The last week

Our week:

Last Sunday Jon and I took Reagan to see Toy Story 3! It was the cutest movie ever and Reagan loved it! She had never been to a movie theater before so we weren't sure how she would do. Outside of having to go the bathroom 3 times, she did great! A HUGE tub of popcorn and some snacks helped a little. It was a great way to start of celebrating Father's Day! After the movie we headed home and hung out the rest of the day. I started not feeling the best in the morning, but just kind of ignored it. Well as the day went on it was getting harder to ignore- I was having contractions and they weren't going away. So after a lot of thought we headed to the hospital. Now in my post last week I said how I couldn't wait to meet this little one- but I didn't mean so soon!!! We dropped Reagan off at my parents and off we went...

Turned out that I was in fact showing signs of labor. My contractions were about 3 minutes apart and not letting up. Because I was only 33 (almost 34) wks, they starting giving me things to stop it. I received 2 shots in my arm that worked for a bit, then some oral medication that seemed to slow things down. I also received 2 steroid shots as a precaution to help with the babies lung development. We thought it was looking good and thought we might get to head home around 11pm they started again. We were there for the night. Jon had the luxury of sleeping on a mat on the floor, while I was hooked up to a bunch of machines and peeing every 20 minutes- It was not a fun night!! I made it most of the night with just a few contractions. We waited for the doctor to come around in the morning thinking I was gonna go home... then contractions started again!!! More meds! I ended up being discharged around 12:30pm. My orders were to stay on modified best rest and take this medication 3x a day.

It was great to come home and Jon's mom was waiting for us to help out. Tuesday was pretty uneventful- although I still was having contractions! Tuesday night I woke up with a few intense contractions but they didn't last long.

Wednesday Jon's Grandma came down to spend the day with me and Reagan. (Now it is finding babysitters for both of us!!) Reagan was SO excited for Great Gma Phylis to get here. Heather (Jon's cousin) and her daughters came over to play too! I headed into the doctor that afternoon for a check up just to find out that I was not actually dilated to a 3 (I was not dilated before I left the hospital)! My doctor told me he thought I would at least make it a week! So continue bed rest and meds!

Thursday my sister returned from California! She is preparing to leave next week and I am not excited about it and even more bummed now that I can't do anything to help her with the move! Thursday was kind of a long day.

Friday was mine and Jon's Anniversary! 5 Years already!! We had big plans to celebrate over the weekend- those plans have been postponed :(! Shanon and Michael came down to play Friday. It was nice to get the see them for a bit. Jon's mom has been busy cleaning, cooking, taking care of Reagan, and helping out in every way to make sure things are done since I can't do them myself. Jon picked up dinner from the Country Club and we just hung around and played with Reagan. I got Jon a watch for our anniversary and when he walked in the door Reagan took the gift to him and said "Here daddy, it's a watch!" Little turkey:)!

Friday night was pretty eventful- Reagan woke up with a nightmare around 10:30 and I woke up with contractions. After 2 hours of contracting and trying to decide if my water broke we headed into the hospital! Got to hospital, water didn't break but my contractions were every few minutes. Long story short- more medicine to try and stop them, Jon went home to sleep, and I hung out with my nurse most the night waiting for my doctor to come in in the morning. Jon got back first thing in the morning shortly before my doctor arrived. They couldn't stop my contractions, but I was still dilated the same so they sent me home. I can stop taking the medication because it really isn't working anyway. So now we just wait- I am almost 35 wks. We discussed the concerns the doctors would have if the baby comes now and there are none. Obviously the longer it can wait the better, but they are not going to try and stop it any more. The lungs should be closed to mature (if they aren't already) and I was given the steroid to help with that. So far the baby has shown no signs of distress and the doctors have shown no concern for the health or me of the baby. So now we just wait....

There is a chance I will still be pregnant in 3 weeks, there is a chance I will have this baby in 3 days! For now I will continue on "bed rest" and ride out the contractions until I am certain they are worse. I am scheduled to see my doctor again on Thursday- we will see if I can make it until then!!

33 weeks and counting!!

Soon to be Big Sister!!

33 weeks

Is it me or is this summer Hotter than normal? I am not enjoying the humidity or heat at all! Maybe it is the fact that I am blowing up like a balloon everyday. This baby seems to be getting bigger and bigger by the minute! I am starting to get very anxious to meet this little one. We have been trying to get everything ready for his or her arrival. That includes trying to prepare Reagan for what is about to happen. She seems excited! I signed her up for the Big Sister class in July so we will see how that goes! This baby is very active and likes to move a lot at night. I am still working and trying to keep up with Reagan. That is getting more and more difficult! I am feeling a little mommy guilt because I am not able to do things with Reagan and she knows it too.

We have the room ready and are working on getting everything else in place. My sister came over last week and we re-arranged, cleaned, and moved toys in the living room to make room for the pack-n-play! Shanon has a good eye for re-arranging and I am SO excited with how the room looks. It looks big for once!! With the pack-n-play out, Butters too has started to realize changes. He is a little upset that he can't get to his favorite window now, but he will manage!

There are going to be a lot of changes in this house soon!! We are very excited and anxiously waiting!

Weston Patrick

On June 1st I became an Aunt again! Weston Patrick Tjelmeland joined mom, dad, and big brother Owen out in Colorado. He weighed in at 7 lbs, 12oz, and 20 inches long! My sister-in-law, Alisa did a great job and once again she did it without an epidural!! So far I think he looks like Owen, but I will have to wait until I see him in person. I can't wait to meet him! It sounds like they might make a trip back here this fall.

May Pictures

Seasame Street Live:Michael's Birthday:

Blank Park Zoo:

More of May...

May was a blur for the most part... Here are some of the main things I remember about May:

• Jon's Uncle received some news regarding his cancer. The news was not what anyone wanted to hear, but we are staying positive and praying for him everyday!
• Marcelo, Shanon, Anita & Luiz (Marcelo's parents), Becki, and I took Reagan and Michael to see Seasame Street Live! It came at a difficult time, but was a nice break away from everything else going on and we had so much fun watching the kids enjoy it!
• Marcelo headed back to Japan to have knee surgery. He was able to be here for a week and will return to California in July.
• We celebrated Michael's 3rd Birthday- We went to "The Playground" in Ankeny with friends Jen, Ebba, and Berlin. It was 2 hours of pure fun for Michael and Reagan!! Their feet didn't stop the entire time we were there. They kept going from bounce house to slides to bounce house!It was a great way to celebrate! (Pictures to come!) Then we celebrated with a small party that night at my parents house. Michael had a Mickey Mouse Cake and balloons. He got a lot a good presents and was exhausted by the end of the day.
• Shanon, Mom and I braved it and took the kids the the zoo over Memorial Day! It wasn't too bad and the kids LOVED it! They even rode a camel! (Again, pictures to come!)
• We went to a BBQ at Rasmussons (family friends) and had a good time watching the kids splash around in the pools. It was raining and started to get a little cold, but Reagan didn't care- she stayed in her swimsuit until 8! We had to pry it off her and give her a bath. Her, Michael, and Parker had a fun time playing together. We sat around a fire and made smores!! It was a fun, relaxing night.
• Jon set up Reagan's pool and sprinkler and they went to town! Reagan wasn't sure what to think of the sprinkler- but she loved it when Jon picked her up and ran through it with her

That is what I remember of May- I will post pictures soon!

Be still my heart...

" When you come to the edge of all the light you know, and you are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly."

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On May 10 Adalyn Ranae Castro was born sleeping at 6:51am. She is now an angel among us.

My sister went into labor at 22 weeks and it was just to soon. She had a difficult pregnancy. It was and is a very hard thing to understand, but we are all doing the best we can. Her husband was able to come home from deployment for a week. It was nice that they were able to spend that time together and prepare for the next step in their lives.

I was so lucky to get to share that time with my sister as well. Although it is not a situation anyone would choose to be in, I am glad I could be there for her. I am also so thankful for the short time I got the be with Adalyn. She is truely an angel.

It is hard when you have experienced a loss of a child. I know my situations have not been the same as my sisters, but there are similarities. There were conversations my sister and I had that I never wanted to have- but again, I was glad I could help in any way.

Overall everyone is doing well. My sister is one of the strongest people I know and she has been tested more times that not in the past few months- but she is a fighter and will continue to fight.

In time it will all make sense...