Mariele's 1 month check-up . . .

Well, she will actually be 6 weeks tomorrow. But we finally got her in for that 1 month visit. The most exciting part of these well baby visits is the weighing and measuring. For comparison's sake, here are her stats at 3 days old:

Weight: 6 pounds; 8th percentile

Height: 19 inches; 20th percentile

Head: 13 1/2 inches; 25th percentile

And (drumroll please) - here are her stats today!

Weight: 10 pounds 2 ounces; 60th percentile

Height: 21 5/8 inches; 50th percentile

Head: 15 inches; 70th percentile

This massive growth makes me feel all warm and fuzzy! And it makes me repeatedly pat myself on the back as her growth was a direct result of my wonder milk produced by my very own body! I was so concerned that I had such a tiny baby and now look at her! Double chin and all! I'm so excited about this!



And here is an interesting mommy stat. I've been working out on the Wii Fit and I like to do the daily body test. At the end of the daily body test the Wii Fit presents you with your Wii Fit age, which is basically a physiological age that it calculates from your actual age and your performance on some body tests. Some days the result can be discouraging because the thing can be rather insulting to you if your Wii Fit age is way above your actual age. Well yesterday I had the best Wii Fit age ever!! So my actual age is 34. Yesterday my Wii Fit age was (drumroll please):

26!!!!

I guess that is as good as I can do without making Analese's Wii Fit age of 2!

6 hours then 4 hours . . . . .

That is how long my baby slept last night!!!!!!!!!

Makes me happy!

I nursed Mariele to sleep, placed her in her bassinet, then grabbed the baby monitor and joined Lee & Analese outside in the hot tub! And it was so much fun! I love that Mariele sleeps so well and consistently and that allows me to do this kind of fun stuff! I tried to do this just a couple of weeks ago and it was discouraging because Mariele was just not to that point yet. But now she is! And it makes me happy!

Lovin' my baby!

She is sleeping OVER four hour stretches! She is 5 weeks old today. Analese did not sleep like that until she was over a year old. Mariele gave me almost a 5 hour stretch and a 4 hour stretch last night! Woo hoo! Doing the happy, rested mama dance!

She's a growin'!

We just weighed Mariele on the kitchen scale. She weighs 8.9 pounds!! 8 days ago she weighed 7.9 pounds. I was so concerned about having a smaller baby and she is growing like a weed! So much fun to see!

Foggy

That is how I feel right now. For the second night in a row I did not get much sleep. But I think I figured out what the problem was around 4 a.m. Mariele would nurse to sleep, then I would place her in the bassinet. She would sleep well for 10-30 minutes before she would wake up flailing her arms and legs around and fussing. I stopped swaddling her after the first couple of nights thinking if she did OK with not being swaddled then I would not bother. I've been putting her in a sleep sack at night instead. Well, last night (early this morning actually) I decided to try swaddling again. She settled to sleep immediately and gave me a nice stretch of sleep. No more flailing arms and legs. This babe is getting swaddled tonight. Hopefully with good results. Now I'm off for MY nap.

My First Solo Outing with the KIDS!

Mariele is 15 days old today. Analese has been having some minor adjustment issues so I thought she might enjoy a trip out to the library for toddler story time. Holy cat this requires some planning ahead! First of all, Mariele had a restless and hungry night last night. She has been pretty good about night time sleep patterns, giving me 3 hour stretches and all. But last night for some reason she did not want to sleep and she wanted to eat a lot. So I was tired and hungry this morning. I made baked oatmeal for breakfast, which was delicious! I got Analese up and dressed. It seems like the more I am in a hurry, the more she drags her feet and becomes uncooperative. Anyway, long story short we did make it to the library in time for the story time. Analese did enjoy herself and when we were leaving the library she said, "Let's go to Little Gym now!" I hope this gets easier! I need a nap this afternoon!

More visitors......

Mother-in-law and sister-in-law arrived last night. I had made crock-pot chili (from dried, not canned beans) and a tamale pie. It sure felt good to cook again. And it tasted fabulous! I think I have a hankering for some for breakfast! Anyway, MIL and SIL came bearing gifts for Mariele, Analese, and me! SIL (Amy) put together this beautiful "big girl basket" for Analese, with all kinds of cool big girl stuff in it. She especially likes the sparkly lip gloss! My gift bag contained lots of pampering beauty products, a perfect gift for a post-partum mom. Mariele was the recipient of some very cute outfits, including a bundle-me SNOWSUIT from one of MIL's friends HEE HEE! We need to make a trip back to Colorado now! One of Mariele's outfits from MIL says "Off to Grandma's" on it. I think that is a hint that we need to be making a trip to Arkansas soon. Oh, another one of my gifts was 2 pairs of Bally total fitness yoga pants. I slipped into a pair right after my shower this morning. These are the perfect post c-section recovery pants!

Unfortunately, 50% of my family is still under the weather. Lee and Analese both feel like cr@p. It was such a blessing that Lee actually got a call-off day today, so he was able to stay home from work. And it means a three day weekend for him, so hopefully he will be able to recover as he visits with his mom and sis. Analese still has intermittent fever. When she gets a fever she cries and cries and says, "I need pink medicine!" She is referring to Tylenol. And when her mouth hurts from the teething molar (yes that is happening at the same time), she says, "I have a molar. I need I-pofen." She is referring to ibuprofen here. Poor baby, oops I mean toddler girl.

All is well!

I just enjoyed a yummy lunch of veggie "meatloaf" that was delivered by my own personal, private catering service. Really, my dear friend Yng Yng, assisted by her oldest daughter Alanna, has been bringing by all of this wonderful food! And I do feel my strength coming back. I left the hospital a little anemic, but I know I will not be that way for long.

Yesterday we took Mariele to the ped for a follow-up. She left the hospital on "jaundice alert" which simply meant she was in the low-intermediate risk category for developing jaundice according to her bilirubin result. So that was tested again yesterday and the result was in the acceptable range. The ped said yesterday would be the highest result, and since it was acceptable he does not need to follow her for that anymore. And her weight was also good. Of course, she had lost in the hospital. Born 6 pounds 8 ounces and left the hospital at 6 pounds 1 ounce. Well, she was 6 pounds 1 ounce yesterday so she had not lost any additional weight. And now that my milk is in and flowing freely that number will only go up. She really enjoys my milk and wants it all the time!

I was so puffy yesterday. All those fluids from the IVs and the leftover fluid from pregnancy I guess. I felt really bad and uncomfortable. Today I feel better puffiness-wise. I lost about 4 pounds of fluid over the last 2 days and I know I am still shedding some more fluid.

Analese is adjusting to big sisterhood. She is doing well for the most part. Occasionally we can tell she is acting out a little for attention. I'm trying to make sure she still feels very loved and special.

We are planning on taking some photos of Mariele. May have to wait until tomorrow at this point to get some natural daylight. I want to get a good photo to mail out in an announcement.

I'm not really looking forward to Lee going back to work next week. I think I will only be flying solo for 3 days though, because his mom and sister are coming in.

Mariele is really a very good baby. She loves a warm body though. Much prefers being held to sitting in a bouncy seat or lying awake in her bassinet. I don't really blame her for that, though. She does not fuss much, and when she does she is very easy to soothe. She is so cute when she is alert with her eyes open. Her eyes seem to be tracking well. She loves to look at our faces. Her eyes are dark blue at this point. Not sure if they will change to brown/hazel like Lee's eyes or if they wil stay blue like mine and Analese's. Either way, she has beautiful eyes. She has less hair than Analese had at birth, and Analese did not have much at all. I do remember that Analese had a small duck tail in the back, though. Mariele does not even have that. She is such a cute little baldie! Well, as soon as we take more pics I will be sure to post some up.

She's here!

Announcing Mariele Kara

Born at 8:10 a.m today.

6 pounds 8 ounces

19 1/4 inches

Apgar 9/9

Healthy & cute! Nursing well. Will try to get some pics up later.

My baby size concern........

Those of you who have been following my blog lately know that my doc and ultrasound seem to think this baby will be smaller at birth than Analese was (7 pounds 2 ounces). I have been disagreeing as I feel pretty full of baby and she is a very pokey baby at that (parts trying to poke out all the time). However, I'm getting concerned when I really think about this now. Compare the pics of the last post (38 weeks 4 days) with these pics taken during my pregnancy of Analese at 35 weeks 5 days. These pics are the last pics that I took in my pregnancy with Analese. I had her by c-section at 39 weeks 1 day.





Is it my imagination or do I look the same or bigger at 35 weeks last time than I do at 38 weeks this time???

Here is the weight history:

1st pregnancy: started at 120. Ended at 142. Total weight gain was 22 pounds.

2nd pregnancy: started at 115. Was 136 at my last appointment (after peaking at 139 the week before). So weight gain so far is 21 pounds.

I mean, I know it is possible to have a smaller healthy baby, but I am so hoping and praying that she is at least the size that Analese was at birth. Hmmmm..... I know people are different sizes and maybe this baby will be even more petite than Analese. I guess I just don't have big babies. But I just pray that she is healthy!! Analese was so very healthy and I just want Mariele to be healthy too. Sorry - freaking out here.

34 week appointment..........

These appointments are getting kind of boring and redundant. Although Lee said that is a very good thing and exactly how we want it to be! I did not have any issues to discuss with her today. I've gained 16 pounds to date. My blood pressure was 102/66. Mariele's heartrate was 140. My belly measured at 33 weeks, but she is not concerned about me measuring 1 week behind. Again, I don't know what I would do at the OB's office without Analese. How would I know where the speicimen cups are, where to put my sticker, what to do with the specimen cup or where to put the specimen cup?

My OB rocks!

I had a good 32 week appointment yesterday. I had some specific concerns that I brought up with my OB and she addressed them and made me feel so Wmuch better!

First of all (these are not concerns, these are just nomal appointment things) I have gained 13.5 pounds so far. My blood pressure was very good. Baby's heartbeat was also very good. I told doc that I am taking 3 doses of Zantac 75 per day. She said that is fine, but she thinks I would respond better to prescription Nexiium, so she is calling in some this morning. I also mentioned the sharp pain in my right upper thigh and she thinks it is round ligament pain. Not much I can do about that but endure it. I had that same pain at the very end with Analese. I also mentioned the increased Braxton Hicks. She noticed I was contracting during the exam also. Not a concern unless I have more than 4 an hour. So baby Mariele and I are both doing well.

Now my concerns:

1) When I had Analese I was able to nurse her in the recovery room. I would like to be able to nurse Mariele in recovery as well. This hospital is not as well-run and posh as the hospital where I delivered Analese. She said that we will have to push for it, but we will have the baby in recovery with me. Apparently her dad who she practices with has fought with the hospital for 20 years over this issue. He says healthy newborns belong with their moms, not in the nursery. So she and Lee will both make sure that Mariele gets only the necessary stuff done in the nursery, then she will come to me. Lee says he will just go get the baby and bring her to me if he has to. Code pink! Dad abducting the baby! Makes me laugh! Apparently the recovery room nurses do not like being responsible for both mom and baby. But Lee can be there with me so they can relax.

2) I want to room in with Mariele. This is not a problem even at this hospital. Apparently this is common practice, and Mariele should be with me the whole time once I get into a room.

3) I want to go home the next day like I did with Analese. I told doc this is totally her call, and it is not my intention to be pushy or demanding. But she said as long as I am eating and moving around, there is not reason why I should have to stay more than one night.

4) Getting my tubes tied: most convenient to do at the same time as the c-section, but there is also an option to come back 4 weeks later and do it laparascopically. Lee and I are still discussing this one.

5) photography/videography during the c-section: She is totally COOL with this, even encourages it! She is such an awesome OB!

I am getting really excited now as the time draws near. I will be pre-registering with the hospital soon. I hope and pray that things go as smoothly as they did with Analese. I really do love this OB. She is so personable and close to my age. Her daughter is one day younger than Analese! Anyway, that's about it. I felt good about yesterday's appointment.

My 30 week OB appointment!

Went to the doc today.  Blood pressure was excellent.  So far I have gained 12.5 pounds.  My glucose test result was 98, which was excellent.  These appointments tend to be pretty run of the mill for me.  No issues.  She did try another 3D scan in an attempt to get a better face shot.  But unfortunately, Mariele has her face right up against my placenta.  Plus she still loves to keep those arms and hands right there in front of her face.  It will be interesting to see if she does this after she is born!  With the issue of her face buried in my placenta, she is just a hard baby to scan.  To generate the 3D image, my doc has to separate the face from the placenta, and doing this causes distortion in the image.  So her nose and mouth look a little distorted.  With Analese, the issue on the ultrasound was having the cord run in front of her face.  Same deal where the ultrasonographer had to separate face from cord to generate the image and it caused some distortion also.  However, we did get better photos with Analese.  She came out pretty much looking like the pictures we brought home from her 3D u/s.  There is really only one picture of Mariele where I can kind of imagine what her face looks like.  My assessment is she has some facial similarities to Analese, but she has her own unique features.  Here are the photos, so try to make heads or tails of them!

Look on the left side of this image and you can see her eyes (kind of) and nose and upper lip.  That is her arm and hand to the right.  Her wrist is right at the level of her eye there.

This is the best shot of the face we were able to get.  You can see eyes and her hand semi-covering one of her eyes.  You can also see the nose, although it is distorted.  And then you can see the mouth (also a little distorted).

Well, we get to see her live and in person on January 20th!  And my doc may even try again.