Week 3: No Rest for the Weary (March 25)

Biscuit is eating constantly!  Every 1.5 to 2 hours during the day and 3 hours at night.  He finally fits in the Carter's newborn sized layette sets and body suits, but we still haven't found any socks that stay on.  His favorite thing seems to be his WubbaNubs.  He won't take a regular pacifier but he LOVES these.  To suck on, chew on, or just hold on to.

We had our first bath this week.  Charlie was not a fan.

We visited Great Grandma Smith for the first time this weekend.

Today (March 25th) we went to the pediatrician for Biscuit's 3 week appointment.  Charlie did not enjoy this.

We found out that he has grown!  He is 7 pounds 5.2 ounces, 19.75 inches, and his head is 34 cm around. He is only in the 6th percentile for height and weight, but he is in the 40th percentile for head size.  

We are slowing getting to the point that we can function smoothly as a family.  It is a wonderful feeling.  

I was asked by a few people to mention in my blog what we needed for Biscuit.  We have slowly gotten most everything, but we could still use a few more bottles (on the amazon wishlist) and WubbaNubs (amazon, buybuyBaby, and BabiesRUs have them).  Other than that we need gift cards to purchase the big things like the high chair and exersaucer/bouncer and stuff for the later stages in life like bowls, plates, spoons, cups, and freezer trays for food.  The freezer trays are on amazon and all the other things are at buybuyBaby I think.  Thank  you so much for following our story!

Week 2: Hanging In There (March 18th)

This week was quite the exciting one.  Michael went back to work on Monday and I ended up going to the doctor to find out that I was suffering from exhaustion.  My feet had swollen up like sausages and my hands were going numb, and I was too tired to function.  Luckily I had two things about to work out in my favor.  We met with the lactation consultant at our pediatrician's office and she cut back my nursing routine to every 3 hours instead of every 2 and told me to stop pumping completely.  I also got a 4 hour block from midnight to 4am.  Also, on Tuesday Grandma Rose came to stay for 2 nights, which gave me extra help during the day and gave Michael 2 full nights of sleep.

We went to visit Daddy at work on Tuesday, went to a Newborn class at lunch on Wednesday, and then enjoyed a lazy day on Thursday before Grandma left.  Thursday evening Papa was finally well enough to visit!

Friday morning Biscuit's umbilical cord stump FINALLY fell off.

And that night Biscuit got to meet Uncle John at my birthday party with my dad's side of the family.

On Saturday (my actual birthday, March 15th) we celebrated my birthday with Mike's family and Biscuit got to meet Uncle Ryan.  Uncle Ryan declined to hold or diaper the baby, but we will get him soon!  

I think we are finally getting the hang of this family thing, and although I still need MORE sleep, I am getting enough.  I have gotten the courage to take a shower with no other adults in the house and drive all the way to Grandma Rose's work with just me in the front and Biscuit in the back.  We even went to WalMart to pick up diapers!  I cannot speak for Michael, but I am certain he feels the same, I am so happy.  I didn't know I could ever be this happy.  I am looking forward to many more weeks (and many more blog posts, hopefully) with my fabulous little family.  

Week 1: A New Beginning (March 11th)

So many things to be said.  Don't know how to say them.  I'm a week behind on my blog but I think I've done pretty darn good.  We stayed at the hospital until Thursday, March 6th around 11am.  The nurses were awesome, the lactation consultant rocked my socks, and the food was better than before!  (All new menu, but my favorite was still there!)

We received some lovely flowers from Michael's work (and lucky Charlie got a check!), a teddy from the hospital, and chocolates from my sister's family.

Michael got to change his first diaper all by himself (after a crash course from the tech). 

Biscuit even had a professional photo shoot while we were there!  Here is a little taste.

On going home day we accidentally all matched. 

Michael got the car seat inspected, the tech strapped him in, and we lugged everything out to the car.  Biscuit and I got a nice chariot ride while Michael pushed the cart full of stuff. Biscuit didn't fill up his outfit or the carseat. 

Molly was curious...until he started crying.

And this sums up our first afternoon at home.

The rest of the week there were visitors...

Doctor visits...

And lots of naps.

I am now typing one handed because Biscuit has decided I can't shower AND blog in the same day, so I will make this short.  Some items of note: Biscuit's weight dropped to 6 pounds 9 ounces before we left the hospital, was 6 and 5 on our Friday appointment, and went up to 6 and 11 Monday!  He was a bit jaundiced when we left the hospital, and his bilirubin was 15.8 Friday, but down to 11 on Monday!  The pediatrician said he was very strong and a great eater, pulling in 2 ounces at one sitting.  I will try to get caught up sooner this week, but until then here is a video of Biscuit.

Biscuit's Birthday!

I was so disappointed after our appointment Monday morning, and hadn't been able to sleep, so I went home, closed the blinds, and curled up in to a ball on the couch.  I spent all day feeling sorry for myself.  That evening when Michael came home I decided to try all sorts of things.  I bounced on my exercise ball, ate a bunch of spicy candies, and did other recommended things to break water or stimulate contractions.  Suddenly, without warning, it started working.   Around 7pm my contractions started back up, fast and furious.  I sent Michael upstairs to bed because I was not fun to be around, and the contractions weren't coming regularly.  They didn't come regularly for a long time, but at about 1am I couldn't take it anymore.  I finally called the labor line and spoke with Dr. Anya.  She said to head on in and they would check how far along I was.  I crawled up the stairs to get Michael and he spent 20 minutes scraping ice off the car so he could at least see out of the windshield.  The roads were covered in ice, snow, and salt, so Michael drove us quickly and carefully to the Rex Women's Center. I cried the whole time, just sure I would be sent back home.  When we got there Dr. Anya was busy delivering a baby so our nurse checked me out.  I was 5cm and 100% dilated and the baby as at almost zero station! She checked with Dr. Anya and she said to admit me and give me my epidural whenever I wanted it.  I was so excited! Yay!  We were told we would probably have a baby by dinner time. 

We got in to our room and the nurse checked me out and said she couldn't get a good reading because the baby's head had pushed the amniotic sac so far down she was afraid it would burst before I got my epidural.  The anesthesiologist came in and tried very hard to place the perfect epidural, but failed...twice.  Apparently my nerves aren't in the right place so my left side was getting everything.  After 3 needle sticks and lots of meds I finally had a comfortable right side and a completely useless lump of a numb left side.  Dr. Anya came in around 9am, completely astonished that my water had not broken yet.  She decided to break it for me.  Now the shift change.  Guess who?! Dr. Gaines, the doctor who told me I wasn't in labor less than 24 hours ago.  I love him, don't get me wrong, but I was so excited that I would get to show him that I was, in fact, in labor.  Thirty minutes after the water breaking the nurse checked me out, expecting me to be 6 or 7cm along.  To her surprise, I was fully dilated and she could see Biscuit's head.  It was time to start pushing!  Not only would we have a baby by dinner, but we were going to have one by lunch!  One hour later, at 10:26am, Charles Denver Chenoweth was lying on my stomach and Michael was cutting the cord. 

They got him all cleaned up, but I was still being cleaned up and stitched up. The nurse asked Michael if he wanted to hold him.  He turned to me and asked me if it was ok. 

Unfortunately, before they were done stitching me up he had to head to the nursery because he was too cold and his shivering was making his blood sugar drop.  Michael headed to the nursery with Biscuit and they finished cleaning me up and getting me ready to head to my recovery room.  We stopped by the nursery and they let the nurse wheel me in and we talked about his blood sugar and temperature.  They would probably have to give him his bath in the nursery, which I would miss.  Michael stayed and took lots of pictures, though.

Finally he was warm and they brought him to me.  I couldn't wait to snuggle him.

It was a long day.  We took a little nap before the visitors came. 

That is all for now.  I will post more soon! 

Week 37: Early Labor (March 3)

We were told that the doctors would be very surprised if Biscuit waited until March to make his appearance.  Well, it was now March and Biscuit was still hiding out.  Early Sunday morning I was woken up by some very painful contractions.  That was at 3am.  I tried to sleep from 3-4 with no success.  So from 4-5 I counted contractions.  They were 5 minutes apart and about a minute long each!  I called the labor line, spoke with the doctor, and he told us to come on in.  I woke up Michael and we headed to the hospital.  We arrived around 7am and waited for our doctor to come in at 8am.  He checked me out and said I was 3cm dilated and 70% effaced, which was very early labor.  He had us walk the hall on and off for 2 hours and then checked me again.  We were still 3cm dilated, but now 80% effaced and my amniotic sac was bulging.  Dr. Gunter said that although I was technically in labor that this stage could take forever, especially for first time moms, so he sent us home and said to call back when my water broke or my contractions were 3 minutes apart. He said he wouldn't be surprised to see me back in that night.  The nurse expected me back.

Monday morning (yes, these doctors were hitting home runs with their guesses) I had a scheduled NST and a check with Dr. Gaines.  We hoped after the check that he would send us strraight to the hospital.  Unfortunately, Dr. Gaines decided I was only 2cm dilated and 80% effaced.  He told me that I was not in labor and to go home and rest.  *sigh*