Carter Oliver Bartlett - born June 25, 2011

In my last post I promised to keep you posted... but lets just say that things got busy!

On Saturday morning, June 25, our world as we knew it began to change.  I woke to my water breaking at 5:00am.  I was so excited that things were starting to take place and that Carter would soon be in our arms. 

Cory called my mom around 5:30am and had her come over and stay with the kids. We drove to the hospital and checked in around 6:00am. My contractions were very light and not consistent. I knew we were going to have a long day ahead of us. By noon the nurse started me on pitocin which really sped thing up. My contractions went from every 12 minutes up to every 3 minutes almost instantly. By 3:00pm they ordered the epidural. The anesthesiologist gave me the local and when capping the needle before disposing he managed to poke himself in the finger. The needle actually poked out of the cap sideways and got him! I felt bad, but even more so, nervous! He still had to put in the epidural. I turned to him and apologized in a light hearted way hoping he wouldn't be upset about poking himself with the needle and continue to do a great job. The epidural went in a little to the right. I could feel the poking and pinching much more than I had with my past two epidurals. Shortly after the epidural was in place my entire right side went numb, but my left side still very much had feeling. So... they increased the meds and I was pretty much numb all over. Nice, but not so nice...

By 7:00pm I knew things were getting close. I was really ready for this part to be over. I needed to hold baby Carter and get unhooked from all of these machines. By 8:00pm things were about to start, however, two other women decided they needed to have their babies first. So... I waited... finally it was our turn... and baby Carter entered the world at 9:19pm on Saturday, June 25th, 2011. He weighed 7 lbs 15 oz and was 20 inches long. He entered the world sideways with his armed wrapped up around his face. But all in all... he was (and is) absolutely perfect! He has a full head of hair, but otherwise looks very much like Ethan as a newborn.

Mariah, Ethan, and Carter

Proud Daddy Cory with Carter

Our new little blessing!

Big brother Ethan holding Carter

Mommy and Carter

Carter all bundled and ready to go home 

Carter taking a peak at the world around him 

LOVE

Carter is sleeping and eating very well.  It is so nice to finally be home and begin our lives together as a family of five.  Thank you for all of the thoughts, prayers, and well wishes.  We love the messages from everyone.  Thanks for being a part of our beautiful experience.

Love,

Cory, Kelly, Mariah, Ethan, and Carter

Baby Day!!!!!!

I will keep you posted!

Dear Carter...

This is a motivation post written to my dear sweet little Carter that needs to come out NOW!  Mommy is in pain and is having a hard time walking, getting in and out of bed, getting in to my van, and just plain moving around in general... it even hurts to lift up the milk gallon.  Sweet little Carter.... you have wedged yourself in to a position that is causing my feet to swell and hurt, my hips to no longer work in a rotating motion which is needed for walking, and randomly I am getting shooting pains down my legs.  I believe they call that sciatic nerve pain.  Yes, I am in pain.  I am complaining.  I am asking you nicely to come out.  Please.  On your own before the induction day would be greatly appreciated.  Mommy needs to hold and snuggle you now.  I would also like greatly to be able to walk and possibly even bend over again. 

Love Always,

Mom

38.1 Weeks

Today baby and I are 38.1 weeks.  We have 8 days left until eviction day!  I will arrive at the hospital around 5:30am on Thursday June 30th and they will start my induction.  My doctor figured the 30th would be a good date since my original due date was June 24th and my second due date was July 5th.  We'll just split it down the middle and ask nicely for baby to come out on June 30th - plus that is my doctor's on call delivery day. 

Baby Carter and I had our 38 week check up yesterday.  I am now measuring at 2+ cm dilated and 85% effaced.  That is just a bit more progress than last week's status.  I was told, again, that it could be any day now because my body is progressing.  So... every day I wake up and Cory asks me how I'm feeling and I say fine (under my breath) and he chuckles and says... most people would be happy to say they are feeling fine.  Yes, well, I want to feel like I am in labor - and be in labor...  ;-) 

My blood pressure was at a beautiful 116/74 yesterday and some how I have managed to lose 1 pound.  This puts me at a 27.6 lb gain during this pregnancy.  Way different than my 50 lb gain with Ethan!  

This past weekend we went to my cousin's wedding on Saturday night.  I was exhausted, but Cory and I managed to get dressed up and get out and enjoy ourselves for a while.  It was a very lovely dinner and reception. 

Here is a picture from 37.5 weeks.

Oliver William Kolbow

Oliver W. Kolbow, age 98 of Watertown passed away on Monday June 13, 2011 at Angels Grace Hospice in Oconomowoc.
 
Oliver William Kolbow was born on September 19, 1912 in Franklin, the son of George and Alma (Grassle) Kolbow.  In 1935 he married
Hazel Dietz at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Franklin.  Hazel preceded him in death on January 11, 1968.  In 1969 he married
Elaine Koester at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Oconomowoc.  Initially Oliver was a carpenter, then became a steamfitter until his retirement.  Dairy farming was also his second occupation for many years.  Oliver is a member of St.Paul's Lutheran Church in Ixonia, and a former member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Franklin where he served
on the Church Council and St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Oconomowoc.  
Oliver was a member of the Milwaukee Steamfitters Union, Local #601 and the Future Farmers of America.  He enjoyed carpentry, playing cards, gardening and winter trips to Florida.
Oliver is survived by his wife Elaine of Watertown, five children, Richard (Carolyn) Kolbow of Watertown, Kenneth (Jerri) Kolbow of Hubertus, Robert (Becky) Kolbow of Oconomowoc, John (Deb) Kolbow of Hartford and Sandra (Harry) Dembroski of Union Grove, a step-daughter, Judy Draeger of Watertown, twelve grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, six step grandchildren and four step great-grandchildren, a sister Elaine Halter of Muskego, sisters-in-law Pearl Kolbow of Muskego and Lorraine Dietz of Franklin, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Oliver was further preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Leroy and Glenn, two sisters, Lorraine and Gladys, a step-son, Alan Koester and a step son-in-law Palmer Draeger.
 
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, June 17, 2011 at 11 am, St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church,W1956 Gopher Hill Rd,Ixonia,WI, with Pastor Kenneth Ewerdt officiating. Visitation at the church, 10-11 am, with service at 11 am. The burial will follow at Arlington Cemetery, 4141 S. 27 St, Milwaukee at 1 pm.   A luncheon will be held after the interment.  Memorials if desired may be directed towards St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church or School, Ixonia. The Hafemeister Funeral Home of Watertown is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.hafemeisterfh.com.

37 Weeks

We made it to 37 weeks!  Baby Carter is now considered full term and can make his appearance at any time!  Over the past two weeks I had been worried about making it to this point.  My body has never progressed ahead of time like this and I feared that Carter might come too early and not be able to go home with us right away.  However, I can let go of those fears now.  37 weeks is a huge milestone.  You can come out any time now Carter.  We are ready and waiting for you! 

Well... Okay... Now Carter has to wait a couple days. I wrote this before I got the news that my Grandpa Kolbow passed away. He was 98 years old and lived an amazing life. He was a wonderful man and will be very much missed. His funeral is on Friday. So... It would be nice if Carter would wait until this weekend to enter in to the world.

36.2 Weeks

Well this has been an exciting week.  Last Thursday I had my 35.2 week check up where the doctor checked my cervix to see if my body was progressing towards labor.  My cervix was soft and I was possibly a small centimeter dilated.  Well after that appointment I started having lower back pain, upper leg pain, and random contractions until late Friday night.  My guess was braxton hicks because they weren't regular contractions and eventually stopped. 

Today at my 36.2 week check up I learned that those contractions were real!  I am now 1-2 centimeters dilated and 80% effaced.  This has never happened for me in the past.  Normally I don't start to dilate until the actual birthing day of the baby.  This is pretty exciting!  Could be tomorrow... could be 3 weeks from now.  No way to really know.  Just excited that things are progressing. 

At my 37 week appointment we will schedule my induction for June 30th.  She mentioned that this probably won't be necessary though... :-)  Looks like baby Carter will be here soon!  I am not worried about the early delivery because my original due date was June 24th which would make me 37.6 weeks right now and baby is considered full term around 37 weeks.  Plus... baby is measuring big. 

Here is a picture from 36 weeks

35.2 Weeks - Pictures

I didn't have a picture to post for 35 weeks so I had Cory take a couple pictures this morning before my check up with my doctor.  All is looking well according to the doctor.  We are talking about a possible induction date of June 30th.  My doctor will be on call that day for deliveries.  Otherwise if I wait until the 4th of July weekend I may end up with whatever doctor happens to be on call.  We'll make a decision over the next couple weeks.  :-)

35.2 weeks - looking in to the sun

 ...and with the sun to my back...

 ...and Ethan and the dogs getting in on the picture action...

Crazy little man!  xoxo