Six Days And Going Strong

Our little bundle is now six days old, and our lives are officially turned around and upside down. People will start telling you from the minute they find out you're expecting that things will change, but you don't really get that until it's happened. The wife and I went from free-spirit and whimsy to serious and sensitive in no time flat. It seems our sole responsibility from here out is to make sure that little child is well cared for and comfortable. I suppose its all apart of the way we were designed - but for us it's a new way of life.

Everything so far has been textbook. She sleeps as much as is recommended, she poops the right amount (and is even the 'right' color), and enough pee diapers to make a mother proud. The breast feeding has been a dream; everything that could go right has done so!

A week off of work seems long enough, but an occasional picture from mom during the day is going to wrench my heart not being able to be apart of their daily experience. At the same time, getting back into a pattern will do my left-brain some good. On the subject of time, it has gone unbelievably fast. Our days (and nights) have been action packed. We find ourselves staring into the crib gawking at her little facial expressions and movements for ten or fifteen minutes at a time. When we're waiting on her to wake back up for a next feeding, Carrie and I are talking about her and the dreams we have. It's an unbelievable time and experience.

Our new favorite way to spend time with Afton:

Afton Elizabeth

We arrived back home from the hospital yesterday and I'm just having time enough to sit down and pull off all the pictures from our camera. You can view a few of them online here: (Clicky)

What a trip! Carrie was induced starting around 8.30pm on 4/3 and Afton was born at 12.02pm on 4/4. She was 7lbs 8oz at birth and is 20 inches long.

Both are doing great now and trying to get some rest.

Baby Being Induced!!

We found out on Monday that Carrie will be induced this Thursday at 8pm. No real complications other than a lot of discomfort from mom...plus the baby is "in good position". We are extremely excited and ready to get the show on the road.

Names?
Now that the day is drawing nigh, I am saying to myself "oh crap, we need a name!". I thought I'd have an inspiration by now! The short list I posted a while ago is still the short list, plus a couple others thrown in...but I'm not confident on anything. What a responsibility...naming a child. Hopefully it becomes clear when we start to get to know her in the first few hours.

More updates to come!

Birthing Class Experience

Today we took a birthing class at Mount Carmel East Hospital in Columbus.  This was really something that Carrie wanted to do, so I somewhat reluctantly agreed to attend with her.  ...and as it turns out I am really happy that I did.  I think I would recommend it to any couple having their first child. 

My reasons for not wanting to go are probably a common theme among new dads...we think we don't need any help - let nature take its course just like it's done for hundreds/thousands of years and lets get on with it.  Well I'm sure that would have worked - we would still end up with a baby on the other side, but after this class I guess I am a little more...enlightened? 

In the class we discussed almost every common problem or question that couples face during birth/pre-birth.  Knowing what is coming down the pike really gave Carrie and I both comfort.  Even if the decisions are going to be difficult, we at least know our options ahead of time and that can take a lot of pressure off when its go-time.  We really enjoyed the teacher and thought she did an excellent job of presenting all of the relevant stuff without a lot of mumbo-jumbo.  Very down to earth, very well spoken.

Mom's status:

Well, we're in the home stretch now (6 weeks to go and counting) and our doctor wants Carrie to start going to the hospital 2 times a week to get "non-stress-tests" done for the baby.  What made the doc think this was necessary was because she's been having a lot of contractions - especially when she's going up the stairs, or any other strenuous movement/exercise. 

One thing that the linked article on non-stress-tests indicates is that this test may be ordered if the mother has a high-risk pregnancy due to gestational diabetes (or a list of many other things).  Carrie's glucose readings have been perfectly normal ever since they have ordered her to test her sugar regularly, so I'm not sure why the alarm.  My guess is, this is all part of the "not taking any chances" attitude....which I think is fine.

Another ultrasound is due for this Monday (3/3), so look for more 3D ultrasound pictures soon.

3D Sonogram and < 8 Weeks To Go...

Carrie recently had a 3D sonogram done to make sure the baby was doing well despite a chance of Carrie having gestational diabetes. When this condition exists, it is possible for the baby to become unusually large in the womb which causes obvious problems for the birth. It turns out the baby is developing 100% normal and there will be no problems at birth. Dr. is estimating a birth weight of 8lbs and change.

Due to the gestational diabetes, Carrie has to test her blood glucose levels five times a day. It's mostly a pain because you have to remember to do it, and then you have to prick yourself to get a drop of blood for the test.

Names

Of course everyone asks us about names, and now that we are certain it's a girl we can really narrow it down. Here are a few that we're kicking around with uncertainty:

* Azlyn
* Karinna
* Callista
* Afton
* Elizabeth

And here are the pics from the ultrasound:

OMG Under 12 Weeks Left!!!

When we found out we had conceived, 9 months seemed like an eternity, but boy was I wrong. The closer we get to full-term the more I hear about how many pregnancies end early just because the baby developed quickly. In fact, 36 weeks is considered 'full term' and the baby can be induced anytime after that!

This weekend we rearranged some furniture in the house. We cleared out my 'office' and moved it into the spare bedroom to make room for all things baby related. When all is said and done we will have a couch, a gliding chair, a crib, and a dresser in the baby's room.

We may be able to use a crib that was my grandma and grandpas. Grandpa bought it when he was in the military at Lockborne air force base. He said he paid around 5 dollars for it at a thrift store. I would say it is as nice or nicer than what you can buy in a store today. The only problem is that the mattress is an odd size...and it needs replaced. Where can you find odd sized mattresses? A custom mattress store?

Carrie's health has been up and down the last week or so. Last Sunday she got really ill with nausea and vomiting and had to be admitted to the hospital to get fluids and some anti-nausea medicine. Everything turned out fine and the guess was that she just had a stomach virus. Now she's just back to the exhaustion of being pregnant. She also thought she had a problem with a pain in her side, but an ultrasound revealed an ill-placed baby foot!

Hey, what was that?!

Mom's been reporting a lot of kicking and moving around in her belly lately. I've been able to feel the movement from the outside a few times, but up until this point nothing significant. Today it's feeling more pronounced and she has a better idea of what that baby's using to abuse her insides.

Fun times.

In case you're counting baby is 22 weeks along...