Welcome Home Baby Hunter

We excitedly arrived home on Thursday afternoon! Home, sweet home. I inhaled the sweetest breath of fresh air as we left. Exiting the hospital doors with a baby in my arms felt like I was crossing the finish line of a very long marathon. My heart was overwhelmed and overjoyed with happiness. I just thanked God over and over again.

Here is your new home, baby boy! We have prepared for your arrival!

Mommy and Hunter leaving the hospital

You are so tiny in your car seat! Just like your big sister once was...

Big sister Madison was very curious about you, wanting to hold your hand...

...and kiss the top of your head (we'd been practicing to "kiss the baby" with Madison's baby doll). But after about 60 seconds, she was over the "new baby" and more interested in playing with her toys. This has continued since then...her curiosity about the baby is very short-lived. No jealousy or anything. She's pretty much living in her own world still! But when she does actually notice another baby in the room, she is very sweet with him and is a big helper to Mommy getting diapers or putting a hat on the baby.


Welcome home balloons and flowers, and a sign Madison especially made for us! (One of her favorite hobbies remains to be art projects. Her current favorites are stickers, Crayola Twistable gel crayons, and stampers.)

Mommy, Daddy and Baby Hunter in the same bassinet we used for Madison.

Family time

We are exhausted, but wanted to post some pictures from today. We had a great day today. Hunter nursed fabulously (although still some tongue issues, it was much better) all night and all day today. We were busy meeting with doctors and lac consultants throughout the morning, phone calls and feedings this afternoon, and were even able to sneak in one nap. ...which was good because last night I slept from 2-4 am and again from 6-8 am. Mark got more beauty rest, of course. :) Lucky to be a man. Madison and Mark's parents visited. Madison was very curious about the baby at first, touching his blanket and then reaching for his face and eyes...and Daddy quickly pulled baby out of reach. After 60 seconds, she was more interested in exploring the hospital room. Hunter had a few other visitors yesterday: Celia, Jamie and Jan! We are looking forward to going home tomorrow afternoon.

Proud Daddy and his two kids...

Sweet sleeping baby

Nana and Hunter

Granddaddy and Hunter

Jamie came to visit yesterday!

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for the beautiful flowers!!

Beautiful bouquet sent from Mark's coworkers at Exxon Mobil

My beautiful diamond/sapphire ring that my fabulous husband gave to me after giving birth! (Yes, I gave him a birth gift, too - a really nice watch.) I was so surprised!

Our Sweet Hunter Cole

Thank you, Dad, for updating our blog. (My dad jokes that even at my funeral, I'd have requested someone to update my blog, haha.)

I just wanted to expand upon our adventurous, yet glorious day yesterday as we welcomed our son, Hunter Cole, into the world. I believe that Hunter would have been born yesterday, regardless of whether or not our c-section was to be scheduled. When we got to the hospital, my contractions were less than 10 minutes apart. Needless to say, I was in a lot of pain already at certain moments prior to the surgery. However, the routine c-section ended up being anything but routine...but should this suprise us? Of course not. If anything went normally with this pregnancy, then that would be, well, abnormal!

Everything was fine with the baby, praise the Lord. He was breech and turned around backwards. That made it a little challenging for the doctor to remove him. Hunter came out crying right away, which was such a precious sound to hear so immediately. (We had not heard this as immediate with Madison, but little did we know she had some lung problems.) And, Hunter displayed that he was all boy right away as the doctor was lifting him out and he peed all over me. Of course, we were just so happy to meet and finally see our beautiful little boy!!!! He was so, so beautiful, with a perfectly round head and healthy, big body weighing in at 7 lb 11 oz.

The next paragraph is graphic, so you are forewarned...
While Hunter was with a Neonatologist getting checked out in the OR, I started to feel increasing pain - not near my incision, but toward the underneath of my rib cage. It spread to the rest of my abdomen like a bad stomach ache, then finally feeling like stinging fire. The doctor was collecting the cord blood and then we heard him speak very quickly and give orders to the assisting doctor, nurses and anesthesiologist to gather certain tools and administer a series of drugs I can't even pronounce. My uterus suddenly inverted and turned itself inside out. Later, the doctor told us that it was so severe, he was half a minute away from performing a complete hystorectomy on me. He said this type of thing is very unusual and in fact, he hadn't seen it happen in about five years. Thankfully, due to swift and steady hands, the doctors were able to manually manipulate the uterus and righted it into position. My body was in so much pain that even with my epidural, I was crying because I hurt so badly. Next, the doctor needed to remove my cerclage. Part of it had broken off, but the knot itelf was still in. However, tissue had grown over it and was unable to be removed. So, we have to decide whether to just leave it in forever, or it will need to be removed surgically in a couple months. The doctor is consulting with other doctors before we make a decision. Due to all of the increased pain, they gave me more pain medication and it knocked me out. I next woke up in the recovery room. I was only supposed to be in this room for about an hour before going to my post partum room, but I was actually in there for about 2 1/2 hrs. My body temp dropped and remained at 94 degrees. When I woke up, I was unbearably cold, so much in pain, and had all of this space-age material draped on me. Finally, my temp raised to 97 degrees and I was allowed to be taken to the nursery to see my baby!

Because of the added pushing and pulling in the OR, I've experienced more pain than normal while recovering. I felt like I had been run over by a truck over and over again. But, when I see my little boy's face, all that pain just goes away (almost). :) We have thoroughly enjoyed every minute with him. Although we were so very happy when Madison was born, we were still very much wrought with concern for her health and her life in general. It is so nice this time to be able to hold our baby right away, to nurse him, and to have him in our room! What a huge treat that we do not take for granted.

Hunter is doing wonderfully. We are in awe of his little squeals, his newborn smell, his long fingers and toes, his baby soft skin, and his bright blue eyes. The doctor did have a couple concerns, one being a balled spot on his head where the skin had not healed properly. They gave him an ultrasound on his brain yesterday, but everything looks just fine. His skull and brain are not damaged, it's just his skin. Otherwise, he is a very happy baby. He started out feeding really well. Today has been more of a challenge. He's having a little tongue issue while nursing and it's just been a challenge to keep him awake long enough to eat! But, with lots of hard, tedious work today...we are working through it. It takes a lot of patience.

Madison came to visit us today in all her Big Sister glory! She just stared and stared at her little brother when she first arrived. After a few minutes, she was over it and much more interested in things around my hospital room. How many things she could touch, pull down, etc. I looked down at my one day old baby...then looked over at my 18 month old baby...and thought "Oh my, what have we gotten ourselves into?" But, we'll just take it one day at a time, learn as we go, and try to laugh and enjoy each moment.

We've enjoyed several sweet visitors already. We were told we can go home on Thursday. We also thank you beyond words for your kind emails, texts, voicemails, calls...and your many coveted prayers. We feel so incredibly blessed by you. We give God all the glory for bringing us through this so far. We've got some more small hurdles to jump (some I have chosen not to write about), but I just have to remind myself to trust in Him. I continue to look to Him, as I know He won't leave us hanging! He will show us the way...as He always has in the past...He will continue to do so as He leads us in the future.

Our handsome son

Hospital info

Christus Hospital-St. Elizabeth
Danae Chipley - Rm. 3101
2830 Calder Street
Beaumont, TX 77702
409.892.7171

Hello everyone!

Hunter Cole Chipley

January 12, 2009

He's here!

Hunter was born today at 12:09pm (CST)! Hunter weighed in at 7 pounds 11 ounces and is 19 3/4" long. He has some brown hair. He's resting in the nursery (the 'regular' nursery!). Danae is doing fine and is resting too. Mark hasn't yet had a chance to see what color eyes Hunter has. Danae & Mark haven't yet decided on Hunter's middle name. More info and photos will be posted asap! (This is posted per Danae's request by "Papa" Miller.)

T minus one day...

We're still here at home...no worries. Contractions subsided late last night, so I'm glad I didn't go ahead to the hospital. Next time I post...we'll have a little boy to show off!

Update 1/10

I went to the doctor yesterday for my last NST. That's right, folks. My last. Thank the Lord. We're almost there! What a long road. Do you know that I've been seen by a doctor over 90 times this pregnancy? That's major.

The test went well and we passed. Baby got a great score. His heart was fine. It decelled and accelled where it needed to, in appropriate reaction to the contractions I was having. I had to wait a long time to have a doctor approve the heart strip since I was having several contractions. There were many little ones and a couple big ones, but they didn't feel like I was in labor yet. But they didn't let me go without a firm talking to about when to come into the hospital. Basically, they said (as we already knew) it could be any day now, your body looks ready, all systems a go. If I have four contractions in one hour, go ahead and go to the hospital, straight to the L&D floor. Yeah, yeah. Got it!

Mark came home Friday afternoon and it's been wonderful to have him back home! I'm glad the training went well and he was able to make the full session without having to come home early. He absolutely loved it, said it was the best class he's taken and his team came in first place. Good job, babe! Since he's gotten home, we've run a few errands (yes, I got out of the house for a few minutes!), played with Madison outside, and worked on Hunter's room. It's been a group effort and Elaine and Dixon have been an incredible help as well. I have really cherished these last few days as a family of three...cuddling with Madison, taking pictures of just the three of us, reading to Madison and giving big kisses to eachother. I got a little weepy thinking about these precious 18 months that seem to have flown by. Although I am extremely excited to expand our family and welcome our much-anticipated and much-wanted little boy, I have greatly treasured our little family of three... Thus, I have soaked up these precious last hours of Madison as our first and only child.

Our family of three. ...okay, so my belly is totally covering up Madison's head...

I've been having contractions throughout the day, coming more frequently since this afternoon. Some are more intense than others and actually take my breath away, but most of them are very minor. Yeah, there have been more than four in an hour, but I don't know if I should just count the major ones - not including the shorter, less pressured ones. Maybe I should call the after hours nurse. I just don't think this is the real deal, I think it's those false contractions. I'll give it a little while longer.

That being said, I honestly don't think he's going to be born until Monday. I'm very excited to meet you, baby Hunter! Am I a little nervous? Of course. I mean, I will be cut in half, after all.

Also, we can't help but remember the memories of Madison's birth that are still fresh. We thought all was going to be fine; we'd hear "It's a Girl" and then immediately see a healthy baby in our arms! How surprised we were to learn otherwise. Of course, chances are that is NOT going to happen again. But, those memories are not ones you ever forget, is all. But, I'm sure all will be fine. God is GOOD and He is with us every step of the way!

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them.

Were I to count them, they would outnubmer the grains of sand.

When I awake, I am still with you.

Psalm 139: 13-18

My preppy boy

What a good boy...my first baby...modeling Hunter's clothes for Mommy...

...at least this time they're not pink...

Bless his heart.

Laughing all the way...

...All while our active cat supervises...

Update 1/07

I went to the doctor yesterday for another BPP. We had a great report, praise the Lord.

- Amniotic fluid = 11
- Baby's weight = 7.1 oz, but not accurate b/c date of measurement was too close to our last weigh-in. Get more accurate number if measured every other week. So, probably will be about 7 and a half lbs when born?
- Placenta maturing, but no worries b/c it's almost time for him to be delivered.
- ST ratio good, no restriction of blood flow, heartbeat good. All levels have increased, actually, and look better than they did compared to last week!
- Weighed in at two pounds lighter! Second highlight of my day... hahaha...

As the doctor walked into the room:

Dr. S: Well, you actually did make it to 2009!

Me: Yep! Just like I told you! We made our goal. ...Did you think we would?

Dr. S: Nope, honestly not at all.

Me: When did you think the baby would be born?

Dr. S: I wasn't sure the baby would even make it, Danae.

Me: When did you think the baby would need to be taken?

Dr. S: The day you were admitted in Houston.

Me: Well, thank God that didn't happen.

Dr. S: Yes, and then fortunately, our job of doing what we did to keep the baby inside, worked.

Me: Yep, no doubt in my mind. :)


Because of the nature of my contractions, happening more frequently and not just at night, doctor said not to be surprised if baby's born this week. Um, Mark's not here. Not good. But, he didn't see anything that pointed towards this being imminent, so that's good. I have high hopes and don't think it will happen this week.

Except for last night. I was contracting quite a bit. If I contract five times in an hour, I need to go to the hospital and call the doctor on the way there, not to wait at home and call the doctor. In 45 mins, I contracted 4 times. Continued to occur, but I did everything they told me to do - drink lots of water, switch positions, lay on left side, etc. And it worked, as the contractions subsided.

Today has been lots better with far fewer contractions. I have been unusually tired lately, sleeping quite a bit last night and so sleepy/not feeling well today. So, have not done too much except some phone calls, Madison went to the ENT for a routine tube checkup and my neighbor, who is a hair stylist, kindly highlighted my hair so I wouldn't look too bad in any upcoming bringing-home-baby pictures! Amen. Thank God for that.

We're getting ready...

So much to do, so little time! Not really is the case any longer, thanks to my mom. She is Little Miss Productive, that is for sure. And for me at this time, is just what I needed. I am officially in major NESTING mode. Thus, the reason for my delay in blog posting. Lists, lists, lists of things to do, calls to make, things to accomplish before the baby comes. And, I am not kidding, EVERY single closet in my house is cleaned out, sorted through, and organized. Hunter's room is almost finished (good enough for now, at least). Hospital bag is packed (finally, I know. My doctor asks me every time I come in for an appointment if I have it with me), plans are in place for next week, and other outstanding household items are, well, no longer outstanding. (And why I agreed to create eight photography projects (photobooks, etc) for Christmas gifts, I have no idea...) All is done except for one tiny detail...choosing the baby's middle name. Yes, that IS a priority. But I HAVE been procrastinating. Tomorrow, I am going to get serious about choosing a middle name. :) At least, that is the plan... Any ideas are very, very much welcome! I like very cool, soap-opera esque names. Mark is more traditional. So, we're meeting in the middle. Not sure if we'll go with a family name or something else...

Sadly, my mom left on Sunday, but Mark's parents kindly flew in to help us out with Madison while we're on the home stretch here before Hunter arrives. They will be here for two weeks. And guess where Mark is these days? Right here, beside his very pregnant wife who was told "it could be any day" to go into labor? No, he is being brave. He is three hours away in The Woodlands (north of Houston) for work. I don't know what crystal ball he is looking in, but he seems pretty confident nothing eventful will happen causing him to miss the birth of his child. Let's hope his "gut feeling" is right. :) Meanwhile, it's me, Madison and his folks here at home until he comes home on Friday evening.

I am feeling so uncomfortable. I can't sleep. I feel like I have a rock-hard large bowling ball in my belly. Everything is very tight. Contractions happen all day long, but nothing regular. But...I am so happy because this means the baby is BIG and growing.

Earlier, I had been really sad that this pregnancy is coming to an end. Especially because this MAY be my last time being pregnant. Mark is done. I'd love to have one more. But, with my complicated pregnancies, we may need to just call it quits and be thankful for the children we have. Most of all, it's really tough for my family when I'm not able to be here and that wouldn't be fair to put them through it again. Bottom line, I'm praying about it - If it's the Lord's will we should have another child in the future, then I pray God put that desire in Mark's heart. If it's not the Lord's will we have another child, I pray He takes that desire out of my heart. Easy as that.

Call me crazy, but I just love being pregnant. (Yes, I know we've had a lot of struggles. But I have really, really enjoyed this pregnancy, despite all of our troubles.) I love everything about it - I love feeling the baby grow, seeing its progress, hearing the heartbeat, seeing my body change, etc. I think my big belly is the cutest thing ever and yes, I even think my clothes are cute. Perhaps I feel this way because for a while, I thought I'd never be able to become pregnant. But I just think it's great. No, I didn't particularly enjoy being on bedrest or in the hospital. But, it did gift me with some very precious times, being able to focus on my baby's movements, hear its heartbeat daily, etc. - things that I otherwise wouldn't have had the time to do as much as I'd have been preoccupied with all of life's other tasks. So, for these reasons, I am grateful for it.

Anyhow, NOW...I am ready. No longer sad about the pregnancy coming to an end. I'm ready to meet this little guy...and to get my body back to myself!

One of Madison's favorite toys - her Daddy's Blackberry...

Enjoying art time each day

I caught Mark and Tyson napping on the couch this weekend...so cute!

Madison loves playing in her little fort in her swingset.

Madison enjoys popping the bubbles more than pushing the lawn mower.

Oh, how she loves her bracelets!! She will wear her bracelets WHILE playing out it the mud.

Cute pink shoes to match her outfit...what a little fashionista.

Madison and Grammy enjoy putting on "makeup". She can put on powder, lipstick and eye shadow all by herself. Although, here, she's putting eye shadow on her head. We'll work on that.

They think this is hilarious...the things Grandmothers do!

And here we are, taken last week, at 37 weeks along.

Looks like a really big beach ball, no?

My Own Precious Moments

- Finally being able to get pregnant.
I know what it is like to be told you may not ever be able to have a baby.

- Meeting my baby girl for the first time.
I didn't know if this time would ever come in my life.

- Touching my daughter for the first time.
We couldn't touch her for the first few days, because she was in such a delicate state of health.

- Holding my baby for the first time.
I couldn't hold her until she was four days old, but at least I was blessed to have a baby to hold.

- When all wires/tubes were removed and Madison was first taken off of ventilation and oxygen.
I know what it's like to see your baby turn purple and struggle to fill her lungs with air.

- When Madison was first able to breath and later to eat on her very own.
We never expected our baby would be born with a lung disease or unable to eat.

- Watching my daughter smile and hearing her roar with laughter.
There's nothing better than that to cure a gloomy day.

- Watching the man I love being the best Daddy I could have ever dreamed of.
I am blessed to know what it's like to have such a good husband that loves our family.

- Getting pregnant a second time!
Especially when other fertility methods were failing and our success rates were decreasing.

- Seeing my baby son's face for the first time in a special 3D ultrasound.
Especially because they just told me that he may not live.

- Knowing that we've made it this far and our baby boy will be born next week!
We weren't sure we'd ever see this happy day.

Letters from Mommy 1/5

To My Precious Baby Hunter,

YAY, sweetheart!!!! We did it! We made it to 2009!!!! Just like you heard Mommy always say we would do, right? We made our goal!! I am so, so very proud of us!

Mommy always told everyone each day that you and I had an agreement - you were not going to come out until 2009. And look - we really made it! I knew we could do it! I've had three doctors tell me they thought I was crazy for saying that...but, ahem...we proved them wrong! We prayed and worked very hard at it. Maybe we're both a lot alike...and both just plain stubborn, huh? We will see soon enough...

Sweet baby, I am so proud of you. You have put up with a whole lot during the time you've been growing in Mommy's tummy. You are such a strong fighter. I know that God has BIG plans for you, sweet boy. Mommy and Daddy feel so special to be chosen as your parents. We will do everything we can to honor God and raise you to be the man He intends you to be.

We've had some really scary moments over the last several months. Thank you for bearing with Mommy through it all. Although some moments were very frightening, Mommy never took her eyes off of God because I knew He would take care of you. I wasn't sure how everything would end up, but what I WAS sure of, was that He would show us a way to get through it all. And you know what? He has. Our God is so good. He has had His hands wrapped around your little body, protecting it inside of Mommy, this whole time.

Mommy and Daddy are so excited to meet you - a week from today! Unless you decide to come earlier. We are excited to finally breathe a sigh of relief...to see your sweet face, count your tiny toes, hold your tender fingers, and hug you tight. Until now, we've held you tightly to our hearts. We can't wait to hold you tightly in our arms.

Mommy has so much enjoyed this time I've been blessed to spend with you. I've felt so fortunate and have relished in the many times I've been able to see you in my tummy, focus on your movements, and hear your heart beat - more times than most mommies get to while their baby is growing! I will always hold those precious times dear to me.

So, one more week, little man. We can do it. Mommy and Daddy continue to pray that you will be a very healthy and happy baby. We can't wait to meet you soon, sweet boy.

I love you,

Mommy


To My Sweet Madison,

Do you know how much I love you? I just love you so, so very much, sweet girl. Mommy is so lucky to have YOU as a daughter! You are so special to us.

Baby girl, Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you. You have dealt with so many changes over the last several months. I am so sorry that you had to go through some scary and sad times being without Mommy or Daddy while we were trying to take care of Mommy and your brother. It breaks my heart that you have felt this way. But you have been so brave through it all! And we are so proud of you, sweetheart.

Since Mommy has been home from the hospital, I've had such a wonderful time with you! I feel blessed to be able to focus on you during this time before your baby brother comes. I've enjoyed the precious times we spend together, even though they always seem to be on the couch, huh? I've enjoyed our time reading books, building blocks, doing our art work together, and all of our many cuddle times.

You are my pride and joy and I love you with all of my heart. I can't believe how quickly you are growing. You are much less baby and more little girl! Mommy and Daddy love watching you read to yourself, make up long sentences, dance around the room to music, climb on anything and everything in our house, run as fast as you can, play hide and seek with Daddy, play peek-a-boo with Tyson, and constantly want to go outside and play - no matter what! You make us laugh. You fill our hearts. You are so, so special to us.

Pretty soon, you will be a big sister! I know you don't know what that means right now, but I'm sure you will quickly learn how to be a really good big sister to your brother. A few things will change around our house when your brother arrives, but one thing that will always remain the same is how much we LOVE you!!

I love you,

Mommy