I have a hard time believing that my baby is one week old already. And yet, part of me feels like he's been a part of our family forever. I really can't complain tough, Linden is a darn good baby. I took two weeks off before my due date from work just to relax and get some stuff done around the house. I took to watching Bringing Home Baby on TLC almost everyday and the stories from this show really kinda made me a little nervous about bringing Linden home, but it's been nothing like you see on tv. Yeah he wakes me up in the middle of the night, but I knew that would happen going in. And really he only wakes up once, maybe twice a night. He gets his bottle, I change his diaper and he goes back to sleep.
The one thing I've never understood is people who have a baby and then decide that you can't have a social life and must stay home at all time with the baby. Neither me nor Garrett believe that train of thought. We truly believe that while your life does change with a baby, it only changes as much as you let it. My case in point. Garrett and I have always been very social, active people, we are not the type of people to sit at home all the time in front of the tv. So why would this change just because of Linden? The day after we brought him home from the hospital we took him to visit Garrett's Grandma who doesn't get around very well and then we stopped by the bowling alley for our friends son's birthday party. Granted, we didn't stay very long, just long enough for everyone to see Linden and for us to get out for a bit and then it was time to go home to feed Linden.
Since then Linden has been out somewhere everyday. Saturday night we went out to dinner with my parent's to their friends house and Linden was quite content to either sleep in his car seat or to be passed around between Grandma and Grandpa.
So all in all its been a really good week and we're all starting to get into a routine. Well actually, Linden has done a really good job of getting me and Garrett into his routine.
I can't wait to see what week two brings our way.
~C
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Home Sweet Home
Wednesday, May 14th, 2008
After what felt like an eternity in the hospital, we finally got to come home. In reality we were only there for three days, but when all you want to do is be at home, it feels like forever. The ride home from Winnipeg has never felt so long but the end result was worth the wait. Linden would finally be at home where he belonged and the nursery that has been waiting for him since January would finally have an occupant.
So the first day home was pretty mellow. My parent's came for a bit, Garrett's sister and his parent's came for a bit but no one stayed long and by 8:00 the three of us were just hanging out watching tv.
You always hear the horror stories of people and their first nights at home with baby. Well, I've got to tell you, I didn't find it that rough. Yes I had to get up every two and a half hours to feed and change Linden, but I knew that going in. The first night went by and then it was morning of day two. Or maybe it should be day one, since today is the first full day of having Linden at home. Garrett had to go to work for the day so it was just me and Linden. In between feedings and while he was sleeping I would either putter and tidy up or sort laundry for Garrett to do when he got home, or I would just chillax on the couch and watch TV.
Garrett came home for lunch and while he was there I got him to feed Linden while I went and had a shower. There is something about the effects of hot water that can make EVERYTHING better. We had some lunch and Garrett headed back to work. Come to think of it, I don't think he ever said goodbye to me, just Linden. The Public Health Nurse stopped by this afternoon and we talked about how things were going and she checked Linden over. His lungs have totally cleared of any leftover mucus from birth, his legs are slowly straightening out (they were a little scrunched up from being breach) and he is gaining about an ounce a day. He was 7 pounds 10 ounces when we left the hospital and he's now 7 pounds 11 ounces.
The highlight of the day was when Garrett's sister stopped by for a visit. Linden needed to have his diaper changed so I was able to convince Tanya to give it a try. She was doing really good until she saw what was in the diaper and then she bailed faster than you could ever imagine. I laughed. It really truly made my day.
And now, the evening is upon us. Garrett and Linden are watching the Stanley Cup playoffs. Well, Garrett is watching the game, Linden is sleeping and I am taking advantage of this time to reconnect with the world through the internet. Only 72 new emails to read, luckily most of them were junk. But as I sit here and type I realize that it is time again for Linden to eat. Time sure does fly when you're having fun.
After what felt like an eternity in the hospital, we finally got to come home. In reality we were only there for three days, but when all you want to do is be at home, it feels like forever. The ride home from Winnipeg has never felt so long but the end result was worth the wait. Linden would finally be at home where he belonged and the nursery that has been waiting for him since January would finally have an occupant.
So the first day home was pretty mellow. My parent's came for a bit, Garrett's sister and his parent's came for a bit but no one stayed long and by 8:00 the three of us were just hanging out watching tv.
You always hear the horror stories of people and their first nights at home with baby. Well, I've got to tell you, I didn't find it that rough. Yes I had to get up every two and a half hours to feed and change Linden, but I knew that going in. The first night went by and then it was morning of day two. Or maybe it should be day one, since today is the first full day of having Linden at home. Garrett had to go to work for the day so it was just me and Linden. In between feedings and while he was sleeping I would either putter and tidy up or sort laundry for Garrett to do when he got home, or I would just chillax on the couch and watch TV.
Garrett came home for lunch and while he was there I got him to feed Linden while I went and had a shower. There is something about the effects of hot water that can make EVERYTHING better. We had some lunch and Garrett headed back to work. Come to think of it, I don't think he ever said goodbye to me, just Linden. The Public Health Nurse stopped by this afternoon and we talked about how things were going and she checked Linden over. His lungs have totally cleared of any leftover mucus from birth, his legs are slowly straightening out (they were a little scrunched up from being breach) and he is gaining about an ounce a day. He was 7 pounds 10 ounces when we left the hospital and he's now 7 pounds 11 ounces.
The highlight of the day was when Garrett's sister stopped by for a visit. Linden needed to have his diaper changed so I was able to convince Tanya to give it a try. She was doing really good until she saw what was in the diaper and then she bailed faster than you could ever imagine. I laughed. It really truly made my day.
And now, the evening is upon us. Garrett and Linden are watching the Stanley Cup playoffs. Well, Garrett is watching the game, Linden is sleeping and I am taking advantage of this time to reconnect with the world through the internet. Only 72 new emails to read, luckily most of them were junk. But as I sit here and type I realize that it is time again for Linden to eat. Time sure does fly when you're having fun.
More than we bargained for
Saturday May 10th, 2008 started like any other Saturday morning, except I was one day past my due date and axiously awaiting (actually more like fearing) the onset of labor. May seemed so far away when we found out I was expecting back in September and if you asked any one around me, I had been declaring for weeks that I was done playing this game and was ready to be a mom, but as my due date came and went I actually realized that I was totally petrified of the future, not that I would let anyone in on that secret, least of all my husband Garrett. Anyway, it was Saturday morning, Garrett was at work and I was basking in being able to relax in bed as long as I could. But, that would not be the case, I decided I should probably get out of bed and do something with the morning because we were supposed to go to a dance concert in the evening. I got out of bed and as soon as I stood up, my water broke. I thought to myself, well, your plans for the day just changed in a big way. I was about to call Garrett at work and tell him what was going on, but I think he must have sensed something because before I could get to the phone, it started ringing and it was Garrett just calling to check in. So before I knew it, Garrett was home from work, I called the hospital and they advised me to come in after lunch if contractions hadn't started, which at that point they hadn't. I was feeling amazingly energetic so we quickly tidied up the house and then headed for the hospital over an hour away. While enroute we called everyone we had to and let them know what was going on and I guess about half was to the hospital I started having mild contractions. No more than a little discomfort ten minutes apart.
We arrived at the hospital at around 1 in the afternoon, checked in and waited to get examined. So, I get examined by two nurses and a resident, one of the nurses thought that the baby may be breach but the other nurse and resident dismissed that and assured her that everything was fine, the baby was right where he needed to be. I was convinced that everything was fine too, my last prenatal was three days before and my OB was sure he was head down. So, off to the low risk delivery suite for me. The room was awesome, private room, bathroom, nice view, Garrett would get to stay the night and best of all everything would happen in that room and I wouldn't have to leave it until it was time to go home. Everything was going good, contractions were now 5 minutes apart and intensifying greatly. Whoever said labor was easy is lying.
Fast forward to approximately 8:00 PM, contractions are now 2 to 3 minutes apart and hurt like a bugger, the anethisiologist is in doing a c-section and will get to my epidural when he gets to it. Okay, I can handle this, just breath through the pain and then BAM! the urge to push. Garrett calls the nurses and tells them that I feel the need to push, only they say I can't push yet. What do you mean? But I need to. Out comes the happy gas, let's just say I love the person who discovered nitrous oxide, they are my hero. Within five minutes of that, here comes my epidural. All is good in the world. I'm numb, I'm high, and I'm going to have a baby. No such luck. My nurse decides to check how dialated I am and is kind of perplexed at what she feels, so she gets the doctor to check. The next 15 minutes seemed to blur by in a matter of seconds. The nurse that examined me first at 1 in the afternoon was right, my baby was breach and he was coming soon. Quick decisions had to be made as to whether we attempted a normal delivery with increased risks to the baby or do we go with the C-section and reduce the risk to the baby. I took one look at Garrett, looked at the doctor and said, "C-section", do whatever is best for the baby.
And off we went to the Labor and Delivery ward. Goodbye nice room, hello Operating Room.
Fast forward again. This time to 00:41 on Sunday, May 11th, Mother's Day and the moment my son Linden Alexander Gottfried was born. As numb as I was from the epidural and probably still feeling the effects of some of the happy gas, that is a moment I will never forget. It was the moment that me and Garrett went from a couple to a family. I always thought when people said hearing your baby cry for the first time was the greatest moment ever were exaggerating but now I know that every word of that is the truth.
So even though the labor and delivery weren't exactly what we had signed up for. Okay, they were nothing like what we had signed up for. The outcome was totally worth it. And if you asked me if I'd do it again I'd have to say, maybe in a couple years but right now I just want to enjoy my beautiful and perfect baby boy.
We arrived at the hospital at around 1 in the afternoon, checked in and waited to get examined. So, I get examined by two nurses and a resident, one of the nurses thought that the baby may be breach but the other nurse and resident dismissed that and assured her that everything was fine, the baby was right where he needed to be. I was convinced that everything was fine too, my last prenatal was three days before and my OB was sure he was head down. So, off to the low risk delivery suite for me. The room was awesome, private room, bathroom, nice view, Garrett would get to stay the night and best of all everything would happen in that room and I wouldn't have to leave it until it was time to go home. Everything was going good, contractions were now 5 minutes apart and intensifying greatly. Whoever said labor was easy is lying.
Fast forward to approximately 8:00 PM, contractions are now 2 to 3 minutes apart and hurt like a bugger, the anethisiologist is in doing a c-section and will get to my epidural when he gets to it. Okay, I can handle this, just breath through the pain and then BAM! the urge to push. Garrett calls the nurses and tells them that I feel the need to push, only they say I can't push yet. What do you mean? But I need to. Out comes the happy gas, let's just say I love the person who discovered nitrous oxide, they are my hero. Within five minutes of that, here comes my epidural. All is good in the world. I'm numb, I'm high, and I'm going to have a baby. No such luck. My nurse decides to check how dialated I am and is kind of perplexed at what she feels, so she gets the doctor to check. The next 15 minutes seemed to blur by in a matter of seconds. The nurse that examined me first at 1 in the afternoon was right, my baby was breach and he was coming soon. Quick decisions had to be made as to whether we attempted a normal delivery with increased risks to the baby or do we go with the C-section and reduce the risk to the baby. I took one look at Garrett, looked at the doctor and said, "C-section", do whatever is best for the baby.
And off we went to the Labor and Delivery ward. Goodbye nice room, hello Operating Room.
Fast forward again. This time to 00:41 on Sunday, May 11th, Mother's Day and the moment my son Linden Alexander Gottfried was born. As numb as I was from the epidural and probably still feeling the effects of some of the happy gas, that is a moment I will never forget. It was the moment that me and Garrett went from a couple to a family. I always thought when people said hearing your baby cry for the first time was the greatest moment ever were exaggerating but now I know that every word of that is the truth.
So even though the labor and delivery weren't exactly what we had signed up for. Okay, they were nothing like what we had signed up for. The outcome was totally worth it. And if you asked me if I'd do it again I'd have to say, maybe in a couple years but right now I just want to enjoy my beautiful and perfect baby boy.
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