Saturday, April 12, 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
One month
Our little man is one month old today. It all seems surreal. In a way, the time has flown by, and on the other hand I can't remember life without him. He has brightened our days, deepened our love and has brought us so much happiness. These are some pictures I took today of his one month birthday. We went to Olive Garden to celebrate and then Audrey wanted cupcakes to celebrate his "birthday" so went to Kara's cupcakes but they were closed. We settled for doughnuts instead. I will post more pictures his first month later.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Dane's story
Disclaimer: This post is extremely long with lots of boring details, but this is the only form of journaling I have I want to remember the details. Also, my brain has turned to mush so please excuse any and all grammatical errors. Plus I don't have time to proof read this mile long entry (I need to go nurse Dane and I want to eat again before I do), so if it doesn't make sense, you know why.
This is our story the weekend our little Dane was born:
Friday: went to Discovery Museum (parking lot) and to Corte Madera with Addi, Max and Jack (see previous posts).
Friday night picnic:
We have a tradition in our little family where Friday nights are picnic nights. We have pizza and watch a movie on a blanket in our family room. Audrey loves being able to sit on the ground and watch a movie. The week before Dane was due, I decided to go on a TV hiatus...I knew she would be watching plenty once he was born so the whole week before she didn't watch any. We ate our pizza and then made cookies instead of watching a movie.
On Saturday we went to the East Bay to celebrate Aunt Ritz's bday (of which I sadly have no pictures). Before we left, Dave packed the hospital bag while I bathed Audrey just in case I went into labor while in the East Bay. I didn't think I would, but that way we would be prepared. That way we could go straight to the hospital. He just put the essentials (camera, video camera, toothbrush, disinfectant wipes...I know I am OCD about the cleanliness) in a suitcase and off we went to the East Bay. We played Bocce ball and then I came home to put Audrey down for a nap. My nesting instincts kicked in again, and instead of napping (which looking back I should have done) I cleaned out the car. Vacuumed, dusted, the whole sha-bang. Then Dave and I went to test drive mini vans. I know, I know, we are that family who wants a mini van. That night we came home and went to bed. I remember having two contractions and on the third one I looked at the clock. It was 10:55 pm. I was basically up the rest of the night with contractions. At first I thought it was indigestion, but then I had a contraction and the pain started in my lower back and radiated all the way through my body and out my finger tips and I knew I was in labor. I woke up Dave and told him our baby was coming tonight. We were both a little nervous about the timing. The following week Dave had two tests, a project and a practical. Before I went to bed I had talked to my friend Rocia and she told me the wives tale about how once you pack your hospital bag you go into labor. I told Dave this and he said, "Well good thing I didn't pack everything". I agreed and seriously thought that since everything wasn't packed my labor was going to reverse itself and I could get some sleep. Oh the contrary. We called the advise nurse (Dave called, I couldn't talk through contractions) at 3 am and she said to wait until the contractions were every five minutes to come in. I felt like a first time mom. With Audrey, my water broke before I had any contractions so I went right to the hospital. With Dane, my water hadn't even broke yet so I had no idea what to expect. Finally, finally after many many hours of not sleeping and contractions every nine minutes we started calling family around 7:30 am and told them the exciting news. Audrey woke up around 8:30 am and we had a nice family breakfast together. It was fun to eat one last meal as our little family of three. By this time, contractions were about every seven minutes, and I would go into the bathroom when I had one so Audrey wouldn't see me in pain. Dave would come with me and push really hard on my lower back. That was the only thing that would help with the back labor pain. We had a yummy breakfast and I basically stuffed my face with waffles with peanut butter,and English muffins with lots of cream cheese because I knew once we got to the hospital there would be no food for me until our baby was born and I hate being hungry. I love the memory of the three of us at our kitchen table. It was a beautiful Sunday morning and the sun was coming through our window. Audrey was being such a sweet girl and was excited when I told her Brother was going to come that day. After breakfast, Dave got Audrey ready for Church. I usually paint Audrey's fingernails on Sunday mornings, and my sweet husband did the honors that morning. Regan and Joel came to pick her up and take her to Church (my mom met them at Church and took Audrey pack to her house). I had a melt down as Audrey left. She was my little girl, my baby, and I off to the hospital to have a new one. I know it sounds so lame, but I honestly felt so sad to see her go. Our lives were changing, and she was so oblivious as to what was happening to the world she knew. She saw me crying and kept asking if I was sad, and I just told her that these were happy tears.
After she left I went into her room and sat on the rocking chair and just cried. My poor husband came in and took one look at his horomally challenged, forty week pregnant, humongous wife and said exactly what I needed to hear..."We aren't trading kids, we are getting a new one." And with that we packed up and we off to the hospital. It was our lucky day because we found a parking spot on the street close to the hospital! Unheard of. We arrived at noon and got all situated.
I was dilated to a four and 80% effaced. They wanted to slow down my labor so I could receive the four hours of antibiotics I needed (I was GSB positive). They told me I couldn't get out of the bed until 3:30 pm, and then at 3:30 they would give me pitocin and then at 4:00 they would break my water. I wanted to go as long as I could without the epidural, but the only thing that made the pain bearable was walking and being able to stand and Dave put pressure on my lower back. 99% of the pain I felt was in my lower back and the thought of sitting in a bed for three and half hours made me want to die. Plus I had been up all night and was exhausted. They took me upstairs and at 2:30pm I received the epidural and then made phone calls to family and friends. Dave slept, and I tried to, but I could still feel the pain on the right side of my back so I couldn't’t sleep. At 3:30 they gave me pitocin and then at 4:30 the Dr broke my water.
Meanwhile, Dave and I are just hanging out and Dave is being champion superstar husband. The Dr came back at 5:25 pm and told me I was ready to start pushing. The nurse set everything up and at 5:30 I started to push. I got the shakes really badly and I couldn't’t stop shaking. My jaw was jittering like crazy. They gave me so oxygen which seemed to help and I remember thinking that the oxygen smelled like lavender, which I appreciated. About four minutes into the pushing the Dr told me that this was a really big baby, that the cord was wrapped around his neck, that his heart rate was dropping dramatically and that I had to do all I could to push this baby out as fast as I could. Mother bear instincts kicked in and I pushed for all I was worth. He was born at 5:38 pm…eight minutes after I started pushing. The Dr had to cut the cord before he was all the way out and when she did blood sprayed all over my face and on Dave's shirt. The nurse kept telling me, "It's okay...he's your own flesh and blood, don't let this freak you out." I didn't care one bit. The Dr held him up and I feel madly in love. I was pretty emotional. I looked up at Dave and he was teary eyed as well. They laid him on my stomach for just a second and then whisked him away and called for backup because he wasn’t breathing and was blue. Dave rushed over to be with him and I just laid there (obviously). After a few minutes they let me hold him, and I was so amazed that he was ours. I couldn’t believe how much I loved him.
After a few seconds he started to turn blue again so off he went for more suctioning. Then they weighed him (I was thinking high eights and was totally surprised by my 9 pound, 5 oz baby),
measured him, gave him his shots and then he was all mine. I nursed him for the first time, and then snuggled with my new son. My parents brought Audrey to meet her new brother.
She liked the baby, but didn’t really care for me. I think it was scary for her to see me in the hospital bed like that. The first thing she said to Dane was, “Hhhhiiiiiiii!!!!” She was pretty cute. Her new brother bought her a present that she was excited about (a Cinderella computer).
Then the rest of the family came to meet its newest member and Dave and I were so proud of our little man.
It was a great day. We came home from the hospital on that following Tuesday night and life has been crazy and very good ever since. I am truly blessed.
Fun facts about Dane's day of birth:
*I delievered on my actual due date, which supposedly only 3% of women do
*I had him on Day Light Savings Day so all the clocks in the hospital were off.
This is our story the weekend our little Dane was born:
Friday: went to Discovery Museum (parking lot) and to Corte Madera with Addi, Max and Jack (see previous posts).
Friday night picnic:
We have a tradition in our little family where Friday nights are picnic nights. We have pizza and watch a movie on a blanket in our family room. Audrey loves being able to sit on the ground and watch a movie. The week before Dane was due, I decided to go on a TV hiatus...I knew she would be watching plenty once he was born so the whole week before she didn't watch any. We ate our pizza and then made cookies instead of watching a movie.
On Saturday we went to the East Bay to celebrate Aunt Ritz's bday (of which I sadly have no pictures). Before we left, Dave packed the hospital bag while I bathed Audrey just in case I went into labor while in the East Bay. I didn't think I would, but that way we would be prepared. That way we could go straight to the hospital. He just put the essentials (camera, video camera, toothbrush, disinfectant wipes...I know I am OCD about the cleanliness) in a suitcase and off we went to the East Bay. We played Bocce ball and then I came home to put Audrey down for a nap. My nesting instincts kicked in again, and instead of napping (which looking back I should have done) I cleaned out the car. Vacuumed, dusted, the whole sha-bang. Then Dave and I went to test drive mini vans. I know, I know, we are that family who wants a mini van. That night we came home and went to bed. I remember having two contractions and on the third one I looked at the clock. It was 10:55 pm. I was basically up the rest of the night with contractions. At first I thought it was indigestion, but then I had a contraction and the pain started in my lower back and radiated all the way through my body and out my finger tips and I knew I was in labor. I woke up Dave and told him our baby was coming tonight. We were both a little nervous about the timing. The following week Dave had two tests, a project and a practical. Before I went to bed I had talked to my friend Rocia and she told me the wives tale about how once you pack your hospital bag you go into labor. I told Dave this and he said, "Well good thing I didn't pack everything". I agreed and seriously thought that since everything wasn't packed my labor was going to reverse itself and I could get some sleep. Oh the contrary. We called the advise nurse (Dave called, I couldn't talk through contractions) at 3 am and she said to wait until the contractions were every five minutes to come in. I felt like a first time mom. With Audrey, my water broke before I had any contractions so I went right to the hospital. With Dane, my water hadn't even broke yet so I had no idea what to expect. Finally, finally after many many hours of not sleeping and contractions every nine minutes we started calling family around 7:30 am and told them the exciting news. Audrey woke up around 8:30 am and we had a nice family breakfast together. It was fun to eat one last meal as our little family of three. By this time, contractions were about every seven minutes, and I would go into the bathroom when I had one so Audrey wouldn't see me in pain. Dave would come with me and push really hard on my lower back. That was the only thing that would help with the back labor pain. We had a yummy breakfast and I basically stuffed my face with waffles with peanut butter,and English muffins with lots of cream cheese because I knew once we got to the hospital there would be no food for me until our baby was born and I hate being hungry. I love the memory of the three of us at our kitchen table. It was a beautiful Sunday morning and the sun was coming through our window. Audrey was being such a sweet girl and was excited when I told her Brother was going to come that day. After breakfast, Dave got Audrey ready for Church. I usually paint Audrey's fingernails on Sunday mornings, and my sweet husband did the honors that morning. Regan and Joel came to pick her up and take her to Church (my mom met them at Church and took Audrey pack to her house). I had a melt down as Audrey left. She was my little girl, my baby, and I off to the hospital to have a new one. I know it sounds so lame, but I honestly felt so sad to see her go. Our lives were changing, and she was so oblivious as to what was happening to the world she knew. She saw me crying and kept asking if I was sad, and I just told her that these were happy tears.
After she left I went into her room and sat on the rocking chair and just cried. My poor husband came in and took one look at his horomally challenged, forty week pregnant, humongous wife and said exactly what I needed to hear..."We aren't trading kids, we are getting a new one." And with that we packed up and we off to the hospital. It was our lucky day because we found a parking spot on the street close to the hospital! Unheard of. We arrived at noon and got all situated.
I was dilated to a four and 80% effaced. They wanted to slow down my labor so I could receive the four hours of antibiotics I needed (I was GSB positive). They told me I couldn't get out of the bed until 3:30 pm, and then at 3:30 they would give me pitocin and then at 4:00 they would break my water. I wanted to go as long as I could without the epidural, but the only thing that made the pain bearable was walking and being able to stand and Dave put pressure on my lower back. 99% of the pain I felt was in my lower back and the thought of sitting in a bed for three and half hours made me want to die. Plus I had been up all night and was exhausted. They took me upstairs and at 2:30pm I received the epidural and then made phone calls to family and friends. Dave slept, and I tried to, but I could still feel the pain on the right side of my back so I couldn't’t sleep. At 3:30 they gave me pitocin and then at 4:30 the Dr broke my water.
Meanwhile, Dave and I are just hanging out and Dave is being champion superstar husband. The Dr came back at 5:25 pm and told me I was ready to start pushing. The nurse set everything up and at 5:30 I started to push. I got the shakes really badly and I couldn't’t stop shaking. My jaw was jittering like crazy. They gave me so oxygen which seemed to help and I remember thinking that the oxygen smelled like lavender, which I appreciated. About four minutes into the pushing the Dr told me that this was a really big baby, that the cord was wrapped around his neck, that his heart rate was dropping dramatically and that I had to do all I could to push this baby out as fast as I could. Mother bear instincts kicked in and I pushed for all I was worth. He was born at 5:38 pm…eight minutes after I started pushing. The Dr had to cut the cord before he was all the way out and when she did blood sprayed all over my face and on Dave's shirt. The nurse kept telling me, "It's okay...he's your own flesh and blood, don't let this freak you out." I didn't care one bit. The Dr held him up and I feel madly in love. I was pretty emotional. I looked up at Dave and he was teary eyed as well. They laid him on my stomach for just a second and then whisked him away and called for backup because he wasn’t breathing and was blue. Dave rushed over to be with him and I just laid there (obviously). After a few minutes they let me hold him, and I was so amazed that he was ours. I couldn’t believe how much I loved him.
After a few seconds he started to turn blue again so off he went for more suctioning. Then they weighed him (I was thinking high eights and was totally surprised by my 9 pound, 5 oz baby),
She liked the baby, but didn’t really care for me. I think it was scary for her to see me in the hospital bed like that. The first thing she said to Dane was, “Hhhhiiiiiiii!!!!” She was pretty cute. Her new brother bought her a present that she was excited about (a Cinderella computer).
Then the rest of the family came to meet its newest member and Dave and I were so proud of our little man.
Fun facts about Dane's day of birth:
*I delievered on my actual due date, which supposedly only 3% of women do
*I had him on Day Light Savings Day so all the clocks in the hospital were off.
Smiles
Dane smiled at me on Wednesday afternoon...twice. It might have been gas, but I like to think he was smiling at his mama. He officially started smiling last night. I love my little guy.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Overwhelmed...
I am completely overwhelmed. Not by how tired I am, not by how much food I have to consume in order to make enough milk to feed my son (I am eating a bowl of cereal as I type this), not by how Audrey all of sudden thinks that I matter and only wants me to help her, and not even by how many diapers I change each day. No, instead I am overwhelmed by people and their genuine goodness. I have been so blessed during this transition. Thank you so much to all those who have called, emailed, visited, helped with Audrey, brought meals, or scrubbed my entire house (Mom, what would I have done without you?). It means the world to feel so well taken care of.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Welcome
Our sweet son, Dane, was born on Sunday, March 9, 2008 at 5:38 pm weighing 9 pounds, 5 oz and was 21 inches long.
We came home from the hospital last night and love being home. Here are a few pictures and I will post our story and more pictures later. I need to sleep...
How we love our little man
We came home from the hospital last night and love being home. Here are a few pictures and I will post our story and more pictures later. I need to sleep...
How we love our little man
Sunday, March 9, 2008
It's time...
We are off to the hospital! Contractions started at 11:00 pm last night and now they are every six minutes so we are off to have our baby boy! We are so excited to see his face and meet this new little person. Welcome to the world little one.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Friday, March 7, 2008
Our little princesses...
On Wednesday night, Rocia (thanks for the great idea), Mindi, Ladonna and I took our little princesses on a date. Before Audrey's nap, I told her when she woke up I was going to take her on date. The first thing she said after her nap was, "Date!"
We didn't tell the girls where we were going until we got there, and I told Audrey we were going to see Princesses on ice skates. She totally understood the princess part, but had no idea what ice skates were. We dressed the girls all up in their princess dresses and took them to see Disney on Ice: Princess Wishes. It was so fun, and the best part for me was watching Audrey's little face.
She wouldn't stop watching the show for a picture...
Audrey was so excited when Ariel came out. I really liked the show as well. That is her little hand in the corner pointing to all the bubbles. This picture doesn't do it justice.
During intermission. Do these lovely ladies look sleepy? They should, the show started at 7:30 and Audrey is in bed by 8:00. She did great though. She was sitting on my lap and kept turing around and giving me big smiles. When Cinderella came out, Audrey took her own Cinderella dress in her hand and said, "Cheers". It was hysterical. When the show was over she looked at me and did sign language for "more". Every day she asks me if we can go on another Princess date. Being the sucker I am, I bought a very over priced Ariel cup so I would always remember our last mother-daughter date before our little guy comes.
My very own Princess
We didn't tell the girls where we were going until we got there, and I told Audrey we were going to see Princesses on ice skates. She totally understood the princess part, but had no idea what ice skates were. We dressed the girls all up in their princess dresses and took them to see Disney on Ice: Princess Wishes. It was so fun, and the best part for me was watching Audrey's little face.
She wouldn't stop watching the show for a picture...
Audrey was so excited when Ariel came out. I really liked the show as well. That is her little hand in the corner pointing to all the bubbles. This picture doesn't do it justice.
During intermission. Do these lovely ladies look sleepy? They should, the show started at 7:30 and Audrey is in bed by 8:00. She did great though. She was sitting on my lap and kept turing around and giving me big smiles. When Cinderella came out, Audrey took her own Cinderella dress in her hand and said, "Cheers". It was hysterical. When the show was over she looked at me and did sign language for "more". Every day she asks me if we can go on another Princess date. Being the sucker I am, I bought a very over priced Ariel cup so I would always remember our last mother-daughter date before our little guy comes.
My very own Princess
Keeping Busy...
Audrey and I have had so much fun together these last couple of weeks. With my due date approaching (this Sunday) I thought I had better take advantage of the beautiful weather (and the ease of only having one child) and take my little Audrey out and about. Last Wednesday (Feb 27) our playgroup took our little ones to the Japanese Tea Gardens (thanks Kate for the pictures!).
Dave has been working extra hard at school so when this little guy comes he won't be so busy. Audrey and I went down to Crissy Field for a little dinner picnic last Thursday night. Some dog came and tried to eat our food (the owner was oblivious as to what was going on) and poor Audrey was freaking out. I just told Audrey that her mom makes the best quesadillas in the whole world and the dog wanted some. I want Audrey to think her mom is a great cook, so sometimes I have to brainwash her.(Feb 28-sorry, I am obsessed with knowing the dates of things)
Girls Day-Saturday March 1
Dave had a conference in the morning, so Audrey and I did some organizing and cleaning of the house. He came home and during Audrey's nap, Regan, Jocelyn and I went and got manicures and pedicures. I was very particular about the color of my hands and feet...my fingers had to be a nice soft color so when I was holding the baby all attention wouldn't be on my fingernails (unlike Jocelyn's orange/red fingernails), and my toenails had to be something festive...blue, of course.
After naps, we loaded Audrey and Maggie in the car and the five girls headed up to Napa to do some shopping, and of course go to Wendy's. Our husbands had a big test on Tuesday, so we let them study while we shopped and ate frosty's (as in two for me!), cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets and french fries. What kind wives we are.
After we got home from Napa, Audrey went to the table and started coloring on Dave's school work. When we asked her what she was doing, she said, "studying".
Legion of Honor - Tues, March 4
Annie Leibovitz's work is at the Legion of Honor right now so we decided to take our kids to free day so we could enjoy her photography. Big mistake for me. Audrey was NOT impressed with Ms. Leibovitz's work and cried to be taken outside. Once we got outside, she was great, but how could she not have fun with all her friends at this beautiful place?
Wednesday we went to the zoo, but I don't have any pictures. Today Addi and I took the kids to the Discovery Museum but it was PACKED. Instead of trying to brave the crowd, we had our cute kids play by the parking lot (it was safe, I swear). They loved just running up and down in the grass trying to get each other, and then watching the water hit the rocks.
After a while we packed up and drove up to the mall. Audrey and Max loved playing in the fountains and we appreciated that they knew of their dads student status and got their own money out of the fountain themselves.
Then we mosied on over to the playground where we had a picnic and Audrey "helped" Max up the slide. Audrey, if and when this baby decides to come, you will make a great big sister.
Dave has been working extra hard at school so when this little guy comes he won't be so busy. Audrey and I went down to Crissy Field for a little dinner picnic last Thursday night. Some dog came and tried to eat our food (the owner was oblivious as to what was going on) and poor Audrey was freaking out. I just told Audrey that her mom makes the best quesadillas in the whole world and the dog wanted some. I want Audrey to think her mom is a great cook, so sometimes I have to brainwash her.(Feb 28-sorry, I am obsessed with knowing the dates of things)
Girls Day-Saturday March 1
Dave had a conference in the morning, so Audrey and I did some organizing and cleaning of the house. He came home and during Audrey's nap, Regan, Jocelyn and I went and got manicures and pedicures. I was very particular about the color of my hands and feet...my fingers had to be a nice soft color so when I was holding the baby all attention wouldn't be on my fingernails (unlike Jocelyn's orange/red fingernails), and my toenails had to be something festive...blue, of course.
After naps, we loaded Audrey and Maggie in the car and the five girls headed up to Napa to do some shopping, and of course go to Wendy's. Our husbands had a big test on Tuesday, so we let them study while we shopped and ate frosty's (as in two for me!), cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets and french fries. What kind wives we are.
After we got home from Napa, Audrey went to the table and started coloring on Dave's school work. When we asked her what she was doing, she said, "studying".
Legion of Honor - Tues, March 4
Annie Leibovitz's work is at the Legion of Honor right now so we decided to take our kids to free day so we could enjoy her photography. Big mistake for me. Audrey was NOT impressed with Ms. Leibovitz's work and cried to be taken outside. Once we got outside, she was great, but how could she not have fun with all her friends at this beautiful place?
Wednesday we went to the zoo, but I don't have any pictures. Today Addi and I took the kids to the Discovery Museum but it was PACKED. Instead of trying to brave the crowd, we had our cute kids play by the parking lot (it was safe, I swear). They loved just running up and down in the grass trying to get each other, and then watching the water hit the rocks.
After a while we packed up and drove up to the mall. Audrey and Max loved playing in the fountains and we appreciated that they knew of their dads student status and got their own money out of the fountain themselves.
Then we mosied on over to the playground where we had a picnic and Audrey "helped" Max up the slide. Audrey, if and when this baby decides to come, you will make a great big sister.
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