New Pics

Meet Tommy. He's out of the ICU and into his momma's arms.

Visiting

Kate is super tired today. She didn't sleep the night before the baby came (who would!) and last night she didn't get any sleep either. So, before you come up to visit, give me (Rob) or Val a call and we'll check to see how she's feeling. You can try Kate's cell too, but if she doesn't answer, try us. I know she is dying to show off our little babe, so we'd love for you to come see him. Just give us a call first. Thanks again!

Update

We got word late last night that the Ultrasound they did on Thomas' head came back 100% normal. So that's probably the best news I've ever had in my life. We were really worried about him. His head just happens to be a perfectly round one, that's all. He's still in the ICU and will most likely be there until Kate gets released or maybe longer. He is stable when provided with O2, but without it, he would crash. The nurses expect that it will just take some time for his body to mobilize the fluid in his lungs. Kate seems to be doing a little better and I hope she'll agree with me that if anyone would like to visit, she'd be happy to see you. Thanks again for all your support and prayers.

Baby Thomas has arrived!!!!!

Kate's still recovering from the Cesarean Section, so I'm here updating everyone on how things went. He was born at 10:06 this morning. He was very stubborn and refused to breathe, so they had to take him to ICU and he's still there. He's having a hard time keeping his Oxygen levels up. The nurse says she expects he'll be good to go in 24 hours or so to leave the ICU, so we're keeping our fingers crossed. They were also worried about his head, a little bit. His head is bigger than average, so they wanted to do an ultrasound to make sure there's not water on the brain. The rumor is that he's fine, but we won't know for another hour or so for sure. It looks like he's going to have curly hair and he has a lot of Kate's features. His head is a perfect sphere and when he gets mad, his face kinda squishes like Kate's does when she gets mad at me. He weighed 7 lbs 12 oz and was 18.5 in long (not 13.5 in.). We're so grateful for all the support through phone calls, text messages, and prayers. We're swamped for the time being, but we promise we'll get back with you all as soon as we can. Do us a favor and keep baby Thomas in your prayers as we're not out the woods yet. Here are some pictures of him right after he was born.

APRIL 14....Here he comes!!

So, we went into the Dr. to do some scans on the babies brain and body to make sure he is still all good...and found out he is already about 8 lbs! No wonder why i feel so horrible! I'm definitely having a Stoker baby! They said I am measuring 39 weeks, and that we need to be ready any day...the day the Dr. chose (I don't get to choose) is April 14th at 9:30 am. My immediate response was, "can I reschedule the baby"? What I was meaning to say is "my husband has 3 tests that week, and the MCAT"! Gulp! Robs first reaction was to vomit...ahh, just what I had hoped the new father would react! But, we have no choice...If we waited 'til after that week, he might come on his own because he is so squished! So we figure it's better to plan that have a last minute delivery on the morning of the MCAT! So, on Sunday my mom flies in to take the reins and Monday morning we have a baby. I'll send Rob home, as he will be banned from the hospital to STUDY a much as possible. Then he will come to visit for his breaks, then Wed, Thurs, Fri he has tests, and Saturday, the MCAT! Makes you want to throw up too, eh? The next week... FINALS! No, I'm not joking! Could this baby have been any worse planned?? Not that we have any control over this! So, we need PRAYERS...big time. One, that I will make it without falling apart, and two, that Rob will not jump off a bridge and finish these crazy two weeks out! Then we can be a family! Luckily my mom will be up here until the end of the month, through the week of finals so Rob doesn't have to worry about me or the baby being taken care of. What would we do without Moms?
So we are packed and ready to go! I put some pictures up of the baby's room. Please don't judge the hair. I was trying something "new" that i thought was cute on others, but realized maybe I have been in Utah too long, as my height got bigger in the bangs. Forgive the snap judgment!

I had my dear friend Victoria White make my bedding...It's out of this world to die for. Plus, she makes everything from matching vintage Mother daughter aprons, oil cloth bibs, bags...everything. A lot have asked about her, so here's her info if you want to order something...its great prices too compared to those pricey boutiques.
Victoria White:

Phone 801 294-4317

www.victoriawhiteandcompany.com

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5300968

Did you know you OUTGROW maternity clothes?

Well, after a night of peeing every 40 minutes, and not being able to get comfortable cause one side of my butt goes numb...I am VERY ready to have Thomas. Rob says I am starting to resemble the way a Pirate walks with a peg leg. I really just feel like an injured hippo. I look in the mirror and have no idea who I am ...My body has taken on a whole new shape and look. I know Kate is in there somewhere, but I think I ate her. Here are 3 things that I have decided mean that I am READY to have this baby....

1. I have no clothes to wear...yes I out grew my maternity clothes. Since the baby dropped, nothing covers my stomach at all. I think we would all have to agree that prego ladies sporting belly shirt is so off limits. So, I'm wearing the same 3 pairs of stretchy warm up pants and alternate between Robs shirts. No one ever told me I would one day be too big to wear maternity clothes. An Ultra low point.

2. Last week while eating with Rob on campus, I saw 3 young college guys outside the resturant, and heard them yell, "HOLY F (word)! Look at that pregnant lady. I have never seen anything that big! How is she walking?". Ahhh....just what everyone needs to hear. I just laughed cause I know I look ridiculous. It's like seeing a midget or someone with a severe deformity...you know you shouldn't stare or look, but thats all you end up doing. Glad to entertain.

3. I can no longer get out of the bath tub by myself. Without Rob, I could be a beached mermaid.

So, to top of this non stressful time in our lives, Rob felt he needed to postpone the MCAT 2 weeks later to have more prep. That is Truly the week the baby could come....so the MCAT is now APRIL 19, baby to come hopefully April 20th or so. We like to make things the most difficult as we can...makes things exciting! Rob is holding up best he can under the pressure. All spring break (last week) he pulled 8 hour days in the library. He is AMAZING!!

I don't mean to have a hate session about being prego. I am so grateful. Even last night we were watching my belly and Rob said, "Remember you would cry to me and say, 'all I want is to know what it is like to have a baby move inside me. Just once. People don't know how lucky they are." This is true. Everything I have ever wanted, I am getting. Why complain? I'm so blessed, but I still wouldn't mind if he came soon...

8 Months and Ready to BLOW....

So, I'm not just huge....I'm GIGANTIC....EVERYWHERE! I swear, my pinkie toe is gaining weight. I'm officially 32 weeks or 8 months today. Can you believe it? I CAN! Even my maternity clothing isn't covering my belly cause the baby has dropped so low. And I still have like 5 weeks to go according to the due date (which I highly doubt I will make). So, I'm hoping on a mid April baby, anytime after April 5th. Ive been pretty sick with 2 hospital trips in the past 2 weeks. I pulled a muscle in my abs from vomiting and coughing (the flu), and I thought the baby was coming out of my stomach where I had pulled my muscle. Apparently, it is just my luck (the worst) to pull a muscle in the stomach while pregnant. Nothing I can do to help, but stop breathing. So, I'm just trying to hang in there, making groaning noises with every move. They had to do a stress test on the baby to make sure he wasn't effected by the flu of the stress...and he is good to go, just huge in my little body. I'm measuring 32 in from my pelvis to top of my stomach...That means I am a bit ahead of schedule, and I think a nice way of saying I am fat. What did I expect though....no working out for 9 months and I am 4'11''. Very soon I will be joining the Weight Watchers club again to loose this weight...and I know it will be hard, especially with a C-section. But I can and will!
MCAT update for Rob...less than 3 weeks of studying to go...the high for the MCAT is like the ACT for those who took it back in the day. The highest is a 40, but no one human gets that...so a sweet score that will secure a spot is any school above a 30....Rob is shooting for a 32 or so. So far the practice test have been so hard and he has only been able to get 27. But he just got a 31!!!! they say the practice tests are harder than the real thing...so the 7 hours a day of studying is paying off. You rock Rob!! Remember to pray for him on April 5th...

By the way, my friend Victoria and I painted the nursery! We painted the "Tiffany's Blue" color in large diamonds! It is so cute. I will put a picture up of the whole room and bedding when I get it. Thomas's room will be the hottest thing to meet cinder block!