First Dr Appt & Adjustments

Okay, so it's not technically her first appointment, but the 5-day appointment is really just a weight check and to see if we're adjusting at home okay. At her 5-day appointment, Lauren weighed 7 lbs 15 oz (two ounces more than when she left the hospital). The doctor was pleased that she had started gaining some back (after losing 6 ounces in the hospital, which is normal) and that my milk was in and she was eating well. No problems yet...

Today we had her two-week appointment, and little Miss Lauren is growing very well! She weighs 9 lbs 2 oz, so the doctor was super happy! Let me tell you... as much as she nurses, I'm not surprised she gained that much in two weeks! Everything else looked great, so still no problems (other than occasional fussiness from little tummy-aches and she thinks she needs to eat more... ). She is completely breast-fed (no supplementation like Carter needed), and I hope to start pumping and offering bottles soon so I don't feel "stuck" to Lauren!

We're adjusting well to home life. We've had many visitors, but the days I've been alone with the kids have been fine. Lauren sleeps well (and often) in her bassinet and is so content all the time. When Carter was a baby, he needed constant stimulation and interaction and didn't take long naps-- we're already seeing huge differences between the two of them! Carter is still like that today, so maybe that means Lauren will be a little more laid back. The one that it's the hardest on is Carter. He's doing well, he's just learning that Mommy can't be there every second (and knows when I'm nursing I can't get up to stop him!). It's going to take some getting used to, but I'm not worried about him. He is a big helper when Lauren is being changed or bathed and likes being the "Big Boy Brother". We're all getting sleep, even if it is sporadic, but it helps to feel rested. I've learned when I need to lie down, and most the time Carter lets me catch a few zzz's. That's one thing that's harder with the second, but with her sleeping pretty well both during the day and at night it's not too bad. Lauren's also great when we run errands -- she falls asleep in the car and so far she's slept the entire time we're out! That makes it a little easier to leave the house too. I'm so glad she's been such an easy baby!

Lauren will go back to the doctor on July 6th for her two-month checkup and first round of shots (other than when she was born). Carter will be going to the doctor at the end of July for his three-year checkup. He hasn't been to the doctor since his two-year appointment! I always look forward to seeing where he is deveopmentally -- last year he was the equivalent of 3 years, 1 month. Maybe the constant stimulation isn't so bad after all...

Lauren is Here!

I'm finally getting around to uploading pictures and such, so thought I'd post a quick blog. Most of you have probably heard that Lauren Taylor Wolf has made her arrival. She was born on May 10, 2007, at 1:07pm. She weighed 8 lbs, 3 oz and was 20 in long. She looks like big brother Carter, and she has dark brown somewhat-curly hair, big hands with long fingers, and tiny ears! Labor was good -- I went in to be induced at 6:30am and was already having regular contractions eight minutes apart. With just a little pitocin and breaking my water a little after 8am, labor was underway. Contractions got hard pretty quickly, and by 11:15am I was 4.5 cm. The anesthesiologist was paged and by 12:30p I had my epidural, along with some pretty sharp pains. The nurse checked, and in a little over an hour I had made it to 9 cm! Ten minutes later, the doctor said to get me ready to push. I started pushing at 12:55pm and she came at 1:07pm -- out in six contractions!! She was a great delivery and I was up and around with her that first night.

We came home from the hospital on Saturday afternoon (May 12) and have been adjusting pretty well. She's a great eater, and breastfeeding is going great. Carter is adjusting to not having all the attention, but is doing pretty good. It's going to take some time to get a routine going and for him to be used to having her around (and not having Mommy to himself!!).

The pictures are uploaded into two albums:
http://picasaweb.google.com/hoosier.nik/Lauren
http://picasaweb.google.com/hoosier.nik/LaurenAgainFromOthers

I'll upload more as we get them. Enjoy!!

We're Having a Baby!

I went to the doctor today, at 38 wks 1 day, and the stress test looked great. The doctor always says she's showing off because we get great results. Then she informed me that they induce at 38 1/2 weeks when there are two vessels in the cord (I think they told me that a while ago when we first found this out, but it had slipped my ever-forgetting mind!). They only like to induce when the cervix is favorable, which mine is very ready. She didn't say what it was, but I don't think it dilated anymore than the 3cm it was last week. So anyway, we've decided to go in Thursday morning for the induction. I'd have rather done Friday, but the doctors don't want to work too late on Friday nights. I could've also picked Monday, but I didn't think I could stand to wait that long. I'm so miserable!! AND THE BEST PART... There are two doctors in my office, Dr Weiler and Dr Stowell. I've seen Dr Stowell the majority of this pregnancy (and last) and Dr Weiler delivered Carter. I'd much rather have Dr Stowell, and he's the one on call Thursday so he'll deliver Lauren!! (Yay, Mandy! I hope he delivers Sam too!) There's nothing wrong with Dr Weiler, she's great too, I've just seen Dr Stowell for all but like three or four appointments so he's really been with me through the entire thing.

So as long as Lauren doesn't decide to come on her own tonight or tomorrow, we'll be at the hospital Thursday morning at 6am to get things started (well, it's started, we'll just help it move along quicker!). So anyone who wants to come visit me, I'll be there through Sunday as long as things go well. I get to come home Mother's Day with a new baby!!

Oh, and depending on when she makes her arrival... Mandy will win the baby pool if she's born before noon on Thursday; Amanda will win if she comes after noon; and Mom will win if she waits until after midnight (let's hope not, sorry Mom!).

When Will She Be Here?

No one can truly answer that question, but I think she'll be here anytime. She being Lauren, the growing little girl in my belly! I went for my weekly checkup today -- I'm 37 weeks, 2 days and feeling every minute of it! We had an ultrasound first, as the doctor wanted to get an estimate of her weight. Everything looks great and she's growing well. It was hard to see a lot of things because very little fit onto the screen this late in the pregnancy! We have a picture of her profile, but she kept her hand up which cast a shadow. I did see her opening and shutting her mouth, which was so cool! She is measuring 38 weeks on average and weighs about 7 lbs, 10 oz. It is smaller than I expected with the way she pokes out, but it's just the way she's sitting in there. Dr Stowell said I was lucky to only have two vessels in this case, as she could easily be a pound or so more! But she's still growing, so who knows what she'll actually be when she's born. Right now she's in the 84th percentile.

I also had the stress test today and everything was good. Her heartrate stayed lower today, even though she was moving around quite a bit. It stayed around 150 for the most part. My blood pressure was a little higher than it usually is today, at 130/82. Nothing big, just a little higher for me (but still in the normal range). Even though she is measuring 38 weeks (a week ahead), my belly is measuring 39 weeks (2 weeks ahead). See... just the way she's sitting in there! She does have long legs though...

For the great news... Last week my cervix was softened, so had just started getting ready. In a week's time, I am now 50% effaced (thinned out) and 3 cm dilated!! The doctor was super pleased, and says she could be here anytime (but we never know...). He doesn't think I'll go more than two weeks, but probably not even that. Before he left, he said if I make it he'll see me in a week. My appointment is next Tuesday, so we'll see... I think I'll make it, but it's all dependent on Lauren's urgency to get here!

(To give you some idea, I was only 1 1/2-2 cm dilated when I went to the hospital in labor with Carter (so already having contractions).... When I got to 3cm they broke my water and I had Carter 6 hrs later.)