FLOP!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Enjoying the little things
Over the last few days, I've been receiving a crash course in being a new mommy. There is so much to do, keep track of, and think about, in addition to all the physical discomfort (wait - make that pain!) that goes along with delivering and nursing a baby. It can get very overwhelming very quickly. So, I'm learning to enjoy some "little things" that keep me happy when the bigger things all seem to be crashing in. In no particular order:
I'm not usually impressed with babies in general, but I sure do think that Katelyn is beautiful and adorable. Today, she is really sweet. I am enjoying that.
I am finished with pregnancy, which I didn't enjoy, and labor, which I really hated. Enough said there.
Greg is quite possibly the most wonderful husband and father ever. He is so helpful that I've actually only changed maybe three diapers so far. I am enjoying having him around all day, because soon diapers will be part of my normal routine!
Sleep has become a "little" thing, in terms of quantity. I am enjoying every little bit I get.
When I do get to sleep, I can sleep on my back. And I have banished the three extra pillows that were a requirement for the last few months. What a relief!
I can eat pastrami sandwiches. And the Subway BMT. And very nearly anything else I want.
With Mom here this week, I have not had to worry about cooking, cleaning, or shopping. That's a pretty sweet deal.
I can lean over the sink when I brush my teeth, and not drool toothpaste on my belly. I can also see my feet without leaning over.
And one not-little, very important thing: even when I'm not sure whether I'm doing anything right; when Katelyn would rather sleep than eat and waking her up is a half-hour chore, while keeping her awake while eating is another forty-five minutes or so; and when I wonder if I should really go to sleep or keep watching her to make sure she's still breathing, I can remember what Greg told me a few nights ago. God is watching her. And He loves her even more than we do. That's definitely something to enjoy.
I'm not usually impressed with babies in general, but I sure do think that Katelyn is beautiful and adorable. Today, she is really sweet. I am enjoying that.
I am finished with pregnancy, which I didn't enjoy, and labor, which I really hated. Enough said there.
Greg is quite possibly the most wonderful husband and father ever. He is so helpful that I've actually only changed maybe three diapers so far. I am enjoying having him around all day, because soon diapers will be part of my normal routine!
Sleep has become a "little" thing, in terms of quantity. I am enjoying every little bit I get.
When I do get to sleep, I can sleep on my back. And I have banished the three extra pillows that were a requirement for the last few months. What a relief!
I can eat pastrami sandwiches. And the Subway BMT. And very nearly anything else I want.
With Mom here this week, I have not had to worry about cooking, cleaning, or shopping. That's a pretty sweet deal.
I can lean over the sink when I brush my teeth, and not drool toothpaste on my belly. I can also see my feet without leaning over.
And one not-little, very important thing: even when I'm not sure whether I'm doing anything right; when Katelyn would rather sleep than eat and waking her up is a half-hour chore, while keeping her awake while eating is another forty-five minutes or so; and when I wonder if I should really go to sleep or keep watching her to make sure she's still breathing, I can remember what Greg told me a few nights ago. God is watching her. And He loves her even more than we do. That's definitely something to enjoy.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Parenthood: Day 1
Well, here we are. Katelyn seems to be sleeping off the effects of Mom's painkillers.
Yesterday was quite a day. Allison woke up with a contraction at 5:30 a.m. I woke up about 6:30, and her first words were "I think I'm having a baby today." Needless to say, my morning cobwebs disappeared pretty quickly. I spent the first hour of awake-ness keeping track of times and lengths. By the time 8:30 rolled around, contractions were becoming exponentially closer together. Allison called the doctor and his nurse said "Wait till they're closer together." Well, that lasted about 10 minutes. By 9:12, we were in the van, on the way to the hospital. When we got to the entrance, she was having a contraction; this TOTALLY freaked out the little old lady at the desk. She called upstairs, while we just took the elevator up. By the time we got to the maternity ward, the charge nurse was running down the hall thinking the baby was falling out or something (but very pleased that it wasn't).
They put Allison on the monitor at 9:40, and checked her at 4cm. When the doctor came in about half an hour later, she was at 6cm, and he broke the water. He said then, "I don't think you're going to be pregnant very long."
There are moments in life when I, once again, realize that I'm married to an amazing and remarkable woman. It was just awesome to see her handle this ordeal. Things happened so quickly that she had no chance to even really think about an epidural (though there were IV meds). Even the nurses were amazed as they watched her go through it. At 12:43, only 4 hours after the "big ones" started, we had ourselves a cute, smelly, screaming little girl. I did cut the cord, but in the chaos almost didn't even realize it was for real!
I got to hold Katelyn for a while while they got Allison re-situated.
After that, I took her down for the official stuff (vaccinations, shots, footprints), and watched her first bath (which she was highly unimpressed with). The pediatrician came in and confirmed that everything was good, and a little while later they moved Allison out of the delivery room to the nursery room. We really like that the hospital lets babies stay in the room with Mom, but will take her to the big nursery if Mom's worn out. (that won't happen much longer!)
I went home to feed our furry friends, and came back this morning with Mom's long-desired pastrami sandwich. Things are going well. Katelyn is learning this eating thing, and Allison is quite happy to have room for food again. She devoured that sandwich!
As I sit in the room with my two girls sleeping, I'm thankful for a very smooth pregnancy and delivery. Though Allison didn't enjoy being pregnant, she had no significant health issues at all; and while delivery was still highly unpleasant, there were almost no problems whatsoever. To think that just over 24 hours ago that wiggling mass of blankets was still inside her mother is quite amazing. We are thankful for God's unending blessings in Christ. I think of how all we know was created through Christ, the Word in flesh, God the Son.
We know that God has been preparing us for this for a long time, and yet we still feel totally unworthy and unprepared. I pray that my daughter will one day accept Christ as her Savior and Lord, and that our testimony will strengthen her faith in Him. Thank you for your prayers, love, and endless Facebook comments. We are blessed.
The Dukes of Snukeville
Yesterday was quite a day. Allison woke up with a contraction at 5:30 a.m. I woke up about 6:30, and her first words were "I think I'm having a baby today." Needless to say, my morning cobwebs disappeared pretty quickly. I spent the first hour of awake-ness keeping track of times and lengths. By the time 8:30 rolled around, contractions were becoming exponentially closer together. Allison called the doctor and his nurse said "Wait till they're closer together." Well, that lasted about 10 minutes. By 9:12, we were in the van, on the way to the hospital. When we got to the entrance, she was having a contraction; this TOTALLY freaked out the little old lady at the desk. She called upstairs, while we just took the elevator up. By the time we got to the maternity ward, the charge nurse was running down the hall thinking the baby was falling out or something (but very pleased that it wasn't).
They put Allison on the monitor at 9:40, and checked her at 4cm. When the doctor came in about half an hour later, she was at 6cm, and he broke the water. He said then, "I don't think you're going to be pregnant very long."
There are moments in life when I, once again, realize that I'm married to an amazing and remarkable woman. It was just awesome to see her handle this ordeal. Things happened so quickly that she had no chance to even really think about an epidural (though there were IV meds). Even the nurses were amazed as they watched her go through it. At 12:43, only 4 hours after the "big ones" started, we had ourselves a cute, smelly, screaming little girl. I did cut the cord, but in the chaos almost didn't even realize it was for real!
I got to hold Katelyn for a while while they got Allison re-situated.
After that, I took her down for the official stuff (vaccinations, shots, footprints), and watched her first bath (which she was highly unimpressed with). The pediatrician came in and confirmed that everything was good, and a little while later they moved Allison out of the delivery room to the nursery room. We really like that the hospital lets babies stay in the room with Mom, but will take her to the big nursery if Mom's worn out. (that won't happen much longer!)
I went home to feed our furry friends, and came back this morning with Mom's long-desired pastrami sandwich. Things are going well. Katelyn is learning this eating thing, and Allison is quite happy to have room for food again. She devoured that sandwich!
As I sit in the room with my two girls sleeping, I'm thankful for a very smooth pregnancy and delivery. Though Allison didn't enjoy being pregnant, she had no significant health issues at all; and while delivery was still highly unpleasant, there were almost no problems whatsoever. To think that just over 24 hours ago that wiggling mass of blankets was still inside her mother is quite amazing. We are thankful for God's unending blessings in Christ. I think of how all we know was created through Christ, the Word in flesh, God the Son.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." John 1:1-5 NASB
We know that God has been preparing us for this for a long time, and yet we still feel totally unworthy and unprepared. I pray that my daughter will one day accept Christ as her Savior and Lord, and that our testimony will strengthen her faith in Him. Thank you for your prayers, love, and endless Facebook comments. We are blessed.
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