Major Bump in the Road

Daniel and I bought a Medela breast pump a few weeks ago with some of the Target gift cards we'd received as presents. The Monday after Father's Day was the day to try it for the first time. I didn't nurse Cadee for several hours and then planned to feed her with a bottle to get her used to it. Feelings of inadequacy don't even begin to explain how devastated I was to realize I had very little milk. After pumping for a thirty minutes I had about 1/4 to a 1/2 ounce of milk in the bottle. I hoped it was a fluke and tried again on Tuesday with the same results. My mom assured me it wasn't the end of the world, she hadn't been able to nurse my sister or I more then a couple of weeks. I had some formula on hand and decided to try it. Cadee drank it so fast and with such a sense of urgency it was like a slap in the face. She was so hungry! I began to wonder how I didn't realize she wasn't getting enough when I was nursing her. Since switching to formula on Tuesday afternoon, I was only "full" once and Cadee nursed but still took a formula bottle afterwards. The first 24 hours were a bit rough as she threw up several times. I don't know if it was the eagerness to drink that she over did it or the formula itself but I called Anglemyer Clinic and Dr. Schlorke had some samples for us to try. We've had smooth sailing ever sense. Not only is Cadee sleeping deeper, probably because her tummy is actually full, but her fussiness isn't nearly as intense. She still gets the hiccups about once a day and farts occasionally but not as often as prior. We had been calling her 'lady farts a lot' but she was obviously full of air bubbles because of me not having enough milk. Formula was not something we had planned on so we are working on finding the best ways to save money when purchasing it. I just wish it wouldn't have taken us 3 weeks to find out she wasn't getting enough to eat. Please pray that we made the right decisions and Cadee continues to thrive on this new formula.

First Father's Day

This last Sunday was Father's Day, Daniel's first Father's Day. I searched several stores in hopes of finding a shirt that read something like "First Father's Day" on it for Daniel to wear to church. No luck, but Walmart did have a shirt that read "World's Greatest Dad." Cadee wore her pink camouflage onesie that read "Daddy's Major Fan."

We ventured to Sunday morning church, we were a bit concerned that the Connection music might be a bit much and were prepared to wait in the hall until the live music had subsided. Once we got there several other parents of itty-bittys assured us that Cadee's ears would be fine. Our plan for the afternoon was a cook out with Daniel's family, at Uncle Rich and Aunt Dawn's new home in Elkhart. However, during worship we received a text that the cook out was cancelled because Rich was sick. We discussed our options and decided to drive to Angola to see Christy and Kevin's new apartment. My parent's were there and had gone to church with them. We had a relaxing afternoon, I may or may not have slept the majority of it. Cadee was fussy on the way home so I sat in back with her the last part of the drive. We headed right to church for Effect. I nursed Cadence but she was still fussy so I spent most of the evening in the nursing mother's room off the Connection Gym. Before the fussiness started, some new friends got to hold her.

Rita Hauptli getting some cuddles in

Daddy's Photo Shoots

Cadence will learn quickly that picture taking is a must in our family. Not just one or two but the camera is often set on rapid fire so that the moment isn't missed. Many of the photos were taken in our front yard, while others were taken at Stauffer Park. Cadee was 2 and 3 weeks old in this pictures.

How Cadence Elaine got her name

Dear Cadence Elaine,
When Mommy and Daddy were dating and talking about the future... marriage, kids, etc. Daddy told me that he already had the name of his future daughter picked out. Non-negotiable. And so we knew that if we ever had a daughter Cadence would be your first name. Being a musician, it means a lot to Daddy. We hope you enjoy music as much as we do and maybe even learn to play an instrument if you'd like. Daddy already pointed out that you have long fingers, good for playing the piano, and you are only a few weeks old! Elaine is from Mommy's side of the family. You share the same middle name as your Great-Grandma Phyllis Elaine Berkey-Kuhn, and your Great-Aunt Janis Elaine Kuhn-Prater. You also share a middle name with your third cousin, Dailyn Elaine Prater and your Aunt Christy Elaine Brink-Harrold. I'm praying you'll appriciate your heritiage and enjoy telling your name story to those you meet.
Love, Mommy Maggie

Great Grandma Phyllis Elaine with Cadence Elaine

Cadence Elaine with Aunt Christy Elaine

/ˈkeɪdns/ Show Spelled

   

Maggie's Four Generations Photos

Cadence hasn't been with all four generations of either side of Daniel's family yet but once she is we'll get photos posted!

Great Grandma Kuhn, Grandma Brink, Mommy and Cadee

Great Grandma Brink, Grandpa Brink, Mommy and Cadee

Family Photos at IU Goshen Hospital May 27th-29th, 2012

Grandpa Brink holding Cadence in the hospital.

Grandma Brink getting some cuddles in.

Grandpa Carr meets his newest granddaughter.

Cadee with Aunt Christy and Uncle Kevin.

Bath Time Tears

Cadence isn't convinced that bath time is necessary just yet. Tears seem to accompany every bath. At first I made sure Daniel was home to help but I'm getting used to bathing a wailing Cadee alone and then following up with extra cuddles. On a side note, Renew Body Wash from Melaleuca has made all the difference in Cadee's dry peeling skin. -Mommy Maggie

 

 

Cadence Elaine's Birth Story

I have been wanting to get Cadee's birth story typed up before too much time went by and I forgot the details, but things have just been busy! This post may be long. So here we go!

Our due date was June 1st, 2012, and if you ask anyone who was around me the month before delivery I was determined our baby would arrive on that Friday because that's when I had 'baby due' in my calendar. Don't get me wrong, I'm not usually that crazy when it comes to things not going as I plan, however, with Daniel's military schedule in May and June and my sister's wedding & activities, our due date was the perfect day to have a baby. 


Daniel was in Indianapolis for a 5 day jaunt over Memorial Day weekend and had gone down Thursday evening and was planning on coming home Monday night. Saturday morning I woke up to my mom calling, here I had slept 12 straight hours, only getting up to pee a few times, but going back to a very deep sleep. I know now that my body knew what was going to happen and that I needed that rest but it was totally a God-thing that the dogs didn't wake me up to go outside or to be fed. Anyhow, my mom calls and says dad went to work at Menards already that morning but locked his keys in his car while it was still running and we needed to go over and unlock and turn it off. I was ready fairly quickly and we headed to Goshen. I had wanted to go to the Once Upon A Child store anyway to look for a changing table pad and mom wanted to get some flowers to plant around the house so we decided to make a day of it. 


We rescued dad's running car and returned his keys to him before heading in to the garden center. I had my wobble on, but even that day, I was able to zip and button my regular pre-pregnancy pants. This fact just drove me bonkers because even though I was visibly pregnant I could wear my regular clothes throughout the pregnancy. Guess that was the only benefit to having gained only 1.5 pounds during the last 39 weeks. Inside Menards dad introduced me to some coworkers and mom and I picked out some pretty flowers and a solar garden globe and 10 cases of bottled water to use at Christy's wedding. On our way to the other side of town, I convinced mom to stop at The Chief for ice cream cones. Can you believe she had never had it before! I cured that right quick with a heaping scoop of butter pecan in a waffle cone and blue moon for me. We ate was we headed to Once Upon A Child. I found a pair of maternity capris to wear and a new shirt as well as the changing table pad I was seeking. Mom spotted a great glider chair for only $60 and with my coupon would only be $47. I snatched that up right away but the highlight was trying to get it in mom's car. Upon completing the challenge mom turns to me and says, "Now we have everything, you can have the baby now..." 


As we were headed home I told mom I felt like I needed to pass gas but then I'd feel better for awhile before having the same feeling again a bit later. Mom wanted to head to Plymouth to visit my Grandma and she suggested I go home and take a nap and she'd come over when she got back to town. I did as she said and slept fitfully waking up to the same bloated feeling. Noticing it was like every 15 minutes when I looked at the clock I told myself, can't be early contractions, it's not my due date and Daniel isn't home. I got myself out of bed and showered and packed a bag just in case. I let the dogs out and picked up around the house, then called mom and explained to her that the gassy feeling was like every 13 minutes now. She said she's leave Plymouth and head my way.

I called Daniel to tell him I thought I was having contractions and mom was taking me to get checked. Because it was Saturday, I called the Anglemeyer Clinic and had them page the doctor on call. About 25 minutes later Dr. Schlorke called back and said to come on over to IU Goshen Hospital and he'd see how I was doing. Within the 17 minute ride there my contractions got more frequent and started getting painful. Nearly every 6-7 minutes. I was admitted and given direction to change and the doctor would come check my progress. After confirming that I was indeed in labor, mom called and told Daniel to come home asap. It was 6pm and I was already dilating. I knew I wanted an epidural so they got my IV ready, as I needed that before they would give me the relief I was seeking. It took several tries and eventually they called the Anesthesiologist up to try and get my IV in. The epidural also was difficult, it took them nearly a half hour to get it done, but the relief has wonderful afterwards. Christy had arrived and was with my mom and I was able to have decent conversation while the doctors came and went. I was progressing quickly but my water still hadn't broken, but they told me we could wait until Daniel got to the hospital. He finally arrived at 10pm and I was 9cm. The doctor went ahead and broke my water and kept checking me. At 9.5cm a nurse checked me and Daniel noticed she seemed unsure of something. She left the room and a doctor came to check me. Then we got the news. Sometime between my appointment on Tuesday morning and today our baby wasn't face down anymore. Here the baby was butt down with the feet up by the head. Every time I was checked before the doctors broke my water they thought they were feeling the head coming down the birth canal but after my water was broken the nurse could tell it was butt cheeks instead. Before midnight I was taken down the hall to the operating room for a c-section. It all happened so fast I really remember was them telling me I couldn't push anymore, that it was make the baby go farther down the birth canal in the breech position. Daniel was able to be with me in the operating room, but I could feel everything and the epidural couldn't hide the fact that I could feel the capris cutting my lower stomach, I could feel the doctors hands and the stretchy of my skin and muscles and I started to panic. That's when they decided I should be put under and wouldn't be awake for the moment my baby was born. The mask was over my mouth and nose so quickly I don't remember Daniel even being asked to leave. Several hours later nearly 4am I started to wake up a bit but I knew I needed to throw up. Daniel was right there, taking care of me as I dozed in and out of sleep. I must have been somewhat alert because when they asked me if i wanted to hold my baby I somehow knew she was a girl before they even told me. As if I heard them tell Daniel or something. My sweet baby girl, my little Cadence Elaine was sleeping so near me I could hear her. She had on a little knit hat and was wrapped so tightly she looked peaceful in a dream, so tired from her journey to meet mom and dad. -Mommy Maggie

Sleep

Well here we are, two weeks old. Yesterday, June 9th, 2012, we were both in a wedding for Maggie's sister. It was a beautiful beach wedding. We have a special thanks to all those who held and soothed Cadence during the wedding so we could stand up in support for Christy and Kevin. Last night Cadee decided that she would like to stay up until about 5:30 in the morning, (our alarm was set for
7:00 am) yea for 1.5 hours of sleep......

This photo is of Christy with Cadence, 13 days old

Well here we are again, its 4:30 am and she is still awake and going strong. Yea sleep has left our house. I start back at work on Monday, and I am not looking forward to it. These long nights followed by long days are going to take their toll on me very soon. On a happier note Cadee is growing. We took here for her 2 week wellness checkup on Friday and she was back up to 7lb, 3oz. and she grew 1.5" at 20.5".

Dr. Alfred Schlorke with Cadee

 

Dr. Gregory Todd, our c-section surgeon with Cadee

She likes to make some of the best faces. Some are innocent, some are smiles, and some you can tell she is trying to do something in her diaper. Even though I may get frustrated with trying to figure out how to please her, I would not trade this time for anything in the world. - Daddy Daniel

39 weeks

In fall 2010 Daniel and I quit taking precautions, we knew God would plan the best timing for us to start a family. I won't lie, each month was like a little disappointment, but because we weren't specifically trying, I shouldn't have felt that way. One evening after work Daniel and I headed to Mishawaka to meet up with my mom and sister, along with the other girls from her wedding party. We went to David's Bridal to get our bridesmaid dresses. Christy said to Daniel and I that evening, that she had been counting on the calendar and if we got pregnant that night, we'd have a baby just before her wedding. Little did we know, at that time, we were about a week pregnant then. It was nearly four weeks later, after returning from a work conference, I realized there was a chance we might be pregnant, and I took a test. Knowing it was still very early in the pregnancy we scheduled an appointment and Daniel went with me. Confirmed. We would be parents, due June 1st, 2012. First things first, neither of us wanted to know the gender. We also agreed that we wanted to wait until Christmas, we'd be sixteen weeks then, to tell our family and friends. This would be well beyond the "safe time" and an awesome surprise to share around the holidays. Like clockwork, the morning sickness started. Why do they call it morning sickness when it can be any time of the day? My nausea was so bad, the doctor put me on medication they often give cancer patients during treatment. Feeling so sick and tired all the time, made it really hard to not tell coworkers and those who see me everyday, about our growing family. When it got closer to Christmas, Daniel and I discussed how we wanted to reveal to our family. Using our last name as a play on words we shared with our family that we were "Getting a New Carr" and gave every family member a plastic key from a child's toy key ring. As expected, everyone was very excited and we shared our ultrasound picture from Christmas Eve. The whole pregnancy was anything but enjoyable. Having had a rough history giving blood/receiving iv's the doctor visits, tests, and labor were difficult, but with Daniel and support from family and friends I made it through. May 27th we welcomed Cadence Elaine into our family. At this point in my life, I believe Cadence will be our only child unless we are able to adopt in the future. -Mama Maggie

The Long Start

On Sunday May 27th 2012, we were blessed with a beautiful daughter. Cadence Elaine Carr: 12:03 a.m. 7lbs 8.5oz 19in long. Our first child. Words do not express the feelings what one feels when your own child is born. "Heavenly Father, please help us raise our daughter to be a healthy, loving, and honorable woman of God." That is what I prayed when I heard the first cry, and saw her for the first time. It has been ten days now, and what a journey it has been! Getting and staying up in the wee hours of the night, tending to her every need. However I would not trade it for anything in the world.

From day one we knew our little girl would keep us on our toes. -Daddy Daniel