The first week

Madilyn was officially 1 week old on Friday... what a week it has been!! She is doing great, and mommy and daddy are exhausted, but still in awe of our beautiful baby! At her appointment on Thursday, she was up to 7 lbs. 7 oz., so she had gained 6 oz. in 2 1/2 days! We won the baby/mommy feeding award! I certainly felt it though, you feel like you are constantly nursing, but it's all worth it when she gaining the right weight and growing so wonderfully. I just remind myself that it is short-lived and it's completely worth it. All I have to do is look at her sweet face, and I smile... she is so stinkin cute! :0)
We have a wonderful Sunday school class that is bringing us meals, and my parents have also been great. My mom has made my house cleaner than it's been, probably since we moved in! She is truly a blessing, I have not felt stressed out at all since I have gotten home. John and I feel truly blessed and taken care of. We are so thankful for the awesome people that are in our lives.
I don't have pictures to post at the moment, my mom has the card to print out pictures of the cutie pie, but I will post more soon!!!!

First Bath... and update!

Hey! It's us again... we are getting around to getting back onto the computer, sleep deprived and all. We had Madilyn's first doctor's appointment at her pediatrician, and she is doing WONDERFUL! She said that Madilyn looks wonderful, and has gained weight since going home already! We were very happy for such a great visit.
We also gave her her first bath! (Not an official one, she can't yet because her belly button still has the cord on it)... but we washed her up really good. She didn't particularly enjoy all of it, but it was still pretty cute! Here's some pictures for you!

Here is Madilyn is her little bathtub. I used a washcloth w/warm water so as not to get her too wet... it was a quick bath so she wouldn't get too cold :0)
Here we are washing her hair... I think she liked this part!
After the bath... not lovin' it I think!
Too cute not to post!

Here she is in the towel with a giraffe on it... we couldn't show the giraffe because then you couldn't see her face... lol!
So, that's if for now, we are doing great, and taking naps when we can... she's a night owl! We'll try to keep putting pictures up periodically, so you can see her changing.

Madilyn's life day 3

Thank you for checking in! It's me, Grama Pam again. I thought I'd post a couple of "day 3" pictures.

The Cain's--family of 3, are doing great! Little Madilyn lost a few ounces, ( at 7 lbs 6 oz) but after a good check up, the doctors have decided she is fine. Becky is learning the "tricks of the trade" in regards to feeding little Madilyn and she is getting cuter every day! (Did you have any doubts that her Grama would think anything less?)

John and Becky are thinking smart, and have had Madilyn go to the newborn nursery between feedings at night. Good thinking, since there is no newborn nursery with a nursing staff at home! However....there will be Grama Pam, and she will be excitedly ready for "night duty"!

Becky is doing remarkably well after surgery, but still needing to take the pain medicines. I know she will follow doctors orders!

Keep John, Becky, and little Madilyn in your prayers!

---Grama Pam

New baby Madilyn and pround Parents

This is Becky's mom, Grama Pam! I am writing to update everyone on Madilyn's birth! Daddy and Mommy are unable to get internet service at the hospital, so I said I would help out and get some info out about Madilyn Belle Cain's birthday!
Here are the statistics:

Madilyn Belle Cain was born on April 17th at 7:44am

She was born at Baptist Hospital in Columbia, SC

She weighed 7 lbs 12 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long

She has a FULL head of dark hair

She has her daddy's chin and nose, and her mommy's mouth and hair.

Day one was tiring and emotional for all! Madilyn's birth went perfectly, as Dr. Johnson is an excellent doctor, (she is the one in the first picture) and the c-section went as planned. Daddy John was not allowed to cut the cord, as he would have been able to if it were not a c-section. He did get to show off his daughter to Grama Pam, Grampa Dave, and friend Michelle just after her birth! He even got to film and witness her first bath. He comforted her during her first traumatic moments after birth!

It's funny, Becky hardly had any Braxton-Hicks contractions, and at her Wednesday appt., wasn't even remotely dilated. Then, the night before her c-section, she starts having contractions at 2:45am and by the time the c-section was performed, the contractions were 3 minutes apart! I think Madilyn wanted to be born on her due date!

Becky will be in the hosptial until Monday around noon time. John is taking Monday and Tuesday off of work. Grama Pam is available to be "special assistant"! Once Becky gets home and settled, she would welcome your visits, but she would appreciate a phone call first.

John and Becky want you all to know that they have appreciated all of the prayers and special thoughts of love that have been made on their behalf! Madilyn is beautiful and they can't stop smiling! (especially John---he didn't have a c-section!)

Night one went well, as they let the nursery keep her between feedings. John has stayed at the hospital with his "girls" in a special chair that makes into a "make-shift" bed. They actually have a nice sized room at the hospital.

Tomorrow we hope to get a nice picture of the two cousins together! Little Preston didn't know what to think of her on Friday! Uncle Ryan, Auntie Julie and cousin Preston came down on Friday afternoon to celebrate Madilyn's birth. Uncle Mark came to the hospital too and even held her!

I am sure that John and Becky will be back to posting for themselves next week sometime.

Thank you for caring! ---Grama Pam

Easter Sunday, and the latest news!

HAPPY EASTER!!! (A couple days later)
Here is a picture of us at our lovely table with our Easter dinner. Me, being 39 weeks pregnant, and John getting excited! My parents came over with wonderful food, and helped us prepare!
Here's our beautifully set table
Us, with the yummy food!!! We used our wedding china for the first time... how hilarious is that?! We have been married for 2 1/2 years, and never touched it! It was fun to pull it out!

So, for the NEWS!!!
We had our "40 week" appointment today (Wednesday) and found out that our sweet little girl is breech! She is tushie first, and probably why her mommy wasn't dilating at all! So, due to the face that I am uncomfortable with the risks of manually turning the baby, and the low percentage of success, we opted for the scheduled c-section! So, Madilyn will be born around 7:30am on Friday, April 17th, her due date. We are thrilled! I am still in shock that I will be having a c-section, but I think it's going to go well. I am glad that they found out via ultrasound, since this whole time my doctor thought that she was head first. I didn't want to have an emergency c-section!! Please keep us in your prayers on Friday morning, as our beautiful baby is going to be born. As per the ultrasound, she is approximately 7 lbs and 13 oz, and has lots of hair! They said something about her being in the 74th percentile. Not sure what that means, but the ultrasound tech said it was good.
We will be at Palmetto Baptist Hospital, and they said the stay is around 3 days (I think)... I wasn't listening very closely, I was kinda in shock. We'd love to have visitors, just call first. :0)
I'll give any more updates if we have any, otherwise... look for pictures in about 2-3 days!!!!

Pictures!!

So, we are finishing things up before our little bundle of joy arrives, and we are very proud, and had to share some pictures!!!
First of all, last summer we bought a table from some family friends for $25.00. Since then John has been learning how to do wood work, etc. It was light wood, with tile on the top and white paint. (Not exactly our style in our home). John has done an amazing job, with a little help from the family, completely re-doing the whole table set, and it looks amazing!!!
We also have pictures of our recliner! I put the blanket over it that my aunt made for Madilyn because it goes with the room so perfectly.
So, here ya go!!!!


Other than that, I am currently at 39 weeks and 2 days... due this coming Friday. Not sure if Madilyn will feel like making an appearance on her own or not yet. No contractions (at least none that I feel) lately, so we are just truckin' along, and she's just doing her thing growing!! :0) I am not planning on going much of anywhere in the next few days. I pretty much feel like being at home where I am comfortable and people know where I am. I am still doing well though!
Happy Easter everyone! The Lord sure has blessed us, and it's wonderful to be able to be pregnant on Easter and celebrate the miracle of His resurrection, and see the amazing things that He has done for us.

38 weeks, 5 days (39 wk appointment)

So.... no progress as of yet... :0)
Madilyn is still holding on, and staying comfy! Man, that girl will probably be a cuddler! She certainly is liking it in there! There is no dilation at all, same effacement, and she's in the same position. She's still head down, heart rate is perfect, and I am good as far as weight gain, and blood pressure is perfect. As glad as I am that everything is so "normal" and "perfect", I was hoping for progress!! Ha! It's ok though, all in God's timing. We don't want her coming out too soon. Our next appointment is on April 15th, 2 days before our due date. We will have an ultrasound to see how Madilyn is doing, how the placenta, amniotic fluid, etc. is doing. If ANYTHING is not where it should be, I will be induced then. If everything is going great, they will schedule an induction for my 41 week mark, and hope I go into labor on my own before then. I am hoping that I will go into labor, or at least dilate, because to be induced with a cervix that is at 0 cm is almost always looking for a c-section, so we will pray for a different turn out! What would be really a blessing, is to go into labor on my own before the 14th!! I am getting my walking shoes out!
The good thing, is that I am finally getting great sleep. It really helps with my whole outlook, and I know it will help me when it comes time to push my sweet little girl into this world. I cannot wait to meet her! John and I get more and more excited every day! All I know, is that within 15 days OR LESS we will be holding Madilyn.... that is so amazing!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyways, just wanted to update on the baby, and the mommy!
I'll post again with some pictures of our recliner later.

Recliner!!!

I will have to post a picture of our recliner later, but I am telling you... I love our new recliner! John's dad, Paul, bought it for us so I could use it with feeding Madilyn, and then it would be able to easily make a transition into our living room later on when she gets bigger. I am telling you though, anyone who is past about 35 weeks pregnant and having trouble sleeping... if you have a recliner, try sleeping in it! I have had so much trouble sleeping, I was getting MAYBE 4 hours of sleep a night and waking up every hour to hour and a half. Last night I was fed up and decided I was going to try out the recliner, it just looked so comfy. I thought maybe sleeping slightly inclined would help keep me comfy and with my breathing due to allergies... I slept over 7 hours!!! I only woke up 2x during the night... Paul, thank you! It's working already for me and Madilyn isn't even here!!! :0)
Anyways, my appointment is tomorrow, but I just had to write about our recliner because I was so relieved this morning when I woke up and realized how much sleep I had gotten. It's awesome!

OFFICIALLY 38 weeks

So, today I am officially 38 weeks, and I feel like Madilyn is hanging out so low down that I cannot walk. I took a walk on Wednesday night for about 20 minutes so see if I could get anything started (and no, I didn't), and came into work on Thursday hardly being able to walk, having to hold onto the counter, and basically stay sitting down all day. It's crazy how a little person inside of you can affect so much! Today is much better, I can walk with almost no trouble, but my feet are like little blown up life rafts... ha! I am hoping it's just the humidity of SC causing it, I will think positively and go with that.
My next appointment is on Wednesday the 8th, and after that I am going with my mom to treat myself to a pedicure! Hopefully I won't go into labor before then... it will be a lot easier to get a pedicure before Madilyn arrives. :0) Please be praying that at my next appointment there will be some progress for the weary mother to hear about!! The lost sleep and being uncomfortable feeling is getting me ready for motherhood I know, but I do need some encouraging words coming out of my doctors mouth... that MAYBE I will go into labor on my due date... We will see!! I will make sure to post an update.