The Haertling Family: Blogging for memories of our family and our baby girl Tyler Marie

First walk

happy valentine's day

First bath

First snow

First time to church

cheering on packers for super bowl

I have started this blog to help remember special memories of our family. Since having Tyler so many things happen on a day to day basis, so I hope this will be a special place to log those memories and to look back on them.
Tyler was born on Friday, January 28, 2011 at 4:27 A.M. at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in Des Peres, MO. She was 7 pounds 13 ounces and 21 inches. She was perfect and healthy! I went to school on January 27 (Thursday) and felt some cramping as the day went on, but didn't think much. During my lunch, I called Devin and told him I thought I had more cramping than normal, but didn't feel sick so I didn't think much because everyone told me I would feel sick. On my drive home from school, the cramping was getting stronger, but still didn't think much, I just thought maybe it was a start to her coming in the next few days. When I got home, Devin and I were sitting at the computer discussing where we wanted to have her newborn pics taken once she arrived. As we were sitting there, I kept saying the cramping was getting stronger. I called Amber and my mom asking what labor felt like and if this could be it. They said they never had cramps but everyone is different. Devin and I decided to go for a walk around the block. During our walk, cramps continued to the point where I would have to stop walking. Once we got back home, we decided not to cook and just put a pizza in. Kerry called to chat and while I was on the phone with her, I was out of breath and in pain. I was doubling over in pain by now, but it would come and go. Once gone, I felt fine, so I was like this can't be it. We ate pizza, but I had a hard time getting it down because of the pain, but forced myself because I knew once I got to the hospital, there would be no eating. Devin finally convinced me to call the exchange at the hospital to see what they thought about my pain. When I called I was so happy to find out that Dr. Rempe (my doctor) was taking the calls that night! Yea!!! I wanted her to deliver our baby so badly! While waiting for her to call me back, Devin needed to scan some documents for his paper work for the clinic. We got all of our bags in the car just in case and headed to his parents' house to scan the papers. While there, I sat on the steps in pain. Lindsay called me to tell me about her birthday that day and finally stopped and was like are you ok? I was breathing really hard I think, I hadn't told her that I thought I might be in labor. She was going crazy when I finally told her! Dr. Rempe called me back and said I sounded like I was in pain and to head to the hospital. Devin and I left straight from his parents, little did we know the next time we came back to our house it would be 3 of us, not just the 2 of us. On the way to the hospital, I was having contractions every 3-4 minutes and was in a lot of pain. We ran by the post office in Okawville to mail some papers for Devin and stopped in Fairview to get a water because I was so thirsty. Devin said every time I had a contraction he sped up a lil faster ha! Once at the hospital we checked in, and it seemed like I was feeling better and not as much pain. I was like Ugh! If this was false, I was going to be so embarrassed! However, we had only told our parents and no one else because we didn't know if it was the real thing. They took me to a room to check me and the pain increased again. However, I was only dilated to a 2. They called Dr. Rempe and decided I should walk the halls for an hour! What!?! I was in so much pain while walking...doubling over and wanting to fall to my knees. Devin was like "Dana get up, you can't lay down" ha! We were getting some stares, which we were on the neonatal floor so not sure why. I was so hot, so I decided I wanted to take off my shoes and socks, should've worn flip flops. Devin told me that was weird, but I told him I didn't care with as much pain as I was in and how hot I was. He rolled up my pants like capris too! HA! I finally decided to call my principal around 10:00 even though I didn't know for sure if I was staying, but since it was so late already, so he called my sub for me. Finally the nurse came and got me after about 45 minutes, because one of the other nurses told her "that girl is in pain, you can't leave her out there any longer!" They didn't even check me again, just said they were admitting me and were going to call anesthesia for the epidural. When getting the epidural, she had to do it twice and during the second time, I was having a contraction! I just kept telling myself to stay still. It hurt, but not as bad as my contractions. My contractions were cramps and burning on the tops of my legs! Like I had just run for days! I felt no pain after the epidural. The nurse kept asking me if I could feel my contractions, and I couldn't! I could feel pressure, which was good, because then I would know when I had to push. We called our family to tell them we were staying. My mom, Lindsay, Donna, and Braedon all came up. They got to talk to us, but we told them to go get some rest. Lindsay still had to go to school in the morning. I was moving along quickly. I was at a 7 after the epidural, but had to have 2 rounds of antibiotics before I could deliver so I had to wait to start pushing. At 2:30 A.M. I was at a 9, but couldn't push because antibiotics weren't through yet. Finally, I was able to start the process. It was so relaxed. A nurse was there with me and Devin. We pushed with just us and then she went to call Dr. Rempe. Once Dr. Rempe was there, I only pushed 30 minutes and Tyler was here! I cried when I heard her cry! It was the best thing in the world! When they handed her to me I immediately told Devin she looked just like him! Everyone else soon agreed! I finally was holding my perfect baby girl!

Our family was texting everyone and sending pics, all the responses were that she looked like Devin. I was so tired, but filled with so much joy! I was so thankful for such a healthy baby! Aunt Jessica and Uncle Michael soon arrived after taking the boys to the sitter. Later that day, Lindsay came back to the hospital after school and Grandpa Haertling and Grandpa Kania also came. Other visitors that came to the hospital were Great Aunt Joyce and Uncle Kurt, Riley, and Sam. Devin's classmates Ellen and Allison. Our friends Kerry and Josh, and Matt and Kristen. It was also so nice, the nurse who was with me when I arrived at the hospital came to see me! She was so sweet!

The first night, we had the nurse take Tyler to the nursery during the night and they brought her back to me when she needed to eat. On Saturday night, we decided to keep her in our room. Oh my! She did not want to sleep on her own. Devin and I took turns holding her, not much sleep for us! We even broke down and gave her a pacifier! On Sunday, we were so ready to go home! We finally were discharged around noon. Tyler slept the whole way home...I kept checking to make sure she was breathing because she didn't make a peep! Lindsay and my mom were at our house to video us coming home and they had cleaned for me too! Devin's grandparents came to visit on Sunday also.

Tyler pretty much slept and ate. She was eating every 2-3 hours. Devin was going to be home with us this whole week before starting work! I was so happy! On Monday, I went to get my hair colored for the first time since before I was pregnant, so Devin brought Tyler up to Mandi's so they could see her. Her first trip to the hair salon! We were supposed to be getting a major ice storm the next few days, so we geared up to stay at home. We were able to make it to Tyler's first pediatrician appointment before the storm on Tuesday morning. She weighed 7 lbs 10 oz. and everything looked great! Devin's mom was so worried we would lose power, so she bought us a generator. Sure enough, the ice came and we did lose power for 14 hours! We had the furnace, the fridge, the T.V. and the front living room lights hooked up to the generator. It was really creepy, you could hear limbs and trees falling all around outside. Many people around town had damage. We took a drive around town...Lindsay and Devin made me..I kept telling Tyler we were forced into it..ha! It looked like a war zone! LIndsay and my mom were off school most of the week, so they were able to be here quite a bit. It was so nice to have Lindsay make my bed everyday and clean up around the house. We were so blessed to have our families making us meals, that we didn't cook for the first two weeks!

Quite an eventful week for a newborn baby!

Our nights were going ok, she was eating every 2-3 hours still. On nights when I got no sleep, Devin would call his mom to come over in the morning to stay with Tyler so I could sleep. It was so nice!

On Friday, Devin and I took Tyler on her first shopping trip. We needed to go to St. Louis to buy me a pump. We went to Baby Gap and to Target and then came home. Tyler did really well!

Devin went to work on Monday and I was so sad! My mom took off with me that day, which was so nice! Our first week alone went pretty well. Tyler however did not want to sleep during the night. She seems to be up from about 8-midnight. The doctor said she is the boss and we are on her schedule. We had some rough screaming nights. A lot of rocking and walking around the house, standing in front of the vent fan on the microwave and even taking a drive during the night!

Tyler's 2 week appointment went good, my mom went with me. She weighed 9 lbs! She loves to eat and lets you know she's hungry too! We were scheduled to come back in 2 weeks for her one month visit.

We have been able to go on a few walks with Tyler here and there when a warm day sneaks in. She really seems to like to go on walks...which is great because I plan to do lots of walking with her!

On February 19, Tyler attended her first wedding. I was a bridesmaid in my friend Steph's wedding. Tyler loved it! She didn't make a peep the whole ceremony and loved the music at the reception. Grandma and Grandpa Haertling took her home around 7:30 to babysit for the rest of the night. Devin talked me into letting them keep her overnight, I cried and cried! I did not want to leave her, but he told me I needed sleep.

On February 20, Tyler was baptized. It was a beautiful service! The choir sang some beautiful songs! Tyler cried when she had the water poured on her, but settled down. She just wanted to let everyone know she was there. After the service we had a nice lunch at Devin's parents house with our families. What a blessing this little girl is!

This past week was quite eventful for myself. I broke out into a rash and developed mastitis. I got a steroid shot, but rash did not go away. I went on a steroid pack, but rash still spreading. Finally on Monday, I called my doctor and went in to see her. My mom took off and went with me. Tyler was such a trooper that day! They got me in to see a dermatologist and she thought I was having an allergic reaction to penicillin. She took a biopsy to send off to see for sure and prescribed me a different steroid and antibiotic. My rash and mastitis are getting better, however I still itch, so hopefully it goes away soon! I go back to see both doctors in 10 days.

Tyler experienced her 2nd storm Sunday night. The tornado sirens went off around 11:30 so Devin and I headed down to the basement for about an hour until it passed. Some areas around us had damage and lost power, but thankfully we did not!

Yesterday, Tuesday, March 1 Tyler had her 3rd trip to the pediatrician. Grandma Donna went with us. It's nice to have an extra set of hand and ears at the doctor. Tyler weighs 9lbs 10 oz. and is 22 in long. She is a growing girl and really starting to fill out! She doesn't even look the same, Ican't believe how fast time has gone and how quickly she has grown and changed. The doctor wants us to try to get her to sleep through the night. On Monday night, she ate around 11:30 and was awake until about 1:30. I rocked her in the recliner until about 4 A.M. but she still had not woken to eat. I put her down and she slept until around 6! Last night she went down around 10. She fussed around 2, but we just put the pacifier back in and she went back to sleep. She didn't wake up to eat until 6:45! Let's hope this continues! She is now eating about 3-4 ounces at each feeding. She is really starting to like the swing that Aunt Jessica is letting us borrow from the boys. Our girl loves to be cuddled and held. My mom said I wished this upon myself because I wanted a cuddly baby. that she is! In the middle of the night when I'm rocking her, I keep telling myself that someday she won't want me to hold her so I'm going to soak it all in now! Even though I'm like a zombie! ha!

Today, Tyler and I are just relaxing! She has been really good so far this morning! We always look forward to the time when Daddy gets home! Hopefully it gets warm enough today that we can take a walk to the post office! Exciting I know! I am loving being home with her each and every day! I know going back to work is not going to be easy!