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12 years ago
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Sunday, March 20, 2011
Welcome to the world little Coleman...
I know I haven't kept up with the blog since Ryan and I got married but since we have a new addition, I want to keep everyone informed! Our son Coleman Ryan Elrod was born January 18, 2011 at 8:15pm, he weighed 7lbs 7.9oz and was 20.75 inches long. He is perfect! We waited such a long time for him and prayed for him to arrive safely, we are so blessed to have him in our life. He is a CARBON copy of his Dad (sorry Ryan... no denying him!), its hard to tell which is Ryan and which is Coleman when looking at their baby pictures! The only thing I think I may have contributed is his toes... they are already longer than Ryans. =)
Here is the story of how Coleman joined us:
On Monday January 17, 2011 I was off work for the MLK holiday, we had my 39 week appointment with Dr. Pollard that day. He made sure to tell us in our appointment that most women go over their due dates, especially with their first baby. We made an appointment for our next visit, the next week. Dr. Pollard said he didn't think we would need it, I thought he was just telling me that to make me feel better, I was sure I would go over! That night we went to Carrabba's for Emily's birthday dinner. We got home and I got my stuff ready for work and we went to bed. I woke up about 12:30 with what I now know was contractions. I wasn't sure if it was braxton hicks or cramps which I had been having plenty of both for weeks prior to this. I started timing them but they were only about ever 10-15 minutes. Well, they picked up steam fast and they started to get closer and closer together. I got up (but didn't wake Ryan up because I was afraid they weren't the real thing!) and walked around downstairs and tried to get comfortable. Finally around 2:30 I woke Ryan up because they were getting closer and more painful. We walked around downstairs, I took a shower and we cleaned up the house. At 4:30ish I called the on-call number for the doctors office and they told me we had to wait until the contractions were 5 minutes apart or less for an hour before we went to the hospital. At that time they were anywhere from 3 to 6 minutes apart. At 5:00 Ryan made the decision that we weren't waiting any more, we were going to the hospital. The whole way to the hospital Ryan kept looking at me instead of the road, I kept telling him to watch where he was going! We didn't call our family because we didn't know if they would keep us or send us home, we wanted to be sure before we woke everyone up in the middle of the night! Once we got to the hospital the nurse checked me and I was only 1cm so we had to walk the hospital halls for an hour and get checked again. So off we went, Ryan kept trying to make me laugh during the contractions which I didn't find as funny as he did! ;) We got back to the room and the nurse checked me again and I was 3cm! Plus, my water had broken while we were walking and I didn't even know it! She admitted us and we called the family to tell them. By this time I was ready for my epidural! Why be in pain if you don't have to be? The nurse got us settled and into the labor and delivery room and the doctor came in and gave me my epidural... WOW, those things are the best! I was so much more comfortable then and I could really enjoy the experience even more! Dr. Pollard happened to be on call and we were so excited about that. He came in and checked on us a lot, he is such a nice person! They finally had to start me on pitocin around lunch time because I wasn't progressing. Dr. Pollard went off call at 5:00 that night, we were sad he wouldn't be delivering the baby but Dr. Lindel, who was on call after Dr. Pollard, is equally as nice! Finally a little before 8:00pm I was able to start pushing. Ryan and the nurse were the only ones to help me for 95% of the pushing, Dr. Lindel came in at the very last moment and delivered Coleman! It was the most amazing experience, I was so happy when they put Coleman on my tummy and I could see that he was ok. He started crying, he had such a sweet little cry! Ryan cut the cord! I am so proud of Ryan, he did so good with everything, he was there for me 110% of the time. He exceeded everything that I could have imagined. I couldn't have made it without him. Coleman is so lucky to have such a wonderful Dad and I am so lucky to have such a wonderful Husband!
We are home and getting settled into a routine. Ryan was able to stay home with us for about 2 1/2 weeks which was really great. He is modest and says that he doesn't help out much but let me tell you, he helps out more than he knows! He wakes up with me in the middle of the night and even though he doesn't feed Coleman he changes his diapers, helps me keep him awake while he eats and keeps me company. He is wonderful! It is completely different being married to a firefighter. A lot of people couldn't understand why he took off for as long as he did, but when he had to go back to work he had to go back for 24 hours at a time. It is a big change, but we look forward to the next morning when we get to see him again! Hopefully we will get the announcements sent out soon and we look forward to you all meeting our son!
Here is the story of how Coleman joined us:
On Monday January 17, 2011 I was off work for the MLK holiday, we had my 39 week appointment with Dr. Pollard that day. He made sure to tell us in our appointment that most women go over their due dates, especially with their first baby. We made an appointment for our next visit, the next week. Dr. Pollard said he didn't think we would need it, I thought he was just telling me that to make me feel better, I was sure I would go over! That night we went to Carrabba's for Emily's birthday dinner. We got home and I got my stuff ready for work and we went to bed. I woke up about 12:30 with what I now know was contractions. I wasn't sure if it was braxton hicks or cramps which I had been having plenty of both for weeks prior to this. I started timing them but they were only about ever 10-15 minutes. Well, they picked up steam fast and they started to get closer and closer together. I got up (but didn't wake Ryan up because I was afraid they weren't the real thing!) and walked around downstairs and tried to get comfortable. Finally around 2:30 I woke Ryan up because they were getting closer and more painful. We walked around downstairs, I took a shower and we cleaned up the house. At 4:30ish I called the on-call number for the doctors office and they told me we had to wait until the contractions were 5 minutes apart or less for an hour before we went to the hospital. At that time they were anywhere from 3 to 6 minutes apart. At 5:00 Ryan made the decision that we weren't waiting any more, we were going to the hospital. The whole way to the hospital Ryan kept looking at me instead of the road, I kept telling him to watch where he was going! We didn't call our family because we didn't know if they would keep us or send us home, we wanted to be sure before we woke everyone up in the middle of the night! Once we got to the hospital the nurse checked me and I was only 1cm so we had to walk the hospital halls for an hour and get checked again. So off we went, Ryan kept trying to make me laugh during the contractions which I didn't find as funny as he did! ;) We got back to the room and the nurse checked me again and I was 3cm! Plus, my water had broken while we were walking and I didn't even know it! She admitted us and we called the family to tell them. By this time I was ready for my epidural! Why be in pain if you don't have to be? The nurse got us settled and into the labor and delivery room and the doctor came in and gave me my epidural... WOW, those things are the best! I was so much more comfortable then and I could really enjoy the experience even more! Dr. Pollard happened to be on call and we were so excited about that. He came in and checked on us a lot, he is such a nice person! They finally had to start me on pitocin around lunch time because I wasn't progressing. Dr. Pollard went off call at 5:00 that night, we were sad he wouldn't be delivering the baby but Dr. Lindel, who was on call after Dr. Pollard, is equally as nice! Finally a little before 8:00pm I was able to start pushing. Ryan and the nurse were the only ones to help me for 95% of the pushing, Dr. Lindel came in at the very last moment and delivered Coleman! It was the most amazing experience, I was so happy when they put Coleman on my tummy and I could see that he was ok. He started crying, he had such a sweet little cry! Ryan cut the cord! I am so proud of Ryan, he did so good with everything, he was there for me 110% of the time. He exceeded everything that I could have imagined. I couldn't have made it without him. Coleman is so lucky to have such a wonderful Dad and I am so lucky to have such a wonderful Husband!
We are home and getting settled into a routine. Ryan was able to stay home with us for about 2 1/2 weeks which was really great. He is modest and says that he doesn't help out much but let me tell you, he helps out more than he knows! He wakes up with me in the middle of the night and even though he doesn't feed Coleman he changes his diapers, helps me keep him awake while he eats and keeps me company. He is wonderful! It is completely different being married to a firefighter. A lot of people couldn't understand why he took off for as long as he did, but when he had to go back to work he had to go back for 24 hours at a time. It is a big change, but we look forward to the next morning when we get to see him again! Hopefully we will get the announcements sent out soon and we look forward to you all meeting our son!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
We love you Tucker!
Ryan and I spent our first weekend apart this weeked as a married couple. I went to be a maid of honor for my best friend, Julie's wedding in Texas this weekend while Ryan spent the weekend at the beach with his parent's and brother adam since he couldnt get off work in time to go to Texas with me. When we returned from our trips we got the sad news that Tucker had not been doing well over the weekend while my sister had been watching him. He wasn't eating very well, which is not like Tucker at all. His health got really bad Monday night and he was having a lot of trouble breathing and wouldn't eat much at all. By Tuesday morning he was really having trouble breathing and wouldn't eat much. When I got home tonight he couldn't walk out of his crate and I had to carry him to the car. I took him to see his favorite girls at the vet. He of course, in his normal Tucker fashion ate up all the attention they were giving him but we could all tell how uncomfortable he was. He had xrays done and they showed us that the cancer had spread all over his lungs, a tumor was pressing on his trachia and esophogus which was making it hard for him to eat or breath. Poor thing put up a tough front until he just couldnt handle it any more. Ryan was at the fire station but had told me earlier in the day that if it was bad he didnt want him to suffer just so he could be there. So I could tell it was time to let him be at peace and stop suffering. Poor Doctor Murphy was about as upset as I was! They have all taken such good care of him and believed in him when other vets didn't and took chances on him when other vets advised not to. They were his angels here on earth. Now he is up in heaven with Maggie and he is waiting on us.
He started out as Ryan's dog, he was with Ryan before I was but he touched so many of us and brought so much laughter and joy into our lives. I always joked that I stole him from Ryan. Ill never forget him running circles in the field chasing the model air planes Ryan was flying or playing in the snow or the way he would sleep on his back with his paws in the air or how his eye brows would move all the time. My favorite memory of him is when we took him to the beach right after his leg was amputated and he just rolled in the sand like it was the best feeling ever. I am so glad that he got to do all that. He was such an amazing boy and we miss him so much already. Poor Hoyt doesn't know what to do without him. That was his buddy. When I came home tonight without Tucker Gracie and Hoyt both sat still beside me while I fed them and ate very quietly without fighting over food and were very calm and stuck to my side the entire night. I don't know if this is true but they really did seem to know that something was wrong and that I needed some extra comfort. The calmness in them is something completely unusual.
We love you and miss you Tucker!
He started out as Ryan's dog, he was with Ryan before I was but he touched so many of us and brought so much laughter and joy into our lives. I always joked that I stole him from Ryan. Ill never forget him running circles in the field chasing the model air planes Ryan was flying or playing in the snow or the way he would sleep on his back with his paws in the air or how his eye brows would move all the time. My favorite memory of him is when we took him to the beach right after his leg was amputated and he just rolled in the sand like it was the best feeling ever. I am so glad that he got to do all that. He was such an amazing boy and we miss him so much already. Poor Hoyt doesn't know what to do without him. That was his buddy. When I came home tonight without Tucker Gracie and Hoyt both sat still beside me while I fed them and ate very quietly without fighting over food and were very calm and stuck to my side the entire night. I don't know if this is true but they really did seem to know that something was wrong and that I needed some extra comfort. The calmness in them is something completely unusual.
We love you and miss you Tucker!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Engagement Pictures
Please go to our photographers website and check out our engagement pictures! They turned out so good! Now we have to pick out which ones we like best!
www.allurephotous.com
Click on the Left hand side where it says proofs and ordering. Then when the new window opens up you have to enter your email address twice and your name. Then be sure to click on the upper left hand side to see all of the pictures he took.
www.allurephotous.com
Click on the Left hand side where it says proofs and ordering. Then when the new window opens up you have to enter your email address twice and your name. Then be sure to click on the upper left hand side to see all of the pictures he took.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Three More WEEKS!!!!!!!!!
WOW!!! Everyone told me that it would fly by, but I didn't realize it until the other day when I was looking at the calendar and realizing that this Saturday will be three weeks until the big day!!!!! I am so excited, people keep asking me if I am nervouse and I really am not! I mean I am nervous about the weather (but I know I can't do anything about that!) but I am not nervous about getting married, I am just excited! The last five years being with him has brought me so much joy, contentment, laughter and excitment that I can only imagine how much fun we are going to have in the future! I am ready for 5:00 May 2, 2009 because thats when the fun really starts! He will officially not be able to boot me out the door every night at 10! =)
These past few weeks have been really busy... Ryan had his bachelor party in March and then I had a wonderful shower given to me by Maxine, Grace and Emily! Be sure to check back later this weekend for some pictures of the shower we had so much fun at! Then last weekend I had a wonderful bachelorette weekend with my wonderful girls! They all went through so much and planned everything out great! It was so much fun and I want to go back next year with them! We have to start an annual trip! If the boys can have their weekends at the beach or race then we can have our weekend at the beach! =)
This weekend is Easter so we are staying home and working on getting everything looking good for the "Stock the Shed" shower that the Grubbs Family is throwing for us next weekend! Poor Ryan has to spend his "last" four day weekend cleaning and moving some of my stuff into his house! I think he'll survive! I might even let him have Sunday afternoon off to watch the masters... if hes good! =) (Im only kidding Ryan!)
Please check back later this weekend for some updates and I will post some pictures... I know I am terrible at posting on here!
We hope you all have the best Easter possible! I know this one is going to be so special for Ryan and I... next year we'll just be two old married people! =)
These past few weeks have been really busy... Ryan had his bachelor party in March and then I had a wonderful shower given to me by Maxine, Grace and Emily! Be sure to check back later this weekend for some pictures of the shower we had so much fun at! Then last weekend I had a wonderful bachelorette weekend with my wonderful girls! They all went through so much and planned everything out great! It was so much fun and I want to go back next year with them! We have to start an annual trip! If the boys can have their weekends at the beach or race then we can have our weekend at the beach! =)
This weekend is Easter so we are staying home and working on getting everything looking good for the "Stock the Shed" shower that the Grubbs Family is throwing for us next weekend! Poor Ryan has to spend his "last" four day weekend cleaning and moving some of my stuff into his house! I think he'll survive! I might even let him have Sunday afternoon off to watch the masters... if hes good! =) (Im only kidding Ryan!)
Please check back later this weekend for some updates and I will post some pictures... I know I am terrible at posting on here!
We hope you all have the best Easter possible! I know this one is going to be so special for Ryan and I... next year we'll just be two old married people! =)
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Busy Weekend
We have a really busy weekend coming up! Ryan is leaving tomorrow morning for his bachelor party! He is so excited! He is going to be able to meet up with a bunch of his buddies that he grew up with and they are going down to Myrtle Beach for a fun weekend of golf, hanging out, and BOY stuff. =) I am really excited for him! he doesn't get a chance to see his friends as much as he would like since they all live in different areas. They are all a really great group of guys who have been so so nice to me and welcomed me into their "mob" (Joe's word, not mine!). I feel so privileged that they have been so welcoming to me, I have a feeling they don't do that for just anyone. I am glad they think I am worthy of Ryan!
I was supposed to be in Fayetteville, NC Friday, Saturday and Sunday in a Fire Inspector Level III course but it unfortunately got canceled and the makeup time is... May 1, 2, and 3rd! I couldn't believe the luck! I, of course, am not going to the makeup class so unless I can find another class at a different location I am not going to be able to sit for my Level III test until December of this year. Since I am not going to Fayetteville this weekend my mom wanted to get a chance to spend some time with me before the wedding so she and I are going to drive down to her place in Emerald Isle (don't worry guys... its no where near Myrtle Beach!). We are going to be working on the wedding stuff. We have a bunch of projects that we are going to try and get done and just have a relaxing weekend. My sweet sister has agreed to watch the dogs for me this weekend. Thanks Kim! Tucker requires a little extra attention since his leg has been gone, well really the only thing you have to do is yell at him to slow down! He chases Hoyt around the yard and gets along great. When it rains or is a little damp he slides and has fallen a couple of times on the concrete under the porch. He hasn't shown any other symptoms of being in pain or uncomfortable. He is really doing wonderful. It has been so great to see him out at the lake swimming and doing all these things we didn't know if he would ever be able to do again.
We hope you all have a wonderful and safe weekend!
I was supposed to be in Fayetteville, NC Friday, Saturday and Sunday in a Fire Inspector Level III course but it unfortunately got canceled and the makeup time is... May 1, 2, and 3rd! I couldn't believe the luck! I, of course, am not going to the makeup class so unless I can find another class at a different location I am not going to be able to sit for my Level III test until December of this year. Since I am not going to Fayetteville this weekend my mom wanted to get a chance to spend some time with me before the wedding so she and I are going to drive down to her place in Emerald Isle (don't worry guys... its no where near Myrtle Beach!). We are going to be working on the wedding stuff. We have a bunch of projects that we are going to try and get done and just have a relaxing weekend. My sweet sister has agreed to watch the dogs for me this weekend. Thanks Kim! Tucker requires a little extra attention since his leg has been gone, well really the only thing you have to do is yell at him to slow down! He chases Hoyt around the yard and gets along great. When it rains or is a little damp he slides and has fallen a couple of times on the concrete under the porch. He hasn't shown any other symptoms of being in pain or uncomfortable. He is really doing wonderful. It has been so great to see him out at the lake swimming and doing all these things we didn't know if he would ever be able to do again.
We hope you all have a wonderful and safe weekend!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Busy, Busy, Busy!
Whew! I knew that planning this wedding would be time consuming but I don't think I realized exactly HOW time consuming it would be! Ryan teased me at the beginning that if I kept up that speed of planning that I would be done with the wedding planning way before the wedding! This is one time that I get to say... he was WRONG! However, I am so glad that I have such great helpers! My mom and Nancy have been SUCH a big help! Along with our friends, my family, his family and all our wedding vendors its really coming along together great! I am so thankful for everyone putting their time and effort into helping us out with these wedding plans! Ryan and I are in the middle of our wedding counseling classes and we are constantly learning new things about each other, even when we think we know everything about one another! I have to say that I am so lucky to have Ryan as a fiance and future husband. All of you that know Ryan know how particular he is about his house. Well since we got engaged his house has been the storage place for all the wedding stuff. Not only that I have now started to move some of my furniture and things to his house a little at a time and so its been a bit of a mess. He has been really understanding about it (instead of dying like I thought he would!). Also, he has been so helpful with the wedding stuff. He gets very bored with the wedding talk but when he sees me working hard on something (and its cutting into his relaxing on the couch time with me!) he jumps right in to help! All joking aside, he has really been a lot more understanding and helpful than I ever though he would be. I am very impressed with how he is handling it and it just reminds me every day how lucky I am. I love him very much! I can't believe its less than 7 weeks to go!
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