Worldless Wednesday - Family shots

I was extremely grateful that Brian's folks were able to visit us for a long weekend...

The great sunny weather let us take some family shots all together with our new little Jude.

Hello, Baby! - Birth Story part 2

Yes, the epidural was great and allowed me and my body to relax between the contractions. I rolled over to my side, remembering that with Tam this helped me dilate quickly. Likewise with this wee one, because by 4pm I was at 8cm and ready to get this show on the road. The nurses dove into uber mode and called my doctor, got the mirror ready, set up the room to prepare for pushing, and got all the gear out for post-catching the baby needs. I don't recall much of the details of what was going on around us. I do recall that it was bright and sunny outside, and I could watch the puffs of clouds move across the sky through my window. Plus it was fairly quiet in the room with just me, Brian, and a single nurse prepping to bring the baby into our arms.

By nearly 5pm, I was feeling pressure and the definite need to start pushing this baby out! I was a bit amazed at how fast things were rolling and it seemed that it was only moments earlier that my water was broken. Thankfully my OB arrived, suited up, and pretty much said let's get this party started. Pushing this time around was much easier than previously with Tamlin. I had no problems with the epidural and felt little pain, but still felt the edge of the contractions and the pressure. I had Brian by my side counting to 10 for each breath and contraction. I swear it was but a few great pushes, a couple of moments of sharp pain during the "ring of fire" and twenty minutes later, Jude was out in our world. I saw much of the birth in the mirror; yeah, I'm not grossed out by that. However, right at the last push I had my eyes closed in concentration. Brian and the doctor informed me afterwards that Jude got the cord wrapped on his neck at the last minute. The doc had quickly placed her fingers under it and flipped it off, so no worries.

Once in our world, Jude was immediately placed up on my chest for cuddles and exclamations of joy. He was a gooey mess, as was I, but I loved him immediately. I loved counting his little fingers and his little toes and waiting for him to open his big blue eyes at me. Eventually, I let loose of him for administration of vital checks and statistics and clean up. I felt so much relief and happiness (and no shakes this time). Brian just couldn't stop grinning and reaching out to touch a hand or a foot or a forehead.

Here is our new son, oh, what a wonder he is.

...

And how did Tamlin do?
According to our friends, Tam slept with their three-year old son and they both slept splendidly through the night. All day Tuesday, all the kids played really well with each other and had a blast running around outside burning off energy. It seemed that Tam only started to get restless when it got near bed-time on the second day. Apparently, he kept saying he wanted to read books at "home." :-)

Jude's first Doctor appointment

We saw our pediatrician today for Jude's 6 day appointment.

Overall, our wee one is doing great and healthy. In fact, he's even gained back his birth weight already! I'm in no doubt of this because he is an eating machine, especially the past couple of day as my milk has come in. Plus, no more inklings of jaundice...most likely because all of us have been outside this weekend. No more shots yet just a clean bill of health and a schedule for our next appointment in 2 weeks.

Jude's statistics:
9 pounds and 9 ounces
21.5 inches long...though the doctor thought he might have stretched him out a bit more than the nurses did at birth to give him the extra nudge of length.

The beginning of the birth of Jude

It has nearly been a week, so I should get Jude's birth story written down while I still remember all the bits and pieces.

The deal was Brian and I were to head into the hospital by 3AM on Tuesday, May 17th so that I could be induced. The reasons for the induction were mostly my creeping upward blood pressure and the increase pain on the nerves in my right hip. The doctor choose Tuesday since that was her day to be on call for the hospital...she really wanted to be there to catch the wee one.

The entire weekend prior to Tuesday, I had hoped a bit that I would go into labor naturally this time instead of having to have the induction. I spent most of the days alternating between lolling around the house, walking around in pain, and nesting (cleaning / sewing). I was also experiencing lots of Braxton-Hicks contractions, but nothing regular or increasing in intensity. Mostly I felt them low and across my lower back. Since Brian had to work, I was home with Tam...poor kiddo. He kept wanting to go for walks around the block or play cars with mama, and I just couldn't do it with him. I think he understood because he would see me try to get up from the couch, cringing in pain, and try to grab my hand to "help mama."

On Monday, we spent some time together as a family just hanging out together outside and enjoying the gorgeous weather. We got some great photos of us all and my exceedingly large belly.


By Monday night, I think I was finally mentally and physically ready to have this baby. I spent the final hours watching Star Trek movies and sewing. I whipped up another new born hat for the baby and a cute little toddler skirt for our friend's 2 year old girl. Where was Tam during this? We had dropped him off with our good friends for the night. These our friends that have a 3.5 year old and a 2 year old (recipient of skirt) and we often have family fun with them. Tam knows them well and all 3 kids get along splendidly. This was Tam's first overnight at someone's house without the parents, so we were a little apprehensive that there might be tears and problems...but in the end he did wonderfully well!

The plan was to leave for the hospital by 2AM. Just prior I got in a light dinner and a small nap...luxuriating in my bed for the last time for a few nights. Then, we grabbed the bags and went out. The hospital was fairly quiet at this time of morning, which is a good thing. I got right in to my room, wrapped in my oh-so-sexy hospital gown, and IV in place in barely any time at all. Since I was already 3 and 50% (meaning well on the road to labor) I got to forgo the gel used to ripen the cervix and got dosed with pitocin right away. This is the drug that is steadily increased to help get the body going into producing stronger and stronger contractions. Over the next few hours, I was greeted by a steady stream of nurses, nurse helpers, anesthesiologists, and doctor. (It seems that we got caught right around a shift change). Everyone we meant was friendly, pleasant, and helpful. This time around, I was grateful for a competent nurse assistant who got my IV in the arm with one try and mostly painless. Both Brian and I tried to get some more sleep in while we were still in the early phases of labor.

But construction on nearby birthing suites began at 6:30am. Luckily it was intermittent throughout the day and not too annoying...just some odd banging, sawing, drilling, etc. at random times.

Most of the morning was fairly uneventful. I started feeling the contractions, but nothing too painful yet. By 10 o'clock, I was feeling them steadily and found it much easier to stand than wallow in the bed. My contraction monitor thingy was not catching the contractions correctly and nurse had to keep coming in to re-adjust it. She finally gave up and they decided to put an internal monitor to keep better tabs on them. Positioning that thing was uncomfortable to say the least...but it was reading the contractions at about 5 minutes apart. The down side being that even after all of this time and uterus work, I was still only at 3. As far as the baby was concerned, he was doing beautifully. His heartbeat was strong and steady and I could still feel him bee-bopping around inside. As for Brian, he was right there with me...keeping family and friends updated with our progress by posting on Facebook. And, in reverse, we got to hear family and friends' comments and updates on how Tam was doing without us (which was really well).

As the minutes passed, the contractions were steadily increasing in frequency and noticeably increasing in painfulness. I was getting much closer to my pain threshold point...I knew that I most likely wasn't going to be able to go through the entire birth experience without a little drug help (epidural) but I was going to try to make it as long as possible. And I was getting there. Noticing my uncomfortableness, Brian got off the computer and came to stand be my side. He's a good enough guy to let me squeeze his hand, arm, shoulder...anything that was nearby when a contraction struck. I was focusing mostly on breathing through each one...one at a time. At noon, the doctor came in and broke my water, which is an odd wet, leaky feeling. She also tried to place a new internal monitor inside because the first one was reading the contractions to low in intensity. Oh-My! This was a bit too much pain for me - contraction plus random hand all up in there. The upside was that I was at 4 (I had hoped for so much more!) but the downside was that the internal monitor was still not right. I, and doctor, agreed not to mess with anything until I had an epidural to help with the pain.

I rode out nearly another hour of contractions, happening regularly at 2min apart and pretty intense. I was still standing, but doubling over as they hit. I remember grabbing at Brian for comfort quite regularly...but still able to make a comment or two in the 1min 30sec between each contraction. Again, kiddo was still doing great inside and STILL moving around noticeably. I guess the contractions didn't bother him at all. Soon...very soon...he would be leaving that warm little world to meet us all out here!

By the end of the hour, I was nearly in tears with the edge of the pain so I caved and called for the drugs. Unfortunately it seemed like it too forever for the doctor to get to my bedside (though I think it was only 45minutes). I remember I kept looking at the clock and thinking "okay, 2 minutes of relief...just get through them one at a time." When the anesthesiologist arrived, I jokingly told him he had 2minutes to place the epidural (between the contractions). He was young-looking but great = quick, efficient, and nearly painless. Within minutes...numb bliss from navel to thigh...enough so that I caught a quick 3ominute nap.

Can't stop taking photos of Jude

Our latest family addition - Jude Parker at 3 and 4 days old.


It's been nearly 5days with our new little one...so how are we doing?

I'm feeling really good, surprisingly, and with the exception of exhaustion. My hip is still a little sore and I don't have complete movement back yet, but I'm trying not to favor it and have been stretching more. I'm convinced walking normally will come back to me again soon. My boobs are now ginormous since the milk has come in. Jude is a voracious eater (think chomp, chomp, chomp) and is feeding about every two hours with a cluster feed between 1 and 4ish am...hence the exhaustion on my part. I had forgotten this bit of warm-up action of breast feeding while kiddo stimulates the milk and gets the hang of latching on.

Brian is walking around on a high cloud nine. He loves his new son and is fit to burst with pride.

Tamlin keeps trying to give Jude cars to play with or is trying to hold him. He's ever alert when he hears Jude merp, squeal, or cry..."Sounds, mama, baby sounds" He's still getting tons of attention from us and the grandparents so I haven't noticed any jealousy issues yet. It is so cute to hear Tam say "baby Jude" in his toddler voice!

All of us are trying to figure out juggling of having two kids in the house. Already it seems as if I need another pair of hands at times for holding baby, nursing baby, hugging Tam, pulling up Tam pants, reading stories, etc. Good thing Tam is a great sleeper still, since Jude's diaper changing station is in his room...and baby's seem to poo more at night, I swear!

In the end, we are still a happy, healthy family with enough love for everyone :-)

First trip outside - Lovin' a spring baby

One of the great things about having a baby in May in Michigan is that the weather is already great to be outside. Warm, sunny, and family visiting meant that we spent some time out in our backyard. Don't worry, kiddo bean was sufficiently wrapped, with hat, in the shade, and blanket over his face (except for photo).

Jude slept through the experience. Tam ran around the yard, played in his sandbox, and "helped" Brian plant some tomato plants. We've decided to turn the old inherited-with-the-house sandbox into a garden of grasses. This will be a ton easier than trying to de-sand the thing to move it out of the yard.