Time is going by so fast with our sweet Olivia! I see it's been over a month since I found time to blog. Olivia is doing so many new things: rolling over both ways now, trying a little baby rice cereal, sleeping about 5-6 hr each night (yea!), smiles often and interacting with us and things around her more and more! Today I gave her one of the new toys she got from a Sunday school friend, Taggies ball, and when I looked back at her she had rolled over from her back to stomach! I moved the ball back near her and she did it again, so then I got the video camera and she actually rolled over one more time, so I got to capture it on video. I had written down April 29th as the first time you rolled over from stomach to your back. The day before, April 28th, you gave us a "first" laugh!
April 30-May 3 Granddad and Nona came to visit. Nona, Olivia and I enjoyed a "shopping" weekend, but it was a little challenging to Trevor to shop and shop! We did go about all day, but we do not do this often. Most of our "shopping" trips out are to Costco & Wal-mart. May 6th Olivia passed the hearing test at Dr. Osman's office. (was required by DEHEC since my sister, Noelle, has hearing loss). May 7th I took my CPR renewal for work and completed my evaluation with my manager. The end of my maternity leave at come! :(
My first Mother's Day was wonderful, but I did miss Trevor since he had to work. Olivia and I went to church at Risen Christ where Dennis, Jeanne and John's family attend. I had lunch with them at church and then we spend the evening with them at their house. Olivia was 9 lbs when I weighed her that day. May 11, we had Olivia's 3 mo photos made at Olan Mills and visited our Mcgraw friends in Conway.
May 12 was my first day back on the floor at work....long days with 12 + hr shifts!!! Olivia has adjusted well since I am back to work, but it is a challenge with the breast feeding. She is growing and needing more and more milk, but my body is not keeping up. When I am at work it's all I can do to fit in pumping twice during my shift. I am sure the pump is not like Olivia nursing from me and also having to go over 5 hr between pumping I'm sure causes my body to think I'm making enough milk. So, we have started supplementing with formula some, but I am glad to say Olivia was exclusively nursed for 16 weeks. Jeanne, my mother-in-law has been a good support during this process. It was totally "new" for my side of the family because my mother did not breastfeed us. I have enjoyed nursing for the most part, just not the times I've gotten terrible "knots" and engorgement issues and sometimes you feel like you are nursing "all day". It is nice at night though to be able to pick her up and nurse her in bed with me and not have to get get a bottle ready in the night. I know their are many benefits to the baby and mom from breast feeding, so I have tried my best. Sometimes Trevor and I have worked the same day, so his parents have been GREAT to help us out and watch Olivia on those days. They have done really well with her, but I guess after 4 kids of their own and now the 9th grandchild they have experience. :) I took you to the bellegrove pool for the 1st time, May 28th with Jeanne. You did great! I guess you felt like it was a "big bathtub". We went to Huntington Beach State Park, Sat. May 30th. My work was having a family day there. We didn't stay long, but it was fun to get out and make a few pictures. Olivia's wt. was 10 lbs on May 31!
June is already half over! It is hot here in S.C. as it normally is for the south, but we have been blessed with several rain showers recently. Olivia tried a little mashed up banana the other day. She seemed to like it best when her daddy would let her lick the banana like a popcicle. We continue to go to the chiropractor once a week and now have a neck exercise piece to use at home. We enjoyed a "date" at the Melting Pot last Monday...yummy!! Olivia is drinking about 20 oz a day now (the measurement Trevor got one day while I was at work, because with nursing that's one thing you don't know for sure). My sister, Martha, and her husband, Ashley, had their 4th anniversary June 11 and mom (nona) had her birthday, June 13th. Sunday, June 14th, our Sunday school class gave Olivia a shower that was very sweet. Trevor was the lay reader and their was also a reception we went to for Rev. Scarlett since she is moving this month. So, we had a busy time at church. Sunday evening we enjoyed dinner at John & Wendy's to celebrate Riley's 4th birthday!! I have been to all her birthday celebrations so far! She is the only person, besides my two sisters during their early years, who I have been with on all their birthdays. Fun times. So, that's the update for now....it's back to work for me again tomorrow! We really look forward to the days we are all 3 together now! Olivia is such a blessing and joy each day! She makes all the adjustments worthwhile!! Oh, one other new thing for us is getting color on the walls in our home!! After growing up in neutral parsonages it's exciting getting some color!! Also Trevor & I saw the Fireproof movie and have almost completed reading the Love Dare together, a 40 day process. I have really enjoyed and looked forward to our evening devotion time. I guess part of our encouragent to grow more in our Chrisitan walk has been having Olivia. We pray for God to help us continue to grow in His love each day and raise our daughter to know Jesus as her Savior and friend. Studying God's Word and praying are key elements to a Chrisitan journey.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Life of a RN....wife and mother
Monday, April 20, 2009
Life Cycle
Enjoyed picnic at Market Commons with Jamie, Andrea and their children, Jadon and Macy Bleu
We had two Setzer family deaths and the death of my dear friend, Cindy Gurley since Olivia was born! Trevor's uncle, Curtis Setzer, passed away March 14. We packed up and headed to Lincolnton to be with the family. We stayed at Trevor's Aunt Kaye & Uncle Ron's home the 14th-17th of March. Olivia did pretty well but I do remember times of frustration with having a newborn away from home. She was just a month old...still adjusting to breastfeeding, sleep schedule, and life as parents. I remember we got home Tues. night, St. Patrick's Day, and made a quick cell phone picture (we were all dressed in Green). March 19th was my parents 33rd wedding anniversary. I had my last check-up with Dr. Golden for this pregnancy-all is well. Spring arrived March 20 and March 21 we went to the Taste of the Coast. It was nice to get out of the house some (locally). Trevor cleaned my car the next week, and even took the seats out to clean!! Great job, dear! Cindy passed away Friday, March 27th. March 28th was one year since my grandmother Warren passed away. My grandmother Faircloth has been remarried for 3 years now on March 31 to Oliver Faircloth (she married another man with the last name of Faircloth!) April 1, Wed, Trevor returned to work!! We were so blessed to have the 7 weeks off work TOGETHER! Then on Fri, April 3, Trevor's papaw Setzer passed away! We were able to visit him when we went to Lincolnton for Curtis' funeral, and we got a few pictures of him with Olivia, his 17th great grandchild. So once again, we packed up and headed to Lincolton! We stayed at Aunt Kaye's again this time...Jeanne said "We are getting pretty good at this travel, not sure if that's a good or bad thing". We were certainly sorry to have so many deaths so close together! April 8th Olivia was 8 lb and 13 oz! We weigh her on scales at Poppop and Nana's. April 10th, we went to Wendy's 30th birthday dinner at a restaurant in Market Common's area here in Myrtle Beach. Kirk & Kelly's family came for the Easter weekend, so we enjoyed some time with them. Easter was Sunday, April 12, and we made it to our church for the first time with Olivia. It was nice to get a few pictures of our family together at the church cross and by flowers at Poppop & Nana's. We had a great Easter lunch with family. Trevor was working but was able to switch some time and be off to attend church and have lunch with us. Saturday, March 14, 2009
Our Daughter: Olivia Dale Setzer
I had no idea when I posted last that the next day I would be having the baby!!! Olivia is such a blessing, but of course newborns take lots of care so my posting is behind. =) Trevor took me to the hosp. the morning of Feb. 12 to see if the doctors would be able to turn our baby since she was still breech (we didn't know it was a girl yet!). However, the monitor showed I was in labor and so the version is contraindicated in labor...Dr. Golden said, "so we need to have a c-section"...the tone in her voice made us ask, "Do you mean today?" and she said Yes! Trevor told me later he got really "warm" all over and felt he was going to cry or pass out...but he took a deep breath and called our parents to let them know and was a great support for me. The staff at the hosp. were all great and explained everything to me that was taking place. I was a little nervous about the c-section, but thankfully it all went well.
Olivia Dale Setzer was born 2/12/09 at 12:36 pm. 6 lb 3 oz and 20.5 in. Her head was definitely "wedged" inside me so the doctor said she wouldn't have turned anyway. Right when she came out they did suction her and help her breath a few seconds, but she pinked right up and started to cry. Having the "drape" in front of me while lying on the OR table I couldn't see what was happening, so I remember saying "I don't hear her"...they let me know they were helping her breath a little, so I was certainly praying she was fine...several emotions all in a few seconds taking place....Trevor leaned down to tell me "It's a GIRL" when she came out and I was sooooo surprised!! So many people told me I was having boy, so that made me feel we were. We are very happy to have a daughter and thankful she is healthy!
The worst part after the c-section was the itching I had as a side effect from the spinal medication...so thankful when that was over by lunch the next day. Yes, it was difficult getting out of bed the first time, but no where near as bad as after my car accident! I am recovering well. We are both so thankful for this time out of work to adjust to parenthood.
We were blessed to have my parents stay with us a week after she was born. It's wonderful living here in Myrtle Beach with part of the Setzer family and two girl cousins are here for Olivia to grow up with. Our church family has been very caring and we appreciate all the calls, emails, visits, gifts for Olivia and the great food. We are so blessed in many ways!
I have been able to breastfeed Olivia so far...a challenge at times, but I know it's very benefical for her and me in many ways, so I am trying my best to stick with it. She has grown well for her first month (wow, already one month old!). She is now about 6 1/2 lbs (up from her wt. loss to 5 1/2 lbs after birth), head 14.5 in, and length 21.25 in.
We were able to visit my sister Martha's family last weekend, so the new cousins got to meet. It was a lot of fun being with everyone-just really tiring traveling with a newborn, so we didn't even leave the house Tues. after we got home Mon. night.
Monday we were able to visit my friends Dan & Cindy Gurley. Cindy has been fighting cancer for about 9 years. She is at home right now and hospice has been helping some, esp. with her pain meds and trying to get them adjusted for her. It meant a lot for them to meet Olivia. Cindy has been such a great friend and really like a "second mom" to me. We are praying for her to have pain relief, rest and peace. Olivia also got to meet her Great Grandmother, Pauline Faircloth. Grandmother made us a delicious dinner Mon.-very sweet of her and her husband Oliver.
Trevor's uncle, Curtis, has also been fighting cancer and is not doing well. It seems he is at the end of this life. We are trying to make plans to go and be with the Setzer family during this time of grief. I pray the Setzer family feels God's love and peace during this time and for safety for all those traveling in the next few days.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
My Nephew: Brayden Chase Smith
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Happy New Year 2009
January came and is now almost over! I have continued to work 2 days a week at the hospital. Staying busy going to the ear doctor, OB and chiropractor. Everything is about the same so far with our baby. Trevor and I went to an infant care and breastfeeding class, Sat, Jan. 10. The hospital has an education office, Health Finders, at Coastal Grand Mall here, so that's where our class was. We taught Sunday School Jan. 11 and I read the scripture at the 11 am service. Jan. 11 was my grandmother Warren's birthday, and this was the first year without her. Dennis and Jeanne went on a cruise this month and enjoyed that even though it was cold. We even had a little SNOW here in M.B.! (just enough to say we saw some!) On Mon, Jan. 19th, at our OB apt. we had an u/s and our baby is breech. The baby weighted about 4lb 12 oz then. I have been doing exercises to help the baby turn along with going to the chiropractor for adjustments. The Webster technique used by chiropractors is supposed to relax the ligaments and help the baby turn. Last Sat. night I got terribly sick with n/v and diarrhea, yuck!! I had cramps all night and Sun. am when I still couldn't keep anything down we called the on call dr. and Dr. Markley had me come on in to the hospital. The baby and I were monitored all day, and I got 2 liters of IVF along with a shot of terbutaline to relax my uterus so the small amount of contractions I was having wouldn't lead to labor. Sunday, Jan. 25th, was my dad's birthday. Thankfully, I felt much better after rest this week. I went back to work on Thursday and work again tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 1. It's amazing another month is already here! Martha is about to have her baby! If she doesn't go into labor before, she is going to the hosp. in G'ville to be induced Mon. am! How exciting that Brayden will soon be here! The first grandchild for my parents. Trevor and I hope to go see them soon! We pray they have a safe delivery and that our baby will turn soon. Mostly, we pray our baby will be born healthy and baby and I stay well no matter how it gets here!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Christmas 2008
Time is going by fast! 2008 is almost over! We have enjoyed the holidays with family and friends. We were blessed to be the Maximized Living Makeover winners this year. We entered a contest with our chiropractic group and won the essay contest! Since I well into the pregnancy we didn't really want to travel to Disney (the prize), so they gave us a check for what it would have cost to fly and stay at Disney a few days! The money has been a great help getting ready for the baby. Our chiropractor and his staff took us out to dinner Nov. 24. We enjoyed the time together and great food! They also gave us lots of great baby gifts in a basket that night, so it was like a "mini baby shower" just from them.
Trevor and I both worked Thanksgiving Day, but it wasn't too bad. Plus, we both had lots of food at our work! Everyone made food to bring. Friday, Nov. 28th we drove to Sampson Co. for the night. We stayed at grandmother Warren's home with my parents. Saturday, Nov. 29th, the Faircloth Family gave us a "Double Baby Shower"-shower for us and Martha and Ashley. We both are expecting babies about a month apart! It was a great shower, and we really appreciated everyone who came and all the nice gifts! Our family had decorated the building so cute for the shower, too!
Dec. 1 was my husband's 34th birthday! We had dinner with family here in MB...enjoyed a chili dish we all like and cake I had made for him. Dec. 7th, a Sun. at work I was able to get a couple labs completed that I had to do during the pregnancy: glucose tolerance test and antibody blood work since I am O neg blood type. I passed the glucose screening...yeah! The cold orange flavored glucose drink wasn't too bad. After drinking it you get your blood drawn in one hr to see if the blood glucose level is back in normal range. Dec. 9th we had an OB appointment and we were about 29 weeks then. I got the RhoGAM shot since I have O neg. blood type. I was nervous about the shot b/c being a nurse I know the risks with an IM injection in the hip...don't want the sciatic nerve to be hit! Thankfully the shot went well. We'll see what blood type our baby has and if they are Rh + I'll have to get one more RhoGAM shot.
Dec. 12-14, we went to be with my family in Greenville and Murfreesboro, N.C. We spend the nights at Martha & Ashley's home and enjoyed the "Warren Christmas". Ashley had to work days that weekend, so he wasn't able to go with us to dad's church, but the rest of us drove up to surprise mom and dad that Sunday AM! Great weekend with family!
We've enjoyed many meals at Dennis and Jeanne's. It's a great time of year with all the decorations, trees, lights and candles to make us feel so festive! Most of all, it's wonderful to celebrate our Savior's birth! We did go out for pizza and a movie with them one night also. I used my 2 free movie tickets for this year from my work. We went to Mellow Mushroom Pizza and saw Four Christmases.
I was able to attend a Christmas Eve church service with Dennis and Jeanne at their Church, Risen Christ Lutheran. Christmas Day, Trevor had to work, but I got a surprise and was put "on call" and never had to go in to work. I was able to attend church with family and see our niece, Lyla Setzer, baptized. so, that was very special! My parents and Noelle came to spend the weekend with us and arrived about 10:30 pm Christmas night.
We had all the family over for a brunch Friday AM. We found some new recipes to try from one of Jeanne's magazines...enjoyed cheese grits, breakfast enchiladas, breakfast punch and orange rolls! Yummy!! We had another OB appointment that afternoon, so my parents went with us and got to hear the baby's heartbeat.
Sat., Dec. 27, the Setzer family gave us a baby shower. We had a few friends come also, and it was a really nice time. The Setzer kids made us a "baby shower" banner and had lots of balloons for the party. And of course all the food was yummy with the punch. The punch was the same punch Trevor and I had at our wedding reception, and we've enjoyed having it at other parties since.
Sun, Dec. 28th, we went to church at our church...which with our work schedule and all the special events that come up it was nice to be able to get back to our SS class and worship at First UMC. Mom and Dad surprised us by being able to stay until Sunday since someone was filling in for dad. A nice treat!
Mon, Dec. 29th, our 3rd wedding anniversary!! We both worked, but I guess we can't have off work all the time! =) I got to sleep in today, Dec. 30th, and it was great to rest! We are over at Dennis & Jeanne's with all the Setzer family now. We'll get to spend New Year's Eve and Day with them. It has been a lot of fun seeing all the Setzer cousins together playing. Everyone is enjoying different things...watching sports, movies, games, Wii games, melty beads, talking, eating and more eating...the holidays are all about being with family for us. I am thankful our baby will be welcome in to such close families-on both sides! We are about 32 weeks in the pregnancy now...not much longer until we get to hold our baby!! Trevor finished the nursery, and it's beautiful!! He painted the top half of the walls green, added white crown molding, wainscot and chair railing. He also put in dark wood floors. We have the crib, a rocker and dresser in the room. The changing table should be here soon. We are excited to meet either Olivia Dale or Trevor "Kolby", Jr!!!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Journey Continues
I am thankful things seem to be going well with my pregnancy. Some things that have happened since I last wrote:
-dinner with good friends, Ryan & Krista McGraw and their 2 precious boys.
-made a pumpkin display for the unit I work on-hospital's pumpkin contest. I decorated the large pumpkin red, white and blue and choose an "election" theme" since it was election year.
-Went to a Women of Faith event with my mother-in-law and other ladies from her church in Greensboro, NC, Oct 31-Nov.1.
-Our next U.S. President, Barack Obama, the first African American, was elected Nov. 4 and that happened to by my youngest sister's 21st birthday!
-Baked brownies for the floor I work on, 2 East. Our bake sale will buy items to have for the children admitted to our floor.
-Nov. 11, I had an OB apt. The baby's heartbeat sounds good! Trevor recorded it on his cell phone.
-Nov. 14, Fri, went to the Dickens's Christmas Show with family here in Myrtle Beach. I got a few baby items.
-Trevor passed another nursing test!!! yeah! Only 2 more nursing tests to go in the program!
-We got our baby crib to put together soon and Trevor finished putting down the wood floor in the baby's room.
-We taught Sunday School yesterday. Our class is having a study on Acts. Yesterday's lesson was about Stephen's stoning.
-We continue to enjoy time with family here and look forward to John being home soon. Wendy and the girls have done well while there dad has been in Texas.
-I go to my ear dr. again this week...I think my draining left ear is just something I'm going to be dealing with while pregnant. I just pray it stays under control and hopefully stops after the baby is born.
-I am working 2 days a week now on the medical floor at Grand Strand. We take care of all ages: peds to geriatrics, so it's busy! The charting is a job in itself! I enjoy being a nurse, but it takes all your energy while there....mentally, physically and spiritually!
It's amazing the holidays are almost here! I look forward to spending time with family and friends in the days ahead! We are about 26 wks in the pregnancy now...getting excited!!
