Our Baby Boy is HERE!

Brixen Christopher Keller

February 18, 2011

8:59 PM

7 LBS; 14 OZ

20.5-Inches

On February 18, I woke up at approximately 1:00 AM with contractions.  I wasn't sure if they were the "fake" contractions since I had woken up before with "fake" ones.  I decided about a half hour later to wake up Chris and asked him to start timing the contractions.  He had downloaded an AP on this phone called Daddy 511.  It worked great!  Contractions continued for about 3-hours and that is when we decided to call Dr. Swenson.  She said make our way to the hospital and we both realized THIS IS IT!  We finished packing everything and headed out!  We checked into Labor & Delivery at 4:27 AM.

We got into our room immediately and I was given an IV because I was dehydrated.  I was surprised to learn I was only dilated at 2!  On the way to the hospital, we phoned my family and they were on the road within a half hour.  So...  We were waiting for their arrival.  Contractions were getting more intense and I thought for sure I was dilating and moving forward.  Finally, my family got there and it was so good to see everyone (Mom, Dad, Bruce, Ashlee, and Kyle).  We all cried because it was such a great moment, even though I was in a lot of pain.  Since I was only dilated at 2, they decided to head back to our house to relax until I got further along.  Luckily, our house is only 10-minutes from the hospital.

FINALLY...  I decided about 1:00 PM (after laboring for 12-hours with NOTHING) to get an epidural.  I was exhausted and really wanted to sleep.  I needed to get some energy for the pushing stage.  The epidural was GREAT!  I made the right decision in getting it.  After I got it, the Resident Doctor broke my water and also gave me a small amount of pitocin to move the process along.  It worked!  About 5:00 PM, I was checked again and had made it to 5-centimeters.  After that, things moved very quickly.  I had to get a little more of the epidural because I was starting to feel the contractions again.  At approximately 7:00 PM, I was at 9-centimeters and starting to shake like crazy.  I guess the epidural does that to you...  I couldn't stop!  At this point, Chris told my family to get back here and quickly because he wasn't sure how much longer it would be until we met our Baby Boy, Brixen!

I was starting to get that "urge" to push...  By this point, I just really wanted this whole thing to be over and to have our son in my arms.  It had been almost 20-hours since I started having contractions.  About 10-minutes to 8:00 PM, I started pushing!  Just over an hour later, Brixen Christopher Keller was born at 8:59 PM.  WOW!  Words truly cannot describe this experience.  After 9 long months, Brixen was FINALLY here!  When Dr. Simon put him on my chest for the first time, I was overwhelmed with joy and happiness.  I cried and thanked God for this precious miracle!  

We were not able to video the birth.  I wouldn't have wanted it to be on video anyway but Chris was able to video the audio.  And, guess what?  He put together a video!  There will be plenty of more videos and photos in the days to come.  See below...  Enjoy!

We now have been home for a week...  It has gone by fast and has been a bit stressful!  We went to the Pediatrician on Monday and Brixen had lost some weight.  I just wasn't producing enough breast milk.  We had a lactation consultant come to the house on Thursday, which was a huge help!  I am eating good now and drinking plenty of water to help stimulate more milk production.  In addition, I am taking FenuGreek.  Brixen is feeding consistently 10-minutes on each breast.  For him to gain weight, I have to supplement another ounce of breast milk in a bottle after we feed.  It has worked out great thus far and we are hoping it will only enhance my milk production.  Eventually, we will be only breast feeding but that will take time.  We went back to the Pediatrician on Friday.  Brixen had gained 6-ounces, which made me cry because I was so worried when he had lost the weight.  Everything now seems to be on-track and we go back to see his doctor on Friday, March 4.

Chris, Brixen, and I want to THANK EVERYONE who left FaceBook message, sent text messages, called us, brought food, sent flowers, etc.  We appreciate all of your love and support!  It has been an amazing journey and each day is only going to get better and better.  Please check back often as we plan to upload more videos and photos.  Plus, I want to provide updates often on Brixen for family and friends!  THANKS AGAIN!

Happy Birthday to Our Son
BRIXEN CHRISTOPHER

OBGYN Appointment: 02.16.2011

Well...  Dr. Swenson said I am still dilated at 1-centimeter.  However, the contractions I am having are working.  She said that I am thinned out and Brixen is even lower than he was last week.  It definitely is painful when she checks me.  But she seemed to be happy with the progress.

Brixen, of course, was sleeping again when we were put on the monitor.  So, Dr. Swenson, had to use the vibrating thingy to wake him up.  It worked!  We both love hearing his Heart Beat, especially for a long time!  I was having some contractions while we were there but nothing like what I was experiencing this morning.  I woke up at about 2:30 AM and was having some but nothing I couldn't handle.  There was one this morning that was a bit painful.  I tried to relax on my birthing ball.  

My blood pressure was 116/70, which is good!  I didn't gain any weight from our last appointment, which is funny because I swear I have had an increased appetite over the past week.  And, because we were on the monitor, Brixen's Heart Beat was in a range.  Other than that, the appointment went great.

We do have one more scheduled appointment with Dr. Swenson on Wednesday, February 23, 2011.  If we have not gone into labor by that date, most likely, she will schedule us to be induced on Friday, February 25, 2011.  Let's pray that we go into labor naturally...  We both are really starting to wonder now if 02.22.11 will be Brixen's birthday.  Especially, since we saw a license plate in-front of us after leaving our OB Appt that was 222!  CRAZY!

Now...  We just patiently wait for our Baby Boy!  I know that when the time is right, Brixen will make his grand entrance.  The good thing is my Dad made it here safely from FL.  He is chilling in MI with family and friends until we go into labor.  Once we do, my Mom, Dad, Bruce, Ashlee, and Kyle will all make the trip here.  So exciting...

Week #39

Week #39

Baby Bump Photo

Well...  Will this be the last weekly update?  Even if Brixen decides to come before his Due Date, we will still have a Week #40.  A couple of my friends update their blogs with Week #40 with a photo of them and their new baby.  I thought that was a cute idea.  So...  We shall see.  Only time will tell.  :)

Thankfully, I am still feeling and sleeping pretty good!  I might not be sleeping as much at night but still sleeping decent.  I do get up several times a night to go to the bathroom.  According to Dr. Swenson, Brixen is very low so it seems like sometimes I should just be sleeping in the bathroom.  LOL!  

I am starting to have more menstrual-like cramping, leg cramps, back aches, and contractions.  Getting all that practice in before the BIG ONES start to kick in, which could be any minute, hour, or day!  It is such an exciting time!  But nothing major yet.  We go back to Dr. Swenson on Wednesday, February 16, 2011, just two-days before our Due Date.  It is just so hard to believe that it is already February of 2011.  It seemed so far away when we found out we were pregnant back in June.  

Not much going on this weekend for us.  We are planning to relax and tinker around the house.  Maybe go out somewhere to walk around but that is about it.  If I am feeling well, we will go to Church tomorrow.  It has been SO COLD, it is hard to leave the house!  We just got done having breakfast.  Right now, I am making Hazelnut Coffee and about to start some yummy Blueberry Muffins.

For all of you who read our blog...  Thanks for checking-in often!  We appreciate that you take the time to read about how things are going with us and Baby Brixen.  Hopefully, very soon, we will be blogging about our birth experience and posting lots of photos/videos of our Baby Boy!  WE LOVE YOU ALL!  Thanks again for all of your love, support, and prayers!

Take a look at the photo Chris created below...  Week #16 and Week #39!  WOW!  Very cute.  Brixen is so close to meeting his Mommy and Daddy!  We can't wait!  ENJOY!  :)

Live Favor-Minded

Each morning after my breakfast and before I start work for the day, I have "God Time."  Last year, I read "The One Year Women of the Bible" by Dianne Neal Matthews.  In addition, I always read another book that has daily motivational quotes.  This year, I decided to read "The One Year Devotions for Moms" by Ellen Banks Elwell since I am going to be a Mommy in a few short days!  The Author of this book is from Wheaton, IL.  Also, for Christmas, Chris got me a book called, "Your Best Life Begins Each Morning" by Joel Osteen.  I believe you can purchase it at Target.  It is a book of devotions to start every day of the year.

I really enjoy my "God Time" in the mornings, it is like my "Me Time."  This morning, in my "Your Best Life Begins Each Morning," the title is called Live Favor-Minded.  These devotions really make you think sometimes and I thought I would share it with you all...  Enjoy!

LIVE FAVOR-MINDED

So brace up your minds; be sober (circumspect, morally alert); set your hope wholly and unchangeably on the grace (divine favor) that is coming on you when Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is revealed.  [Live] as children of obedience [to God]; do not conform yourselves to the evil desires [that governed you] in your former ignorance.  1 Peter 1:13-14 AMP

AS GOD'S CHILDREN, we can live with confidence and boldness, expecting good things.  If we love God, He's working life to our advantage, and it will all work out for our good, although it may not always be the way we hope.  No matter what does or doesn't happen in your life today, keep believing for the favor of God.

Don't take God's favor for granted.  Live favor-minded.  Get up each day and expect and declare it.  Say, "I have the favor of God."  Don't sit back passively.  You do your part, and God will do His part.

OBGYN Appointment: 02.09.2011

I know a lot of family and friends were looking for this Blog Post yesterday.  I apologize for not getting it up sooner.  Our OB Appointment was long and by the time we got done, we had to rush to our Tax Accountant for our Personal and Corporate Taxes.  Yuck!  Afterward, we had Jimmy's Johns and by the time we got home, I was tired and ready to relax!

Our OB Appointment went well!  I have to be put on a monitor these last couple of weeks...  Well, Brixen decided he wanted to have sleepy-time so Dr. Swenson had to put this vibrating thing on my tummy to wake him up.  IT SURE DID! WAKE HIM UP!  He moved around a lot after that and continued through the night!  Once he was awake, things went a lot faster.  Brixen is doing WELL!  

His Heart Beat was a range since I was on the monitor so I couldn't get an exact number.  My blood pressure was good and I gained another pound from last week.  That means I am up 28-pounds total.  Not bad!  AND LOOKING FORWARD TO LOSING THE WEIGHT!  :)  And...  Looking forward to many, many more things.  But all of that will come with time and right now, we are both enjoying these last few days or even hours!

According to Dr. Swenson, I am still dilated at 1 BUT Brixen is very, very low.  I really don't know what all that means.  Maybe him being low is a sign that labor is near?  I hope so!  She didn't say much else, just that she would see me next week.  So...  Now, we go back on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 1:00 PM.  That is if we make it until that day.  My Dad arrives on February 16 in South Bend.  And, our official Due Date is Friday, February 18.  

Week #38 - A Bit Late!

Week #38 - WOW (14-Days)!

Brixen Baby Bump Photo

 
Where has the time gone???  We found out we were pregnant on Sunday, June 13, 2010!  What happened to Summer, Fall, and Winter?  I know we are still in the Winter Season but before we know it, Spring will be here.  When Chris and I first found-out we were pregnant, we thought 9-months was a long time to wait to meet our baby.  BUT IT SURE HAS GONE BY FAST!  The saying is, "Time flies when you are having fun!"  We have had an amazing last 9-months and can't wait to see what God has in-store for us once Brixen arrives!

We had an interesting week...  Especially, with the 3rd Largest Blizzard in Chicago History.  We didn't really work for a couple of days!  Being stuck in the house did get a bit boring but it doesn't take much to entertain us.  We tinkered around the house and got some more things ready for Brixen.  We also watched movies and took some time for just US.  :)  It was relaxing but it felt great to get out of the house on Thursday when we went to our OB Appt and looked at properties.  

As far as how I am feeling...  On Monday evening, I started to get menstrual-like cramps.  Since that night, they have gotten a bit stronger.  I am starting to have contractions, if you read about our OB Appointment.  They are over every 5-minutes.  Seems like I am feeling them most in the evenings but Brixen has been letting me sleep good at night.  I woke-up this morning (Saturday) with a headache and some more cramping.  But right now, I am feeling good.  I did some cleaning and baked blueberry muffins.  

Everyone seems to think I will have Brixen prior to February 18, 2011.  I guess only time will tell.  Personally, I feel like Brixen will come sooner BUT I do not want to get our hopes up.  First babies tend to be late so we are just remaining positive and enjoying the last few days.  We do go back to our regular OB on Wednesday so we are looking forward to seeing if I have made any progress, which I am sure I have!  :) 

Our Journey to Meet Brixen

On 02.22.2010 at 2:22 PM, Chris told me that we were going to have a Blue Harvest Properties, Inc. meeting.  I didn't really think anything of it.  So...  I prepared some things for us to discuss that I was working on for our business.  I assumed Chris was doing the same.  At 2:22 PM, Chris and I met.  However, it wasn't for a meeting.  Chris said to me, "Honey, I am ready to start a family!"  I, of course, starting crying because I was ready too and it was the perfect day!

We decided that we would take our Honeymoon in April and start trying for our family in Hawaii.  Since, we both LOVE Hawaii, we figured God had a plan for us to either get pregnant there or get pregnant a month later because the Due Date would be around 02.22.2011.  Strange...  Being that it was a year later!

We had an amazing 10-days in Maui for our Honeymoon...  It was PERFECT!  We arrived back in Chicago and a few days later we found out we were not pregnant, which didn't discourage us because we had only been trying for a couple of weeks, really.  We knew our time would come and continued to pray about it.  

Well...  We got pregnant right around Memorial Day.  And, found out officially on Sunday, June 13, 2010.  I woke-up extra early that morning (6:30 PM) because something told me to take a Home Pregnancy Test.  I woke Chris up and said, "Honey, I am going to take a test!"  I SWEAR THOSE 3-MINUTES IS A LIFETIME TO WAIT TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE PREGNANT!  We couldn't believe it when it said PREGNANT!  It was one of the best moments...  For the next few days, I continued to take tests just to be sure that it kept saying PREGNANT!  :)

The day before we took the Home Pregnancy Test, we drove to Milwaukee for the Air Show.  We figured since we would be in FL for the Chicago Air Show, we would make a trip up to Wisconsin.  It wasn't far for us and we love adventures.  Unfortunately, the Air Show got rained out so we decided to go to Barnes & Nobles near by.  We ended up buying a book called, "The Belly Book."  We figured once we were pregnant, we could fill this book out as time went on with our pregnancy.  Little did we know, we were already pregnant!

The past 9-months have been amazing...  We feel truly blessed to have had such a great pregnancy!  We both have enjoyed it very much.  However, we are now just 13-days away from our Due Date and VERY READY to meet Brixen, our Baby Boy!  Everything is ready to go...  Nursery is finished and our bags are packed!  As we wait for those contractions that tell us it is time to go to Evanston Hospital, Chris and I will continue to look back on this journey together and be thankful!

I want to thank all of you who have thought about us and prayed for us throughout our pregnancy.  We greatly appreciate it.  Most importantly, I want to thank my Husband and Best Friend for all his support.  I never thought that I could be this happy or that even someone like him existed...  As I am typing this, I have tears in my eyes.  HE TRULY IS MY EVERYTHING!  I couldn't have made it through this pregnancy without him and his continued support.  I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART!  We are truly blessed that God has brought us together and blessed us with a special kind-of relationship.  I can't wait to see what He has in-store for us now that we will be meeting Brixen for the first time in just a few days...  THANK YOU!

Please enjoy this Our Journey to Meet Brixen Video that Chris has prepared himself.  He has been talking about creating a video like this since the beginning of our pregnancy and now the time has come.  He showed me for the first time last night and it made me cry.  ENJOY!  :)

OBGYN Appointment: 02.03.2011

Originally, our OB Appt this week was suppose to be yesterday (Wednesday, February 2, 2011) but it was canceled due to the Blizzard.  None of the NorthShore Offices were opened!  So...  First thing this morning I rescheduled and had to see one of Dr. Swenson's partners since she was not available.  Not a big deal.  We were just happy that we could get an appointment today since the Nurse I spoke with insisted that they see me once a week.

We had our appointment at 1 PM...  Got in right away!  My blood pressure was 110/70 and I gained a pound, which means I have gained a total of 27-pounds since the beginning of pregnancy.  Not bad...  They said between 25 and 30-pounds is a good weight gain!  Because of my Blood Sugar Levels, Brixen had to be put on a monitor.  We liked this part because we got to listen to his Heart Beat for about 20-minutes straight.  He moved around a lot during this time.  I would say on average his Heart Beat was about 155 or so.  The monitor also measured any contractions...

Well...  I AM HAVING SOME CONTRACTIONS!!!  On Monday night, I started to get menstrual-like cramping.  It seems to come at night.  But my stomach has also been getting really hard, which are the contractions.  Last night, my back started to bother me and I am feeling a bit irritable at times.  She said that the contractions have a pattern to them and are occurring over every 5-minutes.  I am dilated at 1.  Not much but you never know how fast labor can start, I guess!

She just said to keep an eye on the contractions!  We go back to see Dr. Swenson on Wednesday, February 9.  It is a possibility that Brixen will come before his Due Date, especially since I am already contracting.  I guess only time will tell.  Chris and I are both excited!  Everything is ready to go so Baby Brixen can come at any time.  Although, my Dad doesn't get into town until February 16.  Not sure if I will make it until that date or not.  Whatever happens is what is meant to be!  :)

Stay Tuned...

Chicago Blizzard of 2011

Well...  We just experienced the 3rd Largest Snow Storm in Chicago History!  When the Weather Channel started talking about this storm on Sunday, no one really believed that it would be this huge.  Probably because these weather people always say we are going to get snow and it seems to miss us.  But just in-case their predictions were correct, I decided to get some groceries on Monday morning.  It sure was crazy out there!  

It started about 3 PM yesterday (Tuesday, February 1, 2011).  It didn't really seem like we were getting a lot of snow because the winds were so strong.  You could actually stand by the windows and feel it.  Kind-of crazy at times and the winds got up to 70 MPH at the lakefront.  And, we are just a couple of blocks from Lake Michigan.  Personally, I think we got hit the hardest around Chicagoland.  

Chris and I decided to relax as soon as the storm started yesterday...  We watched cartoons, movies, and took naps in his office with the pull-out couch.  It is always so cozy in there.  We checked on the storm from time-to-time but again it was always hard to tell how much snow we were actually getting because the winds were so strong!  Finally, we decided to go to bed late and didn't really know what we would be waking up to this morning!

When we woke-up this morning, the first thing we did was go look out the window!  There was a car across the street that was half-way covered in snow...  It was a crazy sight!  BUT we didn't even begin to imagine the amount of snow we got until we decided to take an adventure outside.  We got all bundled up...  WOW!  We opened our front door and couldn't believe the snow drifts.  IT TRULY WAS LIKE NOTHING I HAVE EVER SEEN!!!  By this time, it was already snowing and very windy AGAIN!  

We walked in the middle of the road to Lake Michigan...  Took tons of photos!  If you haven't seen them, we posted them on FB this morning!  There were several cars that were completed covered in snow and the only thing you could see was the side mirrors!  I would say that in some areas the snow drifts were 6-feet!  THAT IS TALLER THAN US!

Lakeshore Dr is completely shut down and still is right now... Cars were abandoned there last night.  Even when we ventured out this morning, there were cars just left in places.  Strange sight to see!  Chicago Public Schools were closed for the first time since 1999 and are even closed tomorrow too!  Businesses are closed and we are STUCK INSIDE!  We couldn't even get out if we wanted too.  Our back alley way is full of snow and a car was abandoned there last night.  WOW!  

I was starting to get cabin fever earlier...  Called the Subway up the street thinking we could walk there for a sandwich and one of their new raspberry cheesecake cookies and they were even closed!!!  We both are trying to enjoy this quite time because things are about to get very busy for us, personally and professionally BUT it is hard to just sit around!  

We were suppose to have an OB Appointment today at 1:00 PM but the office called early this morning AND everything was closed today.  So...  Not sure when we will get to see Dr. Swenson.  I am hoping on Friday.  I doubt they would want me to go 2-weeks before seeing her since we are so close to having Brixen.  But who knows...

Our Adventure in the Chicago Blizzard of 2011