Update Time!

Times flies eh? Well we're hanging in there. We're getting more sleep and having a bit of an easier time as we head out of the newborn stage for the second time. Yes, the second time. This is one of the joys of having a preemie. Riley was doing pretty well at sleeping alone, not crying so much and dealing with life in general and then she hit her actual due date and the reset button was hit. We started all over again. WOW! The last six weeks have been really ... loud! The girl has quite a set of pipes on her! :-) I found I was developing a fear of 5 o'clock.. because she would scream from 5 - 9 pm unless she was eating the whole time... Now it's not every day, just some days...

Doctors are really pleased with Riley, they say she is thriving and growing really well. Eric and I couldn't be more proud of her. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for the power of the priesthood. Our family has been cradle in His love and support. Riley is truly such a miracle!

Now she is waking up, so unfortunately this post is done.

Love to all!!

Eric Nellie and Riley Jane

Miss Riley is Here!

Riley Jane Neves

July 3rd 2009

3:32 AM

6 pounds 6 ounces

Okay so finally I have a few minutes to do baby pictures. I swear with a baby in the hospital people think you have time to do things but I have never been so busy in my life! (and that's saying a lot!!!!)

Here's the story slightly shortened. I took my anti contraction meds on wednesday night the 1st at nine but my nine thirty I was having contractions and the frequency just increased until at 11:00 they were close and hard and I called L and D and they had me come in. At 12:10 we walked into triage. They were happy I was 34 weeks but didn't know if they wanted me to stop or keep going so they decided to try to stop the contractions. Well it didn't really work, so they gave me more and more to stop them and it just made my body fight even harder. Finally after about 5 hours and tons of anti contraction meds they gave up and said never mind you're having the baby. Unfortunatly right about then the contractions stopped. Even more unfortunately I was about 6 cm and needed to keep going. We had to wait for the drugs to wear off. Contractions stopped for an hour and then we went back to a warring body and lots of pain. After about 14 hours I conceeded and got an epidural. It wasn't until about 20 hours though that they started giving me pitosin (?) and then at 25 hours they broke mt water because we weren't getting anywhere. Finally at 30 hours of labor or rather around 3:30 on the 3rd Riley's heart started dipping and the dr. decided it was now or never. Riley wasn't where she was supposed to be so they had to go on a fishing trip to find her. Two hands and a vacuum and me pushing were what it took to get her out. She cried a big cry and we were all blown away by her 6 pounds six ounces. I didn't get to see her because I had to lay flat, but she was taken to NICU and given a C-pap for breathing so it wouldn't be so hard since we had both worked hard. I finally saw her the first time about 8 hours later and I think she's gorgeous!!! But I may be biased.

Right now she is doing really good all things considered. She is breathing on her own, she is taking bottles and starting to nurse some, and totally off the IV. She is really working hard, but we're facing some bad jaundice from her body trying to heal the hematoma at the back of her head. Its coming down but it's still going to be a long process. None the less we are so proud of her and how hard she is working!

Thank you everyone for all the support, I hope you enjoy the pictures!

Love Eric Nellie and Riley

Mom and Dad waiting...

Grandpa Don and Grandma Linda sleeping and waiting for Riley

Her first hours

She doesn't like to wake up



Feeding with Mommy

Daddy's Girl!

Our funny little family is finally complete!

Thank you everyone for the prayers and support. Couldn't have done it without you!!!!!

Bummer News

I have some sad news. Winston our horse has had a few really hard days, he's had a fever, a hard time eating and keeping food in his mouth and has a lump on the joint of his jaw. Dr. Weilepp and my friend Jodi have been with him this week trying to figure out the problem, finally we found out today that it is an aggressive tumor. We decided with the amount of pain he is in that we would put him down. He was put to rest this morning. I'm glad he's no longer in pain.

I am very sad that I am loosing him at a time when I can't be the one to be there with him, but I can't risk the baby's health.I think it is important to remember all the lives that Winnie has touched over the years and what an amazing life he has led. He's been a professsional english jumping horse as well as a professional western pleasure horse and has won over 40,000 in his career, before I met him. He worked for three years as a therapeutic riding horse at Saddle Pals and touched so many lives while he was there. He has always been such charming and eccentric horse. From the fits he would throw where instead of bucking he would angrily do flying lead changes and dressage he's learned when he was young, to his ability to hunt birds in the arena and the pasture, killing 2 and injuring at least 5. Quite a talent. I'm glad he's been a part of our family. His life has been spared more than once so that he could enjoy the retirement he's deserved over the last two years. Now it is time for him to get the rest he deserves.
He is a fantastic horse and will always be remembered that way.

32 weeks and counting

We went to the Dr today and got great news.......I graduated from hi risk!! Yeah. While I am still considered a hi risk prego, I get to go to a normal prego dr. that's kinda cool! We also recieved a finalized timeline. Here's how it falls.


Now until july 2nd (34 weeks pregnant) - still on bedrest laying flat except I can sit up to eat which is really nice.

2nd- 16th (36 weeks pregnant)- released from bedrest, can walk around some and have a litt more activity, not much, sorry still can't work ;-)

16th and on- off medication, can have baby at any time.



As we know plans are great and all but there is a really good chance I won't make it until the 16th. The medication has started to wear off on it effectiveness. I am doing about two hours of contractions at least every other night and afternoon. The good news is today the dr said that Riley is safe. Yea! She weighed in at 5 pounds 1 ounce very impresive for her age I guess. He said that even if she went to the nicu the chances of her being on a ventilatator or anthing serious are very small. Eric says I look like myself again because I am a bit relieved. I have to admit it was really nice hearing that she is SAFE! Thank you for all the prayers! We'll keep you updated as our little bitty gets closer and closer.

Latest News

We went to the Dr. on tuesday and everything is still looking good. The new *fun* pressure I am feeling is due to Riley's head down position. I wish they would have given us an ultrasound picture of that... There was the part of my cervix that was still closed, then the part that was funneled open, then a sack of water protruding into the funnel and immediatley thereafter, a baby head. Sorry if this is TMI, I was just fascinated to see it! They said I am uncomfortable because normally that part of the cervix doesn't have pressure for very long, just long enough to have a baby. In other words, Miss Riley is ready to come whenever we give the go ahead. Hopefully she listens when I say just stay put a little longer!! She is growing really well though and she is up to 3 pounds and 12 ounces. I know that doesn't sound very big to anyone else, but it is huge in our little family! She now outweighs her sister's birthweights by 2 pounds. In the land of premies that is quite a bit!

How to beat the boredom of bedrest!

Well we hit 29 weeks yesterday which is five weeks of stolen time. The combination of paryer and Turbeutaline works wonders. It is so fun seeing everyone's healthy new babies that are born, congrats to Ash and Jaz they are both beautiful!
People keep asking, how do you manage to stay down for so long without going crazy. Well the staying down is easy, it's the drive to keep Riley healthy that part isn't that hard especially with mom here helping Eric and I. The not going crazy is trickier. Eric and Mom really help with that.

Step one: Deal with the nesting instinct. I was feeling like the walls were caving in on me and some of this stuff just had to go! Mind you our house is not overly crowded, and certainly isn't now, but I insisted on going through everything in the house. This means that from the couch either mom or Eric would bring me things to say keep or throw away. They are so patient with me. After three days we accumulated quite the pile for a yard sale. Mom took care of it one day, and Eric did it the other day. Out of both days we earned enough to pay for a glider and ottoman set!! Yeah! Great job guys!

Step two: Sewing! No, I am not sewing, mom is sewing and again I am the dictator from the couch! lol We are sewing the pajamas I was supposed to make for Eric's family for Christmas, but I was too sick to move. We are sewing curtains for Riley's room, and we are sewing clothes for our little princess too. Mom and I have both decided that we use the term, "we" VERY loosely! Today "we", meaning mom, are working on the laundry and a new pair of PJ pants for me since I have grown out of most of my pj pants, tummy is too big!

Step three: Watch a lot of TV!
Step four: Work on the book that has been done for over two years but work-a-holics like my self have no time to revise.
Step five: Lots of scripture study, we need all the blessings we can get!
Step six: Count down the days until the next Dr. Appt which by the way is four days away on Tuesday.
Step seven: Play fetch with the cat from bed. He thinks he's died and gone to heaven with his mom being in bed all day!
Step eight: Register! I don't know if anyone has done this completely online before, but it isn't easy. Babies R Us is done... I think. Target is almost done... not as user friendly in case you were wondering.

Mostly just hanging tight and dreaming of the baby to be!

Where we're at these days

By the looks of our page everything looks pretty hunky dorey... hmm I wish! Okay it's not too bad... I can use our new thing we say alot around here every time we pick up the phone, "Still Pregnant". A month ago I went in for my regular weekly appointment and during the ultrasound, surprise I was in labor. I had no clue! I was at 2 cm and 60 percent effaced. My dr. calmly said "we're moving you to the hospital and you'll be there awhile." I was wheeled off and checked in and hooked to an IV getting fluids and drugs to stop the contractions I wasn't feeling. For the first three days they weren't sure if I would deliver or not so they started me on antibiotics and gave me steroid shots to mature bitty's lungs. She was only 24 weeks though so they really worked hard at not letting her come. They let me move upstairs to Anti-partum ward after 3 days. You've heard of post partum, after you have the baby, well apparently I am a member of the club of anti partum where they don't want you to stop being pregnant. There were between 4 and 5 of us the whole time I was in. We all had our own private rooms but we'd hear about eachother from time to time. One girl got to go home, another girl finally made it far enough they let her have her baby (she'd been there 6 weeks!), and I was the 24 weeker who had the husband who showed up every night. Apparently uncommon for anti partum, they all just didn't marry Prince Charming. :-). It wasn't all smooth sailing. I went into labor 3 more times after moving upstairs, but everytime those nurses would come in there and squash those contractions with drugs. Every time I would think okay, this is it. Brace yourself your baby might not make it, you need to be strong, .... then the nurse would say okay, that should do it and sure enough it did. I felt so close to my Heavenly Father in the hospital, I have to say Eric and I did a lot of praying and pleading as did many other people. I learned a lot about faith and trust and actually believing Heavenly Father when He makes a promise. I know Primary stuff but it is really hard for me.
About two weeks ago after I'd been in the hospital two weeks they were going to put in a pic line which is a more permanent IV, meaning I'd be there forever.... They said, "actually we're going to send you home." I was shocked, no one had said anything about even a chance of going home. By the end of the day I was discharged and we were home!

It's been different being at home. It's hard because I feel like a burden most of the time. I can't be on my feet for more than five minutes and it is only so that I can go to the bathroom. For the first week Eric had to do everything, with the exception of RS bringing me lunch midday. That was how he wanted it though. He just wanted to do everything to make sure that I was okay. He's never complained about anything. What a man I married!

This last week my mom has arrived and she's been a really great help too. She does a great job of making me lay down and hush myself. It's been a lifesaver having her here and who doesn't love having your mom around when you just need her right?

Anyway, mostly I really appreciate all the prayers on our behalf. Let me tell you that we feel them. It keeps me strong every day and I couldn't do this without them. We've been down for a month now and we just passed 28 weeks, or 7 months. My Dr. Wants us to make it to 34 or 35 weeks, he says that is a high risk full term baby, so please don't stop praying!

Much Love!
Eric, Nellie, angel Lily, and baby Riley

Monterey Trip

This last weekend we went on the last vacation we'll take before little bitty is born. We went to Monterey with our friend Whitney and Louie Mariner. It was really fun and we actually managed to get some pictures taken! Thank you to Whitney! I figure everyone would rather see pictures than hear me drone on.

Whitney and I wanted seafood the first night, so since they boys love us they consented and we went to Bubba Gump's for dinner. Don't worry I was careful about what I ate and how much of it I ate.

We knew the restaurant had gotten its name from the movie forest gump but we had no idea how much people would focus on the movie! Wow trivia at every corner! I got some of them right so I won a prize.... all the toothpicks I wanted... I didn't think it was that funny... but the food was good!

The next day we went to the aquarium since Whitney and Louie had never been. It was fun. Here we are on the back walkway behind the aquarium. Here is the prego picture I've been promising!

Even with all the cool displays and tanks, this is the only fish picture I shot while I was there. All the non tropical fish are so gray and drab... this was the pretty tank. (I know sorry Alex)

We went to Carmel as well, but I have to adamit that I was so tired I took absolutly no pictures. The rest of the trip was spent at the ocean. If you look really closely at the picture on the left there is a person on the top of the hill in the middle that is either Eric or Louie. They went so far out on the rocks looking for adventure. I stayed on the beach and prayed that they would come back from adventure! :-)

It was a great trip but definitely the last one for a long time. Within an hour of getting home I started having contractions and had to go down to labor and delivery. They got me stabalized and the contraction have pretty much stopped and have gotten a great deal lighter (thank goodness), but it was still really scary. I need to be within driving ditance of my hospital and doctors, so here I stay until baby come, (full term).

Love you all,

Eric Nellie and Little Bitty

Five Months

And still hanging in there! Went to the Doctor today and everything still looks great. Keep praying! For those of you who don't know, we are having a girl! Very exciting, though anyone who knows Eric and I knows that this will not be a girly girl. The funny thing is only 10% thought we were having a girl according to the blog. Maybe it's because our girl will be a tomboy princess kind of a girl. I keep reminding people that pink is not my favorite color. In fact we're thinking that we'll do the nursery in red and white. I know, not the usual, but hey who wants usual. I am thinking a garden theme with red roses and other bright flowers. Little bitty has been starting to kick and wiggle a little more strongly. The morning sickness is still there but not as strong. I can usually get out of the house by 10:00 now with only a little queasiness.

Poor Eric still doesn't get fed. I have developed this distaste, okay, abhorrence for chicken. It makes cooking really difficult and I feel so bad! He is really aptient though. Thankfully our friends Whitney and Louie are taking good care of us and making sure that Eric gets fed. In the other times I am grateful that I am working and we are supporting the economy of the restaurant industry. :-)

We're headed into the scariest part over the next three weeks. It is a countdown to when we lost Lily so it's really scary. My Doctor is going to start seeing me twice a week most likely. He's watcing really closely to make sure that we notice anything as it comes. He says that the baby look really great and everything is perfect right now.

Thanks for all the prayers! Love Eric and Nellie and Little Bitty TomgirlThis is Caesar's new favorite way to sleep.. and look he brought me a toy to play with when I wake up.

Month 4

And still sick... at least it's not as bad, mostly naseuous now. Everyone keeps telling me that I will get energy soon, I'm not sure when... lol I can't believe that I used to go to school work full time, help Mags with Westley twice a week and still clean and make dinner. Now poor Eric is lucky to be fed! Thankfully he really is prince charming and never complains.

I finally got in to see a doctor. It's be four months of midwives and NP's, and so yesterday I got to see a real doctor. Yea! Because of my history I have been transferred to a high risk doctor at least until 24 weeks. In the meantime it is a lot of Doctor's appointments. Don't get me wrong I am not complaining! I am thrilled to get to see the doctor more often. He's really smart and really supportive and as an added bonus I get an ultrasound every two weeks, my favorite part! It was really great to see Little Bitty yesterday just happily sleeping away. It is reassuring to see such a strong heartbeat and know that at least for now everything is doing great.

Thank you everyone for the prayers, it really helps!

Love you!
Nellie, Eric and Little Bitty

Picture soon I promise!

Apparently it's a Summer Thing...

Recently Eric and I found out that we are expecting. Okay, not recently, it's been awhile but what can we say we're a bit shy. Once I caught up with all of my old buddies blogs I realized that many if not all of my Laurel's class from Loomis 3 is pregnant! Well I couldn't hang on to the news any longer. I am 11 weeks along, to be 12 very shortly. My due date has moved a couple times so this is my second time at 11 weeks in this pregancy, so it feels like the first trimester will never end!!! After loosing breakfast over the pasture fence and really startling a couple of horses at work this morning, I am really ready to be done with the first trimester! All I keep telling myself is that the sicker I am the healthier the baby is.
When I was pregnant with Lily people used to ask, "Do you want a boy or a girl?" We would both say, "We just want healthy, ten fingers, ten toes." I would like to ammend that this time around. Healthy, ten fingers, ten toes, and FULL term.
We are both really excited, but still very scared because of what we've been through. We could really use any prayers anyone wants to pass our way, key word Full Term.

There will be pictures to come, but in the meantime Love to all and sorry for the neglect while we've been coping with the craziness of first trimester.

Eric and Nellie