Caden Michael Railsback

Caden is here!! He was born on June 22, 2010 at 5:53 pm. He weighted 7 pounds, 15 ounces and was 19 and 3/4 inches long. He is perfect!! The labor was the hardest and longest of the three kids. I would of never dreamed that I would labor for 24 hours with my third baby. It all started about 4:00 pm on Monday afternoon. I had been having contractions on and off for 2 weeks and had even gone to the hospital over the weekend but was sent home. Monday things had defiantly gotten more painful and the contractions were getting closer together. By the time Chaz got home at 6:00 I knew that we would be having a baby within the next 24 hours. I did my best to go about the rest of the day, cooking dinner and getting the kids to bed. I did manage to get a few hours of sleep before the contractions were too painful and at 2:00 am I called my mom and told her to start driving in from Baird. When she arrived at 5:00 am, Chaz and I were packed up and ready to head to the hospital. My contractions at that point were about 5 minutes apart. When we arrived they got us in a room and started hooking me up to all the cords. The nurse then checked me and the second I saw the look on her face I knew what she was going to say which was, "I think he's breech and very high up." I was dilated to a 2-3. The doctor was called to see what needed to be done and when he arrived with the sonogram machine we discovered that Caden was head down just very high up and at a weird angle. At that moment I had my break down. The tears started and I couldn't stop them. I really was so tired and had been in pain so long that I was not going to leave that hospital without having this baby first. The doctor did agree that it would be best to go ahead and admit me since we weren't certain if Caden would turn breech plus there was a lot of fluid and he was afraid if my water broke too early that the cord would come out first. So to a room we went. They hooked me up to some pitocin since my contractions needed some help staying regular and the long day began. I dilated very slowly since Caden was so high up and even after he broke my water it still took hours go get me to a 10 and when the pushing started so did the horrible rib pain. I've never had pain like that. Even with the epidual, with every push it felt like my ribs would snap. Caden's back was right in the middle of my ribs and the contractions and pushing were putting all the pressure in my ribs but after about 30 minutes of pushing Caden did make it out into my arms. We've really enjoyed every minute with him and I wouldn't change anything. Caden's name means warrior and he has proven that he is indeed that. Abby and Charlie have been great and love kissing and loving on their new baby brother. It's been so sweet watching them all together. God has blessed us so very much.

38 weeks

Well here I am at 38 weeks, hot and very ready for little Caden. Things have been progressing pretty slowly and I'm trying very hard to be patient but as many of you know I'm not good with patience. I've prayed, cried and even thrown a few fists wanting this guy to come out. This has been a very long and hard pregnancy. I know I've had it really good compared to a lot of people and I'm trying very hard not to complain. Lately it's been really hard with this 100 plus degree heat, but at least the end is near. I keep reminding myself that I can't be pregnant forever even though it feels like it. Anyway, I'm anxious to hold this little guy. Abby is anxious too. She keeps asking if today is the big day. Can't wait to finally say yes. Charlie is in for a shock. He acts excited but I know he really has no idea how much his little world is about to change forever. I am excited to watch the kids interact with Caden. He's a very lucky boy to have such a great big sister and brother. Here's hoping that the next post is pics of Caden!!!

32 weeks and counting

Well I'm nearing the end of this long, hard pregnancy. I've really tried to enjoy it since I know this is the last time I will do this but it's been very up and down. At 20 weeks we discovered that Caden has what's called a Single Artery Umbilical Cord which means he's only getting 50% blood flow. A normal baby has 2 arteries and one vein in the cord where Caden only has one artery and one vein. We've been so blessed that nothing else seems to be wrong. I've had sonograms with every visit and so far Caden is growing and developing great. I've also had so much sickness with him and lots of contractions. I've had to be on bed rest several times but thank goodness I've always been able to stop them and stay out to of the hospital. Our next challenge is turning him. Just like Charlie, Caden is sideways and the doctor is going to turn him at 37 weeks. This is very painful but I did with Charlie and at least I know what to expect this time around. It just doesn't stop with this very active little boy. He never seems to stop moving, in fact I've asked the doctor is it's a bad thing because he really is moving at all time. I'm a little worried this means he's going to just as active when he's finally here. Anyway I'm getting very ready for him to be here. I still have things to do in his room but it's coming together. I want to post pics soon after I hang some things up. I can't believe he could be in as little as 5 weeks. I have to be ready to have him when the doctor flips him because it could put me into labor.

20 weeks and counting

Well I'm at the halfway mark. I'm finally feeling good again and some of my energy is coming back. I wish I could say that I'm motivated but I can't seem to find enough motivation to do much. The list feels way to long. Finding a new car is at the top and we're finally getting a start on that. Then we want to lay down wood floors throughout the downstairs. After that maybe I'll find some energy for the baby's room. The kids are doing good and keeping me very busy. Charlie is potty training and would probably be completely done by now but I've gotten lazy about reminding him to go. Abby is so supper excited about having a baby in the house and tells everyone she meets that she's getting another brother. It's really sweet. Anyway the big news is that we finally agreed on a name for the little one. It's going to be Caden Michael Railsback. He's middle name is after my brother who pasted away 2 and half years ago. I knew I wanted to use it as soon as we find out it was a boy. Caden is just a name we both liked. Anyway we're excited about meeting little Caden and seeing how crazy it's going to be having 3 little ones in the house.

It's a boy!!

Well looks like Abby and Charlie will be getting a little brother. We're excited about having another boy and so glad that Abby took the news so well. She wanted a little sister so bad and had even named the baby Ally. But after we explained that she would be the only princess in the house and she wouldn't have to share any of her girly stuff she seemed to think that having another brother wouldn't be so bad. Chaz and I are both in shock because we really thought about this was a girl but very excited about having a boy. Charlie will have to get used to sharing all his cars which he loves. Anyway, I'm feeling good at nearly 18 weeks. Can't believe that I'm nearly half way through and now can't wait to meet my new little man.

We have an announcement!!

Abigail will be 4 on the 12Th of December, Charlie turned 2 in September and July will mark another birthday for our new little one on the way. I'm 10 weeks now and still not quite over the shock even though I've known for about 7 weeks now. I feel very pregnant but can't seem to wrap my brain around the fact that I will have 3 kids 4 years and younger. I still feel like I don't have it together with 2 yet so trying to picture myself getting ready to go anywhere with 3 kiddos just makes me dizzy. At least this time around Abby will know what's going on. She was only a year when I got pregnant with Charlie but this time she has 20 questions about everything. I really think she's going to be a big help with this one. I think Charlie will have some jealous issues. Poor thing really has to fight Abby for my attention. She's very much a mamma's girl and won't let me do anything with Charlie if it doesn't include her being in the middle of it all. The worst of it all is that I had sold the rest of my infant stuff a week before we got pregnant. I wasn't sure if we would have another one and was tired of storing all that stuff. So we now have to start over. At least I know now what I really need and what I really won't use that long. We are excited and I'm just glad that I know what to expect both with pregnancy and after. My due date is July 3rd, which is Chaz's birthday. It would be funny to have them share a birthday but if this one is anything like the other two then I have this one the end of June instead of July. We'll see. Anyway I've had 2 sonograms and both look great. We should know what if it's a boy or a girl sometime after the holidays. My doctor does sonograms a lot so I could find out early like I did with Charlie. We knew he was a boy at 12 weeks. But I open to finding out whenever and it's also nice to already have a boy and a girl. This time we really don't care what it is. But I do think it would be fun to have another girl. I really do miss all those little girl things. Abby is starting to grow out of some of that. Of course Charlie would love to have a brother and they will be closer in age. But trust that God has the perfect child for us. We're excited and I guess somewhat ready to go through this journey again. God has never let us down so I know he is with us now too.

Beach Trip 2009

Last week we spent the week at Port Aransas. It was so much fun and the kids had a blast. This was our first trip to the beach with the kids so we really didn't know how they would react to it but even though they really didn't get in the water much they loved playing in the sand. We also had lots of fun playing with all the aunts, uncles and cousins that were there. My dad's side of the family have been going to the beach every year together for as long as I remember and being there with my kids brought back so many memories of my brother, sisters and I playing with our cousins there. It was hard being back there without Michael there and I also missed my sister, Cayce, who is in the US Coast Guard and couldn't come but her son was there and it was great watching him play in the sand with my kids. We also had my dad's wedding there. It was beautiful with the water in the background. We had around 70 people there. It was great seeing people that I haven't seen in a long time. Chaz and I can't wait to take the kids next summer and hope to continue the tradition of the kids spending there summer vacation in Port A. Great trip!!!