Christmas Day

The first photo is of Dru Christmas morning. She was content to sleep in. She isn't impressed by Santa yet, maybe in a few years. The second photo is of us at my parent's house before the gift opening. She basically slept all day as you can see. Yes, Dru is in the same outfit...blame Mama Julie :) The third photo is of Dru's cousin Reed Christmas night at the Bloom's house.

Christmas Eve 2007

Christmas Eve we went to Julie's parent's house for food, drink and gifts. Julie's nephews (Jake 13, Zach 11, Nick 6) sat for a picture with their new cousin. They have 13 cousins on their mom, Vicki's, side so babies aren't exactly a novelty for them. Though they still enjoy her since she is the only one during gatherings of the Robole side. Dru needed to eat both during the appetizers and then again during dinner so I quickly learned who is in charge!

Quick trip outside

We went out again to take a picture with the beautiful snow that had fallen earlier in the day December 15th. It was too difficult to take a picture of her while holding her to get a good one of her and the scenery. So I opted for just her, of course.

Another cute photo

This was taken while my sister was holding her, I think she was the Christmas cookie making distraction this day if I remember right. Not many cookies got made that day :)

Smiles!!!

At 4 weeks exactly she began to smile socially! I actually was able to capture this event! It really is rewarding. She is even better at it now and smiles more frequently. She continues to be a good baby.

Santa 2007

So Dru wasn't scared of Santa this year, she slept through the whole experience. I'm sure next year will be a different situation. Reed on the other hand didn't do so well but it was great entertainment for us!! We attended the Mesaba Airlines Holiday party at the Mall of America. Santa clearly took time out from preparing for Christmas to meet the children. Wow!

Happy Holdiays everyone!

Heidi

 

Few milestones & firsts

These last few weeks have been interesting and are going way too fast! She lost her umbilical cord at 14 days, she saw Santa, rode in an elevator and her moms became the dreaded stroller pushers (and clearly there is a learning curve!).

Dru is still amazing. I will be taking her in again for a weight check on Thursday. I hope she is gaining enough weight so the doctor won't force us to use formula earlier than we are ready to. I can't believe Christmas is only 2 weeks away...I am not even close to being ready. Yikes!

Here some more pics of our princess and her cousin Reed.

First Snowstorm of 2007

Dru went out during our first snowstorm of the season. We didn't go far, just out our front steps. Our friend Desi was visiting and captured this event for us. Dru didn't care too much for the 15 degree chill and the snow in her face. Gotta love MN...though it is pretty.

Sweet Pea's First Thanksgiving

Dru turned one week old on Thanksgiving! We went to my parent's house for the first time as a family. Oh how our lives have changed. We weren't sure how my mom was going to be able to cook and hold Dru at the same time but luckily she was pretty close to done preparing the meal when we arrived. I think she planned it that way.

We want to thank my aunt LeAnn for the wonderful meals she provided us last week. They were delicious as well as greatly appreciated. Having a newborn surely doesn't leave much time for cooking (not that I do any of that normally).

The first pic is of my sister, Heather, holding her niece on Thanksgiving. The next two are also from Thanksgiving and the last one is from yesterday.

We hope you all had a wonderful holiday and got great deals on Black Friday. Dru and I missed out on the shopping rush this year but maybe we'll try it next year.

Today was my first trip out without Dru. I didn't realize how difficult a quick run to Walmart would be. I realized while driving that I hadn't been without her since February. What a strange emotion. Just a few tears...ok so more than a few :) I hope I can hold it together for dinner on Thursday.

Heidi

Dru's First Outing

Today was Dru's first well child doctor appointment. It went smoothly and she did really well. The doctor felt she was healthy and doing well. Now that she will have milk hopefully she will gain some weight. Here are pics taken just before we left for the appointment.

What A Blessing!

Baby Dru came home on Saturday afternoon and has been a wonderful gift. She is a healthy little peanut. I am feeling better each day and still seem to be running on adrenaline. I'm sure that will wear off soon and I will be in more of a daze than I already am. I love my sleep and for those of you who warned us, you didn't lie, you don't get much.

I can't believe she is really ours! Here are some pics from the last 5 days.

Pictures in order

1) Dru's first bath

2) Dru's hospital photo shoot

3) Dru's aunt Heather and cousin Reed

4) The ride home from the hospital

5) Sleeping angel

Please Welcome: Dru Lizann Robole

Dru has already found her thumb.

Happy Birthday Dru!

Heidi brought little Dru into the world on November 15, 2007.
Time: 7:43 pm
Weight: 7 pounds 13 ounces
Lenghth: 20 inches

Dru is a very healthy and content baby. She hardly made a sound last night. Although the girl can eat. She could be the most beautiful baby ever born.

Heidi is doing well and did a great job yesterday. She made it look easy. Julie is also doing well and ready for the challenge of being a parent.

Congratulations on the new addition to the Robole Family!!

*Middle name comes from Heidi's great-grandma Liza and Julie's grandma Ann.

2 days 'til induction...

Well, here I am 4 days past my due date...

It is really setting in that I will most likely be induced Thursday morning. Of course Sweet Pea is being stubborn already! I am bummed about the induction which can lead to a C-section which I also don't want. I know I am supposed to be flexible but the waiting is quite frustrating.

Sunday Julie checked online for what was suggested to get labor started. Needless to say she found quite an array of things so we tried a few. We went for a long walk, I took a warm bath, I ate chocolate for the caffeine, she gave me a foot massage, we did jumping jacks and I have been bouncing on the exercise ball. Today I ate fresh pineapple. Nothing worked, clearly.

We went to have a bio-physical profile (brief ultrasound) yesterday. This was to check to see if Sweet Pea is doing ok. The sonographer checked fluid level, fetal "breathing" (motion of breathing), fetal movement, and heart rate. Each scores 2 points and all was well for a total of 8 points. If all wasn't well we would have begun the induction yesterday.

We did get a few face pictures. The head is down so they aren't as clear as 20 weeks ago :) The first one is a profile and the second is of the face. Like I said not as easy to identify.

Sorry for those whose birth pool dates have come and gone, better luck next time!

Heidi

Fully Cooked!!

Well, the day has finally come! Sweet Pea is finally done! As of tomorrow, I will be 40 weeks pregnant!

I had a doctors appointment today and there is no plan to induce until next Thursday. So keep an eye on those birth pools!

Keep your fingers crossed that the next post will be pictures of the baby!

Heidi

One more week (I hope)

I am tired and uncomfortable just in case you are wondering :)

So here are the pics many of you have been requesting...

Obviously 2 are of the nursery, one is the big version of me and the other is a poem from the favor given out at the shower hosted by my sister and mom.

I went to the doctor today and nothing too exciting. Everything is going fine, a little progress but no sense of when the baby will be joining us. I am still working and will continue until I am no longer able.

Hope everyone had a great Halloween!
Heidi

36 Weeks

It's been a month since my last post. Sorry about that...

On Saturday September 22nd, my previous co-workers at Medtronic threw a shower for me. It was very nice and was great to catch up with them. We got really adorable things!! Thanks Chris and Jara!

On Friday September 28th Julie's co-worker's also hosted a shower for us. Friends from various chapters of Julie's 15 plus years in the airline business were there. We are grateful for everything they have done for us. Thanks to Kristin, Maria, Jenny and Jeni!

On Saturday September 29th my sister and mom threw us another shower. This was for our friends and Julie's family. It was wonderful to see friends and family that we see on rare occasions. We again received lots of great things! Thanks Heather and Mom!

Sadly on October 3rd the mother of my good friend Desi passed away from lung cancer. It was a short but intense battle and she will be greatly missed.

The weekend of October 6th Julie and I spent the weekend in Menomonie, WI with her immediate and extended family. This is an annual event in memory of Julie's grandmother. We had a really good time catching up with everyone.

On Satureday October 13th my current co-workers at St. Paul Heart Clinic threw us our 5th and final shower. I guess I didn't have much faith in human nature but they have all been so wonderful it sometimes surprises me. Of course we received more adorable and useful items. I can honestly say if Sweet Pea arrives today we should be all set.

Julie is in Florida this week with her parents, brother, sister-in-law and 3 nephews. They are enjoying Disneyworld. They have been to Universal Studios, Sea World, and Magic Kingdom so far. Epcot is planned for tomorrow. You ask, why didn't you go? Well, I am now too far along to fly anywhere and would surely not have had enough energy to keep up with everyone. I instead am working and dog sitting.

Sydney, the dog, has been a challenge. We had and still have some adjusting to do. After pooping on the carpet twice then chewing through the cable cord, she is lucky to not be thoroughly harmed. My patience is just a smidge on the low side. Good thing she is cute. I have been lucky to have volunteers to walk her. As a puppy she has way too much energy for me!!

I checked on Sweet Pea today so here is a pic of a foot. Only 3 1/2 more weeks left until life will never be the same. Overwhelmed, of course.

I hope everyone has a safe and scary Halloween. Heidi

Family Baby Shower

On August 31st Julie and I had our first shower. This was for the most part my side of the family. It was hosted by my aunt Yvonne (my mom's sister) and her two daughters, Amy and Jen. The evening was perfect which also included dinner! We played some not so painful games and of course opened gifts. The hosts made a shower "cake" made of diapers and then decorated with baby items. I will put a picture of it on here later since it was gender specific. But take my word for it, totally adorable!!

Julie and I want to thank Yvonne, Amy and Jen for hosting the shower for us and everyone for coming to celebrate our little Sweet Pea!

We have a few more showers in the next few weeks. This Saturday the 22nd my friends from Medtronic will be having one, then the women from Mesaba Airlines (Julie's work) will be hosting one on Friday the 28th, my sister is hosting one for my friends and Julie's family on Saturday the 29th and then my new coworkers are having one in October. It is overwhelming the support we have gotten and we again want thank all of our friends and family.

Heidi

Ultrasound Pic

Here is a pic of Sweet Pea. I labeled the pic so I hope that helps. The eyes would be at the top but they are hidden in the darkness. Good images are getting harder to get as the head is now typically down. The mouth is slightly open. This is also a view that proves there is not a cleft lip.

Not too much to share

My trip to Chicago with my friend Desi went well. Lots-o-time in the car in such a short time! We saw the Chicago Bandits, a professional women's softball team, get beat by the Washington Glory. We ate some really good food as well!

My sister, mom, Julie and I went to the fair this past Thursday, opening day. It was a bit rainy but we were able to stay out of most of it. Where was my dad you ask!? Well he was supposed to join us but decided to not call in sick...must be where my sister got the rule following gene. We were there for almost 12 hours. I was exhausted!!!

Today my sister, nephew, mom and I went to the Como Zoo in St. Paul to take pictures for the baby's room. Had some luck but nothing spectacular. Here is a pic of my nephew, Reed. Isn't he precious! He will be two November 7th. Just two days before my due date...

I can't believe Labor Day is just around the corner. Have a safe and relaxing holiday! Heidi

Don't laugh too hard!

So this was taken a few days ago. Enjoy! I will be going to Chicago this weekend with my friend Desi, for one of the last times I will be traveling without babe in arms. It will never be easier to travel that is for sure.

Have a great weekend!
Heidi

15 weeks to go!!!

I hope you all are well, since we here in Minneapolis are lucky to be alive. I'm sure you've all seen the news about the 35W bridge collapse.

Julie has had some trouble with a spider bite which has caused her eye to become swollen shut. It has been so for nearly a week now. Her doctor said there was a possibility of hospitalization but luckily it has improved so that wasn't necessary. She has been out of work all week and will be until next week. Another positive thing is that her eye wasn't shut when she drove us from Phoenix to Las Vegas last Friday night...

I am feeling quite well, just a bit tired. I can feel the baby kick and move quite a bit now. I am growing and growing and growing. I will soon put a pic of me on here so you can get a good chuckle.

Julie and I went on a dinner cruise with a group from my work July 13th, this picture is before we set sail on the river. It was a beautiful night and the food was quite good. It was nice getting to know my fellow sonographers and their significant others.

With the benefit of having ultrasound at my fingertips I as able to capture a profile picture this week. The baby is facing "up" with the top of its head to the right.

Hugs!

Moving right along

So I haven't done so well on posting. Good thing I didn't send out the link yet.

Julie and I went down to Texas at the end of June for my 20 week ultrasound. I know most have thought it was crazy but it made me feel confident in the results. The baby, currently called Sweet Pea, is healthy and normal according to the ultrasound and blood work I have had done so far.

We were able to visit with Amy, my cousin I lived with while in TX, and she helped us with her expertise in child development. We went to Babies R Us and made a list of what we should need. Julie was also able to meet some of the friends I made and the hospital where I worked.

I finally announced our good news at work and was pleased with the excitement and support I have received. I am relieved and grateful. I work with a great group of 15 women and 1 man (our supervisor).

I am now in my 23rd week. It sure seems like it's been an eternity since we got the positive pregnancy test. We are anxious and nervous about this next chapter.

I finally caved...

I have finally been convinced to start a blog. I will do my best to keep it updated.

We definitely have lots of changes going on in our house. Many, if not all, of you know now that we are pregnant. I am due on November 9th. It has been requested by a certain individual , my father, that the sex of the baby not be known so I will not be posting it here (when we find out that is). You will have to ask for that info directly from me and be sure not to divulge that info around him.

I have started to feel the baby move now and it is quite strange. It is almost like the baby is wanting something and trying to get my attention. I am past the nausea and now am mostly exhausted. Julie isn't quite so pleased that I'm ready for bed by 8pm.

Julie and I will be going to Texas at the end of June to get the official ultrasound. I wanted to have it done at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas where I did my clinical training. We will then find out if our little one is healthy, though we won't know 100% for sure until it arrives. We will at least rule out the majority of abnormalities.

Another important change it my change of careers. I am now working at St. Paul Heart Clinic. I have made the jump from animals to humans. Let me tell you, what a difference! It is hard to be back at the bottom of the todem pole. Changing jobs is always stressful so I anticipate it can only get better.

Here is a semi recent ultrasound pic of the baby. I will try to get more soon.

-Heidi