Pics and video: Corrie day 3

This is what we call the 'Powell arm'. Carrie was cracking up last night as Corrie showed us how Powells relax..on her 2nd day! If you've ever seen us sit on a couch with one arm behind/over our head, you know what I'm talking about :)

We're all home now... we were home this afternoon for about 5 minutes when the fire safety guy knocked on our door; they were going to test the fire alarm system for 20 minutes! So we got back in the car and went for a ride :)

Here is the video from this morning - she was really sleepy and smiley, but I only managed to capture one small smile. That's Carrie at the end, wondering if I got the rest of her in the video :))

photo business cards from Istock

I just needed a place to post these so that they have a html: address :)
They're my 'business' cards from Istock, due in the mail in a few weeks!

our little 'hippie'

After talking with the pediatrician again today, the orthopedic pediatrician came up tonight to talk about Corrie's hips. He confirmed the "congenital hip dysplasia" that the other doc discovered. Even though they haven't seen this since they were in med. school residency, they said it was very obvious (it's apparently very rare).

There are a few different types; Corrie's is that both hips are able to locate and dislocate their joints. Being firstborn and a girl are both 'risk factors' that relate to CHD--and possibly low amniotic fluid. We're not sure if there is any history in our families...

So next week (Edit: June 19 was the first available appt.) we'll be headed to Nashville to see the specialists at Vanderbilt (maybe the med students will get to try her out :). She'll get to wear these braces (above) for a few weeks, but we're glad they discovered it now -- she should be fine after maybe 6 weeks. We'll have more info next week, hopefully, but if you want to read more about CHD: read this link.

On a brighter note, her hearing test was good and she received her hepatitis shots :)

Better pic...

As First Asst. In Charge of Burping, I get to have her stare at my face like this quite often :)

Happy Birthday, Cora Elise Powell

So.. that last post was drafted on Thursday... but it was posted last night at about midnight :) Sorry for the confusion. Carrie's contractions were 3 minutes apart and lasting 1 minute around 11pm, and we went to the hospital a little after midnight. "Corrie" was right on time!

It was a long night, however. When we arrived, Carrie was already dialated 6cm. She got up to 7 or 8 and spent most of the night with hard contractions - her water unwilling to break. Eventually, our baby girl was born at 7:31am, May 29, 2006 -- right on her due date. (Apparently, I was also born on my due date). It's also my supervisor's birthday; happy birthday, Jeanne!

Here are the stats:
8lbs., 7oz. 20 1/4" long, dark brown hair, dark blue eyes...and the cutest whimper :)
See the video here!

Cora is her great-grandmother's name (Carrie's maternal side), and it also means "maiden". "Elise" is close to her great grandmother's name (Elsie, Carrie's paternal side), and means "consecrated to God." We call her "Corrie" too :)

We hope to get home tomorrow (Tuesday) and begin to recover. Carrie is doing well. Corrie sees another pediatrician tomorrow about her hips - the joints don't want to stay in their sockets, and come right out : \ We'll post more news, pics, and video later this week!
Dont' forget to play our song of the week until you can't stand it anymore ;)

On our way to the hospital :)

<--- The "nursery" is ready :) on the side of our bedroom, complete with bassinet, rocker, and the top of our dresser as a changing table. (You can't see the mobile that hangs over the sheepskin though). So we're on our way now! Stay tuned.... Turn on your speakers, and click on our theme song: "Baby on Board"

If you want to send flowers or something real quick, the address is:
Greenview Regional Hospital - Maternity, 5th floor
1801 Ashley Circle
Bowling Green, KY 42104

Our address is:
1906 College Hts. Blvd. #8119
Bowling Green, KY 42101

although we won't get down to check our box every day now... Stay tuned!

Last pics and post before hospital??

Answering one of many phone calls :) Her shirt says "It's my party"


Carrie caught nesting! :)


Carrie at Shelly and Justin's shower on Sunday.


Kids that Carrie works with (above) on their last day, today.

She now has all of the early labor symptoms and signs - but she's still in the 'excited' stage ; ) I'll try to post here when we leave for the hospital, and then call parents when she's born. Her due date is Monday, Memorial Day.

If you are in or out of town, please give us a few days (3-5?) after we get back from the hospital to stop by the apt.! (Even if you have food, lol) I'll be sure to post here and leave a message on our voicemail with pics, info, and the name : )

BP's photos

Ever wonder what some of my stock photos are used for? This one is found on a website: InnovateHaiti.org

The website design is the Designer Spotlight at Istockphoto.com ... Check it out

LATEST VIDEO

Well, the first actually. This is a test. I uploaded to YouTube.
See the latest video of Carrie at 9 months here !

The quality isn't that great :( I don't have a big enough memory card to shoot 'fine'...plus it was too much motion, but it was a successful test :) I'll upload more the next few weeks - stay tuned!

Carrie, snakes on a plane, and war in Africa...

Carrie's appt. was good yesterday. Last time, she found out that her doc is on VACATION the days surrounding her due date :\ but she says she'll be in town and 'will be happy to come and deliver the baby'

A while back, everyone found out that the Regional Hospital won't have a maternity floor after September (There is one other hospital in town - the Medical Center, where I had chemo).

On a lighter note, did you know this movie almost didn't even make it out.. it was SO bad: Snakes on a Plane!!!
Apparently, it stars Samuel L. Jackson... and a bunch of snakes. New Line Cinema wouldn't release it, it was so bad. But now, there is so much buzz about it they will release it this year :)

On a serious note, visit Invisible Children - a story and a movement about the children in war-torn Uganda. Also, if you out shopping for diamonds someday, make sure you don't buy "conflict diamonds" (like DeBeers sells); conflict diamonds are mined by people forced into slavery(children too) in African diamond mines. Do your research here.

the halls are closed for the summer!

Here is a Bates staff pic from the year-end reception :)
Carrie has today off, and only works until this Friday --woohoo..
My brother Steve and his wife Betsy stopped by for lunch Sunday, on their way home from TN. It was great to see them again - we have Jimmy Johns (yummy). They said they might be looking for a house in the near future...and our parents are selling their house soon to build down the road. :)

In baby news, they had a 'surprise party' for Carrie (the kids at school) and she brought home some cards they made. With cute, little-kid spelling (backwards letters and all) one said "Your baby name shall be May if it born in May" :))

baby updates

We bought a nice carseat/carrier last night and it only cost us $14 :) Thanks to everyone who has 'showered' us with gifts!

Carrie, as of LAST Friday, was dialated 1cm. She has another app't this Friday. She has next Tuesday off from work, and then she'll just work Wed-Fri. next week to finish her school year! Three different people (2 at Carrie's school and 1 here) had dreams last night about Carrie having the baby early :o She's ready!

One downside is a rash that's developed on her stomach ("PUPPS"??) that really annoys her. The doc is going to look at it tomorrow...

A couple side notes: I'm training to be the new Treasurer for church... and reached 500 DLs at Istockphoto (see link on sidebar). :)

We close the hall this weekend ~ and Happy Mother's Day!! :)

Are you still in school??

Yes, I am. BUT I just finished two classes this semester (have been stuck on one/semester for a while) AND was just officially accepted into the program (a formality, really).

I have 4 classes, and 350 hours of internship/practicum...then the comprehensive exams.