Josie Taylor Benedict

At 12:08 am on September 2, 2009 Josie Taylor Benedict was born. She weighed an unexpected 5 lbs 3 oz, has a head full of hair and came out crying like a champ. Scott was not able to attend unfortunatly, but he was first to see her via webcam! Pictures are curtosy of my nurse.

About the labor and delivery: At around 3:30 pm September 1, they started me on pitocin to induce labor. The plan was not to deliver until I was 39 weeks, but today at my 36 week check there were some signs that the doctors should deliver now. She was not really being responsive in her heart rate nor was she making many movements. Her size was measuring below the 3rd %, so they thought it better now then never. She was estimated to be 4 lbs 5 oz. At around 8 or 9 pm they broke my water. My plan was to go natural with no pain relief. At around 11:30 pm my contractions were really becoming hard to bare. I requested an epidural. The midwifes came in to check where we were before I could have the epidural in case it was to late. It was to late. After three good and VERY painful pushes, out poped Josie. No problems. She is in the NICU because of the gestational age and size, but probably won't be for more than 24 hours for observations. I am on my way to see her after a shower!

Swimming and such

Here are a few pictures from when we took Xander to the Ramstein swimming pool and a few other random photos.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Pig Fest

Scott has a friend from Tech school here in Germany, and she invited us to go to a "Pig Festival" with her. The story is, the town of Wittlich used to be surrounded by a wall to keep enemies out. The gate was wedged closed with a turnup. One day a pig came and stole the turnup and ate it, thus the gate was opened and the enemies got in. So... they ate the pigs. Or something like that :) It was a fun yet very HOT day.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Some of Germany

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Xander's First birthday

For Xander's first birthday, we celebrated it with some good friends and my mom and sister! It was loads of fun~

Update on Josie

I thought I would update everybody. First off, thank you for your continued prayers and thoughts. When I first was admitted to the hospital, it was because the fluid levels were at a 3, which they need to be at least a 10 to be considered normal. These levels led to baby Josie's head to become dolicephalic (narrow) because it was squished. She is also breech. The doctor felt that with the fluid levels being so low, I am very likely to have a preterm labor, and with her being breech, it greatly increases the chances of a prolapsed chord (delivery of the umbilical chord before baby, putting pressure on the chord cuts off oxygen to baby) meaning that if I went into labor, I could very well need an emergency c-section within 10 minuets. We live 45 miles from the nearest hospital with a NICU, so that is why I needed to stay there. Also, due to the low fluid levels, it is likely that Josie's lungs did not fully develop as they breathe in the fluid to "practice breathe" so that is still a concern and even if I make it to term will be delivering where there is a NICU. From the ultrasound that we had yesterday, the fluid levels have hit 10.4. just barely in the "normal range". Her head is also starting to round itself out a little. She is still breech, but now that she is bigger, the chances of a prolapsed chord are so much smaller. She is measuring about 3 weeks small, but grows at a steady pace. I was allowed to be discharged from the hospital last night and I am now at home planning on 6 weeks of relaxing and spending quality time with little Alexander. Once again, thanks for all the prayers! I will be putting up ultrasound pics soon!

Wells Beach

On May 31, we went to Wells beach. It was windy, cold, and rocky, but in the end Scott really enjoyed himself and got some FANTASTIC pictures. Xander really enjoyed eating the sand. He would not, however, crawl on the sand... He would get on hands and feet.