Life's Journeys

Well Hello all! So as you may see Mr Preston Leon Tschirhart decided he wanted to come a little earlier then expected! He was born December 30th, 2010 at 6:52pm. He weighed 5 pounds 2 ounces and was 18 inches long! Sorry for not getting this rolling a little sooner, but we've been a little busy with him. He was admitted into the NICU when he was born for being a premie, but he has done great! We started off with oxygen and positive airway pressure, a tube to help feed him, medicine to help him poop every 6 hours, TPN, antibiotics, and an incubator to keep him warm. In a week we have removed all tubes, he is pooping on his own, as well as feeding from a bottle, or breast when I am there, which is normally all the time. But I have been told a moms got to rest! So I go home at night, usually with a fight. :) We are so thankful that God has blessed us with such an amazing little boy. We are fighting with him right now, and hopefully he will get to come home soon, but of course not until he is good and ready! Dr says could be up to three weeks, and with as much as we want him home, we want whats best for him. We have a long road ahead, and want nothing more than for him to get the best start possible. He is definitely a gift from god, and we couldn't have asked for a more perfect son. I will have to give more details at a later time, because as you may know a new baby comes with lots of time, and a premie, well they need much more! and mom needs to sleep when she has the chance! So! Enjoy the pictures! I will post more as soon as I can! :) Prayers please! God Bless! :) 

34 weeks and 1 day

34 weeks 

Well Hello again! So I really wanted to try to do as much blogging as I could, but I've just been very busy lately, and today seemed like a good day to start back up again. :)

We had another doctors appointment today! :) He's looking great! Big Boy at 5 lbs 4 ounces! I really am shocked at how fast it seems like he's growing, and within this next month we will have a new baby boy we get to love and hold!

We have found out today that we get to go full term officially, and we get to try for a normal delivery! :) Which is very exciting of course! For months they've gone back and forth about how far they were going to let me go, how big they were going to let him get, and so on and so forth. They were worried about an "addison's crisis" which is where my body basically would have shut down because of the stressors of labor, but we got good news today when we were told we were not going to have to worry about that like we thought! :) Just basically was told when he's ready to come he can come!

Its pretty neat watching those sonograms every week, and how it seems like every week there is something new going on or how he's growing. This week we got to watch him "practice breathing" which is where they breathe in the amniotic fluid and it keeps his little lungs nice and moist for when it comes time for him to take his first breath on his own. The doctor says one of the signs of labor is about a week before they will stop the practices breaths! Crazy huh? We also saw some hair on his head! I'm thinking that the heart burn thing and lots of hair just might be true! The doctor is also calculating his birth weight to be somewhere around 8 pounds when he does deliver. What a big boy!

Those who have followed us throughout this journey knows what a crazy ride it has been, and I cant wait to finally hold this precious gift in my arms. As you know we've been through about all the ups and downs a pregnant women could have, and I am so happy that God is planning on blessing us with such a perfect little human being. After everything. I remember how sad I was about having to post pone school, and restart in August, and how many trips to the hospital, and that first medical bill, and the first time we were told, "He's not viable." It broke my heart, but looking back now I think I have finally realized that God really does have a purpose, and if we continue to stick by his side he will grant us with an amazing gift, which makes it all worth while. Thankfully, I think this journey has also made Jason and I a lot more aware of everything that we do have, instead of what we "don't have" and look at positives. I think we've grown so much more as a couple in the past year, then many dream of. He really is an amazing husband, and he amazes me every single day, and I am even more amazed at the fact that I fall in love with him more and more everyday. I couldn't have asked for a better husband.

So I guess the thing thats on my mind now as I watch baby Preston grow is...Who will he look like? We get a lot of answers, and its so fun to watch what everyone says. Its also pretty neat to watch the sonogram videos and point out little things we both do, "OH THAT IS SO YOUR FACE!" Or "THATS YOUR NOSE!" haha, I laugh because when I was little my mom called me "spock" because I had pointed ears, and its still up in the air about Prestons, but of course were going to love him either way! :)

Well, little man is kicking away, and I think he's trying to hint that mommy needs to eat something! So enjoy the pictures, until next time! Love you and God Bless!

Chewing on his toes <3

and a hand..

this one we swore he was frowning because Jason wasn't there due to work. :( 

poor booger misses his daddy

looking right at you. 

this one is a side profile, with that foot resting on his forehead

another side. 

Early Mornings

Good Morning! 


So really I've been awake since 2:30am and have finally given up and just gotten up for the day. Baby Preston hasn't quit moving, which is okay by me. :) I love feeling him move, and kick, and squirm, I just cant wait till he's actually here! I don't understand, people tell me all the time that my body is preparing its self for when he's actually here, and to enjoy it now, but I don't know, maybe I actually have to do it. I am actually very excited about being up all hours of the night with this little boy that I will have carried for 9 months, and that Jason and I made. It just amazes me that this little being is inside me growing, and I get to hold him and raise him in just a few more weeks. 


I remember thinking how it was going to take FOREVER for 9 months to pass by, and Im not sure if its the anticipation or everything we've been through on this journey that has made it fly by, but it still feels like yesterday that we found out that were having a little blessing. 


I think I am starting to seriously hit the "nesting" stage though, we have been remodeling our house since March of 2010 (before we knew I was pregnant) and it is still being worked on! Whats hard is its not just a few touch ups here and there, its that we start a whole room and that room will be out of commission until its finished! Which is hard, and we've had lots of people ask, "how has your marriage survived???" I just laugh, and think back on all the times that Jason and I both have just cried cause we want the room back that is being demolished, it stinks having to function around a big mess. Right now its our bathroom in our room, and the kitchen. I have the bathroom cleaned up just enough so I can use it the 50 million times I get up in the middle of the night, but getting ready, showering, brushing our teeth, all of that is done in the second bathroom across the house. :) Yay... not. Then our kitchen, ohhh Good Lord! Our refrigerator is in our living room, our kitchen furniture is in our living room, and our living room has a bath to the back of the house, and the front door, besides that we eat dinner, watch TV, talk, and everything else in our bedroom. Thank goodness though, our families will be here Saturday to help us work on the finishing touches! Like getting paint up, and putting things back.


Its frustrating being where I am at now. With as much as I've enjoyed this pregnancy I'm not sure how I am going to make it through this last month being on bed rest. I've always been the "just get it done" type of person, and considering that I cant even stand and do the dishes without contractions or pain from Preston's head already presenting in my cervix, painting the ceiling, walls, and trim just doesn't seem very possible anymore. I remember telling Jason when we were working on the house that there would come a time where I wouldn't be able to help anymore, and I feel like I've finally reached that point. Granite, I am quite excited about how the house has turned out. It finally looks like a home, and not a work shop, or big man cave. (Excluding Jason's Room that I have named, "The Man Room") Which of course also serves as an office. Eventually though I figured its going to be a great place for him to just get away. Once we get the mini fridge filled with beer, and the TV up that is. :) 


Okay so onto Mr. Preston. 
Last doctors appointment went well. It was with Dr. Higby whom I have loved! He's my fetal-maternal Dr that is following us. Its really funny to listen to him and Dr. Brougher go back and forth. Dr. Brougher says she doesn't want me going past 37 weeks, and Dr. Higby says he just doesn't want me going past an 8 pound baby, which if that means full term, then by golly were going full term, so I just figure, as of today we are 32-53 days out, or if you like it in weeks we are 5-7 weeks out. I cant believe were down to single digits! We are right on track too! At 31 weeks he weighed in at 3 pounds 11 ounces, and is looking great as of last week. We only get weights every 3 weeks, so not this coming appointment but the one to follow we will see how big little man has gotten! :) It seems to me that he grows and expands my tummy by the minute. Its so funny how we go back and forth with each other, he will streeeeeetchhh out big time in there, and I have to push his little feet back out of my ribs, which then just makes him push harder on my stomach, and it seems like it really upsets him because then its like he gets mad and starts kicking and jumping around like crazy. I feel so bad for him, but good lord child there is only so much room for you in there! I keep telling him I don't mind if he goes out, but quit going up my lungs! I told Jason I feel like if he really stretched out he could tickle my heart! (Which of course he still does everyday) 


I know your probably tired of hearing how excited we are, but I just feel like I cant help it. It never ceases to amaze me that there is this little guy in there that we made, and I get to spend the rest of my life loving. It truly is amazing how much you can fall in love with someone so deeply when you haven't even met them yet. Its funny how jealous I get when I'm in L&D and I hear the nurses tell another girl, "well today is the day,  lets get you ready for delivery" Man I dream about that day! Even though this pregnancy has flown by it seems like were still so far away! I look forward to the sonograms every week that Dr Higby does, cause that means were just that much closer, and I pray that he's 8 pounds overtime. Of course, reality does set in and I remember he still needs to grow, and thats okay with me. If January would just get here though I'd be okay! :) 


We did a fetal fibronectin test, which measures the fibronentin that your cervix puts off when your in preterm labor, and it  came back negative, which makes it 99% certain that I will not go into labor within the next two weeks, which of course was bitter/sweet all at the same time. It was a relief to know that we wouldn't have a premie, but still sad that the reality set in that we are not QUITE there yet, but getting closer. :) 


Here are the pictures from his last sonogram. Which some of you may know, is difficult to get! He loves to chew on his foot and his hands, and always has them in his mouth or right in front of his face so we cant get good pictures. But!!! Nana (my mom) had a little talk with him before this sonogram, and even though we do have pictures with his hands and feet still up near his face, he let us get some good pictures this time! :) Enjoy. 

This on he's looking right at you. 

Here he's sucking his thumb. :) 

I love this picture it turned out so good! 

This one I swear he's smiling, happy baby already!

This one his finger is by his eye

This one looks kinda funny, but its still my little man :) 

All of our dreams come true

Welcome to Day 1 of Preston Leon's Blog! 

Today we are now 32 weeks and 1 day along! I cant believe how close we are getting to the due date! I apologize for the delayed start in blogging, but better late then never! 

We found out that we were having a baby boy early on in the pregnancy and have named him Preston Leon Tschirhart. We always knew we wanted Leon in his name because Jason's grandpa was named Leon, along with his dad, and Jason's middle name. Jason's grandpa is no longer with us, and I never got the pleasure of meeting him, but Jason assures me he was a great man, and I am very proud to have such an amazing man to name our son after.

Jason and I got married on January 30th, 2010 and began talking about a family early on. We knew we always wanted children, but I had just gotten accepted into nursing school, and children were just not on our minds, but of course God has his own plan, and shortly after we were married and getting settled into our home, and new life together we discovered we were pregnant. I still to this day remember getting the call from the Dr saying that my HCG levels had nearly doubled, and she needed to bring me in asap because they were so high there was a chance of multiples! Regardless we were excited to be expecting period. 

News spread fast  about the new baby Tschirhart, and we couldn't wait to meet this little baby from day one. We never guessed how big of a roller coaster we were about to ride though. 

Since the beginning I have had bats with everything from severe morning sickness, to asthma and pneumonia flare ups, to a debate on steroid vs gestational diabetes, and now all the way to bed rest. It seems like every aliment I could have had, I have had. Though, throughout the whole thing I have kept my head held high and told myself, its all for our little baby, and everything is going to be okay. 

Preston was strong from the beginning, I remember crying in the hospital bed thinking how unfair it was for Preston to have to go through all this along with me. It was okay if I suffered through all the IV sticks, tests, blood draws, breathing treatments, sleepless nights, high and low sugars, and pain, but why should this innocent little boy have to go through everything along with me? I have to say though, if it wasn't for him being right there along side me I don't know that I would have made it through this long journey. 

Friends say that I have always been the hard headed, strong willed, never give up, I'm going to do it my way person. I was going to school, living in my own apartment, had my own car, and basically taking care of myself, with some guidance and help from my parents of course, but regardless I was on my own, and determined to make it work. Then when Jason came along its like God finally told me to slow down, and when I didn't listen, he put me to a major halt. It was like he finally gave me someone that could take care of me during all these hard times, and never even thought twice about it, or how unfair it might be. That man has stood by my side and cared from me since the day we started seeing each other, and has never once regretted a second of it. Now he tells me my job is to "grow that baby, take care of him, and go to school." So thats what I am going to do. 

So, this blog is to my darling Preston Leon. Whom I will tell the story of his everyday life on here so that one day if he wants he can look back on his life's story and always know how loved he is. Your coming into a very loving family little man, and have been loved since the day we saw the dot on the ultrasound machine. No matter how much you put Mommy's body through during my pregnancy, I want you to always know that I did it with a smile on my face, because I knew I was doing it for you, and there is no greater love then the love a mother has for her child. I would do anything for you little man. So like mommy and daddy have always said, "grow baby boy, grow." 

Love always,

Mommy

This is me at 31 weeks 

Mommy almost 32 weeks

Preston at exactly 32 weeks