Emme Smiles!

Wow! We can't believe she's six and a half weeks old already! Time sure is flying! I'm dreading going back to work...I can't stand the idea of being away from her for 13 or so hours! I'm sure I'll cry that first day back...

We've had a lot of fun with her these past six weeks! She's been to see her pediatrician twice and she's right on schedule for everything. And she really likes him! She's full of smiles for him everytime we go in. Her next appointment is on her two month birthday, June 11th!

She had her first pool experience this past Memorial Day weekend - she wasn't quite a fan...but I think it's because we woke her up to do it - and the water was a little chillier than she's used to. Then, her daddy had to go and be clever and try out Wrigley's old life jacket on her...poor little girl.

I still find her so much fun to run errands with. Takes me a bit longer to get ready and get everything together for us both to go, but I love pushing her around in carts and talking to her...she's my little girlfriend! She loves to shop and she's so good at it! Our favorite place is Target! Sometimes, we venture out to the mall and just walk around...that's fun too! She coos and babbles a bit and smiles a LOT!

I've been visiting my parents a lot on the weekends - lots going on back home. My best friend is going to be a mommy in about 8 weeks and she's getting married in 14, so there's been much to do! Mom and I find ourselves acting like little papparazzi! When we sit there in the morning and just snap picture after picture, we get the most amazing expressions! She's got such a wonderful little personality!

She finally gets to meet her Great-Aunt Judy tomorrow! Matt and I are very excited to introduce Emerson to her and show her off! And then, this coming weekend, she finally gets to meet her Great-Grandma Fern! It's very exciting! She's met a lot of extended family over the past week or two! She's a very loved little girl!

Well, we'll keep you posted as more and more happens!

xo - Katie, Matt, Emerson Jo, & Wriggle-Piggles!

Our Baby Girl!

So, this is obviously a little late...but, Matt and I are proud to announce the arrival of our baby girl, Emerson Jo!!

Born April 11th, 2009 at 6:44pm, weighing 7lbs, 3oz, and measuring 19in long! She has a ton of dark brown hair and is just absolutely beautiful!

She's now 2 weeks and 1 day old and we've enjoyed absolutely every single moment with her! She's a wonderfully laid back little girl who enjoys eating lot, sleeping a lot and is already pooping at a 5th grade level!

Her big sister Wrigley just loves her awful and is very protective of her! Her favorite thing to do is watch over her and lick all of the baby lotion off of her hands and feet! But Emerson is always comforted by Wrigley's little nudges, letting her know that she's close. It's really very cute!

My labor was nice and easy going. My water broke around 930a on that Saturday morning - my theory is that Emerson was just waiting for her daddy to arrive in Pekin...he got there around 9p the night before! We got to the hospital (Methodist Medical Center in Peoria) and were admitted around 10a. I made it to about 6cm before my contractions got a little too uncomfortable and I got my epidural - this was around 2p. By 430-5pm, I was complete and pushing. According to mom, I was a great pusher...however, by 6pm, we realized that Emerson was asynclitic (crooked) and trying to come down a little cock-eyed...and it was then that Mom consulted the doc she has her practice with and it was decided that I would need a c-section. I cried - and cried. Not only was this not what I had hoped for or planned for - I was scared sh*tless. Never had I had surgery before...I'd watched about 50 cesareans over the course of my life, but never did I think I'd be the one on the table. I wanted my mom to deliver Emerson, and I wanted Matt to help her - that was the plan. Now I faced being stuck on an operating table, with a drape up so I couldn't see anything, and not being able to immediately hold my little girl...

Dr. Boyd was great. He really took every extra step to make sure that it was still special for me. The section started at 1842 and by 1844 our little girl had arrived. Before he pulled her out, he had the CRNA drop the drape and lift my head so that I could watch...and she was beautiful - and had the most amazing chubby cheeks ever! He held her over the top of the drape after they cut her free so that I could see her upclose and touch her. Then I just laid there and cried. Our little girl was finally here!

I was lucky enough to have both mom and Matt there in the OR with me. They video taped the entire thing - and I don't know how many times I've watched it - and every time I cry. Damn hormones ;o)

Matt was amazing. He immediately went over to Emerson and watched as they did everything. He got to cut what was left of her cord. However, I got to hold her first. She was crying and crying and proving to us that her lungs worked just fine - and they set her in my arms and I said "Hi baby girl" and she immediately stopped. That was the most amazing moment of my life thus far. Just incredible. We just stared at each other.

Matt and mom escorted her to the nursery - and on the way, stopped to see Grampy Dean, Grandma Dori and Grandpa Roger, all waiting in the waiting room. Matt got some pretty neat pictures of them taking her in. Once I was in recovery, after Matt had already rejoined me, mom brought Emerson back to us. That's when I got my first real chance to see her while sitting up and take her in completely. Of course, I'm biased, but she's just absolutely beautiful.

We spent 48 hours in the hospital, where, of course, we received excellent care - and should have - as we knew all of my nurses! We absolulely loved Jody, Pammy, Melanie, Mary, Janel, Kim and Karla! Jody even bought us dinner after the section!

We spent the following week at my parents - getting adjusted to life with a new baby. Luckily, mom had taken vacation time to stay at home and help us. Unfortunately, Emerson was a little jaundiced - so we had daily blood draws for her to check her bilirubin levels...by the end of the week, they were finally back down and we were cleared. The only upside to any of that, was that it got us out of the house at least once during the day...

We've now spent one week at our own home with Emerson. It's been an adjustment, especially with Matt back at work and me on a driving/lifting restriction. But thanks to good friends and a very laid back, sleepy baby, I was able to get plenty of rest and even out of the apartment for a little bit.

We spent this weekend back at my parents, as today was my 27th birthday. It was a nice laid back day, not a lot of hoopla and very relaxing. The best gift I got came 2 weeks and 1 day earlier...at 6:44pm :o)

Update

So, I'm 37.5 weeks pregnant. Last Wednesday, April Fool's Day, I started contracting every 5-6 minutes or so...and rather uncomfortably (I had been able to deal with them up til then), so I called into work and came up to Peoria to see my mom in the office.

She put me on the monitor for a few hours (cuz I had nothing else to do and no where else to go) and sure enough, I was every 6 minutes...just pumping these contractions out like a pro. So, she checked me. I was 2 cm dilated, 80% effaced...a change of 1cm, 50% efface 4 days earlier. Wow - looks like I might be headed into LABOR!

So, she pulled me from work (I had 5, 12hr shifts left) and put me on "Pekin arrest" - basically, I was to live with them until Miss Emerson Jo arrived. Now, mind you, this was the original plan...only, beginning the 12th, because our induction date was set for the 18th (and still is).

I received a dose of beatmathazone to help Emerson's lungs mature a little quicker - just incase I delivered before 37 weeks. But once we reached the 4th, we knew we were safe. Not to mention, I had been contracting since about week 25 with your typical Braxton Hick's contractions, so her lungs were probably more than fine from the get-go.

I had planned on coming up to my parents for a few days anyways that week as I was to take my state boards on the 3rd. Well...we waited until late, late Wednesday night to decide that these contractions really meant something, and that I should probably unschedule...something I couldn't do past 8am on Thursday morning...so I did. I have yet to actually reschedule the date.

So...Mom did her best to get me either into labor, or to fizzle the contractions out on Wednesday - she dragged my pregnant butt all over the mall...and made it worth my while (and Emerson's too!). But after a couple of hours, we headed back to the house because HER feet hurt.

Dad was excited, but convinced this was all an April Fool's joke. Not. Then his concern fell for Matt - who was still in Champaign!!

I hadn't packed my bag. Which, at 36 weeks, should have been done, but in my defense, seeing as I was being induced at 39 weeks, and coming up to Pekin at 38 weeks, I thought I had plenty of time. I wanted to pack 1 big bag for the entire trip, then, once in Pekin, repack the bag or a different bag for the hospital. Made sense to me! But, not to my husband, who simply told me "told ya so" when I called and told him that I was now on "Pekin arrest" and would not be returning to Champaign...and only had enough clothes for the 2 days I had planned on being there! Luckily, I made those clothes last and Matt was able to make it up on Saturday to bring me everything else - or most other things. After he left on Sunday, I realized, the clothes I had him bring...were for AFTER the baby was born. God, I'm dumb.

So, I've been contracting up a storm for the last week. I'm not sleeping at night, almost not at all, as this seems to be when they get really bad. They're finally moving south (I feel them really bad in my hips and butt) - which is a good sign of impending labor. I went up with mom to the hospital last night (can't be left alone, either!) for one of her deliveries. When we got there, I started contracting really close together and she checked me and through me on the monitor for a bit while she checked on her patient. I was impressing the nurses with the fact that I was contracting every 3-4 minutes and had progressed to "a good 3cm, still 80%" and my cervix was no longer posterior and Emerson's head was way low and my membranes buldged with every contraction. My mom is now convinced that it is HIGHLY unlikely that I will even make it past this weekend.

I was lucky enough to spend Monday and Tuesday with dad...he was off. You can tell he's anxious and excited. Constantly asking me how I'm doing and everything. On Thursday and Friday of last week, while I was home and he was at work, he would call or text me on an hourly basis to make sure I was doing ok. Then, he tells me Friday, "You know, this would be a great weekend to have a baby." I replied "oh yea? Why's that?" And his response? "Cuz I'm off Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues!!" Thanks, Dad - I'll get right on that!

So...still hanging in there. Wishing she would come. But I think our friend Megan said it best - "You can tell she's a Pontifex/Goff already - doing things her own way!" And yes. She certainly is!

More pictures!

30 weeks...and counting...

Alrighty...

Obviously been quite some time since I last updated this thing! Nine weeks, maybe?? Either way, too long, and I'm sorry.

Well, Matt and I have been plenty busy since Christmas. We spent Christmas eve eve with Roger and Dori and headed safely up to Pekin, in one of the worst winter storms, later that evening. Good thing we did, as we ended up having Christmas with my folks and brother because my dad had a feeling he'd be busy on Christmas Eve - and YES HE WAS. But either way, it was a great holiday and Emerson got SO many presents from both sets of Grandparents! Actually - she was really the ONLY one who got presents! And that's all we asked for!

The biggest present for me, came on December 22nd when, while spending time at R&D's, I got a phone call from HR at Provena Covenant Medical Center offering me an RN position on their med-ortho floor...and I gladly accepted! A job - a job that kept me here in Champaign - a job that kept me from commuting while pregnant and then later with a newborn - and most exciting - a PAYCHECK! We were very excited!

I began orientation as a graduate nurse on January 5th. Monday thru Friday, 8am (sometimes 7am) to 5pm. It was difficult and took it's toll, but the paychecks were defintely worth it! Now I'm on the floor, getting accustomed to how things go and work. Taking boards next month...hopefully all goes well.

Matt's been plenty busy in the lab, but is still finding time to be home more than usual. He's taking on more of a supervisory role...so he's learning how to delegate tasks - something he's both enjoying and hating - as any Pontifex feels - if you don't do it yourself, you're afraid it won't get done right. But he's managing it all well.

Well...the count down has finally begun. The date is set and we're excited to announce that I will be induced on Saturday, April 18th! So, little Miss Emerson Jo Pontifex will grace us with her presence on either the 18th or 19th! We're very excited!

Until then, it's work (3-12hr shifts/week for me and typical random hours in the lab for Matt), and getting things ready and together. We have an appointment on Friday, March 13th for pregnancy pictures with a well-known photographer back in Peoria, followed by our last baby shower on that Saturday! So, we're very excited!

We'll try to keep everyone updated! Until then - enjoy the pictures!!

xoxo - Katie, Matt, Wrigley & Baby Emme!

Our Little Girl - Emerson Jo!

I know!

It's been a while since I updated, but so much has been going on! We've been crazy busy!

On December 12th, I successfully graduated from Parkland College with my Associate's Degree in Nursing! Only 1 more step away from being an RN - the NCLEX! Waiting for clearance for that - should come in January. Been interviewing like crazy at all of the area - and non-area - hospitals and so far, only 1 little nibble. However, it's a nibble we'll be turning down as things just won't work with little Miss Em on her way. We're desperate to stay in Champaign, as we love it here, and I'm desperate to work for 1 of the 2 hospitals here in town as they provided me with a "special scholarship" this summer - that comes with a 30 month work committment. I have yet another interview on Monday, and if all goes well, I'll be practicing the kind of nursing I never wanted to, but it's a job and it'll keep us here in town and everything will be as close to perfect as possible. Plus, after 6 mo of employment, I can transfer units, so maybe I'll get lucky there too. Let's just hope that the interview on Monday goes well and that I get an offer. Otherwise, I think we've decided that I'll look for a part-time job until Miss Emme comes and then apply with all of the new May graduates for jobs then. I'll have 1 up on them though - I'll have (hopefully successfully) completed my state boards!

As for little Miss Em - for those who haven't heard yet, we've chosen the name Emerson Jo. We'll likely call her Emme. Matt and I are so excited! She started moving, as previously reported, around 17-18 weeks. Matt's been chomping at the bits to get to feel her, but she hasn't quite been strong enough - not to mention that my placenta is smack dab in the front, and that's typically the area she kicks. Well, laying in bed last night, I had his hand on my tummy - over towards my right (her head and back are over there) and he was getting a little disappointed with my every "did you feel that?" and he'd shake his head. So, I stopped asking. Then, all of the sudden, he asked "Was that her?" And it was! So he's finally felt his little girl move! He was so excited! What a great feeling and what an amazing Christmas present! (Especially as we aren't exchanging presents this year d/t lack of money.)

Saw the perinatologist on Tuesday - taking advantage of all the perks mom has to offer as my midwife. She's very close friends with Dr. Egly and he's a wonderful man who will bend over backwards to help colleagues. So, he assessed her for about 5-10 minutes and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't find a single thing wrong with her! So, looks like we have a perfectly healthy little girl growing in there! He gave us about 6-7 3D pictures and she's SOOOO cute! No idea who she looks like, but she's got the cutest little nose! Unfortunately, they're only printouts (mom gives us her pics on CD so we can upload them to the computer for everyone) so we'll have to scan those and with Christmas rapidly approaching, we've been hard-pressed for time! But I promise, I WILL get them up soon!

Alright, I must leave you now! Time to host a baby shower for my little pregnant friend Elizabeth! Happy Holidays to all of you! Love you!

Love, Katie, Matt, Wrigley and little Miss Emerson!

19 Weeks

Alright - 19 weeks down, about 21 to go...

Started feeling baby girl kick and kick on Friday, November 21st (18 weeks) while out to dinner with Matt at Chilis. We're sitting there and I get this "thunk" under my belly button about 2 inches...then a few minutes later "thunk." With the issues I've had in the past with my GI system, I knew it wasn't gas. Felt her again later that night while laying in bed...and again the next day. Only a few times a day.

Well...now a week later and especially today - she's been going crazy! Every hour, constant for about 10-15 minutes and then she takes about a 45 minute nap. She's a wild woman, that's for sure!

We're looking forward to the next couple of weeks when baby girl gets bigger and Matt's able to feel her movement. He's really anxious for that time - and so am I - I want so badly for him to be a part of this - but so far, it's just me.

Roger & Dori (my wonderful in-laws) were able to join us for an "After-Thanksgiving-Dinner" sonogram at mom's office. So, they got to see little peanut squirm and wave all over the screen. I sure hope they enjoyed that! It was nice to be able to include them in something! Hopefully they'll make another trip up to Peoria before she arrives for another.

On another note...
We did announce our name choice for our daughter to all family at Thanksgiving dinner. We had originally decided to wait, as we didn't want people's reactions to affect our decision - but then we reminded ourselves that she's OUR child and that no one else's opinion matters but our own. And seeing as it's a unique name, we thought some family may need time to get used to it, so, since we're halfway through the pregnancy (hard to believe!), we decided to go ahead and share. However, we're not ready to announce it on our blog. So, if you're interested, drop me an email and I'll share it with you! However, we will share her middle name with you!

Baby girl's middle name will be Jo - after my mom. We liked that my middle name is Anne - short for Annabelle - after my maternal grandmother. So, in trying to make a tradition out of it, we took mom's middle name of Jolene and shortened it to Jo. And we liked how it can also serve as a shout-out to my mom - who will deliver this little girl in April - if things go as "planned."

So, we hope you're all absolutely wonderful and looking forward to a wonderful Christmas! We wish we could see you all! Take care!

BIG NEWS!!

IT'S A GIRL!!

16 Weeks

Time for yet another update!

Had my 16 week check-up today - I know, that sounds silly as I've gone to be "checked" every other week since we found out I was pregnant. But anywho - we had a flip-flop on gender at 14 weeks, so of course, since with all other patients, mom starts looking at 16 weeks, we thought we'd give it another shot. Matt wasn't able to go, but as we had a VERY good idea what the sex of the baby was at 14 weeks, we decided it was ok that he couldn't be there - afterall, mom was just going to be giving us confirmation. So, my girlfriend, Elizabeth, went with me - she's 23 weeks pregnant and even got a sono for herself out of the experience!

So, I took the video camera - just in case - and all is well with baby. As we decided at 14 weeks, we know gender and are keeping it a secret until all the grandparents are told first. Unfortunately, we've been calling Matt's parents and not getting an answer. So...the wait continues for the rest of you!

After we were done with our sonos, mom had a delivery to head off to, and Elizabeth and I both eing nursing students and both wanting to go into midwifery ourselves, I asked if we could tag along...afterall, Elizabeth had never actually seen a delivery! (When taking OB through school, babies don't really come while we're up on the unit to observe - so very few students ever get lucky enough to witness this amazing experience...thankfully because of mom - I have many times.)
So we headed on over to the hospital and witnessed the miracle of birth - the first time I have since I found out I was pregnant...suddenly, reality set it. This is really going to be happening to me and my body in 5 months...woah. I still find myself holding my breath with the patient as they push...and holding back tears after the baby is born. I know - I'll make quite an emotional L&D nurse/future midwife someday...hopefully someday soon.

So, speaking of school and jobs...I applied and interviewed for one of a few positions in the OB department at Provena Covenant Medical Center here in Urbana. I was fortunate enough to have applied and been awarded a heafty scholarship from Provena during the summer, that of course came with a work committment (30 months) which was perfect, as Matt would finish his PhD at the same time my committment would be up. Couldn't time that better. Everything seemed to go well. My interviews went really well...still waiting to hear. Called to check in with HR last week and they said that due to a couple of late applicants, we wouldn't hear anything until next week...hopefully M-W but the good news was I was still in the running! So, that itself was good news!

Well, we'll keep everyone posted! We hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and we look forward to updating you all again soon!!

Love to all!

Katie, Matt, Wrigley and Baby P!