Welcome, Killian Markus Karlichek!

My son Killian is now almost 7 weeks old - wow! That escalated quickly. So, since I'm heading back to work in a week and a half, I should probably share about his birth. :) I had a doctor's appointment Wednesday July 9, and my blood pressure had been rising a bit for a few weeks, so I was sent to the hospital for non-stress testing. I passed the tests, but was advised to stop working and take it easy. I worked from home Thursday and Friday to finish out the week, and when I went to my follow-up appointment on Friday July 11 in the late afternoon, I was sent to the hospital to be induced. My blood pressure was still up, and I had several symptoms that were warnings for the doctors (blurred/glittered vision, headaches, hot/cold flashes, lots of general pain and discomfort). I was admitted to the Harris Birthing Center at Huron Valley Sinai Hospital in Commerce, MI around 5pm on Friday July 11, and was induced using Cervidil to ripen my cervix and Pitocin to induce labor. I wasn't dilating much - went from 1 cm to 2 cm between 4pm Friday July 11 and around 3pm Saturday July 12), but once I started dilating, things happened quickly! I went from 2 cm to 9 cm in under 2 hours, and after only 45 minutes of pushing (using some pointers about breathing and engaging your ab muscles from this Oh Baby! Fitness video), our son was born!

Killian Markus Karlichek

Born 7/12/14 at 6:02pm (his father's birthday)

8 pounds 1 ounce

20.75 inches long

My team during labor and delivery: 

My mom Marybeth, my husband Mark, and two of my best friends, 

Rachel Hachigian and Lauren Westerby

Admitted to the Harris Birthing Center and ready to meet our son!

Big belly

He's here! He came out and they put him on my chest, and once I wrapped my arms around him, he calmed down immediately and snuggled up to his mommy.

Grandma holding Killian's hand right after he was born

Mark didn't want to leave my side while they were cleaning him up, but once they were done, he went over and held his son's hand for the first time.

Beautiful baby boy!

Back in Mommy's arms after being cleaned up :)

Proud parents!

Happy family!

Killian Markus Karlichek

A little tired, but so, so happy. 

Sweet pea

Daddy & Killian

Now that we've eaten, we're feeling much more awake!

Little punkin butt

We were both so calm when he was in my arms.

Tuckered out!

Swaddled up to hang out with Daddy.

Made it through the first night!

Our visitors: 

Grandma Sims (my mom)

Grandma Karlichek (Mark's mom)

Grandmas! 

Stephanie

Miranda

Rachel

Maddy

Also Gary & Pat Hachigian, Lauren, Kevin, Jeff & Spencer Lederhouse, and Grandpa Karlichek! Bummed I missed out on some photos with these folks.

Ready to go home!

Batman onesie (with cape) from Rachel, Puma Ferrari shoes, and hat made with love by Mommy

Our nurse was so sweet and she took these photos for us.

In the car! He is wrapped in the blanket I came home from the hospital in. :)

Home safe & sound, napping in his crib while Daddy adores him.

I have hundreds of photos, so stay tuned for more cuteness.

Emily

Catching Up!

Well, my goodness, it has been a while! To be fair, I've had a crazy spring and summer. To summarize my life since my last post...

January - started my new job as a Relay For Life Specialist with the American Cancer Society, announced to our friends and employers we were expecting a baby! :) It was a very cold, very snowy winter!!

 

Our FB announcement about expecting!

February - Work really ramped up as Relay season started, so mostly I just worked my butt off trying to learn as much as possible, get to know my committees and plan my events! Mark and I had a Valentine's Day dinner at home (deep dish Chicago style pizza!) and he bought me a new charm for my Pandora

March - Found out we were expecting a baby BOY! Celebrated my 27th birthday in Holland with my family and watched my Uncle Chris run a 5k

FB gender reveal

April - Went to a family Tigers game ("our" Opening Day!), attended my cousin Katie's bridal shower at Boatwerks restaurant in Holland, saw the play "Love is Strange" at the Magenta Giraffe theater company in Detroit with my best friend Lauren

May - Attended my bridal shower with Mark's side of the family and friends at my in-laws' home in West Bloomfield, got to visit my puddin' pie Elena and her baby sister Alex for an afternoon, spent a day in Holland visiting my cousin Maddy and husband's best friend Jake who was up from Minnesota, attended a car show in Milford with my husband, and ran all 3 of my Relay For Life events!

Milford F Body car show

June - Was a bridesmaid to my cousin Katie and her new husband Kenny in Holland, had a "girls weekend" with two of my best friends Lauren and Stephanie in Holland and attended my bridal shower with my side of the family and friends *and* a second shower with my mom's team of women she works and worships with, celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary, and Mark & I saw Eddie Izzard in his Force Majeure tour at the Opera House in Detroit with my best friend Lauren and her boyfriend Kevin!

That's me on the far right - not bad height for 8 months pregnant!

Orchids from Mark for our anniversary :)

Wedding day and our joy almost 1 year later!

July - Welcomed our son Killian Markus Karlichek on July 12th, his daddy's birthday!

Brand new family!

Leaving the hospital :)

Welp, that brings us up to speed! I'll of course post separately about Killian's birth :)

Emily