Sweet sweet baby...

Our sweet, sweet baby boy is here!

Noah Garrett Krenz
11.13.2009

11:41 p.m.

5 pounds 15 ounces

19 1/2 inches

Friday November 13, 2009 started out just like any other day of the week. Busy with kids, tons on my 'to do' list. I had talked to Matt early in the morning and discussed going to his work fall festival. I told him that I was feeling a little funny and wasn't sure I was going to be able to go. Then at about 2:30 I mentioned to my mom that I thought I might have a UTI. I was having a strange pain but it was probably nothing. Keeping in mind I have been having contractions for six weeks and had none on this day. Not one. She suggested I call the doctor just to be sure before they left for the weekend. I did. Not willingly but I did. Dr. Chang was already gone but his nurse said she would feel more comfortable if I would come in and get checked. So... I cleaned up a little, made a shopping list, stopped at Sonic for a Cherry Limeaid all before heading down to Little Rock to be checked out. For sure that they would just send me home with something to treat a UTI, right?!?

I arrived at the hospital at 4:45 pm. They hooked me up to the monitors just to monitor any activity. Oh. My. Goodness. Turns out I was having contractions every 3-5 minutes and was dilated to a 3. Since I was 5 weeks early they gave me some Breathine in an effort to stop the contractions. After about 45 minutes they came back to check and I was dilated to a 4. Looked like we were going to have a baby! My mom and Jessie headed down and we were so excited to meet the new boy.

Anxiously awaiting
Katie and Krista came for support and to take pictures. So glad these girls were there to share this experience with me.
Because of the time difference I knew Matt would be at work. James sent him an email telling him I was in labor and to call me. This picture is when he called. It was pretty emotional for me. I missed him terribly. I would have given anything to have him there with me.

My labor progressed pretty quickly. I didn't feel much as far as contractions go. I think I was on the edge emotionally and I was more focused on just holding it together. If I felt like I was going to fall apart I would close my eyes and just go to my happy place.

Then about 11:00 the mood changed. My contractions got much more intense. Every time I had a contraction little Noah's heart rate would drop but then it would recover. The nurse kept checking to see how far I was dilated.

And then at 11:36 the nurse checked me and I was dilated to an 8. Noah's heart rate dropped and didn't come back up. Dr. Chang was there in an instant and things just happened so fast. Bed apart. A lot of people in the room. Dr. Chang told me I needed to deliver him. I pushed a few times... it was so fast and so intense it was all kind of a blur. Then I saw him. His sweet little face. He was all tangled up in his cord. It was wrapped around his face, his neck, his shoulders. Crazy. Crazy how he could get so tangled. Grandma cut the cord and they whisked him away.


I fell. Madly deeply in love. Head over heels kinda love. In this moment. It is the most intense feeling. I only got to hold him for a minute before they had to take him to the nursery to make sure he was doing okay. It was a long five hours.


Dr. Chang. Seriously love this doctor.

Little Noah in the nursery. I love how peaceful he looks.

I finally got him back from the nursery at about 5 am. He did amazingly well for being five weeks early. Yeah, he's pretty much perfect.

The next day his brothers and sister got to come to the hospital and spend some time with him.

We're crazy about him.

I feel really blessed to have this little guy in our family. I know that his birth was miraculous and attended by angels. He is such a peaceful little spirit.

I just love him.

Goodbye...

It was hard. Much harder than I expected.

We have just packed the last week full of fun and good memories.

All knowing today would come.

I have jokingly said "when you come home I will be thinner" and then it hit me last night. He will never see me pregnant again.

I didn't have the heart to wake up my kids early this morning to see him off.

I had him do it. It didn't make it any easier.

I miss him. Already. Terribly. I just hope that the next seven months go fast. Not just hope but am praying that they go fast.

So between now and then,

till I see you again I'll be loving you.

Love,

Me

I {heart} Autumn!

And I {heart} these kids

32 weeks

I love this baby.

I am loving feeling him move and kick and squirm inside me.

I can't wait to meet him.

I can't wait to see who he looks like.

At the same time I am okay with him staying in a while.

Because I know this will be my last baby.

And I am anxious about his birth.

I cry when I think about it.

I had my check up today.

It was the last appointment Matt will be able to go to.

That makes me cry.

Everything looks fine. Besides the contractions I am having, which by the way are not doing anything. I have gained a fraction of what I normally do. Yes, a fraction, as in about 1/3. He is moving like crazy but he is much calmer than some of my babes. Myles loves talking to my belly button and tells the baby all kinds of things. Like how to play football and chocolate milk is for big boys. Myles is sure (and tells the baby often) that I am not the baby's mother. We are working on that one. My doc is going to induce me in seven weeks if I haven't delivered just so it can be a controlled birth (controlled as in not in the middle of the night, by myself, on the side of the freeway).

16

It seems like only yesterday he looked like this...

And now he is 16.

He has a driving learner's permit. He can officially date. He goes to high school. He was ordained a priest. He has a job. He is the age I was when he was born. It has all happened so fast. I am so proud of the young man he has become. I wish I could take credit for how he has turned out but I swear he came this way. For his birthday he decided he wanted to hold a food drive. Amazing. Really amazing. He was able to raise over $500, which will provide 2,500 meals to hungry Arkansas residents, and over 100 pounds of canned food. So proud.

27 weeks...

Magen's Bay

St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

September 2009

St. Thomas, USVI

Several months ago Matt won a competition for Instructor of the Quarter. As a reward for winning this he got to go on a teaching trip to St. Thomas. I got to go along with him. He had to work a few days while we were there but it was such a wonderful trip. We spent time snorkeling, shopping, drinking virgin pina coladas and relaxing on the beach. The island was so beautiful. The water was incredible. Seriously a trip of a lifetime. We missed the kids but Grandma and Grandpa got to come and stay with them. Without them this wouldn't have been possible.

The view from our room. Incredible to wake up to this every morning.

These CrAzY wild iguanas were everywhere. This is about as close as I would get to them. They didn't look very pleasant. (thank goodness for a zoom lens)

Isn't he a looker?

This is the group that we were there with.

the boys @ Magen's Bay

the girls @ Magen's Bay

This picture just makes me laugh. I love him so much. I loved being able to spend some precious time together before he leaves.

Thank you Matt, for everything...
i love you

9.09.09

at 9:09 a.m.

this is what we were doing. A little chocolate milk, a blankie and Dora.

Part 2

FOOTBALL 2009

Football season has begun. What a different world high school football is. The crowds are amazing. The team is doing great.

James has been able to play both JV and Varsity.

We love watching him.

James getting 'put it' his first Varsity game. We won.


JV vs. Searcy
We won.
Go Panthers!

Just a side note. One of the best things about football season is that it is a sign fall is coming right?!? Not here. It is still a little too warm and the bugs are out of control. Myles LOVES football. Loves the game. Loves cheering for James. But there is no denying that he loves to kill the bugs. That's my boy.

September 2009 Part 1

On August 26th my dad had a heart attack. It was a really scary time. The hardest part was being so far away and just feeling helpless. After some juggling and figuring out the logistics of it all I was able to head up to Missouri with Jessie, Liam and Myles. Matt was in DC working and James had to stay home. Within a couple of days 17 of us had gathered. Matt flew into Kansas City to meet up with us. We were just missing a couple of people (and they were definitely missed). My dad came through his surgery wonderfully. We were able to spend some much needed time with family. I am so thankful for my family and all the miracles that happened that weekend. By the way, my dad is doing great. He looks amazing and was cracking jokes in no time at all. Next time how about we just PLAN a family reunion?

the siblings

Jesse, Megan, Gary, Susan, Richard and Erin

Uncle Richie took all the little kids down to the park.

He bought them all ice cream.

They had a blast.

Big Day!

Today is the first day of school. Big day around here. Not because this has been the LONGEST summer EVER! But today they are all starting a new chapter in their lives. This time has flown by way too fast.

James' first day of high school. What!?! How did this happen? Make good choices please James.

This is what indifference looks like.

I have asked him over 20 times this week if he was nervous. I mean I'm nervous shouldn't he be? And finally yesterday he told me he wasn't excited, he wasn't nervous, he was indifferent.

I am still nervous.

(he is pictured here alone because he had early morning seminary at 6:20)

I dropped these two hooligans off at school.

Junior high for Jessie. 8th grade. She is so excited to just be at her own school. No older brother (is this good or bad?). She was just so excited to see her friends.

Liam starts middle school today. He asked me to not cry until I was back on the main road where no one would see me. But that just made me want to cry. Middle school just seems so scary and he just seems so young.

(he was the only one who would turn around and look at me for a picture)

Well, it's you and me kid. After a quiet ride home we pulled into the driveway and he said to me "You all done crying mommy? Let's go to the park."

Yes. Lets...

Three years ago...

This little man came into our lives. I was instantly in love. I had an amazing feeling of "I have loved you forever and it is so nice to see you again."

I love everything about him. I love his giggles. I love his spirit. I love his sweetness. I love his imagination. I love how much he loves. I love him.

I can't believe he is three.

We partied.

There was pizza.

There was cake.

And friends.

He was happy.

The cutest little baby bug...

Pretty cute huh? I love the little button nose.

And it's a boy. For sure.

I am excited to meet this new little man.

Now if we could just pick a name.