Brigit and Timber are doing well. Brigit is a little more sore today than yesterday but we're all looking forward to going home tomorrow and Brigit is probably looking forward to seeing anything other than the inside of the maternity ward.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
New Photo
Brigit and Timber are doing well. Brigit is a little more sore today than yesterday but we're all looking forward to going home tomorrow and Brigit is probably looking forward to seeing anything other than the inside of the maternity ward.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
It's a ... baby!
Sorry for not getting something up earlier but it's been a busy afternoon.
After unsuccesful use of Citotek and Pitosin last night and this morning we made the call to have a c-section at 11:00 this morning and this is the first moment I've had free since.
Suddenly the room was full of doctors, nurses, midwives, anestheticians, and we even got a call from a lawyer, I believe.
Brigit was walked into surgery at about 12:30 and they brought me in about 12:45. Brigit was doing great though slightly weirded out at not being able to feel anything below her sternum. Very, very quickly thereafter they were trying to extract a very recalcitrant baby and eventually they pulled Timber Patrick Stevens out. That's right, it's a boy!
Timber weighed in at 9 pound 4 ounces and 19.5 inches. He has a 14.5" head and a 14.25" chest and a perfectly round head which means he wasn't even close to being squeezed out. With such a large head already and no signs of coming out it was the immediate concensus that the c-section was the right choice.
Apparently there is a little canine in Timber because he has some big paws to grow in to. The nurses and doctors could not stop commenting on the size of his feet and hands.
Brigit is great. She's pretty tired and, hopefully, asleep as I write this. I just got back from Timber Patrick's hearing test and first bath. He's already breast feeding like a champ and is apparently trying to set the record for soiled diapers in the first 24 hours.
I'm sure we'll have much more later.. but for now I'm going to hopefully get some sleep myself and I hope I don't burst the buttons on my pajamas in pride while I sleep.
I'll add pics as soon as possible.
After unsuccesful use of Citotek and Pitosin last night and this morning we made the call to have a c-section at 11:00 this morning and this is the first moment I've had free since.
Suddenly the room was full of doctors, nurses, midwives, anestheticians, and we even got a call from a lawyer, I believe.
Brigit was walked into surgery at about 12:30 and they brought me in about 12:45. Brigit was doing great though slightly weirded out at not being able to feel anything below her sternum. Very, very quickly thereafter they were trying to extract a very recalcitrant baby and eventually they pulled Timber Patrick Stevens out. That's right, it's a boy!
Timber weighed in at 9 pound 4 ounces and 19.5 inches. He has a 14.5" head and a 14.25" chest and a perfectly round head which means he wasn't even close to being squeezed out. With such a large head already and no signs of coming out it was the immediate concensus that the c-section was the right choice.
Apparently there is a little canine in Timber because he has some big paws to grow in to. The nurses and doctors could not stop commenting on the size of his feet and hands.
Brigit is great. She's pretty tired and, hopefully, asleep as I write this. I just got back from Timber Patrick's hearing test and first bath. He's already breast feeding like a champ and is apparently trying to set the record for soiled diapers in the first 24 hours.
I'm sure we'll have much more later.. but for now I'm going to hopefully get some sleep myself and I hope I don't burst the buttons on my pajamas in pride while I sleep.
I'll add pics as soon as possible.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Happy Easter
Fresh from a large Easter dinner of "family steak" (round steak marinated in soy sauce, grilled medium rare, and served with garlic butter) Brigit and I are at the hospital. Again.
We just completed the first round of Cytotec which we're going to try until morning. If nothing happens we'll re-evaluate whether to move on to Pitocin or perhaps move straight to a c-section.
We're in a different room and Brigit is now facing east rather than west. Brigit believes this may be better feng shui. This being my baby, I'm fairly certain Ziggy has no concept of flow, design, or anything remotely aesthetic.
Our sense of humor is a bit worn after a long day (sunrise church service at 6:30 during which one of Brigit's elderly congregants fainted) followed by a hike (still hoping for that 'natural' birth) and Easter lunch with 16 guests - who brought dishes and cleaned and made hosting easy)so we hope to have more energy and some good news tomorrow.
Good night.
We just completed the first round of Cytotec which we're going to try until morning. If nothing happens we'll re-evaluate whether to move on to Pitocin or perhaps move straight to a c-section.
We're in a different room and Brigit is now facing east rather than west. Brigit believes this may be better feng shui. This being my baby, I'm fairly certain Ziggy has no concept of flow, design, or anything remotely aesthetic.
Our sense of humor is a bit worn after a long day (sunrise church service at 6:30 during which one of Brigit's elderly congregants fainted) followed by a hike (still hoping for that 'natural' birth) and Easter lunch with 16 guests - who brought dishes and cleaned and made hosting easy)so we hope to have more energy and some good news tomorrow.
Good night.
Friday, April 10, 2009
The End is in Sight
Joe and I are having a baby...soon! Can you believe it???
I had another appt. with the midwife today and asked a lot of questions. There was a pow-wow among the three midwives of the clinic, poring over my chart, consulting with the OB of the office, and much weighing of risks, benefits, and probabilities.
And now we have a plan.
If Ziggy doesn't make a grand appearance on his/her own before Sunday evening, we'll check in to the hospital and try to induce again. If it doesn't work, then we will deliver Ziggy with a C-section.
The bottom line has come down to the preeclampsia diagnosis. The benefit of keeping Ziggy cooking has declined compared to the continued risk of medical emergency for me. Preeclampsia doesn't go away until after delivery and the stats get markedly worse after 40 weeks (40 weeks=April 12th).
Therefore, the landlord has issued an eviction notice, and the sheriff is all set to enforce it...time to move out Ziggy!
I trust that because we have my favorite dinner planned, family steak, and about 20 people invited over for Easter afternoon, my water will probably break just as the steaks are being pulled off the grill and we're getting set to eat.
The upside is I won't have to do dishes!
Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers. It's been an interesting week to say the least. Joe and I are ready and prepared to be thoroughly overwhelmed by parenthood. Bring on the adventure!!
Brigit
I had another appt. with the midwife today and asked a lot of questions. There was a pow-wow among the three midwives of the clinic, poring over my chart, consulting with the OB of the office, and much weighing of risks, benefits, and probabilities.
And now we have a plan.
If Ziggy doesn't make a grand appearance on his/her own before Sunday evening, we'll check in to the hospital and try to induce again. If it doesn't work, then we will deliver Ziggy with a C-section.
The bottom line has come down to the preeclampsia diagnosis. The benefit of keeping Ziggy cooking has declined compared to the continued risk of medical emergency for me. Preeclampsia doesn't go away until after delivery and the stats get markedly worse after 40 weeks (40 weeks=April 12th).
Therefore, the landlord has issued an eviction notice, and the sheriff is all set to enforce it...time to move out Ziggy!
I trust that because we have my favorite dinner planned, family steak, and about 20 people invited over for Easter afternoon, my water will probably break just as the steaks are being pulled off the grill and we're getting set to eat.
The upside is I won't have to do dishes!
Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers. It's been an interesting week to say the least. Joe and I are ready and prepared to be thoroughly overwhelmed by parenthood. Bring on the adventure!!
Brigit
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Home again, home again, jiggity jig.
We are home again, Ziggy still comfy in the womb.
We checked in this morning at the hospital, jazzed and ready for a long and productive day. I let the nursing staff know that I expected a refund if they sent us home again without a baby! We've become the celebrity couple on the floor that's been trying all week to have a baby.
We saw the midwife who informed us that my cervix had not changed at all, still keeping a tight hold on Ziggy.
So, after a long talk about how/why we had gotten to this point and what the plan should be for moving forward, we canceled the induction. I'll spare you the details, but when weighing all the issues out on the table, the overriding factor is that both I and Ziggy seem to be medically stable and I'm just not quite ready to end this pregnancy yet.
So, with another ultrasound and check-up scheduled for Friday, we're going to monitor closely and wait for things to change (either for the good...meaning my water breaks or contractions start w/o any help and we move ahead on our own, or for the not-so-good, meaning my blood pressure spikes or Ziggy seems lethargic and not able to tolerate things and that will require intervention).
Of course, as we were waiting for the nurse and the discharge paperwork, I was still on the monitor and had a three-minute contraction which sent Ziggy's heartrate much lower than it should go. So, we then spent three more hours monitoring things, and added a cocktail of fluids and Pitocin to trigger contractions and watch how Ziggy did through them. S/he passed with flying colors!
This child clearly already has a warped sense of humor. Add that to the big head and stubborn streak, and I guess we're in for a treat, a mini version of the two of us!
We're of course disappointed, but relieved that Ziggy is fine, I'm fine, Joe's fine, and convinced that at some point we might actually get to yell out, "It's a boy/girl!!!"
We rode the elevator down with a brand new dad on our way out today, and it gave me goosebumps as he gushed about this new feeling he couldn't explain. His joy was literally pulsing in him, he couldn't not tell us, strangers in the elevator, about it.
I can't wait for that moment. It's going to be amazing.
As Woody Allen said, "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him about your plans."
We checked in this morning at the hospital, jazzed and ready for a long and productive day. I let the nursing staff know that I expected a refund if they sent us home again without a baby! We've become the celebrity couple on the floor that's been trying all week to have a baby.
We saw the midwife who informed us that my cervix had not changed at all, still keeping a tight hold on Ziggy.
So, after a long talk about how/why we had gotten to this point and what the plan should be for moving forward, we canceled the induction. I'll spare you the details, but when weighing all the issues out on the table, the overriding factor is that both I and Ziggy seem to be medically stable and I'm just not quite ready to end this pregnancy yet.
So, with another ultrasound and check-up scheduled for Friday, we're going to monitor closely and wait for things to change (either for the good...meaning my water breaks or contractions start w/o any help and we move ahead on our own, or for the not-so-good, meaning my blood pressure spikes or Ziggy seems lethargic and not able to tolerate things and that will require intervention).
Of course, as we were waiting for the nurse and the discharge paperwork, I was still on the monitor and had a three-minute contraction which sent Ziggy's heartrate much lower than it should go. So, we then spent three more hours monitoring things, and added a cocktail of fluids and Pitocin to trigger contractions and watch how Ziggy did through them. S/he passed with flying colors!
This child clearly already has a warped sense of humor. Add that to the big head and stubborn streak, and I guess we're in for a treat, a mini version of the two of us!
We're of course disappointed, but relieved that Ziggy is fine, I'm fine, Joe's fine, and convinced that at some point we might actually get to yell out, "It's a boy/girl!!!"
We rode the elevator down with a brand new dad on our way out today, and it gave me goosebumps as he gushed about this new feeling he couldn't explain. His joy was literally pulsing in him, he couldn't not tell us, strangers in the elevator, about it.
I can't wait for that moment. It's going to be amazing.
As Woody Allen said, "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him about your plans."
Monday, April 6, 2009
Half-time Report
Well, we're resting comfortably at home, watching America's Funniest Home Videos, with no Ziggy. That's not entirely true, Ziggy is here, comfortably resting in the womb. Ziggy's butt is rounding out my tummy in extraordinary ways, while one of his/her feet is planted firmly in my ribs.
And after 24 hours of induced contractions...my back aches, we're all tired, and we have another appointment to check in and start over on Wednesday morning to try again (assuming Ziggy doesn't decide to make a break for it between now and then).
We're happy to be avoiding Pitocin for now, and the last 24 hours weren't completely useless, just not as productive as hoped for. Thank you for all your good thoughts and prayers. It's just another lesson of life reminding us how little control we actually have over things.
We'll keep you posted as things change.
Brigit
And after 24 hours of induced contractions...my back aches, we're all tired, and we have another appointment to check in and start over on Wednesday morning to try again (assuming Ziggy doesn't decide to make a break for it between now and then).
We're happy to be avoiding Pitocin for now, and the last 24 hours weren't completely useless, just not as productive as hoped for. Thank you for all your good thoughts and prayers. It's just another lesson of life reminding us how little control we actually have over things.
We'll keep you posted as things change.
Brigit
Stalled out
Arrrrgh! Labor has stalled out for now and we're waiting a couple of more hours before deciding on the next step of the plan. There are several options on the list, including possibly sending us home and waiting to see what Ziggy does on his/her own.
I have never wished for pain before...but that's where we're at. Contractions looked good this morning, strong and growing in intensity, but this afternoon things have crawled to a very slow halt.
We'll keep you posted as we know anything.
Brigit
I have never wished for pain before...but that's where we're at. Contractions looked good this morning, strong and growing in intensity, but this afternoon things have crawled to a very slow halt.
We'll keep you posted as we know anything.
Brigit
More Waiting
It's 7:15 am and we are at the hospital. Brigit is hooked up to two monitors. One measures contractions and the other measures Ziggy's heart rate. Ziggy continues to be active. Too active. Five times last night Ziggy set off the alarm by moving out of the range of the monitor. The nurse actually seemed irritated which does not bode well for us as parents of this active little one.
Brigit was given to doses of Citotec and her contractions increased and grew stronger but not strong enough. Unfortunately, they came often enough they had to suspend a dose. So, we're expecting the midwife in the next hour to come in and suggest Pitosin which we were hoping to avoid. Before that they'll take Brigit off the monitors and we'll be able to walk around and we'll probably walk stairs like we were doing at midnight.
Unsurprisingly, Brigit is a horrible patient. After watching the nurse set up monitors and such Brigit began changing settings, moving monitors, and monkeying with controls. She also searched the room looking for medical toys to play with.
I'll post more info when there's another break in the action, sports fans.
Joe
Brigit was given to doses of Citotec and her contractions increased and grew stronger but not strong enough. Unfortunately, they came often enough they had to suspend a dose. So, we're expecting the midwife in the next hour to come in and suggest Pitosin which we were hoping to avoid. Before that they'll take Brigit off the monitors and we'll be able to walk around and we'll probably walk stairs like we were doing at midnight.
Unsurprisingly, Brigit is a horrible patient. After watching the nurse set up monitors and such Brigit began changing settings, moving monitors, and monkeying with controls. She also searched the room looking for medical toys to play with.
I'll post more info when there's another break in the action, sports fans.
Joe
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Down to the wire
We just went to Chipotle as a last ditch effort.
No contractions but now we both feel pregnant.
Actually, her back feels tight which is a promising sign.
(incidentally - B has tried pineapple to those who made that suggestion but she says she'll eat more on the way to the hospital)
Joe
No contractions but now we both feel pregnant.
Actually, her back feels tight which is a promising sign.
(incidentally - B has tried pineapple to those who made that suggestion but she says she'll eat more on the way to the hospital)
Joe
Hitting the wall
It's Sunday, approximately 3:00 and still no sign Ziggy is ready to meet the world.
Brigit has tried a number of activities rumored to induce contractions to no avail. Some of these are:
Drinking Raspberry Tea
Scrubbing Floors on all fours
Laundry (for the constant bending over)
Walking
Climbing Stairs
Spicy food
Poking and prodding the increasingly large rump causing her belly to look misshaped
Wii (mostly tennis and bowling)
Brigit was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia a few months back. Normally her blood pressure is on the low side. Other than one appointment with very high blood pressure (and probably exacerbated by her starting a new job, moving, having a grandfather die, and other factors all in the same week)it's been okay but it's steadily increased as Ziggy has grown. So, the inducing is meant to avoid having a possible medical emergency by using some routine medical intervention. Brigit had a much more natural birth plan including a water birth but we're trying to make sure she stays safe through this.
So, if nothing happens in the next couple of hours we will be checking in to the hospital tonight where Brigit is going to be induced per the suggestion of the midwife. Ziggy measured in at eight pounds and ten ounces last Tuesday with a big head (both the ultrasound technician and midwife looked at my head after looking at the cranial circumference measurement) and it's week 39 so Ziggy should be more than ready.
They will start Cytotec through the night to 'ripen' the cervix which sometimes leads to contractions. If it does not then she will get Pitocin to start contractions.
But, we're not giving up yet. We're going for a walk followed by Mexican for dinner. We'll keep you updated via the blog.
Think happy labor thoughts!
Joe
Brigit has tried a number of activities rumored to induce contractions to no avail. Some of these are:
Drinking Raspberry Tea
Scrubbing Floors on all fours
Laundry (for the constant bending over)
Walking
Climbing Stairs
Spicy food
Poking and prodding the increasingly large rump causing her belly to look misshaped
Wii (mostly tennis and bowling)
Brigit was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia a few months back. Normally her blood pressure is on the low side. Other than one appointment with very high blood pressure (and probably exacerbated by her starting a new job, moving, having a grandfather die, and other factors all in the same week)it's been okay but it's steadily increased as Ziggy has grown. So, the inducing is meant to avoid having a possible medical emergency by using some routine medical intervention. Brigit had a much more natural birth plan including a water birth but we're trying to make sure she stays safe through this.
So, if nothing happens in the next couple of hours we will be checking in to the hospital tonight where Brigit is going to be induced per the suggestion of the midwife. Ziggy measured in at eight pounds and ten ounces last Tuesday with a big head (both the ultrasound technician and midwife looked at my head after looking at the cranial circumference measurement) and it's week 39 so Ziggy should be more than ready.
They will start Cytotec through the night to 'ripen' the cervix which sometimes leads to contractions. If it does not then she will get Pitocin to start contractions.
But, we're not giving up yet. We're going for a walk followed by Mexican for dinner. We'll keep you updated via the blog.
Think happy labor thoughts!
Joe
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Racing to the Finish Line
Unbeknownst to Brigit, she was nearly woken from a nap by Henderson police on Monday.
I was driving back from Annandale (where my office is) and, as usual, called to tell her I was on my way. She did not answer and I left her a voice mail asking her to return my call when she got my message.
Brigit is rarely without her phone and prompt about calling me back when she sees I’ve called so I became mildly agitated when I did not hear back from her within ten minutes. After twenty minutes I was pretty concerned. After half an hour I was worried.
The drive from Annandale to Henderson typically takes between 70 and 80 minutes and consists of 60.7 miles of mostly county roads which are posted at 55 mph.
So, here’s a math problem for you: A 2005 Ford F150 leaves point A traveling at 55 mph. After traveling 30 minutes the speed has steadily increased to 70 mph and why the hell is EVERY BUICK DRIVING BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT AND WHY ISN’T SHE ANSWERING THE DAMN PHONE?!?!
By Hamburg(19.75 miles from home) I had already called our friends the Radfords in New Prague (20 minutes from Henderson) to see if they were actively driving Brigit to a hospital. I’d tried to remember ANYONE’S last name in our new community, considered calling the police, fire department, and ambulance. I was slowing to 80 mph in the long curves between corn fields, reviewing what I remembered of CPR from summer swimming lessons, and calling Brigit continually.
Brigit answered the phone and immediately apologized after I’d passed Green Isle (14.75 miles from Henderson). She was asleep on the couch with her phone upstairs. I requested that she please, please keep her phone nearby until the baby arrives which she promised to do. I slowed to 55 mph which seemed like a crawl.
We both went to Brigit’s midwife appointment today. The ultrasound tech estimated Ziggy’s weight at 8 pounds 10 ounces and, unfortunately for Brigit, appears to take after dad who has a hard time finding hats big enough to fit.
The midwife is having us back on Friday and may want to discuss inducing. But, Brigit did have some contractions this morning (though not regular or sustained) so we are hoping Ziggy is nearly ready to make a grand entrance. We will keep you updated.
And Brigit will have her phone at hand.
Ciao.
Joe & Brigit
I was driving back from Annandale (where my office is) and, as usual, called to tell her I was on my way. She did not answer and I left her a voice mail asking her to return my call when she got my message.
Brigit is rarely without her phone and prompt about calling me back when she sees I’ve called so I became mildly agitated when I did not hear back from her within ten minutes. After twenty minutes I was pretty concerned. After half an hour I was worried.
The drive from Annandale to Henderson typically takes between 70 and 80 minutes and consists of 60.7 miles of mostly county roads which are posted at 55 mph.
So, here’s a math problem for you: A 2005 Ford F150 leaves point A traveling at 55 mph. After traveling 30 minutes the speed has steadily increased to 70 mph and why the hell is EVERY BUICK DRIVING BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT AND WHY ISN’T SHE ANSWERING THE DAMN PHONE?!?!
By Hamburg(19.75 miles from home) I had already called our friends the Radfords in New Prague (20 minutes from Henderson) to see if they were actively driving Brigit to a hospital. I’d tried to remember ANYONE’S last name in our new community, considered calling the police, fire department, and ambulance. I was slowing to 80 mph in the long curves between corn fields, reviewing what I remembered of CPR from summer swimming lessons, and calling Brigit continually.
Brigit answered the phone and immediately apologized after I’d passed Green Isle (14.75 miles from Henderson). She was asleep on the couch with her phone upstairs. I requested that she please, please keep her phone nearby until the baby arrives which she promised to do. I slowed to 55 mph which seemed like a crawl.
We both went to Brigit’s midwife appointment today. The ultrasound tech estimated Ziggy’s weight at 8 pounds 10 ounces and, unfortunately for Brigit, appears to take after dad who has a hard time finding hats big enough to fit.
The midwife is having us back on Friday and may want to discuss inducing. But, Brigit did have some contractions this morning (though not regular or sustained) so we are hoping Ziggy is nearly ready to make a grand entrance. We will keep you updated.
And Brigit will have her phone at hand.
Ciao.
Joe & Brigit
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Counting down!
We're on the home stretch! I'm 37weeks/4days, 30% effaced, and not dilated quite yet, but working on it.
I had another midwife appointment today with an ultrasound and watched Ziggy roll and stretch and nap (we had to push him/her around a bit to wake him/her so we could measure the right movements). And of course, 10 minutes later as I waited to see the midwife Ziggy was dancing all over the place. Just another sign that this child has a mind of its own!
Plans are all in place at work for both Joe and I, the hospital bag is all packed and in the car, the dogsitter is lined up, the nursery is set and waiting with clean sheets and stocked changing table, and I am sufficiently uncomfortable and ready to face this thing called labor.
I think it's a cruel joke that the last month and a half I've already been so sleep-deprived. I think I make it to about 1.5/2 hours of sleep and then I have to pee and something hurts, usually my back or hips. And changing positions requires 14 sets of muscles from the outer lying body parts to leverage, lift, shift and turn!
I laugh at myself when I think, "Gee, I can't wait to be able to sleep again..." When will that be? 2 years from now? This is truly going to be an adventure.
Keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Joe just has a few more days of tradeshows, but of course they are in places like Superior, WI. I hope his patience and his heart hold out (it starts pounding everytime his cell phone rings)!
Hoping for another post, with Ziggy's arrival pics, soon!
I had another midwife appointment today with an ultrasound and watched Ziggy roll and stretch and nap (we had to push him/her around a bit to wake him/her so we could measure the right movements). And of course, 10 minutes later as I waited to see the midwife Ziggy was dancing all over the place. Just another sign that this child has a mind of its own!
Plans are all in place at work for both Joe and I, the hospital bag is all packed and in the car, the dogsitter is lined up, the nursery is set and waiting with clean sheets and stocked changing table, and I am sufficiently uncomfortable and ready to face this thing called labor.
I think it's a cruel joke that the last month and a half I've already been so sleep-deprived. I think I make it to about 1.5/2 hours of sleep and then I have to pee and something hurts, usually my back or hips. And changing positions requires 14 sets of muscles from the outer lying body parts to leverage, lift, shift and turn!
I laugh at myself when I think, "Gee, I can't wait to be able to sleep again..." When will that be? 2 years from now? This is truly going to be an adventure.
Keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Joe just has a few more days of tradeshows, but of course they are in places like Superior, WI. I hope his patience and his heart hold out (it starts pounding everytime his cell phone rings)!
Hoping for another post, with Ziggy's arrival pics, soon!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Bye bye toes...see ya in the spring
(5 weeks, 15 weeks, 25 weeks, 34 weeks!)
I can no longer see my toes unless I really go looking for them. It is truly amazing how the body can adapt and change and grow. Each time I feel like I'm totally stuffed and stretched to the max, Ziggy has another growing and stretching spurt and I have one less outfit in my closet that fits me!
I truly and honestly cannot even begin to count how many times I've worn my Minnesota sweatshirt and black track pants. And I've got six weeks to go...I hope they make it.
We've moved into our new home, the parsonage at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Henderson, MN. I had my first Sunday of preaching and leading worship this past week. Joe commented when we got home that it's a good thing those preaching robes are big and roomy...and that's where the sentence ended. It's a good thing I love him!
Ziggy's been very active every day and puts on a show for daddy too. We can watch now, not just feel, as Ziggy rolls around from side to side and does her/his daily stretching routines. I think I will miss those times once s/he's on the outside. It's kind of creepy and weird, sometimes feels like I might spontaneously pee myself or throw up, but at the same time it is awfully cool.
At only 6 weeks left to go, we've begun to count down a bit. Showers are coming up, shopping still needs to be finished for the nursery, and the suitcase isn't quite packed yet for the hospital...but soon. It's very very exciting!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Living the Good Life
It's official, Ziggy (or Ziggianna as G-Ma Patty calls her, willing her to be a her) won't have to spend his/her first year of life sleeping in the bottom drawer of Daddy's dresser. We will soon have a new home, complete with a whole separate bedroom for the nursery.
Starting Feb. 26th, I will be the new Pastor of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Henderson, MN. The job includes a house, right next door to the church, and we'll keep our little lake place here in Dassel for our weekend getaway spot. We're all very excited about the move! It brings us closer to good friends, Joe's family, and even a few minutes closer to my family too (just a south instead of west).
The wonderful people at the church are busy installing new carpet throughout the five-bedroom tw0-bathroom house, varnishing woodwork and kitchen cabinets, and removing wallpaper and painting every single room. They even let me pick out all the colors! We saw it about 1/2 done two weekends ago when I preached and led worship and the congregation officially voted "YES!" for the Stevens' family. It looks great and I'm loving all the shopping and daydreaming about where things will go and how things will look once we're moved in.
Which leads me to my latest thoughts about Ziggy. Frankly, I'm having a very hard time picturing a little baby in our midst. We went to register at Target for the baby showers our loving family and friends are having...and it was hard.
I don't know if we'll like these bottles or those ones. Do the extra vibrating/rocking/bouncing mechanics for the bassinet really "soothe" or just irritate a newborn? Are special blankets really needed to wrap baby tight in a swaddle for $7 extra per blanket? Don't the nurses at the hospital just tuck and wrap...can't we do the same?
Now I have to take back the years, and I mean years, of complaining and taunting my parents for the photograph of me as an infant in the playpen with a string of tinfoil and Coke cans over me. Seriously...I was smiling. Isn't that the point? Didn't I turn out OK without perfectly shaped and colored bits of plastic that move and sing and light up to alternately stimulate and soothe each corner of my growing brain?
Sorry, Dad. Tinfoil and Coke cans might be 'white trash' but they did the job just fine.
And why is the exact same car seat $30 more for the one that has the newest blue/pink and brown swirlies on it instead of last season's blue/pink and brown stripes?
OK, enough griping, mostly, we're very very happy and excited!
Ziggy continues to grow and move. I'm happy and healthy, adding heartburn and orange juice cravings to my list of symptoms. And we're appropriately overwhelmed by the thought of being entirely responsible for the health and well-being of a brand new human.
As we often say to one another, "We have a good life."
Starting Feb. 26th, I will be the new Pastor of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Henderson, MN. The job includes a house, right next door to the church, and we'll keep our little lake place here in Dassel for our weekend getaway spot. We're all very excited about the move! It brings us closer to good friends, Joe's family, and even a few minutes closer to my family too (just a south instead of west).
The wonderful people at the church are busy installing new carpet throughout the five-bedroom tw0-bathroom house, varnishing woodwork and kitchen cabinets, and removing wallpaper and painting every single room. They even let me pick out all the colors! We saw it about 1/2 done two weekends ago when I preached and led worship and the congregation officially voted "YES!" for the Stevens' family. It looks great and I'm loving all the shopping and daydreaming about where things will go and how things will look once we're moved in.
Which leads me to my latest thoughts about Ziggy. Frankly, I'm having a very hard time picturing a little baby in our midst. We went to register at Target for the baby showers our loving family and friends are having...and it was hard.
I don't know if we'll like these bottles or those ones. Do the extra vibrating/rocking/bouncing mechanics for the bassinet really "soothe" or just irritate a newborn? Are special blankets really needed to wrap baby tight in a swaddle for $7 extra per blanket? Don't the nurses at the hospital just tuck and wrap...can't we do the same?
Now I have to take back the years, and I mean years, of complaining and taunting my parents for the photograph of me as an infant in the playpen with a string of tinfoil and Coke cans over me. Seriously...I was smiling. Isn't that the point? Didn't I turn out OK without perfectly shaped and colored bits of plastic that move and sing and light up to alternately stimulate and soothe each corner of my growing brain?
Sorry, Dad. Tinfoil and Coke cans might be 'white trash' but they did the job just fine.
And why is the exact same car seat $30 more for the one that has the newest blue/pink and brown swirlies on it instead of last season's blue/pink and brown stripes?
OK, enough griping, mostly, we're very very happy and excited!
Ziggy continues to grow and move. I'm happy and healthy, adding heartburn and orange juice cravings to my list of symptoms. And we're appropriately overwhelmed by the thought of being entirely responsible for the health and well-being of a brand new human.
As we often say to one another, "We have a good life."
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