SHE’S HERE!!!

Reese Nicole Chilcote joined us in this world at 5:41AM on July 30th, 2008. She weighed 7lbs 11oz and was 18” long. What an amazing and surprising beginning of her life! With a C-section scheduled for August 31st, we were woken up early (3:30am!) on Wednesday morning by Nicole’s water breaking. After calling the Dr. we headed to the hospital and 2 hours later… “It’s a Girl!”

Reese is doing great and is constantly reminding us how amazing God is! She has definitely stolen our hearts with her little eyes, nose, ears, mouth, and big cheeks! We’re still trying to decide who she looks like, but we’re sure the cheeks came from me. She’s a really content baby, at least she has been these first 48 hours. She LOVES being swaddled and held. The only time she cries is when we undress her so she can feed. But once she starts to eat, she’s quite content!

Nicole is doing great, too. She’s recovering well from the surgery and has lost half of her stomach! She’s gaining strength and getting better with feeding each time. Today she walked around for the first time. She’s already an amazing mom! The next few weeks will be a bit challenging for her, as she’s not allowed to carry the car-seat or anything heavy, and she’s not allowed to drive! But we’ll get through it. Her mom is coming for a week after we get home from the hospital. She sure loves her Reese – e – Cup! (Yes, you spell it like the candy! Just an FYI.)

As for the delivery, it was a blessing to be prepared for a C-section. Reese (formerly known as ChiliBean) had turned breach from week 36 on, so we were pretty sure she wasn’t going to turn. It all happened just a bit quicker and earlier than we had expected. Nicole’s water broke at home, which started her into labor. She dealt with the contractions like a champ, even when they began to get really tough. Luckily she got the spinal tap quickly and didn’t feel anything from her shoulders to her ankles for the next 12 hours. (Her arms and hands were fine.) I quickly joined her in the operating room when I had put my scrubs on. A few minutes into the surgery, I was told I could stand up and watch over the screen if I wanted. Without hesitation, I jumped up and stared as they pulled my little daughter up and out of Nicole. It was incredible to say the least. We found out why she was breach; her umbilical cord was lightly wrapped twice around her neck like a scarf! She’d try to turn but her chord kept pulling her back. So we were again grateful that we committed to the C-section and didn’t try to turn her.

I joined Reese at the side table in the OR as she was cleaned off and had the initial medical procedures done. I proudly cut the cord and watched in amazement at the new life in front of me. Shortly after that she was wrapped up and I held my daughter for the very first time. I brought her over to her mom who was still getting sown up (an amazing story in itself) and we had our first picture taken as a new family.

Many friends and family have come to visit us already and many more are still planning on coming to see the new arrival. Even though we’re tired, we’re always glad to have visitors. We’ll be in the hospital until Sunday and then will venture out to the world. Thanks to everyone who’s been praying and supporting us for the last 9 months. We can’t wait for Reese to meet each one of you! We love you all and hope to see you soon! Nighty-night!

8 Days or less - Guaranteed!

So Nicole has passed the 37th week. Aren't you proud of her? I am. Really. She's done an awesome job being pregnant and dealing with all of the...sensations that come with it. I was only "pregnant" for a half hour, as you saw on the last post. It's quite remarkable how she's done. Praise God there haven't been any complications or issues other than the one we're currently in. She looks great, don't you agree!

Here we are in the nursery. If you can't tell how big her belly is, here's a better shot.

Nicole's commented on how she now understands the phrase "barefoot and pregnant" because she can hardly put her shoes on! Pray that her feet stop swelling so much! Her other big discomfort is ChiliBean's head is positioned right under (and sometimes in) her ribs. But, only 8 days to go (if not sooner!)


We are truly grateful for our friends and family! Our friends and co-workers at church threw us a co-ed cook-out shower. It was lots of fun! Also, the Seekers Bible study, a group of about 20 senior adult women (75 and older!) wanted to throw us a little shower. I felt a little bit out of place, but what fun we had. We didn't even know all of the ladies, but we sure knew they loved us. It was fun talking about all of the things they have now that didn't exist 20 years ago, let alone 50! (Wipe warmers, breastmilk freezer bags and organizers, rubber duckies with hot water indicators, velcro diapers with "wet" indicators, just to name a few!)

So the final news is how we know that we've only got 8 days. The baby’s still breach (at 32 weeks it was head down, but somewhere around 34-35 it did a flip - hence the head in Nicole's rib!) and Nicole’s at 3cm, which she's been for 2 weeks now. Our Dr. thinks that the baby could turn any day, but there may be some reason why it hasn’t yet. And since we don’t know why it’s not turning, he doesn’t want to try to turn it and then put the baby or Nicole into a traumatic state which would call for an emergency C-section. Nicole could go into labor at any time. But she hasn’t, yet either.

SO...we’re assuming that ChiliBean’s going to stay breach at least another week. We’re scheduled for a C-section next Thursday, July 31st at 9:30am. We’ll go in and see him on Tuesday (29th) and do a final check of everything. Our Dr. didn’t want to wait too long for the C-section because he didn’t want Nicole to go into labor and complicate the procedure. But he also wanted to wait until after 38 weeks to insure the baby’s complete development. If the baby turns, or if Nicole goes into labor, that will obviously change the situation a bit. But we’re thinking the baby’s not going to turn, and are thinking that Nicole will probably not progress further. But who knows. What we do know is that God has everything in His hands, and by July 31st, we’ll be holding ChiliBean in ours!

We'll stay in the hospital through Monday morning, as is their policy on C-sections. Everything's about ready with just a few more things to get. We're so excited to meet the little Levi John or Reese Nicole. We've got "coming home" outfits for both and our bags are all packed! We're ready to go!

Love you all!
John, Nicole and ChiliBean (real name TBD)

Unexpected...

Well, we got some unexpected news at our last appointment. It looks like Chilibean has decided to move out of "optimal" position and is now breech. So what does this mean? It means his/her head is stuck under my right rib (not very comfy) and vaginal labor will not be possible unless he/she turns around in the next week or so. I'm also 3 cm. dilated which means labor is imminent...So we are looking at a scheduled C-section in about 2 weeks unless I go into labor before that. If I do, then they will just set us up for C-section when we get there. There is a chance that the baby will turn on its own, but we are now getting used to the idea of the C-section. This will mean a 4 day stay in the hospital for all and longer recovery for me. Honestly, we are just thankful that we live in a time where these options are available and our baby will be taken care of in the best possible way. Still...it wouldn't hurt for you all to pray that the baby turns.

Almost there!

The end is in sight! As I was drinking my ONE cup of coffee this morning, it hit me that the end is near. Soon our lives will be changed forever. Our actions reflect that reality - we have been running around getting stuff ready - putting finishing touches on the nursery, polishing up the new budget, going to baby classes (check out John in the sympathy suit), etc...
I guess they call this nesting. At any rate, for every one thing we get done, I can think of five more that I want to do. Plus, we are trying to do stuff now that we may not be able to do in a month - go to movies, hang out with friends, catch a baseball game (we tried to go to a local game last night but opted out because of the rain) or whatever we feel like doing. It's very fun and exciting. Check out pictures from our latest outings.