Eye Balls

 Whatcha lookin' at?

Mommy bought a new sling today!

 We checked out Tiny Hiny's consignment shop today and found my sling. I really enjoy it so far. Mommy has already put me to sleep in it twice this evening. Woot Woot!

Just Call Me Little Zoolander!

I pull off the "Blue Steel" like the master himself!

To top it off, I do it while wearing some cool shades. It doesn't get better than this!

"So join now, 'cause at the Derek Zoolander Center For Kids Who Can't Read Good And Wanna Learn To Do Other Stuff Good Too, we teach you that there's more to life than just being really, really, really good looking. Right kids?"-Derek Zoolander

12 Days Old!

 Passed out in my crib on Aunt Holly's fleece tie blanket!!!!

1 Week old

Mommy & Daddy never thought they could love someone so much....

5 Days Old!

 Aren't I beautiful!

I Have A Belly Button!

It fell off at Grandpa Randy's Birthday Party!  Yay!

A visit from cousin Danny!

"A cousin is a ready-made friend for life."

Lactation Consultant

Mommy went in for some help with nursing today.  She is over producing milk and her flow is too powerful causing me to choke.  Apparently this is only a phase until her body figures out the supply and demand for my little body.  The consultant weighed me today.  I was a whoppin' 7lbs. (23%)

New Pediatrician

I met my pediatrician for the 1st time today.  Her name is Dr. Costa.  She seems to be a very kind woman and was highly recommended by Grandpa Randy's Doctor.  Dr. Costa did a full check up on me today.  My height was 1'8" (62%) weight 6lbs. 13oz. (20%) and my head circumference was 12.99" (8%)  I am physically perfect-besides looking like my father!  :)  LOL!

Under New Management

As of today all entries will be compiled by Kendra Lee, of her perspective, on her first year of life.  Edited by Mommy.

Preslie Jeannene Castellani Has Arrived!

Born Friday, September 18th at 4:16pm 7lbs. 11oz. and 20 inches long.
Dustin & Brandy are very happy she is finally here!

Word Up To My Homies

Kendra by Jasmine Challis

Kendra Has Arrived!

Kendra's Birth Story

3:30pm-Shopping at Michael's for a craft project. Feeling dizzy and just overall weird.

4:00pm-Meet Landon at Walmart to go grocery shopping after he got off work. Go in to the bathroom because my panties feel wet. See a bunch of slimy mucus on my panties and figure it was just more mucus plug. My mucus plug had originally come out the day before. Walk with Landon and grab groceries even though I feel "weird". Panties start feeling wet again but much more than before. Tell Landon to finish getting the groceries and I will meet him at the house.  He is uneasy with me leaving without him but I insist.

4:15pm-Get to my car and realize I have a softball size wet spot all the way through my jeans and it HITS me-MY WATER BROKE! Call Landon and tell him to call his Mom while I call mine and to get home as soon as he can.

4:30pm-Get home and finish packing the hospital bags, change my clothes and clean up the house. My Mom shows up and she vacuums and does the dishes for me. I tell her I needed all of this done before we leave.  Landon shows up while I was packing the bags and takes a shower.  Landon and I leave for the hospital and Mom and Kevin drop Lily off at Dad and Denise's house on the way.

5:45pm-Arrive at the hospital. Nurses check for amniotic fluid.  My Mom, Kevin, and Denise show up.(Dad is still at work unless I need him before midnight.)

7:30pm-Amniotic fluid confirmed, Kim and Holly show up.

8:00pm-Admitted to hospital-Room 138. Feeling slightly crampy and having mild contractions that I can't feel. Lori french braids my hair.  We walk outside and through the halls. Use the birthing ball and I can't sleep so Denise massages my feet.

10:00pm-Holly, Bippe, and Lori go home.

2:00am-Still not progressing and Pitocin is administered to induce labor.  Holly came back with brownies and Mt. Dew.

3:00am-Truly started laboring and feel my contractions.

4:00am-Hard contractions start so we walk all around the hospital hallways and Landon & Dad hold me during each contraction. Denise & my Mom take each breath with me during the contractions.

5:00am-Nurse checks me and I am 2 centimeters and have contractions that are 2-4 minutes apart. Sitting on the birthing ball wih my upper body leaning on the bed and Landon sitting behind me is my most comfortable laboring position. I got sick from the pain and vomited in the bathroom garbage can. Denise brought in a cold wash cloth and put it on to the back of my neck. This stopped the vomiting instantly.  Holly left again.

6:30am-Kim has to leave for work.  She is very upset because she wants to be here for us & the birth of Kendra.


8:30am-Nurse checks me again and I am already 8 centimeters/80% effaced.  I requested an epidural.  I started puking about 5 minutes after the epidural was placed. The babies heart rate drops to 90 for 5 min w/dips in th 70's. 7 nurses and 2 doctors rush in and have me try laying in different positions and then try giving me oxygen. Kendra's heart rate went back to normal.

9:15pm-Denise is giving me more massages & I'm resting.

11:00pm-Nurse checked me again and I am dilated to 9 centimeters. I rest and watched the monitor. My contractions are 1-2 minutes apart. I am not having any pain.

12:10pm-Nurse comes in and checks me again and I am already dilated 10 centimeters.  Midwife is called in-I am ready to push!The nurse is setting up the room.

12:14pm-Midwife suits up.

12:21pm-Start pushing.
 
12:29pm-Kendra's head comes out and her shoulders are stuck. She turns blue "Code Blue". Midwife pulls Kendra out, cuts the cord and puts her on my chest for about 10 seconds. Kendra finally cries and a ton of nurses & doctors pile in the room but everything is okay now.

12:32pm-Kendra is born. 

Landon and my Mom held my legs and Dad cooled my head with a wet wash cloth. Denise video taped and walked Kim through what was happening over the phone.

Kendra Lee Merrill
Sept. 16 2009
6lbs. 15oz. 19 inches
12:32PM

No Stretch Marks

I apparently have very elastic skin.  I don't have 1 stretch mark.  I guess this is the only proof of having my darling girl.  Oh Darn!  :)

Mucus Plug

I am sure that it is too much information, that you really don't want to hear, or maybe you do.  I lost my mucus plug this morning.  I still have slight cramping and nausea off and on.  I wonder when Kendra will decide to make her appearance.  We went for a walk tonight (over a mile) and I bounced on my birthing ball.  We started a puzzle together a few days ago and it takes up most of the space on our dining room table.  I told Landon once the puzzle is finished we can have Kendra.  Well, We finished it tonight.....
Landon is going to pick up some Eggplant Parmesan from Walmart on the way home tomorrow.  Some ingredients in that dish are apparently supposed to help induce labor.

BabyGap & Nausea

We took a 45 minute trip to Baby Gap in Hillsboro today and used a gift certificate from one of my clients at A Dog's Life!  I picked out some socks and a pair of 3-6 month old embroidered jeans.  The jeans were an "I need these" purchase.  Originally $35.00 they were marked down to $18.00.  Luckily I had that gift card because there was no stopping me, I had to have them!  The funny thing is, I don't even spend $35.00 on a pair of jeans for myself let alone a pair that I might be able to get my foot into.  The whole way there and back I was super-nauseated and because I read all of the time I found that this can be an early labor symptom.  Yay!  I was also super duperly over emotional when we got home.  I cried and cried because I felt I was hurting everyone's feelings.  I figured this had something to do with all of the hormones from early labor.  I sure hope so.  I am overall still comfortable but I am getting so excited.  I just want to meet her already!  Landon told me that he was ready today too.  I think he is getting super excited along with me (either that or tired of my hormones).  Today was the date that Lizzy from my message board predicted I would have Kendra. Well, it came and went...

39 Wks Belly Pic

39 Wks Prenatal Visit

I met the last midwife of 5 today. Her name was Samantha and she was by far my favorite besides Kate! The first thing she asked me was if I wanted her to strip my membranes! I was at a loss for words not knowing what to do. Dad and Denise were still out of town (fishing on the coast with George & Darlene) and Jasmine wouldn't be able to come out to take pictures if I went into labor tonight (Simon's working). I asked Samantha to check me and see if it is even possible before I made a decision like that. Come to find out I was 70% effaced, station -1, and zero dilation. If I was dilated to even a one she would have been able to strip my membranes but that answered my question on whether I wanted it done or not. I wasn't aware of it but I was 60% effaced at my last visit. If I don't go into labor by 40 weeks they will be sending me to the hospital to get my amniotic fluid checked and check on Kendra.  I am guessing we would schedule an induction at that point too. I lost 1lb So I am down to 27 lbs now. Only one more appointment to go with Kate fields next week-Yippee!

Daniel Thomas Rhodes Jr. Has Arrived!!!

Daniel Thomas Rhodes Jr. was born at 11:36 pm on Sept 10, 2009. He weighed 8lbs 12.6 oz. and was 22 inches long.

38 Wks Belly Pic

38 Wks Prenatal Visit

Thank goodness I had an appointment scheduled for today! At about 3:30am I woke up and had slight cramps. Normally this wouldn't be that unusual for a pregnant woman but I haven't had ANY cramping for the last 8.5 months. I tried taking a bath around 6am and it relaxed me enough to go back to sleep. By the time I woke back up, around 9am the cramps were much worse. More like BAD period cramps by that point. The cramps never went away in any position I put myself in and I was having light contractions on and off (never timed them). Going to my appointment definitely helped answer some of my questions. I met a different Midwife again. She seemed very nice and laid back but still not as personable as Kate. I gained another 2lbs which brings me up to 28lbs and Kendra's heart rate was 151 beats per minute. When I told her about all of the cramping she was very pleased. She thinks this is a sign of progression and that is what they want to see around this time. She checked my cervix and said that I may have effaced (thinned) a little bit and the baby is definitely lower but probably not all the way dropped. I have not dilated at all either so it could still be a couple of weeks. As she was checking my cervix she said she might be able to push through it but it might be painful. Out of nowhere, before I could answer, she went for it! It hurt pretty bad and I squirmed and told her "that's okay!" Hopefully Kendra will come on her own time naturally. It sure did freak me out though! If my crotch would have had teeth she may have lost an arm.