocion (spelling again) the next day. Dan and I tried to get a good nights rest...as much as you can during a hospital stay.

They got my IV in!!!

I could feel contractions starting during the night after the cervadil, but they were not strong or consitant enough to actually start labor. So that morning around 6 or so they started me on an IV of pitocion! At first it was not too bad. The contractions came, but I could breathe through them and not think about it too much.

Dan and I after they started the pitocion!!

My mother and mother in law came in and stayed with us. They were a great distraction and provided Dan with some support too! Well by noon or so, my contractions were getting VERY strong. I was having very bad back labor because she was facing the wrong way and was still dialated to a 2. Discouragement started kicking in. The nurse suggested I take something to take the edge off. They could put it in my iv and it would feel like I was drunk. I really didn't want to have an epidural so I considered it. But then I realized I don't like the feeling of being drunk I want to be aware. So I tried to push through a few more contractions and decided after some good suggestions that I get an epidural.


The epidrual process wasn't what I expected, but it went quickly. It was sometime between 12:30 and 1. I was down on myself at first because I felt like a failure...I wanted to do it naturally. I made it to a dialation of 2. PATHETIC. But then I started to not feel the pain anymore and those thoughts went right out of the window! I was in heaven. I asked my mom if I was still having contractions...she said, "oh ya you are". Sweet, wonderful bliss. I felt so relieved as did Dan and the moms.


Since I was no longer in pain my mom and Karen (mother in law) thought they would go get a quick bite to eat and bring it back to the room for the 3 of them. (Yes I was so jealous...I was starving)! While they were gone the baby's heart rate started to change a bit. The nurse was not concerned, she said sometimes if you are dialating it can do that. So she checked me and I was at an 8! WHAT?!?! Within an hour or so of getting my epidural I dialated to that...wow!


When Mom and Karen came back they were surprised to say the least!!! Soon after that I started shaking really really bad. I felt like throwing up. I remembered this as the transition stage in my childbirth class so I knew delivery must be getting close! Around 3 or so I started to feel some strange pressure. I asked the nurse to check me and I was at a 10!!! Time to get ready to push.

Me and my throw up bucket...LOL! I didn't need it though :)

I started puhsing around 3:30 or so. By 4 my wonderul OB arrived and then I did some serious pushing. She stayed "sunny side up" and at 4:20 our beautiful daughter Saffryn Mary Mahoney arrived!!! The moment they put her on my tummy after coming out I will NEVER forget. She is real and she is here!!!! She was screaming and very upset...poor baby! She weighed 7 lbs 5 oz and she was 19.5 inches long. Born on November 12, 2009 at Wesley Hospital in Wichita, KS.

She's HERE!!!!

One proud and happy daddy!

The sweetest baby!

Daddy and baby together!

Daddy and I love you Saffryn!!! You are such an amazing person. We love seeing your personality develop and shine! We love getting to know you and sharing this life with you! You are and will always be our beautiful baby girl. Happy Birth Day!

pregnancy update

So I had a doctors apt today for our little jr jr (thats what we are calling him/her for now)! I have the MOST wonderful ob! She is so down to Earth, patient and gives you as much time as you need for your appointment!!! This can come at a cost though. Yesterday we had to wait over 2 hours and ended up not even getting to see her!!! Needless to say that can be very frustrating but trust me she is worth it :)

She decided to move my due date back until May 16, 2011. This is because my cycles are longer and the earlier sono confirmed that it should be later. Of course I would so much rather have my due date pushed earlier...LOL! But babies rarely come on their due date any way so not that big of a deal.

She took my blood pressure..and all looks well. The baby's heartbeat was a steady 164 bpm. I got a flu shot and was sent on my way! We scheduled our sono for December 20 at 8 am. It seems SO far away. Wish I could be more patient! It is also slightly nerve racking because last time I was just so excited to find out the sex I didn't realize what the sono actually does. Checks to make sure your baby is developing properly. It can be scary to say the least.

But we are excited to get to know this baby more and more. And I love to get little sneak peeks into their secret world :) My tummy is slowly creeping its way out! Well thats all for now!!!

crying over cake

So I must first warn you about this blog post...it is coming from an over tired, pregnant woman trying to plan her baby's first birthday!!!



We are going to celebrate Saffryn's first birthday this upcoming weekend...and I do not have very much done or planned. This is due in part to my major procrastination (if you don't believe me just ask any of my college friends). But this is also due to my few meltdowns while thinking about my sweet sweet baby girl growing up so quickly.



Before I go any further I want to clarify. I have loved watching Saffryn grow up. She is such a joy and a delight. Watching her personality develop has been so rewarding and amazing. She is so much fun and her little brain never stops working! I am also very thankful because I am very aware of how blessed I am to have gotten to spend a year with her. Every day I get with her is a huge blessing from God.



So why the meltdowns??? Because it goes too fast. I know that is cliche. but like all cliches it is so very true. It felt like a blink of an eye. How did it happen. I thought I was treasuring every moment, taking a million pictures and making so many memories. Yet time moves as it always does...rapidly. I know these next 17 years are going to fly by. Yes its 17 years but ask any parent and they all say the same...it went so fast. Then what...college, letting go. Watching her daddy walk her down the aisle, trusting someone else to take care of her. ahh here come the tears.



Why is this so hard....well because a lifetime is too short. It just wont be enough time. When I am old and gray I know I am going to be thinking...I just want more time with my husband, my children, my friends, my family. This life just goes so fast. The good news: God has made us as ETERNAL beings!!!!! Christ has fought for our freedom and because of him and through him we can have eternal life!!! I wonder if he purposely makes this life feel so short so we will be reminded of what is to come. That we will lean on him and trust him and want more than what this short life has to offer. Eternity...can you imagine!



So that is what I will do. I will keep this little seed of hope and press onward through this life. I will enjoy all the many wonderful things, love this life and take the jobs God gives me seriously, yet look forward to more. I do not doubt that there will be more tears...even silly tears like I have to buy a cake for my baby because she is turning one tears. But in the meantime I can try to plan this party and look forward to more...eternity!

Halloween!

This was our first Halloween with Saffryn!!! We dressed her up as Cinderella. But the truth be told I think she was even prettier than Cinderella :) We spent the evening with Papa and Gigi. First we played played played. Then we ate dinner. Next came the costume! At first she didn't know what to think about it. She was kind of fussy and just didn't like to be messed with, and hated the head piece...so typical! We then decided to "trick or treat" to a few houses that were close to theirs. I think we made it to 3 or 4..hahah! She LOVED going to all the houses!!! I think she could pick up on our excitement and energy and got so excited!!! She was laughing and and talking away while we walked to a few of the houses. She even got to pick out her own candy. She held on to it so tight...like she knew it was something special and she didn't want it to go away. On the last house she grabbed an orange tootsie pop. I gave in and opened it for her to taste. YUMMY!!! Her first taste of candy. She is like her mother and loved it. We then went back to Papa and Gigi's to "help" hand out candy to trick or treaters. Enjoy the pictures below. Hope you guys all had a wonderful Halloween, too!

Pretty Princess!!!!

The crown literally lasted 2.5 seconds!

one proud mama!

Look at that big bucket of candy!!!!

Her first treasure from the night :)

It was a little chilly so we wrapped up in between houses

My first taste of candy!!!!!

mmmmhhhhhh