Ryder is SOOOO happy that he is now a big brother....and a GrEaT one at that!! He always wants to hold her, and will even tell you to"be soft with baby Ruby!" He gets very upset when he has to leave Ruby. It's to cute.

Ruby Amanda Page was born Sunday August 8th, at 1:39 pm, weighing 6 lbs 9 oz, and 19 inches long. She is very healthy, and a great baby....very alert, and loves her daddy!

Where'd her name come from? Well we love the name Ruby, and when we found out it was a girl...it stuck. Amanda is after a good friend of Kira's that passed away in highschool. Amanda was an amazing person, and Greg and Kira loved the idea of having their baby girl have Amanda's name.

The Story: As we all know prediction from OB was Ruby would come the week of cerclage removal...and she was right!

Saturday I just felt funny, and debated if I should go into triage or not. Finally I went in. I was dilated to a 5. With my history, they knew anything could happen at this point, so they kept me in. Dr said if no progress by 6 AM Sunday ( it was 11 pm at this time on sat) they'd give me meds to get it all going. Well apparently my body once again wanted to give its issues....long story short they were giving me the meds at 6.
Before the meds even really had time to kick in, the Dr came in...and found that I was further dilated and such, then the nurses thought. (they were all confused, cuz indeed, I am a freak patient, haha). Next thing I knew Dr B broke my water to get this all done with...then came the amazing epideral (sp?) (it was freakin amazing.... felt hardly anything! )
Then it went fast from there.... and believe it or not....I have to say this delivery was quicker and easier then Ryder's! It was great.
Ruby is just as cute as her older brother! She has a bunch of dark hair... perfect shaped head, she even has dimples when she makes certain faces! She has chunky cheeks like Ryder did. We love it!
Ryder will be a great big brother. We are so excited to have this beautiful baby girl to add to our little family. She truly is a beautiful miracle. I can go on and on and on about how grateful we are to have met Dr Bullaro. It was a totally crazy way we met....but it was a meant to be thing. She and DR Blumrick and our wonderful Heavenly Father got us here today... a healthy baby, a healthy mom....Proud dad, and happy as ever Ryder.
Thank you for every prayer, meal, phone call, card....etc. through these past 9 months. We are forever grateful

No Baby Yet! Had to wait til yesterday to have cerclage out. Let me tell ya it was not fun at all! haha. Greg was there and was like WHOA! The highrisk Ob said I was 80% efaced (sp?) and labor could happen today, tomorrow....even a week. It's all a surprise to us all!! So in the meantime, I am up and walking and doing stuff trying to get it going! haha.
It was so cool to see the smile on the DR's face...and he said "This is what makes my job worth it. All the long hours, no sleep...etc. To get someone like you to term in their pregnancy, this is what I love. This is why I went into this line of work."
Greg told him how grateful we are for him and his experience, and all he did for us. Wow what a blessing!
So we will keep you posted as stuff happens with labor and such!

Thanks for all the prayers and concern!

So this morning I wasn't feeling "it"....I was doubting if I should cut the stitches this week. It's been weighing on my mind for a few days. So today when Greg and I went into my OB office, the atmosphere was different then usual. The girls all kinda seemed down. I heard them calling and rescheduling appointments for the rest of patients today. They were rescheduling into next week. So the thought hit me, maybe this is a good thing for me... almost like an answer to prayers?? I just didn't feel right about going through with stitches coming out.
So then when I get back into the room and doctor comes in. She shared with us some very sad personal stuff going on in her life, that requires her to take off the rest of week. She said I am willing to take out stitches, but one week is always better... if I can handle it. I just felt "right" about waiting a week. So we are waiting til next monday.
It was hilarious...she said baby Ruby is TOTALLY ready and wanting to come! She said "man, that daughter of yours really wants to come! She's there, ready to come out....but we are not are not letting her!
She then said "baby must be thinking 'dammit who dead bolted the damn door!' let me out already!"
Greg and I laughed, cuz so true! haha.
My doctor is truly an amazing lady. We are so blessed to have found her. Ruby will have a beautiful life because of this wonderful doctor.
We go in early monday morning and she said she really expects Ruby to come like that day....so we shall see!!!

This Tuesday may be the day! We shall see! So far it's looking that way...at least for the stitches to come out. Ruby is expected to be born very soon after.

I had to put up the pink page to get ready for it....I gave in to pink-girly stuff. Could not help myself.

Anyways we will update this week and let ya know. We are all excited for a baby....Ryder is VERY excited for "baby Ruby". It's all to much fun.

Thanks for all the prayers, and concerns. We are grateful to have such great friends and family!

We may have our little Ruby very soon. This past weekend my body has been trying it's best to get her out. Cervix is pretty much down to the stitches, and soft. Have had many labor signs the past 3 days. Dr feels Ruby will be safe being born now, but of course the longer the better! So our goal is 12 more days (35 weeks). She will then cut cerclage, and expect Ruby to come w/in 24 hours.

Thank goodness for a cerclage...it's been her lifesaver. I am now on 3 meds just for labor issues alone niphepine, and tribunaline (sp?) and my shot every week! to try and stop contractions, and cramping. It was working, but is wearing off quickly. All we are doing is trying to buy time.

People keep asking about a baby shower. I was not going to have one, but many have told me I need one. So since this all has been so unpredictable, we are waiting til after her birth. Another question is what do we need???? I registered at baby r us, and target. Right now the most we need, that I'm not allowed to go out and get (back on STRICT bedrest!) is diapers, and a baby bath, and bath stuff, which is listed on my registry. We kept much of Ryder's stuff, so we have some stuff : )

Ryder is doing great...totally into babies. He loves playing with the dolls at my moms and being the daddy to them. He is always talking about Ruby. He understands what is going on...that there is an actual baby in mommy's tummy...and soon she'll come out to play. Thanks to TLC baby story... he gets the idea.

well thats us right now, we will update soon.

Random Blog entry...

Lately Ryder talks to us about Thomas. We do not know who this"Thomas" is. In fact, we don't know anyone that even goes by the name Thomas. He doesn't watch Thomas the train either.
This "Thomas" is not someone he plays with...like an imaginary friend. Usually it happens at night... he just points Thomas out to us.
A few weeks ago was the first time. We brought him into the computer room. He looks up at the ceiling and says... "hey there's Thomas." Then he went onto what he was doing.
Then a few times when we are putting him to bed... he says as he points to usually a corner of the room. "look, there's Thomas."
The craziest was the other night at my parents Rob, my brother was teasing Ryder. He told Ryder he was going to put Ryder to bed in my parent's bed. So Rob took Ryder into their bed, laid him down, then turned off light and walked out.
Ryder didn't care at all, he thought it was funny. Rob then opens the door and Ryder says "Rob! look there's Thomas..over there!" as he points over to my parents closet.
Rob walks out to me and says, "uh who is Thomas???"
I was like, "you're joking, right."
Rob had no clue about what Ryder had been telling us about this "Thomas".
Rob told me what had happened, I admit it was a bit creepy for me.
Then that night I heard Ryder say "Thomas" in his monitor.
Very odd, indeed. I'm not sure what to think about this.
If you ask Ryder about Thomas....he really doesn't care about what you are saying.
All I have to say is...interesting.

Lately people have started asking about Ryder's Cerebral Palsy...they are also kind of scared to ask....so On Facebook I wrote this...and wanted to post it on here, So people will know that we are ok with you asking us. We are not ashamed or scared about talking about it. So here's the post from facebook....

People also are curious yet scared to ask if Ruby will have cerebral palsy. When they finally get out the question....They are relieved to hear the answer that likely she will not. It is ... not genetic at all....The only reason Ryder has Cerebral Palsy is because he was born 3 1/2 months early. At that point the tiny baby's brain is at high risk for basically a stroke. (the simple explanation).
From being SO premature, Ryder had very severe "brain bleeds" (stroke) on both right and left side of the brain.Permanently damaging major nerves, and connections to the spine, and such.
Due to to the damage on both sides of his brain. Ryder physically is considered Severe Cerebral Palsy.
People wonder what Ryder can do physically??
Ryder can roll side to side and play with toys. He figured out months ago how to scoot around on his back. He scoots everywhere that way! He is getting quick at it too!
Ryder at this time can not sit on his own. His upper trunk control is very weak, due to the brain damage. He is working on it though!
Ryder can walk if someone holds him up. It takes him a while for his brain to telll his little legs and feet to move....but it's a great start!!!
Ryder has special chairs and equipment to help him be more independent. He has wheelchairs, special feeding and activity chairs, bath chairs....etc. that support his head, and body.
Ryder can feed himself. Soon he will get potty trained : )
The big question many fear to ask is if he will walk on his own. We do not know. That is up to his brain and body. The neurologist said maybe in early adulthood.
The best part is that Ryder IS there mentally. Since his physical disability is so severe, the mental part over compensates. He is a brilliant child... Very intelligent.He is a normal 2 going on 3 kiddo...in some cases even smarter. He speaks in full sentences. He can tell you many things...he can tell us when he needs help with this handicaps...
Like "mom help, Im stuck. Help me please"
He has a hard time getting out of corners, or away from a wall...or thru narrow doorways.
He is seriously a SWEET lil' guy. Constantly telling people thank you for helping him out. He always says I love you. He loves to cuddle with anyone.
We are just so blessed to have this amazing kiddo as our child. We are proud of him, and his great example of overcoming so much.