More Firsts

Yesterday it was Target. Last night it was the Carolina Hoops game. Today it was the doctor and a Youth Ministry Meeting.
She really enjoyed the game. She even stayed awake for most of it. I think she may just be the good luck charm the Heels were waiting for.


Her Doctor's Appointment was very successful. We saw the doctor (Goodman) that our friend Ivy really hoped we would and she used the word "perfect" to describe our child. Of course, we already thought that! Kieren's weight is back to her birth weight so she doesn't need to go back next week and gets to wait until one month.















Then, this afternoon several students came over for a Youth Ministry meeting. We were brainstorming about their class' mission trip. Kieren was very helpful with her ideas as the students passed her around.

Our First Outing!

Hey there!

We had our first outing today - as I was ready to get out into the world AND we had like two newborn-sized diapers left (this girl can move through diapers...). So we bundled up, headed to Moes for lunch and then to Target! Even though Kieren slept through it all, I could FEEL her excitement in the glorious world of Target :) It felt great to be out, even though no one around us knew what an INCREDIBLE day it was for us!

We made it through our first night of parenthood all alone at home! The night definitely had it's moments of joy and frustration, as Kieren seems to think pitch dark means 'daytime and scream-time' but we did it! She is eating well, and we continue to all adjust to this new world. She is just so beautiful, we are in heaven and enjoying each moment with her! Life is GOOD!

Love you all!
Sarah

They let us leave!

So they let our little poopeater leave the hospital on Wednesday afternoon. My sister, Kara, had been to visit and helped us get home.

We're Outta Here!


She had a solid first meeting with Lance. He wasn't quite sure what to think at first, he was mostly just so excited to have us home. Once he calmed down a bit he checked her out some. He gave her some kisses, but he was a bit skittish with the carseat. (He doesn't like big contraptions). The only problem we'll have with him is that he'll always want to steal her hats, socks, blankets, and burp cloths. He was also pretty funny last night trying to figure out what the deal was everytime she cried.

Kieren's 1st Car Ride


We had some more visitors last night and then tried to begin finding our own nighttime rhythm. It was definitely a long night. She's eating about every 90 minutes, so that's not a lot of sleep in between for us. Usually when she wakes up I get up, change her diaper, and then hand her off to Sarah to feed. I know we'll figure it out, but it would be nice if she would eat more each time and then sleep a little longer. But, I guess, it's just part of the deal.

Special moment with Mom and Kieren


We're thankful to be home and start this journey together. Thanks for everybody's well wishes, prayers, support, gifts, and visits. We feel very loved!

Thanks,
Casey

Hello from Sarah

Good morning family and friends!

Well, it's 6am in the morning on Wednesday, and I SHOULD be sleeping as Kieren and Casey both are, but I can't shut my mind down! It's all too much to take in at this point! Thank you SO much for all your prayers, congratulations, and well wishes - not to mention all Kieren's first visitors. We feel abundantly blessed to have all you in our lives to share this miraculous time, and we are so thankful for you!

What an experience this has all been - words can't even describe it. I will share bits now and continue to use the blog to share what's going on in my heart and head. But I would love to share ANY part of it with you - so just ask! We had a rollercoaster weekend as we thought I was going into labor on Saturday night, got ourselves all packed and ready, and then I just turned out to be really sick with stomach 'bug' symptoms all Saturday night into Sunday day. It was pretty miserable, and we're still not sure if I was in labor and my body was 'cleansing' or if I did have a bug. Either way, on Sunday night Casey went to youth group and I started to have cramping, but wouldn't let myself get too worked up about it. Once he got home after 9pm, the contractions started coming and I decided to slowly get a shower and get myself ready to go to the hospital. In the shower I had about 3 majorly painful contractions and realized it was time to go NOW to the hospital. The contractions came on really quick and were extremely painful. We rushed to the hospital, were rushed to our room, and once checked learned that I was 9cm dilated (you start pushing at 10cm). This was my one 'outburst' moment, as I cursed knowing it might not be possible to get my magical drugs because the labor was progressing so quickly. Other than that, I kept my mouth honoring God :) The pain was intense but the doctor stated working on getting the epidural while nurses went into quick action to get all else ready. Somehow, by God's grace, the anesthesiologist got to me in time, gave me the magical epidural as I was having contractions and writhing in pain, and everything could finally slow down. We then waited 45 minutes to start pushing so we could relax for a second, take it all in, listen to some music, and pray together. Then we started the pushing process, and I pushed for 45 minutes and Kieren was in our world! Casey was the BEST coach ever - very encouraging, calm, and a part of everything. He was amazing. The whole experience was perfect (now that I can see it from this side and know that my story included an epidural. Praise GOD!).

Kieren made her first bowel movement before delivery, so she had to be taken to a special nursery to remove all the fluid and be monitored a bit. Basically she ate her own poop even before entering our world. Nice. She is very healthy now, and made a quick recovery, as Dad watched and I got cleaned up and moved to our new room. We have been at Rex Hospital for 2 nights now and it has just been a dream. The only ways I can describe the feeling of having Kieren here and being a mom, is that all seems RIGHT with the world now, and I have never been in such peace. She is perfect and beautiful and just having her in my arms brings me all the joy in the world. Our time at the hospital has been wonderful - the staff here is so great at their jobs and wonderfully kind and encouraging. We have had so many visitors, including the new grandparents (my parents) from Charlotte which has been a blast. I have been having a little pain and am a bit sleep deprived, but recovering really well and just honestly enjoying each moment.

We will head home today, o pray for us as our daughter comes home for the first time! We will continue to update the blog, but if you have 'facebook,' check out Casey's page for more pics. We would love you to come by for a visit, we just ask that you call to check first. And if you have called and not heard back, we love you and will call back soon! Thanks for all the joy you have brought us by sharing in this time, and we feel so blessed that Kieren already has so much overwhelming love!

Lots and LOTS of love,
Sarah

Family Pics

The Prince family snuggled together


Grandma Collins meeting Kieren for the first time on Monday


Grandpa Collins holding Kieren on Tuesday

Kieren Joy has entered our World

Kieren Joy Prince has entered our WORLD and we will NEVER be the same!!
She came very quickly on Sunday night. As I returned home from Youth Group it was obvious she was on her way. As I'm fearing is my future, she kept me from watching the end of the UNC hoops game. :)
We left the house at 10:30pm, arrived at 10:45pm and at that moment she was already 9cm dilated. Oh no, she may not be able to get drugs!! After about an hour of dealing with major contractions she got the drugs and was able to chill before starting to push. She pushed for about an hour before Kieren appeared.
It was so amazing to watch the whole thing happen! Sarah did such an amazing job and had incredible strength! Just to watch what was happening at those moments was so cool.
I'm sure we'll most many more details later, but here are the ones that matter:
7 lbs. 8 oz.; 20 1/4 inches long.

Thanks for the prayers. Keep em' coming!

We're Not Crazy...

Casey found an interesting article this week, written by an atheist who has deep ties and relationships to Africa, and has seen the progress and impact Christians have had on the continent. Definitely thought provoking, but also encouraging! Maybe we aren't TOTALLY crazy after all...

Love,
Sarah

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/matthew_parris/article5400568.ece

This is way too close...

Picture of Kieren

At yesterday's appointment that Sarah so wonderfully described (see below) they did an ultrasound and took a 4D picture of our little girl.
Here she is:


Hopefully you can find her nose, mouth, eyes, etc.
Ain't she beautiful! (If you disagree, I will hurt you!)
Thought you guys would want to see. Hopefully you'll get to see the real thing, really soon!

Casey

Baby Kieren at 39 Weeks!

Hello everyone!

Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers this past week as our due date gets closer and closer! All three of us really appreciate it :) A few updates for you all, as things are slowly but surely progressing along here. We are eventually going to have a baby - that is a FACT!

Our due date:
So people are always asking about our 'due date,' which is just an estimation given by the doctor, and only 20% of women even deliver on that date. At a very early dr. appointment, they gave us January 18th as the date, and then later said we were actually closer to January 11th. SO, we have always been vague with the date, but it is somewhere in the very near future.

Latest doctor appointment:
On Wednesday we went in for our now weekly doctor appointment. They decided to schedule another ultrasound (not usual for this point, but just to check stuff out) because my belly 'measurements' were a bit small. So we got to see Kieren yesterday! We did confirm she is a girl (yes!), she was yawning and moving around a TON, she has chubby cheeks ALREADY in there, and she looks healthy and happy at this point. She is a very healthy weight already - they are estimating 8.1 pounds right NOW (meaning she could be anywhere from 7.1 to 9.1 pounds), so not a small child even if she was born today! They checked to see if I was dilated and effaced (doctors do an internal exam to see whether your cervix has started ripening: softening, effacing (thinning out), and dilating (opening)), and I am 2cm and 75% effaced. This is exciting because it means SOMETHING is happening, but I could stay at this stage for days or even weeks, so don't hold your breath. My amniotic fluid, the fluid around the baby, is a bit low, but still in the normal range. All other tests, weights, and measurements are normal and healthy, so we are right on track. It was a fun appointment to know she is healthy and that things are progressing a little bit. We are definitely going to have a baby at some point :)


Kieren's size at 39 weeks:
This week, Kieren is the size of a small watermelon - and seeing was believing! She is still very active, and moves all the time, so that's a great sign!

How is Sarah feeling??
Thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers for me these past couple weeks - I REALLY appreciate it all! I'm feeling very 'pregnant' :) these days! I have my tired, sick, or achey moments, but for the most part I still feel pretty good. I am still working part-time retail at Ann Taylor Loft, and will probably try to work until I deliver this baby to keep me busy! I get tired being on my feet, but it's fun and keeps me moving. Still working out and walking just to keep strong and get ready for labor, and I think that is still helping me to feel so good. Starting to get a bit more restless as I am running out of things to do before she gets here, but I am definitely not miserable - either physically or emotionally. Every day I try to be thankful and positive, and just use this time to the fullest while I have it! Casey is SO supportive and sweet to me and really takes care of me - he is the BEST. We are enjoying our time together and having lots of dates - yesterday it was ice cream from McDonald's - my choice!

Keep Casey in your prayers as he is preparing to be a dad, and getting youth stuff at Grace squared away for this crazy time ahead. Please pray for Kieren, her health and growth (I would prefer BRAIN growth and not body growth at this point, but whatever...) and peace for her, as HER WORLD is also about to be rocked! You can just pray for health and PEACE for me as I prepare, as well.

We are blessed and just taking in each moment! We are going to have a new little princess in the this world soon!

Love,
Sarah

The Anticipation is Killing me!

We are getting down to the wire on this baby gig and the anticipation is killing me!! We are at that point that I know that at any moment Sarah could call and say, "I think she's coming." With that realization I get more and more anxious. I'm just very ready for her to be here. I asked her to stay in through last night so that I could give the talk I had already prepared for Youth Group, but she can come now (technically she could wait till after tonight since we are hosting poker, but who's counting?).
Everything that we do now I have this moment where I realize that going to the gym together won't happen again, or that grabbing a quiet dinner won't happen again, or that leaving the house for church won't be a quick 10-15 minute process anymore. I'm probably driving the anxiety level up a notch with all of these realizations. I'm just keenly aware that at any moment now my life will change forever!! I'm ready and excited, but very aware how different it will be. And I know that I actually learn so much more once she finally arrives.
If nothing happens before Wednesday, we are scheduled to get another ultrasound that day. Sarah is measuring a little small, so they want to ensure that everything is fine in there. I know that's going to be a crazy look inside!! I'm pumped about that.
We cherish your prayers for Kieren and mommy (they don't hurt for me, too). Love you all!
Cheers,
Casey

My Sis' New Blog

Hello!

My sister and brother-in-law, Lauren and Tre Jones, have a new blog at http://www.keepingupwiththejones2009.blogspot.com. Check it out if you know them - they have FUN new news to share!



Love,
Sarah

Kieren's Nursery

It has finally happened - we have FINISHED Kieren's nursery! It's been fun to get the last details done, and we are so happy with how it has turned out. We didn't buy any new furniture, and her crib will be the 'pack and play' we have gotten. We think it's simple, fun, and PERFECT for our little adventurer. Hope she is ready for a safari :)

Love,
Sarah

Baby Kieren at 38 Weeks!

Hello everyone!

It's hard to believe, but I am 38 weeks into my pregnancy this week! What?!? I must admit that I am definitely FEELING this far along in my pregnancy at this point... I got through the Christmas rush on adrenaline (it's my FAVORITE time of the year), but since then I have been exhausted, achey, and feelings lots of different pains. Nothing to be alarmed at, just carrying around a child in here. Hope it's a newborn and not a toddler by the time she is ready to come out...

Baby Kieren is the length of a leek this week and around 6 pounds. She is moving a TON this week which is fun because we are seeing some major kicks and punches on the outside of my belly. Crazy!

Lots of love,
Sarah

Prince Family Christmas

Hello everyone!

Merry Christmas and happy new year to all of you! We had a wonderful Christmas 2008, as the Collins family descended on North Carolina. My parents, sister Lauren, and brother-in-law Tre, all came in for the week, and we had a great time together. Here are some pictures of our adventures!

Lots of love,
Sarah