Tuesday, January 20, 2009

More pictures

Leaving the hospital.




Sweet girl!


Riley watching over the newest member of the family.

Her favorite way to sleep!



Her first walk.


Sunbathing


Looking at the camera.


Her favorite toy!

Long time no write...

So a lot has happened over the last two weeks. We have just been going through the motions of 3 hr feedings over the last two weeks, and we are both very tired. However, we are enjoying every minute.

First bit of good news - her jaundice seems to be completely gone. The feedings every three hours and boosts of formula seemed to do the trick. Last Tuesday we got the go ahead to pull her off the formula, which we were glad to do because her tummy was not agreeable to the formula. However at that two week appointment she had not gotten back to her birth weight yet. I was informed I have to keep up the 3 hr feedings at that appointment for weight purposes, but we did get the clear to let her go four hours at night. Who knew that would be so exciting, but I was thrilled. Of course, she is used to eating every three hours so we are trying to break her of that. We were able to get her to do 2 straight 4 hr feedings last night for the first time! I was so excited.

A couple of days ago, she started acting like her stomach was really bothering her and she was also acting a little colicky. Well, today at her weight check, we talked to the doc and we think it is what I have been eating. I have been trying to eat better, so I have been eating a lot of veggies and beans for protein levels. Well, duh, Jillian - gassy for me=gassy for baby. We are going to see if that resolves itself on its own in the next few days by what I eat. Cross your fingers that is all it is.

At her weight check last week she was only 6lbs 7oz, but today she was up to 6lb 150z. She gained 1/2 pound all on my nursing only! The doctor said that was very impressive. She said to keep up the three hour day feedings, but I am going to use my judgment. I am tired of waking a sleeping baby to force a feeding. I will not let her go past 4 hrs though. We are just going to use our best judgment.

Other than that, she has been much more aware as of late. She is awake longer and follows us around more. I think she is used to our voices, because when we are in the room she seems to be calmer. I am loving this little princess!

Below is a picture we took a few days ago. We decided to give her a bath and then blow dry her hair. The picture below was the result of her hair drying. We laughed for 10 minutes straight. Especially with the look on her face! I hope to write more as I get more energy.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Annaleigh Update

My little one is so precious. We love having her around this house. She is a very happy baby in general and even when she is fussy, it is not overwhelming. She has a very quiet cry. She has been getting a lot of love from her grandparents and uncles and aunt.

However, she has been a little on the sick side as of late. We have a jaundice baby!! We have had to take the baby to the doctor 4 of 5 days to get her blood tested and determine her billirubin levels. The have gone back and forth on the numbers. It got high enough on Monday that we had to begin boosting her feedings with an ounce of formula every other feeding to help flush her system out. It tends to be working, because the numbers went down yesterday and we get multiple runny poopy diapers a day. We go back tomorrow and get it tested again. Hopefully it has gone down some more.

Because of the high levels, I have been feeding her every 3 hrs no matter what. 3 hrs from the beginning of each feeding. This means Justin and I get about 2-2/12 hr breaks between feedings. Justin and I operate on 3 hr increments in a 24 hr period. Needless to say, we are tired. I am hoping to move her up to 4 hrs soon.

One funny story and picture: On Monday Annaleigh turned one week old! In honor of it, (and because none of her clothes have been fitting yet) we found one outfit that fits to take her to the doctor in. Well, I got her dressed and she looked adorable. We took a couple of pics and then as I was walking with her down the hallway she had a poopy diaper. Well, I took her back to the room to change it. She then proceeded to do her favorite thing that she does in the morning. She peed all over herself and my hand after I wiped her. Which means she also peed on her clothes. She was in her adorable little outfit for all of three minutes. It was hysterical. I laughed at the changing table for like 5 minutes.

Attached is her dressed up prior to the accident!

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Annaliegh Hayden Powell has arrived!!!

Well, we are at home! And I am moving very slowly around this house. I have to be ever so careful right now. Things seem to be healing very well right now. Here is her story!

This is a very easy story to tell, as it was a planned, perfectly executed section. However, it is still her story.

Annaleigh Hayden Powell - 8:05 AM, 6lbs 10 0z, 19 3/4 inches long.



I got to the hospital at 5 AM. Somehow Justin and I managed 4 hrs of sleep. They hooked me up to some fluids and an IV. While we waited for some blood results I signed my life away. At 7:15 or so in the morning, my anesthesiologist came by and talked about my options. He said due to the low risk nature of the section, an epi was all I needed. No spinal block. He said they would be taking me back in about 10 minutes. It was at this moment, I started crying, because my Justin could not come in until all that was hooked up and I was prepped for surgery. Once I got in there, the nursing staff was amazing. The doctor and his wife (who works in the office with him) was his assistant. It was so nice having her in there. She is a very calming influence. Once Justin came in, the surgery started. It was bizarre and he kept the meds coming until I was comfy. When they started pulling her out (which I could feel the change in pressure in my stomach) my doctor said she was legs first and was definitely a girl, because she proceeded to pee on everything and everyone. And then I heard her glorious cry. She has a very quiet cry at this point still. Then the doctor held just her little head above the sheet and said "say hello to mommy and daddy". I saw her beautiful, perfect face and full head of hair. I have never cried so many tears of pure joy.

They took her to the nurses, where I could see her and they worked on her for a few minutes. They got her wrapped up and Justin got to bring her over to me. It was amazing. He then got to leave and walk her to the nursery while they stitched me up. I could feel more of that, so they just put me in a twilight sleep, until they finished. It was great to kind of wind down. Justin got to hang out with her in the nursery and after a couple days of recovery, we are home. Well, that is her story. Nothing exciting, but very adventurous as I am now looking at my precious little girl.

I will add some more pictures later.