What a difference a week makes!

Drew - One Week Old

I can't believe what a difference a week makes! This time last week we were wondering what was up with our new little guy and just thankful that he had made it through the birth. Our three other children had no idea what their new brother looked like and hadn't seen mom in over 14 hours and wouldn't see either of us until the next day. Amazing that we have since brought home our BIG boy and he has been loved and cuddled by all on a regular basis!

Since we brought Drew home he has already been to the pediatrician and the orthopaedist. Both doctors gave glowing reports. Both feel that Drew will regain full use of his left arm within the next few months and will make a full recovery. His case of Erb's Palsy is very mild and his fracture is small - should heal in the next few weeks. I loved his orthopaedists - two YOUNG doctors. They were so gentle and careful of Drew and were just so encouraging. I am really glad I switched pediatricians and am now part of the CHOP network. Every doctor I have met so far I have really liked. Drew will go back in three weeks for x-rays and another doctor visit to make sure his clavicle has healed and his arm is improving.

So our baby is already a week old! We sang happy birthday to him at 3:54 pm and just praised God for His wonderful work in Drew's life already! I am amazed at this little person who has so captured my heart. I don't even mind that he thinks I am an all-night buffet! I just love holding him and staring into his dark eyes. He is a sweet boy and really only cries when he is hungry or has a stinky diaper! He was hating having his diaper changes, but today was a turning point as I was able to change his diaper with him screaming like a banshee! Daniel has been a dream big brother and is content to hold Drew for an hour or more! He just loves having him around so much! I truly hope that they will grow up to be best buddies. Matt and Sarah have also had a great time holding Drew - there is often a line of kids waiting for him to be done eating so that they can have their turn at holding him! I think it's funny - we'll see how long it will last!

Thank you for all your prayers on our behalf. God is so good to us. We are so thankful to Him for all He has done this past week.

He's Out!

We are rejoicing in God's amazing work in our son's life as he was released from NICU today and is now in my new roommate! The greatest thing, however, was that the kids were able to meet their new sibling! They all instantly fell in love! Daniel proved to be the loving big brother we knew he would be - so excited to meet this new little brother! Matt was truly eager to hold Drew and was thrilled to see that he had a brother that looked more like him - dark hair and dark eyes! Sarah was beyond ecstatic with holding a baby and begged to hold him every minute she was here! It was great to see all their love and excitement for their new brother.

Grandparents also came today to meet the new grandson. Though my mom was present during our harrowing experience - she didn't really get to see him as they whisked him away pretty quickly. So all the grands met him and held him today. My mom, of course, was near tears as she experienced the fact that we almost lost the little guy and was extremely thankful to be holding a healthy, albeit BIG, baby boy.

It was a sweet day. I am just so thankful to God for giving us another miracle. Andy and I believe we have asked a lot in the miracle department - many of you remember that Daniel had two complete knots in his umbilical cord and technically shouldn't even be here! We believe each of our kids is a miracle and gift from God - but our last two are particularly special as we could have lost them both. More proof that God is very much in control of our lives and our children! Thank you for all your prayers - please continue to pray for Drew as his left arm continues to heal and that he would gain full use of it!

He's Here!

When the day started I didn't think he would be arriving today as when we called at 6:00 am to confirm our induction the hospital said they were full - I was so disappointed! But I left it up to God and figured He knew what day he wanted our baby to be born. Thankfully 50 minutes later I got a phone call telling me to arrive at the hospital by 8:30 am! I was so happy! It actually worked out pretty well as we were able to wake the kids and see them to our friends house and reassure them that things were going to be okay. Poor Daniel was a bit upset about leaving us, but seemed to do well once he was dropped off.

We arrived at the hospital and things started moving quickly. I was already 5 cm dilated and so ready to have this baby! They started the pitocin at around 9:30 am and things kicked into gear pretty fast. I am a wimp when it comes to pain and requested the epidural at 11:00 am! The doctor finally arrived at 11:50 am and made my life so much better! What I hadn't counted on was the epidural causing my blood pressure to plummet making me feel absolutely horrible. They soon corrected that and things progressed normally. I was able to sleep, rest, and relax while my body did the work of getting ready to deliver our boy.

Finally at 3:15 pm I was given the go ahead to start pushing. Now with Matt I pushed 3 1/2 hours - you know first kids! With Sarah and Daniel it was a breeze - delivering them in about 3 pushes. This one was a bit more difficult. I pushed for about 30 minutes and finally got his head out - massive cheeks! But then the drama started (we can't have a kid without a dramatic entrance!) His shoulders got stuck. All of a sudden the doctor is calling for help and there are twelve people yelling at me to push harder and pressing on my belly and pulling on him to assist in his birth. They were finally able to pull him out and immediately took him over to give him oxygen. It seemed like forever before he finally cried - but never a sweeter sound was heard. He is currently in the NICU with a fractured left clavicle - very common for these type of births. He is, however, already gripping with his left hand and starting to move the arm more. They believe he will make a full recovery and have full use of his arm. His stats are:Name: Andrew Elijah Schultz (we'll call him Drew)

Weight: 10 lbs. 12 oz.

Length: 21 1/2 inches

Head: 14 inches

Chest: 14 inches

And his shoulders are wider than 14 inches! He is doing well. Andy and I were able to go down tonight and hold him for about an hour. We praise God for bringing our baby safely into the world. The doctor told Andy that this was one of her most serious deliveries in her 10 years of practice - only one other compares to ours. We thank you all for praying for our son and his arrival. Please continue to pray as he grows and develops - that things would progress normally and he would grow strong and healthy.

37 weeks 4 days

Yes, that is how far along I am in this pregnancy. Only 2 weeks and 3 days, at the most, to go as they won't let me go beyond my due date (01/28/10). Though at my Dr. appointment last Thursday I was already dilated 3-4 cm. YEAH!! I was hoping to go last week, but little boy Schultz is hanging on by his toenails! He is getting quite large and it is getting harder to drive (I have short legs and a very big belly!) and to walk around and do normal things - like clean the bathrooms and laundry! Each day the kids ask if today is the day he will arrive - it's starting to drive me crazy! I know they are anxious and want to meet their brother - but I keep telling them God is in control and will let him arrive on the day he is to arrive. I am hoping his day is soon!

In the mean time we are getting ready for his arrival. The clutter from the bedroom is almost gone, the laundry is almost caught up, and I even painted our headboard for our bed today! It was a dark blue and it is now a sage green to match the new bedding I bought about 10 months ago! I am finally getting brave enough to remove the white sheets from our bed - though I did that for the kids a couple of months ago. I am praising God that we still are in the clear as far as bedbugs go. We pray each day that we will never have to go through that experience again. I am so thankful for all Andy has done to our house. It really is looking quite amazing. We are going to be hanging pictures this weekend - if the baby doesn't come - so I will post pictures of what the house looks like. I am in love with it again!

I will post any updates about baby Schultz as soon as the great event happens! Please pray that he will arrive safely and that all will be well! Pray for the kids, too, as they adjust to a new sibling - we think Daniel is going to be a riot - he is already so in love with this little guy!

Christmas 2009!

WOW! What a difference a year makes! I vividly remember last Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It was a nightmare and one I don't believe I will ever forget! Christmas Eve was wrought with finding a bunch of bed bugs and staying up into the wee hours of the morning catching them and then Christmas morning we awoke to find one of the horrid creatures crawling away from me on our bed - very obvious that it had just had its Christmas feast on either me or Daniel - or both! It was horrible! I now sit here in my beautiful new living room with the Christmas tree lit and beautifully decorated and the stockings hung on the stair banister. Such a contrast to last year - where the walls were gutted and there were no decorations for Christmas. I am SO THANKFUL that a year can make such a difference. I am so grateful for all that God has given us and brought us through. As I look back on the past year I have learned so many lessons and have truly grown to appreciate life without bed bugs. They just took so much away from us - namely time with our children and a ton of time from my husband as he worked relentlessly on getting rid of the bugs and renovating the house to try to protect us from further infestation. It has made us appreciate our time with our children and has helped us to look forward to getting back to a somewhat normal life - playing with our children and getting into a routine where Andy isn't ALWAYS doing something on the house! It will be so nice!

Today was a great day! It was fun to hear Matt and Sarah explain to Daniel the "rules" to Christmas day in our house! We had to remember that he was two the last time we had a traditional Schultz Christmas. Our main rule is that I go downstairs first and light the tree and make everything pretty and get the camera ready to snap pictures. Daniel thought this was ridiculous - but Matt and Sarah have been doing it this way for 10 and 12 years and insisted we continue! He complied! We also each open a gift one at a time and look to see what the other has gotten instead of a mad gift opening.

Daniel loving his new "blue" automoblox - he loves these cars!

The kids can then see what the each has gotten and ooh and ahh over them - Sarah does a really good job with this and really encourages Daniel in appreciating what he got! They all had a great morning and got way too much - but they each loved what they got.

Matt's new ripstick - Andy's idea - so not mine! Pray he doesn't break anything!

They will be busy for days investigating their new toys and playing with everything!

Sarah enjoying her new Anne of Green Gables Series! My favorite when I was her age!

We went to my mom's for dinner tonight and had a great meal of ham, ziti, asparagus, and my favorite 24 hour shredded roast beef! I ate way to mu ch and the baby has been protesting his lack of room! It was great to see my Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Ray, grandmom Ruth, Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Doug, and my cousin Mike and his three girls! There were a lot of kids running around! It was a great time together with family.

I pray you all had a wonderful Christmas Day. I have loved this day and have really focused my attention on just how thankful I am to God for his indescribable gift - His Son - and all the trials He has brought me through this past year. He is so good - even in the bad times! Praise God!

Let the Gift-giving Begin!

Today was the first day of gift-giving! We went to my mom's house and the kids were spoiled once again! My mom is a gift giver and loves to shower gift on everyone. This year was no different and the kids loved each of their gifts. I actually have some photos!

Here is also a preview of the livingroom! We have our tree up and the kids loved decorating it! They looked at each of their ornaments as if they were new since they didn't get to put them out last year. Some they had even forgotten about! It was a sweet time and I love sitting next to the tree in the late evening relishing the fact that the bed bugs are gone and praising God for bringing us through one of our toughest trials.

Oh Goodness!

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I have last blogged! Life has gotten out of hand! But things will hopefully be settling down! And I will be able to return to blogging regularly! Andy bought me a new computer for Christmas! YEAH!!! So, hopefully, I'll be able to get photos up regularly and my computer will cooperate with life!

Though I say life will hopefully be settling down - I know it's going to be turned upside down in just about 7 weeks! That is when the latest little Schultz boy is due to arrive. I do have the comfort of knowing that it is only 7 weeks as the doctors won't let me go past my due date with having the diabetes. I have begun non-stress tests twice weekly - so driving has become a routine. I have to admit I enjoy the quiet time! I go first thing in the morning and return in time to do school with the kids. He is being very cooperative with the testing and I am usually only hooked up for about 15 minutes! He is an active little dude - I am hoping once he is out he will settle down! At my last ultrasound they determined he weighed about 4 pounds 9 ounces. That put him at the 50th percentile - right on target! I have been feeling great - though I am getting more tired.

Our house is coming along - Andy is almost done with the living room! I will post pictures as soon as it is complete - hopefully by this Saturday. We really want to decorate for Christmas since we missed out on it last year! I think if I wait any longer to put up our tree Daniel will explode! He has been begging for the tree to go up - I really want it to go up too!

Life continues - and I am so thankful for all God is doing in our lives! So many blessings He has given!