STATUS: Olivia Bee is now 20 days old!!!
Catching up...
on sleep.
on emails.
on the blog.
on Skype appointments.
It's been one hell of a two weeks!
We have FINALLY 'tricked'....*ahem*, TAUGHT, Olivia the difference between day and night.
Our secret? Placing the bouncer in the crib. It knocks her out, she only sleeps it at night along with her swaddle and the lights out, and teaches her the scenery of her own room/crib. You have to maintain a ritual of shutting down the house gradually at the same time every night, etc. It was difficult at first since one night I just had to say...I am going to stay up ALL NIGHT and let her sleep on my chest. Then the following day she was alert and playful (thank goodness Jason was still at home at the time)....cause I was a zombie by then!) - by that night, snooze city with only 10-20 minute waking times every 2-2.5 hours for feedings (which is really the most you can ask for from a newborn!).
As for me, Jason has returned to work, and I am still getting accustomed to the every couple of hours bit (which we are gradually solving in shifts....ie, Jason wakes and feeds formula, AKA: baby crack, from 10:00 PM until about 2:00 AM. I take over with ye olde breast milk from 2:00 AM until about 6:00 AM...when she is wide awake...in between Jason's shifts I still have to drag my ass up to pump some breastmilk for freezing and to help with the engorgement - ugggggh!). Olivia is spending more and more time awake during the days - happy and alert. I am thankful for this since this affords me time to place her in her bassinet or rocker 10-30 minutes at a time to do my own thing in the house...this is, of course, with hourly feedings at 10-20 minutes each. I can feel it getting easier but it does still take a toll on my recovery - considering I was used to Jason atleast taking her half the time when I needed to get out of the chair (it makes all the difference in the incision area - whew! - the first day was rough!).
Some days are touch and go...MAMA SAID THERE'D BE DAYS LIKE THIS.
This is where I ended this post. Unfortunately all of this is a blur since I am just now getting around to posting it IN SEPTEMBER. Say whaaaa?!?
6.11.2008
6.04.2008
Pic O' the Day
Daddy calls this one SHOWING OFF MY MITTENS
I like to think she's trying to fly away a la Superman.
Either way - it's pretty damn cute methinks.
I like to think she's trying to fly away a la Superman.
Either way - it's pretty damn cute methinks.
Home Box Office television
STATUS: Olivia Bee is now 13 days old.
Last nights attempts of 2-hour feedings that little Olivia displays during the day did not go quite as anticipated. It worked for the first half of the evening and gradually went downhill from there.
In the meantime, we re-subscribed ourselves to the entire HBO channel line-up to help us through the wee hours of the morn when there's only paid programming showing. Atleast now we can watch old Sex + the City/Flight of the Conchord shows or movies, et cetera.
Our only hope is that the baby is true 'text book' in that she begins to sleep in 4-6 hour increments (even if during the day) by the second month. In the meantime, I am going to have to establish a plan of attack for when Jason goes back to work next week. Basically, he is off by 2:00 PM (going into work at 5:00 AM, meaning he is awake by 4:30 AM). My request is just to be able to eat breakfast, feed the pets, and maybe pump some milk for the afternoon/evening when Jason gets home...I can always shower when Jason gets home as well as have lunch.
Otherwise, our little Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde is busy cooing all sweet-like in her bassinet by our bed just as she does during the day. It's cloudy out today but the light of day + a little help from coffee is allowing us to stay on the borderline of 1/2 awake and 1/2 asleep.
Tomorrow we're hitting the mall early in the morning since I have no clothes to suit my postpartum figure at the moment and Jason had bought me a gift card for Mother's Day to purchase new clothes since I was feeling down and out while hugely pregnant. I was either pregnant or a size 0 so now I need some flow-y summer dresses/tops that will work once all the weight has been lost and I can utilize after (but yet still holds in the D-size tits I have established). Also, we are going to take a quick trip to Buy Buy Baby for some feeding accessories (ie, nipples, newborn portioned bottles, et cetera.).
And, in case anyone is wondering....I gained 45 lbs. while pregnant and have already lost 18 lbs just breastfeeding. I still have four more weeks before I can begin my workout regimen again; however, have been focusing on the meals I do take in (ie, Special K cereal within the first hour of waking up for breakfast, coffee - NOT GOOD, but wakes me up, salads, sandwiches, Lean Cuisines, nuts for snacks, and gallons of ice water). Basically, I am back to the weight I was when I first moved to NYC but with the weight primarily in the tits and mid-section (which is gradually going down by the day).
That's my news for the day so far.
6.03.2008
Plan of attack....
We had our second pediatrician appointment today.
The first was last Thursday where we discovered she had a mild case of jaundice and dropped from 6 lbs. 5.1 oz at birth to 5 lbs. oz.....needless to say we were concerned.
The appointment today proved to be successful. Originally, our second appointment was scheduled for this Thursday; however, we were becoming concerned with Olivia's weight and eating habits in the evening. Namely because she is an angel during the day and eats with such passion like clockwork every 2 hours but from 10 PM until about 5 AM she is a completely different baby - needing to be pacified by breast, not really eating but draining my breast of any milk or rest, as well as lack of rest for me + Dad (Dad gets her up since I am still a little sore from the surgery and stays up with me for moral support/make sure I don't fall asleep while holding the baby + I nurse). Jason and I are zombies in the evening but get by during the day with the aid of the beautiful weather (but not without living in fear of sundown as we have joked about!). Anyhow, to our surprise she is now a whopping 6.96 lbs!!!! What a relief to know that my breast milk is doing its thang and her jaundice has gone. Not a relief, you ask?....what are we going to do about her evenings?
Well, we're attempting our plan of attack as I type this - the plan of attack to teach her to differentiat between night + day. Hopefully this will work so wish us luck...
During the day, have her sleep in her rocker to differentiate beds between day and night.
Begin closing down the house about 8 PM...dimming lights, closing shades, turning down television, avoiding direct activity with the baby (ie, talking, entertaining, etc.)
7 PM bath (or other activity - ie, walk in the park, family outing, etc.)
8 PM feeding by breast
10 PM (hopefully she does her 2 hour increments after her bath!) feeding by breast
....then if the increments become the normal, dreaded every 30 minutes we will supply her with some formula and/or organic gripe water
...and THEN the hopeful every two hours....
Oh, and a word of advice....
never attempt child-rearing unless you are married to your best friend. We could not do this without the unspoken bond Jason + I share. We always know when to pick up where the other left off when the other becomes frustrated. Oh, and most of all...always hold on to your sense of humor.
Sorry this is so scatter-brained and inconsistent...just wanted to have another documented chain of events of our adventures for our daughter to witness our love + sacrifices...and perhaps use on her own children.
xo
The first was last Thursday where we discovered she had a mild case of jaundice and dropped from 6 lbs. 5.1 oz at birth to 5 lbs. oz.....needless to say we were concerned.
The appointment today proved to be successful. Originally, our second appointment was scheduled for this Thursday; however, we were becoming concerned with Olivia's weight and eating habits in the evening. Namely because she is an angel during the day and eats with such passion like clockwork every 2 hours but from 10 PM until about 5 AM she is a completely different baby - needing to be pacified by breast, not really eating but draining my breast of any milk or rest, as well as lack of rest for me + Dad (Dad gets her up since I am still a little sore from the surgery and stays up with me for moral support/make sure I don't fall asleep while holding the baby + I nurse). Jason and I are zombies in the evening but get by during the day with the aid of the beautiful weather (but not without living in fear of sundown as we have joked about!). Anyhow, to our surprise she is now a whopping 6.96 lbs!!!! What a relief to know that my breast milk is doing its thang and her jaundice has gone. Not a relief, you ask?....what are we going to do about her evenings?
Well, we're attempting our plan of attack as I type this - the plan of attack to teach her to differentiat between night + day. Hopefully this will work so wish us luck...
During the day, have her sleep in her rocker to differentiate beds between day and night.
Begin closing down the house about 8 PM...dimming lights, closing shades, turning down television, avoiding direct activity with the baby (ie, talking, entertaining, etc.)
7 PM bath (or other activity - ie, walk in the park, family outing, etc.)
8 PM feeding by breast
10 PM (hopefully she does her 2 hour increments after her bath!) feeding by breast
....then if the increments become the normal, dreaded every 30 minutes we will supply her with some formula and/or organic gripe water
...and THEN the hopeful every two hours....
Oh, and a word of advice....
never attempt child-rearing unless you are married to your best friend. We could not do this without the unspoken bond Jason + I share. We always know when to pick up where the other left off when the other becomes frustrated. Oh, and most of all...always hold on to your sense of humor.
Sorry this is so scatter-brained and inconsistent...just wanted to have another documented chain of events of our adventures for our daughter to witness our love + sacrifices...and perhaps use on her own children.
xo
NOTE TO SELF
When checking to make sure your breast milk supply has come in and is adequate, do not check over a bowl of cereal (or any other kind of food for that matter).
6.02.2008
Doc Hock! + Videos!
Dear friends + family
I believe Melanie is brewing up the "almighty" post in the next couple of days, but in the mean time I will leave you with some new videos and a picture of our OBGYN, Dr. Steven Hockstein. The family plus Grandma Karen had a little cameo today in the city at Dr. Hockstein's office for Melanie's check up. So we thought it would be a great idea to get at least one picture of the Olivia's doctor before the novelty wore off.
Melanie and I also wanted to thank my mother for giving up two weeks of her life to come into our home + sharing years worth of experience to us. It was just a special feeling to have her near and to help out in any way...even if she filled our house with delicious treats we wouldn't normally have bought! (Grrrrrr!) We love you, Mom.
More to come!
xo
The Sposa Three
By the way, more pictures and videos are being posted on a regular on my flickr site!
Olivia on Flickr!
I believe Melanie is brewing up the "almighty" post in the next couple of days, but in the mean time I will leave you with some new videos and a picture of our OBGYN, Dr. Steven Hockstein. The family plus Grandma Karen had a little cameo today in the city at Dr. Hockstein's office for Melanie's check up. So we thought it would be a great idea to get at least one picture of the Olivia's doctor before the novelty wore off.
Melanie and I also wanted to thank my mother for giving up two weeks of her life to come into our home + sharing years worth of experience to us. It was just a special feeling to have her near and to help out in any way...even if she filled our house with delicious treats we wouldn't normally have bought! (Grrrrrr!) We love you, Mom.
More to come!
xo
The Sposa Three
By the way, more pictures and videos are being posted on a regular on my flickr site!
Olivia on Flickr!
5.31.2008
Our Birth Story
'And this year's winner of American Idol issss........David....COOK!'
Those were the last words I remember before turning off the television for the evening. The evening our little girl, Olivia Bee, was born. Earlier in the day Karen convinced me to take a walk around town. Miraculously, as I think about it now, I made it through our entire walk withouth a heavy feeling from the baby or the huge draft of fatigue that had been sending me to bed for the past two weeks (this must have been my 'nesting instinct' or sudden burst of energy).. We walked around Church Square which is two blocks from our house and holds our city's library, our dog park, and soon-to-be child's park. We shared a footlong at Subway and went shopping at our local knitting store and two baby boutiques where I nabbed four more Aiden + Anais swaddle blankets. Then, we made our way home and began our evening of Idol.
The contractions began at about 9:00 PM that fateful Wednesday, May 21st. I didn't want to get worked up like I did the last time I contracted for 14 hours straight with no progress so just kept on with closing house for the evening. Through the evening the contractions woke me every 10 minutes until about midnight where they switched gears and pain intensity to 5-8 minute intervals for 30 minutes. Finally, by 12:30 we were running 2-3 minutes apart and we called the hospital. The doctor from our office who was on-duty told us to go labor + delivery to check my progress.
Well, folks, we were able to gather our stuff and get to the hospital by about 1:45 AM - this was after our discovery that the route we had practiced several times was closed in the wee hours of the morn due to construction. We had to play it by ear utilizing our knowledge of the NYC grid system and FINALLY got to the hospital. We checked into triage where we were greeted by Natalie + Wendy. Progress was slow at dilatation about 3-4 centimeters and decent contractions. Unfortunately, they would not set up a room for myself unless I was ready for epidural - which I declined since the pain was pretty manageable and I didn't want to be bedridden. Like I had mentioned, I had tried to take this journey au natural. The ladies sent us to walk around and try to increase dilation. In lieu, we decided to drive back home since Jason realized he had not turned off his 4:30 AM alarm clock...which wouldn't be a big deal if our clock shut off automatically, we didn't know when we would be home next, or wanted to bother/stress out the pets.
We arrived back at the hospital an hour later...approximately 3:30 AM where I continued to labor and give in to the pain of the contractions. We did not get into a birthing room until about 7:30 AM and I was amazed at how HUGE the room was - practically the size of our apartment (apparently, this is where they have VIPs or celebrities give birth...meanwhile, I am thinking I got a big room because something was wrong!). I was immediately hooked up with external monitors for myself and the baby as well as a four hour penicillin drip since I was GBS positive.
Once in the birthing room my contractions were 1-2 minutes apart but the pain was beyond anything I could imagine (later learning the pain was 7-9 out of a 10 scale when they put in the internal monitoring...so I think I can say I held my own). I was using the bathroom like CRAZY. Suzie, my nurse, (GOD BLESS HER spent the entirety of my labor with me and even arranged to be in the OR) was amazing with support, pointers, and conversation to get my mind off of things. I got my epidural at about 9:30 AM and it was WONDERFUL! My doctor, who is now, fortunately, on duty, checks my dilation. To everyone's dismay I am still at the same dilation. My doctor then decides to induce me with a pitocin drip from 10:30 AM until about 4:30 PM.
At about 4:45 PM my doctor came in and checked my dilation once again. I WAS ONLY DILATED 5 CENTIMETERS!!!! This is when the emotional part came in. Since I was GBS positive and we were not sure when my water broke, we had to get the baby out sooner then later, and waiting around with a higher dose of pitocin could prove to be a failure. At this point I was very emotional and VERY scared - not to mention exhausted. They had switched me to an internal monitor for my contractions and added a catheter hours ago. My doctor also explained that the reason I could not dilate more was because the baby's head was too big to fit through my pelvic bone and was unable to push down on the uterus to dilate more (we also later discovered that when he pulled her out she was face up).
We decided a Cesearean was best.
Immediately the ball began to roll. Dr. Alexander came and was my AWESOME anesthesiologist and Suzie was able to work her way into the operating room with me. So many other people came to introduce themselves to me but most was a fog since I was trying hard to focus on my meditative breathing to calm myself from the emotional stress of major surgery as well as the anesthesia was causing my entire body to shake uncontrollably (another little thing they fail to mention in books + forums...and lasted throughout the entire surgery and into the recovery room).
The surgery to get little Olivia Bee out lasted only about 15 miutes. Jason sat by my side through the entire event...when they said....'HERE SHE IS!'...and all these oooohs and ahhhhhs from the nurses proclaiming how CUTE she is. It took them awhile to get her to Jason because she kept taking a sh*t and then wouldn't close her legs. Her Apgar score was 9/9 (they don't give perfect scores - so good enough for us ^_^). Jason and I had tears welling up in our eyes as we heard her crying as she experienced the world for the first time. When Suzie finally handed her to Jason, Olivia Bee stopped crying. She began to suck on her hands. When I began to talk to her her mouth formed a big 'O', she turned her attention to my face, and her eyes opened wide - as if to say....I know you.
Then, just as quickly, she was sent to the nursery and I was sewn up (but not without overhearing my doc discuss the 'beauty' he just sewed up....much better than the plastic surgeon down the hall...LOL....may I add he also commented on this on our 2 week postpartum appointment and said I have to find friends who've had c-sections just to show mine off...whaaaa?!?). Anyhow, I remained in recovery from 8 until 11ish. It took a little longer for me to get over the anesthesia, epidural, and pitocin (oh, and the EXTRA anesthesia my doc hooked me up with cause I began to mildly feel them fiddling with my insides towards the end of the surgery).
Finally, I was sent to my room and settled by midnight. I asked to see our little girl one more time in person and fell asleep by about 1:00 AM....a mother.
Sorry this took so long to post. As you can imagine it's been interesting around the Sposa household with the adjustments of the new addition. I have so much to add but didn't want to write anything until I atleast had our daughter's birth story up before I forgot (and I am sure I have left details out or could not describe in words the emotions or events)...but mainly so that Olivia will have this forever available for her to experience through her mother's words.
And now, I commence my usual rants + raves...except now as the many adventures of a new mother in the big city.
xo
la nouvelle mère
Those were the last words I remember before turning off the television for the evening. The evening our little girl, Olivia Bee, was born. Earlier in the day Karen convinced me to take a walk around town. Miraculously, as I think about it now, I made it through our entire walk withouth a heavy feeling from the baby or the huge draft of fatigue that had been sending me to bed for the past two weeks (this must have been my 'nesting instinct' or sudden burst of energy).. We walked around Church Square which is two blocks from our house and holds our city's library, our dog park, and soon-to-be child's park. We shared a footlong at Subway and went shopping at our local knitting store and two baby boutiques where I nabbed four more Aiden + Anais swaddle blankets. Then, we made our way home and began our evening of Idol.
The contractions began at about 9:00 PM that fateful Wednesday, May 21st. I didn't want to get worked up like I did the last time I contracted for 14 hours straight with no progress so just kept on with closing house for the evening. Through the evening the contractions woke me every 10 minutes until about midnight where they switched gears and pain intensity to 5-8 minute intervals for 30 minutes. Finally, by 12:30 we were running 2-3 minutes apart and we called the hospital. The doctor from our office who was on-duty told us to go labor + delivery to check my progress.
Well, folks, we were able to gather our stuff and get to the hospital by about 1:45 AM - this was after our discovery that the route we had practiced several times was closed in the wee hours of the morn due to construction. We had to play it by ear utilizing our knowledge of the NYC grid system and FINALLY got to the hospital. We checked into triage where we were greeted by Natalie + Wendy. Progress was slow at dilatation about 3-4 centimeters and decent contractions. Unfortunately, they would not set up a room for myself unless I was ready for epidural - which I declined since the pain was pretty manageable and I didn't want to be bedridden. Like I had mentioned, I had tried to take this journey au natural. The ladies sent us to walk around and try to increase dilation. In lieu, we decided to drive back home since Jason realized he had not turned off his 4:30 AM alarm clock...which wouldn't be a big deal if our clock shut off automatically, we didn't know when we would be home next, or wanted to bother/stress out the pets.
We arrived back at the hospital an hour later...approximately 3:30 AM where I continued to labor and give in to the pain of the contractions. We did not get into a birthing room until about 7:30 AM and I was amazed at how HUGE the room was - practically the size of our apartment (apparently, this is where they have VIPs or celebrities give birth...meanwhile, I am thinking I got a big room because something was wrong!). I was immediately hooked up with external monitors for myself and the baby as well as a four hour penicillin drip since I was GBS positive.
Once in the birthing room my contractions were 1-2 minutes apart but the pain was beyond anything I could imagine (later learning the pain was 7-9 out of a 10 scale when they put in the internal monitoring...so I think I can say I held my own). I was using the bathroom like CRAZY. Suzie, my nurse, (GOD BLESS HER spent the entirety of my labor with me and even arranged to be in the OR) was amazing with support, pointers, and conversation to get my mind off of things. I got my epidural at about 9:30 AM and it was WONDERFUL! My doctor, who is now, fortunately, on duty, checks my dilation. To everyone's dismay I am still at the same dilation. My doctor then decides to induce me with a pitocin drip from 10:30 AM until about 4:30 PM.
At about 4:45 PM my doctor came in and checked my dilation once again. I WAS ONLY DILATED 5 CENTIMETERS!!!! This is when the emotional part came in. Since I was GBS positive and we were not sure when my water broke, we had to get the baby out sooner then later, and waiting around with a higher dose of pitocin could prove to be a failure. At this point I was very emotional and VERY scared - not to mention exhausted. They had switched me to an internal monitor for my contractions and added a catheter hours ago. My doctor also explained that the reason I could not dilate more was because the baby's head was too big to fit through my pelvic bone and was unable to push down on the uterus to dilate more (we also later discovered that when he pulled her out she was face up).
We decided a Cesearean was best.
Immediately the ball began to roll. Dr. Alexander came and was my AWESOME anesthesiologist and Suzie was able to work her way into the operating room with me. So many other people came to introduce themselves to me but most was a fog since I was trying hard to focus on my meditative breathing to calm myself from the emotional stress of major surgery as well as the anesthesia was causing my entire body to shake uncontrollably (another little thing they fail to mention in books + forums...and lasted throughout the entire surgery and into the recovery room).
The surgery to get little Olivia Bee out lasted only about 15 miutes. Jason sat by my side through the entire event...when they said....'HERE SHE IS!'...and all these oooohs and ahhhhhs from the nurses proclaiming how CUTE she is. It took them awhile to get her to Jason because she kept taking a sh*t and then wouldn't close her legs. Her Apgar score was 9/9 (they don't give perfect scores - so good enough for us ^_^). Jason and I had tears welling up in our eyes as we heard her crying as she experienced the world for the first time. When Suzie finally handed her to Jason, Olivia Bee stopped crying. She began to suck on her hands. When I began to talk to her her mouth formed a big 'O', she turned her attention to my face, and her eyes opened wide - as if to say....I know you.
Then, just as quickly, she was sent to the nursery and I was sewn up (but not without overhearing my doc discuss the 'beauty' he just sewed up....much better than the plastic surgeon down the hall...LOL....may I add he also commented on this on our 2 week postpartum appointment and said I have to find friends who've had c-sections just to show mine off...whaaaa?!?). Anyhow, I remained in recovery from 8 until 11ish. It took a little longer for me to get over the anesthesia, epidural, and pitocin (oh, and the EXTRA anesthesia my doc hooked me up with cause I began to mildly feel them fiddling with my insides towards the end of the surgery).
Finally, I was sent to my room and settled by midnight. I asked to see our little girl one more time in person and fell asleep by about 1:00 AM....a mother.
Sorry this took so long to post. As you can imagine it's been interesting around the Sposa household with the adjustments of the new addition. I have so much to add but didn't want to write anything until I atleast had our daughter's birth story up before I forgot (and I am sure I have left details out or could not describe in words the emotions or events)...but mainly so that Olivia will have this forever available for her to experience through her mother's words.
And now, I commence my usual rants + raves...except now as the many adventures of a new mother in the big city.
xo
la nouvelle mère
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