Two weeks old....

WOW! It is so hard to believe that we have been parents for two weeks! Time really does fly! I have a few short minutes while Tori is napping so I thought I could bring everyone up to speed on what has been going on.

The morning of June 29, I went in for a scheduled c-section. We had scheduled it the Thursday before so it wasn't a surprise to us as it was to everyone else. We chose only to tell our parents and siblings because we wanted to be able to enjoy some time as a family of three before being flooded with visitors. The c-section went great, as expected. We had a c-section because they were concerned about the size of the baby (ha!) and because my cervix was unfavorable and they didn't want me going past my due date because of the gestational diabetes and low fluids.

Anyways the day before the surgrey we had to go to the hospital to kind of pre-register and reality really sunk in for me. I was bawling when we left the hospital that day, I wasn't neccisarily scared, but you always wonder what if!

We got to the hospital at 6:30 on June 29 and I had a special nurse there! A friend of mine that I went to school with since Kindergarten was going to be taking care of me and be in the delivery room. It was such a relief because I knew she wouldn't let anything happen to me or Tori and that she would be there to explain everything to me. She prepped me and got me all hooked up to everything and before we knew it they were taking me back to surgrey. Devin had to wait for them to get the spinal in before coming back and it was the longest twenty minutes of my life! As soon as it was in they let him back and it seemed like five minutes later Dr. Reinerston was asking if I was ready to be a mom and I asked if I had a choice in the matter, then we heard our little girl crying! He came and showed her to me and then took her to Jenni who did all of the tests and cleaned her up. Jenni also came and got Devin from my side and had him cut the cord and hang out with Tori. It kinda sucked being on the table with no one to talk to, but I liked knowing that he was with our little girl. After they were done, they flopped her on my chest and then we were off to recovery! As they were wheeling me into recovery they played the lullaby and the parents in the waiting room knew that it was for us. So cool!

Our hospital stay was great, until the last night. All babies lose weight in the first few days, but if they have lost 10% of their body weight it becomes a problem, so a nurse talked to use about supplementing with formula because my milk wasn't enough which upset me, but we knew that it was what was best for Tori. If we hadn't started formula that night we probably would have had to stay another night. To make a long story short we are still supplementing with formula and breastfeeding and pumping as much as possible, which is hard work! As of yesterday she was back up to 7lbs 8oz, so she just needs to gain two more ounces by her appointment Thursday.

Okay I will quit rambling and start posting some pictures!

Dr. Reinerston with Tori. I forgot to mention one of the nurses took our camera and was running around taking pictures in the delivery room.

First family photo!

Not as big as we expected!

BEST NURSE EVER!

Daddy played dress up with Tori before leaving the hospital!

Finally an outfit that fits somewhat!

Ready to go home!

Mocha meeting Tori! She has been great with her!

Talkin on Devin's cell phone.

Watchin Daddy play softball!

I will try to post more pictures when time allows. Now that we are settled in and have somewhat of a routine down we would love to have visitors! Just please let us know when you are coming so we aren't surprised or in the the middle of nursing. Speaking of nursing, time to go do that again...

Thanks for checking in!

Introducing Tori Lynn Burks

On behalf of proud parents Devin and Christy, I am happy to introduce their new daughter Tori Lynn Burks who was born at 8:57am on Tuesday, June 29. She is 20" long and weighed 7 lbs 10 oz! Both Christy and Tori are doing great and the whole family wants to say "Thank You" for everyone's Congratulations and well wishes that were passed along yesterday. I apologize for not posting photos sooner - I intended on doing it right away yesterday but the hospital didn't provide wi-fi access so I had to get home to get the job done. Better late than never! So without further ado....

Miss Tori Lynn Burks

What a cutie!

Momma and Tori cuddling :)

Proud Daddy Devin holding his new daughter!

Grandma Debbie getting a turn

Grandpa Mike can't be more happy!

Grandma Stacy, uhhh I mean Meemaw, taking her turn

Great Grandma finally gets to hold her!

Snuggling with Great Grandma Burks

Great Grandma Budke trying to keep her awake for a little while!

I will do my best to post some more pictures tonight - I know there were more family members who were able to stop by for a few minutes and I don't want to leave anyone out. Plus I'm sure there will be a whole new group of pictures from today, too, so keep checking back for more updates. Thanks again to everyone for being there to share such an exciting time!

Bummer Dude...

Well, Baby Burks is continuing to not cooperate and will not be here for another week or two. From the sound of things its going to be closer to two weeks. I am due two weeks from today on July 2nd so that works, but it is hard to not get bummed when I had been told the 15th, then the 25th, and now they are saying even longer! Apparently the doctors don't know how impatient I am! I am ready to meet our little girl! I am happy though that the doctors have her health and mine in their minds though. Originally, OSF didn't want me going past 39 weeks, but my doctors that are going to be delivering want me to dilate or at least show some signs of labor starting before they induce me. If I have no signs of labor starting and they induce me, Dr. Brinkman said it will be a long, hard, painful labor, which I of course and not into.

I had a sono this past Monday and we were told she weighs 7lbs 1oz give or take a half pound either way. I'm still thinking she's going to be bigger, but I guess we shall see. I have two appointments this coming week, both for non-stress tests. They will check me on Thursday to see if I'm dilating or anything, but my hopes aren't too high!

So, everyone just needs to have some patience (us included) because apparently this little girl will arrive whenever she damn well pleases!

Thanks for checking in! Time to do some rearranging in the nursery! Gotta love nesting!

The countdown begins...

Wooo! I am actually posting in a timely manner and when I said I would. I think I should get some type of reward for that!

I had my appointment with Dr. Reinerston on Wednesday. I had a sono and then met with him. This was my third sono in Pekin, all with the same tech, and this time she recognized Devin. Apparently she used to live across the street from him way back when they lived on Georgiann. Small world. Anyways, we don't think she is the brightest crayon in the box, although I am sure it is the sono machine that is screwing up! She had told us two weeks ago that I was measuring almost two weeks ahead and that the baby weighed 5lbs 11 oz. Then we went to OSF one week ago and got told two weeks ahead and 6lbs 7oz. At my most recent one, back in Pekin she said 5lbs 11oz and right on time. We don't get it, but there is nothing we can do! We go for another sono on Monday and if she says 5lbs 11oz I'm going to be asking Dr. Reinerston lots of questions! We think that it is probably just the difference in machines. Devin says the Pekin sonos are like watching a fuzzy TV from the 80's and the OSF ones are like watching TV today in HD. I've got to agree. At this time I am done, with appointments at OSF, so we will just have to deal with fuzzy 80's TV.

The doctor didn't have the full report from my most recent OSF appointment, he only had the nurses notes. We discussed doing an amnio and it sounded like he would do it, which is different from what OSF said, but he decided that it was probably too risky. So, for now we are just playing the waiting game and I'm being closely monitored. Every Monday I will have a sono which at this stage is a biophysical profile where they look for certain things and on Thursdays I will have non-stress tests. As much as going so often sucks, I feel better that they have a close eye on me!

We did get one really good piece of news at this appointment; our little girl has HAIR!!!!

Her head is on the right, and all of those little spicky things between the back of her head and her back are strands of hair! WOOOOO! I love babies with hair.

We got two other pictures, but they aren't really worth posting. I can't even tell what they are of!

We have been working hard to prepare for her arrival! I realized the other day that I haven't hardly uploaded any pictures of the nursery, so after I worked in there today I decided to take some pictures.

We still have to decorate this wall. We have wooden letters to go above the crib after they are spraypainted and we announce her name and we may move some decorations from one of the other walls to behind the chair.

Devin's co-worker, Tara, made the Teal blanket for us! I have already used it for a few naps :)

I never shop at Target for some reason, but I saw that the basket that the Rankin girls got me for the shower that was lime green came from Target, so I went there hunting for accessories! I found these baskets and LOVE them!

A few weekends ago we made a quick trip to Chicago and while we were gone, Mike, Stacy, and Brittany came over and did some decorating and cleaning. I think Mike was the one that was in charge of spray painting these flowers! They look great! Devin wants to get more and put them behind the chair on the teal wall, but I think it would be overkill, so I may just move these over to that wall and make something for above the changing table.

Dresser. Britt made the photo board!

Close up of the board.

Another Target find! Devin loves Argyle so I just HAD to get it!

I decided that the bottom of her closet was just wasted space, so I found these cubby's and baskets at Target. Of course I had to have them because they match perfectly! Now, we have somewhere for toys and books! Thank you to Stacy for helping me put them together!

I don't know how shes ever going to wear all these clothes!

I think shes pretty set for a while!

This is our last free weekend until she arrives! Time flies! Next weekend we have Matt's wedding which Devin is in and then the following weekend Eric and Rachel will be HERE! So, excited to see them! I wish our little girl would be able to meet them while they are here. Maybe I will just go into labor instead of being induced. That would be awesome!

Thanks for checking in! I will try to continue updating occasionally!

Where has the time gone?

I can't believe that it is already June! We get to meet our little girl sometime this month! I apologize for not keeping this updated as much as I should.

Okay so to catch up I have had quite a few doctors appointments since my last post. Going to the doctor twice a week has gotten old really fast! I have passed all of my non-stress tests with flying colors, although they are taking a while because the baby is so active and doesn't want to stay near the heartbeat monitor.

I had a sono at my doctors office on May 17th when I was 33 weeks 3 days along and she weighed 5lbs 11oz. My fluids that day were 12.8 which was great to hear! Then, I had a couple non-stress tests that I passed without a problem, however, I was measuring bigger than I should be.

On May 27th I had an appointment up at OSF. I was 34 weeks 6 days along and the baby weighed 6lbs 7oz. I didn't think this was too bad, until my mom informed me that I weighed 6lbs 8oz when born. Kinda freaky that there is something that big living inside of me. My fluids were still okay at 10 something and I was measuring two weeks ahead. My doctor had told me to ask my OSF doctor for a delivery plan, as he just follows their reccomendations. She said that I will be induced it is just a matter of when. Our options are just go to 39 weeks and hope she fits or have an amnio sometime before then and see if her lungs are developed and then deliver. We still haven't decided what we are going to do and tomorrow I have an appointment with my doctor that will be delivering so we will talk our options over with him. The size of the baby and the fluid levels are the main concern. Normal babies put on a half pound a week at this point, but since I have gestational diabetes they are predicting more like 3/4 to a pound a week for our little one.

We had an awesome sono tech and she even took some 3d/4d pictures for us. I was bummed because I didn't really get to see that part. My diabetes lady walked in when she was doing it and was asking me questions, so I felt like I had to look at her to answer her and she was on the opposite side of the room from the monitor. Devin really thought the 3d/4d stuff was cool! She would just take a picture and then rotate it so the head was in front and cut out pieces around it until the face showed up! Here are a few of the pictures.

Not the best picture...her hand was in front of her face.

She looks a little mad here, but I would be too being pushed all around when I was trying to sleep!

Chubby cheeks!

This baby is really inside me...so freaky!

Shying away from the camera a bit.

I think this is the best picture we have! Technology is so cool!

I never thought I would enjoy the 3d/4d but it was neat! I am glad that we got the opportunity to experience it. It gives us a sneak peak as to what our little one will look like! I'm not sure that I would pay for one, but thank to you our sono tech for playing around a little with us!

The diabetes nurse, Leslie said that I am one of their star patients and that I am doing great with the eating plan. It is always nice to hear that, but man am I ready for it to be over! I need some chocolate and pink lemonade, not neccessarily at the same time though.

This was my last appointment at OSF unless some other problem arises where my doctor wants me to go back. Their sono machines are more high tech than Pekin's so if they need to look at anything closely I will go back. Feels great to cut back on my doctors appointments a bit. I still have to call once a week with my sugar levels though.

I will try to be better about updating this. Tomorrow my appointment isn't until 4 and should last an hour or two (the office is open til 8) and then Devin has a game so I probably won't get around to updating tomorrow. Hopefully, Thursday or Friday though. I plan to also post some pictures of the nursery! I know people are anxious to see it!

Thanks for checking in!

Baby Showers!

Baby Burks is blessed to have so many wonderful people in her life and she isn't even here yet! I hope she knows how lucky she is! She had two more baby showers this past week! On Wednesday, May 12th Kat that I work with at the quilt shop organized a baby shower there for co-workers and on Saturday, May 15th we had a co-ed shower at Avanti's hosted by Brittany and my mom. Both were a great time! It is hard to get pictures when the shower is for you, but here are a few decent ones that I managed to get. Brittany took the ones at the shower at the quilt shop!

Some of the fabulous ladies I work with and the table decor!

Some more of my awesome co-workers!

The grandma's to be enjoying the party! Brittany was also there but was behind the camera. Sneaky!

The yummy ice cream cake that Peggy M. brought to the shower. I was even able to eat a piece and it tasted amazing! Can't wait to be able to eat sweets again!

The cool "diaper cake" that Pam made for the baby! Instead of diapers she used hooded towels, receiving blankets, washcloths, and a swaddle me. It is still somewhat put together on the baby's dresser because I think it is too cool to take apart!

Okay now onto the couples shower....Devin was a little unsure about having a couples shower, but he enjoyed it! The reason behind it is that we are good friends with both men and women and we didn't think it was fair to exclude the single men. I think most the men were a little scared to go, but we promised no lame games and fed them pizza and beer so they were pretty happy!

The cake table. Our friend Shawnae made the awesome cake and used the book "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" as her inspiration.

Close up of the cake. The front said Baby Burks and the back said ABC 123. The top layer was fun fetti cake and the bottom was chocolate! Thanks again Shawnae! You rock!

So we may have lied to the guys, there was only one game and it involved beer so we figured they wouldn't object and they didn't! Devin was able to get six of our friends to participate. They had to chug 6oz of beer using a baby bottle! Of course they couldn't take the lids off, they had to suck it through the nipple. It took quite a while. The participants from left to right are: Mark, Cory, Maurice, Karneboge, DeJaynes, and Patrick.

Go boys go!

Annnnnnnnnnnd the old man of the group Cory is out. He couldn't handle the pressure. Mark also gave up after a bit, when he realized everyone was beating him.

Mark applauding the three winners, Maurice, Patrick and DeJaynes as they choose their prize: a six pack of beer!

When the shower was over Mike and Stacy were nice enough to load their car with the gifts and bring them over to our house.

This is what her room looked like after they unloaded. Everything in the corner was already there from the other showers, but the rest was all new gifts.

This is what her closet looks like before unloading the stuff from the couples shower...I think shes already pretty spoiled!

Also after the shower my mom helped my grandma bring over the cradle. This cradle has been in my family since my brother was born in 1983. My grandparents had it made by a family friend. The babies that have been in this cradle include my brother, me, my cousin Greg, and my second cousins, Chloe, Kelsie, and Carleigh which makes Baby Burks will be the seventh baby to use the cradle! I went with my grandparents and my mom to pick out the cradle bedding on Friday, it is a really pretty white bedding set. My grandma got us some receiving blankets, sheets, and two outfits to match.

The plaque on the cradle that tells who it is from.

There are plaques for each baby that uses the cradle. These are the ones for my brother and I.

I can't wait to move the cradle into our room! I just need to clean our room and do a little rearranging so it can fit. It is so neat to have a family tradition like this! I hope that the cradle is usable when I have grandkids! It is in great shape so it should be!

That is all I have for today. I meant for this post to be shorter, but at least it has alot of pictures. I will try to update again sometime this week. I have my sono tomorrow and the chair for the baby's room gets delivered on Wednesday! If you didn't check out my post below from yesterday, you may want to it updates everyone on what is going on medically with me.

Thanks for checking in!

Catching up...

It has been a long time since I have updated, so I'm going to make this a boring post about what is medically going on and then tomorrow I will try to do a fun post with shower pictures and details! I've had two showers this week, one at work and a co-ed one with our friends!

We went to the specialist on May 5th and we found out that I have "low" fluids which isn't good. That doctor just told me to rest alot, but kinda freaked us out. At the time of the sono our little girl weighed 4lbs 4oz, which is right on target! As of now, she isn't too big for her age so that is good with the gestational diabetes. It means the diet plan is working. Devin knew that I wanted to hear that I was doing a good job so he made sure to ask, and they said I was doing great with the diet and that all my numbers were good. They showed us how she is already practicing how to breathe which they said was awesome for her age. It was cool to see. Here are some sono pics from that appointment.

This picture confirms that we are having a girl! I'm not sure why she had to wait this long to show us, but at least we are sure now!

This is a profile shot of her face. Shes already really low and head down so her forehead is at the bottom, then nose, and chin at the top. They actually had to lay me down so far that my feet were higher than my head to get shots of her face! It was very uncomfortable!

I go back to the specialist on May 27th for another sono. We started to realize how serious the low fluids are when they said they wouldn't schedule me for a Friday because my doctors office is closed then so if they needed to get ahold of them if there was a problem they wouldn't be able too! Eeeek! The specialist agreed with the twice weekly non-stress tests and wanted sonos done every 10 days to check fluid levels, size, and lung development.

The day after my appointment at the specialist the nurse from my doctors office called to tell me that the specialist had called them and wanted the sono to be scheduled. So, we scheduled that for Monday the 17th and she went on to tell me to rest. She made it sound like the baby was going to come early too, which did nothing to calm be down! In fact I was so worried the next day I went out and got the carseat so if she did come early we could at least get her home! I felt better knowing that we had it!

On the 10th I had my first non-stress test and since it was Devin's birthday he took the day off and was able to go with me! I was happy because we had alot of questions regarding the low fluids. The stress test was boring as expected. They just hooked me up to two different monitors, one to monitor contractions and one for the baby's heartbeat. I also got a little buzzer thing to push anytime I felt her move! She was kind of uncooperative and kept moving. We had to get the nurse because she kept moving away from the heartbeat monitor. The nurse ended up coming in and holding the monitor on me. Dr. Reinerston told us that from the NST that our little girl looks very healthy and strong for her age which was a relief to hear! As a result of the low fluids he asked me where I worked and I tried to play it cool by saying I worked part-time as an office assistant. Then he asked if I couldn't work if I'd lose my job and I kinda chuckled and explained that I worked for my mom, so he said no more work and to be a couch potato.

I know that he wouldn't be able to answer our questions about if she will be arriving before July 2nd, but I was so worried that she would be arriving alot sooner I had to ask! His response was that we will take it appointment by appointment and that on that day I wasn't going to the hospital to deliver but later that week at my next appointment I could be. He said that they would try to get me to 37 weeks as that is considered a fairly safe time, but would prefer 38 weeks because it is safer. Also, said that I wouldn't go to 39 weeks, so she will be here at least one week early and hopefully not too much earlier than that! My brother and sister-in-law will be up here between 37 and 38 weeks and I would LOVE it if they could meet her then!

I had my second NST on Thursday the 13th and passed that one with flying colors too! He was a little concerned because I had lost close to a pound since Monday, but when he felt my belly he said he felt fluid so we would just see what the sono says on Monday the 17th. I am hoping that my resting (yes, I know I haven't been the best at it, especially the past two days) and drinking fluids will help bring my levels back up to normal. I'm praying that after Monday that I will not be on strict bedrest. I can barely handle couch potato status!

I think that should bring everyone up to date on what is medically going on with me! If anyone has any good books to recommend I would appreciate it! Reading makes it easier to stay on the couch! I will try to post pictures and details from the two most recent showers tomorrow!

Thanks for checking in! Time to go be a couch potato! :)