Maggie Bren is finally here!

Our little MagB arrived at 4:55 p.m. on June 26, 2007. She weighed 8 lbs .03 oz. and was 20.8" long. We are all doing well. Will post more later. In the meantime - enjoy the pics on my sister's blog:

http://www.taytat.blogspot.com/

Love to all!

Michael, Lisa and Maggie

40 Weeks Come and Gone! The Wait Continues...

A quick update: No MagB just yet! Our last appointment was on Tuesday of last week and we still had no progress at that point, so doc scheduled and induction for Wednesday morning, the 27th. We are supposed to go in tomorrow at 5 p.m. to start the "ripening" process since at the time we were scheduled for the induction nothing was happening on its own. Then, early Sunday morning I started having contractions which lasted for most of the early morning. Then last night the contractions really started going - leaving me in no doubt that an epidural was in my future (so much for "keeping my options open...). So I called my Doc this morning only to be told that it "could be" I'm in the early stages of Labor and to try to sit tight at home unless things progress some more. (How painful do contractions have to get before I am officially in labor? That is what I want to know?!) Good news is, according to Doc, I am probably finally thinning out and dilating. So, long story short: we still wait. We have an appointment at 1:45 p.m tomorrow to check on things. I am hoping I am at least to a point where we can skip the "ripening" stage of the induction and get right down to business.

Poor Michael! I have awakened him in the wee hours of the morning for two nights now with the words: "Honey, I think it's time." And, like a trooper, he gets up and waits with me while I try to decide if it really is indeed time to load our bags and head to the hospital. He's been so great!

More tomorrow...

And we wait...

Well, doctor's visit yesterday revealed nothing doing. That's right - little MagB is apparently loving the comforts of the womb. Doc said her head was "about in Tulsa" (not sure what's going on with the Oklahoma references) and I wasn't quite sure if that meant she was moving any closer or if indeed she was heading in the other direction. Perhaps I need to locate a map of the Sooner state. Anyhoo, I left the doctor quite disappointed and probably pouted a little to long (just ask Michael!) Then I got over my selfishness and reminded myself that my time line is not the one that matters here so I said a quick prayer and felt much better about things. Bottom line: she'll get here when she gets here and the timing will be perfect.

I did, however, experience my first real, live (and somewhat painful, I might add) contractions last night! I had a hard time timing them because they were all over the place and the whole episode only lasted about an hour but I now at least know that my body is indeed capable of producing a contraction!

Hope you all have a wonderful father's Day weekend! I know I am looking forward to spending some time with my daddy this weekend! Love to all...

The Waiting Game!

Well, my due date is officially one week from Wednesday and I continue to grow anxious for any sign from our precious girl that she is ready to make her debut. The past two doctor's appointments have confirmed zero progress and last week doc said her head was still "way up in Oklahoma." She is head down though, and that's good news. She is apparently content to remain in her familiar surroundings for now - which is fine. I keep telling her I'm ready when she is. I'm anxious to see if Thursday's appointment shows any changes!

The nursery is about 98% complete. We just need to hang some pictures and the curtain rod & curtain. Here are some pictures of the progression. Enjoy! We'd like to say a special thanks to everyone who helped with the nursery. Pat - thanks for helping us paint the walls. Dad - thanks for helping us hang and paint the bead board. Laurie & Jay - thank you for your help painting as well. And my Michael - thank you for being patient with me while hanging the border and while I bugged - o.k. nagged - you to get the bed put together and finish everything up! You did a great job. Our daughter is going to love her room!

Hope you all have a great week! We hope to have news very soon!


The nursery before:



The transformation begins:

Beadboard added:

The border makes such a difference!

Finally - everything moved in:

The bed & bedding:

The changing table/dresser:

A few more shots:

8 Months Down!

I'm a bit over a week late with this post - but better late than never right? (When you are 8+ months pregnant, and walking on what look like elephant feet, you have to get in the right mindset to have your picture taken...It took me awhile! :-))

It's hard to believe we only have 2 weeks, 5 days until the due date! Seriously, she could come at any time now. I used to always see pregnant women and wonder what it felt like to know that you could go into labor at any time. Do you wake up everyday wondering "Is today the day?" I now know that they were all probably thinking, "Please, God, let today be the day!" Ha! I'm kidding. I have loved every minute of this pregnancy. Yes, I may have been a little neurotic and worried a little too much about every little thing - but who doesn't with their first, right?! (You'll have to ask Michael about his ongoing list of ailments/problems I was convinced - at least once during this pregnancy - I had. It's quite humorous. I hope he's not serious when he says we can't have another one! I keep trying to tell him the next time around will be a breeze! I'll know what to expect - especially the difference between heartburn and a pulmonary embolism!)

Anyhoo, baby girl Krenek is apparently content in her confined living space for now as yesterday's doctor appt. revealed no dilation so far. We'll see if next week brings any progress. He estimated that she is weighing in at somewhere between 5 1/2 and 6 lbs, which made me ecstatic because I was convinced she was already hovering around the 8 lb mark.

We're putting the finishing touches on the nursery this weekend and will hope to post pics of the completed project next week. In the meantime, here are some pics from last weekend's Memorial Day festivities when we had the Nance, Isler and Presnell clans over for some delicious barbecue. The pics are of the kids at a local sprayground. They had a great time. The last picture is a great summation of how we all felt at the end of the day!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Here are nephew Brady and niece Tatum playing in the water:

Here, nephew Taylor watches as water is poured from above - Brady watches from afar.

Tatum makes some friends while Brady savors the shower.

Nephew Collin, wiped out by the days events, can't even muster the energy to finish off his PB&J sandwich.

Happy Friday!

Ah Friday! I love Fridays. For whatever reason traffic is always a little lighter on Friday's and work seems a little less like work. Everybody's in a good mood and almost always someone at work brings in breakfast - perhaps in celebration of the two glorious days of...well...not work that lie ahead! Yep, Friday's are good.

That nesting thing must be kicking in because I've spent the last two evenings getting all of baby's new blankets and washcloths and hooded towels and sleepers and onesies all washed and ready for use/wear. My goal this weekend - in addition to finishing the nursery - is to get my hospital bags packed so they are ready when she finally decides she's had enough of her cramped living quarters and is ready to face the world! Oh, I can't wait to meet her!

Michael and I are 3/4 of the way thru our childbirth classes. Very eye opening. I often find myself speechless - which is very unlike me - during these classes. We watch these videos of births and epidurals and C-sections and other "interventions" and then we're asked to talk about things and really, all I can do is sit there and think: "I don't even know what to say about what I just saw." It's all very scary and exciting at the same time. This week was about interventions - so the things that you may not necessarily plan for but may have to happen for baby's safe delivery (i.e. c-section, the E word (episiotomy) etc...). I was feeling a little nervous about things and then we took a tour of the labor and delivery floors and stopped at the nursery where the new babies were on display and my nervousness was quickly replaced with utter excitement in the realization that in a few short weeks that will be my sweet baby on display. So come what may - bring it on - it will all be worth it the minute we see our sweet girl and get to hold her for the first time.

Hope you all have a great weekend! Please continue to pray for us as we get ready for our new arrival!

2007 Cinco de Mayo Crawfish Boil

Once upon a time there was a group of college friends who would get together every year for a crawfish boil - a fun time where we could reminisce and laugh about the "good ol' days." For whatever reason - life I suppose - we stopped having this annual event. This year, The Krenek's and McCoys joined forces to resurrect this once annual crustacean-eating festivity - thus the Cinco de Mayo Crawfish Boil was born, or reborn, if you will. We had a great time hanging out with friends new and old. Thanks to everyone for a great time! Looking forward to next year's event. Here are some pics: