We are so in love!!!

Ashlyn was one week old yesterday!!! Mommy and Daddy are starting to get the hang of things a little bit. It has been so much fun getting to know our little princess. She is just precious and we are totally in love with her!!!
We have also learned about grandma's. If you want a break just call grandma over, either one, you wont hold the baby again until you pry her from their hands :o) Erik's parents came up to visit this past weekend and really enjoyed spending time with Ashlyn. They are already scheming their next visit.
We are looking forward to spending a nice quiet Christmas with our little family before daddy has to go back to work on Friday :o(
Here are some more pictures of our little peanut.

We are home!

The doctors gave both of us a clean bill of health and sent us home this morning a whole day early!!! It will be really nice to be at home where we don't have nurses coming in all night long and we have more room to spread out and get comfy! We were a little nervous about how the dogs would take to Ashlyn but they absolutely love her. Ashlyn and daddy are cuddling in the comfy chair right now and Ruby is laying right alongside Ashlyn. Whenever she coos or makes a noise Ruby checks on her.

Whoever has Ashlyn also has ruby and doak!It is so so sweet! I am doing well. Still very sore and getting around slowly but everything is going well. Ashlyn has quite the appetite and should catch up in weight soon. For now we are running around trying to get preemie diapers and little bitty clothes because she isn't fitting in anything we have!!!

Here are a few more pictures of our first day home! Thanks for sharing in our excitement!
Love
The Poyers

Our last night at the hospital


Ashlyn's first outing. We went to Daddy's work because we were starving!!


Oh my gosh how sweet???


Finally Home!!!


Ashlyn loves her swing she stayed awake the whole time we ate dinner swinging!!!

More pictures

Ashlyn's new friend Maddy is really curious about her!

Emilie came to visit right away!

Ashlyn came back from getting cleaned up all tucked into a stocking! How cute! We couldn't ask for a better Christmas gift!!

Daddy is dressed and ready to go!!!

Welcome Baby Ashlyn!!!

Ashlyn was born this morning at 8:16. She weighed 6 lbs 10 oz and was 19 inches long. Her apgars were 8 and 9 and she is just perfect!!! Here are some pictures until I can write/post more.

Thank you for all your prayers!!!

We had the amnio today. When we were there we found out the reason for the bleeding. It actually was placenta previa. Right after the amnio I started having really bad contractions so they sent us over to the hospital to be monitored. The contractions have stopped and we got the results back from the amnio. All the prayers paid off!!! Ashlyn's lungs are mature! So we are just waiting on the doctor to get here to schedule the c-section for tomorrow!!! At the amnio they estimated her weight to be 6 pounds 14 ounces so she is a good size! We will keep you updated on tomorrow and just can't wait to meet our little girl!!! Thank you again for all your thoughts, prayers, and support!
Love
Ann and Erik!

The Game Plan

We saw the doctor today and we now have a bit of a game plan. He did the ultrasound and said that although my placenta is low lying it was not previa which is a good thing. We still don't know what caused all of the bleeding but at least for now it is under control. Because of all the complications we have had we have decided to have an amniocentesis on Monday to check Ashlyn's lung maturity. If it shows that they are mature we will be induced probably on Tuesday the 16th. If the labor does not progress well we will go ahead with the c-section. Right now she looks like she is about 6 pounds, still has a strong heartbeat, and her fluid levels are fine. The doctor said he can't imagine we could make it full term and wouldn't even be surprised if I go into labor before Monday in which case we will just give her surfactant for her lungs when she is born. So as of right now as long as her lungs look good we will have her here in about a week! So lets pray this week for healthy lungs because it looks like one way or another she is coming soon!!!

I spoke too soon

So I'm home from the hospital for the 4th time. Still no baby though. Last night I started bleeding really really heavily. We went to the ER not knowing for sure if it was just blood or if my water broke too. Because of all the blood they couldn't test if my water broke. They admitted us. I dilated to a 3 and had contractions every 2 1/2 minutes until about 2 am when it just all stopped. Because I'm only 35 weeks they would not do anything to induce it to continue. So we were monitored and sent home. We still have no idea what caused the bleeding and were not even given an ultrasound to check the placenta or fluid. We are going to try to get in with the doctor in the morning to find out what is going on. Ashlyn's heartbeat stayed regular and good throughout the night so they said she seems to be just fine from all of it. I am supposed to take it easy tonight and then they said I can go back to my normal routine if I want. It's very scary for us because we really don't know what is going on and haven't been given any answers. Please keep us and especially Ashlyn in your prayers while we try to find out what is going on. I appreciate all your kind words.
Love
Ann

Finally some good news!!!

We had our 35 week check up on Thursday. The doctor said that I can come off of the medications and bedrest!!! Although I somehow managed to not gain a pound in two weeks on bedrest Ashlyn managed to gain 2!!! So the doctor thinks she is between 6 and 6 1/2 pounds! If she makes it full term she is going to be a BIG baby! He said she has plenty of fluid, great heartbeat and looks good! We have no idea when she will come, our luck she will be stubborn now that she's allowed to and go past her due date!!! I'll keep you updated!!!

34 weeks

Nothing really new going on. Still on bedrest. Still having contractions that I am controlling when necessary with medicine. We have a doctors appt on Thursday and hopefully we will know more. The good thing is that we made it to 34 weeks so we can definitely deliver at our hospital whenever she decides to come. I am hoping they will completely take me off these meds on Thursday because they make me so sick. Well here are some new belly pics because everyone has been asking for them since nobody has seen me! I hope you are all doing well!!! I want to say a special thank you to a few people that have gone out of their way to help make this more bearable. Philip for sending me the first season of LOST to kill the long days and Rosemary for coming over to visit with Maddie.
Love,
Ann

Another trip to the hospital

So we figure we will make sure we know all the nurses on staff in Labor and Delivery before the baby comes. Yesterday my blood pressure spiked to 152/78 (it's usually about 117/75) and my heart rate was racing. The doctor made us come in and check it out for fear of preeclampsia or something of that nature. I guess they determined it was the meds doing it since I was on such a high dosage. They decided to take me off and I should only use it when I feel a contraction coming on. Even on the meds I was still having little contractions. When I stopped taking it last night I had 2 bigger ones but the meds got it back under control and I haven't had to take any since then. Right before the contractions started Doak started having a seizure so it was an eventful night in the Poyer household. So I am just laid up watching everyone else cook Thanksgiving Dinner. We have so much to be thankful for!!!

Back in the hospital.

Well I guess we have an impatient little girl! I was out shopping today when I started bleeding. Erik took me to the ER where we found out I was dilated to a 1 and having contractions. They stopped the contractions with medication. We will be here at least overnight. Then I am on full bedrest for the rest of my pregnancy. I also have to take the medication to keep the contractions away until at least 34-35 weeks. I have to take it every four hours and even have to set an alarm at night to take it. So I guess Ashlyn really wanted to be here for her daddy's birthday, Thanksgiving, and the UF game. Silly girl! So feel free to bring by magazines and books since I am stuck in bed for the next few weeks! I'll keep you updated.

33 week update

Hey everyone. Not a whole lot of new information. We went to the OB yesterday. Ashlyn is weighing in just a few kg under 4 pounds so she is right about where she should be. Mommy gained a little too much weight since the last visit but I was wearing heavy clothes since it was in the 20's here this week! :o) Everything is going well!
One bit of exciting news! My cousin Hillary just found out she is having a girl!!! So that's exciting because the Branem second cousins are now even. 3 boys (Hudson, his yet to be named baby brother, and Kian) and 3 girls (Rylan, Ashlyn, and the yet to be named Baby Girl Walter) Yippee!!!
So I leave with you with a picture from yesterday! I'm all cozy warm in one of Erik's sweaters!

Baby Update!!!

Hey everyone!!!
We went to the doctor today for our appointment. Ends up after all our worrying Ashlyn decided to turn. So she is no longer breech and as long as my pain stays managed we may not have to worry about a c-section. So I guess we all have to wait a little longer to meet her!!! The doctor said she has plenty of fluid and seems to be about 3 pounds which is right on track!!! Her heartbeat looked good also.
We are getting everything ready for her. Car seat is in the car, bassinet is in the bedroom right by my side of the bed, etc... I know we still have 8 weeks left but I like to be prepared!
So I'll leave you with a couple of pics from our belly shoot. I will post more when I get them from Beka (kallima photography)

Thank you for all your prayers

Hi everyone! Well it sure has been a weekend. I know many of you are concerned and some of you may not even know what happened so I figured since it's pregnancy related I will update you here!
Friday night I took a little nap and when I woke up I was in severe pain in my right flank (lower back) My OB sent me to the ER where after looking at my ultrasound they decided that it was just Ashlyn sitting on my kidney. They sent me home and told me to try to get her to move. I spent the night in severe pain doing everything possible to get her to move. I was violently throwing up everything and nothing. The OB sent me back to the hospital and they admitted me to labor and delivery. At that point they found that I did have a kidney infection and ran some more tests as well as getting me started on antibiotics and iv's. So the final verdict is that I have some stones in my left kidney, the kidney infection, and all of this is caused by hydronephrosis of pregnancy. You can read about it here http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec11/ch148/ch148b.html
if you want but the short story is that my uterus is obstructing the ureters causing urine to back up into my kidneys and make them swell up which leads to infection and stones. My kidney history has just compounded this. So at this point I can stay one more day for more iv antibiotics and fluids or go home on oral antibiotics. We are not going to take a surgery option at this point. Basically I have to have my weight on my left side at all times, sitting, sleeping etc to take the stress off my right kidney which is the worst. Since this will not resolve until Ashlyn comes I will need to take it pretty easy here on out to make sure I am taking care of us. I want to avoid being on any meds as much as possible. So that's pretty much the update. Ashlyn is doing wonderful. None of this should affect her at all because we caught it in time. We are just going to take it easy and try to get through the rest of the pregnancy in as little pain as possible!
Thank you everyone for all your concern, thoughts, and prayers. It really means a lot to Erik and I!
Love
Ann

3D pictures!

Look at her mohawk!!!

Hey everyone! Today we had our 3D ultrasound! We found out lots of great stuff about our little Ashlyn!!! What a surprise to us... she has hair!!! And she also has my long monkey toes!!! She has definitely filled out since our last ultrasound. She got a little angry at us and opened her eyes when we tried to get her to move her arm! She loves to play with her toes and it was almost impossible to get any shots because she wouldn't let go of them!!! Here are a few pictures! She's mad!!! Look at that face!

This one shows her hair!

Ashlyn's furniture!

How awesome a daddy is Erik. Tonight while I was at school he painted Ashlyn's changing table (crib soon to be painted as well!) Her bedding has these colors as the highlights and since our crib and changing table were different colors he decided to take on the project of making them super special!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I can't wait until we can set up a room for her and see it all come together! Just wanted to share my excitement.

Thought I would show you guys a pic of her shoes as well since I'm obsessed... No I didn't buy any of them but I do love them!
Also check back soon. We have alot going on. Tomorrow evening is our big 3d/4d ultrasound so we will have good pics of our little princess to post! Also I did a belly shoot last weekend so as soon as I get those pics I will post them as well!
Love you all!!!

Ashlyn's stuff!!!

Daddy and Mommy love to shop for Ashlyn. We find the best deals!!! We are savoring the days when a 1.50 outfit from Target is acceptable. It won't be long before she's telling us where it's "cool" to shop :o) I've been telling everyone how many outfits she has but I thought I would show you!!! She's already kicked me out of my closet (it is a small closet though!!!)

Sarasota Baby Shower

Our second baby shower was last weekend. It was so nice. Erik's family threw it for us. It was a co-ed shower at a condo down on Siesta Key. We were able to watch the Noles beat Miami and spend time with good friends and family. Here are a few pictures from the weekend.

6 1/2 months along
My niece Alissa is so sweet. She wanted to kiss the baby.


Erik kayaking out on the canal

My nieces canoeing on the canal

How cute is this cake?

With my parents


My gorgeous nieces at the pool


The view from the dock.