May 4, 2011, part I

"We prayed for this child and the Lord has granted us what we asked of Him."  I Samuel 1:27

 On May 4, 2011 my life forever changed.  It is one of the sweetest days I will ever have and one of the most proud days of Gray and I's marriage.  The birth of our first son, I still can't believe I'm actually saying that!!

The day started out very early, we had to be at the hospital at 7:00 am.  After very little sleep I woke up with my swollen eyes and stuffy nose and began to get ready for the biggest day of my life!  I eagerly hopped out of bed when the alarm went off and began getting ready.  I gave myself plenty of time but couldn't seem to finish a task, I was so excited/anxious/nervous all at the same time!  I curled my hair (I had to look my best to meet Nolan) and Gray and I did the finally packing call...you would've thought we were moving into the joint!

I walked into Women's East holding my diaper wreath and a baby bag, all the nurses commented on how sweet the wreath was!  Thank you Emily, she made it for my shower and I kept it with anticipation of it going on the hospital room door.  We had to spend the morning in a triage room because all the rooms were taken but my nurse assured me when I got out of surgery I would go straight to a room.  The triage room was a little cramped but Gray and I didn't know any different so it worked out fine!  My nurse was great, we went through a series of questions, I met with the anesthiesologist and several others throughout the morning.  Dr. Newman called my nurse about 9:00 am and asked if I was ready and my nurse said I still needed more fluids so Dr. Newman said she was going to take another patient and my c-section would run a little behind schedule.  The anticipation from 9:00 on was crazy...I knew the call would come for me to get to go back I just didn't know when Gray and I were so excited!

About 10:35 they finally came and got me and said we were ready!  Gray came with me to the O.R. but had to stay outside while they did my spinal.  That felt like an eternity to me and Gray.  In the O.R. there were so many people and so much going on.  I really like all the nurses and the anesthiologist.  My only request to the anesthiologist was that he not land me in the wheel chair olympics!! He said it hasn't happened yet and he wasn't planning on me being the first!  The spinal really wasn't that bad, it felt really funny but went well.  The stinky part was they tilted the table with my head downward then side to side to make sure the spinal got evenly distributed.  I told them that if I was someone who enjoyed drugs and out of body experiences this was way to go. However, I did not enjoy it!  They did quite a few tests for my feeling and we waited on Dr. Newman. There was so much going on around me but I was in quite a haze I couldn't tell you much about it.  They finally let Gray in and Dr. Newman came in shortly after.  While scrubbing down Dr. Newman came over and prayed with us.  She told us that she had told her husband before leaving this morning she was excited about today because she was getting to deliver our baby and how we had a story similar to theirs (2 miscarriages).  I hate it that we have both experienced that but it gives her such empathy which I appreciate more than anything!

Once she got in and started it seemed like minutes until Nolan was born!  I felt a lot of strong tugging on my stomach, they told Gray to stand up because he was coming!!  I couldn't even believe it...my little boy was about to be seen!!  As soon as they pulled him out I heard him cry!!  Dr. Newman asked them to quickly lower the sheet so I could see him....he looked PERFECT!  I could not believe he was mine and I would be his mom!!  At 11:08 Nolan Edward Ange was born!!  They called Gray over to cut the cord, although I couldn't see it I think he did it with ease!

 They had to take him and get him cleaned up and weigh him before I could really see him up close.  I just kept looking over where he was and telling Gray take pictures, I hated that I couldn't really see everything that was going on, Gray did a great job of taking lots of pics!  The nurses were also really great to take pictures for us as well!

Technically, our first family photo!!

Last Day...

Our last day as a family of 2 (3 if you count Ross!) was not anything like we planned but still a good day!  Gray had been planning on just working a 1/2 day and had a sub lined up.  When the tornadoes hit and we were out of school Thursday, Friday and Monday he definitely reconsidered and thought about just working the full day on Tuesday (5/3).  We are both so glad that he just kept his sub and worked 1/2 day!  I have gotten sick over the past 2 days and when I saw Dr. Newman yesterday she gave me a shot and a 1 day z-pac (called z-max) and she also gave me a prescription to give to Gray so he won't get sick either.  I was really thankful when she offered to treat us both.  The bad news, the treatment kind of back-fired on Gray!  After we researched today, the medicine is very hard on your gastro-intestinal system...which would explain why he was up until 3 am last night before with awful stomach pains!  I didn't have stomach pains but just couldn't sleep and part of it probably had to do with the fact I am sick and I couldn't breathe out of my nose and my throat was so dry and hurt, I just hurt!

I had saved several errands to run today thinking today would be my last day of freedom and I could get stuff done!  Well, a night before of no sleep and feeling pretty bad didn't work in my favor.  The only thing I did end up doing was going and getting a manicure/pedicure which I do rate that in the necessity category! :)  When Gray got home from school we ate some lunch and tried to take a nap.  I was so worn out but couldn't sleep...I did rest for a little while though which my body definitely needed!  Gray was able to sleep for a short period of time then he went to Wal-Mart for me with a small list of a few things  I needed. 

Other things just didn't get done but it's definitely not the end of the world.  I am leaving my house not quite as clean as I would like it, but Nolan isn't going to know if our master bathroom was scrubbed, is he?!  Like I said, not my ideal day but I should know better (from past experiences) than to assume that everything will go exactly how I have it in my head!  :)

I say all that to say, Gray and I couldn't be more excited to welcome Nolan Edward into our family tomorrow!!  We just can't believe it's here!  We kept saying all day today, "this time tomorrow we'll have Nolan!"  We think Ross has a clue because he's been extra sweet and clingy to us the last few days!  He knows he's not going to be #1 around here....poor guy!!  Gray and I feel so blessed and honored to become parents in less than 24 hours!!  It just feels very surreal!  I'm really hoping to feel better tomorrow but I'm also hoping Dr. Newman will pump me with some new drugs along with all the other standard c-section meds I will be getting!  I REALLY want to feel great and enjoy my first day as a mom!!  Gray is really wanting the same for himself, he has taken it very light on the food today and he's hoping his stomach will cooperate tomorrow!

If you think about us, pray for us!  This is such an exciting time for Gray and I, we don't want other things to overshadow the biggest day for us and our marriage as we welcome Nolan!! We couldn't be more excited/anxious/nervous at the same time!  We are going into uncharted territory for both of us! 
Love you all!!

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!