Just a Few Pictures

Gavin's Official Birth Story

Because a lot has gone on in the last few months, I am only now getting to tell the story of how Gavin Cole Duke came into this world. Starting at 26 weeks things started going "not normal". But actually it was even before that...
I had my usual blood work done by 18-20 weeks and expected everything would come back normal. When my OB herself called me a few days later, I knew something was wrong. She told me I had elevated numbers that indicated Gavin may have Spina Bifida. Very scary! I immediately went online and researched. I didn't want my baby to have that. She recommended I get amniocentesis done but I ended up requesting a high resolution ultrasound to look for it. We found out at the same time that baby #2 was a boy and he did NOT have Spina Bifida. They did watch for it over the course of the pregnancy but all was fine.
At 26 weeks I went in for a routine check up and as the nurse was looking for a heartbeat, could only find one in the 80's. We thought maybe it was picking up mine so the doc came in and very quickly determined that Gavin's heart rate was way too low. So off I went to get another high res. ultrasound. This time they found that he had wrapped his little neck in the cord and was actually squeezing it with one of his hands and was the cause for the temporary low heart rate. They were fine with him holding the cord, it was that it wrapped around his neck that wasn't ok. So I started going in weekly, switching between regular and high risk appointments. I only made it in to my 2nd appointment to see the high risk specialist when she saw that Gavin had somehow wrapped the cord around his neck twice and was now in the frank breech position(ruling out a natural birth) and my fluid was very low. I was in my 29th week. This time I was sent to the hospital to be on continuous monitoring. Let me tell you, it was NOT fun to be restricted to a hospital bed for almost 3 weeks.

While I stayed there, I was seen daily, had ultrasounds every other day, ate the awful hospital food. BORING. The whole goal of me staying in the hospital was to keep Gavin in until 34 weeks. So my OB and I scheduled my c-section for Friday December 18th. We did this in hopes that he would grow big enough to not have to spend very long in the NICU. The next morning I had my ultrasound. It was my last one. Gavin wasn't doing too well anymore. My placenta had died and was no longer providing nutrients for him. He was also measuring small, her guess was 3lbs. 2 oz. That afternoon of December 8th at 2:38 p.m. I heard my sweet baby boy's tiny little cry for the first time. I couldn't hold him because he needed support pretty immediately but I got to see him and kiss him before he was rushed off to the NICU. He weighed 3 lbs 3 oz. and was 17" long. He had dark hair and by the time he left the room, his cry was a loud one. I didn't get to see him until the next morning due to recovering from the c-section but I will never forget the feelings that flooded me. I couldn't believe how tiny, how frail he looked. I was so grateful for the care he could receive. I knew God had a plan for this baby, He has been so good to us. During the time Gavin stayed in the NICU, he only grew stronger each day. No infections. No health set backs. He came home to meet his big brother for the first time on Thursday, January 7th, 2010. Three full weeks before his due date. We have a little fighter! (he fights his sleep very well nowadays)

Gavin still in the tummy, only a few hours before his birth

Gavin Cole Duke

So my pregnancy was not the "ideal" thing. But he is here and safe and sound at home!!! Gavin was born on December 8,2009 weighing in at 3lbs.3oz and was 17" long. He spent one month in the NICU and came home on January 9th. He weighed 4lbs. 13 oz when he came home. I am so happy to finally be getting my life back in order. Ian adores his baby brother and is always saying"he is sooo cute". I guess he has heard a lot of people say that, not to mention his mommy :) Here are some pictures from the past few weeks at home. I hope to get some more up soon!

Love, Jennifer

This is the smile I love:)

Its not very often that I catch this smile on camera. Ian is too quick for me most of the time. But it warms my heart and I can see that he is a very happy, content kiddo. It's the simple things that make him happy: hugs, books read to him, macaroni and cheese,
and time spent crashing cars on the floor. I don't want to ever forget how easy to please he was at 3 years old. I love you Ian, and you will always be my "special boy".
-♥-
Mommy

Family Session {Porter Family}

I have to be honest, when Kelly Porter booked her session, I was a little nervous.
However, it turns out I didn't need to be! The kids were so incredibly well behaved (and cute!)
I had a blast running around the park taking their pictures. Kelly here is your official "sneak peak". Enjoy!
-♥-
Jen


I couldn't resist including this picture of the two youngest little girls, aren't they darling?

A few things so far...

I have a few things already for Gavin and just wanted to share them with y'all.


So this bag I ordered on major clearance...but I didn't really look at the measurements and though it is lovely, too big too call the "everyday" diaper bag. Great for overnight stays!

When I look at the size difference of the boys clothing, I am blown away at how tiny Gavin will be.

And last but not least, are a few pairs of shoes I couldn't resist. I just love the little camo ones!!!

House Progress Continued

This is Ian and Gavin's bedroom. Formerly it was the master bedroom but Daniel and I decided to give the boys the "big" bedroom since they will have more stuff than we do. When it was our bedroom, the walls were a beige color. We decided to paint the room in colors that went well with an airplane theme. "Blue sky, green grass" was kind of the feel we are going for. I wanted a chair rail to separate the colors and give it more of a grown up feel. I plan on these colors staying in here for quite a while! The curtains and cornice boxes over the windows were sewn by Daniel's very own talented sister, Bethany. I LOVE how they turned out! The bed was bought on craigslist. The changing table belonged to my three little brothers when they were babies. My mom has the matching crib as well and we will be picking it up within the next couple of weeks. The rug is from Lowe's, on clearance for $30(and its a super nice Berber carpet). This room has definitely been a budget room!
-♥-
Jen

This is where Gavin's crib will be going. Still working on art ideas.

Crib bedding, belonged to Ian and I am glad to use it again!

House Progress

Daniel and I (mostly Daniel) have been working hard to get the house "ready" for Gavin. Early in my pregnancy I sat down and wrote down what I thought was going to be a small list of things to do before the big day. I looked around my house and thought " paint would be nice". That was only the beginning!!! I then started spending WAY too much time on a website called rate my space where people can upload pictures of the rooms in their house and others "rate" them. I got a little inspired by the thousands of rooms I saw and started dreaming about what I wanted in my house. So I made my short list longer and added painting all the bedrooms, changing rooms around(the office is now our master bedroom) and new furniture for Ian, and the list goes on and on...I can't remember it all. Somehow, our house is beyond what I thought would be possible for our time frame. I am so grateful for all of Daniel's hard work and am constantly in awe over my little house. Here are a few pictures of my living room. We have not decided on a definite paint color yet but there is time later for that. I am more than content with how it looks for now!!!
-♥-
Jen


A feeding chair...and it will be useful for years to come!!!

Window in living room. Daniel special ordered the blinds so the navy strips match our furniture

View of room from the front door...I think this is the most important view :)

View from Dining Room, only view you can see the whole room...

Twin Baby Girls {Haynes Family}

Remember these cutie pies? I love their little dresses and bows:) I am still working on a few others
but couldn't resist sharing these. I'm sorry to all who have been faithfully checking this little blog and no updates...I kind of fell off the "blogging bandwagon" for a little while. Happy Fall!
-♥-
Jen

Davis Family {Kids}

These sweet kiddos are from my church. Aren't they adorable??? The youngest little girl Sarah decided she didn't want her pictures taken on this particular day but I snapped a few anyway:) She will appreciate this very much when she is older! I hope you like these as much as I do, Marianne!(especially that last one)
-♥-
Jen