This afternoon Mommy was feeling well enough to go on our first family walk! We made it maybe a tenth of a mile before Mommy was ready to turn around and go back home, but it was nice to get out in the fresh air!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Doctor Visit and First Walk
Went to the doctors again today to check on Grace. Good news all the way around! She is up to 6 lbs 5 oz! (3 oz away from birth weight!) Her bilirubin level was down to 10 which is in the acceptable area and Mommy can start breast feeding again! We do not have to go back to the doctors until next Tuesday for her 2 week appointment so we are counting our blessings! Here is a picture of our pediatricians office: Cornerstone Pediatrics
This afternoon Mommy was feeling well enough to go on our first family walk! We made it maybe a tenth of a mile before Mommy was ready to turn around and go back home, but it was nice to get out in the fresh air!
This afternoon Mommy was feeling well enough to go on our first family walk! We made it maybe a tenth of a mile before Mommy was ready to turn around and go back home, but it was nice to get out in the fresh air!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
First Bath
Grace got her first bath today! Needless to say we can add this to the list of things she does not care for. =) However it is nice to have her hair clean and make sure that any formula/breast milk she spits up has been completely washed out of her neck! It is hard to find this girls neck so we find that spit up likes to hang out there! hehe. Here is to one clean baby.... hoping to not have to do this again until next week! =)
And back to being a glow worm! =)
And back to being a glow worm! =)
Doctor Visits and Day 4 pictures
On our way to our first doctor visit. This picture really shows how tiny Grace is in her car seat. You can see that we have had to put rolled blankets on either side of her to keep her wedged in! We also have to put a folded up blanket in front of her to keep her from sliding down!
Daddy and Mommy at the doctor appointment. Grace actually lost a bit of weight. She went from 6 lbs, 8 oz to 5 lbs, 14 oz! Not only that but she had not pooped for 24 hours and she was jaundice! Of course we were concerned. The doctor put Grace on an all formula diet for 24 hours so we could ensure she was getting 2 oz of food every 3 hours. She also instructed me to begin pumping so that all the breast milk could be saved and given to Grace once the weight was up...
As for the jaundice Grace came home with a biliblanket. It is a machine that produces a light. Grace has to sleep with the light directly on her skin. The light produces no heat so it is very safe. It is supposed to break down the dead blood cells in her skin to help the jaundice go away. Here is what it looks like.
Our little glow worm.
Luckily for us at the next appointment (24 hours later) all 3 areas were looking better! Grace was back up to 6 lb 2 oz! Her jaundice (called bilirubin) had gone done and she was pooping up a storm! We still have the light at home for her to use the next few days but she is back on breast milk with only using formula to supplement! Hopefully we will hear good news tomorrow at her next appointment!
Daddy and Mommy at the doctor appointment. Grace actually lost a bit of weight. She went from 6 lbs, 8 oz to 5 lbs, 14 oz! Not only that but she had not pooped for 24 hours and she was jaundice! Of course we were concerned. The doctor put Grace on an all formula diet for 24 hours so we could ensure she was getting 2 oz of food every 3 hours. She also instructed me to begin pumping so that all the breast milk could be saved and given to Grace once the weight was up...
As for the jaundice Grace came home with a biliblanket. It is a machine that produces a light. Grace has to sleep with the light directly on her skin. The light produces no heat so it is very safe. It is supposed to break down the dead blood cells in her skin to help the jaundice go away. Here is what it looks like.
Our little glow worm.
Luckily for us at the next appointment (24 hours later) all 3 areas were looking better! Grace was back up to 6 lb 2 oz! Her jaundice (called bilirubin) had gone done and she was pooping up a storm! We still have the light at home for her to use the next few days but she is back on breast milk with only using formula to supplement! Hopefully we will hear good news tomorrow at her next appointment!We also got a chance to take some 4 day pictures! I chose on the best to share here. We are so blessed to have Grace. She is so expressive even at 4 days old. She loves being held and loved on and she makes it clear when she does not like something we are doing (this includes changing her diaper or putting new clothes on!) Here is our sweet angel!
The bonnet and booties in these pictures were actually worn by Gabe when he was a baby! He wore this outfit (with the little dress) to his baby christening. We wanted a few pictures with Grace wearing the same outfit as her daddy (of course Mommy thought it was even cuter when she was naked between the bonnet and booties! hehe)
Athens is still trying to figure out what this squirmy little thing is that we brought home. =)
The hat and blanket in these pictures were hand made by Grace's Aunt Suzie (Gabe's brother Chris's wife) She did such a great job on them we had to show them off!
Of course you have to have a picture of a little girl in a tutu!
These 2 were just us playing around at the end. I love all the wrinkles in her side! We couldn't believe how much she was moving on her belly! She kept kicking out her legs and moving herself forward! I bet we will have a crawler in no time! This could explain why the inside of my belly was SOOO sore during the end of my pregnancy! The girl has got some muscle! =)
The bonnet and booties in these pictures were actually worn by Gabe when he was a baby! He wore this outfit (with the little dress) to his baby christening. We wanted a few pictures with Grace wearing the same outfit as her daddy (of course Mommy thought it was even cuter when she was naked between the bonnet and booties! hehe)
Athens is still trying to figure out what this squirmy little thing is that we brought home. =)
The hat and blanket in these pictures were hand made by Grace's Aunt Suzie (Gabe's brother Chris's wife) She did such a great job on them we had to show them off!
Of course you have to have a picture of a little girl in a tutu!
These 2 were just us playing around at the end. I love all the wrinkles in her side! We couldn't believe how much she was moving on her belly! She kept kicking out her legs and moving herself forward! I bet we will have a crawler in no time! This could explain why the inside of my belly was SOOO sore during the end of my pregnancy! The girl has got some muscle! =)
Meeting Grace (Day 1 and 2)
We wanted to capture those first few days and how sweet and tiny our little girl is. J-pa took some amazing pictures at the hospital. Here are our favorites.
Grace holding Mommy's hand.
Her little feet! We actually think her feet are huge compared to her body! I guess when you come in at 6 lbs, 8 oz, you are so small that if you have regular feet they look huge! We love her little toes and how they will curl around your finger to grab on! This combined with her long arms and long fingers has earned her the love name "little gorilla" =)
Daddy's love. We wanted to share a picture that really showed off all that hair! No wonder Mommy was having such painful heartburn!
Uncle Taylor holding his niece! I think he has seen her every day since she was born! He certainly LOVES Grace. =)
Mimi holding her grand baby! This was taken October 12th, Grace was 1 day old. =)
J-pa holding Grace. Grace is still wearing the hospital hat and blanket. This was taken the day she was born. Considering she was born at 10:47pm, this was less then an hour and a half after birth! She is still trying to figure out her eyes and her head still looked a bit like a cone. =) It has rounded out quite nicely now.
Love how you can see the hospital bands in this pictures. This was actually taken on top of the hospital bed! She loves shaking her italian hands!
Her little feet! We actually think her feet are huge compared to her body! I guess when you come in at 6 lbs, 8 oz, you are so small that if you have regular feet they look huge! We love her little toes and how they will curl around your finger to grab on! This combined with her long arms and long fingers has earned her the love name "little gorilla" =)
Daddy's love. We wanted to share a picture that really showed off all that hair! No wonder Mommy was having such painful heartburn!
Uncle Taylor holding his niece! I think he has seen her every day since she was born! He certainly LOVES Grace. =)
Mimi holding her grand baby! This was taken October 12th, Grace was 1 day old. =)
J-pa holding Grace. Grace is still wearing the hospital hat and blanket. This was taken the day she was born. Considering she was born at 10:47pm, this was less then an hour and a half after birth! She is still trying to figure out her eyes and her head still looked a bit like a cone. =) It has rounded out quite nicely now.
Happy Birthday! October 11, 2011
Tuesday shortly after writing my 38 week blog we got a call from the doctor. I could stop the 24 hour urine collection because.... my blood levels showed I had preeclampsia and I needed to head to the hospital to be induced! I called up Gabe at school and he headed for home. We were at the hospital by 1:30 and by 3:30 I had been checked in, assigned a room, given an IV and the medication to start labor was being given though the IV.
Labor lasted a little over 7 hours. I made it about 3 hours before I desperately needed an epidural. Contractions do in fact really hurt! I learned that I am not a screamer, quite the opposite actually, I just cried! Getting the epidural did not hurt at all (compared to contractions it was like eating a piece of cake!) Once the epidural was in place I started to relax. The first hour of the epidural my dilation went from 5 to 8 cm. The doctor said epidurals can slow down labor, but for some women it actually speeds it up because the body can take a break and the uterus can do its job! I am glad I was a case of "speeding up labor!".
Here is one of the last pictures of me with Grace still in my belly!
Labor lasted a little over 7 hours. I made it about 3 hours before I desperately needed an epidural. Contractions do in fact really hurt! I learned that I am not a screamer, quite the opposite actually, I just cried! Getting the epidural did not hurt at all (compared to contractions it was like eating a piece of cake!) Once the epidural was in place I started to relax. The first hour of the epidural my dilation went from 5 to 8 cm. The doctor said epidurals can slow down labor, but for some women it actually speeds it up because the body can take a break and the uterus can do its job! I am glad I was a case of "speeding up labor!".
At 10:00pm I started pushing. The doctor came in, he was a riot! He would just sit back and watch and then make funny comments like "Wow that was a good one, I think she moved a millimeter!" I told him that I would prefer he told me things like "Oh my gosh! I think she moved half a football field!" He was entertained by us as well. =)
10:47pm and Grace was born! She was a beautiful and healthy baby girl! Here are some pictures of those first few hours!
First pictures with Mommy, yes this is right after she was born! She has a nice set of lungs on her. =)
6 lbs, 8 oz. One tiny bundle of love!
First picture with daddy! She has blonde eye lashes and eye brows so it almost looks like she has no hair, until you take that hat off! She has a LOT of hair on that head.
Mimi, J-pa, and Uncle Taylor were all at the hospital for the whole labor process. They were so excited to meet our tiny Grace Jacklyn! We are so lucky to be blessed with this sweet girl. =)
6 lbs, 8 oz. One tiny bundle of love!
First picture with daddy! She has blonde eye lashes and eye brows so it almost looks like she has no hair, until you take that hat off! She has a LOT of hair on that head.
Mimi, J-pa, and Uncle Taylor were all at the hospital for the whole labor process. They were so excited to meet our tiny Grace Jacklyn! We are so lucky to be blessed with this sweet girl. =)Tuesday, October 11, 2011
38 Weeks!
Woohoo! Grace made it another week. Her little brain has gotten a whole week stronger and more developed! Now Mommy is ready for her TO COME! As much fun as its been to carry around a small pumpkin in my belly... any time or day that Grace would like to come into the world would be ok with Mom and Dad!
We went to the doctors yesterday (Monday, October 10th) and found out that my blood pressure is running on the high side. No concern would be 140/80 although they want it to be lower - mine was 156/92... uh oh! The doctor is concerned that I may be developing a condition called preeclampsia. After 20 weeks women can get preeclampsia, it basically effects the mother. When my blood pressure is so high there is the concern of me having seizures as well as my heart not getting a rest. They did a whole bunch of lab work at the doctors yesterday and I have to collect my pee for 24 hours - GROSS! They have taken me out of school again. I do not have to rest in bed the whole time, but my directions were "light activity".
Last week Mommy went back to work at Bethesda. The 2nd graders were so excited and loved rubbing on my belly and saying hello to Grace. They all said they were ready for Grace to come out and they wanted to meet her!
The dogs are excited too! Bean is wondering why her sitting lap is getting smaller and smaller as she is being forced to share the space with an ever growing tummy. Sometimes she just sits and stares at my belly... lol. Athens is still into the protecting. He finds a place somewhere right underneath my feet to lay down. I think secretly he is hoping if I fall over him then Grace will get here sooner! =) This picture is from Halloween last year - I wonder if they had any idea how different this Halloween would be!
We went to the doctors yesterday (Monday, October 10th) and found out that my blood pressure is running on the high side. No concern would be 140/80 although they want it to be lower - mine was 156/92... uh oh! The doctor is concerned that I may be developing a condition called preeclampsia. After 20 weeks women can get preeclampsia, it basically effects the mother. When my blood pressure is so high there is the concern of me having seizures as well as my heart not getting a rest. They did a whole bunch of lab work at the doctors yesterday and I have to collect my pee for 24 hours - GROSS! They have taken me out of school again. I do not have to rest in bed the whole time, but my directions were "light activity".
On the flip side... I am also getting close to labor on my own! My cervix is effaced at 80%, this is the thinning of the cervix. It is also dilated now to 4 cm! I know 4 cm still seems like a small amount - but I mean this is a hole that is inside of me! After 4 cm you begin what is called "Active labor"(that is when you go to the hospital) Check out the chart to see how big that is:
So The doctor has said the 2 things that are going on, the high blood pressure, and already being at 4 cm will solve each other. Either the high blood pressure will continue and they will have to induce me in the next week, or (more likely) I will go into active labor on my own and have this baby in the next few days! They had me schedule an appointment for Thursday, but they said it was unlikely they would see me.
So The doctor has said the 2 things that are going on, the high blood pressure, and already being at 4 cm will solve each other. Either the high blood pressure will continue and they will have to induce me in the next week, or (more likely) I will go into active labor on my own and have this baby in the next few days! They had me schedule an appointment for Thursday, but they said it was unlikely they would see me.
I am excited and scared at the same time! I am ready to have Grace and meet her, but the waiting and not knowing is not something I'm good at. I like to know what is going on when.... This is part of the reason we decided to name her Grace and I will continue to remember this: Grace is in God's hands, not mine. It is only by God's grace that we get to have our Grace and I will just enjoy every minute of loving her, even the moments that cause Mommy's stress!
Hopefully I will not be writing in here about 39 weeks!!!! But If I am... I will have more pregnancy pictures to share. (That was my deal, I love taking the pictures so it gives me something to look forward to if I still have a 6-7 lb baby in this tummy of mine!)
Oh! And Mimi and J-pa drove up last night! It will be nice to have company now that I'm at home again... and that way Daddy doesn't have to worry that I'm going to deliver Grace at home without him! hehe
Love you baby girl!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
37 Weeks - FULL TERM
Grace Jacklyn Macaluso
Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb.
Daddy has been spending a lot of time watching Grace kick and throw herself at my belly this past week. I am pretty sure she thinks it is a bouncy house in there! Mommy spent another week chilling on the green couch! We have a doctor appointment at 4:30 this afternoon where we find out what Mom will be doing tomorrow. My guess.... it's back to Bethesda until Grace makes her entrance. =)
Can't wait to meet you sweet girl!
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