We took a trip...

...to Iowa! We thought that since Hayden had her 2 month well-check and shots, it would be ok for her to fly! My Grandpa Vogel (Hayden's Great-Grandpa) is very lonely since my Grandma passed away on Nov. 20, and we though it would bring his spirits up a bit if he could meet and spend some time with Hayden! I have to tell you, it was the BEST idea! She is still young enough that she really slept through most of the flights...she didn't cry...she LOVED being carried around in the Baby Bjorn in the airport...she was SO interested in all of the sights and sounds...and got MANY compliments on how well she did! Hayden and her Great-Grandpa had some wonderful bonding time...he wanted to hold her the second we walked in the door. He would talk to her, play with her, and rock her to sleep. We even caught him lying on the floor with Hayden one night while we were cooking dinner...she was playing with his hair and holding on to one of his fingers! Keep in mind...he is 87 years old and can barely walk! It was quite interesting getting him off of the floor...

Anyway, we are very happy to have taken the trip. I could NEVER have done it without my mom and Josh with me. How do you breastfeed a baby in an airplane with people sitting RIGHT NEXT TO YOU!???!! Not quite sure how that is supposed to work...so luckily we survived!

Here are some pictures from our trip:

The cemetary where Grandma rests peacefully...her grave is on the far left/middle. She gets to see the sunrise every morning and has an AMAZING Iowa farm country view!

My new goal is to ACTUALLY BLOG!

Merry Christmas!

In a dress of MINE from when I was 6 months old!

Have a Beary Merry Christmas! (SUPER cheesy...but cute!)

Look at my dimple! (Yes...only ONE!)

My little chunk...at 11 weeks old!

My baby girl's beautiful blues!

Daddy playing...well...Daddy!

Hayden Jo taking one of her morning naps in her carseat after a trip to Starbucks!

If you ignore the red eyes...check out the red hair! (I think it's the lighting)

Chillin' with Grandma...

I have this all set up...and yet I NEVER use it! I should have been doing this for the past few months while I have been at home with Hayden, and not starting it up when I am going back to work in just over a week. Oh well, I guess it will be something I will have to do at night or on the weekends!

So, as for the Hayden updates...

She will be 11 weeks old tomorrow! I can't believe my little baby girl is seriously almost 3 months old! She is smiling all the time...cooing and "talking" whenever we talk to her...loves staring at herself in the mirror...plays on her playmat a TON...rolled over from her tummy to her back on Monday 1/25 (but hasn't done it since)...is in love with her "paci"...sleeps in her crib in her own room as of Friday 1/22...is growing out of all of her clothes...weighs about 14 lbs. and is about 25 in. long (according to measurements done by Mommy and Daddy)...is TEETHING (yes...at 11 weeks...I got my first teeth when I was 10 weeks old)...slept through Christmas morning...typically sleeps from 10-3, eats, then back to sleep til about 7 (though we have had a few nights where she slept for 6 or 7 hours straight!)...loves shoving her fists into her mouth...takes a bottle wonderfully (thank God since I have to go back to work in a week)...and is the most lovable and adorable little thing on the face of the Earth! Josh and I are so blessed to have such a wonderful and healthy baby girl...we simply have NO complaints!

Hayden is 3 weeks old!

My sleeping baby girl

Smiling in her sleep. I love it!

She loves her fuzzy blanket!

This baby loves sleeping on her belly!


So yesterday, we had a 3 week check-up at the dcotor for Hayden. She has had to go more frequently than normal, since she has had some weight issues. We were very excited to find out that she is now 8 lbs. 13 oz., 22 in. long, and doing VERY well! The nurse made a comment that I must be making CREAM instead of milk! Haha! We really love our pediatrician...he really seems to love what he does...and even stopped in the middle of examining Hayden and just said "You are just too cute!" That made me happy since I know that it can be hard to find a good pediatrician. We now don't have to go back to the doctor until she is 2 months old! Yay! I am really surprised at how quickly she is growing up. I mean, she's only 3 weeks old, but it seems like just yesterday we brought her home from the hospital. I'm hoping it all slows down a bit so I can REALLY enjoy each second.

Baby Hayden is here!!

It's official! We're parents! Not that you care, but here's the story......

On November 13, I went to Fetal Diagnostics for an NST (Non Stress Test) at Hoag. My blood pressure was pretty high and a few other tests were elevated as well, so my Dr. decided it was time to induce me!! I was admitted to a LDR room...with the most INCREDIBLE view I might add! The started pushing the pitocin at about 12:30 pm...I continued to labor throughout a LONG LONG night. At about 1 am I couldn't handle the pain anymore and asked for an epidural...but naturally the Anesthesiologist was in an Emergency surgery and couldn't get to me for 2 hours. Let me repeat....2 HOURS!!!!!!! Finally, they checked me at 3 am...I was 5 cm and 90% effaced. I got my epidural and managed to get an hour or 2 sleep. At 6 am they woke me up to check me. I was 10 cm, 100% effaced, and -2 station. In other words....it was time to push! So, at 6:40 am I started pushing. The nurse was awesome and helped me push so it was most effective. Josh had one leg, Mom had the other...and together we got to work! Or so we though...I pushed until 7:15 am and was making awesome progress, when my nurse told me to lay on my side because her shift was over and it was time for a new nurse to come in. WHAT!?!?!?! In the middle of me pushing, you're going to STOP ME!!!!!! Yeah...needless to say, I wasn't happy. So, about 20 minutes later a new nurse came in. Naturally, it was the stupid nurse from hell that I had dreaded the entire time. She walks in, looks at me, and says ok...you can start pushing again. Josh gets my leg again, Mom gets the other, and the nurse is wandering around the room doing who-knows-what while Josh is counting and helping me push through the contractions. After pushing through 2 contractions, the nurse finally goes to where she's supposed to be and looks....and says "Wow...I guess you are ready...I should call the doctor...lay on your side while we wait for her to get here!" WHAT!?!?!?!?!! Once again, I'm in the middle of pushing and you're going to STOP ME!!!!! This time...I sat there for 35 minutes...panting through the contractions cause I wanted to push SO BADLY! Dr. Grouse finally got there...I pushed through 2 contractions, and low and behold....we had ourselves a baby girl at 8:19 am!! Only 20 1/2 hours of labor...and they gave me a baby girl. I feel so blessed.

At 8:19 am on November 14, 2008 Hayden Jo Stofle was born. She weighed 7 lbs. 13 oz. and was 20 1/2 in. long. She looks like her daddy...but has mommy's lips.

We were in the hospital until Sunday, November 16...when they (surprisingly) let us go home. I say surprisingly, because my blood pressures the night before we were supposed to go home were higher than they had ever been before. They let us go anyway...

It was a fantastic experience. I still can't believe that I pushed that little bundle of joy that I had been growing inside of me for 9 months out of me. She truly is a miracle. Below, I will post some pictures of Hayden Jo. Enjoy!!

Hayden just after she was born!

Happy Grandmas!

Happy Daddy!!

Pictures of ME over the last 6 months!

8 months

7 1/2 months (at my baby shower)

7 months

6 1/2 months

Pictures of Hayden over the last 6 months!

Hayden's face...too beautiful!

The 3D/4D ultrasound...at about 30 weeks!

Her foot....even that is cute to me!

This is Hayden at 28 weeks...look at those chubby cheeks!

I love this...legs crossed like a true lady and waving "Hi!"

Hayden Jo...at about 18.5 weeks!

We're BAAAACK!!!

So, I discovered that the last time I had posted was when I was 12 weeks pregnant! Wow....how time flies...I am now 37 weeks 5 days pregnant! My pregnancy has been great...I was pretty miserable throught the 1st trimester, but not as bad as many people are...the 2nd trimester was a breeze, and we found out we are having a little GIRL (YAY!!!)...and the 3rd trimester brought me back to work and back to exhaustion, a sore back, and swollen feet/ankles. Our little girl, Hayden Jo, has been growing perfectly throughout the entire pregnancy. She has measured about 2 weeks ahead every time we had an ultrasound. This is totally to be expected since Josh is such a monster (he was about 10lbs. 9oz. and 24 in. when he was born!).

On October 30, a day before I was 36 weeks, I went to a regular doctor's appointment, and they discovered that my blood pressure was VERY high...like 158/98. They took it about 5 more times, and it only went down a little bit, so they sent me to Hoag for observation (SCARY!). I was admitted into a Labor and Delivery Room, put in a gown, hooked up to monitors for about 4 hours, diagnosed with mild preeclampsia, before they finally released me to go home to complete bed rest. I am pretty much allowed to go from bed, to couch, to bathroom, to shower, and up/down the stairs once a day. THAT'S IT! It was a scary realization while sitting in the hospital bed with talks of inducing me that night that I totally did not feel prepared. I had not washed all of her clothes, the bassinet and pack 'n play weren't put together, I didn't have her coming home outfit picked out, no bags packed for myself, and I guess just mentally I did NOT feel ready at just 36 weeks pregnant! Anyway, I'm now almost 38 weeks, and have been able to control my blood pressure and all other preeclampsia symptoms pretty well with bed rest. I go to fetal diagnostics at Hoag 2 times per week for an NST (Non-Stress Test) where they hook me up to fetal monitors and monitor Hayden's heart rate and my contractions for about an hour. They also do an ultrasound to check the amniotic fluid level, and blood tests to see how my kidney and liver function are. It's a nerve wracking process to go through each time, as I'm afraid there's going to be something wrong every time I go in there. Luckily, everything has been okay.

So, at my doctor's appointment yesterday, which my wonderful mom and husband accompanied me to, I found out that they are most likely going to admit me and induce me tomorrow! Ahhh! I have some definite worries with being induced, especially since I am only 1 cm. dialated and 50% effaced right now. My doctor said it could potentially end up being a 2 day labor.....oh great. I guess the only thing I want at this point is for the health and well-being of my little girl to be perfect, and for myself to come out of this without any more complications. I am totally open to having a C-Section (which I think is a high possibility), which I have heard is good that I am so mentally prepared for that option.

Anyway, I just wanted to update...eventhough this is a ridiculously long post. I hope to become more consistent with the blog posts once Hayden is born so I can share pictures and keep everyone updated!

Please keep me, Josh, and baby Hayden in your prayers as we continue this journey.....