Monday, December 19, 2011

First week home with baby Kaisley & Birth Story

 The day we got home. Gingerbread house! Kaisley loves making this face. haha.
 Daddy and his girls. (one lucky and out-numbered guy :)
Mallory playing dollhouse with Grandpa (what a good sport!). Grandma rocking Kaisley. Thanks so much Mom and Dad for coming to help us all week!
These girls are so cute together. Mallory loves her baby sister so much.
 Sometimes too much :)
They love to do everything together.
 We had a "Christmas Eve" and "christmas morning" here in San Angelo so we don't have to take everything to Snowflake. Here is our Christmas eve dinner.
Leaving a cookie and milk for Santa
 She loves her new Christmas dress. This girl is obsessed with dresses!
 And loves her new trampoline!
Then she got to go on a daddy and grandpa date to the Elmo Show here in town.


Kaisley Ruth Caldwell, here is your story:

Kaisley, you were born on December 8, 2011 at 8:56 PM. You were named (your middle name) after your Father’s grandmother, Ruth Porter. You were 6 pounds 2 ounces and 19.5 inches long at birth. The process of getting you here to our family was not easy but well worth it. Here is your story…
            On April 4th, 2011 we found out we would be welcoming a new little spirit into our family in December. Your Mom started feeling sick just one week later and continued to feel sick through the rest of the pregnancy. You were not going to take it easy on your Mama J. On July 26th we found out you were a girl! You sister Mallory was so excited to have a sister. We started preparing for another sweet little girl.
            As it got closer to your due date Mom went to Dr.’s appointments every week. When she was 36 weeks along she was dilated to 1 cm. We decided to schedule for a c-section and if you decided to come earlier we would try for a vaginal birth. The Dr. said she would schedule Mom for a c-section on December 6th but we asked if we could wait 3 more days until the 9th for your Daddy to be finished with his school finals. So, as much as we wanted you out to meet you earlier, we hoped you would not come until December 9th so your Dad could finish his schooling up so he could spend more time with you when you came.
            On Sunday night the 4th of December, Mom started having painful contractions. They were coming every 5-7 minutes but did not seem to get closer. After 5 hours of contractions she decided she had better get checked at the hospital. At 4 AM she went in to the hospital but was still only 1 cm and 0% effaced so the nurses sent her home. They said she was having labor contractions but not progressing enough to stay. So for the next 2 days she continued to have painful contractions day and night and got very little sleep. When she went to her 39 week Dr. appointment, 2 days later, she was 2 cm and 80% effaced so some changes were happening but again, not enough to be in active labor. Then, the next day, on Thursday the 8th, Mom had more contractions and they were getting stronger. This was the very day that Dad was taking his last finals and doing his final presentation at school and the day that Grandma and Grandpa Dayton were on their way to come help. Between your Dad’s last final and presentation we went to the hospital again. We had our friends, Brian and Mackenzie Holik watch your sister Mallory. We were admitted to the hospital around 11:15AM on Thursday December 8th.
            Once admitted we found out that Mom was still only 2 cm and 80% effaced, so, no changes even after many hard labor contractions. It was decided to monitor Mom a few more hours and then let the Dr. decide what would be best to do. So, while Mom was monitored Dad ran back to school to do his 1:00 final presentation at school. Then after he got back the nurses started preparing me for c-section in case we decided to do it that night instead of waiting for our scheduled c-section the next morning since Mom was having so many contractions. Grandma and Grandpa Dayton got to town around 5PM to get Mallory and then when the Dr. came to see Mom around 6:30PM she checked Mom and she was only 3cm and 80% effaced but it seemed like she was starting to have more regular and closer contractions. We decided to wait for 1 hour to see if Mom progressed anymore and then decide if we should try for a vaginal birth or c-section. An hour later there was no change again so we prepared for c-section.
            In a few minutes the anesthesiologist was in to start Mom’s epidural. She was a nice women and stayed with Mom through everything until you arrived. Mom was also given some other medications that made her feel a little crazy. They did call it the “crazy” medicine. She remembers talking and talking and just speaking her mind without holding back. She said she did not like the way the medication was making her act but couldn’t help it. In time it wore off though and that was nice for Mom to get back to feeling like herself.
            Just after receiving the epidural and medications Grandma and Grandpa got to the hospital with Mallory. Soon after that Mom was taken in to the operating room. Mom was very drowsy from the medication but she fought to stay awake and remember your birth. She remembers the Dr. and nurses prepping for surgery and getting her set up on the operating table. Just before surgery started Dad was brought in to stay by Mom. Once the Dr. started the operation Dad was telling Mom “They are cutting you right now”. He was not doing the greatest job at distracting her that is for sure J . After about 5 minutes they were pulling you out and it took just a few seconds before you started to cry. You were so beautiful and weighed in at only 6 pounds 2 ounces and 19.5 inches long. We had thought you would be bigger than that and were a bit surprised you were so small. You were one healthy little girl though. You past every medical examination with flying colors and scored a 9 and 10 on your APGAR scores just after birth. (Can’t get any better than that!)
            Your Dad, Mom and Sister love you so much Kaisley and sure have enjoyed starting to get to know you. We feel so blessed that you are healthy and happy. We can’t wait to make many memories together! Love you

Monday, December 12, 2011

Kaisley Ruth Caldwell

Kaisley Ruth Caldwell was born on 12/8/11. 6 lbs 2 oz, 19.5 inches (birth story soon to come)
She has been such a good and easy baby so far. We feel so blessed that she is healthy.  We love her to death and Mallory has really taken to her. She has surprised us with how when she is doing with our new little addition. She is so protective of her baby sister and has not shown a bit of jealousy (yet). We love you Kaisley!
2 days old
going home
first family picture... Mallory looks pretty excited doesn't she
Kisses for baby sister
Big sister and little sister
Hospital visitors.. ( and week long helpers ). Thanks so much for coming to help us this week Mom and Dad! We love and appreciate you so much!
Mallory and Papa watching Kaisley get cleaned up after birth.
First bath
Mallory loves holding Kaisley and Kaisley is so patient about it.
With Mom. (1 day old)

2 days old
2 days old (not too excited about her first outfit)
with Dad
Mallory went down to the hospital lobby to see Santa. "I want lots of presents, and lots of dresses, and lots of gloves, and lots of sharp shoes"  (sharp shoes is what she calls high heels). silly girl
with Grandma and Papa.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

"Chirstmas time"

Mallory just loves that it is "Christmas time". She always tells me, "Mom, it is Christmas time... I love Christmas time!". It is so adorable and amazing to me a that a child so young can seem to understand soooo much. She really can hold real meaningful conversations with me and seems to understand that she is going to have a baby sister in a few days. I know she will be such a good big sister and example to her. I just hope we can get through the adjustment phase quick and smoothly. We will have our baby in 4 days for sure! We really can't wait! This also means Porter will be on Christmas break for 5 whole weeks in 4 days! We have so much to look forward to this week.... but for now we are just focused on making it through Porter's crazy finals and me surviving my body for a few more days :)
Last night was the Light Parade. It was lots of fun. Here are some pictures.

 She is really into umbrellas for some reason. (and boots)
I caught her having a conversation with the the snowman in our front yard. Poor girl needs a sibling! :)