Built FORD Tough

I’m over blogsome and my inability to upload pics. So please link our new blog and follow us! I’ve already uploaded pics on the new one… SO much easier!

www.growingfordfamily.blogspot.com

Jason’s girlfriend, Liz, was nice enough to come take pics for us at the hospital of baby Rhyan and some visitors. Here is the link…

Go to http://pricelesspics.smugmug.com/
Click on Births Gallery
Click on The Birth of Rhyan Shlaine
Password: Ford

Just so you all know, labor started pretty much w/ the induction on Monday morning at 7 am w/ the first dose of citatec (sp?) which made my uterus hyperactive w/ contractions about every 1-2 min apart. I received a 2nd dose (vaginally instead of orally, hoping that it would affect the cervix more than the uterus) at 2:30 which had the same affect (hyperactive uterus). So i got 2 doses of turbuline to slow the contractions b/c rhyan’s heartrate was not tolerating it well. On the upside, it did work on my cervix! Then my water broke on its own at 9:30, i got an epidural at 10:30, it quit working at 12, i finally got another one at 2am and started pushing at 5:40. At 6:47am, Rhyan was here! She weighed 7lbs 13oz and was 19 and 3/4 inches long. Precious.

I’m officially in love. Jeff was great through it all and continues to pamper both of us girls

Here’s why i dont post pics often: To get them to upload on blogsome, i have to re-do them all using paint to make them an acceptable size. If someone else knows how to avoid this step and simply upload them, i’d do it more often. Facebook accepts my pics right off the camera and i love that, but on here its a pain. So feel free to help a sister out.

Here is Rhyan’s Room!

I know, i’m a terrible blogger. As i’ve said thousands of times before, i can write all day, i just hate writing w/o posting pics b/c i know thats why I check all of your blogs (for the pics) so i hate to be hypocritical. But hey, i’ll do it anyways…

I saw Dr Pohl for my 37/38 week checkup on Friday and he said that Rhyan is growing… probably about 7lbs now! My cervix is still closed but "softening" and he wants to induce the first part of next week (april 27th). I have to wait for a call from the girls at the office around mid week to schedule b/c the hospital doesnt schedule more than a few days out, so i’ll know more at the end of this week. But it looks as if we have begun our last week with it being just the 2 of us!

I’ve got about everything done that i can think of. I’ve washed and put away her clothes, bottles, bed linens, etc… The pack and play is assembled and in the livingroom, same for the swing and bouncer. Diapers, tooshie creams, etc are all in the changing table. A diaper bag is ready for us to take to the hospital w/ a couple little outfits and necessities. I’ve attended a breast feeding class this week (jeff went, too!) and i’ve met with and chosen a pediatritian. Am i forgetting anything? Besides my mind?! I feel like i’m forgetting something HUGE! The carseat is ready, too, btw.

So physically, i think we’re ready. Emotionally? Spiritually? I’m drained.  Sometimes i’d just like to pack up everything and just Jeff, Spud, Rhyan and myself go live on an island so i wouldnt have to deal with other people. But then, that’d be no fun!

So i’m hoping for a peaceful last week as husband and wife (and dog). I think we’re gonna try to get away this weekend (yes, the dr ok’d it) to the mountain house and try to relax and enjoy one another.

I covet your prayers for a safe and healthy baby, an easy delivery and for us to transition into parenthood with our hearts open and my hormones under control. Thats a BIG task, people. So quit reading and start praying, please!

Here’s a link to see pics from the shower on Sunday at Mrs Shirley Fowler’s home. It was hosted by Mrs Fowler, Mrs Hendrix, Mrs Hudlow and Mrs Corley. SO NICE! Click on the link, go to baby shower’s, kelly ford’s shower and the password is Rhyan!

http://pricelesspics.smugmug.com/

We also had a shower at my home on Saturday hosted by Angela, Ashley, April, Lindsay and Tanaya and it was incredible. I’ll work on getting pics up for it.

And last but not least, my family shower is coming up this saturday. We have just been overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity! now, let the organizing begin… phew!

We had our first shower yesterday. It was hosted by my good friends Beverly, Susan and Christy but all the ladies from church helped, i’m sure. Beverly hosted it at her mansion

Over 60 ladies attended! Talk about humbling. Here are just 2 pics so far. I have TONS more but these uploaded the quickest.

Me talking.

And my friends Patty, Christy, myself and Carrie.

As i sit here and write (finally), I’m distracted by my belly that is morphing into all different shapes… from one side to the other. I see a pointy little part of my precious baby girl poke out around my right ribs (part of her foot) and feel the rolling that you can now see so clearly from across the room. And i wonder… How much bigger am i gonna get?? Apparently, alot.

I’ve had 2 checkups since my last post. The 31 week checkup showed that Rhyan was enjoying a growth spurt and I was measuring 34 centimeters. Oh my. Today, at 33 weeks 5 days, the belly measures 36 centimeters. So shes still growing away! Dr Pohl said she’s about 5 lbs now.

We have our first shower on Sunday and its the one from the church… it will probably be the biggest one . And I’m excited! I’ve felt for so long like I was at such a standstill. I dont want to buy stuff cause I’m about to get a whole bunch of stuff. The crib is up, the dresser/changing table is in the room, one curtain is hung (I am getting the 2 others from a shower) and the bedding is in the crib… waiting on a mattress. But what else can I do (besides get a rocker/glider… i’ve been looking)?

I have been so humbled and felt so loved this week as three of my patients brought gifts for the baby… one lady even gave us a $50 gift card to kroger! SWEET!

Last tidbit… i was at the hinman dental convention Thursday and Friday and so many people commented on how "low" she is and how it looks like she’s already dropped. What? I dont understand this. She’s been low since day one. Which, i think, my lungs appreciate. Dr pohl did mention today that since I’m asthmatic, he’d like to enduce me at 39 weeks. Fine by me!!!

Oh, and i went for a mani/pedi/eyebrow wax today and feel much better. My feet may be fat as can be and no shoes may fit, but the toes are cute and painted. That always makes a girl feel good. ON a side note, though, the massage of the feet by a zealous asian woman does not feel as good when they’re this swollen. In fact, it hurts a little. But totally worth it.  Stay tuned for pics from showers…

Jeff’s grandmother, Mama T, went home to be with the Lord last week. She was such a great lady who loved the Lord and her family with all her heart. We traveled to Lincolnton last week (thurs and friday) for the viewing and funeral. Her youngest son, Brian, spoke at the funeral and I’ve just gotta say, I know it had to be the hardest thing he’s ever done, but i hope one of my kids can one day do the same for Jeff and i… and i hope we can pull it together to do it for our parents. Theres nothing like having personal testimony about someone to remind you of how truly wonderful and loved they are. 

Here is jeff showing Mama T the ultrasound of Rhyan just after Christmas. I wish our baby could have known her… and that she would have been here to have known her first great grandchild!

And the family at the funeral

We do clean up nice. Anyways, please be praying for Jeff and his family. I know they’re gonna miss her. We all will.

I was tagged by my friend Miriam. I have to tell 6 different facts about myself that most people do not know, then tag 6 other bloggers.

Here are the rules.
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules.
3. Tell 6 things about yourself.
4. Tag 6 other bloggers by linking to them.
5. Go to each person’s blog and leave them a comment to let them know they’ve been tagged.

Here are my 6 facts:
1. My daddy used to say that if we filled my belly button with water, our family could go through a famine and survive. Jeff used to take his thumb and press it against my belly button to get suction cause he thought it was funny. Now, my innie is flat as a flitter…it couldnt work as a resivoir of water anymore nor can you get suction on it!

2. When I eat, my left upper eyelid gently opens with every opening of my mouth. Something is mis-wired up there and i’m always embarassed about it. So on my first date with Jeff, i said i wasnt hungry because i didnt want him seeing my freakish eye. He was starving, so he ended up going through the drive through at mcdonalds. Fancy.

3. I want desperately to play the piano, but i dont want to take the time to learn. I’m certain that I could pick it up quickly if i’d take lessons, but then i’d have to buy a piano to have here for practice and that costs money. But i have the perfect spot picked out in the house for my dream piano. And i often dream that i get one. One day?

4. I do not like cats. I think they are wicked at heart and that most are out to get me. They look diabolical. Oh, and it doesnt help things that I actually got a cat when I was 5 or 6, suddenly couldnt breathe and found out from that experience that i not only was allergic, but that i have ASTHMA. The allergy prick test followed and for years i could not eat eggs (which i LOVE) or anything with eggs in it (ranch dressing which makes everything better) and I attribute it all to that cat!

5. My mom, uncle, aunt, 4 cousins and myself have all gone to and graduated from Dacula schools. Well, if they all would have graduated, it would have been from Dacula schools.

6. I was a twin and my mom lost my twin around 4 months in utero. I was born late and still was only 6lbs 13 oz… because I shared my food w/ some other baby for the first few months. Sad, but true. So see, i’m a survivor!

I’ll choose to link                                                                                            

Angela Leach, Lindsay Robertson, Christy Martin, Heather Teague, Mrs. McIver and Louellen Marlatt!

So our monitor finally went kurplunk on us this week. You could hear the computer working (grunting) but the screen was black. I tried taking it apart… as if i could do anything once i got it apart… but eventually broke down and got a new one. Its a widescreen. Its fancy.

In other news, my mom is doing much better. Back to her VERY talkative self. Spud seems better, although with all the shots he got, he should be better. Our bank account is sad because of spud’s back. JK. We love him. I’ve got spring fever so bad its not funny! Thats a good recap, huh?!

Jeff has this week off. I really hate it when he has a week off and I have to work. I’m so selfish. He still gets up before me usually, just so i dont have to get up by myself. But i still get bitter knowing i’m working while he’s lounging. Props to him, though… teaching is WAY harder than cleaning teeth. He really does need the break. Too bad teachers dont get paid according to the difficulty of their job.

Miss Rhyan is progressing nicely. You all do know that her name is pronounced "Ryan" and that we just added the H to make it more feminine, right? Somebody asked me recently if her name was "rain". What? How do you get that? Are we permananently messing up our kid by naming her Rhyan and spelling it that way? Cause i thought it was pretty simple, but then, we thought of it…so it would be to us!

My feet are a little swollen. I’m milking jeff for all the back rubs i can get and he’s trying to help more because of the swollen feet. YAY! I finally got registered, too. Did I tell yall that story? I went to Babies R Us with Jeff one evening and got completely overwhelmed at about the sling/diaperbag section and ended up crying, leaving to get a smoothie and going to my friend Susan’s house for her to talk me off the ledge. The next day, my mom went with me to target and we found great success registering there (MUCH more manageable) and then Susan returned to babies r us with me this weekend and we got it finished up. I’ve added things and deleted things online as i can think of it and feel MUCH better. Now, i’m just gonna have to find places to put all this stuff. Boy, babies sure do need alot of "stuff" these days, it seems!

I’ll post pics of valentines day later. Just a quick update for now! Peace.