So long ago...

Five years ago this night was a night that changed my life forever. I went on my first date with a guy that I really really liked. Throughout the course of the evening and into the early hours of the next day- I started to fall just a little bit in love with the man that I knew I would marry. He asked me to be his girlfriend around 3 am Thanksgiving day 2006. Of course I said yes and I haven't looked back since.

Morning Baby

Haiti is such a happy baby in the mornings. We always get the best smiles and hear her little
laugh in the mornings. It makes it easier on me during the week to get her ready because she is so happy. (Of course when I try and take her picture she won't smile!)

Obsession

New Internet obsession- Pintrest. Love it!! Just wish I had the time and money to bake or create all the fun things I see! Oh well, I can dream all I want for free and that's what I'll be doing for now! :0)

The day my life changed forever part 1

My due date was August 30 but Baby Petry did not want to be born then. I had many doctor appointments, two ultrasounds and 3 stress tests in the following 2 weeks after my due date. Finally on Sept 9 my midwifes decided that it was time to force baby Petry out! My last weekly picture just before we left for the hospital -

I was admitted into the hospital on Sunday September 11 at 5pm. Through the course of the evening I was given an IV and a thin ribbon like medicine. Its purpose was to thin my cervix in 12 hours. I was only 1 1/2 cm dilated and hardly thinned out at this point. Charlie and Kerri came to visit us in their way home from church. They brought Rick some dinner but I was told I wasn't allowed anything to eat except liquids. Which made me really sad cause I didn't eat dinner before going in and I was super hungry! For the rest of the evening/night I watched tv while Rick worked on some things for work. At 10 pm the midwife on call came in to check on me and make sure everything was going well. I asked her about eating and she said of course I could eat and that it was the silly doctors who do c-sections that didn't want me to eat in case I ended up with a c-section. Rick ran out to Wendys and got me some food and that made me very happy! After my belly was full, it was time for me to try and get some sleep. The bed was super uncomfortable and every time I needed to use the bathroom I had to take my IV in with me and unhook all the monitors that I was hooked up too. Needless to say, I got very little sleep and morning came way to quickly. Monday morning September 12 at 7am I was checked by the midwife on call (Lora) and was given the report that I was now 2 cm dilated and only about 70% thinned out. But she went ahead and decided to start the pitocin drip so that we could finally have a baby! I went ahead and showered and ate my liquid broth breakfast. My family and Rick's parents showed up around 8 just as they started my drip. They were only allowed to came and visit me 2 people at a time, so they all took turns throughout the morning to come back and visit me. Rebecca and Jacob hanging out with me - they were freezing and I was burning up! -

I am not sure of the exact timeline, but my contractions started to get much more intense during the morning. The nurse kept telling me that we would have a baby by 3 or 4 in the afternoon. But I was progressing very slowly! My back was hurting from sitting in the bed and my contractions were getting worse so the nurse allowed me to sit in the rocker for a little while. That made my back feel ten times better and it helped pass the time quicker. After one of my many bathroom trips, when I walked out and was just standing for a few min, I felt like I had peed on myself. Yay! My water broke! It was just a trickle but the midwife checked it and it really was my water! But because it was only a small amount she just called it a 'high leak' and that The last picture taken of just Rick and I -

I can't remember the exact time but between noon and around 2 pm I was checked again by the midwife and I was only 5 cm dilated and about 80% thinned out. My contractions were about 4 minutes apart and super strong (to me at least!). I was very discouraged that I still had a ways to go before the baby would actually get here and I was in ALOT of pain. So when the nurse told me that they would be getting worse because of the pitocin drip and general labor - I caved in and asked for the epidural. I was disappointed in myself but I was way more concerned with what Rick would think about me because I gave into something that we had both discussed and agreed that it would be better to do without the epidural for my health and the baby's health. But I knew that I couldn't go on with the pain so I gave in and Rick was very encouraging and supportive of my decision. Actually getting the epidural was very painful. And it was mostly my fault. Because I had waited so long I was dealing with contractions along with more needles being injected into my back. And at one point of the process I had to to sit EXTREMELY still which is not easy to do when you are having string contractions! After the meds made it into my system I felt like I was in heaven! I had this warm fuzzy feeling come over me and ALL my pain was gone. No more contractions, no more back pain and I feel asleep!

Finally!

There is a finally and app for Blogger!! I have been waiting for months for this to happen! Hopefully now it will be easier for me to blog more often. That's the plan at least. :0)

Still No Baby

I am 8 days past due date and still no baby. Not even really sure I am having any contractions! Last Thursday we had a little scare with the baby - it did not pass it's first non-stress test so they sent me to the hospital for more testing. I had another NST and baby passed with flying colors. Evidently it was just sleeping. I go back for my second (technically 3rd) NST and this time I am going straight to the hospital cause that other office Dr. really freaked me out. Before the whole scare we had an ultrasound to check all the fluids and such. We were able to see the baby's face and its big fat chubby cheeks. :0) It was moving around like crazy so she wasn't able to get a super great picture but she did get a decent one that we have showed to the family. So far everyone thinks it looks like a boy - especially like Rick. I can't really tell - it just looks like an adorable little baby that I can't wait to hold in my arms!! I am not working anymore. It was getting too hard on my body to work - even just part time hours. I did go into the office today for a couple of hours and I am still doing the daycare laundry. After I came home from the office, I took a 2 hour nap! :0)

Overdue

I am now officially one day past my due date. I am more than ready for this baby to make an appearance! I am big and swollen. I waddle around and my back hurts all the time. Plus, I am getting really anxious to finally see my baby and find out if we will be raising a son or a daughter! But at the same time I am sad that it will no longer be just Rick and I.

Baby Shower Day

This afternoon is my baby shower and I am so excited!! It has really hit Rick and I that Baby could be here in about 2 weeks (even though my due date is exactly 1 month from today) and we are not ready!! Hopefully after getting lots if fun stuff today we can get the nursery finished and ready. I will try my best to post pics later this week.

Photo Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

Life as of now

I suck at blogging - I LOVE reading other peoples blogs and check almost daily but my own- I have kinda lost the desire to write about my boring days. But I would like to start because once the Baby gets here, I want o be able to bog about all the little things that baby does so that we can remember them later on in our life.

My life right now is going along ok. My husband loves me, we have a house to keep us warm and dry, we have family on both sides that loves us and wants to hang out with us and we are only 4 months away from having our first baby.

Our church life is . . there. I struggle with having to attend Kings Way but I have to follow my husband. Because I lost interest in attend a church that is so screwed up - it has me question my personal faith. Yes God is real. That is about all the I know right now. I am trying to figure out because I don't want to be a fake to my child. I am beyond caring what other people think. But my child is something different.

On a happier note - Baby Petry will be making his/her appearance in 4 short months!! We have been slowly working on things around the house but now we have to get our butts in gear and get this place in shape! I have a plan and timeline but now we just have to stick to it. We are going to be registering for all the cool baby things at the end of the month. I am researching what is the best rated car seats, pack-n-plays, etc. I am kind nervous about asking people for all the items we need. If we don't get help then I am not sure how we can properly take care of the baby. But I guess this is a matter of prayer and trusting that God will provide for us and the baby.

That is all that I am going to write about for now. Pretty boring stuff, Huh? :0)

Unfair . .

. . . is the only word that came to mind this morning as I was looking and watching my beautiful healthy baby on the ultrasound screen. A close friend found out her baby no longer had a heartbeat and at the same exact time that I was hearing my baby's heartbeat - doctors were removing my friends precious baby from her body.

"Why God? Why have you spared my baby but didn't save her baby?"

Rick has said from the beginning of this pregnancy that this baby is Gods and that He has big plans for our baby. He reminded me of that again as I was crying silent tears during my baby's ultrasound.

"God, bless this baby's life, keep him/her healthy and show me how to raise this baby to be prepared for Your great purpose for him/her."

Grandma Ronk

Bonnie Jean Ronk, 77 of Naples, Florida and Granville, Ohio died peacefully at her Naples home early Sunday morning, March 6th 2011.

Bonnie was born June 5th, 1933 at Buckeye Lake, Ohio. She is preceded in death by her mother, Janice Ford, sister Roberta Arledge and half-brother, Cecil Ford. She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Paul H. Ronk, three step-sons; Paul D. Ronk (wife Rachel) of Charleston, WV, Steven Ronk of New Lexington, OH and Thomas Ronk of Montgomery, AL. Two half-sisters; Bonnie Nadine Valdez(husband Jerry) of Texas, Paula Kay Dorn of Kentucky and half-brother Paul Ford of Georgia. She also leaves behind six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and numerous friends.

Bonnie served in the U.S. Navy from 1952-1956. She worked with Hospice of Licking County, Ohio for 25 years. She was active in her churches, Eastland Heights Baptist Church of Newark, Ohio and East Naples Baptist Church in Naples, Florida. She was a member of the Eastern Stars for more than 30 years.

Bonnie had a compassion and love for people; she dedicated her life to serving others. Her smile and love of people will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

A Memorial Service will be held at East Naples Baptist Church on Tuesday, March 8th at 7:00 pm. A service in Ohio is also being plannned, and Bonnie will be buried in the family cemetery in Ashland, Kentucky.

Really God? A baby?

As Christians, we talk about wanting to trust God with our future, following Him even though we don't know what the outcome is, etc. I have said those words even prayed them- many, many times. And I meant them. I thought. But I have learned that if you pray that pray - you better be ready for what God is going to do. Here is a story of what has been happening in my life for that past 2 months.

My period was due on or around Dec. 23. I have never been 'on time' so when I was a couple days late - no worries. But I have never been 5 days late.

On Dec. 28 I took the first pregnancy test. It was positive. I freaked out. And not the good kind of freaking out. The shaking, can't breath, how did this happen?(don't answer that!) kind of freaking out. Rick took the news much better than I did. I went through the day in a fog, cried many times, and had no idea what to do next. When I got home from work - took another test. Positive.

Dec. 29 - took a third test. Positive.

On Dec. 31 - I had a doctors appointment with my Thyroid specialist. When a person has thyroid problems and a strong family history like I do - it is very important to have your thyroid checked and leveled out. (If your thyroid levels are low, you might have problems conceiving. Or if they are high, you have a greater chance of miscarrying)
I tell the doctor that I THINK I am pregnant but not positive. After being chewed out for not coming to her before I conceived, she told me congratulations and that she would run a pregnancy test along with my other routine blood work.

Jan. 3 - The nurse calls me and confirms that I am pregnant.

On Jan. 10 - I had take a pee test at my family doctors office to get the 'Proof of Pregnancy' sheet so that I could schedule an appointment with the Birth Center. I was 7 weeks along.

Oh my goodness. I am really pregnant. I am really going to have a baby and be a mom. I am not ready for this!! This is not the time yet! We had a plan and a baby was not in the picture! I am not ready to be a mom. What is God thinking?????
These were just a few of the things that went through my mind. Rick had to remind me over and over again that this is what God must want. God is in control. We have no idea why, but God wants this baby to be born to us, right now. We have to trust Him. That is really hard to do when it comes to making another human being!

Call it hormones or whatever you want but for those few weeks, my emotions were like a roller coaster. Some days I would be SUPER excited and happy about the baby. The next day - I wouldn't even want to say out loud that I was having a baby hoping that this was all a dream and I just needed to wake up.

Thankfully I have leveled out and for 90% of the time, I am happy and can't wait for August to get here so that can hold and see my beautiful baby. The other 10% is me freaking out that I have no idea what I am doing I just pray that I don't ruin this baby's life! :0)

There is more to the story and I will finish it. But in another blog.


**Disclaimer: When we were in Vegas, my dad was telling people that he was praying we were making him a grandpa on our trip. We both got very upset with him cause that is just very weird and awkward to be going around saying.
Even though I do not know (even if I did, would I really tell you?)when we actually made this baby - the time line shows that it happened AFTER we got home from our trip out west.

2010 in Review

The year 2010 was a good year for Rick and I. A few highlights from the past year:


Jan/Feb. - We spent time in Haiti ministering to earthquake victims.

Feb. - We bought our first house and became residents of Nitro.

March - We celebrated Rick's great-grandmas 105th birthday.

April - Worked on painting rooms in our house & our nephew turned 1!

May - we moved into our house & I had a wedding shoot

June - VBS at church & Bethany's wedding on top of a mountain

July - family vacation with Overdorfs at Myrtle Beach & 4th of July at camp

August - WV State Fair, Hawks Nest with my daycare Busy Bees, and KWCE teen retreat

Sept. - Boom's Day, Jessica's wedding, my 1st WVUvs. Marshall game,
Jacob's 16th birthday & weekend trip to WI for Gezzi's wedding

Oct. - Weekend at camp with the guys, my 24th birthday, Hippie Joe's visit, &
the Pumpkin House

Nov. - our trip to Phoenix, Las Vegas, & Salt Lake City, &
Thanksgiving with Rick's family

Dec. - Christmas programs & work parties, OUr first Christmas in our house,
Christmas with Mama, and my family.


We did have some not so good times and things that did not get crossed off of our to-do list but God was good to us through it all.

I can not wait to see what God has in store for us in the year 2011!!!!!!!!!!!