I apologize these birth stories are quick versions...but you'll see it was a long weekend and I don't have the energy to write out more elaborate stories at this point.
Friday, we got called out around 3 in the afternoon. After some creative child shuffling, I headed out to J's house. S (the midwife) was already there, and mama was in active labor in the tub when I arrived. Mom labored like a rock star, chatting between contractions and denying that she was anywhere close to holding her baby (ha!). Within an hour, her vocalizations changed and she began pushing...at this point, I was put in the role of "the midwife," so I donned my sterile gloves (didn't want to be rushing at the last minute or having sweaty palms trying to get them on!) and crouched in front of the tub to wait. Her water broke during a pushing contraction, and six minutes later, the baby was born...into MY hands! What an incredible gift, and how sad that so few ever have the privilege to experience it. This little guy weighed in at 9 lb 6 oz.
We went out to dinner and coffee; I got home around 10 p.m. I knew at this point another mama was having some contractions, but wasn't ready for us yet. I headed to bed around 11:15, and was woken at 11:40 by the phone and S saying it was time to go...this mama (a primip, or first-timer) was laboring in the tub with her husband and doula. Within a couple hours, she was pushing, and her baby girl came sliding into the water just before 3 a.m. on Saturday, weighing 8 lb 1 oz.
Now the third birth...Mama was having some health issues at 32 weeks that indicated checking in to the hospital. She went in on Sunday afternoon and the staff was unable to find a heartbeat. Ultrasound confirmed that their baby girl was no longer alive. A C-section was performed, and the most gorgeous, precious little girl was born sleeping, weighing 2 lb 8 oz. There were no obvious signs of problems, nothing discernible on the pathology report. Baby B was greatly loved, and will be missed.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Flashback Friday Again!
A few pre-wedding/kid pics!
Worthington Glacier, 1997 (the summer we met):
Glacier Bay, Summer 1998:
And reaching even further back...
Spring of 1992:
Eek - can't believe I'm sharing those...be nice! :)
Worthington Glacier, 1997 (the summer we met):
Glacier Bay, Summer 1998:
And reaching even further back...
Spring of 1992:
Eek - can't believe I'm sharing those...be nice! :)
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Flashback Friday
Courtesy of a Facebook friend...(clickable if you can't see the whole pic)
Taken at a wedding in Chicago a couple months before E was born...so C is about 18 months old here.
Taken at a wedding in Chicago a couple months before E was born...so C is about 18 months old here.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Four babies
Any guesses? I think we played this one back when L was new...Adding by request: individual pics, going clockwise from upper left
1.
2.
3.
4.
Other random comments
Trying to make up for my non-blogging...
Good news: we seem to have eliminated some kind of trigger from L's diet that has cleared up his skin and solved most of his night-time sleep problems! We have gone night-shade free and are also avoiding straight cow's milk. He still gets goat milk for his nap and to go to bed...but the last time we ran out of goat milk and gave him cow milk, he woke multiple times at night and was rashy again the next day...however, we were seeing that with potatoes and tomatoes as well, so for now it's all out of his diet. We don't seem to have issues with yogurt or cheese though.
Baby OP is now 12 weeks old, and as of one week ago weighed 13 pounds, measured 24 inches long and has a petite 15.5 inch head.
My sister is in Thailand doing her training for the ICRC; she returns to India on Saturday to begin her new job as an interpreter in Kashmir.
My parents and sister were all here visiting at the end of April! We celebrated my dad's 60th birthday, and I was spoiled by having my parents drive the girls to school each morning, and pick them up each afternoon...heaven!
Pics from the visit:
Multi-tasking auntie: Indian-food chef and baby-wearer!
Good news: we seem to have eliminated some kind of trigger from L's diet that has cleared up his skin and solved most of his night-time sleep problems! We have gone night-shade free and are also avoiding straight cow's milk. He still gets goat milk for his nap and to go to bed...but the last time we ran out of goat milk and gave him cow milk, he woke multiple times at night and was rashy again the next day...however, we were seeing that with potatoes and tomatoes as well, so for now it's all out of his diet. We don't seem to have issues with yogurt or cheese though.
Baby OP is now 12 weeks old, and as of one week ago weighed 13 pounds, measured 24 inches long and has a petite 15.5 inch head.
My sister is in Thailand doing her training for the ICRC; she returns to India on Saturday to begin her new job as an interpreter in Kashmir.
My parents and sister were all here visiting at the end of April! We celebrated my dad's 60th birthday, and I was spoiled by having my parents drive the girls to school each morning, and pick them up each afternoon...heaven!
Pics from the visit:
Multi-tasking auntie: Indian-food chef and baby-wearer!
My first post-OPB birth
April 29, in the evening, I attended a birth...and in my slacker haze, I never posted it! This mama lives very close by us, so I had arranged to attend as the assistant's assistant basically. I wanted the ability to go nurse OP if need be, and the experience to see how it would work out.
Around 7 p.m. I headed over to their house; S (midwife) was already there, and N (assistant) was just moments behind me. Mom labored in her room with the help of a doula and her supportive husband. We checked in occasionally, but pretty much stayed out in the living room. Close to 11, mom started pushing on the birth stool, and out came a perfect little boy. He did make a grand entrance by virtue of coming at 42 weeks on the dot! Congratulations to the whole family :)
As for my crew, OP did just fine without me - he was sleeping when I left and did wake up, but took milk from daddy no problem...the only bad part was he didn't go back to sleep! I returned home around 2 a.m. to a very tired husband who had to get up two hours later for work...
For the record, he has since stayed home with daddy and gone back to sleep just fine, so we're hoping for the near future it won't be a big issue...(lots of births coming up soon!)
Around 7 p.m. I headed over to their house; S (midwife) was already there, and N (assistant) was just moments behind me. Mom labored in her room with the help of a doula and her supportive husband. We checked in occasionally, but pretty much stayed out in the living room. Close to 11, mom started pushing on the birth stool, and out came a perfect little boy. He did make a grand entrance by virtue of coming at 42 weeks on the dot! Congratulations to the whole family :)
As for my crew, OP did just fine without me - he was sleeping when I left and did wake up, but took milk from daddy no problem...the only bad part was he didn't go back to sleep! I returned home around 2 a.m. to a very tired husband who had to get up two hours later for work...
For the record, he has since stayed home with daddy and gone back to sleep just fine, so we're hoping for the near future it won't be a big issue...(lots of births coming up soon!)
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
L's new doll
L's birthday doll arrived today...I thought my little boy could use his own doll, since he often plays with the sisters'. He loves giving them rides in the sling, mei tai, and stroller...so now he can care for his own. Oh, bonus: he's a European doll - so he is even truly anatomically correct *wink*
And if anybody needs one for their own kids, my mom ordered it from here. There are a few styles - this guy is "Titus."
Hmm...what is it?
Ooh, look!
Happy
And hugs...
Happy
And hugs...
And if anybody needs one for their own kids, my mom ordered it from here. There are a few styles - this guy is "Titus."
Monday, May 18, 2009
Two!
Saturday was L's second birthday. No big celebrations...cupcake dessert Saturday just for the candles, and family brunch on Sunday.
Aunt B brought over two baby goats on Sunday (not to keep!). The kids enjoyed feeding them:
Big C loves carrying her baby brother just like mama:
And L had a blast helping daddy start the side patio transformation (think Mexican courtyard...we hope):
I am one of those slacker bloggers who has been sucked into Facebook...I will try to make more effort to keep my blog updated - sorry!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
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