My New Best Friend!

Yesterday, my mom took me to meet my new best friend. His name is Chase Everett Woodley. I was so excited to meet him, because mom had told me so much about him when we were in the hospital. Mom said she and Chase's mommy found out they were pregnant with Chase and I at the same time. Throughout the pregnancy, they became very good friends. Chase was due to come into the world on Jan. 23. I was due to come into this world on Jan. 31.



As you all know, I was born Jan. 27. Chase's mommy came to see me in the hospital. While she was holding me, I told Chase he had better hurry. Then Chase was born on Jan. 28. I was so excited when mommy told me he was here. I could not wait to meet him. So, yesterday I met him and then today we played together more. I think we will become the best of friends, just like our mommies have.



The first time I saw Chase I said "How big a boy are you?" I weighed 7 lbs 4 oz at birth and Chase weighed 8 lbs 10 oz. Chase's grandma remembered to tell me, the bigger they are, the harder they fall. But mommy told me to remember I will always be one day older and one day wiser than Chase.



I can't wait to have more play dates with my new friend Chase.

He's Here, Finally!

Well, as the people of the old days said it. It's Done. Katherine delivered Dryver on Jan. 27, 2008. He was born at 2:42 am, weighed 7 lbs and 4 oz and was 20 in. long. Just take my word for it. The boy liked his mama and her belly. He did not want to come out.

Katherine started pushing at about 10 pm on the 26th. After pushing for about an hour the nurse noticed that he wasn't completely ready to deliver. The cervix still had a lip covering some of his head. So what happened after that was, well we'll just say it was tough. Katherine's meds were running out, so she spent the next hour to hour and a half in "VERY MUCH" pain. The anesthesiologist came in and gave more meds. She had to labor more to get Dryver ready. So that lasted until about 12:45. Then she started pushing again.

So when we got done with all of that, there was still a lot to go. They cleaned him up and then Katherine got to hold him. So that is the 2nd picture. We are SOOOOO happy. He is a good looking baby, with a lot of my features. We are pretty sure that Katherine is the mom, but you probably can't tell from Dryver's looks, yet.


This is the morning after. He is definitely already changed so much. He looks so cute. We are truly blessed. Thanks for all your prayers, and Dryver is looking forward to meeting all of you.

Now We Wait!

Hey guys,
This is Justin. Just wanted to update you all. We are at the stinkin HOSPITAL! Can you believe that? We aren't due until Jan. 31st.

But last night, at about 1:00 a.m. Katherine started feeling contractions. She wasn't so sure that it was a contraction, because it was all in her back. So she was up ALL last night and I did my best, but you know how it goes. I could only last a few minutes at a time.


So at about 10:30 we headed to tyler and got checked in. We had to register and then take a wheel chair ride up to the 4th floor. After about an hour and a half of checking and waiting they finally admitted us. They had to break her water at about 2. Then she had her epidural at about 3:15. And since then she has just been waiting. They started giving her patosin to speed it up, but we are just waiting.




So this is our family in various states at the hospital and waiting. We have had a lot of family and friends here and are very thankful for them.
Keep us in your thoughts and prayers, and as soon as there is more news, we will let you know.

Justin

39 week update!

Well, this week was a much better report than last week. He said I am now dialted 1-2. If it is my choice I will take the 2:) and 50% effaced. As we were leaving he said he was going to call labor and delivery to set me up for induction on February 6. So, in less than 2 weeks we will be parents to Dryver! Oh my goodness, I can't believe it is finally here. We are so ready to meet this little guy!
Saturday Justin got sick and was sick all day Sunday and Monday. He went to work Tuesday and then I was sent home from work Wednesday with the same thing. So I did not go today. We have both had severe head colds and fever. I think we are better now. Hopefully! We were so thankful to have that run through our house this week instead of when Dryver gets here.
Also, I feel that I am on a time schedule to have this baby and everyone is putting in there requests. Either they have work conflicts, social conflicts or want a specific day. I think I have come to the conclusion he will come when he comes. It is really not up to us. Although I am giving him pep talks daily:)
Thanks everyone for your advice and words of encouragment last week!
We will let you know when he gets here or how the appointment goes next Wednesday!

NOTHING!!!

Yes, that's right, NOTHING! We (Justin and I) went to the doctor yesterday. When we left I felt like we were given nothing but bad news. Of course Justin had other things to say.

First of all let me say I LOVE my doctor! Even though I did not like what he had to say yesterday. He basically told me I am going backwards in this birth process. He asked me if last week he had told me I was a 1. And of course I said YES! Then he said well, I guess you could say you are still a 1 but I think you are shrinking. HELLO!!! Not at all what I wanted to hear. I asked him if he believed in any of the wives tales I have been hearing: mexican food, sex, walking, Casteroil, the full moon...He said NO! The only thing he believes in is prayer, and patience. That is why I like him so much. He always reminds me that God is in control. I love that he is also a believer. He also said he wasn't sure if he was feeling his head. He could have possibly turned again. So, we will see next week if I have progressed and if Dryver is turned the right way.

When we left the doctor Justin said well, that was good news. My reaction to that was WHAT! He said Katherine, you and Dryver are both healthy. That is all that matters right now. What a wonderful husband! I am so blessed!!!

So now I am trying to make a list of the positives of Dryver coming late: (since that seems to be a BIG possiblilty)
1. I will not have to come back to teach as much at the end of school.
2. I could possibly be off when my niece, Addilyn, is born.
3. If he comes in February he will be the only person in my family with a February birthday.
4. If he comes in February he and his cousin Ryan, on Justin's side, will both have February birthdays.
5. Justin and I will have a little more time alone.
6. I can reorganize his room yet again:)

If you can think of other reasons please let me know. I am trying to stay positive in the fact that it may be longer than I thought before I meet my son! One thing I know for sure, my doctor will not let me go over a week late. So, we are garunteed to have a son by February 7. That is only 3 weeks away, I think I can handle it:)

Dryver's Ready!

Thursday I will officially be 37 weeks, meaning I will be considered full term! I am so excited!!! So, I went to the doctor today for my 37 week check up. I will now be going every week. I know I told some of you about the prospect of a c-section. Well, he is head down and ready to go. So, no more guessing. If all goes well I will have him naturally(with drugs). He had been breach but he has turned and is now in "ready position". Today was pretty eventful. I first had a sonogram. They are saying he is currently 5 lbs. 14 oz. And that everything looks great and right on schedule. Then I saw my doctor. I had the Group B Strep test today. Not "fun" but not too bad. Then he checked me. WOW!!! I was not prepared for that! But the good news is I am dilated to a 1. So, at least there is some progress. I go back next Wednesday afternoon and we are hoping for yet again a good report and more progress.
A little shout out to my mom. Thanks so much for going with me today. I have to admit I was a little nervous about the sonogram. They are always fun but I do get a little nervous. I guess Dryver's Gabby and Mom (wow, reality check) are the last ones to see him before he makes his grand entrance into the Cowart family. I can't wait!!!
Stay tuned...I will either write again on Wednesday after the appointment. OR if he arrives. We are hoping for the later:)

Belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Cowarts

This is the picture we intended to send out for Christmas cards this year. The more I thought about it, the more I thought I would just blog about the year. Some people love to read about other peoples year end review and some do not. I personally LOVE to. So for those of you like me here it goes.
As I think back to January 07 I am consumed with thoughts of hopelessness. I was on the breaking point thinking we were never going to have children of our own and ready to adopt. So, I definitely drew closer to God in my time of hurt and confusion. The days went on and turned into months. We celebrated my nephew and niece's birthdays and the whole time I was dying on the inside.
Then came mine and Justin's birthdays. By this time we had both been through several infertility treatments and 3 rounds of drugs. We had made an appointment with a infertility specialist and for the first time I felt hope. Oh, and I through Justin a surprise birthday party that was TONS of fun!
In May I had a Reunion Brunch at my house for the girls I graduated high school with. I love to host parties and this one was well worth it:) This year was mine and Justin's 5 year anniversary. Around that time we went to see the infertility specialist in Dallas. Little did we know at that time we were already pregnant with our little boy. For those of you wondering YES, God does have a sense of humor!!! We were prescribed a fridge full of shots to begin taking. As you can guess we never even opened the shots. It was Memorial Day weekend and the shots were about to expire so Justin pretty much made me take a pregnancy test. And as they say, the rest is history. We are now anxiously awaiting little Dryver Jordan Cowart!!!!
The picture is from our family vacation to Gulf Shores this past summer. We had a blast! We went with my parents and my sister and her family. When we got back Beth and I through my mom a GREAT surprise party for her birthday. She REALLY did not see it coming. We were very proud of ourselves.
During the summer I taught swimming lessons again and Justin worked football camps. It was a really good summer.
When school started back up we were straight in to football. After football season we went straight in to basketball season and that is where we are currently. Not Justin's favorite part of the year, to say the least. The fall semester flew by. I am hoping the spring will also. We have been blessed with several great showers and we have 3 more to go. I can't wait to get his room ready and bring him home. Not long now!
Oh, and my sister is also pregnant. She is due April 16 with a baby girl Addilyn. I can't wait to be an aunt again! I LOVE my niece Keatyn, she is blast!
Well, I guess that is all the major events of 07 in the Cowart famliy. It doesn't get more major than adding a baby to the family!!!
We will be sending out birth announcements so send me your address cowartsjk@hotmail.com.
Have a great 08!
Cowarts