My Nephew: Brayden Chase Smith

Brayden arrived Sunday, Feb. 1 at 3:49 am...the exact time I was born! He was 8 lb. 9 oz and 20.5 in long. He is adorable!! Trevor and I got to go spend this past weekend with them. I was so glad to go before it got too much closer to our baby coming! He has dark hair and does look a lot like my sister Martha. I am so proud for Martha and Ashley! Martha did great with her delivery...when she got to the hosp. she was 8 cm dilated and 100% effaced, so she had Brayden "all natural"! I heard his wt. check today went well-8lb 10 oz. It was so much fun to hold him and take lots of pictures! I hope to see them again soon and that Brayden will get to meet his new cousin soon!

Last week at our OB appt. everything was about the same. The u/s showed our baby was still breech. I've continued doing exercises and going to the chiropractor. I was able to fit in a dentist check-up last week, so I'm glad I got that done before baby arrives! Work now is very tiring, so hopefully not too many more days walking the hosp. floors before I'm out awhile with the baby. I am scheduled for an external cephalic version (ECV) Thurs. am at the hosp. to see if the dr's can turn the baby. We are praying all goes well.

Trevor is working hard to get our laundry "closet" tiled and ready for the new washer and dryer. We need to get some baby clothes washed soon! It's amazing my sister's baby is here now and not much longer before our baby arrives!!!

We continue to enjoy living here with my in-laws, John and Wendy and their 2 girls. Riley is lots of fun...she is now enjoying board games....Candy Land and Hi-ho Cherry-O are games we've played with her recently. Lyla is growing so much...seems to change almost every time I see her-makes me realize how much I'll need to cherish the first few months with our baby b/c they change so fast!

Congratulations to my husband on doing well on another nursing test. He took one at a testing center in Wilmington last Fri. and now only has ONE more nursing test before he can apply to take the clinical check off! We are both looking forward to him working at the hosp. here and not having to drive so far to work.

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!

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!!!

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!!

Time with Family

Friday, Oct. 17, we went to Sampson Co. and met my parents at my grandmother Warren's home. Saturday Trevor and I helped my parents clean some in the house. They are in the process of cleaning up everything...taking out old/not working appliances, Willie's clothes, etc. My dad and Trevor had some interesting moments getting the old kitchen appliances out...the dishwasher was a little difficult to remove and they thought the water was off at one point but it wasn't and so water came "pouring" out onto the floor. We easily dried it up with some old towels but knew if Willie had seen that she would have thought her floor was "ruined". Willie was from the generation that kept EVERYTHING...she would wash her plastic containers, jars and zip lock bags so she could use them again. A funny thing...Willie loved to have a tissue and piece of hard candy handy so in almost every pocket of her clothes we would find these. My dad had rented a U-haul and we were able to get right much carried off. My parents have an ongoing project now to keep up the "home place".

Sunday, Oct. 19, was Beulah UMC homecoming. This is the church dad grew up in and Willie, my grandmother, attended for many years. Dad gave the message Sunday on "claim your heritage". We were reminded to think about those who have helped us grow in our Christian walk. A cute comment I heard when my dad sat down after speaking, "I would vote for you if you were running for President". This is an election year, so I guess thoughts of election are on everyones mind. I do pray those who are elected this year will be good leaders for our country. I am blessed to have Christian parents and proud of my dad for sharing God's Word with others. We sang some praise and worship songs together and the hymns were "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing" and "The Church is One Foundations". Sue Fann gave the "honoring the saints" moment. Her mother, Ruby Faircloth, and my grandmother, Willie Lee Warren, passed away this year, so they were remembered. A candle was lit and the altar flowers were given by the church in their memory. We all enjoyed a delicious meal....tables full of home cooked food and desserts! It was good to see some great aunts and uncles and Beulah members I have grown up knowing. Aunt Joy and Uncle Jerry were able to attend also, and it was nice to visit with them some that afternoon. Trevor had gone to the Big Blue Store in Clinton with my dad on Sat. and wanted to go back to look around some....we got a couple things exchanged my dad needed for the house, and I actually found a couple pj pants! They have a draw-string waist, so I will enjoy wearing them being pregnant.

The Faircloth family reunion was Sunday evening at my grandmother Faircloth's family building. It has been quite awhile since we met there, so it was so good to see many of my family members! I have always enjoyed my extended family. We had lots more food for this meal, too! I was able to make leftover plates for Trevor and I to have for work Monday.

Speaking of work, we both had good days Monday and Tues at work. Trevor had to spend the night at the base Mon. night, but Dennis and Jeanne had some dinner for me. So after stopping by their home (which they cook for us quite often and we really appreciate this!!) I just came home and got ready for bed. Today, Wed, we have basically rested around our house. It's nice to have days to relax-guess we better enjoy them know before we are busy with a baby! Oh, Trevor felt the baby move for the first time Sat. night while we were in bed. He said it felt like a little tap. He heard the baby's heartbeat a few weeks ago with a stethoscope, and tonight I heard it! I feel the baby move often, too. We are very excited and pray things continue to go well.

My sister seems to be doing well with her pregnancy also. My cousin Monica has been sending me pictures of their twin boys...so cute! They are already a month old! Wendy and her girls, Riley and Lyla, arrived back home Sun. night. We had dinner with them at Dennis & Jeanne's last night. It was so good to see them, and those girls are changing fast. I called Trevor on my way out of the hospital last night-Riley answered the phone and had quite a "grown-up" conversation with me. She is talking away now, singing and dancing! Lyla was precious-had her eyes open a lot and is holding her head up well. She is almost 2 mo old now. John will be home this weekend for a break from his work in Texas, so we are looking forward to getting together at John & Wendy's this weekend to visit with them.

Trevor and I are enjoying the Fall weather. Fall is a special time for us since we met in November 2005. We had emailed in 2004 and we got back in touch when I sent an email to his Dad Oct. 25, 2005 and I read the email Trevor wrote back on Oct. 27, 2005. Trevor drove up to Raleigh Nov. 7 for our "first date", and we both fell in love right away...married Dec. 29, 2005. We are so thankful for each other, our marriage and soon to be baby!

Baby's 2nd U/S

Trevor and I saw our baby on the u/s yesterday. We are so thankful everything looks well. Boy or girl?...we are waiting to find out at the birth. Trevor has been working a lot on the baby's room and his dad has been able to help out some, too. We are very excited!

I am resting as much as possible due to having a sore throat, left ear continues to drain at times and generalized tiredness. I am being followed by my ear dr. also, so we are trying to stay on top of things. I want to stay as healthy as possible and pray the baby does too! Trevor and I continue to go for our chiropractic adjustments, so that is helpful.

We are looking forward to the weekend. We work again tomorrow and then plan to be with my parents and see other family over the weekend at a family reunion.

Cold and Stomch Virus

What a week I had last week! It was a little unnerving having a stomach virus and being pregnant. I was concerned for the baby. The cramps were terrible and it's never fun to have nausea/vomiting/diarrhea! Trevor took good care of me...went to the store and got me juices, ginger ale, popsicles, jello, soups, etc. I was able to return to work Sat. and Sun. So, today I am resting after my always busy/tiring work days! It's a rewaring career and great to help people as a nurse, but very draining physically, mentally and emotionally at times, too! So glad to being working part-time esp. now that I'm pregnant.