Praise God!

As I sat and wrote about needing prayers for my Papa Rod, my phone rang for the 1 hundredth time from the hospital. My "unresponsive, on life support" Papa Rod has opened his eyes and turned his head! God is so great! The biggest problem the doctors were having this last 48 hours was determining what made his life stop for 10 minutes. They are thinking that since it was the first day he had eaten something in 2 weeks, that it shot back up into his esophagus and got stuck! This caused him to stop breathing. The doctors exact words to us just now are: "He is not a 22 year old boy, he is a 77 year old man. It will take him a long time to recover from this, but I believe he will." PRAISE GOD! Please keep praying for him!

Praying for Papa Rod

I've always heard that life seems to hit you the hardest when you are pregnant and NOT supposed to be stressed out. For the past 2 weeks my family has been on a roller coaster ride with my Papa Rod. He entered ICU with a pancreas problem and as he was there, things seemed to get worse, then better, just in a matter of hours. Most all major organs have stopped working at one point, and he has blood clots which are under watch.

On Friday I got a call that he was doing better...kidney's working, breathing on his own, pancreas levels good, bacteria levels low. So I was able to go see him Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. They were good days. He could talk to me and even smile (which has not been happening since he got there). The last thing he said to me was that he was tired and really wanted to just go to sleep. I kissed him bye and went home. I got a call on Monday that he was so much better that they were moving him OUT of ICU and just admitting him to the main hospital. I cannot tell you how excited we were!

He enjoyed a day out of ICU, had some family and church friends to visit with, and was able to keep some broth down. You cannot even imagine the shock I felt when almost 48 hours ago my phone rang to say that Rod had flat lined for 10 minutes and was back in ICU and unresponsive. He still hasn't come out of it yet... My family is aching for the life of this man and we know it is out of our control. For my baby's sake I have not been to see him since he has been on life support. Selfishly, I just know I can't handle seeing a man I love so much not responding. I know my stress level would be through the roof to have to see that.

Even though things have been so painful, God has managed to show his hand in all of this. My last memories of speaking with my Papa Rod are that he just wanted to go to sleep. We had 3 great, pain free, days with him this weekend. When he flat lined, it was in the middle of the night, so he did not feel pain. And today, although on life support and unresponsive, they believe that they have found brain activity that suggest he could possibly breath on his own. Praise God for the man he made my Papa Rod, and I just pray that whatever his decision is, he continues to show his hand though the hard times we are having. It's a long road ahead still with Papa Rod, so please keep him in your prayers!

It's beginning to look a lot like...BABY!

If you were to enter the Bridges' household these days, it would be very evident that a little on is on the way! Baby items are starting to roll in and it is so exciting! The kitchen has a high chair in the corner (the same chair I used!), the den has a beautiful rocking horse (thanks to grandaddy Bridges!!!), and the nursery is starting to fill with baby boy items! Our furniture for baby is in (I can't stop going in the nursery and looking at it!), and our trash pick up is mostly Babies R Us bags and boxes! I am moving into 7 months pregnant, and my anxiety for the arrival of our baby is rising! I just can't wait!

Child Care Search Begins

The last major battle we are going to have with our precious one is finding child care! We have started calling the names and numbers on our list of people who provide in home care. My list of questions goes on and on and most people have been great about answering them all. We have eliminated a few people already, based on the fact that they are in the car a lot, or have too many babies, or WAY too pricey! I am very hopeful about the last call I made. Chad and I made an appointment to meet with a lady who is only going to watch teacher's children. The first statement she made to me on the phone was that she is basing her child care on a christian beliefs. She followed with "I hope this isn't a problem. I just feel the need to be upfront." Are you kidding me! Too good to be true I hope. After talking with her I'm hopeful she is going to be our choice, but we will see. Please pray that we find the best person possible to help us in raising our child while we continue to work.

Almost 26 Weeks!

At 25 weeks and 4 days here's how life goes:

• Restless nights due to leg cramps and MANY bathroom visits! (Thanks for the maternity pillow Lauren, it has helped some!)


• Tummy is getting VERY big-which is exciting and scary at the same time! I want our baby boy to be growing and healthy!


• Up 3 bra sizes!!!!! Who would have thought!!??


• Lots of bathroom breaks at work-the Lord blessed me with a bathroom in my classroom thank goodness!


• Nursery Furniture in! Waiting on mattress so we can put our bedding on!


• Showers starting to pick dates which I am SO excited about! :)


• Having off and on round ligament pain as baby grows!

Although there are many irritations and crazy things going on throughout the day as my pregnancy progresses, I couldn't be happier! I feel closer to Chad than I ever have. He has stepped up as a husband and father in more ways than I could have imagined. Feeling our baby move everyday is reassurance that he is okay and well. My family is getting more and more excited, and we are praying my Papa Rod will be here to celebrate with us. My 25 week appointment was this week and all is well. Heartbeat was strong and I'm waiting for the results from my gestational diabetes test. We go again at 28 weeks so until then... :)

Snow Day

Today both Chad and I didn't have to work due to the snow day. It was a great day! We got up early to "prove" to our eyes that snow was really here. Then we opened the blinds and laid in bed together watching the snow fall, and listening to our neighbors kids play in it. It was exciting to think the next time (which could be 3 more years!) we have snow, our little one will be out running around in it! We watched the Obama inauguration and laid around most of the day. For about 2 and a half hours the snow came down pretty hard. Since it wasn't below freezing it didn't stick long. Man it's going to be hard to get up early and go back to work tomorrow! At least it will be for only 3 days :)

Nursery!

Today we picked up our nursery furniture! It was so exciting! Chad put together our crib and dresser, and we started putting our baby boy's things up in his drawers (not much but still fun!) Take a look...

KD Family Fun!!!

My WONDERFUL KD family!

Chad putting our new stroller together :)

Cali checking out the new goods...she has no idea what's been going on!

Training Cali to stay OUT of the nursery!

Our new baby carrier stroller!!!-Thanks to the recommendation from Hollie!

All the precious items stuck in our diaper cake :)

Tonight I went out to eat with my Newberry College Kappa Delta family. These girls have meant so much to me, and I wish we were able to get together more often! They surprised me with VERY generous gifts for baby Bridges and we got to catch up together. I cannot wait to put his diaper cake on his changing table tomorrow, and Chad and I went ahead and put his stroller together! These are our first gifts off our registry! They also gave us some bottle cleaning tools, bottles, stuffed animal, and baby blanket! I am so thankful to have Cara, Betsy, Kayce, and Jessica in my life and I know my little boy will be too! Thanks for everything girls!!!!!

Prayers Please

Yesterday my grandad "Papa Rod" went into the hospital and has been diagnosed with pancreatus. It is very serious and he is in horrible shape. He is having blood pressure problems from the pain which is straining his heart, and he is so drugged up at times he doesn't even know he's alive. It's heartbreaking to know he is in this much pain. Because his pancreas is so enlarged, they cannot do any testing. We are waiting to find out if this is from cancer or if its caused by gallstones (which is what we are praying for). Until the swelling is down, his body cannot handle the testing. To make things worse, I cannot even go see him. Because I am six months along, both Papa Rod's doctor and my doctor are saying its criticial I stay away from the hospital. I just don't know what to do. All I know to do is pray. Because 3 patients on his floor have shingles, Chad cannot even go visit because he could carry the disease home to me. Since Rod is in such bad shape, he cannot even hold the phone to hear me say "I love you." Please keep him in your prayers and pray his condition gets better. Right now we are being told by his doctor to "be prepared" because things could get worse before they get better.

Diploma in Baby Class!

This week Chad and I received our "diploma" for completing childbirth class at Baptist Hospital. Let me tell you... they were some LONG nights!!! This last class taught us about pain methods (which I paid close attention too!) and complications which could potential move our normal delivery into a C-section. While there are 100 million things to worry about each day with my changing body, why not add the thought of a twisted/knotted cord or drop in the baby's heart beat to the list!! Anyways, no video to cringe at this time, but they had some VERY detailed pictures to pass around. The last thing we did before we left was learn breathing techniques to help us get through contractions in our labor. I have a feeling no matter how much practicing I do with breathing, I will undoubtedly forget it ALL when the time comes!!!! But, we are done, and we have our baby "diploma."

Painting and More Painting!

Discomfort has started to set into me the closer I get to my 3rd trimester, so Chad and I decided it was def. time for us to get the main nursery items in! This past week Chad painted the nursery (and did a great job!). On Saturday we are going to pick up or crib and nursery furniture and get things going in there!!! I cannot wait to have them in and start getting ready for baby Bridges! Chad has been such a trooper by listening to me bicker about getting things EXACTLY right in our nursery! He did a great job and I know the furniture is going to be beautiful. Things are really coming along...

Scare #2

Early in our pregnancy Chad and I had a scare when I started bleeding at 10 weeks. Yesterday we had our second scare when I started having intense cramps at work. The morning was pretty good, but as I stood up from the couch in my classroom I started to feel cramping in the lower left side of my body. It hurt to walk or move, but if I sat back down the pain subsided. It kept moving through my side so immediately went to the phone to call my doctor. Of course on Friday's they close at 12:00 so I had to wait for the on call doc to call me. Luckily it was my doctor, Dr. Chris. After I got him on the phone I had been cramping for about 2 and a half hours. He really put me at ease though because he thinks its "very classic" round ligament pain. Especially since it started when I was going from a sitting to standing position. He also said if it was early labor or miscarriage pains, that when I sat or stood still it would NOT go away. Also, I was still feeling our baby boy kick and move, and my belly was soft, not contracting, so he just ordered me to go home and get in the bed for the rest of the day. Dr. Chris is a high risk pregnancy doctor and I trusted that if he thought for one second my baby was in trouble he would bring me in. Sure enough, just like Dr. Chris said, this morning I was drastically better. He even called me from home this morning to check on me! I have always heard most people have 1 or 2 scares in their pregnancy, so hopefully that was it for us! At least now I know what it was so if it happens again I know what is going on and what to do! We are at 24 weeks and baby is still growing and doing great. We have our next appointment on the 21st where I will have my gestational diabetes testing done. Can hardly wait for that! Blah! In the meantime Chad and I are thanking God for a healthy baby and praying that he stays in my belly as long as he needs to get healthy! We are picking up paint for the nursery today and picking up our crib and dresser next weekend, so lots to look forward to!

Late Night

Well...Chad and I offically started childbirth classes last night! After heading back to work Monday from two weeks off, it made for a looooooooooong night! Class started off jumping right into us having to watch a video of childbirth through natural and surgical ways. I must say, it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Then again, I can't say I watched every second, and I don't think Chad watched ANY! HA! Then class continued to tell us about every stage of labor, the difference between false and true labor, and all the positions the baby can get in and the results if they are in different positions. After 4 hours of that, we FINALLY got to tour the hospital and see excatly where we go when the time comes for us. I must say, this part put me at ease a lot! Baptist hospital only allows the father and one other person in the birthing rooms which eased my fear of everyone in both mine and Chad's family being in one room! They have a beautiful waiting area for family members to wait and be updated frequently. The rooms are also much nicer and larger than I expected! The recovery rooms and stay rooms are also beautiful. And of course we had to stop and stare into the nursery at the beautiful babies and imagine when ours would be in there :) There are also strict visiting hours at the hospital in the stay rooms which Chad and I are excited about. We really want some time to be just "us" for a bit before all the visitors begin to come in. Once we are settled in our room, the nurses will bring us our nice "clean" new baby boy and we get some hours alone. So...overall it was both boring and exciting! We didn't get home until midnight, so I know it's going to make for a nice long rest of the week with my first graders! Our last class is next week, so who knows what we will learn then!

Looking back on 08'

Last night we enjoyed two New Years Eve parties with good friends, but as it grew closer to midnight, Chad and I found we just wanted to be home together to reflect on such a great year. We came home around 11:30, just in time to put pajamas on and jump in bed to watch the ball drop! The Bridges' family has been so blessed this year and it was fun to think back on all that God has done in our lives in 2008.

We found a church and small group family that remind us the lord is working in us everyday. We became pregnant easily with no major problems. We both got jobs closer to home and have bosses which support us in our career and home lives. We got rid of Chad's gas guzzling truck...yeah!!! Both the Bridges and Tinder families had no major loss of life or illnesses. And even though we didn't think it was possible, Chad and I grew closer to each other and in our relationship with the lord.

As I go though this crazy and exciting time in my life, I am finding my outlook on life is daily changing. If you would have asked me a few months ago to describe my love for my husband, I would have told you I couldn't possibly love him anymore. However, each day, through his small gestures and supportive comments, I have grown to love him even more as a man, husband, and father. I am so truly blessed to have such a wonderful person by my side to share life with.

As we sat in bed talking about the year to come, we discussed all the exciting events we will get to experience in 09'. The birth of our son, holidays which will take on a whole new meaning, our 3 year anniversary, Chad's new coaching position... The list goes on and on. We cannot wait for 2009!!!

Take Two!

Today Chad and I ventured BACK to Babies R Us to finish up our registry for Baby Bridges. I felt a lot more confident (still overwhelmed) than I did last time. Luckily my friend, and new mom, Hollie was shopping too! She really helped us out with finishing up and showed us some new things we may want to get! So as of today we have...
1-registered Baby Bridges
2-bought our crib
3-bought our changing station
4-signed up for childbirth classes (which start next week..ahhh!)
5-picked out paint for the nursery
6-listed up to the "8th" month on our "The Expectant Father" Cd's (Thanks Jason!)
7-found a pediatrician

Things are moving along quickly it seems! I have some showers lined up for March and April, and over the long break we have for Martin Luther weekend we plan on painting and putting together our crib and changing station! Things are getting exciting around the Bridges household!

Holiday Fun

The holidays were wonderful for the Bridges family! We were able to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas with my family, and Chad's parents will be here to celebrate the New Years with us. I know he can't wait. We got some beautiful things for the house and Chad got his IPOD! Baby Bridges even had some Christmas presents under the tree! Since everyone else was buying for him, we decided to do the same. I went with my mom and she bought him some smock Christmas outfits for NEXT year! Ha, nothing like planning ahead. We have also started to work on a paint selection for the nursery. I've never seen so many shades of brown in my life! We get to pick up our bedding set tomorrow, so we plan to have the room cleaned out and pick up our crib and dresser in the next 2-3 weeks! I can't wait! We got over our overwhelming fear of registering our baby boy and finally decided on the "important" things we need for him. We have one more week left until we go back to work, so Chad and I are just enjoying our time together by eating out, watching movies, and laying in bed discussing all the great things to come in our future! We are going to begin meeting with pediatricians and in home care givers in the next few weeks. Pray the lord brings the best of the best into our lives to help watch over our boy!

Hard Day!

Today marks 21 weeks and 2 days. It was one of my tougher days! I came to the reality that it was time to take out my belly ring. Sounds like such a simple task doesn't it? But after TEN YEARS with having my ring, it was something I have been dreading and it was really hard to do! But as my belly gets bigger, my belly button is getting flatter, and flatter, and flatter! I have felt naked all day long without it! Every time I rub my belly or look down it's like a piece is missing. However, at the same time, it is exciting to know I'm moving into a new part of life...childhood OVER!

Besides today being a rough day, pregnancy is getting more and more exciting each day! I can feel our baby move a lot more each day. Every time I feel him move or kick it is an ease to my mind that he is okay! The nights are still rough with the leg cramps and sciatic nerve pain, but it's nothing compared to what it was in the first trimester. (I'm enjoying that relief while I can because the doctor assures me it WILL be back!) There is no sickness or major wierd cravings, and all is going well!

Chad and I are enjoying our time home together for the holiday break. We have been able to catch up on some time together at home and eat out some. Chad's parents are going to be with us for a few days next week and I know he can't wait to see them! We've been able to visit with my family some and we will be spending Christmas Eve and day with them. Today we visited the cemetery and left flowers for a dear friend we lost this year. As Chad and I look back over 2008 we cannot miss the blessings that God had brought to our lives. We enjoy looking back over our time together this year but are very anxious to get into 09' and meet our new little boy!

21 Weeks and 2 Days

Bye-bye Belly Ring

Registering

Today we set out with high hopes of an exciting experience. We arrived at Babies R Us at 9:30 this morning (opening time) because we could not wait one more day to register our little man! We filled out papers and got our "gun" to begin registration...then we made our way over to the bottle WALL. Things went downhill after that. Who knew there were about 500 different brands and types of bottles!!! By the time we left we were completely overwhelmed! We actually stopped halfway through the store to take a breather and just decided to go home and think some more! Our experience was definitely exciting, it's just the realization of the MANY needs of baby can be a lot to handle. We have come home and made list of the necessities, called friends for some advice, and plan to make attempt #2 at our baby registry AFTER Christmas!

Finally!

It is finally official

It's a BOY!!!

After what seemed to be the longest wait in a doctors office, we were finally taken back to the ultrasound room. Both my mom and my little sister were able to be there with us which made things extra special! There was a lot of checking at this 20 weeks ultrasound which also seemed to take forever long! But the baby has 4 hard working heart chambers, the appropriate amount of brain and spinal fluid, and the spine and bones are measuring well! Overall we have a healthy healthy baby boy! As soon as the ultrasound picture made its way down to the opposite end of baby, it took my breath away! I saw the confirmation I needed in 2 seconds! I couldn't say anything, my mouth just dropped and the technician confirmed with "Yep, it's a boy!" I thought Chad was going to fall over. Only 8 short weeks ago we were told "girl", and today we switched to 100% boy. After the initial shock we both couldn't stop grinning!

We also signed up for our childbirth classes which begin in January, and met with our head nurse to begin talk about finding a pediatrician. It seems so early to be doing that, but really we are over halfway through the pregnancy now!

My friend Beth from work bought baby boy Bridges his FIRST official BOY TOY!!! It is a cute doggie blanket which I rubbed all over my face for hours because its so soft! This has me pumped to begin work on our nursery now! Thanks Beth!

We are already being asked what the name will be for our baby boy, but for now we are just going to keep it to ourselves! We are trying some out to see what we like best :) I'll let you know as soon as possible. We don't go back to the doctor until January, so in the meantime, we will enjoy Christmas with our family (Yeah! Chad's family will be coming to town) and I'm sure we will have to venture out and buy some boy things for Christmas as well! Chad and I are enjoying laying in bed talking about the future of our little one...footballs, soccer balls, baseballs, Chad's favorite-guitar hero buddy. We just can't wait for what's to come!

It's a Boy!!!

More to come later...Exahusted after a long afternoon at the doctor! But it is def. a boy!!!