May 28 - Recovery day

Mama and I got flowers from Aunt Sherry, Uncle Greg and Cousin Aidan!



They are in a cute little Peter Rabbit mini "cookie" jar which is probably meant for cotton balls.


It's been a slow day for Mama's recovery. She was not able to get out of bed at all yesterday or until noon today. But they finally took most of the monitoring and support items at that point and want her to walk away her swollen feet.

She was able to eat solid food today, which was very exciting to her! She can pass some of these calories to me, since I have done some good breast feeding. I have a pretty suck reflex on me.

The slow part is trying to get back to breathing well after the tracheal tube, especially when every time she breathes deeply she coughs and that really causes pain at the surgical site. She also has the last bits of a cold that are causing her to cough as well. She had to get special permission this morning when they were only allowing her ice chips (and then water) to suck on a cough drop.

But she got her permission and now is back on solid food and is much happier! She has gotten up to walk around a few times and is finally able to sit on the chair and type this blog for me.

Speaking of eating, it's time for me to do that!

May 27 - The rest of the story

I'm going to let Mama tell this from her perspective:

The "day" started yesterday evening with some medication to soften the cervix in preparation for induction. I had one attempt at an IV that was not successful in the left arm, and then one in my right hand that was. I got over my unease with it. They started me on IV clindamycin (antibiotic.)

At 5:30 this morning they started my pitocin drip to induce labor. I dilated to just over 3 cm and Dr. Jones checked me and told me that I could have my epidural at any time. Bill got back from breakfast and the anesthesiologist showed up at about 9 am.

The epidural was WONDERFUL. Bill commented that he had not seen me so relaxed in months. My hips and low back did not hurt for several hours and was able to sleep comfortably for several hours. I fully dilated by 1 pm and got ready to push.

However, Russell was "sunny side up" with his back up against mine. So we tried some odd positions to try to get him to turn. During some of these antics, my epidural must have slipped. I started to be able to feel the contractions, which I thought was on purpose, but evidently was not.

I pushed while laying down, and then in an almost upright position using the raised head of the bed where I started squatting, then we tried pushing with me on my side. Only minor progress was made. The charge nurse came in and remembered that they had a bar that could be used for squatting pushes. This was the most comfortable for me, but also the most tiring. The pain continued to be more intense, so I asked for a bolus through the epidural.

Dr. Jones came in at about 4:30 and agreed to try to use some suction on his head to help him through the pelvis. We tried it, but he still appeared to be stuck. At that point, I signed the consent form for a cesarean section.

That's where it became apparent that the epidural was no longer working. Three large doses of drugs later and still able to feel a lot of pain, I agreed to general anesthetic. They wheeled me into the surgical suite and I watched a syringe of medication go into the IV. Within a minute or two, I felt nothing else. I woke up about an hour and a half later, very slowly, in the postpartum room. Russell had been cleaned and wrapped and was in the bassinet. Bill was able to be with me in the room during the delivery and stayed with Russell during his first bath, plus the weighing and such.

He took some pictures--which is good because I missed it all.



This is us last night--me exhausted and Russell not wanting to eat--so we just cuddled and eventually fell asleep.

It was a very long "day" all the way around!

May 27 - Happy Birthday to ME!

I was born at 5:34 pm, I weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces and I am 20 1/4" long. I have lots of dark brown hair, and my eyes are blue right now.

I am on the baby warmer shortly after birth here.



I am getting my first bath.



Big brother Connor came to visit.



I was holding my pacifier ("baby plug") in place all by myself.


This is my "DJ Rusty" look--the parts of the hearing test equipment look like headphones...

May 26 - Early Morning Relocation

I decided that it might be a good idea to get into a better position for birth this morning in the very wee hours. I kept Mama awake for most of it. But now my butt appears to be up and as often as Mama is going to the bathroom, my head is interfering with her bladder.

Tonight we are at the hospital in preparation for inducing labor tomorrow. So I should have my very own birthday on May 27th. I'm still moving a bit, but not the frantic movements from last night. Just enough to reassure Mama that I'm doing OK and that she needs to go visit the restroom every hour!

We had some NY style pizza for supper, followed by an absolutely *divine* cheesecake. YUM! It'll probably be a while before I can eat either of those things on my own.

May 24 and 25 - False Alarm

Mama is really starting to be convinced that I am going to be one of those kids with a mind of my own, AND that I'm a bit of a jokester as well.

She has been having mild "contractions" starting about 4 pm on Sunday afternoon through about that time on Monday. Then they stopped. She's exhausted so has been doing a lot of sleeping during the day while waiting for things to progress. Lots of tissues and lots of Tums have been in use for the various ailments that I'm continuing to give her while she waits. She says that the one that bothers her the most is the swollen fingers and there is nothing to take for that.

So it appears that we will go back to my scheduled delivery on Wednesday. Daddy did get my car seat installed so they can bring me home--hopefully on Friday!

May 24 - Getting ready

Mama got our bag packed for the hospital--lots of little outfits for me since she's not sure what shape I will be at arrival. A few favorites for her that are comfortable since she's convinced that she won't be comfortable for several days.

She and Daddy sorted all the clothing into sizes and got the smaller ones washed and ready for me. Mama cleared a space in one of her drawers (since the sweatshirts can live in the closet for a while) for my clothes and receiving blankets.

They are going to try to get the bassinet set up today--it's here but not ready yet. Of course, Mama needs to clear the space for it before it can be moved into place. The "sheets" are washed and ready, and Antema should be finishing the mattress this weekend.

Mama convinced Daddy to read the "Diaper Free" book, and they are going to try that with me--fewer diapers to wash sounds like a good thing to Mama! Using built-in reflexes sounds even better to her.

Mama went to a model horse show yesterday and visited with friends there, but she got very tired and came home early. We then took a three hour nap--I guess she really was as tired as she looked! Daddy told her that she was snoring pretty well.

She's not going to the horse races today with another friend--it's much further away and she doesn't think she'll be able to manage the concrete that long and then drive home.

***
Mama says to tell you that she's tired of being sick (the whole house got strep throat and her nose is still running) and is very ready for the edema in her fingers to go away. It's not so much that she wants me on the outside, but that she'd like some of the late side effects of pregnancy to be gone.

Plus I'll be cuter in real photographs than in ultrasounds!

May 21 - Getting ready

We went to go see Dr. Lorie today, and she was pleased that my head was turned down. She said that Mama was between 2-3 cm dilated (closer to two) and that all was on deck for my scheduled appearance next Wednesday.

May 12 - Mr. Potato Head number two

Side view that Mama thought was below.


Here is the updated Mr. Potato Head view. Eyes, nose and an arm.


Mama needs to get these posted before she runs out of battery on the computer!

May 19 - On the mend

Big brother Connor evidently brought home some type of variant of strep throat for the family, so everyone is on antibiotics. Mama says she feels better, but has a way to go yet.

The air conditioning got "fixed" but is not very powerful...Mama thinks that may they have to rely on using open windows at night and then trying to keep the temperature from getting too high with the AC. Of course, the AC works just fine in the bathroom but not in the living room.

I'm still hanging out and moving a little bit. I have not shown any indication that I am ready to come out into the world. Sorry, Aunt Becky, it looks like you will keep your own birthday for a while longer.

May 12 - New "due" date

I will be a May baby after all! I weighed in at 7 pounds 11 ounces on my ultrasound today, so Dr. Jones has scheduled for Mama to be induced on May 27th if I haven't decided to come out on my own. They both have concerns about my weight and Mama's back issues, so they don't want me to get too big.

Mama has been quite sore for the last couple of days in her low back and hips, not to mention very tired. But after a meeting at Front Range college tomorrow, she is done until fall!

Pictures to follow when Mama gets them scanned.

May 9 - Hyperwobble

Mama picked up the term from her brother, Uncle Kevin. It is an appropriate term for what happens when stress overwhelms all coping mechanisms. Unfortunately, I caused her to go into hyperwobble today.
I was very quiet--as in she could not feel me move from that morning until after 3:30 in the afternoon. She was very concerned and got quite emotional. Thankfully, I started moving a bit more in the evening.

Pictures of mama to finish--she got this dress from Aunt June. She says that it is probably the only time that they've ever been able to share clothes! Daddy picked it out for her and thought it looked really nice.

May 3 - Very pregnant Mama

Here is a brand new picture of Mama and I! We're sporting the clothes that Daddy got us for Christmas.

I was marginally cooperative when Grandma Betty was feeling for me to move. She did feel some small movements, but I saved my biggest bounces for when no one else was watching.

May 1 - Hiccups

This morning I got the hiccups--and Mama did too--so we had them at the same time!

Mama felt sorry for me, though, because my hiccups tend to last a long time, usually twenty minutes or so. Hers only lasted a couple of minutes. But it was a weird feeling to have them together.