Day 4 - First Bath

Of course, Kaycee did not love her first bath... You can't submerge your newborn baby until their cord has fallen off. Kaycee is destined to be a swimmer (big feet and hands = really fast swimmer!!). Mommy is hoping she'll love the water from the start! 

Day 3 - Going Home

Today's the day!  We finally get to go home! Anthony and I have been going stir crazy and need to take our precious peanut home! Doc. H discharged me in the morning (with a few notes on how to take care of myself), and Doc. C discharged Kaycee (with a few notes on how to take care of a newborn) in the early afternoon. 

Take a look at how tiny Kaycee looks in her car seat. She's such a peanut! 

Day 2 - Still in the Hospital

I know that it's necessary to be in the hospital, and honestly it's kind of a relief. Last night, nurse W took fabulous care of us. She came in only a few times to take vitals and never woke us up. She had perfect timing. She was also hilarious and kept us feeling sane! 

Nurse L was our day nurse today. She was just as fantastic as she was yesterday! She kept the cranberry juice and water coming and always answered any question we came up with. It makes a world of difference when your nurses are fantastic! 

It was wonderful to sit and hold Kaycee, to start to learn her hunger signs and continue to love on her!! I can't believe she's mine! 

I needed all of you!

I can't tell you how important each and everyone of you was on Monday. Every person that was in the delivery room with me played such a vital role. I don't know how I would ever thank you enough for being there.

Anthony

You are the most amazing husband I could ever ask for! You were the most important person in that room! I needed you with me every moment. I mostly wanted to feel you, holding/squeezing your hand, leaning on your arm while sitting in a chair, listening to your voice count me through my contractions. I definitely could not have gotten through without you! 

Mom

Thank you for being there through the whole thing. You stepped in and help my hand whenever there was an opening! You were able to remind me that I'm in reality and that it was going to get better! Thank you for being my mom! 

Dad

Thank you for being there through the whole thing. You also stepped in whenever I needed a hand to squeeze. You reminded me to relax and gave me a focal point when I needed it. You also were a fantastic photographer after Kaycee was born! Thank you for being my dad! 

Frama

Thank you for being you! You're most important role was to keep me sane and you did good job of it! You definitely kept me laughing during my "muscle cramps" and then kept me focused during my contractions. I needed you to be my medical support and speak up on my behalf when I was delirious and didn't know what was happening to my body. Thank you for being Kaycee's Frama!! 

Aunt M

Thank you for being you! You kept both Frama and me sane! You were the best encourager and reality check! You kept reminding me to relax myself when I would forget. I needed those reminders, I truly believe that my labor/delivery was faster and more smooth because of your reminders and encouragement! Thank you for being Kaycee's Aunt M!! 

I will lean on you two, be prepared! I will seek your advice and need your encouragement and reassurance that I'm doing what's best for my daughter! You two are my rock! 

Uncle J

Thanks for coming to visit Kaycee in the hospital! 

Welcome to the World Kaycee!

Kaycee was born today!
Monday, March 17th, 2014 - 7lbs 3.7oz - 19.5 in - 5:18pm

Last night, Anthony and I drove back up to Wisconsin after a fantastic week of spring break in Illinois. It was a bittersweet moment because neither one of us wanted to go back to work the next morning, but we were getting a good start for the week. That night we ate homemade pizzas for dinner and watched a few episodes of Burn Notice (the current show we're watching on Netflix). It was a relaxing evening to say the least! 

Then 5:30am rolled around. My water broke. (This was one of those moments as a first time mom, that you are quite nervous about. There is no telling what kind of event this is going to be. It could be a flash flood all over the floor or it could be a small trickle in your pants. No way to know, and know way to anticipate. I mentioned to Anthony several times that I was nervous I was going to miss the small trickle and hurt the baby by not going to the hospital in time. Needless to say, I did know when it happened. AND it did not happen in front of my students!!) I waddled to the bathroom door, knocked and calmly told Anthony that my water had broken. He continued to brush his teeth! 

I made the necessary phone calls. (to my parents, the doctor, and to Frad because From doesn't answer her phone if she's sleeping...) and then Anthony and I took our sweet time getting ready to go, eating breakfast and uploading maternity pictures to facebook. We arrived at the hospital by 7:30am, like the nurse made me promise I would do!

We walked into the hospital, checked in with the front desk (no visitor restrictions) and then to the Labor and Delivery floor. The first nurse to greet us was W, who would late become a vital part of our hospital stay staff! She helped us get settled into our home for the next 3 days. Then the nurses who would take care of me through the delivery, A and L came in to get me started.  They needed to hook me up to the machines and start an IV right away. I didn't realize that when your water breaks, the whole process is sort of sped up. All the pictures in the books and videos during the classes showed these woman, laboring through contractions out of the bed and not tied down. That's what I wanted. I absolutely did not want to be tied to the bed... but guess what? I didn't have a choice. 

They started the monitors and the Petocin in the IV. Soon we were on our way. By soon I mean several hours later I was having small contractions, known as muscle cramps to experienced mothers. Frama and Aunt M were at the hospital with Anthony and I at this point. They made this part go so quickly, laughing and joking or telling stories about their deliveries or deliveries of people they know. It was the perfect distraction! Mom and dad came to the hospital about noon and then we were really underway. 

Contractions really started. Pain levels were 7 or 8. And I was still strapped to all those goofy machines. (now I know they were important, but...) They were certainly annoying. Every time I moved, the monitors stopped working. The nurses would rush in and change their positions to pick up babies heartbeat and my contractions. It was a little game... Jenny move, Nurse rush in. Jenny move, nurse rush in. Over and Over and Over again. I didn't want to be tied down to the bed, remember! 

Anthony counted me through contractions. Aunt M and Frama encouraged me through contractions. Mom and Dad let me squeeze their hand through contractions. The nurses monitored me and baby through contractions. The doctor set up and got ready to catch the baby through contractions. (I'm sure he did more, but honestly I don't recall most of the time he spent in the room). I could not have done this without each and every specific person that was there. Thank you for being there for me!!

I had severe contractions for less than 2 hours and pushed for about 20 min and then KAYCEE ARRIVED! It was all a blur. I don't really remember my most severe contractions, pushing and the few minutes after Kaycee's birth. But I do remember holding my precious daughter in my hands for the first time.  I remember seeing Anthony overcome with emotion, feeling my baby in my arms and not being able to control myself. She was here and she was perfect! 

Maternity Photos

I can't wait to see our maternity photos!  We went to Carthage because we thought there would be a lot of good backgrounds to take the pictures. We only ended up using 1tree near the parking lot and the side of the chapel building. Amy O. was so fantastic during the whole shoot! She got down on the dirty/wet ground, trampled through the snow and more to take such fantastic shots!! They will be done soon, and we'll post pictures immediately!

Pictures came! Amy gave them to me on Sunday and Anthony and I were so excited to see them! We LOVE them! We're so happy with how they turned out. Amy is truly talented!

       

 

Temporary Nursery

My parents have been so generous to allow us to move in with them for the first 6 weeks of baby's life! We moved into Jamey's room (used to be Jamey, Jon and Tom's room when I was growing up, but currently only Jamey lives there <when he's home from college, of course>). We had originally thought that we would just rearrange and be able to make everything fit, however, that was not the truth. Unfortunately, we had to remove Jamey's stuff. ALL of Jamey's stuff... including his bed, his drum set, his clothes from the dresser, his baskets full of stuff, and books/papers/magazines off the shelves. Sorry Jamey.... (we'll put it back in there when we move back to Wisconsin)

My parents and Jon moved a king size bed from Grammy's house into that room. Anthony and I brought 4 huge bins of baby stuff to create a changing table. Dad built another rocking chair to move in there. Dad brought a clothes rack down from the attick to hang babies clothes on and we stacked diapers and diapers on the shelves. After several days of moving furniture, unpacking boxes and bins and setting up all the stuff baby has, we're finally set! Geeze, baby needs a lot of stuff... She'll be so tiny and helpless, why does she need so much stuff??

Take a look...

Jamey, we left all your decorations up on the wall!! All except your Cubs picture frame that was hanging right behind the rocking chair. That came down so it wouldn't get hit with the rocking chair during the middle of the night. 

We're excited for the first 6 weeks of Baby's life... now she just needs to get here! 

Babymoon!

Babymoon = last Hurrah before baby comes! 

Anthony and I took one last mini-vacation before the baby arrives. We scheduled it for Saturday to Sunday, because that was the only night available, in our busy schedule.  With church events, baby showers, basketball games, and family events we just plain ran out of time. But it was TOTALLY WORTH IT! 

We went to the Hilton Indian Lake Resort in Bloomingdale. We had been once before and it was wonderful. We booked the date night package! A hotel room, $50 towards dinner at the Shiraz on the Water restaurant, 2 movie tickets at Hollywood Blvd Movie Theater in Woodridge, and buy one get one breakfast at the Masters Clubhouse.  It was the perfect night out. 

We both had tasty dinners at the restaurant, followed by Son Of God at the movie theater, and dessert (I had peanutbutter crepes and Anthony had cheesecake). Then to Izzy and Moe's Speakeasy to play pool and enjoy some together time talking and laughing.  The first game of pool was a fun for me, I played well... beginner's luck or something. Then the second game I put the 8 ball in on the second shot of the game. But we played it out and Anthony would have ended up winning with the 8 ball anyway! He's way better at pool then I am! Then back to the hotel room to relax... or so we thought...

At 4:30am we were tossed out of our sleep by the most annoying, loud, obnoxious fire alarm I have ever heard. After sheer panic sank in, we hurried to grab all things we might need... hotel room key, purse, phones, shoes, coats, etc... Unfortunately we forgot the car keys to sit in a warm car, while waiting for the firemen to do their thing! We ran out of the room, the wrong way of course, to the farthest stairwell (we were on the 5th floor, of course) down the stairs, through the longest fire exit (to the totally opposite side of the hotel) and out the door. I still didn't have shoes on at that point, and needed Anthony's help to get them on while sitting on a rock outside. As we made our way back to the front door, the firemen were coming outside, turning off the alarm, mumbling about someone pulling the alarm, and giving the "okay" to go back inside. Finally... actually, we really were only outside for about 10 min. but it was enough, when you're sleepy, cold and annoyed.

We get back into the room and of course we're wide awake. We talk for about 45 minutes before Anthony finally falls asleep... only for me to stay awake. And then it starts, pain in my back. Fortunately, this is nothing new... just roll over and change positions. That makes the pain go away. Which is what I did, until the pain started again. Roll over and change positions again = pain goes away again.  And then a third time, before I realized that something else might be happening here... Of course google is your friend in moments like this, and WEB-MD tells me that contractions can happen in your back. Oh Boy! We're starting contractions = we're starting labor... NOT. Fake contractions that were annoying and painful in my back. I was able to go back to sleep and woke up the next morning feeling fantastic again. 

Man was that a let down!  I was so excited, I really thought that a fire alarm while in a hotel might be the fake trauma I would need to start labor.  Apparently, Baby Neal isn't ready to come out yet...

Despite the fire alarm trauma, we had a beautiful time on our Babymoon, and would totally recommend it to anyone who is about to have a baby. It was just what we needed to celebrate our last few weeks as just Anthony and Jenny! 

(hotel)

(Master's Clubhouse for breakfast)

(Shiraz on the Water for dinner)

Practice Time!

Last night Anthony and I started to practice how to put on diapers and onsies. Baby Neal is so close, that we thought it appropriate to practice. Of course there are no babies or baby dolls around the house, so we had to improvise. Thank you Molly, for the right size teddy bear to put those tiny size 1 diapers on!!! 

Anthony and I are now experts... at least on a teddy bear (who doesn't wiggle or move or cry or fuss or pee everywhere...)!! 

Normal Baby Weight!!

Man, was this Momma Scared!!

At the first Ultrasound: Baby was over 5.5 pounds and in the 80th percentile!!

At the second Ultrasound: Baby was over 6.5 pounds and in the 75th percentile!!

At the third Ultrasound: Baby was 7 pounds and in the 49th percentile!!!! NORMAL!!

Normal = Happy Momma!! 

I was so nervous that our baby was going to be a 9+ pound baby. I had only heard negative horror stories about such large babies, and was a little sad that ours was going to start out that big. But God heard prayers, and she quit her growth spurt, and evened out! Thank you Lord! 

Pregnancy Symptoms

As far as pregnancy symptoms go, I've had very little....

In the first trimester I had maybe 1 or 2 days of feeling nauseous. Mostly, I just wasn't hungry. I didn't eat as much as I should and lost weight, instead of staying steady. The doctor wasn't too concerned as long as I started to gain in the second trimester.

Which I did. Slowly but surely. I have gained the right amount, and have not gone on a crazy eating binge, which has helped! Second trimester held some (little) heartburn, that tums cured right away and some dry skin on my hands and face.

Then came third trimester, where I felt great! I feel the same now that I felt throughout all of the pregnancy.  I had a couple of night of some sciatic pain, but in the grand scheme of things... it was nothing!

Wow, this has been a great pregnancy so far! I must just be meant to be pregnant! It must be God's way of telling us that we should have a lot more babies!! Huh, Anthony?? What do you think?? ... just kidding :)

First Parenting Medical Scare

The first Ultrasound we had at the doctor's office was a difficult one for new parents.  Not only did we find out that our baby was in the 80th percentile for weight (huge baby!) but we also found out she had a dilated ureter. It was explained that the ureter was the tube that passes between the kidney and the Blatter and that it had some sort of blockage.  The doctor didn't give us any indication of the severity of the dilation, and set us up with an appointment at Children's Hospital in Milwaukee. 

When we went to Children's, you can imagine that we were both a little nervous. First time parents in the pediatrics Urology department, and our precious baby isn't even here yet. We checked in, sat in the waiting room and then our name was finally called. When we went into the room, it had a small bed, 2 small chairs and 2 normal adult chairs. The ultrasound pictures were already scrolling on the computer, which we took as a good sign! Anthony and I played a few short games to take our mind off our anxious feelings.

The doc. came in, explained that the dilation was mild, and a heavy feeling lifted off our chests! He drew us some pictures: 1 of a normal ureter, 1 of Baby Neal's dilated ureter and 1 of a sever dilation. He told us that it will most likely pass on it's own and that it's very highly unlikely that anything will need to be done about it. He also told us she isn't in any pain!! 

We left the office feeling peaceful and happy, until we got the outrageous doctor bill, of course... That's a rant for another day!