Easter - Ode to the Nave/Kittle Family

We went to Easter Saturday church this year which was really nice!  Our church started a Saturday service in March and we have gone a few times and really like going on Saturday's!  On Sunday morning we slept in (as much as I am sleeping in these days....) and had a calm morning with a yummy breakfast.  We were invited to go to Holly's moms for Easter lunch.  The first time we ate Easter with them was 4 years ago (pretty sure) and it's kind of been a tradition since.  Dianne (Holly's mom) is a wonderful cook and she takes amazing care of Gray and I!  She's our Ringgold, GA mom and Dukers Ringgold, GA grandmommy. At her house and with Eric and Holly we just feel like family, I love it!  I have learned at her house nothing is off limits at the dinner table which has turned out to be pretty funny!  Dianne just makes Gray and I laugh so hard, she's hilarious!

It's so nice to have family to call on when you don't have real family around.  Dianne, Eric and Holly have been that for Gray and I in Ringgold!  I would like to think that we help them too, but I think it's more of a take than a give on our end of this relationship!  We check in with each other and that's totally my kind of personality!  I love to have someone to check in with and to be checked on!  I appreciate them so much and am proud to call them my Ringgold family! 

Just to make everyone jealous here's what Dianne does for us....walks Ross during the week while we are at work, buys him treats so she can give him one everyday, makes us dinner at her house and ocassionally drops of a meal in our fridge, (note: we aren't talking about a normal dinner here people, we are talking food for days!), in the summers provides a pool for us to lounge by, takes us out for birthday dinners!  I know there's more but that is all in the fore front of my mind right now! I was telling a friend about Dianne not very long ago and she said, "she does all that for you?!"  With a huge smile I replied, "yes!"  :)

While our house has been for sale Eric and Holly and Dianne have been great helping us with Ross and there have been a few times that Eric and Holly have come home and Ross has just been at their house! It's nice to have neighbors that you have a key to their house (and they have a key to ours) and we know if we ever need anything we can just go and get it....regardless if the other is home or if you are able to get a hold of them! 

I hope I have shown my love for them!  I do love them, our Ringgold, GA family!!!!

I have a few pics I will post when I'm able to get on my computer!

37 weeks, part II

So, I totally forgot to mention in my previous post about being 37 weeks and why it was a big week!  It was a big week pregnancy related because I'm 37 weeks along but there was a lot more going on in the Ange house as well!

After several long days of going back and forth with another couple, we have a contract on our house!  We spent most of the time going back and forth about closing date (should've spent more time on the $$$ side too...these people are getting a STEAL)!  Our (first) final agreement was to close on May 31st.  This was absolutely horrible for Gray and I, I would have a 3 1/2 week old baby and this seemed truly unfathomable.  At the same time, we had a contract on our house we have spent almost 6 months on the market we had to take what we could get.  I dreaded telling anyone that I know well what our closing date was because anyone with sense that cares about me and my sanity knows that May 31st is horrible timing!  I did have some people (Debs) give me stern and fair warnings about my body and what I couldn't do to help during this time.  I totally agreed and basically Gray and I agreed he would have to do everything and I would just have to relinquish control....yeah....that's the worst part for me.  I even decided that I would probably need to just leave our house with Nolan and spend the day somewhere else on moving day so I wouldn't be "tempted" to give my opinion (aka - take control)!!  Don't misunderstand me, Gray is MORE than capable of pulling this operation off...I just seem to have some control issues.  Side note:  this statement is not to be used against me at a later time, I'm admitting it...get off my back!!  :)

Well, in true God form, He stepped in and saved the day!  The day after we signed the paperwork to close on May 31st (and a somewhat sleepless night) I was at work and got a text from our realtor.  She said we weren't going to believe it but the people checked with their landlord and their lease wasn't up until June 22nd and they would pay a penalty if they left early so closing had to be moved to June 22nd!!!!!  How AMAZING is that?!!  Gray and I had truly been praying during the week and really struggled with our initial closing date and God worked it out COMPLETELY!  What's ironic is at one point in negotiations, the buyer had offered to close on May 27th but let us rent until June 15th.  The next day they came back and said they checked with their landlord and he said they couldn't rent until the middle of the month that's when we settled on the May 31st closing date.  The people (I assume) lied about talking to their landlord because if they had, they would've found out about their lease agreement and known before we did all the paperwork the first time that they couldn't close on May 31st.  Although that is a little frustrating, Gray and I are just so thrilled that the date worked out and it was even beyond what we originally had thought or planned with these people!  God totally stepped in and took care of the situation!  We are so thankful!  During this week, we were doing devotions and one of them was about peace and just praying for God's peace.  We prayed for peace and came to terms with a ridiculous closing date...but God took care of us!  This showed me more than ever that God is into the details of our lives, I'm excited!!

Obviously, there are still a lot of things to be worked out with this contract but I feel like God is completely in control!  There is so much going on and so much I could stress over but for now I'm going to relax and know that God is in control, not me!

37 Weeks, Big Week!

37 weeks has been a big week in the Ange house!  Nolan is weighing in a 6 pounds, 7 ounces and looking good!  The ladies doing the ultrasound seem to think he's going to have chubby cheeks and a head of hair!  Gray and I find the hair thing a little ironic (G may be a little jealous - kidding Gray!) and we also think he has a baby mullet!  :)  It's so weird that they ultrasound techs (I call them techs, have no clue what their official title is) can look at the baby and say, "oh look at that hair!"  To me, it looks like a lighter gray around dark gray.  I have learned to pick up on certain things on the ultrasounds but I have to give the ladies credit that have done mine, they have been wonderful!! 

Also on the ultrasound this week we got to see Nolan doing his breathing exercises which they told us was something they look for and expect to see at this point!  It's so amazing to see his little body working already!  The only funny/sad thing was the little guy was sleeping and didn't want to be disturbed so she had to use the sound/vibration technique to get him up and moving! I feel bad but know it doesn't hurt him!  I am glad that Gray got to see it so now he knows what I'm talking about! 

Nolan is still breech and I am content with that!  I have my mind ready for a c-section and would almost be taken back if that wasn't how he was delivered!  I am starting to feel the aches of pregnancy.  It's not awful by any means but just the little things and my legs still feeling like I've run a marathon by the end!  My check in with Dr. Newman was pretty brief this week, but my love for her continues to grow! :)

Birthing Class

Gray and I attended a Child Birth class this past Tuesday and Thursday nights.  We have been so busy this spring and I knew it was something I wanted to do but also knew it wasn't a necessity but something I really wanted to have the experience of.  Gray was more than willing to go and once the day came I was really excited.  The class was taught at my ob/gyn's office by a labor and delivery nurse at Women's East which is where I plan to have Nolan.  The nurse was very thorough and Gray and I really enjoyed it and learned a lot!  We took a tour of Women's East which was great, I had been there before to visit friends but got the in's and out's of the hospital by the nurse.  What I appreciated most about her throughout the class and during the tour was her candidness about the hospital and what we can do to make our stay there more enjoyable.   For example, she told us which ice machine to use for the better ice!  It's the simple things people!  She was very honest about their procedures and definitely informed us as our rights as patients.  She said that if you have a baby in the middle of the night, the night nurses are more likely to try and take your baby to the nursery for a bath....she said we can request (demand) that the baby be cleaned in our room and they will do it.  But, you have to ask.  There are just so many things I wouldn't have known we had a say in had we not attended this class! 

After Tuesday, I was a little disappointed that she didn't cover c-sections much but she covered the procedure thoroughly on Thursday.  Gray and I were really glad she did and we both feel better about the whole thing!  Gray is still saying that no one can convince him that c-section isn't the way to go!  I have mixed feelings but do feel like with a c-section (going in with it planned) you know what to expect.  Whereas with a vaginal delivery you could end up with an emergency c-section after hours of laboring.  One thing we asked the nurse was about Gray cutting the umbilical cord and if he would be able to with a c-section.  She looked at us kind of funny and Gray said, "well, we've heard no that it's not possible."  (side note:  she knows who my dr. is because we had to tell her when the class began)  She said, "well, it's not hospital procedure but Dr. Newman is our only dr. who will allow dad's that privilege during a c-section.  It drives us all crazy because it isn't supposed to happen but she allows it and we have to go with it!"  I know she isn't happy about this, but Gray and I are thrilled!! Thank you for being a rule breaker Dr. Newman!  Hopefully that will still be the case when we have Nolan!

All in all, it was a great experience.  We had some good laughs, the videos were really dated....but we just had fun and it made the excitement of having Nolan that much more real! 

Spring Break!

Gray and I had such a great spring break!  This is the first time I have stayed home during spring break and it was wonderful!  We hung out at home and got quite a bit of stuff done around the house and errands run that we needed to take care of.  We drove to Dawsonville to the outlets one day.  I was so excited because they have such great stores!  Between Gray and I, all we bought were several gifts and clothes for Nolan!  Welcome to the rest of your life Gray and Sara.  :)  It was funny though because we were just as thrilled looking and buying for Nolan as we were for ourselves!  We really haven't shopped and actually bought for Nolan until now so it was so fun!  We got some cute little summer outfits for him and a few to have in a few months!

The highlight of my week was cashing in on a Christmas present that Gray had gotten for me, a spa day!!  At Christmas he gave me a gift certificate to Hair Benders where I get my hair cut.  The gift certificate included:  massage, facial, manicure, pedicure, hair cut and color.  It was AMAZING!  If you redeem everything on the same day they will get lunch for you and you have lunch between the pampering sessions!  I think the massage was my favorite, my legs feel like I've been running a marathon.  If carrying a child and walking constitutes as a marathon then I just finished the race and won first place!!!  My "hinges" (for you Jake, really my hip flexors) have been killing me lately.  The rest of the day was equally as wonderful and peaceful!  I was kind of worried I may get antsy and feel like I needed to get out and do something.  Throughout the day I just reminded myself that wasn't my time to think about what I needed to get done at home it was a day to relax and that was what I was going to do!  I absolutely LOVED every minute of it, well done G-luv!

Gray's week consisted of getting buff for Nolan's arrival and beating old men at racquetball!  I think he really enjoyed his hours time he got to spend at the gym!  I am just so thankful he's feeling good that he can do all of that, we are both thankful and praying he continues to feel good for Nolan's arrival and the first few weeks of our time with Nolan!  If you think about it and want to pray for us, that's definitely an area we could use some prayer in!

We are back to the grind on Monday.  I only have 3 weeks of work then my maternity leave starts!  I have a lot to do in these 3 weeks, but I am so excited I know it will fly by!

Manic Monday...

I am now going to Dr. Newman's office on Monday's and Thursday's until Nolan is born!  That was the recommendation from the high-risk dr. so that is what I am doing.  On Monday's I have an NST (non-stress test on Nolan) where I just lay in a recliner with a remote in hand (awesome) and they hook me up to machines and monitor Nolan's heart rate and movement for about 30 minutes.  This week was my 3rd time to do it so I know what to expect and hasn't been a big deal.  Every Thursday I have an ultrasound and see Dr. Newman just for a check-in really.

This was the first day of my spring break so I literally rolled out of bed, got a quick shower and headed to the office at 8 am.  I did eat in the car on the way but I hadn't paid much attention to Nolan's movements because I was in a hurry.  The nurse called me back, got my lazy-boy reclined and said she was having a hard time picking up his heartbeat.  After about 5 minutes she said she needed to go check in with the ultrasound tech and work me in with her so we could see the baby and make sure everything was alright.  (note:  panic mode starts here)

I told the nurse I was starting to freak out and she says, "don't worry yet, we'll tell you when it's time to worry."  Well, that didn't ease my mind too much.  I get set up in the ultrasound room and tech comes in and says, "so, you haven't been feeling your baby move this morning?"  I explained to her I rushed to the office and hadn't been paying attention.  Then she asked why I was having an NST done and I told her it was because of Nolan's 2 vessel-cord.  She started the ultrasound and started doing measurements on Nolan.  I waited about a minute and said, "Shelly, is my baby alive?"  Shelly says, "yes, here's his heartbeat right here" and she let me listen to it.  COME ON Shelly!!  Throw me a bone, that could've been discussed when she first started looking at him!  For the record, Shelly is my favorite there but I do think it could've been handled slightly better.  (The person's name is changed to protect the lady...I refuse to talk trash about an actual person...so I used a fake name = classy!)

Turns out, Nolan looked fine and was weighing in at 5 pounds, 5 ounces!  Next, Shelly sat me in a waiting area and I kept waiting.  About 20 minutes later another nurse walked by and I asked her if everything was ok, why was I waiting?  She said that Dr. Newman wanted to see me just to check in with me and let me know things were alright.  Granted, the nurse gave me no huge reason to panic....but I of course did!! Monday's are not my days to see Dr. Newman so I didn't understand why she would want to see me. unless she found something wrong.  I called Gray and he was on his way home from the gym.  I expressed my fears to Gray that things just didn't seem right so after a minute debate he decided to drive up to meet me (with gas prices at $3.50 a gallon, why wouldn't he?!) 

I got into a room and called Gray again to find out where he was and telling him I was starting to think a little more rationally and surely she wouldn't have me sit and wait if there was something really wrong.  Gray said he wasn't far away.  Dr. Newman came in and I immediately explained I may have had a small freak out and Gray was on his way so she would know he would be walking in soon.  Dr. Newman felt horrible and she assured me that Nolan was great, he was still breach which made it very difficult for the nurse to pick up his heartbeat on the NST.  She said if there was really something wrong she would've been there immediately and to not doubt that!  We discussed him being breach and she said she would like to go ahead and schedule a c-section so that I would be on her schedule and if he flips we won't worry about it but at least it would be in the works.  So, I officially have a c-section scheduled for Wednesday, May 4th!  Still not positive on how I feel about this but most importantly I want Nolan to be safe and healthy.  We talked about his 2 vessel-cord and how this may be his best position to get what he needs right now.  Unless Nolan makes a move...May 4th is his Birthday!!

Baby Shower - Part III

My 3rd baby shower was hosted by some wonderful ladies of a bible study I go to once a month, Behind the Bench.  The bible study is led by Dinna Spradlin, Dinna and her husband Greg are our region FCA leaders and since Gray and I lead FCA at the high school we have had the privilege of getting to know and love Greg and Dinna!  Behind the Bench is a bible study for coach's wives and it's fun to get together with women from around the area and encourage, laugh and pray together!  The shower was a diaper shower and once again, Gray and I were totally blown away and blessed by how much people are exciting for the arrival of our little Nolan!  I didn't get any pictures (total fail...) but trust me when I say we had a wonderful time, laughed and cried, it was just a sweet time! 
I have to give a small plug for Dinna, I just love her!  She is so great and spent countless hours with me after my dad passed away and just listened while I cried and tried to talk through my tears!  She was truly such an encouragement to me and has been over the past 3 years! I am so thankful for her and Greg and their ministry not only to students but their commitment to watching marriages and coach's grow in the Lord!  Thank you Dinna, I'm so thankful God placed you in my life!!  Love you!

Baby Shower - Part II

My awesome friends Emily, Melissa and Leah banned together to give Nolan and I such a sweet shower!  They out-did themselves with decor and food!  Emily had asked me about foods I would like and my only request was that we have regular size cups (I'm thirsty, people) and the more food the merrier...of course!  I was so blessed by all the people who came and are excited about Nolan's arrival.  On the way to the shower I was feeling so excited to see all the people that mean so much to Gray and I and have prayed diligently for us to have Nolan!  The morning started out hectic because someone wanted to see our house that day and there was just a lot to get done before the shower started.  As shower guests arrived I was so excited and there were so many people there (several traveled a long way to come) and I know I just didn't "work the room" well because there were quite a few people there!  After we all went through the food table people went around and said how they knew me.  I just began to cry!  I was surrounded by so many wonderful women who have walked the journey with me, this shower was more than about welcoming Nolan....it was about God answering our prayers to be parents!  Thank you to everyone who made this day SO SPECIAL for me! 

My other wonderful friend, Holly, offered to be the official photographer for the day!  I love how she captured so many of the details around Emily's house!

Me with the hostess' - Emily, Melissa and Leah

Diaper Wreath (I am going to bring this to the hospital to put on our room door!!) Such cute details - spoons, burp cloths, toys!

Chocolate Fountain = Awesome

They had a book for everyone to sign to Nolan, the book is On the Night You Were Born.  I can't wait to read it to Nolan when he comes!

The spread

How wonderful are people?! 

Kate, Mary, Margaret, Marcus (sleeping), Allison and I.  My FL cousins!!

My mom bought the whale pillow sham and sheet for Nolan's room!  Thanks, mom!

My Mother-In-Law and I

Dianne (Ringgold, GA mom and Ross Duke's GA Grandmommy), Holly, Debs

Me with the 2 soon-to-be Grandmas!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can't say thank you enough to all the people who came to help us celebrate and welcome Nolan!  I love you ladies!! There are several other blogs dedicated to Nolan's shower too:  Tracy's, Emily's, and Holly's thanks for the blog-love!