Pictures in His Birthday Suit!

Here are the first pics of Aaron!

Drum Roll Please...

Sara and I are proud to announce the arrival of our 9 lb 8 oz, 21 1/4 inch long, baby......

BOY!

Aaron Robert Allen was born today at 12:50 pm. Mom and child are doing fine, resting comfortably as we speak. He has nursed three times already, and seems to be adjusting well so far to life outside the womb!

THANK YOU for your prayers! We feel so truly blessed and humbled by this life event. To have this delivery occur without issue is a gift from God.

Will update more soon.

Updated Plan

Well, the Cervidel was in overnight. The nurse and doctor both checked Sara this morning, and we have no dilation. The doctor said we could try the inducement medicine and just see if it would do anything for Sara, but neither she nor another doctor were optimistic. She opted for a c-section versus a likely failed induction. We would have probably wound up in a c-section this evening after Sara spent a painful day having contractions that ultimately didn't do anything for her. I totally agree with her decision, and she feels comfortable with it.

She will not be put under general anesthesia, which has been a major concern all along because of past issues with Sara not handling that well. The medicine used is similar to, though not exactly like, an epidural. She will be numb from the mid-section down, and will remain fully conscious during the whole thing.

The c-section is scheduled for around noon today. There are a couple of scheduled c-sections this morning which is the only reason we have to wait until then. So Sara is currently reading a trashy romance novel and I am obviously updating the blog.

We'll keep you posted on any further developments. And hopefully sometime early this afternoon, I will be able to report to all of your that Sara is healthy and we have a beautiful, healthy baby.

Thanks for keeping Sara and the baby in your thoughts and prayers today.

At the hospital

Well, we're here...we checked in at 4:30 and it was about 5:45 when we were settled in our room. I was given Cervidel at 6pm. It will stay in until 6am tomorrow. At that point, I have 30 minutes to shower and get ready for the day. Then I'll be checked. If my cervix has softened and dilated at least a cm, I'll be induced at 7am. That will give us a baby sometime tomorrow afternoon. If my cervix doesn't respond over night, I'll have a C-Section around 8am and will have a baby before 9.

Everything has gone fine so far. There were no changes in my cervix between Friday's doctor's appointment and today, but my doctor said the Cervadel usually does its job over night.

I'll be allowed to eat anything I want for dinner around 8pm then I am on clear liquids until midnight. At that point it's ice chips until I have the baby.

We had a very nice day with my dad and Sheri. They just left to go get dinner and will check back with us after dinner then will head to their hotel until morning. John and Kim are on their way and should be here in about 20 minutes. They'll visit with us before heading to dinner and then will also be back in the morning. Robert and Wendy should be here tomorrow afternoon unless we call them to tell them that something's happening sooner.

So, basically, there's nothing new to report. We did find out - clearly - that we have internet in our room which is very nice. I'm doing just fine and the baby seems just fine. My husband's doing fine, as well. He is, however, ready to have this baby and know that I'm fine and Little One is fine.

Again, we know that you are praying for us and we are so grateful.

This is it!

Here I am exactly one week past my due date:



We are waiting to hear from my dad. They got in late last night and when they're ready to go, we'll meet up with them and spend the day showing them around Tyler. At 4:30, we'll check into the hospital and tomorrow we'll have a baby! So, this is the last pregnancy picture and my last full day as a pregnant woman!

Jory's Mom and John get in tonight around 7 and will visit us at the hospital then will be back tomorrow for the big event. His dad and Wendy will drive in tomorrow for the big moment. So, everyone's ready to go and we are SO excited to finally meet Little One!

Thank you all SO much for your prayers. We will get an update here as soon as we can!

Love,
Sara, Jory and Little One

A Very Good Weekend

Despite my efforts, I was somewhat depressed after our doctor's appointment Friday. My husband, however, was bound and determined that we were going to enjoy our last childless weekend - and we did! It has been a wonderful weekend. Jory took off work early Friday and we took a walk. The weather has been beautiful here - 81 with a breeze. Then he grilled us dinner - my husband is a master of the grill - and dinner was SO good! We relaxed Friday night and then Saturday morning I got to laze around while Jory made an incredible breakfast. Then I got to go get a massage - how spoiled am I??? After that, we spent the afternoon in the Rose Garden in Tyler reading and then we rented a movie and relaxed again Saturday night. Today was church and since then he's been getting the yard ready for the guests that we are absolutely having this week. At least we know that we are having a baby this week!


The Baby Pool is down to the Final Four - though Erica Fisher's chances are fading fast (she has today) and that leaves Me, My Mom and a guy I work with. We'll see. I am still believing that Little One arrives before Wednesday. I still feel very good and really have been enjoying all of this time with my husband. Especially since I know that this week is going to be crazy! A beautiful, miraculous crazy, but crazy none the less.


I have been overwhelmed with encouragement and support since our appointment on Friday. All of our friends and relatives are so good to us and we are more grateful than we can express. And we covet each and every prayer that we know is going up for the safe and healthy delivery of Baby Allen. We know that all three of us are so loved and cared for and we thank you all!

This is a quilt that my boss's wife MADE us. It is folded in half, so you don't see how big it is and you can't touch it and feel the incredible fabrics she used, but believe me when I tell you that this is AMAZING. I can NOT believe she MADE this. It is thick and plush and definitely going to be a Tummy Time Favorite.

This is our Pack and Play complete with changing table, diaper stacker and sound soother. How awesome is this? My Dad and Sheri got this for us and we are in love with it. My Dad and Sheri, by the way, are coming into town tomorrow night, so best chances are they will be here when Little One arrives. That is a perk of Baby Allen's delayed arrival.




You will hear from us here as soon as anything changes. In the meantime, thank you all for your prayers. We love you!

Still Pregnant...

We had our 41-Week (YIKES!) Doctor Appointment today. It was our last appointment. We are scheduled to check into the hospital Tuesday (March 10) at 4:30pm. I'll be given medicine to prepare my cervix and then (assuming I dilate 1-2 cm) I'll be induced Wednesday morning. If I don't dilate overnight Tuesday, I'll have a C-Section Wednesday. One way or the other, the doctor is bringing this baby Wednesday.

A sonogram showed that there is plenty of fluid and the baby is head down and healthy. The heartbeat was in the 130s. My blood pressure was 120/80 and my weight is good. Physically, I feel great and don't mind being pregnant at all. Emotionally, however, I am ready to have this baby. This waiting and not knowing when and how Little One will arrive is getting to me now. My husband, on the other hand, is now perfectly relaxed. The doctor said there's no chance this baby comes on its own. So, he's comfortable that the day is Wednesday and he's looking forward to spending the weekend together.

40+ Weeks

We finally took the 40 Week Tank Top Picture to complete our pictorial. It is below. As far as an update, we obviously have seen the due date come and go. We are about to see the day after the due date come and go. There have been no changes. The baby's a little lower, but hasn't dropped. I have had ZERO contractions this week. I feel fine and there's nothing to indicate that Little One is ever coming. However, I still firmly believe that this baby will be born without being induced, so we are looking at a 'suddenly' in the next several days. In any case, this time next week we will have a baby - one way or the other. Can you believe it? It some ways it seems like we have been waiting so long and in other ways I am amazed that it is here already!

I am so excited to meet this precious miracle, but there's a part of me that is sad to see pregnancy end. Especially this last part that has been so comfortable. The baby is moving constantly which is reassuring, but not kicking which is a bit of a relief. The position of Little One is perfect for me and I have just been enjoying these last few days with him or her as a part of me.

Being off work has been very nice. I haven't gone stir crazy yet. I had stacked up several books I wanted to read and some projects I wanted to work on and it has been wonderful to have the days to myself to complete all of that. My husband, on the other hand, is going a bit stir crazy. As he mentioned, he had cleared his calendar for this week not knowing when he would be leaving work. As such, work has been quite boring for him and I think this week has been harder for Jory than it has for me. I'm comfortable and content. He's bored and anxious!

For the most part, I am just overwhelmed by God's goodness and the fact that this new life will arrive any day now. It is amazing and beautiful and I am thrilled to be a part of it. We just can not wait to meet this baby!

We go back to the doctor Friday and will let you know if there's any news. If nothing's changed and nothing happens before Tuesday night, I will check into the hospital on the night of the 10th and be induced on the morning of the 11th.

That's all for now. We'll keep this site updated with any news. And we think the hospital has wireless internet, so we should be able to update some from there - whenever we are there!

And here's the final picture - me at 40 weeks and 1 day pregnant with a very comfortable baby:

Yes, she did make it!

Let me proclaim to everyone out in blog land that my wife is my hero! Sara has cruised through this pregnancy in a way that you aren't supposed to. We went for a walk around the neighborhood on Friday evening. Our neighborhood has some elevation changes, so it is not that easy of a walk. She kept up step for step. I was walking at a completely normal pace, not the "pregnancy pace" she thought we were going at. She is quite simply amazing.

I, on the other hand, have not handled this last week as gracefully as I would have liked. I admitted to Sara last night that I have a ton of anxiety about the upcoming event. All of the proclamations about how our life will change/will never be the same have led to some impatience on my part. It is as if I am standing in front of a closed door and people keep telling what is on the other side. OK, I've heard it, digested it, and understand it. LET"S ROLL! C'mon! I'm not saying that I am not appreciating the extra time to get little things done and spend time with Sara, just the two of us. But the anxiety of the unknown is a little much to take at times. My work calendar for this week is completely clear. That has NEVER happened in my entire career. But it is the direct result of not knowing when or if I will be in the office the next day. I'm a planner by nature, and this waiting game is tough for me.

It'll be here soon enough, and it will be wonderful. Sara has shown as much patience with me as I have with her (if not more). She is what I hope to be when I grow up.

I Made It!

Forty weeks come and gone! I worked all the way through my nine months of pregnancy, though I did take half days the last week. I am now officially on Maternity Leave and officially carrying a full 40-week old infant. We will take one last tank top shot tonight to add to my collection, but pretty soon all the pictures should be of Anna/Aaron (and aren't we anxious to find out which it is?)!

I spent a lot of time last night thanking God for the blessed, EASY pregnancy I had. I sloughed off on my thankfulness during the two months that Little One lived under my bruised ribs and I know I shouldn't have. When I thought last night about all the things that didn't happen, I was humbled. No morning sickness, heartburn, indigestion, stretch marks or popped out belly button. No pre-term baby, no bed rest, no rushes to the hospital or frantic calls to the doctor. We really made it through this whole time without having worry about anything. I know that is such an amazing blessing from God. I didn't even have back pain or leg cramps enough to speak of and I never craved anything except fruit. Jory and I were just talking the other night about how he escaped middle of the night runs for ice cream!

After I spent a lot of time glorifying God's name and thanking him for these blessings, I boldly prayed that His goodness would see me through a labor and delivery as uneventful as my pregnancy. I prayed fervently that God will bring Little One before induction is scheduled and that interventions will not be necessary. I prayed for health for Little One and for myself. And I believe that the Lord will provide. I know that He is able to do exceedingly above anything I could hope or ask and that with Him all things are possible.

We will keep you posted on our status. As of now, Jory's working normally and I'm at home resting. There's no sign that anything is happening, but I feel good and everything is well with us. We are definitely getting anxious to meet Little One, but we know that we have, at most, a little over a week.