Liam's Corner

I had all intentions of finishing Liam's nursery and getting pics posted before his big arrival. However, he had other plans! Since David and I will be moving in less than six months, we decided to use the corner of our extra large bedroom for Liam's temporary nursery. This saved us from changing the guest room into the nursery, and having to find a place to store the extra furniture. So far it has been extremely convenient. I love having him in our room, so that I am aware of every noise he makes. And let me tell ya...he makes a lot of noises!!! The theme in his room is sports, with the focus being on baseball. David was very excited about the opportunity to display autographs of our favorite players. I'm extremely proud to display the Josh Hamilton autograph that I got this summer after a Ranger's game. I worked hard for that one!!! 

Autos of Ryne Sandberg, Josh Hamilton and Chipper Jones
Papa made the red stand especially for Liam
We couldn't find bedding that was just baseball, so we compromised.

We are happy, healthy, and HOME!!!.

After spending 16 days in the NICU, we finally got to come home on New Year's Day. Talk about a great way to start out 2009! It feels so good to be in a familiar environment, sleeping in my own bed, and most of all spending time as a family. Liam is doing great. He's eating well (at least for his daddy and nana) and growing fast. Hopefully by the time we go to the pediatrician on Tuesday, we'll have a 5 pound baby!!! ; )

My parents came down to help us adjust to our new life style. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for all of your help, including doing dishes, taking care of food, and especially for taking care of Ross. I'm not sure what we would have done without your help!

Here are some pics from the last couple of weeks...Enjoy!!!

Finally home!!!

Liam and I watching OSU get Ducked 
Liam's first bath in the NICU

Daddy is absolutely smitten!

Nana and Liam
Papa and Liam
Under the jaundice lights...gotta love the shades!

Liam update

First​ of all, thank​ you all for your thoughts and prayers over the last week.​ It has been a crazy​ one! I haven't had a chance yet to blog about what happened last Tuesday and how we're doing now, so here goes...

Last Tuesd​ay,​ we went in for my weekl​y check​-​up.​ The docto​r had order​ed a test on the baby,​ and durin​g the test we disco​vered​ that Liam had falle​n behin​d on the growt​h chart​s,​ and was not movin​g very much.​ The docto​r then hooke​d him up to a heart​ monit​or,​ and perfo​rmed anoth​er test to 

disco​ver wheth​er or not Liam was movin​g.​ Once again​,​ he did not move.​ While​ I was hooke​d up to the heart​ monit​or,​ Liam'​s heart​ rate dropp​ed,​ so the docto​r immed​iatel​y trans​ferre​d me to OU 

Medic​al for furth​er testi​ng.​ Upon check​ing in at the hospi​tal,​ two more of the same tests​ were ran on Liam,​ and again​ he was not movin​g.​ The docto​rs notic​ed that his heart​ rate was unsta​ble and 

order​ed anoth​er test to check​ the blood​ and oxyge​n flow throu​gh the cord.​ The resul​ts were that there​ was not enoug​h blood, nutri​ents,​ or oxyge​n getti​ng to the baby,​ so we were told that Liam needed​ to be deliv​ered via C-​Secti​on in "​about​ an hour to an hour and a half.​"​ About​ 5 minut​es later​,​ Liam'​s heart​ rate dropp​ed again​ and my nurse​ along​ with about​ 10 other​ peopl​e rushe​d into the room and said,​ "​We'​re going​ now!​"​ About​ 20 minut​es later​,​ Liam enter​ed the world​,​ weigh​ing a huge 4 lbs. and measu​ring 17 inche​s.​ 

We were warne​d befor​e the C-​Secti​on that Liam would​ possi​bly not be able to breat​h on his own, since​ he was being​ deliv​ered at 34 weeks​.​ Thank​fully​,​ his lungs​ were devel​oped and he was able to take his first​ breat​h on his own. He was immed​iatel​y taken​ to the NICU,​ which​ is where​ he is today​.​ He is doing​ very well,​ consi​derin​g he was 6 weeks​ prema​ture.​ He has a littl​e jaund​ice and does not like to eat from a bottl​e yet. Poor guy.​.​.​he is suppo​sed to be feedi​ng throu​gh the cord right​ now!​!​!​ As soon as he figur​es out how to eat, we'​ll get to go home!​ I can't wait for that day!!!

Altho​ugh last Tuesd​ay was by far the most chall​engin​g and scari​est day of my life,​ it was the best day of my life,​ as well.​ Heari​ng Liam'​s first​ cry, seein​g my best frien​d hold his son, and givin​g Liam that first​ kiss is somet​hing I have looke​d forwa​rd to for years​ and somet​hing I will never​ forge​t!​ I am bless​ed beyon​d words​!​!​!​!​!​!​!

Welcome Liam Victor!

To our surprise, Liam Victor made his arrival on Tuesday, December 16th at 5:29 p.m. He weighed 4 pounds and measured 17.25 inches. He is tiny, but is a fighter. After one puff from an oxygen mask, Liam started breathing on his own. He is still in the NICU and will remain there for about two weeks. Please pray that our precious baby boy continues to improve and grow!!!

I will post more pics and give more details about Liam's surprise birthday in a few days when I'm not so exhausted!!!

Our first family pic

My first time to hold him
David got to feed him about two hours after he was born!
Our precious baby
He couldn't be more perfect!

Love at First Sight!!!

For most of the pregnancy, David and I have been undecided about whether or not to do a 4-D ultrasound. Then, someone I know gave me a gift certificate to Miracle Within Ultrasound in Edmond that covered half of the cost of the ultrasound, so we decided to go for it. I am SO thankful we did!!! It was an amazing experience. My mom and dad, David's mom and his little sister all made the trip to Edmond so that they could share this precious moment with us. It was incredible to see how much of a pretzel Liam is. For most of the ultrasound he had his feet and his hands covering his face. It took a lot of poking and prodding to get him to show us his adorable facial features. It was fun to speculate which parent each feature came from. He definitely has his mommy's nose and his daddy's ears!!!

Here are some of the photos from the ultrasound...

Yawning...I think that is the cutest tongue ever!!!

Look at that grin!
Liam's profile...he definitely has the Bonham nose!!!

His eye is open in this one!!!

Peace! Haha!!! Trying to suck on a finger...

Baby Shower #2

My cousin, Kristin, and Aunt Vicki threw me a shower in Bartlesville last weekend. The shower was great. Liam got lots of wonderful gifts...clothes, socks, blankets, stuffed animals, bibs...all the things our precious baby will need. He also got his very first OU hat and bib. David was SO excited about that. (I must add that he also got the same hat and bib in OSU to even things out!!! AND...Nana and Papa got him an adorable OSU outfit. As of now, there is more orange in his wardrobe than crimson!!!) 

It was so great to see all of our family. Thanks to everyone who traveled to make it to the shower and to Kristin and Vicki for throwing such a wonderful shower!!!

31 Weeks and 2 Days

The cake was delicious
Isn't the punch adorable?!?!
The gift table
The OSU bib and hat
This one's for David!
This shirt makes me laugh!!!
My grandma got Liam the most adorable outfit!!!

Baby Shower #1

My first baby shower was here in Norman a couple of weeks ago. The decor was all sports and everything was adorable!!! We played a couple of fun baby games, ate some yummy food, and opened some great presents. Thank you Casey, Beth, and Skye for throwing me such a wonderful shower!!!

Diaper cupcakes

I was so excited to get the stroller...
and the matching car seat!!!
Beth, Skye, myself and Casey

It has finally happened...

I'm officially on bed rest until after Liam comes. I went to the doctor on Monday and my blood pressure was really high. The doctor kept me in his office for an hour and a half hoping that it would drop, but no luck. So...he told me I could go to work on Tuesday, and that Tuesday would be my last day. It was very stressful to get my classroom ready for the next 4 months. I had planned to start my lesson plans this weekend, start copying next week, and have everything ready by Christmas Break. But, God had other plans for me! I got as much done as I could in my classroom, and I know my long-term sub will do great!!! It was a lot harder than I thought it would be to say good-bye to my students. I know I am going to miss them tons!!!

Thankfully, Liam is still doing great. His heart rate is perfect, and he is still very active. The doctor's goal is for me to make it to 37 or 38 weeks before he has to induce, so that Little Liam's lungs will be ready. So...Liam may make his appearance the first week of January!!!

I go back to the doctor this afternoon. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the SIX blood pressure pills I am taking each day will do the trick. The doctor told me on Monday that I can still go to Bartlesville for Thanksgiving, but that I couldn't do anything while I'm there. I sure hope he doesn't change his mind when I go in today!!!

Yay for good news!!!

I went back to the doctor for my weekly visit today, and Liam and I are doing great! My blood pressure was the lowest it has been at the doctor's office since before I was 19 weeks. (I'm almost 30 weeks now.) Liam is continuing to grow perfectly and his heart rate is perfect. The doctor didn't mention any restrictions for the week, so I guess I'll continue to take it easy and enjoy being a "normal" pregnant lady until my appointment next Monday. Yay!!!

During the visit, David asked the doctor about his feelings on inducing labor. He said that he always gives the option about a week before the due date, but in my case, I probably will not have an option. He said that if my blood pressure escalates later in the pregnancy, it will become a health issue, and he will have to induce at least a week early. I guess we'll just have to wait and see!!!

Random side-note #1: This morning when I woke up, it was pouring outside. I dread mornings when it is rainy, because I know that our dog, Ross, will refuse to go outside, and I'll have to clean up his "accident" before I leave for work. Well, not this morning! I decided to go ahead and open the back door to try to persuade him to go outside. Ross ran to the opening as usual, noticed the rain and then skidded to a stop. He looked up at me, and as if understanding my dread of having to clean up a mess, ducked his little bitty head and braved the rain to go potty!!! I was so proud of him!!! : ) Here are a couple of pics from when he came back inside and was shivering because he was soaking wet. I covered him up in a t-shirt and he curled up in it to stay warm. He's just so darn cute that I couldn't help myself....I had to share!!!

Random side-note #2: I went to DFW this weekend with my parents for my dad's 60th birthday. We had a great time! We met up with Skye and Thad for my dad's birthday dinner at Babe's. Let me tell ya, Babe's is amazing!!! I couldn't get enough food! After we finished eating, we spent some time shopping. (Well, everyone shopped while I mostly sat.) After shopping, we went back to Skye and Thad's to watch the OSU game, which was totally depressing. What happened to my team?!?!?! Anyways, we had a fantastic time. Thanks, Barry, for letting us crash with you!!!

Update

I went back to the doctor yesterday and it went really well! My doctor was very happy because my blood pressure had gone down. He also mentioned that I lost two pounds, which means that I am retaining less water. He gave me permission to start doing a few things around the house again, but still wants me to "take it easy."  He even said I could travel to Texas this weekend with my family for my dad's 60th birthday! Yay!!! To celebrate the good news, here's a new belly pic.

28 Weeks 5 Days

David and I went to vote yesterday in the early voting polls. The people working the polls were very understanding of my situation. They let me sit on a bench and wait for David to get close to the door before I joined him in line. Now, we're watching CNN as the polls close. This election has been crazy and I really am glad it's almost over! No matter how it turns out, I'm excited that I got to be a part of such a historical event. Although, I'll admit that I will be kind of bummed if it doesn't go my way. ; ) I've become so involved this time...is that a sign that I'm getting old?!?!?!

David and Ross watching the polls close

Ross wearing his Daddy's favorite t-shirt

My vote should have counted twice...Haha!!!