Memphis Matthews

Henry Turner Matthews

He's here!  He's here!  Yesterday, I woke up and noticed what seemed to be somewhat regular contractions.  Initially, contractions were about 10-12 minutes apart; by 11 am, they were 8 minutes or so apart.  I decided it was time to check in at L&D given doctor's instructions to head there when contractions were 7-8 minutes apart for over an hour.  Peter and Pierce dropped me off and headed to hang out with Pops while I was being assessed.  I was still 3 cm dilated but 70% effaced upon getting to the assessment room.  Contractions were indeed about 7 minutes apart.  After being monitored for about 2 hours, my contractions had shortened to 3-5 minutes apart and I had dilated to a 4.  I was admitted.  Praise the Lord because I was almost sent home to wait it out (and by this point the contractions were becoming more and more uncomfortable).

At around 4 pm, I got an epidural.  No pitocin necessary.  My water was broken around 5 pm, shortly before Peter arrived after getting Pierce and the critters situated.  I was 5 cm dilated at the time.  At 6:40 pm, I was a good 6 cm dilated and the doctor gave orders to start Pitocin.  Well, 20 minutes later the nurse checked me again before starting the Pitocin and lo and behold I was 10 cm and ready to push.  Instructed not to sneeze or laugh, I waited 30 minutes for doctor's arrival, and after 3 pushes (1 more than with Pierce), Henry was born.  No tearing, no stitches, nothing!  God has really been good to me with very easy birth experiences.  I'm feeling great and am virtually pain-free with the exception of some discomfort due to cramping.  Henry is nursing great and certainly resembles his big brother as a newborn!  Pierce will be meeting baby Henry later today.  Pray for us.  All of us!  : )

Without further adieu, meet Henry!  And stay tuned for more pics with big brother and family...Thank you all for your prayers and for checking in over the last few days.  We appreciate it so much!

Henry Turner Matthews

November 7, 2009

7:35 pm

7 pounds, 8 ounces

21 inches

* Turner is a tribute to my Grandfather, Fred Lloyd Turner

 

 

 
  

 

For comparison, if you click on the photo album at left titled "Pierce's Arrival," you can view pictures of Pierce on his birthday.  These two boys certainly share the same big hands and feet, long fingers and toes, chins, and little underbites.  And Henry is a bit "beefier" than Pierce was even with only a 1/2 pound difference!  More later!

39 Weeks

Still here...I'm 3 cm dilated and 40-50% effaced.  I had an ultrasound today to check fluid levels and such given my trip to L&D earlier this week.  All seemed fine with baby's weight estimated at about 7.5 pounds, fluid levels okay, and movement alright as well.  Very strange to leave my office knowing that I wouldn't be returning for awhile given that induction is in order for Monday provided baby stays put over the weekend.  That's the scoop.  I'm excited to spend the day with Pierce tomorrow unless baby decides otherwise!

Getting Close

Well, I did it.  I went to labor and delivery today after some weirdness with baby's movement.  I almost went in yesterday afternoon but chose to stick it out.  More of the same, i,e, very light (and just different) movement this morning.  Peter met me there, and all is alright.  I had a feeling everything was okay given that baby has run out of room and has probably positioned himself in preparation for the grand entrance such that movement has become more difficult.  Nonetheless, I feel better knowing all is alright.  I had a pretty big contraction while there...and a bunch of mild ones.  Guess it's just a matter of time now...

Meanwhile...Pierce has been enjoying his train table...a lot!  I'm so glad we bought it - as I'm sure we'll be spending a lot of time upstairs in the coming months while the weather is no good.  Stay tuned...

The Great Pumpkin

That would be me - I look ginormous in this picture...ah well...I'll blame it on the black sweater and Pops's picture-taking skills...oh,and the fact that I am 12 days away from my due date!  By the way, I thought we were going to be having a Halloween baby - I had some pretty intense contractions early Saturday morning for a period of about 2-3 hours.  Lo and behold, they subsided though...this false labor is the pits.  I never had anything like this with Pierce!

 
We had a fun Halloween with Pierce but go figure...he would NOT put on "Bob" for trick 'r treating.  So, we're 2 for 2 on not wearing a costume on Halloween.  Maybe next year.  I'm so glad I got pictures last weekend and earlier this week when he was still eager to wear the costume to various other Halloween activities.  Perhaps the pressure got to him last night?  Who knows.  Regardless, we visited with Grandpa and Sara and trick 'r treated at a few houses on Peter's parents' cove.  Pierce was about 50% on actually saying "trick 'r treat" but proved to be an excellent (albeit slightly aggressive) door-knocker.  Here are a few pics from the evening:

 

 

  
  

We went to the "muffin shop" (Panera) this morning and had a great time...Pierce was very, very sweet, and I'm really enjoying these wonderful moments as our time as a family of 3 is short-lived.  I'm certainly going to make sure to treasure these last few days together with our sweet "big" boy but am so very excited to meet this little bundle of a blessing in my belly!

Bob Gone Wild

First, I have an induction date set for Monday, November 9th.  I don't think I will actually make it until then but what do I know.  I'd prefer not to be induced, but there are some advantages to include delivery by my own doctor and establishment of a plan for Pierce's care.  Plus, I'm progressed enough, i.e. dilated and effaced sufficiently, so that inducement should progress relatively quickly should I make it until then. 

Second, I promised some pics of Pierce from recent Halloween festivities.  I'll start with a few from last weekend's neighborhood extravaganza.  He was pretty wild.  The next couple of pics are from earlier this week when he got to wear his costume to school for the day.  I'm sure I'll add more from this weekend in a couple of days...until then meet Bob the Tomato (beloved Veggie Tales character) courtesy of Suds and her handiwork.  Sadly, he refuses to wear the little hat that accompanies the costume.  But he loves the costume itself!  When asked what his costume is, he says "Bob 'mato."  Pretty cute.

Decorating cookies, eating cookies, etc...

 
 
 
Not too sure about the lady in the witch costume...

 
Checking out the pumpkins and gourds...

 
Next up:  Ruffles (and, yes, he had already had some Cheetos...hard to hide that evidence)...and watching the big kids in the moonbounce...

 

 
 On our way to school for costume day...

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVE!

38 Weeks

We have progress!  I'm a good 2 cm dilated now and am 40% effaced (wasn't effaced at all last week).  For comparison, I wasn't 2 cm dilated until 39 weeks with Pierce (and was 80% effaced at that point with him).  Doctor mentioned we could schedule induction if desired following the 39-week appointment next week.  Still measuring 36 weeks but apparently fundal height gets less and less accurate the further along a pregnancy gets and as the baby moves into position.  I'm sort of hoping the baby comes on his own in the next week but there are some benefits to scheduling induction especially when a 2.5 year old and upcoming travel plans of your in-laws are thrown into the mix.  Guess we'll see how the next week goes...stay tuned for lots of Halloween pics and such over the next few days.  On another note - I'm asking for some prayers for Pierce and our family as we get closer to the arrival of this little one.  Please pray for Pierce to have an easier time with drop-off at MDO (no trouble at school - it's the 1 day/week at MDO that's killing me) and for his transition into big brotherhood...and for additional compassion and patience with him on my part as our household soon grows into a family of 4.

Goodbye Baba's Fred

Peter and I made the tough decision to put Fred to sleep this afternoon.  Our options were quite limited given his diagnosis of osteocarcoma (bone cancer).  The vet had been watching a particular spot in his shoulder found exactly one month ago today via xray.  It was just a matter of time before the tumor took over and the pain became too much.  He had not been able to use this particular leg since Saturday afternoon.  He was in a lot of pain.  Amputation was not an option given his age (he would have been 11 in January) and, frankly, it's a tough recovery.  Keeping him drugged up on pain medication was no guarantee, and the strong pain medication administered since Saturday's episode had not provided an optimal level of relief.  In making the decision, Peter and I also thought about our experience with Joe, whose last month of life (last November) was pretty miserable.  Rest in peace, Fred.  You were quite possibly the sweetest, most gentle and tolerant Greyhound we will ever know.  Hope Joe met you right away when you got to Heaven!  I'll post more of a tribute later...until then, how wonderful that I was able to catch this picture of him just a few weeks ago.  I love it!  And how wonderful that we had four good years with you, buddy.  You'll be missed.

 

Happy Fall Y'all

Sweaters, corduroys, candy corn, pumpkins...it's fall!  We've had a weird weekend.  We had some friends in town for Rhodes Homecoming and hit the Zoo with them yesterday.  We're dealing with a very ill dog as well.  It just so happens that about a year ago we were dealing with Joe's disc troubles (and we lost him in late November).  Fred is having virtually the same debilitating trouble now.  Ugh.  We took Pierce to our neighborhood Halloween extravaganza tonight, but I'll save Halloween-themed pics for a post later in the week.  Let's just say the event was characterized by heavy sugar consumption and the related meltdown that usually accompanies such.  Here are some pics from our trip to the Zoo (all taken at the new Teton Trek exhibit).

 

  

 

 

 

  

 And our sweet friends Katie and Ian:

 

37 Weeks

Whew!  Made it to 37 weeks, and Peter is on a plane right now headed home from Chicago. Thank goodness.  I progressed a little, i.e. I'm now 1.5 cm dilated (although still no effacement), and grew a lot, i.e. I'm now measuring 36 weeks.  I also got very lucky and had my appointment today on the very morning my ob/gyn office received, get this, a whopping 29 doses of H1N1 vaccine.  My doctor very graciously gave one to me before her entire staff had even been vaccinated.  And, the group is huge, as in 20 doctors and 5 nurse practioners huge.  My dear husband asked me to email him immediately upon receiving the vaccine and even checked in to ask what the status of the actual shot-receipt was - you see, I really don't give him enough credit for being a concerned and caring husband.  Anyway, I'm relieved that all of us have now been vaccinated.  And I'm thankful that this baby is now full-term!  Thanks to those of you who were so kind to be "on-call" while Peter was out of town.  Much, much appreciated!

Oh My

So for the last 2-3 nights, I've been waking up for an hour or two due to cramping, i.e. contractions I'm sure (whether "real" or not).  Nothing time-able until last night.  But, although time-able, last night's episodes were not consistently time-able meaning that time between ranged from 4 to 20 minutes or so.  I tell ya, the nights are becoming no fun at all.  I'd rather be up and moving.  Maybe that way I just don't notice the discomfort as much (not that that's a good thing at this point given that I need to be vigilant).  I just don't remember the cramping with Pierce (which, at the time, I didn't even realize equated to contractions) being this bad.  Peter is having to go out of town later this week so PLEASE PRAY that I do not go into labor while he is gone, as my in-laws are out of town, too.  Yikes.

Pierce and I had a fun morning.  First, the un-fun part...we trekked out to the Health Department in Collierville to get the H1N1 shot.  I had luckily seen the blurb in the paper early this morning that they would have limited doses available for ages 6 months to 4.  Too bad it's a 2-dose deal.  We'll have to go back in 30 days.  And now that Peter and Pierce have been vaccinated, can someone please explain why I haven't been able to get access to the vaccine given that pregnant women are a high-risk category?  It is frustrating.  Afterward, we walked over to the Town Square and had coffee, milk, and a chocolate muffin at the coffee shop, looked at boots and jeans in the western shop, looked at the big trains and Halloween decorations scattered about, and "jumped" in the gazebo (well, Pierce at least).  I felt like our Town Square adventures made up for the shot...sort of...and I guess we'll be doing it again in a month or so for round 2!

As I've mentioned before, Pierce's teachers are so good about posting pics of the kiddos at play on the school's website.  Here are just a few from the last few weeks.

Playing with the pegs:

Giving his tough guy face (albeit with a scarf around his neck) during music time:

Reading during gym time:

Matching the eggs at the manipulatives table:

Painting a spider web using marbles:

Doesn't school look like fun?!