One Week Old

I can't believe a week has already passed. Claire changes so much every day. We've noticed some small dimples in her cheeks. That, she gets from her dad. She has spent her first week of life mostly sleeping. When she's awake, she is busy looking around and lifting her head. Last night, we were blessed with another amazing night of rest. Again, I had to wake Claire up every three hours to feed her. We certainly weren't expecting that especially since she fell asleep yesterday around 4:30pm and didn't really wake up until noon today. We don't expect this to last, but we'll cherish every moment while we have it.

Cuddle time with Daddy.

Meeting Grandpa Brian, Andrew's dad for the first time.

Grannie Beth, Andrew's mom, enjoyed holding her first grandchild.

Claire sporting her Pooh hat before taking a walk outside.

I think Claire has a question.

Claire on her tummy-time mat.

Molly has warmed up to Claire. Molly mainly sniffs near Claire with an occasional lick.
When we go into Claire's room, Molly likes to follow us and lay on the floor. It's very cute.

First Few Nights at Home and First Check-Up

Claire, Andrew and I are doing very well here at home. My mom has been with us since Wednesday afternoon and his parents since Saturday evening. Our first two nights were surprisingly perfect. Claire didn't make a peep all night. I had to wake her up several times in the middle of the night to feed her (which is common in the first 48 hours, but typically fades to crying all night afterward, or so we have been told). Last night, we did have a small taste of typical newborn night behavior. Claire didn't want to sleep between 9pm and 3am, like we had hoped and had experienced. I was up at every other hour feeding her, and Andrew was up during the alternating hours changing diapers and soothing her. After that, she slept well until we had to wake her up at 10am this morning for her doctor's appointment.

Her doctor's appointment was great! The pediatrician said she was the most "un-jaundiced" baby she had ever seen without even a hint of yellow to her skin. When we were discharged on Friday, Claire's weight had dropped to 8 lbs. 3.2 oz. We were told that we should shoot for getting back to her birth weight (8 lbs. 12 oz.) in two weeks. Today, at her 6 day appointment, she weighed in at a whopping 8 lbs., 10 oz. Her doctor congratulated Claire and me on how well nursing was going.

I'll post some photos tomorrow as the belly shots will now become Claire's weekly update. Thanks to everyone for all of their support and kind words. We can't wait for you to meet Claire in person!

Home at Last

Claire and I were discharged from the hospital not long after lunch today. We're both doing very well. Here are some more photos that were taken since the last post.

Cuddling with daddy.

Claire likes to stretch out when she can.

Andrew has become a diaper changing expert.

Claire in her going-home outfit.

The Garrett family.

Claire and Daddy's hands.

Eyes wide open.

On our way home.

Claire's first car ride.

Claire didn't make a peep the whole way home.

Home at last.

Claire Has Arrived!

This is Andrew posting for the first time. I know many of you may be wondering what has occurred over the last couple days. Let me assure you Mary Robert and Claire are doing well and are still in the hospital as of this posting. Here is a play-by-play of what went down on March 24th:
-12:30 p.m. Contractions began. Mary Robert was accurate in her post that morning and things started to progress fast.
-2:10 We left work (Mary Robert left after teaching the beginning of lab) to go home because we didn't know if this was the real deal yet.
-3:00 After waiting for awhile the contractions did not lessen and we left for the hospital.
-3:30 It only took 10 minutes to get to our hospital and check in. We got to the labor and delivery floor and at her first examination she was 50% effaced and 1 cm dilated. Contractions still were not that bad.
-5:00 At the second exam she was 100%, 2 cm dilated and officially in labor! At this point we were very exited that we didn't have to go home. Contractions were getting worse and things started to progress fast from there.
-6:40 The third exam (this time by her OB) resulted in her being 7 cm dilated! Her water was broken and she was having a lot of very intense contractions.
-7:40 Mary Robert decided she wanted an epidural because she wanted to be excited about the arrival of Claire and not be in such a bad mood. After that we were able to talk excitedly and watch tv like we usually do. She was much more calm and felt nothing during contractions.
-8:30 She was 8 cm after the next exam.
-8:40 She was started on petocin because the contractions were starting to slow.
-9:30 At the next exam she was 9 cm dilated and zero station.
-10:00 She was at 10 cm and she started pushing with the help of the nurse.
-10:50 After some really good pushing the doctor came in and decided that since Claire wasn't moving at all with the pushing that Mary Robert should get a C-section. Mary Robert agreed to it and she was prepped.
-11:21 Claire is born. I was lucky enough to be able to be in the operating room (and take pictures during the birth). She gave a cry after she came out but we were worried when after at least 5 minutes they couldn't get her stimulated enough to cry. Eventually she did (lots of fluids in her lungs) and was weighed at 8 lbs 12 oz (healthy girl!) 20 and 3/4 inches long.
We spent the next hour and a half in the recovery area while Claire was place in a warmer. After 3 hours in the warmer we got to see her again. She looks so cute. There is much more to write about but for now I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Mary Robert calling people during labor.

Andrew relaxing after the epidural was administered.

Claire almost out.

She has quite a bit of dark hair.

A very healthy size!

Mary Robert and Claire meet face to face for the first time.





Our pediatrician says Claire looks like she has nice full lips...watch out Angelina Jolie!

Claire snuggles on Momma Mia.


Thanks everybody for all of your support!

39 Weeks!

I'm running on very little sleep right now. Last night/early this morning, I was certain we would be frantically rushing to the hospital. On top of the muscle soreness/stretching that I've been experiencing (that has gotten progressively worse since Friday), I had some very uncomfortable and constant Braxton Hicks contractions between midnight and 2am this morning. I've been having false labor contractions very regularly throughout the day, but there hasn't been discomfort associated with them. This time they radiated from my lower back and it didn't help that Claire was incredibly active in between them. In addition to those two hours of wakefulness and wondering, "Is this it," I had a record-breaking bathroom visit count--5 times! Anyway, I've thrown my planning ahead out the window. After I get through lab this afternoon, I don't care when she comes. In fact, tonight would work out great for Andrew and me!

Today's weight = 141.5 lbs.

Pampering and Preparing

Yesterday, I treated myself to a pedicure. Now I have some bright, red toe nails to show off at the hospital. It felt wonderful. I was hoping for a massage too, but they were booked. Andrew and I also saw a movie and we're going to watch one today as well.

I think I might be making some progress towards labor. I've been noticing some unusual stretching pains the last couple of days. Maybe I'm just making it all up in my head, but at this point, I wouldn't be surprised if Claire did arrive in March. It's funny because I'll go between phases of getting about 2 weeks ahead at work, thus ready for her arrival, but then, once I get to the end of those two weeks, I want her to stay put. Right now, our colleagues have gone to Salt Lake City for the National American Chemical Society (ACS) meeting, so Andrew and I are the only faculty/staff in the chemistry department. If something were to happen today, no one would be on the third floor of Mickle Hall tomorrow. Because Andrew will be taking over my labs on Monday and Tuesday afternoons, there wouldn't be anyone there to take over for him, so right now, I want Claire to wait. We have a candidate coming to teach my class on Monday, the 30th, and with the closing of our house on Tuesday, the 31st, I would really prefer that she wait until after April 1st. Of course you can't plan the birth of your child and we'll be thrilled any time she decides to make an appearance. Andrew isn't concerned about work and just wants Claire here.

38 Week Check-Up

Of course everything can change in a heartbeat, but right now it doesn't look like Claire will be arriving any time soon. She is still very high and I'm completely closed. Dr. LaBarre said that my weight and blood pressure are great. My belly mesearued right at 38 cm., which means she may be on the big side, but still not too big for a vaginal delivery. He will be out of town from March 28th through April 5th, so he had us go ahead and schedule our next appointment for next Thursday, March 26th (but he's guessing there will still be no progress). The following week, for my 40 week check-up, I'll schedule an appointment with another doctor at the Women's Clinic, and he also had us go ahead and schedule a non-stress test for the Monday after he returns on April 6th (the day before the 41 week mark). At that appointment he'll probably do an ultrasound to get an idea of her size and position and if no progess has been made, we'll discuss our options.

38 Weeks!

I'm surprised at how great I feel at this point. I know most pregnant women aren't as fortunate. I've been getting a full night's rest every night. I've even weened myself from the saline nasal spray to clear my nose so I can breathe. I haven't used it for a few nights now. My only real complaint is that my hands have poor circulation and are swollen. I can still wear my wedding band, but my fingertips are often numb or tingling which is bothersome.

Andrew and I went to a barbeque on Saturday and many parents had suggestions on how to encourage labor. We've decided not to do anything right now and just enjoy ourselves. We're counting this coming weekend as our "last weekend" with dinners out and at least one trip to the movie theatre. Between 39 and 40 weeks we might try to encourage Claire's birth, but maybe not.

Today's weight = 141.5 lbs.

37 Week Check-Up

Well, not only am I still completely closed, but Claire's head isn't engaged, so she's floating around and hasn't dropped towards the canal yet. My doctor did say that my belly was nice and firm which is a good sign. While I know these aspects can change in an instant, I'm still guessing Claire will take her time and be an April baby. This gives Andrew and I a few more days/weeks of dinners out, trips to the movie theatre, etc. We'll try to enjoy this while we can.

37 Weeks!...Full Term

I have to admit that I went into freak-out mode this past week. Even after finding out that I was 0 cm dilated on Thursday, I went into overdrive. I had a lot of grading and course prep that I felt needed to get finished before Claire's arrival. I feel like she could come at any point. I've been feeling a lot of pressure in my lower abdomen since my last appointment. She has been so active that I'm convinced she is planning an escape route as we speak. I'm just hoping it's a quick one. I have to grade notebooks and lab exams today and tomorrow, but then I'm pretty set for the next two weeks if she decides to make an early appearance. Of course as soon as I say that, she'll come tomorrow. I actually thought for a moment last night that my water had broken. Really it was just a combination of 80 degree weather, stubbornness toward using the AC when the high on Thursday is supposed to be 48 degrees, and sleeping with a piddle-pad under my fitted sheet. (For those who aren't dog owners, the piddle-pad has a layer of cotton that is backed with a plastic. It's soft, but insulating.) Anyway, no amniotic fluid, just sweat (and not that much, but I don't really know what I'm looking for as a first time mom).

Today's weight = 143 lbs.

36 Week Check-Up...Completely Closed

Since my twin sister was 2 cm at her 36 week appointment, I kind of thought I might progress at the same rate, but I guess not. I am completely closed. No progress at this point, but it will give us something to compare to next week. I'm kind of relieved because there are still quite a few things I feel that I should accomplish before Claire arrives, but I'll be thrilled whenever that time comes. At my appointment I was also tested for strep B which can cause pneumonia in newborns and had some blood-work taken. My blood pressure was 110/65 which is nearly the same as it has been at every appointment and my belly measurement was right on target at 36 cm. Claire was busy practicing her gymnastics floor routine while Dr. LaBarre was listening for her heartbeat.

36 Weeks!

This past week has been eventful; my mom came to visit, we listed and sold our house, and we had another shower for Claire. After Claire's shower, I went online and purchased the majority of items left on our registry, so that we could be prepared for her arrival as soon as possible.

I haven't noticed any physical changes in the last week. I still feel rested and relaxed. We go for our 36 week appointment on Thursday. I'll let you know how that goes.

Today's weight = 142.5 lbs.

SOLD!

Our counter-offer was accepted and the house is SOLD! Hooray!