1 Week old !!!

Welcome to the World Katie Jane!

My oh My ~ It's true baby girl ~ I never ever imagined I could love someone this much.....and I know your Daddy feels the same way. 

Your first picture - Daddy was rooting for a 7 pounder! Almost!

Your arrival was just a touch later than we expected ~ but at 12:57am on Tuesday, October 8th we joyfully shared your first breath of air in this world. We both were sobbing with happiness as you laid on my chest, we watched you open your eyes and stare deep into my soul. 

You are perfectly perfect in every way. We are so lucky to have such a beautiful and healthy baby. 

We busted out of the hospital on Wednesday afternoon and headed home ~ with a little pit stop to visit Grandpa Mac. A parade of friends and family flowed through our home over the next several days ~ bringing with them tons of food and presents and love.......Our hearts are so full ~ it's very overwhelming ~ such little sleep and so many emotions.

So many wonderful things happened in your first week of life its hard to write about it all, so here is a little list:

• We had some fantastic nurses take care of us (KATIE, Laurie, Shaylie)
• While I was in labor we: filled in your baby book, watched an entire days worth of football and Sports Center, Googled famous people that share your birthday (Matt Damon!!) 
• Visitors to the hospital: Grandma Mary, Grandpa Joe and Auntie Allison (within an hour after you were born), Steve, Cindy, Josh, Sam and Cole Tyree, Micah and Kara (brought some beverages for your Dad)

• A professional photographer came in and did a little photo shoot of us ~ they turned out soooo precious - we were both crying over how beautiful you are. 

• You started eating (breastfeeding) like a total champ! All the nurses are impressed.
• We could have stayed another day in the hospital, but it was very busy and un-restful, so we left Wednesday around 1:30.
• When we left the hospital it was an absolutely gorgeous fall day - sunny, blue skies, warm with a slight cool breeze, fall colors splashed all through the trees.
• We sang Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show on our drive home......along with tears of happiness flowing.

 

• Our first night home Grandma and Grandpa Gordon, Allison, Amanda, Great Grandma Thelma, Jen and Dylan and Rollie Wilder came by to visit. 

• Daddy went to work the next day ~ but called at lunchtime and admitted to missing you a whole lot!

• That Friday was your first Doc apt ~ it was brief but good. Grandpa Joe drove us and came into the apt with us. I'm so tired I could barely remember your Dad's cell phone number! You are checking out just fine, weight dropped down to 6lbs 7 oz, but that's normal they say. Oh ~ and our song Wagon Wheel played on the radio at the doc office = more tears. 

• Other visitors during your first week: Sara, Katie (who practically saved Mommy's life Friday night), Kara, Micah, Stacy Calhoun, Matt and Erin and the girls, Megan, Cory and Kristin and Oliver, The Christensen Clan, Chris Pickford and Cindy Tyree. There were of course also tons of calls, texts, and messages on facebook too. 

This is your AUNT KATIE!!! She is so proud of you already!

• More presents and some beautiful flowers came for you!

• We watched Boise State, Michigan State and the Detroit Tigers all play on Saturday :)
• Sunday we went on our first outing!! Dad drove us to Stacy's bebe shower. Sara and Ang and Meg were there too of course and it was really nice to be around all of those fun women and let them snuggle you. You were perfect the whole time - six days old!  

• Sunday was also Great Grammy Cudnohufsky's birthday and we Skyped with the whole Michigan family ~ It was so much fun! They all went cuckoo over you of course. And your Dad did the sweetest thing ever......He gave me a beautiful opal charm (your birth stone), surrounded by diamonds - on camera = more tears. It was such a nice gesture to share with my family. 

• We gave you your first bath - well Daddy did - I took pictures mostly ;)

• By the end of the first week a sleep pattern has finally been revealed - and Mommy is learning how to take advantage. It's hard to get rested - but its so easy to love you!!

Just for fun - Your Horoscope :)

As a Libra born on October 8th, your considerate and thoughtful nature are amongst your most appreciate qualities. You thrive for a social setting, where your understanding and sensitivity can emerge. You really do put the needs of others above your own, as it seems you would do just about anything for another human being. Likewise, you always are available to offer a non-judgmental ear or supportive worlds to those closest to you. Its very likely that someone has described you as the "perfect friend."

Love you forever and ever, Mommy

Week 39

BIG NEWS BABY!

At our apt on Wednesday Dr. J made the call to induce labor this Sunday night!!! Due to my blood pressure staying elevated + a few other things + you are 39 weeks along now = time to push the eject button! I am really excited and nervous and freaked out and happy and scared and filled with love ~ its pretty overwhelming - and I haven't even met you yet!

I have been obsessively cleaning the house this last week. Taking care of all the dirty corners and chores that I think will be difficult to get done for a while. But also, being stuck at home has been driving me a little crazy. I have sat in your room looking at your things and thinking about you a lot. Your Dad and I talk about you all the time and I know he is getting excited too. He was pretty happy to hear that we have a timeline to follow for your arrival. Teachers lives are run by a schedule - and this one is pretty special to us. We are glad to be able to be as prepared as possible.

We took a few pictures the other day to remember these final days. I think they turned out pretty cute:

We had two nice dinners over our last few days of pre-parenthood. The first was at PF Changs - YUMMMM. And here is the fortune from my cookie:

OH REALLY?!?!

The second was basically a Thanksgiving dinner cooked by your Grammy Mary which we shared with Micah and Kara. It was a really nice evening.

A little more about you:

(They say you are like a small watermelon at 39 weeks......but I think a small pumpkin at 40 weeks is probably more likely and appropriate)

Your baby is about the size of a small pumpkin. Your little pumpkin could arrive any day now if he or she isn't here already. The average newborn weighs about 7 1/2 pounds and is about 20 inches long.

 

 pregnancy symptoms at 39 weeks

• False labor. Usually these pains start in the front of your body and ease up when you switch positions. You'll know it's real labor when they start at the top of your uterus and become more frequent.
• Water breaking. Call your doctor if you suspect yours has broken, or if you think you could be leaking amniotic fluid.
• More heartburn, hemorrhoids, pelvic pressure and trouble catching your breath.
• The urge to nest. Don't stress though -- you'll never get everything done.

How your baby's growing:

It's hard to say for sure how big your baby will be, but the average newborn weighs about 7 1/2 pounds and is about 20 inches long. His skull bones are not yet fused, which allows them to overlap a bit if it's a snug fit through the birth canal during labor. This so-called "molding" is the reason your baby's noggin may look a little conehead-ish after birth. Rest assured — it's normal and temporary.

How your life's changing:

After months of anticipation, your due date rolls around, and... you're still pregnant. It's a frustrating, but common, situation in which to find yourself. You may not be as late as you think, especially if you're relying solely on a due date calculated from the day of your last period because sometimes women ovulate later than expected. Even with reliable dating, some women have prolonged pregnancies for no apparent reason.
You still have a couple of weeks before you'll be considered "post-term." But to be sure your baby is still thriving, your practitioner will schedule you for testing to keep an eye on her if your pregnancy continues.

Video

Live birth: Induction

You may have a biophysical profile (BPP), which consists of an ultrasound to look at your baby's overall movements, breathing movements (movement of her chest muscles and diaphragm), and muscle tone (whether she opens and closes her hand or extends and then flexes her limbs), as well as the amount of amniotic fluid that surrounds her (important because it's a reflection of how well the placenta is supporting your baby).

Fetal heart rate monitoring (called a nonstress test or NST) will generally be done as well — by itself or as part of the BPP. Or, you may have what's known as a modified BPP, which consists of an NST and an ultrasound to assess the amount of amniotic fluid.
If the fetal testing isn't reassuring — the amniotic fluid level is too low, for example — you'll be induced. If there's a serious, urgent problem, you may have an immediate c-section.
Your practitioner will also check your cervix to see if it's "ripening." Its position, how soft it is, how effaced (thinned out) it is, and how dilated (open) it is can all affect when and how your labor is induced. If you don't go into labor on your own, you'll be induced, usually sometime between 41 and 42 weeks.

3 Questions About...Inducing labor

Q1.

What does it mean to induce labor?
If your labor doesn't start on its own, your practitioner can use certain medications and techniques to help bring on or "induce" contractions. She'll do this when the risks of prolonging your pregnancy are higher than the risks of induction. Most practitioners will induce labor if you're still pregnant between one and two weeks after your due date. This is because the placenta may become less effective at delivering nutrients at around 42 weeks, and other serious complications become more likely as you pass your due date.

Q2.

How is labor induced?
There are a variety of methods, and the one your practitioner uses will depend on your individual situation — in part, on the condition of your cervix (whether it's ripe or not) and the urgency of the induction.
Typically, if you need to be induced but your cervix is not yet dilated or thinned out, you'll be admitted to the hospital and your caregiver will likely start off the induction by inserting medication that contains prostaglandins into your vagina. This medication helps to ripen the cervix and may also stimulate enough contractions to start your labor.
If the prostaglandins don't put you into labor, your caregiver will then administer a drug called Pitocin (also known as oxytocin). It's given through an IV and used to start labor or augment contractions you've been having on your own. (If your cervix is ripe to begin with, she'll start with the Pitocin straightaway.)

Q3.

Are there any techniques for kickstarting labor that I can try myself?
There are no do-it-yourself techniques consistently proven to be both safe and effective so don't try anything without guidance from your caregiver. Here's the scoop on some of the methods you may have heard about:

• Sexual intercourse: Semen contains prostaglandins and having an orgasm may stimulate some contractions. A few studies have shown that having sex at term may decrease the need for labor induction, but others have shown it has no effect on promoting labor.
• Nipple stimulation: Stimulating your nipples releases oxytocin, and it may help start labor, but more research is needed to determine the safety and effectiveness of this method. Because it may overstimulate your uterus, your contractions and your baby's response to them would need to be monitored so don't try this at home.
• Castor oil is a strong laxative, and stimulating your bowels may cause some contractions. There's no definitive proof that it helps induce labor though plenty of women can attest to its unpleasant effects!
• Herbal remedies: A variety of herbs are touted as useful for labor induction. Some are risky because they can cause contractions that are too long or too strong and may be unsafe for your baby for other reasons as well. For others, the safety and effectiveness remain unknown.

Well Baby ~ The next time I write on here will be after you are born. My heart and mind are overflowing with love and joy imagining our life together. Be nice to me through labor and I'll let you stay out an extra hour on Prom night.  :)

I love you - to the Moon and back, Mom

Week 37 / 38

Hi Babycakes ~

Our creatures Ruby, Pearl and Booger. They never leave my side these days.

Well, this turned out to be a pretty eventful week. Monday we visited Dr. Bob to have one last good imaging check-up - BTW you weigh ~6lbs 6oz !! Based on the symptoms I shared with her, combined with my high blood pressure, high protein levels in my pee and swollen legs and hands, she sent us off to Labor and Delivery to get monitored for a while. She stayed pretty calm and kept me calm too - but of course once I called your Dad (who was at football practice) I kind of freaked out. But he came and met me pretty quickly and we hung out there for about 4 hours. They showed me that I am having lots of Braxton-Hicks contractions - I thought it was just you getting feisty - and we watched your heartbeat for a long time. Eventually we were sent home with directions to see Dr. J right away.

I did the next day after school (Tuesday) and things were still high and I was still swollen. She wanted me to have my bp checked by our school nurse the next day at school (Wednesday) and if it was still high then I had directions to go home and stay home. Well, it was still high all day. So I made plans to stay home Thursday, Friday, and Monday. Then at our next apt that afternoon she gave the final cut off to make me stay at home for the remainder of this journey. Honestly, I had mixed feelings. I was disappointed because I didn't have a very have a smooth transition with my students and on the other hand I was so uncomfortable at school that I was very relived to have permission to chill out a little.

flowers from kara

I have since realized that I now that I have really been able to re-focus on you and me and our experience together - I am much happier and joyful about your impending arrival. Not that I wasn't before - it was just hard to focus on doing a good job at work and at the same time focus on all the critical components of these last few weeks.....but now here we are, chillin out at home together, waiting to meet each other.

You and me watching football. :)

We have had several nice visitors this week: Kara and Micah, Mary and Joe, Pat and Shara, Amanda, Cindy, Lindsey, Sara, Meg, Ang. I am certainly feeling the love. I am having a tough time just lounging around, there always seems like there is a chore to get done.....but I'm trying to relax and enjoy the quiet time.

OH - AND Your room is ready!! Check it out:

Here's a little more about YOU:

By the way - our bag is packed and the car seat is installed!

Get excited. At 37 weeks, your baby has reached full term. That means he’s developed his most crucial functions. Of course, he’ll get even healthier and stronger over the next few weeks, so don’t get too impatient. Around week 37, many moms-to-be find themselves organizing cupboards and scrubbing their floors. That’s the nesting instinct kicking in as your body senses baby will be here shortly. It also might be your brain’s way of making sure you’re prepared for just about anything, so you can feel like you have an extra edge on this whole new parent thing. He likely measures around 18.9 to 20.9 inches and weighs about 6.2 to 9.2 pounds. He's gaining about 1/2 ounce each day. 

38 weeks:

Yow! If you feel a sort of lightening bolt running up and down your legs (and in your crotch), don’t freak out. At 38 weeks, baby’s probably sitting pretty low in your pelvis, which means he’s bumping into all kinds of nerves down there -- including some pretty sensitive ones you might not know you had. Be on the lookout for signs of labor, including contractions that come on stronger, at more regular intervals. It could happen any day now -- or it might not be for a few weeks. Until then, try to relax.

Update: Based your measurements two weeks ago - you probably weigh 7+ lbs by now (9/29/13). A whopper!


Love you oodles baby, Momma