My VERY 1st Mother's Day

For Mother's Day the two men in my life took my on a picnic out at Lake Hefner.  We grabbed some lunch on the way and sat on a blanket and enjoyed our lunch.  It was pretty windy but it was SO relaxing.  We had a great time!

Child Dedications

On Saturday, May 7th our church had child dedications.  We invited our family out to join with us in committing to raise Kaiden in church and teaching him about Jesus.

 

My Little Stud

4 Month Check-Up

Kaiden went for his 4 month check-up on Monday.  He weighed 11 lbs 14 oz and was 24 inches long.  The doctor was more pleased with his weight gain but said it's still not like it should be.  Other than that the doctor said he looked very healthy.  He wants us to start Kaiden on cereal twice a day by spoon until he gets the hang of it then give it to him 3 times a day.  It's pretty funny to watch him try to eat it.  He usually ends up wearing a lot of it.

Kaiden's first taste of cereal

Kaiden has been such a tremendous blessing since his arrival!  I cannot imagine life without him.  Here are some things he loves:

• tummy time
• bath time- he LOVES splashing the water
• being talked to- makes him grin and giggle
• standing up on his feet
• being outdoors

He can rollover from his tummy to his back and is SO close to rolling over from his back to tummy.  It amazes me just how much he changes each and every day!

Kaiden I am so proud to be your Mommy!

Kaiden's 1st Easter

Here are pictures from Kaiden's very first Easter.  His tie was very special to me.  I took one of my Dad's ties and made a tie for Kaiden to wear.  It was very emotional to see him wearing it but I'm pretty sure he would have made my Dad very proud.

 Kaiden's 1st Easter Basket

 Getting his hair done for the first time

Loving Tummy Time

Kaiden is getting to where he loves tummy time.  He's so good at holding up his head and he'll lay in the floor forever looking around.  He's learning to roll over from his tummy to his back and is figuring out how to pull his legs in to his chest and push forward.  Seems like he's growing up so quickly!

Trying out his new Bumbo

I recently bought Kaiden a bumbo.  The first few days he seemed to LOVE it!  I thought why didn't I get this sooner.  Now, it's what I put him in if I think he's stopped up...just seems to make him go to the bathroom.  :)

Wes Watkins Reservoir

My brother invited us out to the lake with their family and Courtni's family so my Mom and I took Kaiden out there for the day.  He sure seems to love the outdoors!

 My brother was the only one who would let Hailee paint their face.  What a great Dad!

 Relaxing with Uncle Nate

 He sure loves his Grammy!

Women's Bedlam Game

A few nights ago we took Kaiden to his very first OU basketball game.  It was the women's last home game and it was bedlam.  He did SO good!  He sure was checking everything out.

Welcoming Kaiden Wayne Tarver

On Tuesday, December 28th I went in for my normal weekly checkup.  My blood pressure was very high and I had been sick earlier that morning.  My doctor was conveniently out of the country so this day I saw his nurse.  She was very concerned and had me go directly to the hospital.  Could this FINALLY be the day?!

I was immediately admitted.  The doctor on call for my doctor came in and introduced himself.  In the few minutes I spoke with him, I liked him SO much more than my doctor that it became apparent that this was a God thing.  I was 37 weeks that day but the doctor wanted Kaiden to stay in as long as possible.  He said I would be in the hospital until Kaiden's arrival.  That evening I started having contractions every minute and a half, and with every contraction, Kaiden's heart rate dropped tremendously.  The doctor came in first thing the next morning and said we needed to get him out, and since Kaiden's heart rate had dropped I would need a c-section.  The doctor was pretty booked up that day so he was going to squeeze me in sometime.  With that the waiting game began.

I did NOT like not knowing exactly when it was going to happen.  The nurse would come in to do something and I would get nervous thinking it was time.  Around 12:45 she came in and said those magic words, "It's time!"  I immediately began to shake.  For those of you that know me, I have been dreading delivery for a while and now it was time.

 Being wheeled to the operating room.

 David getting geared up!

I was wheeled back around 1:00 pm.  I remember everything about that OR like it was yesterday.  They wouldn't let David go back at first until I was completely ready.  They sat me on the OR table to give me the spinal.  I was freaking out.  I remember at one point telling them they were going to have to find another way to get this baby out cause it is not going to happen like this.  I did make it however.

Our first family picture on the OR table.

Kaiden Wayne Tarver born at 1:15 pm on December 29, 2010

7 lbs 11 ozs       20 inches long

The doctor told us beforehand that he may have to be on a ventilator because he was early and babies of diabetics have slower lung development but he was doing great.  However, his body was having a hard time getting his blood sugar up.  So he was taken to NICU.  The nurse brought him into my room so I could hold him before they took him.

My first time holding him

We were allowed to visit him during 'touch times' which were 9, 12, 3, 6, and 9.  At our visits we were allowed to change his diaper, take his temperature, and feed him.  The first few days they were taking his blood sugar by pricking his little heel at each feeding.  As his blood sugar came up it became less often.

I was discharged the Sunday after I delivered but Kaiden had to stay.  That was the hardest thing I've ever had to do.  I felt like I had left half of my heart at the hospital.  We were up there daily until he was released on Wednesday, January 5th.  What a joy it was to bring our little man home!