Boogie has arrived!

I apologize for not updating the blog sooner! This is first time I've been on a real computer in a while. I plan to update eventually with more details about the last week, but I wanted to quickly say that Boogie has arrived! Tate Holland Symmes was born on Monday, September 24th at 1:21 PM. He cried at birth and it was the most beautiful sound. Jon and I both cried ourselves when we heard it! Tate hasn't even celebrated his one week birthday and has already accomplished so many things! He is doing very well and we are so proud of him.

At birth

Daddy feeding Boogie

Eyes open!

Finally holding our little guy!

Last day of pregnancy

It's a little surreal to think that this time tomorrow we will be prepping for surgery to meet our little guy! Considering over the past 2.5 years I've been pregnant for 22+ months, my body is definitely ready to have a break. I think of Boogie as our little elephant baby, since elephant moms gestate for 22 months too :) Boogie is doing great and I'm confident he will not try to arrive before tomorrow. We had an ultrasound last night. Boogie passed his tests and I even had a little more fluid in there (4.4 cm). We promise to update with the good news as soon as we can. Please send extra prayers up around 11:30 am (when csection will start). Thank you so much for your support. We are very grateful!

34 weeks is here!

We've reached 34 weeks. Very happy about that! Thursday night and Friday morning were tough. I was having painful contractions about every 10 mins. I was monitored for hours and not allowed to eat or drink, in case we delivered. I did get some morphine, but it didn't help. The doctor checked things around 2 and found I wasn't dilating. It was the best news! I came off the monitor and was able to eat and drink. By last night I was barely contracting and felt 100 times better. I've been very vigilant about staying hydrated, which I think is helping. I even requested to have a hydrating IV over night for a little extra boost. The doctor was a little hesitant, but eventually allowed it. Considering I usually ask for extra monitoring too, I think I'm probably known as the overly cautious or high maintenance patient! Oh well, I can't be too careful for our sweet Boogie. I'm feeling good today, just trying to rest up for the big day. I hope Boogie is snuggled in until Monday. Perhaps Jon I should tell him a little bit about what to expect on Monday. :) As always, thank you for the continued support, positive thoughts, and prayers. They are working!

Thursday - update

Quick post - we are still hanging in here. Contractions aren't regular, thankfully! No signs of infection either. Come on, little guy...stay put until Monday! Thank you for the prayers and positive thoughts. We so appreciate them!

Tuesday - update

Quick update today. Baby is hanging in there! He's moving and grooving and my contractions are very few and far between. Csection is scheduled for Monday. Hoping Boogie has no plans of his own! Busy day of getting my classes in order! Now Jon's here and we are watching a movie :) Thank you for your continued prayers and positive thoughts! We really appreciate them. Hoping to continue the boring updates all week!

Monday - Update

Several folks have asked that I post updates, so here goes...  I will try to update every day!  I hope the updates will be mainly boring :-)

First of all - thank you so much for all of the well wishes, positive thoughts and prayers!  We cannot express enough how much they mean to us.  Boogie, Jon and I feel so loved and it really does help - thank you!

Let's see.  Bedrest seems to be keeping the leaking at a minimum.  I hate thinking about the fact that I taught my 3 hour class (standing) Wednesday afternoon after my water broke!  There are no plans to have another ultrasound (I find everyone is quite stingy with those...maybe an insurance thing?).  Without an ultrasound I won't know if his amniotic fluid pockets are increasing.  I'm maintaining  a positive outlook and imagine they are increasing.  I stay super hydrated and so he has to have something in there!

Other than that, I'm feeling alright.  I have these compression things on my legs to ward off blood clots.  It feels like a mini-massage, so that's nice.  I am still getting antibiotics every 4 hours.  Plus they check me for signs of infection throughout the day.  Last night was a little stressful.  When I was hooked up to the monitor because I was having Braxton Hicks contractions, Boogie was looking perfect on the monitor and then flat-lined!  Scared me to death and I called the nurse (who was already on her way).  The little trickster just moved out of the way so he wasn't being picked up on the monitor.  He about gave me a heart attack!  The good news is that while I have uterine irritability from time to time, I have no regular contractions at this point.    If I were to start contracting, I'd have an emergency c-section.  They would not try to stop the contractions since they are a sign of infection.  So praying and hoping we stay stable - every day counts.  No scheduled c-section yet.  Our best guess is it will be Monday.  I'll reach 34 weeks on Saturday, but they won't schedule a c-section on the weekend - fine by me...gives him a few more days.

My mom arrived last night and is keeping me company while Jon is at work.  I am going to send her out later to pick up some foods that are supposed to help fight infection (i.e. cranberry juice, yogurt, etc.).  I guess her task for later this week is to start getting Boogie's room ready!

Boogie's birthday will be coming sooner than expected

Thank you so much for all of the prayers and positive thoughts you've sent us over the past two years.  We hope you don't mind if we make another request!

My water broke Wednesday morning.  I went to the hospital but the tests said it wasn't amniotic fluid.  Since I was still leaking on Thursday, I went to my OB.  While there one test came up positive for amniotic fluid, but the more reliable test did not.  It was decided that I was not leaking amniotic fluid.

Saturday night, I started having contractions (not to mention, I was still leaking) so I went back to the hospital.  This time the fluid tested positive as being amniotic fluid.  Had an ultrasound and Boogie's water is low (3.7 cm).  This brought back bad memories of Rex's many, many amniotic fluid checks.  However, the good news is that since Boogie's kidneys are healthy, he will continue to make fluid (although it will also continue to leak).  Also, good news: Boogie looks great on the fetal monitor and is measuring at 35 weeks (I'm currently 33 weeks).  His estimated weight is between 5-6 lbs.  It's a good thing we make big babies!  I have a hydrating IV, regimen of antibiotics and received one of two steroid shots (for lung development). The stressful news: The doctor informed me that when the bag is ruptured they want to deliver the baby at 34 weeks to avoid infection, so Boogie will be a preemie that will need to go to the NICU.  Praying he won't need much help and won't be there long.

Trying to stay positive, but honestly I'm a bit freaked out by all of this.  Apparently dramatic pregnancies are just how we have to do things!

Thank you so much for all of your positive thoughts and prayers.  If you would like something specific to pray for - please ask that I don't go into labor before 34 weeks and that Boogie is healthy as can be when he meets the world!  Thank you a million times!

Tree Dedication in Honor of Rex

My wonderful colleagues at Eckerd College (led mostly by my dear friend, Margie) organized and attended a beautiful memorial service and tree dedication for Rex today.  The service, led by Chaplain McMahon, was absolutely perfect.  Below are some pictures from the event.  I'm so happy to have a place on campus to visit and reflect on our sweet boys.

Here is poem that we asked Chaplain McMahon to read.

I thought of you with love today, but that is nothing new. 

I thought about you yesterday and the day before that too. 

I think of you in silence. I often say your name. 

But all I have are memories and your picture in a frame.

Your memory is my keepsake, with which I’ll never part. 

God has you in His keeping. I have you in my heart. 

I shed tears for what might have been. A million times I’ve cried. 

If love alone could have saved you, you never would have died.

In life I loved you dearly. In death I love you still.

In my heart you hold a place no one can ever fill. 

It broke my heart to lose you but you didn’t go alone 

for part of me went with you, the day God took you home.

Before the unveiling

Memorial table

Beautiful winged elm

Dragonfly that attended the memorial :)  

Plaque with Rex's actual footprints!

Proud parents

Perfect service!

Please consider supporting Team Sticky Bean

Jon, Boogie, and I are participating in the Tampa Bay PKD walk this October.

Millions of people have polycystic kidney disease worldwide. There is no cure, no treatment - but there is an immeasurable amount of hope.  Hope that one day, no one (especially babies) will suffer from this genetic, life-threatening disease.

Please check out our personal fundraising webpage - Team Sticky Bean. Also, any local friends who are interested in joining our team, please let me know.  We'd love to have you!

A cure is the finish line - and we need help to get there!  Thank you so much for your support.

Boogie Bump - 31 weeks

We had an appointment two weeks ago and were surprised that we didn't get an ultrasound (a first for us).  It was bittersweet.  While we always love a peek at our little guy, we knew the reason we weren't getting an ultrasound is because everything is healthy and normal!

Next regular check-up is Tuesday. We are seeing the doctor every 2 weeks now. On the home stretch!

He is growing!