Eli Glenn Jones is Here! Birth Story!

       Brenton and I are proud to announce that our precious baby boy was born on January 7, 2012 at 2:56 pm. He was 6 lbs 15 oz and 21 in. long. He came exactly 2 weeks before his due date (38 weeks) I don't know if any of you are like me, but I love to hear peoples' birth stories! So here it goes..

      I woke up that Friday (January 6) not feeling well at all. I was having a lot of inconsistent contractions and feeling very nauseous. I honestly thought I was getting a stomach virus of some kind. Around two that afternoon I became very tired and took a nap. I awoke feeling like I had a ton of energy! I started some loads of laundry, finished up my last paper for one of my classes, and went to the commissary to get stuff to make dinner. I made a yummy dinner of lasagna and found that no matter how hard I tried I just could not get myself to eat all of my dinner. This was very odd for me.. but I really didn't think anything of it. Right after dinner we went over to our friends' house for game night. We had a lot of fun and finished up game night around 12:15-ish. We get home, its late and we are both exhausted. I will never forget Brenton's words to me as we pull in the drive-way "please do not have Eli tonight Darcie, I am exhausted." Brenton goes upstairs to get ready for bed and I go to the bathroom.. well it was then that I knew something was happening. I walk upstairs very calmly and tell Brenton that I think this baby is coming soon. Brenton is in the middle of brushing his teeth and just kind of stood there looking at me..   we immediately start trying to get everything together and called labor and delivery to see when we should come in. We had planned on laboring at home for as long as possible. Well due to some unfortunate circumstances, they told us to come in asap as things were happening that were indicative of a problem with the placenta. So in the car we go, 12:30 am  Brenton is dodging the deer on the way to the hospital as my contractions get stronger and come closer and closer together..   We arrive at the hospital and immediately get hooked up to the monitors to make sure Eli was okay.. and they checked me to see what was going on. Nurse said I was indeed in labor with contractions coming every 2 mins and a problem with the placenta meant I would more than likely have to have a c-section. Thankfully, there was no problem with the placenta! We ended up walking the halls to progress labor as we were pretty set on not having any meds to augment labor or meds of any kind for that matter. We labored all night long, doctor comes in and before checking me he says if I wanted to I could go back home and labor at home like I wanted to.. he checks me and then took back his statement saying that I was about 5 cm and wouldn't be going anywhere. (We delivered at a hospital about 35-40 min away) I was still having the same consistent contractions. Not too long after that, water broke and things really started happening. The contractions became unbearable, so painful it was literally making me sick. I now understand why some women throw up during labor. I told Brenton I wanted the epidural that I couldn't do this any longer. He tried to coax me into going a bit longer, if I could make it 10 1/2 hours without one I could surely make it the rest of the way.. that didn't work. In my mind, I felt like I was going to be in labor feeling those contractions for days. I became very angry and demanded he go find the dr and have him give me the epidural. 10 minutes later epidural was in! 3 hours later.. Eli Glenn Jones was born!  Not a bad labor overall: 14 1/2 hours and only about 25 minutes of pushing! 

Preparing for Christmas in MS

     I apologize for the great amount of time its been since my last post.. again I say.. I have been busy! We were very fortunate to get to spend Thanksgiving back 'home' in MO with friends and family. I have said it once and I will say it again.. never again will I ever make a 12 hr car ride 8 months pregnant unless absolutely necessary. I have traveled at least once during each of my three trimesters and traveling in the second trimester was by far the most comfortable. Despite being tired and very uncomfortable we had a great time and felt very blessed to be able to spend Thanksgiving with some of our loved ones.

   Christmas is approaching and out of the almost six years Brenton and I have been together.. we have NEVER spent a major holiday, let alone Christmas just the two of us. Let's face it, traveling 12 hours away while 36 weeks pregnant is just not going to happen. While it made us sad for a little bit, I have to admit I am actually looking forward to it! Not only do I avoid yet another 12 hour car ride, but we get to start our own traditions with eachother. I have decided to make a traditional Christmas dinner and have already started planning it, I am really looking forward to it! I haven't decided quite yet what all to put on the menu, but I am working on it! I am very sad that I won't be able to give our families the traditional tin full of Christmas goodies that I usually make every year, but let me tell you friends.. unless I am in labor, Christmas candies and cookies will still be made.. you just have to make the trip down to MS if you want some :)  And yes, I do realize that I am probably jinxing myself saying this and planning all of this.. as when I plan something big, such as making a big dinner for people.. something always happens! With that being said, I am fairly confident that dinner will go just as planned this year.. at least I hope!

    What's new in the pilot training world?? Let's see.. Brenton is doing very well and is thoroughly enjoying T-1s.. yay! A happy husband makes for a happy wife! Oh and those 4:00 am showtimes.. ahh those are a thing of the past now.. double yay! He is just about to go into the NAV phase of phase 3.. also known to many as having a lot of out and backs.. or commonly known in the pilot training world as "lunch and backs" . Yes, right around delivery time for our Eli Glenn.. which means there is a moderate chance that when we go into labor Brenton might not be here.. he may be flying high in the skies or be in FL, SC, or TX eating some yummy lunch with his fellow flightmate and IP. While we hope that does not happen, back up plans are in place just in case!

  While we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our precious baby boy, we are also becoming very excited about assignment night and graduation. Assignment night is just under 4 months away.. this may seem like a long time to some of you, but let me assure you.. its not! I can't believe we will find out where we will be living next as well as the plane Brenton will be flying.. so excited!

   That's all to report for now.. I will try and update more often than just once a month from now on! Who knows.. the next post could be about the arrival of our baby boy!!  Until next time.. take care and God bless!

Cravings and Mississippi.. Yeah.. You Won't Satisfy Those Down Here

     So this is a completely random and pointless post and really I just created it to vent, but as we speak I am soooo very hungry and of course craving foods that just aren't around here! (And while the pregnancy doesn't exactly help with cravings.. for anyone that knows me.. cravings are just a normal part of my life, pregnant or not.. but pregnancy does perhaps increase them) I am just going to warn you: this may sound very whiney and ungrateful. Here it goes..

    WHY can't Columbus, MS offer more food choices?! And why did we have to get an airforce base in such a crappy location?! Okay, I admit Laughlin would probably be worse. Was I really that spoiled back in Kansas City?! I mean, unless you are born and raised in the south.. who is going to crave some crawfish or dry rub bbq?? Is a freezoni from Quiktrip and a piece of red velvet cake cheesecake to much to ask for?!? Or what about a simple oreo blizzard from Dairy Queen? And don't even get me started on Tippin's French Silk Chocolate Pie from Price Chopper.. Or italian ices from Fazoli's.. And lets not forget the amazing baked goods from The Corner Cafe.. okay the list goes on and on.

   Obviously, I didn't realize just how amazing I had it before we moved down here. To everyone back "home"  please realize the plethora of food choices that surround you! I cannot believe the things that came out of my mouth when we lived there "I am tired of going to the same places, there are no good restaurants to eat around here!!" Oh my, my... let me tell you friends, I had not yet been to the infamous Columbus, MS. Oh what I would do to sink my teeth into a piece of some rich and creamy french silk chocolate pie or a piece of light and fluffy red velvet cake cheesecake.

   While I could go on forever complaining about how there is nothing to eat around here, I am somewhat thankful. If I lived back in Kansas City right now I would surely be 20-30 lbs heavier than what I am now.. yes, yes that is a blessing. So for now, I will continue to cook healthy foods at home  (which by the way I made some amazing chicken and spinach manicotti tonight.. yeah! Who needs Zios or Olive Garden?!)and look forward and count down the days until the big event.. the next time I get to go back to Kansas City and stuff my face with foods that I have dearly missed! (Which by the way is 2 weeks and 6 days..)

  End vent.

Track Select, Traveling, Evil Lilies, and Approaching the Third Trimester?!

       It has been far too long since my last post. What can I say, I have been one busy woman! The first part of September was spent traveling to Virginia to visit family. Eli and I had a wonderful time despite the flight delays. We returned home just two weeks before I was to head out of town again.. this time to MO! Needless to say, this little boy has already been to seven different states! How is that for some travel?!

      Track Select was Sept. 28 and we found out that Brenton will be flying T-1s for the last phase of his pilot training. Yep, his future will be a cargo pilot. We are quite happy with this and look forward to what the future has to bring for us! C-21s to Peterson or Scott would be ideal, but I have learned many times that things just don't work out the way you planned or wanted.. especially in the military. Example: pilot training in MS! I can't believe we have already lived here a little over a year. Where does the time go?! It seems like just yesterday I was packing up our stuff heading down here and moving in. I wonder where we will go next..

     I mentioned earlier that I went back to MO for a trip to visit family. Despite being very busy, I really enjoyed my time and was able to spend a lot of time with family.. oh and Panda Express, Fazoli's, Cheesecake Factory, and 54th Street.. just to name a few. While I was there I had a baby shower. It was awesome, it was so wonderful to see family and friends and receive such thoughtful gifts for little Eli! I have to admit.. my favorite part was the cake. I just can't help it.. I am addicted to sugar. Unfortunately I didn't get many pictures on my camera because I used up all the memory on the memory card to record it :(  However, I am in the process of gathering pictures from others and will post some soon! 

    The trip to MO was very busy, not only did I have a baby shower but my best friend, Meagan was getting married! I was honored to be one of her bridesmaids and be with her and help her on her special day! We almost had a crisis as my dress almost didn't fit.. thanks for picking Oct 8 Meagan! One week later and I don't know what I would have done! Her day was perfect and the wedding was beautiful, I am so happy for her! I must mention that the flowers she had at her wedding were lilies. They were beautiful and I was excited to bring one back home with me to MS.. oh my what a mistake that was..

  After driving 11 hours I finally returned back home to MS on Monday night. The first thing I did was of course give Brenton a huge hug and run to pee, what prego doesn't run to pee every 5 minutes?! Anyways, I was standing in the kitchen completely exhausted and had just laid my bag with the lily in it on the floor. Occie Jim was sooo excited to see his mama and ran up to me and started sniffing everything I had just brought in. I hear him get into the bag, I turn around and see him bite the lily leaf. I was so exhausted I just shooed him away and didn't really think anything of it. This cat loves flowers and has probably eaten a rose or two in his lifetime. Fast forward about 4-5 hours later and he started getting violently ill. This was around 4 in the morning, Brenton was not at all too happy about this as he had a 4:45 sim scheduled. Occie finally stopped and got quieted down. I still didn't really think anything of it. I awoke the next morning to him projectile vomiting. I decided to do some research on cats and lilies thinking maybe thats what made him sick. What I found scared me to death! I immediately started panicking and crying. I called my friend Jaime who just so happens to be a vet tech. She somehow understood me between sobs over the phone and rushed over and raced him to the vet. In the mean time I was trying to get ahold of Brenton.. hmm pregnant wife texting six times and calling three times and leaving voicemails.. yeah that will get your attention. He came home and we went to the vet. Occie was given IV fluids and blood was taken. We were hoping so bad that he had gotten there in time and it wasn't too late. FYI: LILIES ARE EXTREMELY TOXIC TO CATS. EVEN JUST A BITE OF A LEAF WITHOUT ACTUALLY INGESTING ANYTHING CAN KILL A CAT WITHIN 48-72 HOURS IF NOT TREATED APPROPRIATELY. THERE IS A TOXIN IN THE FLOWER THAT CAUSES ACUTE RENAL FAILURE IN FELINES. The vet was very nice and said that for now his kidney functioning was okay and he was not in any immediate danger, that would come later if it were to happen. Fortunately we were able to take him home that day but had to bring him back in a few days to re-check his kidneys. By that time, it would be apparent if he had suffered damage and had renal failure. That night I found myself up with him throughout the night, I could not sleep. I wanted to make sure he was okay and stable. I started to wonder to myself if this is what motherhood is going to be like: sleepless nights and worrying constantly about your kids and up all night with them when they are sick. Yeah that checks.. (pilot training lingo)

     We are happy to report that Occie got a clean bill of health today! Thank God! He won against the fight with the lily :) The poor little guy got some fur shaved off though so they could insert an IV and take blood:

    Lesson Learned: We will never bring another lily into this house, no matter how beautiful they are!


        This post can't go without a baby update. We are now just about 26 weeks! The third and last trimester is just around the corner.. crazy! Everything is going well with the little guy.. well little big guy as I like to call him. We went to a birthing class this past week and we learned a lot! We will start going regularly to birthing classes at the hospital next month. The pregnancy is going well. We are having some sugar issues, but I am trying to keep that under control. The GD test is Monday and hopefully everything comes back okay. Our next appt is Tuesday for our 26 week check up. I can't wait to hear his heartbeat again :) Besides being completely exhausted from all the traveling and running around that I have been doing, the pregnancy has been pretty uneventful lately. Just your typical braxton hicks contractions.. which by the way DO hurt! And looking down and seeing my belly do waves and having Eli respond to my voice and rubbing my belly. Yeah the punches in the bladder aren't that pleasant, but its just a reminder that our little boy is growing nice and big and just reminding me he is in there!

     I think I have caught everyone up on what has gone on. Its been a crazy and busy past month and its gone by so fast! Can't believe our Eli will be here in just three months! Until next time.. take care and God bless!

FINALLY... an update!

       Once again, it has been forever since my last post! I was just made aware of this by one of my best friends, Meagan. Has it really been a month?! Oops! There really isn't anything new to report. Brenton is still doing well in pilot training, it is still so very hot down here, and baby E or baby K is doing very well and growing like crazy. And mama is getting bigger.. I posted a belly pic below of me right around 16 weeks. And yes, I need a tan very very bad! I have never been this pale during a summer ever! It's already August and I still have yet to go swimming this summer.. I need to change that!

     Since its been a month already, I will catch you up to speed on what is going on in pilot training. Brenton took his last academic test this past week for the T-6 and he did excellent on it! Our half-way point in pilot training is just next month.. I can't believe it! This is also known as track select.. I have mentioned it several times in previous posts. Next month we will get to find out what Brenton will be training in next.. for the last phase of pilot training! And only 8 months until graduation and we find out where we will be going!! Oh I can't wait! This whole thing just seems like a dream. Just a year ago this time last year Brenton was getting ready to leave for two months to AL for ASBC and I was starting the process of moving all of our things down to MS. Crazy how fast time flies and how quickly life changes! Brenton and I have certainly have gone through a lot and it hasn't been easy, but oh we are so very blessed!

   While there isn't much new to report, we have continued to stay very busy in the past month. With Brenton in pilot training and me with school. I am so tired of writing papers I could scream! On a brighter note, we did have a special treat of Brenton's mom and step-dad coming down to visit us. They were here for 12 days and I honestly enjoyed every minute of them being here! It was so nice to have some one on one time with them! My mother in-law even cooked some meals while she was here, I can't tell you how much I appreciated that!

   So as of tomorrow I will be 16 weeks, I can't believe it! I am almost to the half-way mark of this pregnancy! Everything is going very well, morning sickness or all day sickness as I call it has pretty much receded completely now. I still have some minor nausea at night, but nothing like it was! Oh and... I can finally eat chicken again! That is something I never thought I would be able to do again. Baby looks to be very healthy and actually measuring a bit ahead. We have a minor issue going on right now but that is being closely monitored and no further interventions have been neccessary. I hope it stays that way throughout the rest of the pregnancy :)  We find out on August 24 (day before Brenton's birthday) whether we are having a boy or girl, ever since I found out I was pregnant I had a feeling it was a girl and almost everyone thinks I am having a girl. Also, while my mother in-law was here visiting she bought us this adorable yellow dress for a baby girl.. so it will probably be a boy! I honestly don't care what it is, just as long as he/she is healthy. And yes, we already have the names picked out but can't share just yet. I will say that baby E is for boy and baby K is for girl. I promise, there will be a blog post as soon as we find out!

   That is all to report for now, hope everyone is doing well and until next time.. take care and God bless!

Road Trip, Soloing, and 11 weeks?!

         It has been quite some time since I have posted and so much has happened! A few weeks ago we lost Brenton's grandmother. We ended up driving the 11 hour drive to be with family and to attend her funeral. Let me just advise any pregnant people in their first trimester: do not travel long distances unless absolutely neccessary! However, I would do it all over again in a second to be there and help support Brenton and his family.  Despite the circumstances, we had a really good time and much needed time spent with some family. Even in her passing, she will live on in the hearts of her family forever. She will be greatly missed.

        We have huge news in pilot training! Brenton soloed this past Wednesday and did very well! For those of you who are not aware of all the 'milestones' in pilot training, this is one of them. He flew without an IP. While this was certainly not his first time ever soloing, it was his first in the T-6! I am so proud of him and look forward to what lies ahead for him next! Cross-country flight and track select are next to come up. Oh I can't wait for track select.. you will be seeing the words 'track' and 'select' quite a bit in the next few months. Two more months and we will find out what route he will be taking in the flying world.. Let's just hope and pray that it's a place close to a major city  and a Target  and a mall and a starbucks.. oh and Olive Garden.. is that too much to ask? 
  Below I have put a picture of Brenton after his solo. He is being thrown into the infamous dunk tank by some of the guys in his flight. The water in the dunk tank is sooo dirty, it had algae and all kinds of things floating in it. This is a tradition after someone solos..

        Let me just say that the first trimester is flying by! I can't believe I am already 11 weeks!! I am almost to the second trimester and you have no idea how excited that makes me. Just this past Monday we had another dr appointment and got to see our baby again. Despite a couple of minor issues, everything looks great! And let me tell you, this baby has grown! It no longer looks like a little bean anymore, it now has a fat tummy, and fingers and toes!! In addition to seeing our baby again, we also got to hear the heartbeat again.. my favorite sound ever! The heart rate is going strong at 176. My doctor really thinks I am having a girl and so does almost everyone else, we will see in just 7 weeks! While my nausea is definitely starting to lessen, a new symptom is taking control.. crying. And no, I am not just talking about crying at commercials or crying at sad movies.. this is crying spells that last anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour and its for no reason! All I have to say is: poor, poor Brenton. Oh and another thing, I HATE columbus again. I feel like I did when I first got down here, just thinking about driving into the town makes me cry.. I really hope this passes soon! Some of it I think maybe has to do with the fact that I am definitely homesick. Going back to MO last week was amazing and I really enjoyed myself.. and coming back to Columbus MS.. well I think that would make anyone cry. Okay, that is enough complaining :) While I may hate where I live right now, I am so happy and thankful for where I am at in life. God is amazing and I am so thankful that he has blessed us with a healthy baby!
Below is a picture of our baby at just over 10 weeks! If you look closely, you can see the feet and the pudgy stomach.

      

      That is all to report for now. Until next time.. take care and God bless!

And the Two Shall Become One... One Year Later Expecting a Baby!

           Wow! It's already been a year, it's so hard to believe! It seems like just yesterday we were in a time crunch to try and get last minute things done for the wedding. I never thought I would say this, as it was such a busy and stressful time, but I wish I could go back and re-live that wonderful day of June 13, 2010. It all went by so fast! Married one year and been together for five years, it just doesn't seem real. A lot has happened in the time we have been together, and its made us closer than ever, it's truly a bond I can't explain. I love Brenton more each day and thank God every night for bringing him into my life. He really is my everything and I couldn't ask for anyone better to spend the rest of my life with. I included one of my favorite wedding pictures of us below.

             Like I said, a lot has changed, and a lot has changed just recently. I am now in week 8 of my pregnancy.. heck yes only 5 more weeks to go until the second trimester!!! We have had two ultrasounds so far and have heard/seen the heartbeat both times! It's a feeling like nothing I have ever felt and I already love my 'snowflake' so much!!  I am definitely feeling pregnant right now: exhausted, major food aversions, so moody and weepy, and ohhh the nausea. Who ever titled it "morning sickness" was an idiot! While I have not exactly been enjoying myself thus far, I try to remain thankful every day. Some people have asked us if this was an "oops" baby, definitely not the case people! This was very much planned, as planned as you can get really. This journey was not an easy one. We experienced a lot of heartache, loss, and many meds and shots.      A lot of people don't agree with taking medications and shots to achieve a pregnancy, and I will tell you I struggled myself with the decision. But, reality is reality, and when you are told you will not ever be able to achieve a term pregnancy and then experience that firsthand, we knew what we had to do.   Words can't express my gratitude right now, and to make it even better.. Brenton is beyond thrilled he is going to be a dad! It's an amazing feeling and really just one more obstacle we have overcome together!  We pray every night for our 'snowflake' and that he/she continues to stay nice and snuggled in its "home" until January!   Below is a pic of our 7 week ultrasound.. if you look close enough you can see the beginnings of little nubs! And a picture of me at 8 weeks.

            For now, thats all to report from the Jones household. Until next time.. take care and God bless!