Pictures and update

I was finally able to upload some pictures for you. Sorry it took so long. If you have kids you will understand the minute you sit down to do something, someone needs something. Anyway, here are a few.

Isabella meeting William when we came home from the hospital

Isabella beginning to warm up to William

On the way to our check up. He looks happy , right?

Look at those little toes!

Sleeping soundly


Wow, those are some cheeks!

Checking him out a little more.

William is doing great. He returned to his birth weight when we went for a weight check on this past Thursday. So he is eating well and sleeping pretty good too. He has even given me a few 3 hour stretches of real sleep at night. I guess they are his way of making up for keeping me up for 2 hours straight last night for no real reason.

Isabella also seems to be doing better too. She was definitely whinny this past week but has been great this weekend. I think she may have been missing her daddy since he returned to work this week. She is warming up to William too. Paying him some attention and giving him kisses.

This will be my first week on my own. Well, sort of. Steph is going to come over for a couple of days which will be really nice. Hopefully I will be able to get some rest when she is here so I can function by myself when she isn't.

Thank you to everyone who provided meals for us. They have been fantastic! It is so nice to not have to think about what you are going to have for dinner. You are life savers!

The Little Prince

What does it mean to be a little baby prince?


I was able to take a shower this morning while Isabella was at school and William was sleeping. I do some of my best thinking while in the shower. It may be my only alone time of the day.

Anyway, I was thinking how great it must be to be a baby. You get to sleep, eat, and poop. All your needs are taken care of. Every time you cry, you picked up and held or fed. Soothed back to sleep. How precious it is to watch a sleeping baby. Curled up against you. Breathing deeply. Seeing the occasional smile. Pure bliss!!


William is one week old today and we are loving every minute of him. Pictures will be coming soon.

It's a ...

BOY!!!

We welcomed William Berkeley Cardoza on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at 2:42 pm. He weighed 8# 14 oz. and was 20 inches long. He has a head full of dark hair which I hope he keeps. He is definitely a Cardoza and looks like Matt. He is beautiful!

Matt and I arrived at the hospital early Tuesday morning so I could be induced. They began my pitocin at 9:45 and I was already at 5 centimeters. So they increased the pitocin slower then normal so I would not progress too fast. Dr. Patton began my epidural at 11:45 and when he was finished Dr. Kassam arrived to break my water. I was at 7 centimeters at that point.

We hung around for awhile and when my nurse Melissa checked me at 2:30 I was fully dilated. I pushed a few times and she called Dr. Kassam back. He arrived within a few minutes and a pushed 4 or 5 times and our little William arrived. I could not believe he was almost 9 pounds! No wonder I had difficulty rolling over in bed!

It took over 3 hours for my epidural to wear off. So, if you ever get one from Dr. Patton I can guarantee that it will be a GOOD one. William had to have his blood sugar checked since he was larger than normal but he passed each time. Praise the Lord!

Mom and William

The happy family!

Isabella came to visit but she was not very sure about me and the situation. She preferred going to look at the babies in the nursery window over staying in our room. We had a pretty good night in the hospital and slept well for the circumstances. We came home on Wednesday around 6:00. Isabella still wasn't sure about William but has warmed up to him quite well over the past 24 hours.

Isn't he beautiful! I love those cheeks.

Leaving the hosptial

More to come.

Tuesday

So, Matt accompanied me to the doctor for our weekly visit once again yesterday. Everything was about the same and I was feeling good. We scheduled our induction for Tuesday the 14th if the baby does not want to arrive earlier own his or her own. I am glad the induction is not tomorrow so we can have a little more time to relax and enjoy ourselves before our little world is turned upside down once again. It will also give me a little more time to possibly go into labor on my own.

And I do have to say I was wondering today. I have been more crampy and uncomfortable but nothing very significant. So, we will see how it goes.

On to Isabella.
We have been having difficulty with her going to sleep again, at night and for her naps. I put the baby gate back up in her doorway to encourage staying her in room once again. However, she has now discovered that she can still get out of the bed and play in her room or pull the clothes out of her dresser. Oh what fun!! I do make her put them back.
Today, I put her down and forgot that I had not locked the bathroom door. So, when I got out of the shower, I peeked out to find her coming down the stairs with her shirt on and Christmas PJ pants on. I had to laugh at that point. Needless to say, she did not take a nap today after multiple attempts to put her back in the bed. We will have to try again tomorrow.

One of THOSE days!

Have you ever had one of THOSE days?

Sometimes they start off just fine, fooling you into thinking that it could possibly be a great day. And sometimes they don't.

Today has already been one of those that started off just fine. Isabella is getting a clod so when she woke up around 7:00 I brought her down to my bed. We ended up sleeping off and on until 9:00. Now that is a great start to the day!

I had plans this morning to go vote since I figured it would be easier to do that with one child instead of two and also to get our tag for the van since the title came in on Friday. Isabella and I got ready. I got her into the van and when I went to crank it. Lo and behold, it did not crank. I thought what in the world. The guy we bought it from put a new battery in it in January. So, I ended up calling Stephanie and she came over and jumped me off. THANK YOU THANK YOU Steph!!! I guess we left the door cracked and the light on over night?

Isabella and I got to Maxell to vote. She was so good the whole time we were there. I filled out the paperwork and went to the lady that looks you up. She typed and typed. Said she couldn't find me in the system. She tried some more and went back to the registration place to see if they could help. Meanwhile, Isabella and I sit there backing up the line since she was taking time with us. She came back out and said they still couldn't find me and I would have to register to vote and then come back on Thursday to vote. Thank goodness I went today because it is the last day to register. How strange though, I have voted many times in this county and am registered. So, if you think there is any way this could happen to you, go TODAY to vote and make sure you are registered. If I had not gone to day, I apparently would not have been able to vote and I would have thrown a fit!

So, Isabella and I leave and head toward the tag office. I couldn't help but think, "I wonder what is going to go wrong here?" We waited in line and finally got to a window. I sat Isabella up on the counter so she couldn't escape anywhere while I was taking car of business. She was scared of the witch that was sitting on the counter so I had to block it from her view. She is such a baby about things sometimes! I gave the lady the things she needed. She said she would be right back. She came back and said since I wrote my full legal name on the title "Leslie Elizabeth Quick Cardoza" and my drivers licence only has Leslie Quick Cardoza I would have to get the seller to sign an affidavit and have it notarized. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? There is no way we could get that done because it would have to be done by Wednesday to have it on time. He lives in Kennesaw. Then I asked about having the name on my licence changed to include everything. She said that would work. Agh!!! Definitely NOT my day. I called Matt and told him I didn't know whether to scream or cry. I did a little of both in my head and then called my mother to complain to.

I guess I will be getting a new divers licence tomorrow. I think I will just sit around the house for the rest of the afternoon and relax. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

The Great Pumpkin Patch

Isabella

Landon- isn't his sweater cute!

Landon picked up the largest piece of straw. They were both checking it out.

We decided that today would be a good day to head to the pumpkin patch for our annual trip since baby Cardoza could tynically arrive anytime. We tried a different place this year. Southern Belle Farm in McDonough. It was more expensive than the place we have been the past 2 years but well worth it. They have a website so check it out if you are interested. It also has a dollar off coupon on the website.

Isabella

Bailey and Landon

It is absoulutely beautiful! Rolling hills, picturesque senery and more. Unfortunately it wasn't as cool as I thought it was going to be today but it wasn't too bad. We got some great pictures too.

Isabella in the patch

Landon in the patch

Leslie, Isabella, & Matt

Checking out the pumpkins

We particpated in the corn shoot. Basically an large air gun that sounds kinda of like a tennis ball shooter that shoot corn out of it. If you hit the 3o0 feet target you win a free drink. Bailey and I almost hit it. The boys were not as close. We saw the animals including: cows, baby cows, a donkey, goats, pigs (pig race). they have a corn maze but we did not venture into it with the little ones. They of course have a pumpkin patch and will have a strawberry patch in the spring. They have several other things to do but Isabella isn't the one for adventure so maybe over the next few years she will be willing to try a few more things.

Checking out the pigs

Isabella thought the pig race was hilarious

Matt, Isabella, & Leslie

Bailey, Landon, & Kacy

T- minus cm and counting

Matt and I went to see Dr. Kassam yesterday for another weekly checkup. It was a good appointment. My blood pressure and urine samples were both good. When he checked me at 37 weeks 4 days, I was 3 1/2 cm dilated and 60% effaced and -1 station.

So, I have 6 1/2 cm, 40% and into the positive station numbers to go. T-minus 6 1/2 to go.

Well, we would have to throw some regular contractions in there too to really get anywhere but everything is progressing nicely and towards our ultimate goal, baby # 2. Or as Isabella puts it "our baby".

I feel pretty good and have been having Braxton Hicks contractions but nothing to get really excited about. Dr. Kassam says he doesn't think I will make it much longer but God may have a different idea. So, I will go back next Wednesday if I have not had the baby. If I am ready at that point, Dr. Kassam said he would induce me on Thursday or Friday. It would be really nice to go into labor on my own and to actually see what that is like but I will probably be READY this time next week.

We are looking forward to meeting baby Cardoza, whomever he or she may be. We are finally set on names but not telling so don't ask.

On to life with just one child.

Tonight we were able to eat dinner a littler earlier than has been the case in the past few weeks. So, we went outside after dinner (since it feels delightful to a 9 month pregnant girl) and played ball.

Isabella had a great time and it was nice to spend a little more fun family time together before our lives are consumed by the impending new arrival. Enjoy the pictures.

I love the real belly laugh!

Loving the time outside

Daddy is definitely her favorite right now

Excitement!

I thought this turned out pretty cute!