A Sampling of the First Photo Shoot

Nathan and I braved the storms and headed out the other night for our first family photo shoot as our new "completed" family. Ms. Rebecca with Frame-It Photography took our pictures for us. I got to know her through preschool with Zachary and she was always very eager to shoot pictures of Zachary and Eli for me - and she did a great job this time as well. This is just a sampling of the pictures...I'll hopefully be able to post more when the proofs actually come in. But I thought I would share a snap shot of our little family and all four of my beautiful boys!!

This is one of my favorites.

The brothers!!

I know that I am getting out of order with these posts -- I promise to try and get caught back up soon!

Happy Birthday Tyler!

Tyler Hudson B...

Born February 16, 2011 at 10:51AM

7lbs 5oz ~ 19 1/4" Long

...and with HEALTHY lungs! Praise the Lord!!

The Finished Nursery

A couple of weeks ago I got a huge burst of energy and decided to finish Tyler's room. I got all the furniture and toys in place and finished washing all his clothes and blankets. And so we are set to go!! The only thing left to do is wash the carpet really good (remember, this was Zachary and Eli's room) and therefore it could use a little cleaning! But other than that -- I am pretty proud of the finished product. When I first decided to paint the walls like the valances, I wasn't too sure how it would turn out -- but I love the room now!

Eli isn't too sure about having a room in the house that he isn't supposed to be in, but we lessen the blow by letting him rock in the rocker every day.

And I ordered the boys their "Brother" shirts to wear after Tyler is born. And they were just too cute not to post!!

Here's a closer look at each one...

35 Week Update

Whoo Hoo - I told y'all I would update weekly from now on! :) Kudos to me!!

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Well, yesterday we officially hit our 35 Week mark -- praise the Lord! Back when we found out that we were pregnant again, we were hoping to get to January, and now we are heading towards 36 weeks! Although Dr. T doesn't think we will make it till Valentine's Day, we are praising God for every day that Tyler gets to grow inside my belly rather than in the NICU. I just hope that whenever he is born that his lungs are healthy enough to breathe on their own without the assistance of a ventilator. I mean, I see intubated children all the time at work, but it is nothing compared to seeing your own child breathing through a machine. Plus, I really want Tyler to come with us rather than having to stay 10 days at the hospital like Eli did -- but we will praise Him no matter what happens. Anyway, I go back to the doctor on Monday and will update again after that! Until then...
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The HUGE belly pictures...

35 Weeks and 27 Lbs Weight Gain

Kudos to Nathan for this next shot...I didn't think it was as funny as he did!

Updating my blog has it's consequences!!!

And this is what happens when you leave Eli alone for 5 minutes!!! Oh well, my blog looks great! HAHAHA!!!!

34 Weeks Crammed Into 1 Blog Post

Yes, this is the LONG OVERDUE PREGNANCY UPDATE!!! Oh friends and family, I am so ashamed that I have not kept up with the updates on this pregnancy as well as I should have! And I really have no excuses other than that I have been so pre-occupied with keeping up with Nate, Zachary and Eli that I just haven't made the time! And so here we are, almost 35 weeks pregnant and I'm just now getting around to posting this stuff! However, I promise that once I get you all caught up on the happenings, I promise to update more frequently until the little one is born!! So hang on to your office chairs and here we go!!! While this pregnancy has had its events, it has been a lot less "critical" than with Eli and Zachary. Thus, the highlights...

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July 4, 2010 - 4 Weeks and 3 Days

Nathan and I found out that we were officially expecting out third child!! At this point we had been wondering for a week or so -- but this was the first positive test. (Yes, I said first since we took seven just to make sure!!)

July 26, 2010 - 7 Weeks 4 Days

Today was our first OB appointment with Dr. Trabue to confirm the pregnancy. His first words to us were, "Did you not understand what I meant when I said that you didn't need to get pregnant again??" Nathan and I laughed and shrugged our shoulders and with a big smile he responded, "Well -- let's get to it!" Official Due Date -- MARCH 10, 2011!!

August 7, 2010 - 9 Weeks 2 Days

We shared the news with all the family while on vacation in Michigan!!

October 21, 2010 - 20 Weeks

Its official -- we are expecting another BOY!!!!

November 7, 2010 - 22 Weeks 3 Days

We announced the official name....Tyler Hudson Barnes. "Hudson" is Nathan's step-mother's maiden name and therefor it is a family name to us...so to carry on the tradition, we gave it to our third son.

November 16, 2010 - 23 Weeks 5 Days

At this point we started our every other week ultrasounds to check on mom and baby. I have those pictures but they are waiting to be scanned in. I will get to that soon! However, Tyler looks great in every check up we've had!

November 22, 2010 - 24 Weeks 4 Days

Due to changes in my body, this was when we started weekly appointments with my OB, with the Maternal/Fetal group and with some cardiology check-ups to monitor my heart.

November 30, 2010 - 25 Weeks 5 Days

This was my first and last trip to the chiropractor to deal with my pelvic dislocation again. However, I am not sure what was more painful -- having a dislocated pelvis, or having it popped back into place. So - I went to the appointment and left. My pelvis is still dislocated, but I deal with!

December 6, 2010 - 26 Weeks 4 Days

Well, we made it to week 26 before having to head to the OB ER to stop pre-term labor contractions!! But, we were successful! Shots & fluids...

December 19, 2010 - 28 Weeks 3 Days

Our second successful trip to the OB ER to stop pre-term labor. More shots and fluids!

December 20, 2010 - 28 Weeks 4 Days

Due to pre-term labor contractions that are about 8 minutes apart, consistently! And due to my being 2cm dilated at this point, I officially stopped work. Now I get to spend my time at home on "modified bed rest" until Tyler is born.

January 9th - 11th -- 31 Weeks 3-5 Days

This was our first actual admission for PTL. Unfortunately, the shots and fluids weren't enough to stop the labor this time. So we got to stay for two days, finish our steroid shots and really get a handle on the labor. Tyler's ultrasound showed that he was doing good, measuring 4lbs 5oz at this point and growing great! After the steroid shots, 7 doses of tocolytic meds and 6 liters of fluid, we got to come home!

January 16, 2010 - 32 Weeks 3 Days

Our fourth successful trip to the OB ER to stop pre-term labor!! More shots!

January 24, 2010 - 33 Weeks 4 Days

Our fifth successful trip to the OB ER to stop pre-term labor!! And even more shots!

January 31, 2010 - 34 Weeks 4 Days

We cannot believe that we have made it this far!! I am officially 2-3cm dilated and 70% effaced! We still have a goal to get to February 10th (our 36 week mark) but we are thankful for every extra day we get! At this appointment, Dr.T told us that if we make it to Feb 24th, he will take Tyler at that point and stop all of the madness. However, he thinks that Tyler will get to celebrate his first Valentine's day this year! So the countdown is on!!

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And now on to the progression of the pregnant belly! I am so ashamed again to say that I have not kept up with these pictures at all!!! So I browsed through the pics from the last eight months and tried to pull out the ones that you could see the growth!

9 Days -- And obviously unaware!

5 Weeks
8 Weeks

9 Weeks and 3 Days

11 Weeks and 5 Days

12 Weeks and 2 Days

18 Weeks and 9 Days

19 Weeks and 2 Days

21 Weeks and 1 Day

22 Weeks and 2 Days

Total Weight Gain at Week 23: 15 POUNDS!!

25 Weeks and 2 Days

27 Weeks

28 Weeks and 2 Days

29 Weeks and 2 Days

Tomorrow we will hit our 35 Week mark and I promise to take a picture weekly after that!!!!

Thanks to all who have prayed us through this pregnancy! This is truly been a miracle and Nathan and I are amazed at how easy it really has been!

My Boys

And these are just some various pictures of my boys from January that were just too precious not to post.

Eli LOVES corn on the cob!

Nate found Eli like this the other night....I promise, this child does own a bed!

A White Winter Season (So Far...)

If you are a local peep reading my blog, then you know that we have enjoyed a lot of snow over the last couple of months! Even though I haven't been able to get out in it very much d/t the pregnant belly I am carrying around, I have enjoyed having Zachary at home more because of school closings. These pics are just some various scenery shots of the snow...not too many, but I thought I would post what I have. And after watching the weather this morning, it looks like I might be posting more of these types of pictures again soon!