Concerns

Sara finally lost her "billy" (umbilical) cord, as Zack calls it, on Christmas Eve. So, 2 days later when she "blew" all over herself, she got her 1st sink bath!



Sara had a weight check appointment today since she's so little and hadn't regained her birth weight by 3 weeks. She gained 4.5 oz in 9 days, which is at the very bottom of the range of acceptable rate of gain. SO they want to see her back in 2 weeks to recheck.

Doctor's Appointment

Sara had her check-up yesterday with Dr. Sara Meyers at NW Pediatric. Everything looks great, they say. She gained 9 oz (not a lot I guess, but they said for her size, that's a good amount of gain) and 3/4 inch. She had lost so much (down to 5 lbs) in that first rough week, that the 9 oz only puts her at 5lb 9oz, so since she's still 2 oz under her birth weight, they want us to go back next week just to make sure she's reached it by then. But, other than that, all is well!

I love that little Critter!

Wow, the first 3 weeks of Sara's life have been great! I feel really bonded to her. I thank God that I read up even as little as I did on babies and raising kids, because were it not for that, I'm sure I would not be able to handle the crying very well. If you think about it logically, you can conclude that anyone's weeping is very tolerable and pitiful. Belligerent wailing, on the other hand, and incessant outbursts of frustration generate sympathy only a day or two, as you think, "it must be something I'm (Lauren's) doing wrong." But as you seek every possible way to commiserate her, you find even your most thoughtful efforts, and most empathetic words to still be met with dissatisfaction! Gradually you realize, "My best wasn't good enough!" That thought is undoubtedly the root of all parents' emotional breakdowns and frustration.

However, the books came in handy!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In reading, I learned that, contrary to what I've always thought, the most important time of a human's life is their first few years! Who'd have ever imagined it?! I've always been disenchanted with babies because they can't interact, they don't care anything about YOU or your effort, so why bother with them? Little did I know (until I read... I CAN READ!!!!) that babies who aren't held after birth often become emotionally damaged - and babies that are snapped at or neglected. I also didn't know that by age 5, most little humans have pretty much settled into their idea of who God is or isn't, and how they think of Him! Wow! All that shows it's critical to overcome the natural frustration toward your baby, and critical to continue holding them and loving them, and pressing through with a proper perspective that comes from knowing you ARE making a positive difference, and that it IS worth enduring her outbursts.

Just knowing that has made all the difference for me. Though it was frustrating for a couple days during week 2, I'm realizing again, "She's just so tired she can't sleep," or, "her diaper's just dirty," or "she's hungry," or "she's overstimulated." She just can't help it.

I also find that Lauren is great at diagnosing her different shrieks. That's helped me remember sometimes that, "ah, yes, there is a REASON she's crying, and it's a reasonable one."

Though I don't day dream about Sara while at work, I do look forward to seeing her when I'm driving home! I like to call her "little crttr."

I haven't dreaded changing a diaper yet.

You ought to see the innocent-looking face she gets on her when she gets the hiccups! Little eyeballs peaking all around, to the left and right, while making that cute little squeak.

I'm very happy that we've gone haywire overload on the pictures. We've got a ton.

I'm looking forward to getting some professional portraits done of her - maybe with the money dad sent for Christmas. Dad hasn't seen her yet, nor Katie, but I know they're eagerly anticipating the first meeting.

Lauren's dad decided that since I'm the dad, I should be "Crawdad," which would make him "Crawpappy." That has provided some quality entertainment so far.

I've tried to spot her fingerprints, but I guess they're so small, I can't see them. Plus she won't leave her hands open very long.

Her favorite sleeping spot, other than Lauren, is snugged right into the couch cushions - pictures will reveal this.

I've been making sure Lauren gets her gourmet supplement pills every day, so that she and the baby get all their stuff. I also throw some odd-ball pills in there, like ginger, so that Sara will develop a taste, like her daddy, for things a little more adventuresome than her more conservative mother intakes.

So how do I feel about babies all in all? I feel great! I think it's the best! Lauren's the one who has done ALL the suffering to this point - I feel sorry for her, yet impressed at what a good job she's doing! She's the one who wakes up all the time at night, and has to be around the volatility during the day as well. Even though she's almost beat to a frazzle sometimes, she's still surprisingly positive. She even still manages to do some things around the house and cook dinner and things too.

Bigfoot

Lullabies and Playtime

We have found two things that Sara really likes -- her playtime with Daddy (see picture below -- and the video!) and having Mama sing to her. Pretty much every evening after changing Sara's diaper, Zack sings with her and plays with her hands, and she seems to really like it! At least she doesn't cry. :) But when she does cry, one thing that almost always calms her is when I sing to her. I guess she heard it for 9 months, and it's familiar to her!

Playtime with Daddy

Daddy Nightmares

The funniest thing happened this morning/last night (sometime in the middle!). I was nursing Sara in our room, and she let out a little cry which must have woken Zack up. He suddenly sat bolt right up in bed with a panicked look and said, "Oh, crud!" He started patting the covers and looking under the sheets. Here's an [almost] exact transcript of what followed:

Lauren: "What's the matter?"
Zack: "Where's the baby?"
Lauren: "I've got her."
Zack: [looking around, still dazed and worried] "Oh"
[Pause while Zack looks around more]
Zack: "So you have the 4-letter Sara?"
Lauren: [laughing] "Yes, Zackie, I've got her."
Zack: "What about the other one?"
Lauren: "What other one?"
[At this point, Zack is starting to get very frustrated that I'm not understanding what he's asking]
Zack: "The... the... doll baby one!"
[Of course, I have no idea what he's talking about, but I play along]
Lauren: "I've got her, Zackie."
Zack: "Where?"
Lauren: "Right here." [walking over to the bed to show him the baby]
Zack: [looking very confused] "But you said... you said you've got the real one."
Lauren: [patting Zack's face to wake him up] "Wake up, Zackie; you're not awake."
Zack: "Ok."

Sara in Pictures

Sara

Sara's Here!

Well, it's taken me a week to get this down on "paper," but you'll have to forgive me -- I just had a baby! That's right, my suspicions last week were correct; I was in labor. Zack got home from work around 5:30 and ate his dinner (that I cooked, thank you!), and my family came over then as well. My contractions were getting closer together and pretty uncomfortable, so we decided around 6:30 that I should go ahead and go. We ended up making it to the hospital a little before 7:00 p.m. Dr. Duke (who I would have chosen had I had the chance) was on call, checked me and said I was 4 cm dilated and 90% effaced. He wanted to go ahead and break my water, so about 45 minutes later, he came back (I was now 5cm/100%) and did just that. I had about 2 more contractions that were just uncomfortable, and then things picked up quickly! Zack has an actual time line of when things occurred, but for me, the next three hours passed in a painful blur.

Looking back, it's hard to remember very many specifics because I was trying so hard to relax, but I do know that if Zack and Mom hadn't been there, I couldn't have done it! There were a few times that I thought things like, "I never want to do this again!" and it was definitely the hardest thing I've ever done, but worth it for sure! Around 10:45, the nurse checked me and said I was 10 cm dilated and it was time to push. She had me give 2 good pushes, and then called out the door, "The doctor needs to come now!" The next contraction I actually had to breathe through because the baby was crowning and the doctor wasn't ready. That third push, at 10:53 p.m., Sara arrived! She was a nice shade of blue-gray, and Mom even says she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck, but she let out her first cry and within seconds, the doctor was asking Zack if he wanted to cut the cord (which, surprisingly, he did!). He did just fantastic through the whole thing, and was pretty immediately in love :) They took her immediately over to the warmer, where she was howling, until she heard her daddy's voice. He began to talk to her, and she immediately stopped crying.

Annie didn't make it until about 45 minutes after Sara was born, even though she booked it from Amarillo and made it in a record 6.5 hours. We had lots of other visitors too -- my whole family, Laura, Bro Kenny, and Jay & Betty.

We had to stay in the hospital for 2 nights, since she was born so late at night, but now we're home!