There is of course tons to update, but not much time to do it. I hope to have a more detailed "J" post next week when he's two months old, but for now, I will just say that last night's Lyle Lovett show at the Tabernacle was amazing. I'm not sure I can see him at Chastain again and enjoy it. The sound at the Tabernacle is just so amazing that I'm now completely spoiled.
It was interesting, because even though his "Large Band" was with him, there were no horns, so the show was decidedly more mellow than usual. The few songs they played that usually have horns were arranged with strings playing the horn parts instead - which was different, but really fantastic.
A favorite lyric from one of his new songs, Natural Forces:
And now as I sit here safe at home
With a cold Coors Light and the TV on
All the sacrifice and death and war
Lord I pray that I'm worth fighting for
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Four Weeks
Hey Little Man,
Today you are four weeks old, and you are beautiful. You've been beautiful since the day you were born, but you manage to get more precious every day. I don't understand it, but it's fantastic.
I completely understand now how parents spoil their children by not being able to say "no" to them. All I want is for you to have everything you want in life.
I don't think these entries will be very long, but there are times when I have to write what I'm thinking. And today is one of those days.
A few minutes ago, I looked at you lying in your Nana's arms, and I was absolutely overcome with love for you. You are the most wonderful thing in the world.
Love,
Mom
Today you are four weeks old, and you are beautiful. You've been beautiful since the day you were born, but you manage to get more precious every day. I don't understand it, but it's fantastic.
I completely understand now how parents spoil their children by not being able to say "no" to them. All I want is for you to have everything you want in life.
I don't think these entries will be very long, but there are times when I have to write what I'm thinking. And today is one of those days.
A few minutes ago, I looked at you lying in your Nana's arms, and I was absolutely overcome with love for you. You are the most wonderful thing in the world.
Love,
Mom
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
J's Birthday Notes
So, my epidural worked like a charm and I was also lucky enough to get it before any real bad contractions started, which allowed me to text friends during labor, and also to keep notes of how it all went down. I didn't keep them in proper grammar, etc, but kind of shorthand. I have at least fixed any spelling mistakes. Here's what happened:
38w6d
Dr. at 9-ish AM
membranes stripped (was 4-5cm last week and 80%, so we're ready to go if we want to)
5-6cm, 80%, -1
sent to hospital
signed in
paperwork
iv with pitocin by 11:20
hungry already - this isn't good but I'll deal with it
a few contractions here and there
one in particular is sharp, but short
one long one, but not painful
11:45 epidural's on its way
midwife here between 12:15 and 12:45 to break water
12:40 epidural done
12:57 water broke on its own
labor without any pain until 8:00
contractions ev 2-3 min. cervix opening and ev looks good - except he's still up hi at -1 and midwife sees that he seems to be sunny-side up with his head turned to the side. she calls doc on call to confirm. he does.
sometime during all this, i start getting itchy all over - like wearing a wool sweater from head to toe. apparently, this is a side effect of the epidural.
at first it's not unbearable, but soon i can't handle it and they give me something in my iv to stop it.
then the nausea kicks in, which i heard about. again, not bad at first, just the feeling of being hung over. but as soon as i mention the word, the hunt for a pan beings.
not a moment too soon either because the need to throw up just comes over me like a wave and i begin.
a couple rounds of it - nothing but water - and the post-puking adrenaline kicks in.
i feel much better,
then they also trhow some zofran into the iv, my old friend from the first few months.
start pushing at 8, but doc and midwife still worried about J's station and ability to come down
push until 8:45 and j decends each time, but then goes right back up to where he started.
his heart rate starts decelerating with the contractions, and I get a fever - 100.7
all of this combined pushes us to a decision to do a c-section - scheduled for 9:20.
time to get the higher epidural dose in from the anesthesiologist and they are ready.
(from here, I wrote the details after he was born)
j's head majorly stuck, requiring two docs to break the suction and get him out.
dave said he could hear it when they broke it, then they got him out
9:48pm, 7lb 11oz, 18 3/4 in
The sewing me up seemed to take an age and a half, and in the meantime, shivers start.
i had also heard about these, but wow. i don't think i've ever felt so out of control of my own body between the temporary paralysis brought on by the epidural and then this shaking that lasted for about 90 min or so after.
it's funny, but the only thing that seemed to make it stop was when they finally laid little j on my chest in the recovery room
it was probably just a coincidence of the timing, but i'm happy to give him credit.
38w6d
Dr. at 9-ish AM
membranes stripped (was 4-5cm last week and 80%, so we're ready to go if we want to)
5-6cm, 80%, -1
sent to hospital
signed in
paperwork
iv with pitocin by 11:20
hungry already - this isn't good but I'll deal with it
a few contractions here and there
one in particular is sharp, but short
one long one, but not painful
11:45 epidural's on its way
midwife here between 12:15 and 12:45 to break water
12:40 epidural done
12:57 water broke on its own
labor without any pain until 8:00
contractions ev 2-3 min. cervix opening and ev looks good - except he's still up hi at -1 and midwife sees that he seems to be sunny-side up with his head turned to the side. she calls doc on call to confirm. he does.
sometime during all this, i start getting itchy all over - like wearing a wool sweater from head to toe. apparently, this is a side effect of the epidural.
at first it's not unbearable, but soon i can't handle it and they give me something in my iv to stop it.
then the nausea kicks in, which i heard about. again, not bad at first, just the feeling of being hung over. but as soon as i mention the word, the hunt for a pan beings.
not a moment too soon either because the need to throw up just comes over me like a wave and i begin.
a couple rounds of it - nothing but water - and the post-puking adrenaline kicks in.
i feel much better,
then they also trhow some zofran into the iv, my old friend from the first few months.
start pushing at 8, but doc and midwife still worried about J's station and ability to come down
push until 8:45 and j decends each time, but then goes right back up to where he started.
his heart rate starts decelerating with the contractions, and I get a fever - 100.7
all of this combined pushes us to a decision to do a c-section - scheduled for 9:20.
time to get the higher epidural dose in from the anesthesiologist and they are ready.
(from here, I wrote the details after he was born)
j's head majorly stuck, requiring two docs to break the suction and get him out.
dave said he could hear it when they broke it, then they got him out
9:48pm, 7lb 11oz, 18 3/4 in
The sewing me up seemed to take an age and a half, and in the meantime, shivers start.
i had also heard about these, but wow. i don't think i've ever felt so out of control of my own body between the temporary paralysis brought on by the epidural and then this shaking that lasted for about 90 min or so after.
it's funny, but the only thing that seemed to make it stop was when they finally laid little j on my chest in the recovery room
it was probably just a coincidence of the timing, but i'm happy to give him credit.
Monday, October 05, 2009
pushing my luck
J's been asleep now for almost three hours, so I'm pushing my luck in trying to get something posted here.
Just wanted to say how wonderful this whole experience has been, in spite of the c-section stuff. That's no fun, but I'd do it again tomorrow if it meant getting another little munchkin like this one. He's just the most wonderful thing in the world.
I could stare at him all day, hold him all day, and kiss him all day. In case you're wondering, my favorite place to kiss is the little valley above his nose - right between his eyes.
Oh, and I kept a little log while the labor stuff was going on, since I didn't feel anything, thanks to the lovely epidural. I may post that in the next few days/weeks, if I get the opportunity.
Just wanted to say how wonderful this whole experience has been, in spite of the c-section stuff. That's no fun, but I'd do it again tomorrow if it meant getting another little munchkin like this one. He's just the most wonderful thing in the world.
I could stare at him all day, hold him all day, and kiss him all day. In case you're wondering, my favorite place to kiss is the little valley above his nose - right between his eyes.
Oh, and I kept a little log while the labor stuff was going on, since I didn't feel anything, thanks to the lovely epidural. I may post that in the next few days/weeks, if I get the opportunity.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
What may be the last update for a while
The baby's room is almost done - everything in except the changing table. Many people ask us if we have a theme. Clearly, these people don't know us very well. Dave and I aren't really theme people when it comes to decorating - unless that theme is "eclectic." See the pics.
And now we're at the "any day now" phase, officially. We went to the doctor's office on Thursday, and I'm very close, so our midwife told me that if I haven't gone into labor by this Thursday, that she'll admit me and we'll "get things started". She wants me closer to 39 weeks, but doesn't want me to miss my epidural window. So, this time next week, I'll be a mom. Wow.
We're doing our best to enjoy this weekend without plans and without having to think about much else beyond what we want to do next - oh and sleep - since it will be the last weekend where we can do either for quite some time.
And now we're at the "any day now" phase, officially. We went to the doctor's office on Thursday, and I'm very close, so our midwife told me that if I haven't gone into labor by this Thursday, that she'll admit me and we'll "get things started". She wants me closer to 39 weeks, but doesn't want me to miss my epidural window. So, this time next week, I'll be a mom. Wow.
We're doing our best to enjoy this weekend without plans and without having to think about much else beyond what we want to do next - oh and sleep - since it will be the last weekend where we can do either for quite some time.
Monday, August 24, 2009
What an Adventure
Wow, this week has been something to behold. I just don't have the energy to go through all the details, but here's the breakdown.
Garage - finished and wonderful.
The baby shower yesterday was wonderful. I can't believe how many people came in from out of town to help celebrate. And my friends' generosity (of time, love and yes, "stuff") leaves me speechless.
And the biggest event of all - three full days at Northside Hospital last week - due to a strange bout with pneumonia. Monday night after dinner, I began to feel very uncomfortable - achy and such - and then spiked a fever that reached 101.65. The fever broke in the middle of the night, but I still felt awful on Tuesday morning. Thanks to all the publicity about pregnant women and the swine flu, I was a bit nervous and called the doctor. They told me to go to Labor and Delivery. We walked in and were promptly given masks, and then I was treated to a whole host of pokes and prods (at least seven blood draws and an IV). Once various flu strains were ruled out, I was given a chest x-ray and told that I had pneumonia, regardless of there being no cough or congestion of any kind that week or weekend. I would be let go once my white blood count came down.
It did come down by Wednesday night, so I thought I would be going home Thursday, but then J. decided to get in on the act, and throughout Wednesday night/Thursday morning, every couple of hours when I'd have a contraction (something else I didn't realize I was having), his heart rate would drop. This happened three or four times throughout the night (resulting in my being connected not only to an IV and leg compression sleeves, but also a pulse oxymeter, oxygen mask, baby monitor, and contraction monitor - and therefore feeling completely tied down and bordering on a panic attack at midnight). So even though I seemed all mended, the doctors wanted me to stay one more night and make sure he didn't do that again. Thursday passed without incident, and Friday I was told to go home, rest, stay out of the heat and drink tons of water.
Although I do feel much better, I am amazed at how quickly I get tired. Yesterday's shower absolutely wore me out, even though I really just sat around, ate and opened gifts. I had to nap today, too. Thank goodness I had already taken the day off to see my friend safely to the airport. I'm a little nervous about tomorrow - my first day back at work in a week.
Garage - finished and wonderful.
The baby shower yesterday was wonderful. I can't believe how many people came in from out of town to help celebrate. And my friends' generosity (of time, love and yes, "stuff") leaves me speechless.
And the biggest event of all - three full days at Northside Hospital last week - due to a strange bout with pneumonia. Monday night after dinner, I began to feel very uncomfortable - achy and such - and then spiked a fever that reached 101.65. The fever broke in the middle of the night, but I still felt awful on Tuesday morning. Thanks to all the publicity about pregnant women and the swine flu, I was a bit nervous and called the doctor. They told me to go to Labor and Delivery. We walked in and were promptly given masks, and then I was treated to a whole host of pokes and prods (at least seven blood draws and an IV). Once various flu strains were ruled out, I was given a chest x-ray and told that I had pneumonia, regardless of there being no cough or congestion of any kind that week or weekend. I would be let go once my white blood count came down.
It did come down by Wednesday night, so I thought I would be going home Thursday, but then J. decided to get in on the act, and throughout Wednesday night/Thursday morning, every couple of hours when I'd have a contraction (something else I didn't realize I was having), his heart rate would drop. This happened three or four times throughout the night (resulting in my being connected not only to an IV and leg compression sleeves, but also a pulse oxymeter, oxygen mask, baby monitor, and contraction monitor - and therefore feeling completely tied down and bordering on a panic attack at midnight). So even though I seemed all mended, the doctors wanted me to stay one more night and make sure he didn't do that again. Thursday passed without incident, and Friday I was told to go home, rest, stay out of the heat and drink tons of water.
Although I do feel much better, I am amazed at how quickly I get tired. Yesterday's shower absolutely wore me out, even though I really just sat around, ate and opened gifts. I had to nap today, too. Thank goodness I had already taken the day off to see my friend safely to the airport. I'm a little nervous about tomorrow - my first day back at work in a week.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Updates
Well, we're seven weeks out, and the house projects are moving along. We didn't get quite as much done as we had hoped last weekend, though. We've waved the white flag on the garage door installation, and someone will be coming out next week (hopefully) to finish it up for us. It's already amazing, though, because Dave did an incredible job cleaning out the two rooms while I was at my shower last weekend. I'll have more pictures a little later.
We went to see District 9 last night, and it was incredible. It's wonderfully different. I never knew what was going to happen next. It was very moving, which I didn't expect.
We went to see District 9 last night, and it was incredible. It's wonderfully different. I never knew what was going to happen next. It was very moving, which I didn't expect.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
