My Valentine Came Early

I woke up Sunday morning around 2 a.m. with pain on my right side. This was one of the warning signs that the doctors had told us to watch for since I was put on bed rest. I woke Jordon up and told him. Thankfully Grammy was here too! The bathroom renovation was about half done and will be on hold for a few days. It won't take much to finish it.

We got to the hospital around 3 a.m. and of course had to do all kinds of blood work, etc. Then they called the doctors. Once Dr. Belle-Henry arrived we knew we were not going home anytime soon. When she met with us she said my liver was swollen and very serious. the only cure was to deliver the baby. I thought Grammy was going to have to catch Jordon. He really held it together better than I did but it was certainly a shock to us all.

The nurses prepped me for surgery and along came Rylan shortly after. Jordon got to be in the OR with me throughoout the c-section. Then he got to go with Rylan to NICU while they closed me up. I was in a room by 8 a.m.

Rylan Marshall Dudley
born 2/12/12 at 6:33 a.m.
3lbs 10oz, 14 1/2 inches


He was still nameless at this point, right after delivery.


Jordon did a great job taking photos in the OR. I was kind of out of it. This is my first close up view and contact with Rylan.

I love this one! Rylan's tiny hand with Jordon's finger. He has long fingers and toes!

It is difficult to get a really good picture of his face right now. Rylan might get off the breathing tube tomorrow afternoon or for sure on Wednesday if he keeps doing as good as he is right now. He started on some formula today and will get breast milk soon. Today went good as far as eating and breathing so that is another great sign.

This was my first trip to NICU to see Rylan.

Just chillin'

I got to move to a regular room and out of L&D today. Papa came to the hospital to visit and told the nurses about Caitlyn naming the baby Thunder. Everyone thinks that is a great story and a great name so the nickname may stick! My nurse put this on the board in our new room today.

Bathroom Before Pictures

It is not a huge bathroom so pictures are kind of hard to take in there.

The flowers and butterflies were on the walls when we moved in. They might have been ok for a baby girl but not for Peanut. And the shell shaped sink has to go!

You can't tell but there were lots of blemishes on the walls.

I am the project coordinator, Grammy is the supervisor and Jordon is the manual laborer.

Sink and mirror taken down...

Jordon learning how to texture the walls. He is pretty handy!

Still on bed rest....

One week since I got out of the hospital, my blood pressure is under control and normal most of the time. Yesterday was my weekly appointment with my OB. Everything is going good but I will remain on bed rest. Not exactly what I wanted to hear but I know it is the best thing for my body and the baby. The longer he stays in there the better. She told us to think about it as everyday he stays in is equal to 3 days that he would have to be in NICU. Our goal now is 36 weeks which would put him possibly being born the week of my birthday.


We will still be going in twice a week for NST (baby monitor) appointments, seeing my OB once a week, and lab appointment once a week.

Jordon is working on the second bathroom. Hopefully it will be knocked out this weekend so pictures to come soon.

30 Weeks 3 Days

When I left the hospital Wednesday, they diagnosed me with gestational hypertension which is better than preeclampsia. We just have to monitor my blood pressure and do some tests a couple times a week. Jordon has been a great nurse! He is taking very good care of me.

Today was the first follow up visit in Dr. Belle-Henry's office. We just had a blood pressure check and baby monitor. My blood pressure was great, 118/78, and baby is very active. Hopefully after good reports this coming week I will be allowed more activities.

All this time has given me the opportunity to come up with a lot of projects around the house for Jordon. I have rearranged the living room in my head multiple times! Maybe I will have pictures to post soon of some of his projects.

30 weeks 1 day

We get to go home today! I will still be on bed rest and have to go in twice a week for doctor appointments and lab tests. I am so glad to go home and I know Abby will be happy too!

Update on Us! 30 Weeks

Monday was a regular visit for a sonogram. The week before at my OB my blood pressure was elevated but Monday it was off the charts. So my doctors sent me to the hospital for observation. We hoped it would be for just 24 hours but today they decided to keep me for a couple more days (keep your fingers crossed). My blood pressure has gone down but is still slightly elevated today. Everything else looks good and baby Dudley (yes he is still nameless) is doing great. He is active, heart rate and development are good. I hope the blood pressure will continue to improve so that I can be on bed rest at home. Either way we will probably meet baby before April!

Sonogram - January 30, 2012

Baby Dudley on Monday, January 30. The last picuture is his foot in front of his face!