This was a tough couple of days for me, as I had to part ways with my dad during the day, as it was time for him to head back to work. Thankfully, he has been able to get home at decent hours and I even got to see him during the day on Monday. But, this has let Mom and I try to do what we can to settle into a bit of a routine. However, the routine didn't really get started until today because we had some more visitors come by.
I was really glad to see Kelly and Faith Boultinghouse. Faith is only four years older than me and had kept asking her mom, "Did Lily (Liwy) come out yet?" Faith was just a tiny bit excited to see me, so excited in fact that she did not terrorize Norman as Mom says she normally does while here. He actually was out in public during Faith's visit, instead of hiding underneath the bed in the guest room. I got a cute set of pajamas from Faith, however I don't think I'll be wearing them anytime soon. I also got a visit on Monday from Queen Susan and her friend, Karen. They loved holding me and being in the hair business, they really liked my blonde streaks (aka, natural highlights).
Mom and Dad had a bit of some rough nights over the weekend, as I like to save all my fussiness for them. With Dad going back to work and mom starting to run out of gas, they were both super tired on Monday night. So, Grandma D offered to stay over and sleep on the couch with me in the Pack & Play downstairs next to her so Mom & Dad could sleep. I like to show everyone that I am a perfect angel so there was no crying nor any awake time for that matter for Grandma. I just slept through the whole night. And from the sounds of it, Dad was able to sleep through the night as well (first time since I've been here that he's gotten a full night of sleep). I think I get my sleeping habits from my dad. I think Mom missed seeing me in the middle of night, so even though Grandma was here, Mom still came to visit me. She either missed me or was just having a bit of trouble actually sleeping.
Today, I got a bit of an idea of what normal life will be for me. I spent most of the day sleeping, either in my car seat or in the Pack & Play. Mom let me play a bit in the swing, although I can't yet be left alone in there for a long period of time. I did show Grandma D today a bit of my fussy time, that I generally reserve for Mom & Dad. I suppose it had to come out sometime. Dad surprised Mom by being home earlier than expected, and we watched Neil Diamond night on American Idol. Mom was happy to be watching, while Dad acted disgruntled at having to do so.
Monday night, Noel & Briana brought some chicken strips for Mom & Dad, and on Tuesday, Kimber & Justin brought some fajitas. We are all especially grateful and appreciative for all the help and meals that we are getting; even though Mom is having trouble sleeping, not having to worry about food certainly makes things a bit easier.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Weekend Warrior
Well, Lily has made it through the weekend and is doing fabulous. We have been so blessed by all the help from our family to make it through these first few days. Grandma Dranselka and Grandma Patty have constantly been over here, literally from the moment that we got home from the hospital. It has been such a huge blessing to have them over here. Neither Katy nor I have been very good in the past about accepting help from others (we like to give it), but this has been a time when we have not been afraid to say yes when asked for help. Our house has never been so clean, laundry has never been done so regularly, and things have never been taken care of so well than when we've had them over these past few days. We've also been extremely blessed by our small group from church who have been mobilized to bring food over to us. We had G & Nancy Williams bring us over empanadas on Friday, Todd & Candes Shewmaker bringing us spaghetti on Saturday, and Jeff & Lindsay Farley bringing over some creamy chicken casserole. It is so reassuring to know that we are not going through this alone and know we have so many family & friends nearby, just asking to be helped.
Both Friday & Saturday night, Lily had some fussy times in the middle of the night. Dad and Mom switched off taking care of her during her awake time from 11 pm Friday night through 3:30 am Saturday morning. Grandma Dranselka was over bright & early on Saturday to give Dad & Mom a chance to nap. We had our first middle of the night unfortunate incident as Katy had fallen asleep around 2 am on Saturday morning with a bag of ice on her chest; she woke up around 3 in a pool of wet water as the bag had opened and fallen all over her and the bed. Our bedroom is normally a bit warm, but going to that extreme to cool off was not necessary. So, we had to take care of the wet sheets, move the cradle to the guest room, and try to make the best of that situation, even though it was the middle of the night. Lily woke up again around 2:30 am on Sunday morning and got to spend an hour with Dad before falling asleep again.
One thing that Katy and I have both learned is to make the most of our available time to get some sleep. Before Lily came around, if I was a bit tired, there would be no way that I would lay down if I had to get back up in half an hour. This morning, when Lily fell asleep around 3:30, even though the next feeding was at 4:00 am, I took advantage of that 30 minute block and got some sleep. You take it when you get it. We let Katy sleep through the next feeding and used some pumped milk to get Lily happy, and Mom actually got to sleep for like 4 consecutive hours (wow, a week ago, we would not have been bragging about 4 straight hours of sleep; I guess our whole world has truly changed). Mom woke up around 9:30 am and let Dad sleep until noon.
We had a major victory (and defeat) today. It was a victory because we had been praying for Lily to have a dirty diaper and she finally came through around 5:30 pm. Lily had a good day of dirty diapers on her first day and then a couple on Wednesday. But, then nothing dirty on Thurday, Friday, or Saturday. We were obviously a bit concerned because the baby books give you dirty diapers thresholds to look for to make sure they are growing and getting the food they need. The lactation people at the hospital gave us some tips on how to "help" the situation along and that did no good. Sunday morning, we got a hold of Dr. Rodriguez who was not too concerned. But, all of that concern was for naught as Lily came through in quite a big way. We smelled something (but Lily has been letting out some gas over the past few days, but just with nothing to show for it), and then when we went to check the diaper, Katy and I let out a joyous wail of celebration when we some something inside the diaper. It taught us that maybe we shouldn't have been so anxious about wanting to see a dirty diaper. I guess from this point on, we are going to be a whole lot more diappointed, rather than happy, when we see a dirty diaper. But, our little girl is showing us that she is feeding well and having something to show for it, so we are happy.
We've had some more visitors by. Mike & Heather Gaven came by on Saturday night. Buck's aunt, Shanna Yates, came by. Both of them were quite excited to see Lily dressed up in Aggies attire. When Todd came over with the food, his son Tucker was with him because "he wanted to see the chicken in the front yard" (meaning the stork yard decoration that Grandma Patty had rented for us. On Sunday, Heidi from next door came over, Lindsay & Jeff brought food, Joy McQueen, and Robi White were all over. It has been real nice to see everyone and everyone has been so gracious and patient to space the visits out and be mindful of our needs as well. But, we are incredibly blessed that everyone has been so excited to see our little princess.
The other big event was the first bath at home. Mom & Dad were a little nervous trying to make sure we did everything right, and Lily seemed to be as unhappy at bath with us as she was at bath in the hospital. Lily did really good during the bath (until it was time for washing the hair). I didn't realize exactly how light her hair was until we started scrubbing it. I have felt pretty comfortable holding Lily and not thinking that I would drop her, but when she was kinda wet and a bit slippery, I was a little nervous. But, I think her being home now for 4 nights and getting a bath and getting a nice & dirty diaper, I think we can all agree that the little one is doing quite well.Saturday, April 26, 2008
Adjusting to life at home
After birth, I was able to stay in the nursery for a few hours and give mom & dad a chance to sleep. I was back in there by 8 am, looking just as cute as when I left them.
That evening, Dad gave me the great privilege of watching Star Wars (Episode IV, A New Hope) with him and seeing firsthand why that is such a great story. I don't really remember hearing any of it, but he said that it wasn't my first time experiencing that as him and mom watched that some while I was still in mama's belly. But, I do have to admit that the movie was quite good. 
After the movie, Todd & Candes Shewmaker came by and brought some chinese food for dinner. Mama really did not care for the mystery meat that was her hospital dinner that night. After dinner, Steve Dye (campus minister at Journey Fellowship) and his daughter Emily came by; Emily is really good with kids and babies and she could not wait to get her hands on me.My first full night went by fine. I was a bit fussy in the middle of the night, but mom & dad took good care of me, and we were all pretty tired by the morning when they came and took me back the nursery for a visit from Dr. Rodriguez again. I lost a bit of weight (down to 7 pounds, 13 ounces), so that is expected but they are just going to watch that some. Mom & Dad made the decision to take me home on Wednesday. Mom & I practiced feeding some more with the lactation people and then we were free to go. Before leaving, another one of my mama's friends, Jenny Shweers, came by to see me. I feel good knowing that if something were to happen to me, my mom has several friends who are nurses, that will be around to give us good advice.
Mom had this really elaborate & puffy dress for me to wear home; she told me that although I didn't really care for it, the puffiness of it all does not compare with what her mama made her wear when she came home from the hospital. But, despite my dislike, I was extremely cute. But, as cute as I was, I really did not like my first experience in the car seat. That thing is tight, but they told me it was just to keep me safe. So, we got into the Pilot and headed home. Dad was extra cautious driving home, but they just want to take care of me.When we got home, there was a big party waiting for me with the family. There was lots of pink and a nice big stork in the front yard announcing me to all the neighbors. Mom got to have some champagne (her first drink in nine months) and we celebrated me coming home. I was so excited to see my fun room that they had prepared for me.
And best of all, I got to meet my big brother, Baby Norman (our cat). I was told that he wanted to meet me, but he didn't give me a very welcoming reaction. He seemed to sniff me for a minute and then headed off to find something more interesting or just put his backside towards me. Mom told me that one thing we have in common is that we like to both sleep a lot, but if that is the case, I don't know why he would always turn his back to me when I was around him.
The first night went by fine. I got to sleep in the cradle that my great-granddad Johnson made for me (my grandma Patty told me that it was the same bed my daddy slept in right after he was born).On Thursday, we had another exciting day. We had to head out to see Dr. Rodriguez in the morning and I had dropped a bit more weight so we are going to have supplementing my food with some formula for a little bit, nothing serious right now just a precautionary measure. Grandma Dranselka was over during the afternoon, but I'm getting a bit more used to life at home. I really did not have a good day feeding today, so we are headed out on Friday to get some help from the lactation people at the hospital.
On Friday, I really did not sleep through the night as mom & dad would have liked. I was up for feedings around 2 and 6. I think things really hit dad that he was getting sleep deprived between that time as he did not want to get up. But, he did and I'm really glad to have him around this week. We had to head back to the hospital to get a test for jaundice (yellow skin), because I've had some wet diapers but not the other kind. While there at the hospital, mom worked with the lactation people to make sure that I am doing ok on getting the feeding I need. But, I am doing fine with jaundice, and mom felt a whole lot better on how to feed me and we had a good rest of the day feeding. I am starting to get some milk from her so I think things are going to work out really well now for me and my growth.
In the afternoon, after I fed, Grandma Patty was over to hold me and let me fall asleep with her. That evening, Nancy Williams (Xavier's mom) came over and brought food for mom & dad. They started a movie but then both me and mama fell asleep right there on the couch before it was time for me to eat again.
Welcome Lily!
What an exciting week this has been. My mama went into the hospital on Monday at 6 am for them to induce me for delivery. The last few weeks of the pregnancy were a bit hard on mom. I was scheduled to come on April 26, but throughout the pregnancy my mom had some high blood pressure. On March 28, at her appointment, the doctor sent to the hospital for some tests due to that high blood pressure and then put her on bed rest. We kept thinking I would come even earlier than when I did. They were ready for me the following Friday, April 4. Then, the doctor said things were looking good and it would look like I'd come on April 14 (my uncle Jay's birthday). Then, mama improved a bit, so they still wanted to deliver me early, but they could wait until April 21. So, mom & dad headed into the hospital on Monday for delivery.
Mom got her medicine for induction around 11 am but nothing much was happening throughout the day. Mom & Dad told me that my family was there with them throughout the whole experience, both sets of grandparents, Aunt Rachel, Aunt Emily. And lots of phone calls and prayers and thoughts from others who were not there at the hospital. They spent time watching their favorite movies (you'll find mom & dad love to watch movies): 13 Going on 30, Legally Blonde, Mansfield Park, Anchorman, Napoleon Dynamite.
Mom was starting to get a bit frustrated, and my delivery overlapped the nurses' shift and the night shift came on. Around 7 pm, Dr. Simpson (mom's doctor) came in and broke the water and then things started to happen real quick. At 7 pm, mom was at 3 cm. I started to really give mom a hard time around 9 pm, and they gave her a really big shot at 10:15 pm. She started to feel a whole lot more comfortable by 11 pm and mom & dad rested for an hour (mama told me that dad fell asleep but mama couldn't so eventually that meant dad couldn't sleep either). She was only 4-5 cm at 11 pm, but by 12:30, she was at 8-9 cm, and it appeared I would be there soon.
The nurse checked again around 1 am, and mama was almost ready. They worked a little bit on her and by 1:45, it was time for me to come. Dr. Simpson was called and was there by 2:20 and I came out after just 5 pushes at 2:34 am. Right before I came out, dad told me that he could look down and see one of my little black hairs sticking out, so he got a little sneak peak. I came it just perfect, at 8 pounds & 3 ounces. I let out a massive cry just to let everyone know that I was here and then they let my mama hold me for a moment. Then, the nurses took me over to the other side of the room, and they got me ready to breathe and live on my own. They gave me some test (APGAR) and I got a 8-9 score, so Dad was impressed that I was already scoring well. It was so nice to be in there with mama so it did take some adjusting to life on the outside world. Dad went out and told everyone that I was there and perfect and then they finished cleaning me and mama up.
Around 3 am, I got to meet the rest of my family for the first time. Grandma Dranselka was the first to hold me, and she seemed to really love me. Then, it was Grandma Patty, Grandpa Brockman, and Grandad Dranselka (although I think he was scared he was going to hurt me, but he doesn't know that I am pretty resilent). Then, Aunt Fancy Rachel took me and I got a picture as the newest addition to the Dranselka women. I was also glad my mom's best friend from college, Aunt Emily, was there to greet me.
Everyone went home after that, and then I had my first meal with mama. Then, they sent me off to the nursery. Dad got to come for a little bit, and they put me under the heat lamp to let my temperature warm up. They measured me (20 1/4 inches) with some really long legs (I get that from dad). I got both my mom and dad's long fingers & toes. They checked me out some, and then I had to get my first bath, and I sure did not like that at all. Then, dad left and they left me in the nursery so mom & dad could get another hour nap in before I came back to them.
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