NO WORDS...

Well, as you can tell by the pics above, the grandparents and aunts/uncles don't like Harper at all.....not a bit! ha:) Brandon and I have been blessed with such wonderful, loving families and I just love sitting back and knowing that Miss Harper will grow up being so loved by so many. I had to ask B's sister now if she understood what I felt when I saw Madelyn for the first time. She is leaving for a short trip tomorrow, and her exact words were, "If I knew it was going to be like this, I would not be going!" I'm telling you....being an aunt is wonderful! (Although, I do now think that being a mommy is a little bit better!) lol

Today has been another fun filled day here at the hospital. Brandon counted up tonight and we have had like 56 visitors or something like that!!! 56!!! Are you kidding me....I didn't even know that we knew that many people! LOL I am sooooo overwhelmed....so many people love this little girl (and I can't really blame them:) and have prayed for her over the course of this pregnancy, and a simple 'thank you' just doesn't even seem like enough to say! Where do I start? EVERYONE has been great...from the dr's, nurses, FAMILY, friends.....I just can't get over it. It makes me wanna have 10 more kids....just kidding, just kidding (my MIL probably just got really excited when she read that!) LOL We are so, so, so blessed and I don't even know how to express my gratitude. SO, I'm just letting anyone who wants to hold her and love on her, because everyone means so much to us and we know that her safe arrival is a blessing...why not share her?

Other things that have been going on....I am really convicted to trying breastfeeding...I WANT to do this! It is so good for her, and it's the way God intended! So, we made several attempts yesterday, but they kept saying that the first 24 hrs, they really don't eat anything. So, this morning, the lactation consultant came by to help. It was wonderful....Harper did great. So, we have "attempted" to feed her every 3 hrs or so, sometimes we were successful and sometimes we were not! But, that's okay! I am going to do this!!! She has really done exceptionally well, and of course, I am as big of a worry wort as ever! (It really is ridiculous now!) lol But, we are going to do this and we are going to succeed....I am convinced! Please pray that everything works out the way I hope it does.

Well, right now, it is waaaaaaaaaay early in the morning, and our baby is in the nursery getting shots and bloodwork drawn. Oh goodness....I'm sooooooooo glad I don't have to witness that! I just can't stand to hear her cry, even though she does have the cutest cry that I've ever heard! :) She obviously has been passed around a lot the past few days, so she was a little fussy tonight, but she calmed down and took a nice long nap. I just hope they don't make her too mad in the nursery before they bring her back to me! :( Well, I have about an hour to nap before it's time to try to feed her again and then it'll be time to get up and begin getting ready! So, I'm going to go....

But, before I do, please know that I mean this from the depth of my heart....THANK YOU! Whether you have checked on us through phone, email, facebook, blog, or visited.....thank you! Thank you for your prayers, concerns, gifts, phone calls, visits.....the list could go on and on and on! I know it hardly seems like enough, but like I said in the beginning, I have no words!

Love & Peace to all!

xoxo, Kara C: (aka...Harper's Mommy, best title anyone could ever have)

Pure happiness....

The loves of my life.....

So this is what love is all about....

Oh my goodness...what a day! Well, we started out by checking in last night to be induced. They started the IV and got me hooked up to all the monitors and began the citotech to start the process. Plans were to break my water and start the pitocin early morning. WELL, my body had other plans....sometime around 4am, my water broke and I was already dilated to a 5. So, we called the parents and told them that they may want to come on whenever they could get ready. Around 5am, I got my epidural....honestly, the sleep meds they had given me earlier had me drugged and I really don't remember a lot of anything that happened this morning until about 10am.

So, from this point, they really started to monitor my sugars and check me every hour. After reaching a 5 so quickly, I then went to a 6, 7, 8, and eventually a 9 more slowly. Around 1pm, we began talking about when to start pushing. We decided to wait until 2, get checked, and go from there. Well, Harper was down low, but not officially crowning or in the birth canal. So, they had given me several more doses of my epidural, and I was N-U-M-B!!! I thought, "this is great!" Well, around 2, I was fully ready to start pushing, BUT I was having a little bit of pain in my left side and hip. They said they hesitated to give anymore meds just yet.....WELL, needless to say, they finally concluded that I had hot spots on my left side and I DELIVERED THIS BABY WITHOUT ANY MEDICATION ON THE LEFT SIDE!!!!! Not a walk in the park to say the least. Oh my goodness...if it were not for my wonderful, loving, patient, and kind husband and mother, I would've had a c-section....seriously!!! I felt every single contraction on my left side and Harper must have been on a nerve. So anyway, after about an hour of pushing, they called for the doctor and I had about had all I could take at this point....but, eleven mintues later, the most wonderful blessing, God given gift was handed to me and it made it ALL worthwhile!

She is absolutely gorgeous (I know I'm not biased at all....lol) and she is healthy. The dr. guessed her at about 8 and 1/2 pounds and I was convinced she was at least 9....and she weighed 9 lbs. 3 oz. and was 2o and 3/4 in. long.....beautiful and healthy....I LOVE IT!!!!!

We have had lots of visitors and phone calls and we appreciate and love everyone more than they will ever know. I am sooooooooo thankful that I was able to have a healthy pregnancy and a pretty good delivery and now our family feels complete. We are blessed so much more than we deserve and I can't sleep just thinking about how happy I am and how complete I feel. As I finish this post at 12:25am, I am sitting in my hospital bed, holding my beautiful baby girl, and listening to my wonderful husband snore because he is so worn out from being by my side all day......what more could a girl ask for?

Headed toward the big D and don't mean Dallas...

It's delivery time in Tennesse and we are READY to have this baby. Today, I am 39 weeks and 1 day pregnant and we should see our baby girl tomorrow....I am sooooooooooo excited!

So, we are all checked in and plugged up to all the monitors....now comes the hard part...trying to rest! I really, really, really would love to rest....but I really, really, really don't see that happening. lol They are going to be checking my sugar every 2 hours until I go into full blown labor, and then it'll be every hour! I'm ready to go into full blown labor....lol

And, now comes the hard part.....WAITING!!! Oh my goodness, I am just wanting to get up and do something...anything! But, that's okay...it'll all be well worth it in the end, I know. But, I'm not gonna lie....I am now officially nervous! Guess it's good I waited til now, huh? lol

As long as I have this one by my side, I can make it through....and by the way, he is absolutely fine! Several of you have commented or text me wanting to know if he was hurt, and no he left without a scratch. Of course, he didn't tell me anything about it until it was all over...thank goodness!! That would not have been good for my nerves. lol

Well, I will be sure and keep everyone posted on our progress. And, I'm going to address this this one time and this one time only....I have a blog for MY own purposes, to document OUR lives....I love my blog because I can keep all those who care up to date on what's going on....if you just want to be nasty....do it elsewhere. I have far bigger fish to fry than worrying about someone who doesn't even have the nerve to sign in with their real name making stupid comments! We are us and we claim to be no one else!

Love and peace to all.....I'll talk to you soon!

Please pray for a calm, peaceful delivery and I'll definitely let you know what's going on.

Thank you so much for all of your sweet comments and concerns....talk to you tomorrow!

xoxo, Kara C:

What we're doing...

Well, what have the soon-to-be parents been up to on their last day at home.....

Let's let the pictures speak for themselves, shall we???

As for Momma....And, as for daddy...

Ahhh....will Monday ever come????????

Advisory Warning...

There should seriously be an advisory warning on this show.....NO one who is pregnant or wanting to be should watch this show....take my advice!  LOL  Several years ago, I loved to watch this show.  Even then, I would tear up and cry from time to time.  Well, what on earth was I thinking when I turned it on today while folding laundry.....I DON'T KNOW!!!  In a matter of seconds, I was squaling!!!!  (Like that southern word?)  LOL  I think I'll block that channel until after Monday!

xoxo, Kara 

Winding down & nursery updates

Well we are officially down to 5 days.....I CAN NOT believe it is here already.  We went for our ultrasound on Tuesday and they checked her growth, and we were expecting around 8 lbs. and they couldn't get a great image, but they estimated her at about 8lbs. 5 oz.  Soooo....it looks like we may have a 9 pounder on our hands! :)  Needless to say, she is out of room!!!  You can tell by the pic she was ready to smack us for bothering her so much! LOL  Other than that, we've just been trying to get a few things done and finished up around here before we leave out on Sunday.  

Someone told me today that I needed to update and tell how I was feeling and what my emotions were.  Well, as I thought about that I don't really know what to say.  Today, I am tired!  I didn't sleep well at all last night and I have felt groggy all day!  However, I did get some things accomplished in Harper's nursery today, so that made me feel better, of course.

As far as my emotions go, I am happy, sad, ready, excited, nervous, shocked, loved, tearful....I just don't really know what to feel.  I THINK I am ready to have her....I just don't know what to expect!  I know she's probably a lot easier to take care of where she is, lol, but I'm sure we'll both be much more comfortable once she's out here.  Then, I just wanna cry at times.  Not because I'm sad, but because it's all going to be over soon and I'm going to miss being pregnant.  But, also, because I know it's going to be overwhelming.  I am SUCH an organizational, planner, neat-freak and I know this is going to throw my life into a whirlwind.  I am completely okay with that....I just hope my nerves can handle it!  Please, please, please pray for us this weekend.  Everything has gone soooooooo smoothly so far that I'm just waiting for something to go crazy!  I would love for things to continue smoothly and easily! ha:)

Okay...here's what I've been wanting to do for a while....nursery updates! yay!!!  Here are some before pics of Harper's room (I can't even believe myself how much it has transformed!):AND NOW LOOK HOW CUTESY AND GIRLIE HER ROOM IS.......oh, I love it!And, this little stroller  was made especially for Miss Harper.  The sweetest man that I waited on all the time when I was a waitress made it for her.  How cute is that?!?  He signed and dated it and I am so glad he did....I am so thankful to have gifts like this for her so that I can pass them down to her when she's older and tell her about the stories behind them.  I think I'm going to make a cute little cushion to put down in it and then put her baby dolls in it. 

As you can tell, we are blessed way beyond what we deserve.  These next few days, I want to get our house cleaned and finish packing and getting everything ready to have our daughter.  I am going to say a few extra prayers over the next fews days and just thank God for all he has blessed Brandon and I with.  We have each other, we have a home, and we are about to have a family....what more could anyone ask for?  

I go back to the dr. on Friday to get checked and to make all of our final plans!  I will definitely keep the bloggy world posted over the next few days and probably more than ever during delivery.  I can't wait to introduce Miss Harper to the world!!!  Ahhh...that sounds so nice!  Can't believe it's real and that it's almost here!  

Love & Peace to all! 

xoxo, Kara C:

Not that you care what I've been doing....

Since I had such a long post on Wednesday, I thought I'd wait until I had something to tell before I posted! Needless to say, we haven't done anything super exciting the last few days.  We've been gone a lot and spent some great time with family and friends, but I forgot to take my camera until last night. :(

On Thursday, my best friend Angela and I got together for lunch and she brought over my b'day present.  We met her mom at LaCazona and then we went for a shopping spree at Big Lots! LOL  Actually, we went so maybe I could find an outdoor rug and something cute for my back door....no luck w/ those things, BUT we racked up.  They had a bunch of Martha Stewart stationary for $2!!!!  You can't put great paper products on that much of a sale and not expect teachers to go crazy!  So, we bought all kinds of goodies!!  Then, that night, B and I went out to eat w/ some of our best friends, Tommy and Erin, and their little girl!  They wanted to get together one last time before Miss Harper arrives....it was kinda sad! :(  This was the last time that the 5 of us will go out to eat without another little girl....exciting but also kinda sad!  Oh well, at least from now on, Annabella will have someone to play with besides us! :)  I'm sure she'll enjoy that!

Then on Friday, I had to go back to the dr. for my non-stress test and to get checked!  Well, guess what......NO CHANGES!!!  I mean, I guess no news is good news....she's just not ready.  But, I was hoping to at least be dialated to a 1.....oh well!  I called my mom as I was leaving and told her, "At least we know Harper loves her momma," she wanted to know what I meant, and I said, "because she wants to stay in there....she doesn't want to come out and meet everybody else!" LOL  Of course I was kidding, but I do think she loves her momma already! ha! =)

Then Friday night was Relay for Life in Warren County.  We have never been, so I had told B earlier that if I felt okay, then I wanted to go check it out.  It was a lot of fun, and we got to see a lot of people that we don't get to see that often, so it was nice!  

Now, on to Saturday....since next Saturday I am liable to be a basket of nerves and frantically trying to finish up some last minute to-do items, I thought that this Saturday I wanted to just get out and do some things that I wanted to do.  So, my mama and I headed to Cookeville to do some shopping.....and this time, I didn't buy H a thing! Shocker, I know?!? We went to Ready, Set, Grow to look for a thing or two...but I didn't see anything that I had to have.  Then, we went to lunch at my favorite....Cheddar's!  Sooooooo yummy!!  Then, we went to Kirkland's, Old Navy, and TJ Maxx!  We racked up!  I was needing a few odd and ends for here and there around the house and then Old Navy had all dresses and skirts for $15, so I spent my b'day money there!  Then, I went over to TJ Maxx to tell mama I was done shopping and ended up buying 2 new chairs for horseshows and such and some cutesy shirts for AFTER H is here!  I was so excited to buy something cute and back to normal size! LOL

After our shopping trip, we were off to Woodbury to a horseshow.....guess who shows in the very first class that we can't miss....By far the cutest horse rider I've ever seen....don't you agree?Showing off her winning blue ribbon....LOLReady to go somewhere....With her FAVORITE aunt and cousin....lol  (I told B to take our pic and to be sure and shoot down so I didn't look huge....well, here's the result...the sun was in our eyes!  Oh well...you get the gist of it...)Overall, we had a nice weekend!  We are definitely on the countdown now!  Next Sunday, we will be going into the hospital to begin the process to have this little girl.  Right now, I am feeling good.  I FEEL ready....whatever that means!  I just hope and pray that everything goes as planned and goes smoothly....I know that no matter what I think may happen or what I expect, there are going to be some kinks thrown in there....I am flexible!  I just hope for no huge surprises!  I'll keep  you posted....please keep us in your prayers!

Well, I've got to get ready for church!  Enjoy this beautiful day!

xoxo, Kara C:

Wordy Wednesday!!!

WARNING:  THIS POST IS LOOOOONNGGGGGG! :)

WHEW!!!  Yesterday absolutely wore me out!!  We had 3 appointments to make on top of errands to run ALL over the place.  We started out the morning with B getting up and going to pick up a piece of machinery that he had bought on Saturday.  While he was gone, I got ready and got our clothes ready for the day.  As soon as he walked in the door, he changed and we left again.  We headed to Smithville to drop off a dish to have an arrangement made for our kitchen.  From there, we headed to Murfreesboro.  We had an ultrasound at 10:45, then an appt. w/ our dr. at 11:15.  The ultrasound went great....she scored 8 out of 8 on her biophysical profile and the tech told us again that she appeared to have a whole lot of hair! YAY!  Then, we met with our dr. for the last time until Miss Harper makes her arrival.....ahhhh!!!  So, we asked some generic questions about delivery and so forth, and we are as ready as we are going to be. :)  As soon as we finished up there, we headed toward Vanderbilt for my diabetic appt.  BUT, since we had a little time to grab a bite before the appt, we went to one of my fave places....Pancake Pantry!  Yummy in my tummy!  It was sooooo good!  So then, it was off to the dr.....I haven't seen my actual endocronologist since I was about 10 weeks pregnant, so needless to say, it was a little shock to her. LOL  That dr's appt went well and then we were off to do the fun stuff.....we had to run by a boutique in Green Hills to exchange a pair of shoes that my mom bought Harper and then we stopped by another to just look around.  I surprised myself because I didn't buy a thing!  (I guess it's hard to buy anything when she doesn't need anything! ha:)  Then, we headed back to M'boro and ran into 2 wrecks!  eeekkk!  I was so thankful B was with me and could navigate us around the areas that were backed up.  I am sooooo bad at maneuvering my way around on the interstate, so needless to say, we got back much sooner w/ him driving.  When we got back to M'boro, we had to run by Marshall's to exchange something and look for some shirts, then we went to Kirkland's on the search for one specific thing I wanted for our bathroom and they didn't have it, then we went to Payless because it's BOGO time and I absolutely love, love that store....and still didn't buy a thing. LOL  BUT, one of the funniest things we saw all day was this sign outside of Payless....B had to stop and make a big joke out of it and take a pix and send it to everyone in his contacts w/ a message that said "Please come support my wife.  We need the money to buy diapers!"  He's such a dork....but I love him! :)  At this point, my sugar was low, my stomach was growling, and I was getting grouchy! So, we stopped at Slick Pig for a bite to eat before heading home.  Again, yummy in my tummy!   Then, we just had to make a quick pit stop on our way home to see our precious niece and THEN, finally we were homeward bound!  Oh my goodness!!  We left at 9 am and returned around 8:15 pm!!!  Geeesshhh!!!  I was totally wiped out!  

So, I went to bed early and decided to get up and get some things accomplished this morning before I head out to my hair appt!  So, here are some updated pics of some things that have been going on around the Fuston home.....

Here's looking into Harper's nursery from the hallway....This is probably where I will spend much of my time once we are home.  Also, the crocheted piece above the rocker was handmade by one of our neighbors and it is so bright...thought it looked cute over the rocker!Her chest of drawers, as you can tell, still looks pretty much the same.  I'm waiting on her lamp shade to get finished so that will help it look a little more complete.  I haven't decided for sure what's going to go on the wall above this yet......hmmmm......decisions, decisions!Then, I decided not to hang the mirror above her dresser.  I am going to hang this canvas w/ something in the middle (maybe a pic) and possibly a couple of shelves with some memorabilia from special events in her life.  I haven't totally decided how I'm going to do it yet, therefore, it's not finished! ha:)  Oh well....it will come together in time!Here's a close up of the canvas.  Is it not to die for?  It was a gift from some of our neighbors and it matches her bedding perfectly!Here's the other canvas.....again....to die for!  It's going to be soooo darling hanging above her crib.  I'll post more pics when everything is completely finished!Here's a close up of her crib canvas!Okay....now off to the stuff that MUST be done.  Can you guess what I'm going to be finishing up this weekend???That's right....PACKING!  I have put it off absolutely as long as I can!  It is that time and I need to get it done so I'll be prepared just in case this little girl decides to come on early! ha:)

Next, we have sooooo much that goes on during May and June.  And, with this baby coming, I have had to plan ahead....so I have been getting prepared for some upcoming birthdays and Father's day as well.In addition, I have to get all of our goodies ready for the hospital.  We are having custom cookies made for favors by the awesome Ms. Paula so that part is all taken care of!  But, we are taking little goodie bags to give all of the nurses that take care of us during our stay just as a little thank you!  I need to get those all finished up as well.....And, last but not least, I received another Mother's Day present Monday!  Aunt Randi bought me this adorable little photo album for my purse to put Miss Harper's pics in.  It came from Initial Outfitters and I love, love, love it!  I can't wait to fill it up! LOLWell, I guess that's about it for now, folks!  We are just nesting and trying to get ready for the biggest change of our lives!  I'll keep everyone posted of the events over the next 12 DAYS and then we will for sure be posting while at the hospital.....I'll have to show Miss H off to the bloggy world! :)  That sounds so nice...knowing she's going to be here! YAY!  

Hope everyone enjoys this beautiful day and this beautiful weather....I'm off to get my hair done!  Tootles!

xoxo, Kara C:

TOO tired......

to think...

to type...

to update...

to take pix....

to upload pix....

I'll hopefully be well-rested and ready to talk your head off tomorrow!

Zzzzzzzzzzz....... Kara