Reese Ava Autry

Reese Ava Autry was born on April 1, 2010...My little April fools baby. She is two months old now and I feel somewhat able to function enough to blog for a moment.

For those who don't want to know the details, just look at the pictures and be happy. However, if you want to know how Reese got here:

I went into labor on March 30th. In the middle of the night I could not sleep and got up with contractions. I knew they were nothing big, but they did keep me up. So I went to the doctor and I was dialated to a 1 and 50% effaced or something. Anyways, I went home and did my usual routine and had contractions all day. When John got home and the contractions were every 3 -5 minutes we were trying to figure out if we should go in. I called a good friend who works in OB care. She said since I was a previous c-section I should go in just to be on the safe side. I never really had a ton of pressure, just back labor. So we got there at about 7 pm and I was dialated to a 1.5. The baby's head was not in position at all and I was definately having contractions that were good every 3-5 minutes. So I walked the halls, squated, drank a ton of water, and nothing changed. They wanted to keep me overnight for because I was a previous c-section. So they gave me some medicine around 2 am to help me get some sleep and see if I would stop contracting. Well, I just kept having those contractions without any progress in labor. Then a new doctor came in the morning, Doctor El Gammal. She checked, no change, no head. So she called for an ultrasound machine. Now you know it is not good when the doctor takes 10 minutes doing an ultrasound and sits down and says where is that head. Then she called for an ultrasound tech to come in. The ultrasound tech comes in and sits down and starts looking for the head. Once again it was a challenge. Reese was sideways, bum up, head close to the bottom with her hand dangling in my cervix (explained a few random pains) and she was facing my back. The doctor said there is no way I could deliver her that way and she can't change her position because of the risks involved from being a previous c-section.

So there I was on the operating table being cut open...now they warned me, but you never want to think it will go that way. They cut me, then the uterus and then I hear straining and a vague inclination that my body is being rocked back and forth. I hear the doctor grunting and she can't get the baby out. I will never forget my husbands eyes. He was watching with interest at first and then they get out scissors to cut my uterus again and his eyes were all I saw. At any rate Reese came out very healthy. she was 6 lbs 14 oz and 20 1/4 inches long. I hate that I have so many issues, but that was not the end for me. I had to have 3 layers of stitching because my scar tissue was bad with my previous c-section. I also had to have my bladder wrapped because of scar tissue. Then when she was trying to put my uterus in she noticed it didn't go in nice and snug cuz my sacrum (lower spine) was not toward my back like normal. There is no way I could have delivered ever. That really would have been nice to know before the whole process. Oh and did I mention my uterus is a little thin at the bottom. Man, well I might be lucky to have one more, but it will be a scheduled c-section at 38 weeks.

The recovery was not fun. I had so much gas in my tummy afterwards that I looked 9 months pregnant and as the nurse said you could play my tummy like a drum......

I am still very much recovering, though I can do just about everything like normal. I know I had surgery and can still feel it, but it does not hurt.

Still I am so grateful for Reese and I hold her and love her so much. I also have to note that during the whole delivery I was so calm and peaceful. I felt the presence of Heavenly Father so strongly that I knew everything would be alright. I am so grateful for that.

There is the hand that Reese loves.

They made Reese go under the lights because of a antigen issue. She was so strong she kept pulling off the socks and the goggles. John was vigalent about taking care of her, even though it was rough night. She also pulled up her head and on all fours in the hospital when they first put her in this on her belly. Strong girls :)

Hello Again :)

Ok, I know it has been quite a few months since I blogged. I thought about doing a mass update and going back, but that would make it a lot harder to catch up. So lets just say pregnancy, John breaking his Fibula on Thanksgiving, the Holidays, and life has happened and I will just update with a few recent pictures and move forward.

So this is what comes from old photos....Celia has a photo like this when she was younger. She thought that looks great and begged me to do it again until I did....So here she is getting her hair curled before school.

So one day the little boy I watch during the day, Daniel Embry, didn't come over because of sickness in the family. I thought great, I can do that baby quilt for my friend that I have been meaning to do. Two baby quilts and these two doll quilts later, I wondered why I had even started looking at fabric in the first place. It was fun, but I am glad to be done with those projects.

Yes it Snows in Georgia - once, maybe twice a year. This was taken on our first snow of this year. She was so happy to play in the snow.

Celia and her good friend Daniel Embry. They loved playing in the snow and throwing snowballs at each other.

We had to run an errand and so we didn't get a chance to make a snow man at our house.....so we did the next best thing and made one at the grandparents house. Here's our snowman on my parent's porch.

All of the above pictures were taken at Bear Hollow in Athens during Winter Break. The kids (Daniel and Celia) were so cute and fun. Celia made friends, like always, we played at the park, looked at animals and just had a nice day out.

Ever wonder what a 5 foot nothing girl looks like pregnant. Wonder no more. I have not gained too much (17 lbs) weight this pregnancy and my waist is smaller (currently 41 inches, with Celia it got to be about 44 or so inches) this time around. Yet this picture really shows what 8 months of baby growth can do for you or to you. Either way I am happy to be pregnant and excited to meet my baby girl. It hasn't been an easy pregnancy, but she will be worth the small inconviences of food not tasting good and having a nose that constantly runs.

Celia Starts School

Celia started school, ok pre-school, on July 31st of this year. She was so excited. Georgia has a lottery funded preschool program. So it is free, but it goes the normal length of school. In fact Celia goes to the elementary school for preschool. I have yet to let her ride the bus, though she really really wants to, I am just not ready for that. I really like her teacher Mrs. Purvis. She is a great teacher that is challenging, fun and loves my little spirited daughter.

Pregnant

I really am ever so glad to be pregnant. I am about 9 weeks along now and hoping that at the end of this first trimester I will start feeling better. Just a month or so to go to find that out. This pregnancy has definately been completely different from Celia's. I am grateful my husband is so supportive and does so much around the house to help out. Even if he does call me a slug. I have medicine for the naseau and vomiting so as long as I can keep it down I do much better. Every time I pay homage to the porcelin throne I have to remind myself that my baby is doing good and that this really will be just a short time. I really am looking forward to October to find out what I am having. My young women keep telling me that I am having a boy. My mother insists that it is a girl. I don't have a really strong feeling, but am leaning toward boy. So I am sorry if I am cranky and out of it, please don't take it personal I still love you, I just don't feel good at all.

Disney Fun Part 2

We took Sunday off parks and went to church and then the Orlando temple. It is an absolutely beautiful temple, just wish we had known how to get there before leaving the church building. Lost and hungry do not make a good combination.

Our family photo reflects the cranky and hungry.

Isn't it such a gorgeous temple. We were privileged to go there previously for a friends wedding and it really is so beautiful.

Monday was spent at Magic Kingdom, which is packed with lots of fun stuff to do and see....packed being the word for the day. We started it out with Breakfast with the Princesses. We all loved it because the food was good and we got to eat in the castle and we got to meet the princesses, they all came to our table.

Snow White came first and Celia wanted to know where all the princes were. Snow White said hers was waiting for her and they would dance in front of the castle soon, which I heard they did.

Sleeping beauty came up with this pose and I am with celia, is this really necessary...whatever.

Celia loved having all the princesses come and meet her. It was so fun to see her face and enjoy it with her. I would definately do it again.

Celia and Belle, one of my favorite characters....They give you a wand, a wishing star, and a photo package with Cinderella. We really enjoyed ourselves.

I guess this is a pretty rare picture to get, but we were waiting to ride the tea party ride and John went with Celia to wait in line and get her picture with Alice and the white rabbit. By the way 4 grown adults and a child do not fit in one tea cup, we learned that the hard way.

This makes me laugh so much. During a break time for the adults we went to a play area for Celia. She promptly made friends with these two boys and became the leader...ok their master cuz they were her dogs. I laughed and felt bad, but they seemed to be enjoying it as much as her....my little leader.

Can you tell how hot it was, look at those cheeks. Celia really enjoyed minnie's kitchen. So much fun to be had.

Who doesn't love a merry go round ride...we all enjoyed it.

I love this picture of mom and her new t-shirt, Cotton is your best friend when outside too long in Florida.

I love this picture of my dad cuz it shows his cowboy attitude. Too fun.

One of the benefits of going during the summer is the Disney waterparks are open. We went to Typhoon Lagoon. It was really so much much. The wave pool had the biggest waves that I have ever seen at a wave pool and literally knocked people over and into each other. This was a fun, but exhausting day. Playing in the water is so tiring.

Celia loved the kids area complete with slides and their own little tube ride. She rode a couple bigger ones, but loved the independence of being able to carry her own tube and do it all by herself at this one.

John and Dad loved the snorkeling with the fish attraction. It was really fun to be able to just enjoy the animals in that way. John took some pretty good pictures with our waterproof camera.

This is the entrance of the waterpark, but this is the end of the day. So much fun...I really enjoyed Disney and wish I could have gone to the other waterpark as well.

Disney Fun part 1

Okay slightly out of order, but that is otay. Our Second day at Disney was our favorite. We went to epcot and loved the gliding ride so much we rode it twice. We got to see a lot of really cool stuff and Celia loved the masks and coloring stations they had in each country. Celia also loved all the characters she met. Though you can't tell from this picture. Problem was she only wanted to see minnie mouse and had waited in a long line to do that. Then she found out she had to say hello to all the characters. Since poor mickey was first Celia had nothing to do with him.

Then it was pluto's turn, at least he got a look and a smile. She still wouldn't go near him though and Dad had to help.

Finally she got to minnie and she was golden after that.

She liked Donald so much that his was the only one stuffed animal she wanted.

Goofy was last and she was so happy she got to see everyone, especially minnie...

Celia also talked grandpa into waiting in a line for her to get to see snow white. Yeah for grandpas.

The Disney tradition is to get a mickey mouse shaped ice cream treat when you go, but Celia liked our ice cream much better. We all shared and it was still fun to try to beat the heat a little. Just so you know June is very hot in Florida.
Celia with her grandma and grandpa in front of Epcot.

The thing we love about Disney is they really try to make your experience great. You will randomly get taken to the front of the line just because one of the workers is being nice or anything like that. You may spend a good deal of money, though it wasn't too bad for us with the military rates. Anyways, the customer service and the way most of the rides and parks are run are great. There are a few rides that have horrible lines or are not the greatest, but it was still fun.

Our First Day was spent at Animal Kingdom. Which was a good day, but not our favorite. The Lion King show and Nemo show were really cool, and they had some nice rides, but the one we really wanted to ride we were unable to ride. Celia loved the ride above because she was in control of the movement of the ride.

The Dinosaur Display outside the dinosaur ride. Yeah we should not have taken Celia on this ride. We all felt like it was made for the hearing impared and wondered if we would need hearing aids after riding it because it was so loud. Celia does not handle loud noises at all. Then the Scary dinosaur right when they flash a light (take a picture) in your eyes...Yeah the end you look and the picture and everyone is going huh.

Really good advice we were given was to go to the Safari first thing in the morning. We did and the animals were definately out. It pays to go early.

Yeah I know the mass post again part 1...

John graduated from all of his training with the army in the beginning of June ....Yeah that means he gets to come home and be a reservist right? This is John and Celia with his good friend Jose. We miss Jose :(

Celia and her ice cream nose.

I really wanted to take pictures of them both that day. Celia was so cranky and John helped loosen her up, I am really glad he did cuz I love these pictures now.

Isn't this so cute....their little smoochies....
Celia, John, and another good friend Chelsea Jenson at graduation. It is always good to graduate, but hard to say good bye to friends.

Strawberry picking with friends at the end of May. Joanie and her little Serenity. Joanie is my best friend who until next week lives about a mile away. I will be so sad to see her go, maybe it is better that I am sick right now and can't think about it.

Joanie's little girl Destiny and my Celia. They are really good friends as well. Strawberry picking is always fun when you get to eat the spoils.

I am not really a person who usually likes pictures of myself, but I actually really like this picture. I just had my hair cut and colored and it looks pretty good.

Close up of the strawberries and the flowers. The coolest thing about strawberry picking is you get to see the different stages of growth a strawberrry goes through.