Day 1 & 2 Pictures

Click this link to enjoy some more pictures. We're still doing good.

Charlie- Day 1 and 2

And Charlie's first bath.

Charlie's 1st Bath

Day 1

Charlie's first night was great. He's feeding well, and the pediatrician says he is in perfect health.

Jennifer is a little sore from the surgery but is still very happy.

We are in Room 508 at Presby and will be here until Saturday morning. We're happy to accept visitors but you may want to call beforehand to make sure that Jenn and Charlie are able to see you (nobody wants to come up here and just hang out with me).

Mr. Jimmy and Jay Muslow and Bob Allen have all stopped by to say hello today.

From Charlie

Live from Presby 7.0 - CHARLIE TIME!

Charles Patrick arrived at 7:30pm on the dot, weighing in at 7 lbs, 3 oz. Mother and Son are doing great. Daddy is proud of both of them!

Pictures!

Charlie

Live from Presby 6.0

C-Section time! OUT!

Live from Presby 5.0

We have made some progress. Jenn is now dilated to a 4 or 5 and 80% effaced; Charlie will be born today. Get ready...

Live from Presby 4.2

....and she's awake. Charlie's heartbeat continues to vascilate between 130 and 150 beats per minute, while Jenn's blood pressure remains quite strong at 90 over 60 (came down dramatically after the epidural). As long as Jenn's blood pressure stays good, and Charlie's heart beat stays strong, we'll stay the course. We cannot see the finish line yet but are still running the race. Stay tuned.

Live from Presby 4.1

Still napping...

Live from Presby 4.0

The epidural has been added, but no real changes here, still dilated to a 3. Nap time.

From Hospital

Live from Presby 3.0

The water has broken.

Live from Presby 2.1

Other than a visit to the delivery room from Team Muslow, nothing new to report. Still getting pumped with Petocin, probably for another hour.

Live from Presby 2.0

We are mobile and have moved to the delivery room. The Petocin drip has started, and contractions are coming every 2-5 minutes. She is definitely feeling the contractions now. Blood pressure is good, 108 over 67. Jenn is still 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced, so no change there. She is hungry now.

Live from Presby

This is Patrick. 5am here at Presby. We are in pregame right now, one hour from getting things started. We checked into the hospital last night around 6pm to get Jenn started on medicine and IVs for the induction this morning. Jenn had to spend most of the night laying on her side and has been pretty uncomfortable, for the most part. She was given Cervidil (sp?) around 8pm and has been having contractions ever since. Contractions have been consistent but not painful. They brought Jenn a small meal, which she somewhat enjoyed, only because she won't be allowed to eat again for awhile. She also had some sunset fajitas from Mi Cocina around 5pm yesterday, so she was well fed prior to check-in.

I watched the Mavs/Spurs game and had to switch over to The Office re-runs when the game got out of hand. Many thanks to Mom and Dad for bringing me a sandwich when they came to visit last night. Ever the boy scout, I did not include eating in my plans. I slept a little here and there, Jenn did not sleep much at all to be honest. From laying on her side, she was able to view a couple magazines for entertainment.

Jenn

From Hospital

Patrick

From Hospital

We are excited to get the day started and will keep everyone updated as much as possible.

Final Pics of the Bump

Charlie is approximately 8 lbs. now and ready to come out and meet the world!

From The Growing Bump

From The Growing Bump

Emotions on a Roller Coaster

As I prepare for the last few hours before parenthood I am experienceing some confusing emotions. Part of me wishes that I had gone into labor naturally, so that it would have been a surprise and I wouldn't be on this roller coaster of emotions. The other part is thankful to have a plan so that I can at least, some what, know what to expect over the next few days. Here are some of the other emotions I am going through:

1) Hallelujah!! Bed rest is almost over and I can actually start doing things for myself and others in the near future!
2) Anticipation/anxiousness: This has been a long 9 months... I'm ready to get it over with.
3) Sadness: this is the last night where it is just Patrick and me in our house. Over the next 48 hours our whole lives, as we know them, will become completely different. (I know, I know- it will be for the better!)
4) Overwhelmingly excited to meet our son... this little being that we have created together! I'm already tearing up at the thought of it.
5) Scaredness and confidence all in one. I put these together because I flip-flop from minute to minute. I think "Holy night, what have we done? We're going to be parents? What where we thinking?" to "We can totally do this. Think of how many other people we know that have done it. We are going to be the best parents ever!"
6) And finally, Patrick and I are constantly thinking about Julie and Manny and the triplets. While I think I could handle twins or even trips, I am thankful that we just have one on the way. God knew what he was doing when He decided that!

The Plan

So, we are still on for next Wednesday. My OB has restricted my bed rest once again to doing NOTHING but laying on my side since apparently I can't even sit up and eat a sandwich without my blood pressure rising. Boo! But, at least there is an end in sight. Patrick and I will "check in" to the hospital on Tuesday night at about 5:30 pm. I will be hooked up to my IV's and given some meds to, hopefully, start some progression. (I am still dilated just 2 cm and Charlie is still high as of today). My induction time is at 6 am on Wed., so we are first in line! I asked about the probability of me having a c-section. This has kind of been my thought process... if I can't even sit up without my BP spiking, how am I going to be able to go thru labor??? Dr. Speight says that I will be on meds to help the BP and that since I have already shown some progress that she will let me try, but that she's not going to let me have a long labor just to end in c-section. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens!

Final Ultrasound

Patrick and I went for our 38 wk. ultrasound today. It's weird to think that the next time we see Charlie will not be on a TV screen, but actually in our arms! He is still looking great and is now weighing in at 7lbs 9oz! The doctor could not find any reason to induce early, so we are still on for Feb. 25 (7 days away!). My blood pressure is really spiking when I sit up and I am starting to have a constant dull headache, so I am trying to lay on my left as much as possible. We go tomorrow to my OB and will see what she has to say about all of this. Maybe we'll have our baby here before we think!

Gettin' Bloggy Wit It by Patrick

In the next week or so, I will be temporarily taking over blog duties to spread news and pictures of Charlie and Jenn. Final drop date is Feb. 25th (next Thursday), so we are looking forward to meeting Charlie and introducing him to the world anytime between now and then. I haven't figured out how to attach pictures, videos, links, etc. but can't imagine it is too complicated. I will try to figure out between now and next week.

In between updates on our family, there may also be some updates on the Mavs' season, Texas Ranger spring training, and T.O.'s impending release from the Cowboys.

Sincerely,
Patrick

Welcome Home!

The Leclercq triplets were born one month ago today on Jan. 16 and to celebrate they all got discharged from the hospital today! They are now at home and have met their pets, Shiner and Maddie. All of the babies are roughly a pound bigger than what they were at birth, are all eating like super stars and are adjusting to their new life in their home. Julie and Manny couldn't be more excited. Aunt Jennifer and Uncle Patrick couldn't be more proud of our little nieces and nephew! We can't wait for Charlie to arrive so that we can introduce all of the cousins to one another.

Showers, showers, showers...

Thanks to all of my girl friends for the awesome baby showers that they have thrown for me and baby Charlie. We really appreciate it!

Our first shower was thrown for both Julie and me by our Camp Fern friends. It was a great way to start things off!

From Jennifer's Baby Showers

My TCU and Dallas friends hosted my Dallas baby shower. Thanks to Amanda, Emily, Andrea, Carrie, Caroline and (not pictured) Molly! Baby Charlie is going to love his new car seat, his two large animals (giraffe and lion) and his new mobile!

From Jennifer's Baby Showers

The Shreveport girls threw me a fabulous Christmas/New Year's Baby Shower. Thanks Jessica and Olivia, Lauren, Misty, Milla and Rebecca, Kristi, Johnette and Amelie and (not pictured) Julie, Emily B., Emily D. and Dr. Futrell! For my hostess gift each of the girls gave Charlie different Christmas ornaments. I love that he has one from each of his aunts!! They also gave me a nice gift certificate to Target for my Medela pump, which will come in very handy! Thanks girls!

From Jennifer's Baby Showers

Finally, thanks to my work friends. I, unfortunately, was put on bed rest before my actual baby shower could be thrown, but appreciate all that they have done as well!

The Growing Bump

A Little Progress

Patrick and I had an appointment this morning with our OB and it looks like a little bit of progress has been made. I am 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced, so this is exciting news! But... Charlie is still riding high, so we are still on for an induction date of Feb. 25. Other fun news is that the doctor gave me the OK to sit outside and eat lunch or dinner if it's a nice day. This is huge for my sanity!!

37 wk. update

Well, there is not much to report. Charlie's heartbeat is normal and everything looks great. He looks very smushed in there, though. So, I am hoping that he will decide to come out soon and meet his momma and daddy! He did give us a quick sneak peak of his face during the ultrasound (something he hasn't done in the last 2 weeks), but then quickly covered it up with his hand. And, he must really like his feet because during most of our ultrasounds he has both feet smushed right up against his little face. At least we know that if nothing happens on his own, we will be induced on Feb. 25... let the 2 week countdown begin!

"You're too normal to be here."

Due to my high blood pressure (HBP) I not only see my regular OBGYN, but I also see a paranatologist (my high-risk doctor) regularly. The risks of having HBP is potentially having a low birth weight baby and/or having a higher risk of getting preclampsia/eclampsia/toxemia. Because of all of this, Patrick and I get to have tons of ultrasounds. In a typical pregnancy, the couple will have an ultrasound around the 8 wk. mark to see the heartbeat and then around 20 wks. to check gender and make sure that all of the babies organs are functioning properly. For a "high risk" pregnancy here is what you get:



Luckily, our "high risk" pregnancy has gone off without a hitch! Baby Charlie has consistantly been about 2 weeks ahead of schedule in weight and all ultrasounds have been perfectly "normal". In fact, our doctor made the comment at 34 weeks "You're way to normal to be here." We go back tomorrow for our 37 wk. ultrasound and will have more updates then!

Our nieces and nephew!

As most of you know, Patrick and I have two new little nieces and a nephew. Julie and Manny had Sophia James, Isabelle Jane and Cooper Christian on Jan. 16. They were born at 30wks and 2 days! The Leclercq blog has many more pictures and updates, but I thought that I would share some of my favorites!

Charlie's Nursery

Charlie's nursery is all done. All we need now is for him to arrive!

It's not all about us

Patrick and I want to send out a big CONGRATS to our good friends John and Sarah Hardaway! They welcomed their baby girl into the world yesterday. Anna Carol weighed 7lb 15oz., was 19 in. long and looks to be the perfect mix of her mom and dad! She is the first girl in the group for Patrick's Dallas friends. Anna Carol will have her pick among little Rhodes Hamilton, Dean Williams, and Charlie. We are excited that she and Charlie will be so close in age, also!

Shout out...

I wanted to thank all of my friends and family who have come to visit, called/emailed, brought gifts, and made/picked up dinners for Patrick and I while I have been on bed rest. It really means a lot to me that all of you have helped us during this time. I especially want to thank my Aunt Helen, who has been here for the past 2 weeks and have been keeping Patrick and I well fed with all of her Louisiana home cookin! We truly appreciate all that you have done. My mom got here Wednesday night and will be helping out until and after Charlie arrives. Thanks to all of you!

36 wk. update

My ultrasound was great. Charlie's heartbeat is right on track and everything is looking good. He is weighing in at a whopping 6lbs 11ou! He's a big little man. (He takes after his daddy in this department. Patrick was close to a 10lber when he was born. Thanks Patrick!) My doctor says that we are still on track for a 39wk. due date on Feb. 25. My cervix is doing NOTHING at this point, so it is still bed rest at home for me!

A little background...

I am 36 weeks pregnant today! Yippee! Do to my chronic hypertension this pregancy has been deemed "high risk" from the start. Everything was running smoothly until a couple of weeks ago. My twin sister, Julie, and her husband, Manny, celebrated the birth of their triplet babies on January 16, 2009 (check out their blog at www.leclercqfamily.blogspot.com). The babies, whose 36 wk. due date was supposed to be Feb. 25, came at 30 wks. and 2 days. Luckily, I got the OK from my doctor to make the drive up to OKC to see my new little nieces and nephew. The weekend was definitely not stress-free and there was a lot of standing up time for me. (But, I was so thankful that I got to be there in the first place and would gladly to it over and over again even if the consequences turned out worse than they did. Everything was completely worth it for me to get to meet the little Leclercq's!) On Tuesday, I was back at work and a teacher suggested to me that I have our school nurse check my blood pressure ever so often. Since I NEVER take my blood pressure at work I thought this would be a good idea. Well, it was high three times in a row, even after sitting and resting for a while. So, I went to the doctor that day and because it was still high I got put in the hospital at 34 wks. for a couple of nights of monitoring . Thankfully, my BP went down and has been down with the help of bed rest ever since! We will go back to my doctors tomorrow and will get more information as to when our little bundle of joy will be here!

We've been sucked in!

Welcome to the Allen family blog site! Since I am on bed rest and have nothing better to do than to create a blog, I figured I might as well cave in to this new craze. Patrick and I are excited to have a way to share our life with our family and friends! We hope you enjoy the blog.