How Gentry Got Here

This is Gentry's LONG birth story!  It's proof that even when you have plans God's plans are bigger!  I couldn't have imagined this would be how my daughter would come into the world but I wouldn't change a second of it!  God is Good.  Here is our story:




Saturday night Carl and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary in the metropolis of Lufkin, Texas!  We went to see MIB 3 and then went to dinner at Del Rio!  Exciting I know!  Just as the movie was starting our friends Dan and Bevin Jackson called.  They were in a panic because they were staying in a Nacogdoches hotel that night and they found out Ruby, their dog, couldn't be in the hotel room with them.  Ruby is a cool dog so we let her stay with us that night.  Bevin, Dan and their 10 week old Olivia came over for a visit after we got back from dinner.  Dan schooled Carl on what to do in the delivery room and I got to hold sweet, beautiful Olivia!  After they left we got ready for bed and I put Ruby in her kennel!


Sunday morning at 7:30, after battling wicked pregnancy heartburn all night, I got up to let Ruby outside.  I bent over to let her out of her kennel and my water broke.  I knew immediately that my water broke but I didn't want to be the girl that thought her water broke and it was really just pee  pants.  I went to the bathroom and when I stood up another gush.  WEIRDEST.  FEELING.  EVER.  I stood at the door of our bedroom and told Carl.  He jumped out of bed.  I called my mom and told her that I was pretty sure my water broke and that I would call her from the hospital to let her know we were for sure having a baby today.  Today.  HAH!  I took a little time to have one more pregnancy vomit for good measure. Carl took a shower.  I took a shower.  Carl washed dishes and took out the trash while I finished getting things together.  No contractions.


We walked into the ER by 8:30.  They brought us up to Labor and Delivery.  We were the only ones!  They had me change into a gown and checked to see that indeed my water broke not that you couldn't just look at my pants.  Nothing can hold all that!  Once we were checked in we called our parents, my brother, and various others to let them know that today was baby day!  TODAY!  HAH!


And then we waited.  And waited.


No contractions.  They gave me something to thin my cervix and that is when things got started.  By 10AM I started having regular contractions.  By lunchtime my family arrived.  All at the same time even though they left hours apart!  Pastor Josh, Cullen, Bevin and Dan all came by to say hi.  We waited.  I was at a 5 for SEVERAL HOURS!


Pitocen was started.  That is when the contractions reached misery.  Carl was wonderful.  I birthed on a birthing ball and Carl was a great coach.  Listening to what I needed and was just there.  I told myself if I was still at a 5 for the 4th time I was going to break down and get the epidural.  So I got an epidural at 5:00.  That was amazing.  I didn't realize how much I hurt until I got the epidural! Kelly came directly from Houston.  After that most people left to eat dinner and I dozed.  While dozing I noticed my contractions were not as strong.  Sure enough....I was still a 5.  At this point in the evening 3 other girls had come in and 2 of them had their babies already.  Dr. Kyle McMorries (I had his son at school this year) came in to check on me after delivering the other baby.  He said my contractions were not helping me progress and I showed him how Gentry was not dropping.  In fact she was going more into my ribs with every contraction!  He said because my water broke so long ago and now I was getting a fever which is a sign of infection, we would have to move quickly if I didn't want a C-Section.  Finally at 1 AM I was at a 7!  Evan and Dad went back to the house at midnight.  Lisa and Rachel went to the hotel at 1.  Mom and Kelly tried to stay awake and Carl dozed on the couch in the room.  Well, he more than dozed.  He was sawing logs.  At 2AM I was at an 8!  At some point a nurse came in and told me that Dr. McMorries wanted to go ahead and try pushing.  I was starting to get super nauseated.  At 4AM I puked my guts out (Not that I had eaten anything but a Popsicle in over 24 hrs!)  and in walked Dr. McMorries ready for me to push.  It was 4:15 when I started to push at 8 CM dilated.  Dr. McMorries was fabulous and he made sure I got to a 10!  Then out came the forceps and he pulled Gentry from my ribs to her exit hatch!  A couple of rounds of pushing and out popped Gentry at 4:41 AM!  

She didn't cry.  She was suctioned out by Dr. McMorries and he put her on my stomach all blue and whimpering.  We rubbed on her to get her going.  Finally the nurse took her to get her to breath.  She was pretty cute even in a blue state!  I told Carl to go with the baby and he gladly obliged!  I started to lose too much blood and I felt like it!  I had a special shot to stop the bleeding and Dr. McMorries continued his work.  All the while I am shaking and watching my baby be passed from Carl, to my Mom and Kelly.  They all looked up in time to see my face go white.  The shot worked!  I didn't even pass out but they still let us recover for a little longer since I had lost so much blood.  The saddest part was I couldn't hold my baby because I couldn't even lift my arms!  I finally held her for a bit and they came to take her to the nursery and me to my room!  We were in our room just before the 24 hr mark of my water breaking.  Delivery was a wild ride!  

Dr. McMorries did an AMAZING JOB!  I am so glad I didn't have a C Section and I know that would have been the easy way for him to do things.  He let me keep my wishes!  Gentry is so perfect for our family and I wouldn't have her enter the world any other way....even if it wasn't my original birth plan!  

1 week until June 1st

We are a week away from the big due date!  I can't believe it!  I never thought the day would come and now we are staring at it!  

The last 20 weeks since I've updated have been pretty wonderful.  Sure I still occasionally throw up but in general I am pretty comfortable.  My biggest complaints are big feet and heartburn.  I am still pretty amazed at what is going on inside of my body.  Every jab and turn is pretty amazing.  She is a pretty chill kid.  In fact I've only really felt her moving a lot in the last few weeks.  My Dr. says that's an indication of the type of personality Gentry will be.  I am totally OK with having a laid back kiddo and I am hoping he is right!  


I went to the Dr. today and he said everything looks great.  Gentry is rocking along with a heart rate of 154.  My blood pressure is great.  I have gained about 8lbs for the whole pregnancy and he said most of that is fluid in my legs.  I have been 80% effaced for 3 weeks at least but my cervix hasn't dilated at all.  He did say she is defiantly head down but hasn't dropped at all!  The plan is just to wait until she is ready.  He won't let me go past 41 weeks so it looks like at the latest she will be here in 2 weeks.  I am just praying it's naturally!


Tonight I went on a walk.  I am currently drinking raspberry leaf tea in hopes to coax G out before the Dr. makes her leave!  


In other baby related news, I have not posted any pictures of her nursery because it's not done. I want to wait until it's complete!  My mom did a fabulous job making her crib blanket, bumpers, a diaper holder, a crib organizer and plenty other awesome things like owl taggies and flannel wipes.  I just ordered the art for her room and it's being shipped as we speak!  I am also in the process of making pom poms for her room as an alternative to a mobile.  Her room is pretty gender neutral but all you have to do is open her closet and you know I am having a girl!  She has been so blessed with clothes it's overwhelming!  I plan on changing her every hour for the first 3 months in order to make sure she wears everything!  


It's time for me to have my nightly ice cream!  


We will let you know when Gentry Reaven makes her arrival!  

Showered with Love

 Shower at FUMC Preschool

Perritte UMC Baby Shower

It's a...

Well I just can't come out and say it right off now can I?  This afternoon I had a few of my closest friends come over for a little cupcake reveal.  I have to give credit to Pintrest for giving me the idea for the cupcake!  What did we ever do without Pintrest?!?!?  If you don't know about Pintrest, I am sad for you.  But I digress, I mean all you people came for was to see pink or blue!


Here is the set up.  I had the cupcakes, raspberry lemonade and I put out some sweet baby things I already have received as gifts or hand me downs.  

  AND THE BIG REVEAL.......

These cupcakes were amazing!  So yummy and perfect for Valentine's day!  One scoop of brownie batter, one scoop of strawberry cake batter and cream cheese icing (homemade of course!) makes a wonderful Neapolitan cupcake and it's not too bad at revealing that Carl and I are expecting a GIRL!  


We are so happy to be having a girl!  I was able to see the "hamburger" on the ultrasound even before the ultrasound tech told us!  We had picked out our girl name a few days before and as soon as we picked the girl name I felt like that is exactly who is in my belly. It felt so right.  Call it Mother's intuition but I had a feeling it was a girl from the moment I knew I was pregnant. So now for our little princess' name:

Gentry Reaven Hanke 

Gentry was on my very long name list.  I didn't even bring it up to Carl though because I was sure he would veto it.  Well I mentioned it to him while we were having his birthday dinner and he said he liked it!  I can't explain the feeling I had when he said he liked it.  I feel like Gentry has always been her name.  The name means aristocrat.  


Now the middle name is a fun story.  We were waiting for a seat at Chili's with our friends when we were sharing the girl name we came up with the day before. Carl was hemming and hawing at the name, Gentry, cold feet or second guessing it I am not sure.  I said he couldn't do that!  I liked Gentry so much that he could pick whatever middle name!  Well of course Carl chooses Slagathor.  UMMM NO!  I told him to try again.  He then said he wanted to use his best friends' Steven and Reagan's names.  Smoosh that together and you get, Stegan.  UM NO!  That's when our friend Cullen came to the rescue and suggested Reaven.  (sound it out like Raven).  We loved it!  I had a whole list of flower and bird names for this baby but not Raven.  The traditional name Raven means dark mysterious bird.  I like the idea of having a blonde (most likely hair color for our child) Reaven!  Of course we are spelling in exactly like the smashing of REAgan and SteVEN!  It's a middle name so I don't mind the funky spelling!  


We are so excited to meet her but we don't mind waiting for her to finish cookin!  Thank you guys for all the love and support!  


Love,
Carl, Kalena and Gentry

A Face Only a Mother Could Love...

We saw our baby today.

It was all very exciting and despite my crying at almost everything lately this did not bring me to tears.  I think it's because I am in amazement at my Creator and that He is allowing me to have a tiny part in carrying and helping this child grow and develop.

All I could say was WOW.

All I can say is WOW.

The great news is that the baby is growing and thriving!  In fact, the ultrasound tech said that baby Hanke was making her work for her money today!  The baby would not stop moving and made it very hard to get good pictures.  From what the Tech said we are looking at a 1lb 4oz baby that is a whole day ahead of schedule ;)  Everything you want to see in an ultrasound was there.  The heart sounded beautiful at 156 bpm.  Carl and I struggled to make out some of the body parts the Tech pointed out to us.  I also have an anterior placenta which makes it harder to get clear pictures of the babe.  We are waiting to find out if I have placenta previa.  I am not worried because I knew this could happen when I had so much spotting at the beginning of my pregnancy.  Worst case scenario is I have a C-Section.  It's not ideal but if this is the worst part of my pregnancy I am not complaining!  It also explains why I feel like the baby's kicks are a bit muffled!

Here is our little one's face.

this is the best one!

Can you see it?  Tilt your head to the right and squint a little....ahh...ahhh.....THERE IT IS!  Think skeleton baby.

In addition to the baby being very active it's also shy.  We had trouble with getting it to show us it's face!  Apparently baby Hanke likes to look toward my backside.  While baby Hanke didn't want to show it's face it had NO PROBLEM showing us the goods downstairs!  We will have a talk shortly after birth about keeping our privates private but for now I am happy to report that Carl and I are having a....












You will have to wait!  We tricky you!  On Sunday all will be revealed!  You know us Hanke's we like to coincide important announcements with major media events like the Super Bowl!

Week 21

21 weeks/ January 20-27

Baby size:  Banana 10.5 inches and 12.2 oz

Cravings: fruit

Keep away:Dirty Diapers.

Weight Gain: 0lbs

Symptoms:Same ol' same ol.

Favorite bit: Dr. V made a prediction that I am carrying a girl!  I haven't gained any weight.  My blood pressure is 120/70.  No swelling.  Baby's heart rate was 131 (it's been 151 until this point).

Still no bump picture because I still have no bump.

Week 20--HALF WAY THERE

20 weeks/ January 13-19

Baby size:  Cantaloupe 6.5 in and 10.2 oz

Cravings: ALWAYS MEXICAN

Keep away:Dirty Diapers.

Weight Gain: 0lbs

Symptoms:So much for relief!  Back to nausea and vomiting this week along with the constipation (seeing a theme here)  Add in the occasional charlie horse.

Favorite bit: Going on a group date!  Carl and I need to remember to date!  

Week 19

19 weeks/ January 6-12

Baby size:  Mango or 6in and 8.5 oz

Cravings: MEXICAN or Pizza

Keep away:Dirty Diapers.

Weight Gain: 0lbs

Symptoms:FINALLY RELIEF!  Easy to gag, charlie horses, once a week puke!  

Favorite bit: Feeling the baby move!  It is still occasional and I can't wait until it's all the time!

Week 18

18 weeks/ December 30-January 5

Baby size:  Sweet Potato or 5.6 in and 6.7oz

Cravings: mexican

Keep away: I'll let you know.

Weight Gain: 0lbs

Symptoms:Nauseated, Vomiting, Sciatic Pain, Constipated STILL!

Favorite bit: Hosting a baby shower for my friend Jacqui!  She is 28 weeks and I am 18 weeks in this picture!

While I was typing this entry I am almost 100% sure I felt the baby move!  EXCITING!

WEEK 17

17 weeks/ December 23-29

Baby size:  Onion or 5.1 inches and 5.9 oz

Cravings: sweet fruit

Keep away: I'll let you know.

Weight Gain: 0lbs

Symptoms:Nauseated, Vomiting, Sciatic Pain, Constipated

Favorite bit: 5th Dr. Appt and my mom came with me.  We heard the baby's heartbeat at 153 and the Dr. said I looked great! 

 

 At the next appointment we will make our big ultrasound appointment.  Carl and I have one more month to debate if we should find out what's the sex of the baby.  I asked Dr. V if it was ok if I don't gain any weight during my pregnancy.  He said it would be less weight to have to lose later so that's the goal!  Don't worry.  I am eating!  All and all I am feeling better and I am still waiting for a bump (other than the one I had prebaby) and to feel the little one kick.

Week 13-16

13 weeks/ Nov 25- Dec 1

Baby size:  Peach or 2.9 inches long

Cravings: Mc Donald's french fries

Keep away: Turkey

Weight Gain: 0lbs

Symptoms:Nauseated, Vomiting and  more Spotting, Sciatic Pain, Constipated

Favorite bit: Nov 28th, 4th Dr. appointment.  Heard the baby's heartbeat on the doppler for the first time!  153 bpm!  WOOWHO I MADE IT PAST THE 1st Trimester.  Shared our news with the FB world.

Scary bit: The last time I've spotted...so far!

14 weeks/ Dec 2-8

Baby size:  Lemon or 3.4 inches and 1.5 ounces!

Cravings: Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme (with beans no meat)  any Mexican Food

Keep away: Italian!

Weight Gain: 0lbs

Symptoms:Nauseated, Vomiting, Sciatic Pain, Constipated. got my first pregnant cold.

Favorite bit: Hanging out with Drew.

15 weeks/ Dec 9-15

Baby size:  Navel Orange or 4 inches and 2.5 ounces

Cravings: Mexican

Keep away: Meat and Pasta

Weight Gain: 0lbs

Symptoms:Nauseated, Vomiting, Sciatic Pain, Constipated

Favorite bit: Telling my Preschool kids that I am like Mary and there is a baby in my belly.  A few of the kid's told their parents that I had baby Jesus in my belly!

16 weeks/ Dec 16-22

Baby size:  Hass Avocado or 4.6 inches and 3.5 ounces

Cravings: MEXICAN!

Keep away: Meat.  Any food after dark.

Weight Gain: 0lbs

Symptoms:Nauseated, Vomiting, Constipated and Sciatic Pain

Favorite bit: I am still in my regular clothes but I am not sure if I like it or not!

I am out of that 1st trimester!  I am not as exhausted as I was those first weeks but I am still puking occasionally.  It's really not that bad.  Zofran has really helped me keep it in check.  I try not to over due taking it!  I limit myself to taking it if I have to be somewhere and I don't want to risk vomiting in public.  I feel like I am in limbo right now.  I am not showing and I can't feel the baby.  I am feeling better than I did the 1st trimester so I kind of still feel like this whole pregnancy is a dream.  That is until I am staring at the toilet bowl!  

Carl and I just thank God every day for this little one and the love and support we have already received.  Pregnancy is not going as smoothly as I thought it would but I wouldn't change a thing and I am thankful for the journey!  I love the advice and opinions so keep them coming!  I may not use it but I love hearing how people dealt with pregnancy!  It is the weirdest thing I've done so far!

Weeks 9-12

9 weeks/ Oct 28-Nov 3

Baby size:  Olive

Cravings: Just feed me

Keep away: Not anything specific

Weight Gain:+3lbs

Symptoms:Nauseated, Vomiting and a little Spotting

Favorite bit: Telling our church family and friends!

Scary bit: SPOTTING!

10 weeks/ Nov 4-10

Baby size: Prune

Cravings: Mc Donald's french fries

Keep away: salad

Weight Gain: back to 0.  Lost 3 lbs!

Symptoms:Nauseated, Vomiting and  more Spotting, Sciatic Pain

Favorite bit: Getting to see the baby again because of an unplanned appointment!

Scary bit: The Dr. wanted to see me every 2 weeks because of the spotting.

11 weeks/ Nov 11-17

Baby size:  Lime

Cravings: CANDY!

Keep away: anything green

Weight Gain: 0lbs

Symptoms:Nauseated, Vomiting and  more Spotting, Sciatic Pain

Favorite bit: Thanksgiving parties with the Preschoolers!

Scary bit: Every time I think I've spotted for the last time it starts again!  

12 weeks/ Nov 18-24

Baby size: Plum

Cravings: Blue Cheese and Walnuts

Keep away: MEAT

Weight Gain: 0lbs

Symptoms:Nauseated, Vomiting, Spotting, Sciatic Pain, CONSTIPATED

Favorite bit: Driving to Nashville to see Carl's parents for Thanksgiving!

Scary bit: On the way to Nashville I had major tummy issues.  Best guess is gallbladder or constipation.

Weeks 4-8

4 Weeks/ Sept 22-30

Baby size: Poppyseed

Cravings: Nah.

Keep away: None.

Weight Gain: 0lbs

Symptoms: nothing really

Favorite bit: Finding out and telling my husband and also telling my Mom, Dad and Brother at our Hallmark Family Reunion!  We also called Carl's parents.

5 weeks/ Sept 30- Oct 7

Baby size:  Appleseed

Cravings: Nah

Keep away: None.

Weight Gain: 0lbs

Symptoms: nothing really

Favorite bit: Calling to make our first baby appointment!  They wanted me to come in right away but I was afraid it was too early so I made them wait a week.

6 weeks/ Oct 7-13

Baby size:  Sweet Pea

Cravings: Just feed me

Keep away: None.

Weight Gain: 0lbs

Symptoms: generally nauseated and bloated.

Favorite bit: Our first appointment and sonogram.

Scary bit: Oct 13th, 1st Dr. appointment.  We thought at this point that we were almost 8 weeks.  Dr. couldn't see what he thought he should be able to see in the sonogram by this point.  Told us not to worry and come back in 2 weeks.  WE PRAYED!

7 weeks/Oct 14-20

Baby size:  Blueberry

Cravings: Just feed me

Keep away: None.

Weight Gain: 0lbs

Symptoms: Nauseated, Bloated and Back Pain.  

Favorite bit: Just happy to still be pregnant!

Scary bit: Questioning every little pang.

8 weeks/ Oct 21-27

Baby size:  Raspberry

Cravings:   I want it fried.

Keep away: Meat and Vegetables.

Weight Gain: +3lbs

Symptoms: Nauseated, 1st time to Puke, Sciatic Pain

Favorite bit: Oct 27: 2nd Dr. Appointment and we can see the baby and it's heart rate is in the 160's and set the due date for June 1st NOT May 28th!

The first month was wild but it was about to get a little wilder!  

Everything I've always dreamed...

It's no secret that I want to be a mom. 


 It's all I've EVER talked about.  


EVER. 


 When I was a preschooler and my parent's asked me what I wanted to be, my response was,"the first person pregnant in high school."  Really it's all I've ever dreamed about.  


Every part of it.  From conception until my wonderful children gather around my coffin to say goodbye.  I have always dreamed of the day I would tell my husband that our lives would forever be changed and we are going to be parents!  I thought it would go something like this:

Anyone else a Lucy fan and remember this episode?  Lucy tried and tried to tell Ricky that she was pregnant but Ricky was too busy so she went to his club to surprise him.  What really surprises me is that he didn't know she was pregnant because it's not like maternity wear was all that discrete in the 50's!    

  My husband works for the BSA (Boy Scouts of America) and we were trying for parenthood in the most stressful month for a District Scout Executive.  The month of September is when they have School Night for Scouting and recruit kids by the hundreds to join the awesomeness that is BSA!  In fact, my husband was opposed to the idea to try in the month of September because he was so busy.  That was until I pointed out the fact that I only needed him a few times for like 5 minutes and if we indeed were to get pregnant the baby would be due in June, which is his slowest month, where I would need him for days!  Well much to my shock, we had in fact achieved the almost impossible.  (If you want to check out my journey to get pregnant click the link).  When I couldn't get a hold of my busy husband I opted for a modern day Lucy style telling.

I texted him!

Here is the transcript:

(Shortly after I had privately taken a digital test at work)

9/22 8:02AM ME:  Today is my early day.  Wanna have lunch?

9/22 8:35AM HUSBAND: Sure

9/22 8:58AM ME:  Cool.  I get off at 1.  Where do you want to go?

9/22 9:19 AM HUSBAND:  Can we go about 1:30  I have a boy talk that starts at 1:15

9/22 9:47AM ME: Cool.  Where?

9/22 9:49 AM HUSBAND: Cotton Patch?

9/22 10:08 AM ME:  Sounds good.  I have a gift card.

9/22 10:57 AM HUSBAND: Hey can't go to lunch have a united way lunch that I have to go to

9/22 10:58 AM ME: :(  Will I see you at all tonight?

9/22 10:59 AM  HUSBAND:  Don't know

9/22 11:50 AM ME: Well I have something to tell you...do you want me to text you?

9/22 11:51 AM  HUSBAND:  Yes in a meeting.

9/22 11:54 AM ME: 

9/22 12:02 PM ME: Your boys work. (In case he didn't get the picture)

9/22 12:27 PM  ME:  Are you at Home Depot yet?  (sorry, inside joke)

9/22 12:29 HUSBAND: No I am at franks wishing I could pound beers.

9/22 12:35 PM  ME:  Are you freaked out!  I wanted to tell you over lunch or tonight!

9/22 12:35 PM ME: ?

9/22 12:38 PM HUSBAND: I am trying to block it out by listening about the texas state budget

9/22 2:11 PM  ME:  Are you running away?

And that is how I told Carl we were expecting.  For the record.  He didn't run away.  Very much the opposite.  He has stuck by me more than ever before and I am so excited to see what kind of dad he is going to be!  I would just like to point out that I asked him if he was running away at 2:00 PM because you would think that as soon as the meeting was over that he would have called me!!!!!  Nope.  Not Carl, my mild mannered husband, went about his day like normal.  In fact the next time I saw/talked to him was later in the evening!  

So now I blog.  I am going to try and back it up and do a week by week sort of a journal for my own personal records.  If you know me, you know I am kinda blunt and I don't hold back.  I apologize in advance if some posts are too graphic.  There are things about pregnancy that NO BOOK will ever tell you!  I promise I will give fair warning to the posts about poop.  Yes, there is a poop post in the works!  Carl and I appreciate any prayers or good thoughts you may have for our family and I hope you join us on our newest journey!