Welcome to the World Hudson!

It's Baby Time!
April 23, 2010
Methodist Germantown

Hudson Andrew Miller
Born on 4/23/2010
6 lbs 4 oz. - 19 inches

So after my doctor's appt on the 19th - the nurse called me that next day with my lab results. They discovered from the blood drawn that I had really low blood sugar, extremely low. They were a little concerned but I felt totally fine. The nurse said we'd just wait til my next appt the following Monday and retest the blood. Well Thursday arrives and the doctor's office called me back again and said Dr. Williams wasn't happy with the results and didn't want me to wait until Monday to have it retested so I was instructed to go to the hospital after school and have the blood drawn again. Those of you who know me well...can you imagine my agitation?

Upon arrival to the hospital on Thursday afternoon I had my blood pressure checked and my blood drawn again. My blood pressure was literally sky high - 178! The norm is around 120 or less. Kidney enzymes looked bad too so the nurse and the doctor on call made the decision that I would stay in the hospital for a couple of hours so they could monitor me. Well, around 7:30 the doc came back and said I had a case of preeclampsia - a common pregnancy complication that effects your blood pressure. She said it was best to go ahead and induce labor, especially since little buddy was full term (I was 38 weeks on Friday).

So...we got ready to have a baby! Quite a shocker I would definitely have to say but the surprise factor was very exciting:) First they put me on magnesium for the blood pressure which I can definitely say was by far the worst part. Then they gave me pitosin to start the labor. The two drugs apparently counter act with one another so I was forewarned by the nurse that is was going to be "a long night". Around 9:30 they broke my water. 11:45 I asked for the epideral. And at 3:00 am I was ready to push! Long night...hum, not so much. But I was glad things progressed so quickly.

At 3:56 am our baby boy, Hudson Andrew Miller, was born weighing in at 6 lbs. 4 oz. and 19 in. long. He is absolutely perfect! We couldn't be more excited! He really is a true blessing from the Lord and I think a spitting image of his handsome daddy:) Welcome to the world Hudson! We love you so much already.

Me getting ready for the long night ahead

Proud parents

Looking up at daddy. Isn't he cute?!?

Lots of good friends came by to congratulate us

Evie and Ramsey even came by to meet Hudson and snack with me:)

Thank you to all our good friends and family for their support and encouragement. It has been such a fun road and we are looking forward to the journey ahead.

37 Weeks and Getting Ready

37 Weeks
Bags packed, car seat installed, mommy ready.

Went to Dr. Williams on Monday. Nothing has changed since my last appointment. Still 3 cm and 50% effaced. And needless to say I am getting to the point where I am very ready for Mr. Hudson to make his appearance. Sleep is interrupted nightly by constant trips the the bathroom and some severe heartburn and indigestion. This is all normal from what I understand so I feel like I really can't complain. A little swollen around the legs and ankles but nothing too bad. Micah has acquired a new job: my personal massage therapist. Not really, but he has to regularly rub my back quite a bit. My appetite is diminishing which is so weird. I love to eat and lately I can't seem to eat anything but small portions because I get so full! My bag is packed and ready to go. Hudson's diaper bag is also packed and his car seat is installed and last weekend we washed most all of his belongings so I guess you could say I am in the "nesting" phase. You think?

And yay! Our nursery is finished (for the most part). There are several little things we are still waiting on but if Hudson were born tomorrow, I think he'd feel very at home in his new room. Here are a few pics of where he'll be spending most of his days.

French doors leading into the nursery

Bedding made by the talented Mrs. Miller - aka "Granna"

Changing table is stocked and ready to go

Dresser full of cute clothes for the little man

His big sister, Riley, is also anxiously awaiting his arrival. Haha! Not sure she really understands what's going on, but she likes to go in his room and snoop around and lay on the rug. It pretty much melts my heart. I think she is going to be so sweet with our son. Just like our friend's dog, Maddie is with their twin girls:) I can't wait for them to meet!

Riley waiting to meet her brother

Another cool thing I discovered this week - On Sunday we had a guest pastor at our church while Ernie was in China. They call this guy "Pastor Wa-Wa". He is a pastor for a church in Haiti and shared his testimony about how he became a christian and was persecuted by his own family for accepting Christ. He talked to us about how God uses our suffering to produce a much bigger blessing. He suffered and was cast aside by his own father but now has this incredible relationship with Christ. And despite the tragic earthquake he said there have been some awesome things happening with his church and with other survivors he knows. It got me to thinking and reflecting on how the Lord is blessing us through this time of suffering...rather, my intense uncomfortableness I'm experiencing with the pregnancy. It's funny how scared I used to be about the whole delivery process. Now I am just plain ready. And I think it's because the Lord has used this time of extreme difficulty to prepare my mind, heart, and body...for the true blessing that's about to unfold. I think it's pretty remarkable how He does stuff like this!

Baby Pics

Baby Pics

So I wonder who this kid is going to look more like - me or daddy? Honestly, I kind of hope he favors Micah. Below are some pictures of us as little tikes.

Me pretending to be sweet

Micah looking just like his nephew Brady

Yes, that is me. I know, I look like a boy.

This picture cracks me up! Must be where Micah developed his love for reading - ha!

It's funny how I catch myself thinking about and obsessing over silly things like this. Do any other expectant mommies do the same? As if I don't have enough to worry about. The whole labor and delivery thing has got me so nervous I want to throw up just thinking about it.

On the bright side (because there is always one) tomorrow I'll be 37 weeks which is considered "full term" so I am very thankful to have made it this far. When I went to the doc Monday she examined me and said I was 3 cm and 50% effaced so....technically Hudson could come any day now. That is um, well, a little scary. We planned for a May baby and the thought of him making an appearance in April has got my world turned upside down. I wake up in the night thinking "I'm not ready. There's so much more I have left to do!" But then I slow down and remember that the Lord has it all planned out just as it should be and I need to simply let go and trust Him. That is where I am this week. Giving it all to God, who made this tiny miracle happen in the first place, trusting Him completely with all my worries and anxieties, and letting Him take control. Because the fact is, I can try and control things all day long but it's really not up to me. God is bigger. So much bigger. And I am thankful to Him for revealing that to me this week. So regardless of the fact that I feel not-so-ready and I have yet to back my hospital bag, wash buddy's clothes, finish the nursery, put away and organize all his new belongings...it is going to be just fine because we have put our trust and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to carry us through this journey. And that is a really good feeling:) We can't wait to meet you Hudson Andrew Miller!

Memphis Shower

Girls Shower
April 10, 2010
Memphis, TN

Me and all the hostesses

Hudson's last shower...hosted by some of my closest friends was held at Bonnie's house in East Memphis. It meant so much to me that some of these ladies traveled from faraway places to do something special for Mommy and Hudson. Some came all the way from Knoxville, Nashville, and well, the gold medal goes to Erin Baker Mooney all the way from Austin, Texas! Thank you to all the hostesses and everybody who came for an incredibly special day! We are all set for little buddy to arrive now:) Check out some of the pics from Saturday's shower. The countdown is on. 4 more weeks to go. Um, wow.

Gift from Little Lindsey. Such a sweet and thoughtful idea:)
Thanks for creating this beautiful diaper cake Emilee!

Bonnie had baby pics of me and Micah strung across the mantle. Too cute!

Meghan, me, Mekenzie, Emily, Julie and Lindsey

Some of my Memphis favs:)

Bonnie painted this cute sign for Hudson's room

I still can't believe God has blessed us with this tiny miracle. Micah and I are now anxiously awaiting the arrival of our son and we are thankful to the Lord and our family and friends for all the love and support given to us already. Please join us in praying for Hudson's health and development in these last few weeks. Thank you!!!

GES is the BEST!

GES Baby Shower
April 6, 2010


Some of my favorite people in the whole world hosted a baby shower for me at school on Tuesday! I am so thankful to be surrounded by such an incredible group of women and teachers. I LOVE these ladies so much and feel blessed to know them as they each have touched my life in a unique and special way.

The shower was held after school in the library. Check out the cake and diaper cake! They are both AMAZING! My friend Nicci made the diaper cake herself - she is quite the creative 1st grade teacher.

Cute onesie cake!

Diaper Cake Nicci made - so beautiful!

The food was delicious. Thank you Natalie and Lindsey for busting out the chocolate fountain. It wouldn't be a true GES function without that thing! Tanjula assisted me with the gifts - I got so much great stuff from all my sweet friends:) Thank you GES! Mommy and Hudson are most grateful.