August 25th-Welcome Nathan Cole!

So much for the false labor! And if it was, it was very quickly followed by the real thing. My 5 minute contractions continued on Wednesday afternoon for over another hour (from about 3pm-4pm) right after I got home from the doctors. I called the office back to let them know I had been laying on my left side and drinking water...with no let-up. Anna Marie informed me to try this for another 45 minutes, and if still no relief, to go to the hospital. I called Matt at around 5:15pm (he was at the office for a meeting)letting him know that I thought we should go to the hospital. The contractions were getting increasingly more painful. He raced home the way he always thought it would happen despite me telling him it wouldn't work that way! He wanted to know why I hadn't called earlier. I told him I didn't want to be accused of just having Braxton Hicks again and I didn't think I needed him yet. In fact, I was updating the blog and talking to Dale (friend who moved back to California) during the contractions. But now I knew we couldn't wait much longer.

Before running out the door (thankfully, everything was still packed up from the morning...I had barely moved from the couch all day) I mentioned that Matt's mom requested one last picture before. So we snapped one.


Right after this I had another very strong contraction and keeled over on the floor. Matt continue to take pictures. I told him that we did not need pictures of that...people don't want to see that! He insisted I would want that for our own record but I will spare you the picture on here!

So Matt takes everything down to the car and we race to the hospital. Thank goodness it is only 5 minutes away!

We headed up to labor and delivery and they took me into the assessment room. I wait in this room for quite awhile and am feeling a bit impatient because I don't think they realize I am as far along as I feel. We then find out that they are short a nurse and one should be coming in 20 minutes. Then they hooked me up to a machine to monitor the baby's heartbeat and my contractions. Unfortunately, my contractions are not showing up very well on the monitor so they still don't feel matters are urgent! However, the nurse (the one that is going between 2 of us until my nurse arrived) finally checks to see how dilated I am. She was surprised to find I was at a 5! So things begin to move a little more quickly. She calls the on call doctor in and they break my water. They also get my IV started because I am to have antibiotics 4 hours prior to giving birth due to having Group B Strep (GBS).

They then informed me that I am ready for an epidural, however the anesthesiologist is detained for a c-section and it could be another hour. Perfect. So they give me a drug to hold me over and help with pain. I questioned if this would slow my labor down and the nurse asked, "would it matter at this point?" She seemed to think that might be a good thing.

They moved me into the labor and delivery room shortly after and checked me again to discover I was at 7 centimeters.


Things were moving fast! But still no anesthesiologist. My new nurse had now arrived...she was called in from home...and said that the anesthesiologist had left the hospital and they were now trying to call the on-call one. However, no one was answering. Lovely. My hour had passed by this point and I was fearful that I would be too far a long to get an epidural. It was probably another 20 minutes later when the anesthesiologist runs into the room saying that his phone battery had died so he did not know they were trying to contact him. I held my tongue as I did not want to be disrespectful to the man that was about to put a large needle in my back! The epidural was successful but I was confused as to if it was fully working because I explained how much discomfort I was still feeling. To me, it was pain, but the nurse explained that it probably was the pressure of my baby's head. Dr. Lerch, the on-call doctor for my OB/GYN practice came in to check on me. When I explained how much it still hurt she immediately suspects that the baby is much closer than we think. She checks me and sure enough, I am fully dilated...plus two in fact and 100% effaced. She asked me to give a little push. She then informs everyone that I am now plus 3 and we are having this baby RIGHT NOW!

I ask, "Are you serious?" She says, "Honey, I don't put all of this garb unless I am serious because it makes me hot!" Another nurse joins us to prepare for the baby's arrival. Dr. Lerch has my nurse take a leg, and Matt take a leg and predicts that we can have this baby out in a few contractions! It took a little more than that, but after a half hour of pushing, our beautiful baby arrives at 9:45pm!!!


Dr. Lerch predicted we were having a girl and was calling it a "she" throughout the delivery. That is until she pulled the little bundle of joy out. She sounded surprised as she announced, "It's a boy!" Prior to the delivery she announced she never gets to deliver "surprises" anymore. She thought it was fun!

So that is how little Nathan Cole Wittleder joined us in this world! He was perfect in every way. They immediately handed him to me but I didn't hold him long before they gave him some oxygen. His skin was all purple! And boy could he cry!


He weighed 7 lb. 4.5 oz. He was 20 inches long and his head circumference was 13 inches. Dr. Lerch said that his head was large.


Matt and I were overjoyed. It didn't even feel real at first. Once Nathan was cleaned up they gave us about an hour to ourselves to enjoy him. Nathan ate for 45 minutes! The delivery must have taken a lot out of him!



His tiny feet:


We called our parents to share the good news and then waited to make other calls the next day since it much later Eastern Standard Time.

The next few days in the hospital were surreal. We loved it. Matt talks about how fun it was to be in the hospital with Nathan.




Matt stayed with me in my room on the pull out couch in the back.

Here's another of our room.



Mom was able to get a flight out the very next day.


We enjoyed our time with Nathan.



And visitors came to visit!

This is Josh and Amber. We were really bad at taking pictures of his visitors. But several people from work came: Andrea Riley, Lisa Betts, Jim VerMeer. Jen visited us from small group and then Josh and Amber came on Thursday night.

Nathan got some gifts.


And Nathan got his pictures taken at the hospital on Friday.



We visited a discharge class this last day also.


Loving him!


Then on Friday afternoon, we were discharged from the hospital! All ready to go.






And home we go...as a family of Three!!!!!

Aug 25th- Doctor's Appointment & False Labor

Well! It has been quite eventful around here lately. Today I officially went on my maternity leave at work. Last night (or should I say early this morning) I was having contractions that moved from an hour apart to 3-5 minutes. I got up and showered at 5 preparing to go to the hospital. By 6, we were ready to go out the door and then the contractions slowed down! I called the hospital and they said I was probably not ready yet...it was just Braxton Hicks contractions. Well those little buggers could have fooled me! They HURT! So both Matt and I took a couch and slept for awhile. Matt got up and went to work after 8...I called my boss to let him know I'm done and rolled back over to get some more sleep! It was so nice to be able to get some sleep because it was NOT happening last night!

I had a doctor's appointment today and Dr. Shelton informed me that I am 80% effaced and 3 cm dilated. I lost a few pounds from last week...but I guess this is normal. They have me at a total of 32 pounds weight gain to date. Also, I feel like I have dropped a bit in just the last 24 hours. Dr. Shelton doubts that I will last another week but it's hard to tell with these things! We were asked if I wanted to be induced...but we declined. As convenient as it would be timing-wise, I'd really rather wait for the baby to come when it is ready. I'm back at home letting nature take its course. I'm trying to get some rest so I am ready when I need to be. In the last 45 minutes I have had contractions at 5 minutes apart ON THE NOSE. But, whose to say these aren't Braxton Hicks again? I surely don't know. Anna Marie (the nurse) told me to lay on my left side and drink cold water if this happens again. If they go away it is probably just Braxton Hicks, if not, it is probably the real deal and I should go to the hospital. So that is what I am doing right now. Matt is at an in-service at work but he is available at a moments notice if we need to go. He can probably get to me in a half hour.

So that is where we are at! It could be days, it could be hours. I'm still a few days away from my due date on Monday...so we have time. We appreciate your prayers!

Aug 22nd- 39 Weeks

Wow-are we really at 39 weeks already? Here is your picture:

I weighed in at 164.6 this morning.

So this is the part that could be confusing to our countdown. My official due date is August 30th...next Monday. So why do I have the week countdowns on Sunday? 1-because my doctor originally told me this schedule and then the next week they gave me the due date of the 3oth. 2- Taking pictures and documenting on Sunday was so much easier than moving it to Monday. So...I now technically have 1 week and 1 day until my due date, not just 1 week. But either way, we're close!

I can tell I am getting closer to the end. I am having nausea again...similar to the first trimester. Where it isn't really bad, I just have to keep sprite on hand and be careful what I am eating. My digestive system is just a lot more sensitive to what I am taking in. I am having some cramping...but not real contractions from what I can tell. I also will have periods of high energy-where people tell me I am "nesting". And then I crash and am extremely tired! This is what happened to me today. I'm still working. It's good. It keeps me distracted :) I will continue to work until I feel like I need to be done. Maybe when my water breaks? ha ha.

In other news...we bought our baby mobile last Monday! A 2006 Rav4 with just a little less than 12K miles. We are so happy to have this purchase made before Baby Jeopardy arrives. This week we got it all ready to go for the trip to the hospital...detailed and car seat in place!






Great storage in the back!


For more on this, you can check out our Colorado Dreams blog.

No picture of this, but our new camera also came in the mail this week! We are very excited about this. It is a Canon Rebel T2i. It also takes HD movies...which is why we went for it. My current camera is a Rebel but this one is about 5 models newer and takes MUCH better pictures. Which is kind of exciting also. It was a Matt's Birthday/4th Anniversary/New Baby gift to ourselves. Matt got me in a weak moment :) But I absolutely LOVE the idea of not having to drag a camera AND a video camera along with everything else a little one will add to the things we have to have with us!

I think we are about ready for this baby to come!

Aug 18th- Doctor's Appt & Car Accident

Oh My! It has been a day! Well, I did have a doctor's appointment today...but was delayed a little on the way there. On my way to the appointment after my last sales call, I was sitting at a stoplight. All of the sudden, I was jerked forward in my seat from an impact behind me. The impact forced my foot off of the brake and I fumbled around to slam on the brakes before I ran into the SUV sitting in front of me. A Ford Taurus failed to see that we were stopped and the driver barreled into me. It startled more than anything, and I was a little shaken up. A woman emerges from the Taurus, as do I, and I think to myself "she is going to freak when she see's how pregnant I am!" She saw me and says, "I am so sorry!" I know she felt bad.

We notice that this road is not a good place to check out the damage as we have vehicles going by on both sides of us and I suggest to her that we pull into a nearby parking lot. Then, a police officer on a motorcycle pulls up and assists us with controlling traffic so we can get out of the middle of the road. We exchanged information and the officer proceeds to tell us about how his first grandbaby is due in two weeks also. He was a chatty officer! The damage was fairly minimal, and as for me, I was just feeling a bit of neck and back pain. Of course this makes sense since I was nailed from behind.

I called ahead to the doctor's letting them know I would be a few minutes late. When I saw Doctor Shelton he said that he thought the baby was probably fine but he wanted to send me over to the hospital for some monitoring just as a precaution. He did check me to see if I was dilated though before sending me over...2 centimeters! Progress!

At the hospital, they hooked me up for about a half an hour to monitor the babies heartbeat and my contractions. The heartbeat looked great and the nurse said their MIGHT have been one contraction, but it is hard to tell. So everything is fine. I will go back to see Dr. Shelton next week! I am so thankful for the Lord's protection today!

Aug 15th- 38 Weeks

38 Week picture:

I weighed in at 162.6 this morning.

And another picture:


I'm not sure if I am "nesting" or not, but we are getting final prep done to bring the baby home. Age sent out bottles for me-Thanks, Age! I got them all washed and ready to go on Saturday.


We started working on the hospital bag. It's pretty much ready...a few more items to add yet. We only live 5 minutes from the hospital so it probably wouldn't be the end of the world if we forgot something.

We are also planning on putting the car seat in the Grand Prix today. And now that we had our last shower, we are purchasing the items we still need or would like to get before the babe arrives...like diapers!

Here is the progress on the nursery...probably as much as there is to do until we know the gender. If we have a girl, the monkey picture might not stay and we will probably accent with pink instead. The plant I got from my shower...it probably will not live long!


Diaper Genie ready to go!


The time is quickly coming! According to Matt, I only have 2 more days. He would like his son or daughter to arrive on his birthday :) I think I probably still have 2 more weeks! But we saw a couple with a newborn in church this morning...and are both feeling excited to meet this little one!

Baby Shower at Work- Aug 12th

Encompass threw us a baby shower after work on Thursday night. It was fun to get together with co-workers after hours. We love the second family we have at work. We feel so blessed to have these people in our lives. It was a night of a lot of laughter...it must have been a long day!

We don't have a ton of pictures because the shower was for us, but Diane snapped some at the end of us opening gifts. I don't have pictures of the games...we played two of them. The first one everyone had to guess how may sheets of toilet paper it took to get around my belly. A dangerous game! Matt wanted to not sleep on the couch, so he guessed 3! :) Our Administrator, Jim, measured himself and then added a few sheets to his count. He was sad to find out he should have just left it at his measurements to win! He wasn't sure if he should have the dessert after that! Our Director of Nursing, Sheri, won with a guess of 12. We measured me at the end and it came out to 11.

We also played the game where you have to guess the baby food flavor. I was not very good and I think I only got 4 right! I'm hoping that stage (where the baby is eating those foods) does not last long! Yuck :) Diane won that one. She has a great sense of smell!

Okay-on to some pictures. Aren't these the cutest plates and napkins?


Chuck, my boss, couldn't be there for the shower because he was at Fort Bragg, NC to greet his son after returning from Afghanistan. We are so glad Phil is home safely! But Chuck supplied my favorite cake...angel food with whip cream and strawberries from his favorite bakery in town. It was delish!


Andrea Pennington, the marketer for the hospital, was so sweet to have planned this shower for us. Here she is with the gifts.


First gift. Love it. I was really wanting a diaper genie! Michelle & Tammy who are in billing and Liz in human resources, got us this one. They all had other commitments and couldn't make it to the shower. So sweet of them to get us something.




There is a bit of a story to this one. We really wanted this monkey blanket and would have just purchased it ourselves if we didn't end up getting it. Well, I guess Andrea & Lisa BOTH got it for us. Andrea bought it first, but Target never took it off of the registry. And Lisa , another Area Manager (marketing) picked it up the day of the shower so there was some disagreement on whose should be kept! ha ha. This one is from Lisa and she also got a us stuffed horse.

Andrea claimed she was going to go out and find the biggest horse she could find to show Lisa up and prove her blanket should be kept. Later that night, Kevin, Lisa's husband, send me an email with this picture:

The email said: "See below message to Andrea"
They sent this picture to Andrea with the message: "Look what Lisa's getting Sonya!"
It was so hilarious...we laughed out loud.

Here we are opening Andrea's gifts


Ducky clothing from a physical therapist, Rory, who is also pregnant. Her card said, "Encompass babies rock!".


Sheri and Deb (our Assistant Dir of Nursing) went together and got us a bouncer and lullably cd.


This one was from Jim. He was trying to bring some manliness to the baby shower.


He made the label himself!


It was all of the baby care items we needed such as diaper rash cream, Johnson & Johnson lotion, bath soap etc. He was in the funniest mood during this shower! He also was in charge of writing the gifts down for us. We ended up with a VERY detailed list on sticky notes labeled, "1 of 4, 2 of 4, etc." !


And his card

"I want homecare" in the bottom corner! Who knows! :)

Diane, Andrea Riley (the last Area Manager I have not mentioned yet) and Carla Beth (one of our field nurses) went together and bought me this cute diaper bag!


Diane wanted me to stand with the card because she thought it looked just like me...all belly.


Time to EAT the cake!


The girls-left to right: Andrea Pennington, Lisa, me, Diane, Andrea Riley & Sheri!

They wanted to stand sideways so we could see my bump.

The men: Jim, Matt and Kevin!

I don't know how well you can see it...but behind Matt's head is the Baby Pool they have started in the office. There is a calendar where you can sign up on your day and hour time slot to guess when the baby will be born. There is a calendar in Pink if you are guessing a girl, and one in Blue if you think it will be a boy. Everyone pays a dollar for each guess and the winner splits the winnings with the baby. It should be fun. Especially since most people are so adamant on what the gender will be! My boss emailed in yesterday to claim his spot on August 29th at 3:23 pm. He is sure it is a boy and he calls him "Fred" often. August 29th is Chuck's birthday by the way. :)