One Week Later...

Reagan one week old!!

Proud daddy!!!

Precious little girl :)

Justin, Reagan, and I are doing so well! The Lord has truly blessed us with a very happy and peaceful baby. Reagan definitely has some lungs and isn't afraid to use them when she's thoroughly upset, but other than that she is so happy! The first several days of nursing was quite hard to get adjusted to but with a lot of patience on every one's part, we are doing so much much better! She is quite the little eater now! Reagan still has her days and nights switched, but the doctor said it will slowly get readjusted over time. (Justin and I are hoping sooner than later!) We have been so blessed this week with meals and visitors from family and friends. Justin went back to work this week but has been able to be home by mid day. He will go back to full days next week which will give Reagan and I plenty of alone time during the day. We go for our two week check up on Monday and will have more to post then!

Welcome Reagan Ashley Rana to the World!

Ladies and gentlemen, we would like to introduce you to our precious baby girl, Reagan Ashley Rana! Here is our own "Birth Day" story:

Justin and I visited the doctor this past Friday afternoon.  We were able to have another sonogram to check her weight and position.  Two requests were answered; 1. She was "head down." and 2. her weight was predicted to be anywhere from 6.5 to 7.5 lbs.  With a little less than 2 weeks until our due date, we were relieved when the doctor thought she would be on the lighter end of that scale.  I was still only slightly dilated and barely effaced. We and the doc were sure we'd be good for another week yet again.  

However, I woke up at 4:30 am on Saturday morning with contractions that felt different from the other Braxton Hicks contractions I'd been experiencing.  I tossed and turned all morning and new that something was starting to happen.  By about 10:00 that morning, I began timing the regularity of the contractions.  They started about 12 minutes apart and by 2:00pm we were down to 6 minutes!  Justin was working so I called him and he made his way home.  We continued to keep track and by about 7:30 pm, I knew we needed to go to the hospital to at least get checked out.  

Justin wasn't quite convinced this was "the real thing" yet, given the outlook the doctor presented only a day earlier. But after the nurse started asking us what we were wanting for pain management he realized we were there to stay for the long haul! After a quick exam the nurse said that I was now dilated to a 2 and to our surprise 90% effaced! Within a few hours of breathing through contractions, receiving fluids through IV and having some blood taken, I was able to get the epidural. Justin and I were both able to sleep through the remainder of the night once I had that.  

I continued to make very good progress through the night, but then was stuck at 8cm for about 4 hours! By about 6:00am, the nurse came in and visited with Justin and I about possibly needing/considering a C-section to deliver Reagan. We both had known since about our six month that a C-section could possibly be needed dependent on Reagan’s size. However, now that there were several other factors in play, the doctor on call was pretty sure a C-section would be the best way to go. After prayer and perseverance, I began progressing more and more and finally made it to a full 10 cm by about 10:30am!  

The nurses began to prepare the room for delivery and Justin and I geared up for the final stage. The nurses were amazing and did so much of the work before the doctor actually got to the room. As Reagan was making her way out, the doctor was so shocked at how much hair she had! He asked me in the middle of everything if we should “stop so he could braid it!” I told him “after she’s all the way out!” We spent about 45 minutes pushing before Reagan made her big debut!  

Reagan Ashley Rana was born on Sunday, April 19th at 11:46 am. She weighed 7 lbs. 6 oz. and was 18 ¼ inches long. Thank God for our first little miracle!

Final Shopping Day

We are so blessed! Justin and I spent the majority of today shopping for some of the unpurchased items from our registries among a few other things we needed to finish up Reagan's room!  Why are we blessed you might be wondering...well, even after spending several hours at Target and Babies R Us we didn't have to spend any of our own money! We were able to buy everything we needed with gift cards and additional money we were given by friends and family! Praise the Lord that he provides for His children!  

We will complete everything tomorrow and then truly just be waiting on the Lord's good timing for Reagan's arrival!  Over the past two weeks, I had two more showers. The kindergarten team at my school hosted an amazing shower for my Heritage family!  The staff was more than generous in their giving for Reagan. She received so many cute outfits, toys, blankets, etc.  I tell her how blessed she is everyday and she's not even here yet! Then, this past Sunday, several of the woman from church threw me a "tea-party" themed shower for all the church ladies!  They also did an outstanding job decorating, hosting, and preparing an incredible assortment of foods and desserts! I was so overwhelmed to see how many ladies attended and how generous everyone was in their giving!  As I said earlier, the Lord truly provides all that we need and could even possible want.  

After visiting the doctor this past Thursday, we are still shooting for the April 29th due date.  Dr. Wilson said everything is looking great and Reagan probably won't be making an early appearance...not too early at least :)  We will have another sonogram next Friday to double check her position and size.  Which means more pictures of her!!! Yea!!! That's Justin's favorite part... he loves seeing his baby girl! 

We'll have more next week...stay tuned! :)