Cole's Second Birthday Cake
Cole and his cake. I realize I should have taken a picture of him before he ate versus after!
Monday, June 4, 2012
Chloe's Arrival Pictures
5:40 am - Getting ready to leave the house
A little after 9 pm - Chloe finally arrives
Saturday morning Cole finally got to meet his sister
Our first family pictures as a family of four
Close up of Chloe
All of Chloe's information on the card the nurses made for her!
Getting ready to leave the hospital - I had to have her wear the hat that one of my former students made for her!
Welcome Chloe Jeanné Casteel
We officially have a daughter! On Friday, May 18th, 2012 we went to the hospital to be induced. We had to be at the hospital at 6 am. Since we had to be there so early in the morning my mom and dad came on Thursday evening so that they could take Cole to the sitter for us. Prior to my parents arriving Michael and I took Cole to the park. I wanted to take some time to celebrate our last evening as a family of three. Cole had a blast, as did Michael and I.
Friday morning Michael, mom, dad, and I all got up early. Michael and I finished loading the car and headed to the hospital. We had to stop and get doughnuts for me and a coffee for Michael! :) We checked in to the hospital and they got me all hooked up to the monitors and the iv. They checked me and I hadn't had any changes from the week before (1 cm dialated and 50% effaced). The started the pitocin at 7:40 am to help start labor. I had some contractions throughout the morning. I wasn't making major progress, just slow and steady. At one point in the morning we started to smell smoke in my room. I asked everyone else (Michael, my parents, the nurse) if I was the only one smelling the smoke... they informed me they smelled it too. Other rooms in the ob department were smelling it too. So after a little investigation we found out that Napoli's, a restaurant that has been closed for quite a while now, had caught on fire! Since Michael used to be a fireman and he kept running down the hallway to see the fire, I decided to send him and my father to check out the fire. :) It was a good distraction for them!
My doctor came in a little after one o'clock to check me. I asked her if I was going to have to come in another day and try again or if I had made enough progress. She informed me I was 3 cm and 80% effaced and just like Cole my bag was "bulging" and she was going to break my water for me. I was relieved because I really didn't want to come in and have to start the same process all over. By 2:45 I decided that I wanted to get an epidural. Let me tell you, my anesthesiology was AMAZING! I was able to walk to the bathroom with my epidural! After the epidural I slowed down a little bit but they upped the pitocin and I picked back up. A little after 8 they checked me and realized I was 10 cm and 100% effaced! So the nurses set up the bed and got everything ready. Chloe had been helpful and had already started to move down (she was a +1 station - meaning she had moved a little past my pelvic bone). This made the whole pushing process quicker. I ended up pushing for 15 minutes at the most. However, my daughter had her own game plan. She took her time all day long and then when she came, she came with a fury. She beat the doctor. She was actually delivered by the nurses! :) She was absolutely beautiful and perfect. She was born at 9:00 pm and she weighed 7 pounds 14 ounces and was 18 and 1/2 inches long. Her apgar scores were 9 and 10!
We found out early on Saturday morning that Chloe had some jaundice. She had to be under the bili lights and blanket. Basically the whole weekend that we were in the hospital we barely got to see her because they needed her levels to go down. So I would get to feed her and then she would have to go back under the lights. That part of our stay was miserable! We ended up having to bring a portable bili blanket home with us for her to use at home. She had to use the blanket until Thursday. She had to have her blood taken on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday morning! The whole jaundice/bili light thing was awful but thankfully we were allowed to stop using the light! She had her week appointment on the 25th and she weighed 8 pounds 1 ounce!
Chloe has been a wonderful baby. She likes to cuddle (which I LOVE) and she has been sleeping really well. Cole has adjusted pretty well. He is always saying my sissy, I hold sissy, my baby, etc. I'm really happy that he's adjusted as well as he has! I hope he continues to do this well.
This past weekend was pretty crazy. On Friday night we celebrated my niece's birthday party. On Saturday we had Cole's second birthday party and on Sunday we celebrated Chloe's Baptism! We had a Cars themed second birthday party for Cole. I'm pretty sure he loved it! We had a small party this year since last year was so big and we knew it was going to be a busy weekend! Chloe looked beautiful for her Baptism.
The rest of the summer Cole, Chloe, and I will be hanging out at home together (except on Fridays - Cole will be at the sitters). I'm really excited to get to spend the summer with my adorable children! :)
I'll post some pictures of Chloe, Cole's party, and Chloe's Baptism! :)
Friday morning Michael, mom, dad, and I all got up early. Michael and I finished loading the car and headed to the hospital. We had to stop and get doughnuts for me and a coffee for Michael! :) We checked in to the hospital and they got me all hooked up to the monitors and the iv. They checked me and I hadn't had any changes from the week before (1 cm dialated and 50% effaced). The started the pitocin at 7:40 am to help start labor. I had some contractions throughout the morning. I wasn't making major progress, just slow and steady. At one point in the morning we started to smell smoke in my room. I asked everyone else (Michael, my parents, the nurse) if I was the only one smelling the smoke... they informed me they smelled it too. Other rooms in the ob department were smelling it too. So after a little investigation we found out that Napoli's, a restaurant that has been closed for quite a while now, had caught on fire! Since Michael used to be a fireman and he kept running down the hallway to see the fire, I decided to send him and my father to check out the fire. :) It was a good distraction for them!
My doctor came in a little after one o'clock to check me. I asked her if I was going to have to come in another day and try again or if I had made enough progress. She informed me I was 3 cm and 80% effaced and just like Cole my bag was "bulging" and she was going to break my water for me. I was relieved because I really didn't want to come in and have to start the same process all over. By 2:45 I decided that I wanted to get an epidural. Let me tell you, my anesthesiology was AMAZING! I was able to walk to the bathroom with my epidural! After the epidural I slowed down a little bit but they upped the pitocin and I picked back up. A little after 8 they checked me and realized I was 10 cm and 100% effaced! So the nurses set up the bed and got everything ready. Chloe had been helpful and had already started to move down (she was a +1 station - meaning she had moved a little past my pelvic bone). This made the whole pushing process quicker. I ended up pushing for 15 minutes at the most. However, my daughter had her own game plan. She took her time all day long and then when she came, she came with a fury. She beat the doctor. She was actually delivered by the nurses! :) She was absolutely beautiful and perfect. She was born at 9:00 pm and she weighed 7 pounds 14 ounces and was 18 and 1/2 inches long. Her apgar scores were 9 and 10!
We found out early on Saturday morning that Chloe had some jaundice. She had to be under the bili lights and blanket. Basically the whole weekend that we were in the hospital we barely got to see her because they needed her levels to go down. So I would get to feed her and then she would have to go back under the lights. That part of our stay was miserable! We ended up having to bring a portable bili blanket home with us for her to use at home. She had to use the blanket until Thursday. She had to have her blood taken on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday morning! The whole jaundice/bili light thing was awful but thankfully we were allowed to stop using the light! She had her week appointment on the 25th and she weighed 8 pounds 1 ounce!
Chloe has been a wonderful baby. She likes to cuddle (which I LOVE) and she has been sleeping really well. Cole has adjusted pretty well. He is always saying my sissy, I hold sissy, my baby, etc. I'm really happy that he's adjusted as well as he has! I hope he continues to do this well.
This past weekend was pretty crazy. On Friday night we celebrated my niece's birthday party. On Saturday we had Cole's second birthday party and on Sunday we celebrated Chloe's Baptism! We had a Cars themed second birthday party for Cole. I'm pretty sure he loved it! We had a small party this year since last year was so big and we knew it was going to be a busy weekend! Chloe looked beautiful for her Baptism.
The rest of the summer Cole, Chloe, and I will be hanging out at home together (except on Fridays - Cole will be at the sitters). I'm really excited to get to spend the summer with my adorable children! :)
I'll post some pictures of Chloe, Cole's party, and Chloe's Baptism! :)
Monday, May 14, 2012
The End is in Sight!
Hallelujah! The end of my pregnancy is in sight. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy some of pregnancy, but I'm ready to meet this little girl. My curiosity is killing. I want to know what she looks like, does she like to be swaddled, is she going to like to snuggle, how is Cole going to adapt to having to share mom/dad/grandparents/etc. I know that the end is in sight because this Friday my doctor is going to induce me at 6 am. So hopefully sometime on the 18th we'll get to meet Chloe!
It's hard to believe that in five days we'll be in the hospital ready for labor - yes, I'm aware it could be sooner but I've decided that Chloe is extremely stubborn and doesn't feel like vacating my womb anytime soon! We got her bag packed for the hospital and loaded into the van. We also got her car seat installed yesterday. The only things we have left to do is to get my bags packed, which I really can't do until the day of because I am using the majority of my stuff daily!
Let's pray that this week goes by quickly and that I get everything done both at home and school before Friday. :)
It's hard to believe that in five days we'll be in the hospital ready for labor - yes, I'm aware it could be sooner but I've decided that Chloe is extremely stubborn and doesn't feel like vacating my womb anytime soon! We got her bag packed for the hospital and loaded into the van. We also got her car seat installed yesterday. The only things we have left to do is to get my bags packed, which I really can't do until the day of because I am using the majority of my stuff daily!
Let's pray that this week goes by quickly and that I get everything done both at home and school before Friday. :)
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Keep Plugging Along!
Well, I'm 38 weeks and 3 days pregnant right now! It's hard to believe the last time I was pregnant I went into labor at 38 weeks and 4 days! Kind of crazy!
I've been super busy these last two weeks. I'm really excited though because I made it through my presentation for Teacher Academy, the Second Grade Retreat, and our Spring Program (tonight). Now the next big thing I have to get through (without having the baby) is tomorrow's end of the year field trip. :) Hopefully I won't go into labor while we're in St. Joe! I do go in to the doctor tomorrow. I'm hoping to hear some positive news (i.e. - I'm dialated more than 1 cm and effaced more than 50%). I'm going to keep my fingers crossed.
I'm really hoping to have this baby on Sunday. See I was born on Mother's Day and I'm hoping that my daughter might want to follow in my footsteps! We'll see. I'm beginning to lose hope that she wants to come out at all!
We'll I'm headed to bed. I'll update with info from tomorrow's appointment!
I've been super busy these last two weeks. I'm really excited though because I made it through my presentation for Teacher Academy, the Second Grade Retreat, and our Spring Program (tonight). Now the next big thing I have to get through (without having the baby) is tomorrow's end of the year field trip. :) Hopefully I won't go into labor while we're in St. Joe! I do go in to the doctor tomorrow. I'm hoping to hear some positive news (i.e. - I'm dialated more than 1 cm and effaced more than 50%). I'm going to keep my fingers crossed.
I'm really hoping to have this baby on Sunday. See I was born on Mother's Day and I'm hoping that my daughter might want to follow in my footsteps! We'll see. I'm beginning to lose hope that she wants to come out at all!
We'll I'm headed to bed. I'll update with info from tomorrow's appointment!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Almost 37 Weeks
Tomorrow I will be 37 weeks pregnant! It's hard to believe that in three weeks or less I'll have a little baby girl! We've been in the world of boys for so long that having a girl is going to be extremely different!
I have to admit that I'm getting very anxious to meet her and see what she looks like. My impatience is getting really bad because this weekend I got to hold and love on my adorable little niece. It makes me want to have my little girl here so that I can hold her and cuddle with her.
I think we're progressively getting busier! This weekend we ran to St. Joe on Friday night to drop Cole off at my parents house. Then we picked up our new flooring for our kitchen and dining room. On Saturday I had First Communion practice and then worked at school all day. Michael worked on the flooring in the dining room and kitchen flooring all day. Today we have First Communion with three parties we've been invited to attend after Mass. Then we're headed back to St. Joe to pick up Cole and go buy meat for various events. This coming week is going to be almost as busy... Teacher Academy, second grade retreat, faculty meeting, doctor's appointment, and making a bbq dinner next weekend. I'm curious to see how next week's doctor's appointment goes. With Cole I was 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced at 37 weeks, let's hope we'll be similar with Chloe!
I have to admit that I'm getting very anxious to meet her and see what she looks like. My impatience is getting really bad because this weekend I got to hold and love on my adorable little niece. It makes me want to have my little girl here so that I can hold her and cuddle with her.
I think we're progressively getting busier! This weekend we ran to St. Joe on Friday night to drop Cole off at my parents house. Then we picked up our new flooring for our kitchen and dining room. On Saturday I had First Communion practice and then worked at school all day. Michael worked on the flooring in the dining room and kitchen flooring all day. Today we have First Communion with three parties we've been invited to attend after Mass. Then we're headed back to St. Joe to pick up Cole and go buy meat for various events. This coming week is going to be almost as busy... Teacher Academy, second grade retreat, faculty meeting, doctor's appointment, and making a bbq dinner next weekend. I'm curious to see how next week's doctor's appointment goes. With Cole I was 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced at 37 weeks, let's hope we'll be similar with Chloe!
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Lots of craziness this past week
Last Friday Michael, Cole, and I all went to West Des Moines. We went to a consignment sale there to purchase clothes for Cole and Chloe. It was a rather successful shopping trip. :) We of course, went to visit Michael's sister and her family. They were moving into their new home last weekend. Michael helped paint on Friday and move stuff on Saturday. I helped take wallpaper down on Friday (since I can't paint or move anything). There new house is beautiful! I'm really happy for them. Of course we were all exhausted after such a full and busy weekend. However, that exhaustion didn't go away because Cole woke up in the middle of the night on Sunday and Monday night. I was also exhausted because I received a text on Tuesday afternoon that my sister's water had broken. Of course this was a major shock because she wasn't due until May 11th! So my niece decided to come 3 and 1/2 weeks early. We stayed up late (midnight) waiting to hear of her arrival. My mom finally called and told us that Cadence was born at 11:21 p.m. Michael and I decided to head to KC to meet Cadence the next day right after school. My friend Amy watched Cole for us since he had a cold and we didn't want him to give it to the baby! Amy called me when we're about 5 minutes away from the hospital to tell us that Cole had a 101.5 fever! She took him to the walk-in clinic for us and found out that he had a double ear infection (second one in three weeks!). So we weren't at the hospital very long. We wanted to head home to check on him! Michael ended up staying home with him on Thursday. (He is finally feeling better). This weekend has been pretty busy too. On Friday Michael and several other people helped to roof my in-laws' house. Then last night we went to a bowling fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters! We didn't get home until 11:30. So today we've been cat napping and catching up on various things (grading, cleaning up the yard, etc.)
It's hard to believe that I'll be 36 weeks on Monday. It's kind of crazy! That means at the most we'll be pregnant is five weeks. However, I'm guessing it's more like two to three weeks! Hard to believe we're going to go from a family of three to a family of four so soon. I go in this week for a check up so we'll see what the doc says!
It's hard to believe that I'll be 36 weeks on Monday. It's kind of crazy! That means at the most we'll be pregnant is five weeks. However, I'm guessing it's more like two to three weeks! Hard to believe we're going to go from a family of three to a family of four so soon. I go in this week for a check up so we'll see what the doc says!
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