The Best Christmas Present Ever!!!

What a big boy!....................... Resting in the NICU.


A happy new daddy!...................Visiting in the NICU.


Finally with us again!..............Getting ready to go home.


Our first Christmas!.................The best present ever!!!


A very proud Aunt Kala...........and a proud daddy too!!

Fischer Travis Henry was born Friday, December 21st at 10:47 pm. He weighed 9 lbs 7 oz and was 21 1/2 inches long.

The pregnancy went without a hitch until the very last week. On Sunday, Dec. 16th, 3 days before my due date, I began to developed a rash...by the due date it covered most of my body. Since Fischer was plenty big and full term, the doctor decided to induce because the rash would only continue to spread until delivery.

Thursday evening I checked in at the hospital to begin the process of induction. Friday morning at 8:00 am, although I had already begun labor around 4:30 am, Pitocin was administered to help labor along. Everything was moving along slowly but steadily until around 1:00 pm when I developed a fever and signs of infection. But with antibiotics, the doctors still thought everything would progress just fine. However, by 9:00 pm I reached 8 cm and quit progressing. At 10:30 pm I began swelling instead of dilating. At this point there was no way to fix what was happening, which meant I couldn't deliver a baby of any size, much less the chunk I was carrying!

I signed the papers at 10:30pm, and Fischer was born by emergency c-section at 10:47 pm. He then spent the next 3 days in the NICU on oxygen for a deflated lung and antibiotics to fight any fever or infection he may have acquired from me. I also spent those three days pumped full of antibiotics to fight my infection, so we did not see much of each other. Thankfully, we have a mighty God who answered many prayers. Fischer's lung repaired itself and he did not develop any infection. We were both released on Christmas Eve to come home together. He is the best Christmas present we could ever imagine! He is doing wonderful and I am also doing well as I recover from surgery.

Thank you all for your prayers, cards, emails, and concern through this special time in our lives. I hope to see you all very soon!

Last Belly Picture!!

Here I am at 9 months...I look like I'm hiding a basketball! I can't believe it's all about to be over. My due date is Wednesday the 19th, but we are just waiting to see when he chooses to arrive! The doctor still says everything looks great - the baby's heartbeat, his size, my blood pressure, everything! We have been very blessed to have no major problems during the pregnancy. The next time you hear from Dustin or me should be with news of his arrival (and his name for all of you who have been waiting)! Please keep us in your prayers as we head into the biggest change of our lives :)

8 Months!!!

I can't believe it's already been 8 months! As you can see in the picture, they baby is getting bigger every day (and so is Dustin's watermelon!). I have had all my baby showers (pictures below) and am now trying to get everything organized before the baby arrives. It is quite a job! My mom, sister, and I have spent several hours already, and aren't even close!

Everyone has been so generous in their gifts...I hardly have anything left to buy, and plenty of gift cards to cover it. We are blessed with a wonderful church family and many friends and family from other churches as well. Thank you to all who have helped us prepare for our little boy...we can't wait to show him to you!

Kathleen Baptist Church Shower - Nov. 6th:

Friends and Family Shower - Nov. 10th:

Only 8 more weeks!

With only 8 more weeks to go, I am getting quite large! But don't worry, the doctor says his size is right on target...he said I only look so large because I'm short and the baby has nowhere to go but out! We now have a bassinet to place in our room when the baby arrives. It belongs to my nieghbor who used it for all of her grandchildren.

Here are some more pictures from our trip to Wichita Falls, TX in September to see Dustin's family. We visited the Falls and the Wichita Mountains in Oklahoma. There were lots of wild animals around, such as buffalo, longhorn cattle, prairie dogs, etc., and we were able to drive to the top of the tallest mountain.

Texas Baby Shower

Here are some pictures from my Texas baby shower. Dustin's mother, stepmother, aunt, and a friend helped put this together while we were visiting last week. We had a wonderful time and I received many precious gifts for our little boy!

This is Tabitha, a good friend of ours who helped at the shower.

Below on the right is Dustin's Grandmother, "MawMaw".

Below on the left are Donna and Casi, Dustin's Aunt and Cousin who helped with the shower. On the right is his mother, Bee, and Grandmother, "Nanny".

I am so thankful to all of you who came and enjoyed this special time with me!

Still Growing! - 6 months

It's hard to believe it's 6 months already! The first half flew by so fast, but now the second half is going pretty slow...maybe it's because I'm moving around so much slower! (and it's really hot outside). Baby Henry is really starting to kick and move around now. I can see my stomach moving a lot, and he is even starting to respond to me pushing on him. One day he stuck is foot out and kept it there, so I pushed it back in with my finger, and he kicked me! He's already getting a little ornery! We are pretty set on a name now, but Dustin won't let me tell...so don't ask because I'm not good at secrets!

The baby's room is near completion with paint and furniture. Zoe likes to hide under the crib. It took a lot of work to make the old trailer room look new again - of course, I didn't really have to do the work, I just watched. Dad and Dustin bore the brunt of this project! But we are very happy with the outcome. The next step is to start filling it up and decorating a little. We're getting very excited! Only 14 more weeks to go :)

5 months and counting!

Tuesday the 14th marks 5 months now! Only 4 more to go. December seems so far away, yet so close at the same time! I am definitely getting bigger...but only in the belly so far :) He's still kicking, but he's a pretty calm baby so far. He kicks hard, but not often. Maybe he'll have Dustin's calm personality...that would make a very easy baby to take care of!

We are starting to get the baby's room ready, although that just means adding drywall and scraping off wallpaper right now, so the room is not so cute yet. But it will be! We have picked out furniture and colors and bedding, so it's getting more real each day. The dogs seem to think they are helping...they sit in the middle of everything. I think they wonder why we are spending so much time in the room now...it was our junk room before and we never went in there. They sniff every baby item I bring home, and they often sniff my belly. They know something is different!

A little bump

Several of you have been asking to see a picture of me and my bump. Here's a few! Our camera is very old, so these aren't very good, but they'll have to do for now. We'll get a new camera before the baby's arrival. Wednesday will mark 20 weeks, or halfway there!! The due date is December 19 if you didn't hear that already. We are doing fine at this point. All the sickness is gone, the baby is kicking, and both mom and dad are feeling great!

It's a boy!

We found out on July 13th that we are having a baby boy! We are very excited to know this...not because we were particular about the gender, but because we didn't like calling the baby "it." Don't ask about his name, we only have ideas and they are top secret! I don't know for sure, but this picture looks like he is sucking his thumb!! (Just like his mommy did).