Beautifully and Wonderfully Made

As I sit down to write this I can't help but think that Edward has only been here for 4 and a half months.  It feels like a lifetime :)  I also can't help but feel immensely thankful that he's here and that God has entrusted us to love and care for him.  We are so blessed by him!  I'm also glad that I'm finally sitting down to write his birth story since I don't want to forget how he came into the world.

34 weeks with little man!

4 and half months ago on October 24, 2012 I was uncomfortably trying to sleep, drinking more water than I ever thought possible and learning how to waddle downstairs to use the bathroom.  I remember how big I felt and as I look back at photos I was actually as big as I felt.  I was anticipating a couple more weeks with him since my due date was November 8th, but he had other plans.

My husband all ready for the C-section

I was surprised to wake up at 3am feeling some pain, but that wasn't unusual for me.  The pain felt different, but I didn't feel like I had any other symptoms that would make me think I was in labor.....boy was I wrong!  Looking back I was having contractions for a couple days and the fatigue was awful!  I couldn't get back to sleep so I decided to try and sit down and play on the internet.  The moment I sat down I felt sharp pains so I decided to walk around the kitchen and living room on my phone.  This made me question my symptoms a little so I googled labor symptoms.  After like 3 hours I decided I better wake up David.  I was pretty sure after reading that I was in labor for sure!  I calmly went upstairs and woke up David.  I wish everyone could have seen his reaction to "Hunny, wake up please.  I think I'm in labor."  He bounced out of bed without a word and started packing.  I laughed a little and decided to take a shower.  I figured taking my time would be good since labor is a long process (I guess that I should have realized by how much pain I was experiencing that this wasn't a great idea).  David called my doctor and explained my symptoms.  I was in pain but I couldn't tell how far apart my contractions were......little did I know that they were back to back and that I was far along.  The doctor seemed hesitant since I wasn't complaining and was able to talk and walk around.  She decided to have us come in to make sure though.

Daddy and Edward!

The car ride there was rough.  I remember trying to get comfortable and having really bad throbbing pains in my back.  I was telling David that I hoped I was in labor since I feared being that woman that went in too early (oh man, I was so wrong).  We got to Sparrow hospital and I insisted on walking and not having a wheel chair.  They had me fill out the paper work, but I didn't feel great sitting down so I remember standing up and filling them out.  The nurse brought us back and I changed into my gown.  Soon after the nurse checked me and to my surprise she said I was 8cm!!!!!!  I was stunned!  The doctor rushed in and checked me and agreed!  She was so surprised how calm and layed back I was coming in that she was unsure how I was that far along!!!!  All I remember thinking was "oh no, I can't have an epidural!"  I knew that pushing was an intense process and I felt like an epidural might help me endure better since I struggle with fatigue and health issues that might make it hard for me.  She said that I could have the epidural as long as we hurried back.

First pic with my sweet boy!

They wheeled me back to a labor room and the anesthesiologist met with me right away.  He gave me my epidural and I relaxed and rested.  My family came to the hospital pretty early since David told them how far along I was.  They were downstairs waiting to hear the news.  This is when my labor started to get intense.  I was experiencing lots of back labor and the epidural wasn't touching the pain.  I was very uncomfortable and started to get really tired from enduring the pain.  It was around noon that they "accidentally" broke my water (she was checking me and it broke).  8cm went to 5cm since my water was keeping me open.  Fast forward to around 4pm.  I was fully dilated again and exhausted.  They had me start pushing.  I have never worked so hard.....I wanted him out so bad.  After an hour and a half of pushing I had made no progress!  This is when they told me that they figured I could be pushing another 4 hours!  My heart sunk.  I didn't understand how I was making no progress from trying so hard.  After about 18 hrs of labor they decided that a C-section was needed.  David and I made the hard decision to obt for a C-section.  I felt so tired, but I also felt defeated.  I did not want to have surgery but David agreed that it was better for me.   I don't remember much except for the anticipation of a cry!  I was shaking very badly during surgery from all the hormones and the process of labor beforehand.  At 9:37pm our sweet EDWARD DAVID KOCH was born weighing 7lbs and 20.5" long!  We were overjoyed!  He was adorable!

Our New Nest!

Its been too long!  So much has been going on in our lives that blogging has taken a backseat.....plus we didn't have internet for awhile :)

We moved into a house the beginning of October and we LOVE it.  Good friends from our church are letting us rent it from them.....such a blessing to us.  I could go on and on about all the things I love, but I'll spare you the details.  Let's just say that David and I love making this home our home.  I've loved decorating so far and will have to post pictures soon.....once I decorate for Christmas (which is always after Thanksgiving for this girl).

My health hasn't been real great this fall, but since surgery I've been feeling a whole lot better.  Still feeling some pain and discomfort, but way better than before!  Praise the LORD!  I'm trusting that he will continue to give me strength and rest as the winter continues.  I'm battling a nasty cold right now and just praying it stays a cold.....my body loves to make colds turn into bronchitis so hopefully not this year.  David has been so great in encouraging me this fall and helping me to feel joy with where I'm at right now.  I'm so blessed to have him and walk through life with him!



David meeting our friend's baby Grace Lucille Peterson!

 We just celebrated our Birthdays and its always so much fun.  Since our Birthdays are 4 days apart we get to celebrate together with family as well as just the two of us.  Every year its so much fun.....I hope that every year feels like that....even as we get older. 

Nannying for Addy gets more fun every week.....she is growing like a weed!  Her personality is starting to really emerge and its so great!!  She smiles and laughs and giggles and loves to play.  She also can sit up on her own and is getting more and more wiggly when I change her diapers.....she can't wait to stand up and play :)  I mostly just love watching her learn and teaching her how to do things.  Sometimes I come home calling myself "Nanny Casey!"  It makes me oh so excited to have my own little ones.  Addy sure makes me happy and full of joy....especially watching her face light up when Mommy and Daddy come home!  I love knowing her parents personally and seeing Addy's expressions and knowing who she gets it from.....cracks me up!  I also love praying for her little heart and that I would be able to help lead in teaching her what it looks like to love Jesus.....I love that she loves listening to me butcher bible songs....its a little pathetic at times.  Still crazy that I get the opportunity to watch her....so thankful.


This is Addy....could she get any cuter?

Pinterest has also been so much fun for me since I'm decorating a house now.  If you don't know what it is.....look it up!  It is so great at organizing ideas and my husband likes it too.....we love looking at all the funny things people post....the baby halloween costumes killed me!  So cute. 

I'll leave with this.....David and I are waiting for our favorite show to start....Amazing Race.  While we were waiting we started watching the American Music Awards.....I've never felt so old.  We knew hardly any of the artists.....mostly because we are nerdy.....also because most of the popular artists are like Bieber's age.  Let's just say.....we listen to NPR most of the time since our ghetto car doesn't have FM radio anymore and most of the popular music is hard for me to understand since they sing and talk so fast.  I saw Taylor Swift and I felt relieved that I knew someone :)




Us in front of our house!







Casey