Introducing

Austin Hunter born at 6:57pm on June 25, 2007. He weighed 6 lbs 5 oz and was 19.5" long. He spent the night in the Level II NICU due to a little bit of breathing difficulties, but is a-ok now. He also has a little bit of jaundice, but after a quick trip to the pediatrician this morning we found it to be under control.
Proud Big Sister


We feel incredibly blessed to be given this miracle!

The BIG Day!!

Well, it's here. A great day for a Birth Day!! I still can't quite believe that we've made it. It's been a rough, rocky road, but it is finally coming to an end.

We have had a lot of unexpected complications:
1 - By 13 wks when the cerclage was put in, I had "very little cervix left" to quote my peri and was a finger tip dilated. Modified bedrest began.
2 - At 15 wks I began bleeding A LOT. That week we rushed to the ER twice and peri's office once. I even passed a clot the size of my palm. Strict bedrest began.
3 - By 25 wks I was funnelled to the stitch and hospitalized. The bottom portion of my cervix was soft and peri could get her finger to the stitch.
4 - 26/27 wks = gestational diabetes. This has NOT been fun, but I've managed it and only gained 14 lbs the entire pgy.
4 - By 28 wks, I was supposed to be released, but baby started having decels. It turned out that my fluid was low and he had a nuchal cord. I was finally released after 46 days in the hospital and it's been pretty much smooth sailing since then.

Thank all of you for your continued support and frequent check-ins. It's almost over now. We'll leave here about 1:30pm CST and check Mom and Hannah into a hotel. We'll then head to the hospital. The c-section is scheduled for 6pm. As you know, I won't be able to log into blogger until I return home, which will probably be late in the week.

Hugs!!

A few more photos

A few more donations have come in since I last posted.

From Sue in Alabama....


From Denise in the UK.....


Bev posted an urgent need for a hospital in San Jose, CA. She said the nurse sounded really desperate. I'll get a few things off in the mail today.

Btw, have I told you lately that I miss my sewing machine?? :-)

Shop Baby Splendor and Help the EGF

Cassandra Jervis and the Emmazing Grace Foundation have partnered together during the 2nd Annual Remembering Emma Grace Donation Drive which ends on Aug 15h. Cassandra has offered another way to help raise money for the foundation. She is a consultant with BabySplendor and has offered to donate 50% of proceeds to the foundation. In addition, if any person joins as a consultant then she will personally donate $20 to the EGF.

Baby Splendor is a member of the DSA and is fairly new. There are only
about 100 consultants in the US. They offer a unique baby boutique with
adorable baby items. They also feature the Baby Boost product which was
designed by a team of doctors sold exclusively through Baby Splendor.
The fabric technology contains an airborne protein that helps to prevent asthma and allergies in children by as much as 75%. It is a great opportunity to join a newer company and sell items that are fun,
functional and healthy.

Please take the time to go through the website
www.goodforyourbaby.com or www.babysplendor.com. If you have any
questions about the products or business opportunity please contact
Cassandra at 951-795-5967 or goodforyourbaby@gmail.com. If you purchase online, please make sure that you reference Cassandra Jervis or the EGF Fund.

She will also be sponsoring a large donation drive in Southern
California through business owners and the public using networking,
radio and television. Her final goal is to donate $25,000.00 to the EGF.

The EGF will also be getting a new website as donated by professional web designer Laird Maresch. I’ll let you know when it is launched. Also, if anyone is in need of a website please contact Cassandra and she can put you in contact with him.

I am really excited about all of this. Together through our partnerships with each other we can continue to help those in need.

As always, thank you all for your fantastic support of our foundation!

We're Ready Now....

but Austin doesn't seem to be. LOL!! We made a trip to Babies R Us yesterday and spent $325. Eeekk!! Now, Mr Austin....bring your little hiney on. I'm having some contractions, but nothing regular and hard enough to warrant rushing to the hospital. Since my peri left the stitch in, she doesn't want me contracting against the stitch. But, I don't think I'm contracting enough to do any harm.

Today is the nanny's last day and we'll take her out to lunch today. So, maybe, just maybe with some more activity things will get to moving along. Although it's been difficult at times to get used to the invasion of privacy with a nanny, I am going to miss her. My husband informed me that he has 3 business trips next month since he has put them off for 6 months. It would be nice to keep her around a bit longer, but we just can't afford it. Plus, Mom is staying until the 13th.

Made it through the night

and Mom's plane lands in 10 mins. Last night I started contracting about 5-7 mins apart and lasting 35-45 secs each. They weren't painful at all, just some tightening and felt like I couldn't catch a deep breath. I ended up taking 1 ventolin about 8:30. After the saga with Mom changing her flight, I knew I had to make it through the now. Peri said not to let myself contract against the stitch, but I'm not sure exactly how much contracting (if not painful) is acceptable. Certainly what I experienced last night wouldn't be cause for alarm in "normal" labor, if that's the proper way to put it. I'll call in as soon as her office opens this morning to get better guidance.

Now....lets get this show on the road!!! I'm thinking a little walking trip to Babies R Us might be in order. You know...that Diaper Champ MUST be here by the time he arrives. LOL!!

5 lbs 7 oz.....STILL

Yesterday was my last scheduled peri appointment. I went in happy and excited and still in shock that we've made it to term. I left a bit freaked.

Austin measured the exact same thing that he did 9 days ago, 5 lbs 7 oz. He should be gaining 1/2 per week at this point. As soon as I saw the 5 lbs 7 oz measurement I immediately questioned it (before she could say a word)....

Me: That's the same thing as last time! Is he ok?
Peri: Is he moving?
Me: Yes
Peri to nurse: What percentile is that?
Nurse: 19th
Me: Is fluid level ok?
Peri: Yes. Has he had any decels on the NSTs?
Me: No, but last one was bad b/c equipment wasn't coorperating
Peri: When do you have another one?
Me: This afternoon and Thurs
Peri: If ANYTHING shows up on it, call me immediately.

So, freaked out, I left the office. The NST late yesterday afternoon looked good. Austin slept during the first part of it so the nurse had me eat some grapes to see if the sugar would wake him up. Once he woke up, he looked good and had the proper amount of accellerations. I hardly slept last night, which isn't unusual, constantly worrying if he's moving or not.

My peri also took me off all of the anti-contraction meds. Mom is freaked about this and is so afraid that she won't make it out in time for his birth, which honestly is the least of my worries. I just want him here safe and in my arms. She's aggravating me a bit because if it means that much to her to be here when he's born then she should have booked an earlier flight. She has his coming home outfit and weeks ago I suggested that she go ahead mail it. She didn't want to saying that even if she missed his birth she would be here before we left the hospital.

Peri also said that she doesn't expect me to make until monday for the scheduled c-section. This aggravates me a bit, too, because I really wanted to have him this week, but it was her bright idea to push it off until next week.

Ugh...where's my crystal ball??

Catching up

I haven't felt much like posting the last few days. My energy level is basically nil, nada, zero.... The 5+ months of bedrest have really taken its toll on me. I tried to make a quick run to Hobby Lobby on Wed. Our nanny drove us, dropped me off at the door, and we walked to get 1 item. By the time we made it back to the check-out counter I was toast. I had to give my money to her while I found a seat. But, it's sooooooooo close now and we're gonna have a full-term son. It's worth every second of the torture, but I'm sure not doing this again. ;-)


Donations for the 2nd Annual Remembering Emma Grace Donation Drive have been coming in and I'm trying to stay on top of photographing them, logging them into the database, and issuing tax receipts. I don't want to get backed up for fear I'll never keep it straight once Austin arrives.


I'm putting things in the slide show on the right, but here are a few shots of some of the recent donations:


Jenny in the UK does beautiful work.

Also from the UK, Denise sent these items in memory of her precious Emma. I'm gonna keep one of the gowns for an urgent need. I'm gonna do my best to have at least 1 gown in each size on hand for urgent requests.


The pattern books donated from Ginger Snaps Designs have arrived too. They will be used for the drawing.


Kate sent these items in memory of her Nicolas. They include some grief and loss books, seed packets, and disposable cameras. If you can stop over by her blog and wish her well, please do. She's due with twins any day now.


One of my non-crafting friends sent these quilts/comforters. I think I may attempt to sale them using Ebay and Giving Works. They are really cute.

Nancy S. sent all of this flannel and a few yards of eyelet lace. It will be great for NICU blankets and bereavement wraps.

Lastly, I mailed off this donation to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Houston. Better late than never, I guess. SIGH

June 25th at 6pm

Guess when Austin's coming??? Yep, June 25th....only 2 more weeks!!! YIPPEE!!! I'll have a repeat c-section. I'm still not convinced I'll make it that long, but given how hard I've tried to keep him baking it only stands to reason that I will. LOL!

Share Your Soles

From time to time, I run across some interesting non-profits not related to crafting. I thought I might as well post them here in case others might be interested.

My most recent find is Share Your Soles which accepts used shoes and donates them to the needy and impoverish throughout the world, including Hurricane Katrina victims. I have saved just about EVERYTHING of Hannah's and since we won't be having another girl, I need to see what shoes I can donate. I found this info through a friend of a friend's website called Mothers Fighting For Others. Check it out when you get a chance.

Some Photos

I spent much of Friday and Saturday working on stuff for the foundation. I am now caught up on all the charitable contribution receipts. If you've donated and don't receive a receipt in the next few days, please let me know.

I also applied for a small grant from a local corporation. Cross your fingers for me!!! We really need funds to help with the funeral expense side of the foundation.

Anyway, while doing all of this, I ran across some photos that I haven't posted. These are of some donations received while I was in the hospital.

The first is from Denise and is an adorable yellow bunting. Thanks, Denise, not only for this donation but your constant support!!


The second is from Jeffy. These little bonnets are just beautiful in person. I'm saving them and will sew a gown trimmed in pink to match.

And, please check out these beautiful gowns and bathcloth wraps from Kathy. The photo is in the slide show on the right. She also sent a large baggie of bows. Thanks again, Kathy!

Short Update on Austin

I had a peri appt on Thurs. I saw another peri in the practice since mine is on vacation. Basically, all looks fabulous. He measured him at 4 lbs 15 oz. This is up 1.5 lbs in 2 weeks. Holy Smokes!! I hope that's an accurate measurement since I was a bit concerned about his growth slowing down. I have another appt on Sat, the 9th. She had to open up a Sat clinic to recover from her vacation. Maybe I will get a c-section date then.