My boys

Axel playing in the sprinkler. The weather has been beautiful. (right around 70 degrees and not humid) The days continue to be longer. The sunrises around 5am and sets around midnight. It really throws dinner time off. We eat so late now!

Abel all crashed out.
Little toes :)
Abel's first ride in the Moby. It makes him so cozy. He's such a peanut, I for get how small they are right away. His weigh is up 7 pounds 2.5 ounces, he's gaining just slowly. Axel is doing great at being a big brother. He likes to 'pet his brother' and then he thinks it makes his skin really soft. We have Grandma Ann and cousin Ethan coming to visit this Thursday. It'll be nice to have some family around.

weight status

Abel had a Dr.'s appointment yesterday. His weight is up to 7 pounds and 1 ounces. He gained 6 ounces in two days! (they wanted to see around 1 oz per day gain) Yeah Abel!! Keep on growing little one. He's not up to his birth weigh but he's on his way. We have another weight check on Sunday. His bili level was 17.6, not much changed but still a little better. He is doing great with breast feeding and I think we are all starting to settle in to a routine around here. I've still have been slow going but feeling better-as long as I can stay out of the car. Car rides are a little rough on me still. My feet are still super puffy but I guess they can stay like that for another week of so. No new pictures today-I'll post again soon I'm sure.

It's nice to be home

Abel getting his hearing screen done before we left the hospital
He slept through the test and passed with flying colors!
Mountain views from my hospital room
Axel helping mom with her snacks
Here's my whole family!
Axel has been great with his little brother. He says that he is very soft and likes to give him kisses. I can't wait to see their relationship grow.
Abel and mom are doing well at home. We were discharged from the hospital on Monday evening. It's nice to have all of us together. Abel's discharge weight was 7 pounds 3 ounces. His bili level was 13. ( this is where they look to see if the baby looks yellowish) His level is in the middle range. We had a check up on Tuesday and Abel's weight is down to 6 pounds 15 ounces and his bili was up to 18. So for now we watch and see how things go. I've been feeding him every two hours and hoping that he poops a lot in the next 24 hours. (pooping helps clear out the bili from his system) It's normal to lose weight right away, they just keep on eye on things. We will do another check tomorrow. I feel like my milk is coming in and I hear Abel gulping more often so I think his weight will be on the rise again and his bili will be lower. Man there is a lot to keep track of with little ones. My blood pressure is much better. I ended up getting one dose of IV blood pressure medication while I was in the hospital. We will keep an eye on my BP for the next month or so also. Abel is such a sweet baby and I have been loving every minute of him!!

Baby makes 4

Welcome to the world Abel Martin Rapp!


Weighing in at 7 pounds 12.8 ounces, 19 1/2 inches long
Proud daddy
Hello mom!!!
Big brother Axel giving kisses already
Here is our newest family member. Mom and baby are healthy and doing great. Abel was born 5/21/11 at 12:53pm.

Tomorrow....

The big day is tomorrow! Wow..it's crazy knowing that. I am so nervous and excited for all that will happen tomorrow. I feel a little sad to be done with my pregnancy. It's funny to be saying that since I've been totally uncomfortable and crabby lately, but it is an ending to some thing amazing! For the most part I don't mind being pregnant. I have loved feeling the baby moving around in my belly. It started out with tiny little popcorn bubbles and now I can feel a little heel in my ribs. I've been completely amazed every week at my stretching belly and all that it means. My numb hands and swollen feet, okay maybe I won't miss them! I will be over joyed to sleep on my stomach again and to snuggle my new little dude! I can't wait to see how your brother Axel reacts to you. I think he thinks you will never come, we've been talking about you for a really long time. He is going to be such a great big brother! I am so blessed to be adding another little person to our family. Our family of....four! Wow that sounds great. Today will not go fast enough and I'm sure I won't sleep at all tonight. I hope to post by the end of the weekend with pictures and stat's of our new dude! Here's hoping that all goes well and healing goes fast!

The date is set.....gulp

Alright here's the updates. We went to the doctor's today. I'm still having very high blood pressures and headaches. The doctor decided that we would deliver baby at 38 weeks, which means a date has been set! Whoo, that's kinda scary. The doctor wasn't sure how I would tolerate being induced so I guess we are doing a C-section again. I'm kinda bummed about this but I need to do what is healthy for me and the baby. I've learned that some things in life just can't be totally planned. So the big day is going to be May 21st! Oh man....knowing this I don't think I'll sleep until then! Baby bean you have 10 more days to keep growing and then we get to meet you!! I can't wait to see how your big brother is going to react to you. :)

Happy Mother's Day

I hope every Mother out there had a wonderful day! Here's how I spent my Mother's day. Sight seeing across from the hospital! This moose was eating grass right in front of UAA (University of Anchorage Alaska). It's so crazy seeing these guys right in the heart of the city.
Axel says that he saw him poop...I don't know if I saw that?
Here's me getting admitted for the night..boo. What a way to spend Mother's day. At least I got to hear the babies heart beat. My blood pressure was high again so they monitored me over night. All labs and urine came back normal. I still have a pounding headache, puffy feet and hands and a blood pressure that just doesn't want to lower. Baby continues to do great, just mom feeling crummy.
Monday evening I got sent home on bed rest. Next doctor's appointment on Wednesday. For now continue on as planned-taking Tylenol and resting as much as possible. The big talk of maybe setting a date will happen on Wednesday. The doctor would like to get us as close to 38 weeks as possible depending on how my blood pressure is and how I feel. At 37 weeks the baby is full termed so we could maybe go closer to that? I just don't want to take any blood pressure medications or have any invasive procedures done to see the babies development. If the doctor says keep waiting we will.

Axel all dressed up!

Axel had pictures for his dance class today. So cute. I know I won't get to much of this out of him but it sure was cute this year. He really likes the class-when he gets to jam around and hold girls hands! I love him all dressed up. Now I'll have to find reason to get him to wear a tie :)
Axel and Jazz hanging out watching TV.

On the baby front-I am officially on bed rest! Yikes. I had a troublesome week I guess. I've started to get headaches again, my hands and feet are SUPER swollen and of course my blood pressure has jumped to the next level. I had a couple of readings that were 174/100! Wow, know wonder my head hurts. I was monitored yesterday for a few hours and have to be monitored again on Sunday. The baby is doing great-it's just the oven that is starting to have a hard time. I am 36 weeks now, so we are only one week off of being labeled full term. I'm not sure what will happen from here. Tomorrow will give us more information? So far I just have high blood pressure-no pre-acclampisia. (I think I spelt that wrong?) Any ways..my labs and urine are all good. Just extremely high blood pressures, headaches and crazy cankles! It's really lovely. If you push on my legs you can leave a mark. Brian thinks it's totally gross. At least I feel like every thing is ready for baby. My bag is packed and Brian has put in the car seat. I'll keep you posted!!

Rambling of a pregnant lady...

We are at the 35, going on 36, week mark of this pregnancy. Sigh... I am ready to be done. I feel huge, my feet are super swollen, my hands are numb all the time and I have not been sleeping well. My blood pressure is still high, but maintaining. I remember when it started, at 29 weeks, the doctor was talking about having me deliver by this week! But here we are still pregnant and still counting the weeks. I've been feeling good for the most part but this week I've started to get headaches again. Over all when I get over my crabby self things are good. :)

We had an ultrasound today to check on the baby-the blood flow and amount of fluid around him. Every thing seemed great. The baby is growing well, has good blood flow to him and the right amount of fluid around him. The doctored measured him and is guessing that right now he weighs 7 pounds! (give or take a 1/2 a pound) Keep in mind that the baby should gain about 1/2 a pound a week still! Humm..... The doctor also said that per his measurements he could be making his arrival around May 23rd!? We also had a NST done today. (non-stress test) They hook my belly up to a monitor and watch the babies heart rate. The baby is supposed to have a certain amount of increases with in a 20 minute time period. Well my little dude passed that test in no time. He was jamming away the whole time! It's crazy watching my stomach move. You sure can see it now. All for now. I try not to be crabby crazy pregnant lady on my blog so I hope things don't sound that way. I just am really getting there....

Okay crabby rants. Please don't do to super pregnant women:
-Stare at them like they are display at the zoo. Yes, that is my round belly!
-Comment on how HUGE they are! humm...what do I say thanks? I don't where they think babies come from but yes they do come from round bellied women!
-Give them looks while they are in line to get food. So sorry, I am hungry but don't worry I'll leave some for the rest of you.
-Complain that you didn't sleep well last night. Oh.. yeah?! I won't even comment on that one.