here is the closest thing to a smile we've gotten so far:
Juniper's swaddling blankets (thanks, Jen!) make her look like a little burrito:
true to schedule, she developed baby acne to match her mother's at two weeks of age:
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
more photo ops
I'm going to start writing up Juniper's birth story tomorrow, but here are some photos to tide you over for today. she has been a very sweet baby so far, cuddly and consolable and truly a delight. we'll see what the next few weeks have to offer, however.
here is the closest thing to a smile we've gotten so far:
Juniper's swaddling blankets (thanks, Jen!) make her look like a little burrito:
true to schedule, she developed baby acne to match her mother's at two weeks of age:
here is the closest thing to a smile we've gotten so far:
Juniper's swaddling blankets (thanks, Jen!) make her look like a little burrito:
true to schedule, she developed baby acne to match her mother's at two weeks of age:
Monday, June 25, 2007
back on the information superhighway
sorry the silence has been so deafening. every day I plan to get online; there's so much to share and record. but somehow each day passes in a blur of feeding, napping, and enjoying the strange little creature we've dubbed "Gollum." but I'm determined to catch up, to tell the stories of birth and the past few weeks before they fade into memory. so stay tuned.. I hope to get back to my plan to post every weekday. for starters, here are some shots of the little alien over the past few weeks (click on the image to see a larger version):
looking cute in a gifted outfit from Julie. she's actually not too fussy about the whole car seat issue so far (a good thing when you have an older kid--not getting in the car is not an option):
a recent photo that kinds shows you how tiny she still is (in spite of being a week late and now two and a half weeks old, she still weights less than I did at birth!). also: isn't her daddy dreamy?
and although we certainly think she's the best little newborn in the whole world, she occasionally does her best to rid us of that notion:
looking cute in a gifted outfit from Julie. she's actually not too fussy about the whole car seat issue so far (a good thing when you have an older kid--not getting in the car is not an option):
a recent photo that kinds shows you how tiny she still is (in spite of being a week late and now two and a half weeks old, she still weights less than I did at birth!). also: isn't her daddy dreamy?
and although we certainly think she's the best little newborn in the whole world, she occasionally does her best to rid us of that notion:
Thursday, June 7, 2007
we're home!
hi all! thank you all so much for your sweet comments, text messages, and phone calls. special thanks to Jen for keeping up with the blog for the last few days and even posting a photo. (no thanks to Gavin for his nice little joke ;).) also, Maudie has posted some additional photos here. our friend Jeff took some as well and I'll chat with him about how to make them visible to you. we are so very grateful to all our friends and family and so thrilled that the baby is finally here.
I will write more about everything that happened soon, once I get a little rest, but here is the info you've all been waiting for:
Juniper Grace Easa-Murphy
6 lbs 14 oz
19 3/4 inches
apgar scores: 4 at birth*, then 9 at five minutes
*we had a little scare in the first minute--more info on that soon.
in the end, after reviewing about 200 of our favorite names, we came down to the old favorites: Juniper, Violet, Hazel, Thistle, Sadie, Grace. we each had our pet name that the other needed to veto (Thistle for Gavin, Sadie for Leila). I gave Gavin final say between the last three options (Juniper Grace, Violet Grace, and Grace Thistle--Grace was my mother's middle name). in the end, I was happy he picked Juniper since we basically went into labor as the calendar flipped to June (well, actually a few hours earlier) and then spent the first quarter of the month trying to get her out! we think it's spunky and fun, but you can feel free to call her June or Juni if it's too out there for ya. and I think Gavin will always call her Thistle, at least when I'm not listening. (and Gavin says you're all welcome to call her Thistle, even when I am listening!)
I will write more about everything that happened soon, once I get a little rest, but here is the info you've all been waiting for:
Juniper Grace Easa-Murphy
6 lbs 14 oz
19 3/4 inches
apgar scores: 4 at birth*, then 9 at five minutes
*we had a little scare in the first minute--more info on that soon.
in the end, after reviewing about 200 of our favorite names, we came down to the old favorites: Juniper, Violet, Hazel, Thistle, Sadie, Grace. we each had our pet name that the other needed to veto (Thistle for Gavin, Sadie for Leila). I gave Gavin final say between the last three options (Juniper Grace, Violet Grace, and Grace Thistle--Grace was my mother's middle name). in the end, I was happy he picked Juniper since we basically went into labor as the calendar flipped to June (well, actually a few hours earlier) and then spent the first quarter of the month trying to get her out! we think it's spunky and fun, but you can feel free to call her June or Juni if it's too out there for ya. and I think Gavin will always call her Thistle, at least when I'm not listening. (and Gavin says you're all welcome to call her Thistle, even when I am listening!)
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
hurray!
the baby arrived at 1:25am. Mom, daughter, and Gavin are all well and resting.
Details to follow in due course.
Details to follow in due course.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
where things stand...
jen again, writing for leila, as told to me by gavin.
now day five!
after getting a bit of assisted rest, if not actual sleep, last night in the hospital, leila went home in the morning for a couple of hours before she and gavin returned to the hospital for a previously scheduled non-stress test (a check of heart rate and fluid levels typically performed when babies are past their due date). during the morning her contractions had gotten much closer together (4-5 minutes apart at some points) and since the night's pain medication had worn off, extremely painful.
at the hospital she learned that she is 6cm dilated! and that the baby is sunny-side up (head down, but face out, which leaves the bony skull instead of squishy face pressed against the mom's spine--ouch!). This may account for so much of the painful back labor and the slowness with which labor is proceeding (at least that was my experience too, and what people told me at the time). after a lot of discussion with the doctor and her team of midwives, she agreed to get an epidural and probably pitocin to regulate and intensify the contractions. that is all in-process now, so soon she should be able to get some rest to prepare for pushing. gavin was joking that after five sleepless nights they will have to wake her to hand her the baby. apparently the nurse trying to stick leila for her iv (all amidst contractions) kept missing.
so, let's all keep Leila in our thoughts and hope baby Thistle turns herself around so she can get on out without further ado.
now day five!
after getting a bit of assisted rest, if not actual sleep, last night in the hospital, leila went home in the morning for a couple of hours before she and gavin returned to the hospital for a previously scheduled non-stress test (a check of heart rate and fluid levels typically performed when babies are past their due date). during the morning her contractions had gotten much closer together (4-5 minutes apart at some points) and since the night's pain medication had worn off, extremely painful.
at the hospital she learned that she is 6cm dilated! and that the baby is sunny-side up (head down, but face out, which leaves the bony skull instead of squishy face pressed against the mom's spine--ouch!). This may account for so much of the painful back labor and the slowness with which labor is proceeding (at least that was my experience too, and what people told me at the time). after a lot of discussion with the doctor and her team of midwives, she agreed to get an epidural and probably pitocin to regulate and intensify the contractions. that is all in-process now, so soon she should be able to get some rest to prepare for pushing. gavin was joking that after five sleepless nights they will have to wake her to hand her the baby. apparently the nurse trying to stick leila for her iv (all amidst contractions) kept missing.
so, let's all keep Leila in our thoughts and hope baby Thistle turns herself around so she can get on out without further ado.
Monday, June 4, 2007
a rat...
kidz,
Gavin posted that last one *as though* Leila was posting (she was blissed out on morphine at the time...way to get her while she's down Gavin). this is Jen posting as leila, with whom i just spoke. she is now at 4cm and she and Gavin had a second deal, that if she doubled down her dilation by 9pm (which she has done (now 4cm!), I am just posting after 9pm) they would ditch Thistle entirely and name the baby Easa as her first name.
yes folks, we are awaiting Easa Grace Easa Murphy!
take that Ford Maddox Ford.
ps. she sounds great and I am about to deliver a burrito.
Gavin posted that last one *as though* Leila was posting (she was blissed out on morphine at the time...way to get her while she's down Gavin). this is Jen posting as leila, with whom i just spoke. she is now at 4cm and she and Gavin had a second deal, that if she doubled down her dilation by 9pm (which she has done (now 4cm!), I am just posting after 9pm) they would ditch Thistle entirely and name the baby Easa as her first name.
yes folks, we are awaiting Easa Grace Easa Murphy!
take that Ford Maddox Ford.
ps. she sounds great and I am about to deliver a burrito.
good news .... and "bad" news...
Now 3 centimeters dilated!
so things are moving along - finally. got checked out at the hospital prior to being "put to sleep," and lovely nurse Lisa found i was 1 cm dilated. then she checked with a second finger & i popped out to 3! can't tell you how happy that makes us. so the last 24 hours of contractions have been doing their job.
even though i'm starting to dilate, still decided to get some medicated sleep. i will need to get back some energy after all these sleepless nights if i'm about to go into the hard (??!!?) part. will soon get 12 mg of morphine and see how long that gives me. likely won't be as long as planned since my contractions - now real - will wake me up. sent gavin home to get some sleep also.
the "bad" news: made a silly agreement with gavin before we got in here, that if i'm actually dilated (2 cm or more), i would agree to the name Thistle. so that's what it's gonna be, and please keep your (negative) comments to yourself. i can't say that i wasn't playing a bit of "hard to get" over the name anyway.
off to sleep-land now, more later.
ZZZZZzzzzzzz.....
so things are moving along - finally. got checked out at the hospital prior to being "put to sleep," and lovely nurse Lisa found i was 1 cm dilated. then she checked with a second finger & i popped out to 3! can't tell you how happy that makes us. so the last 24 hours of contractions have been doing their job.
even though i'm starting to dilate, still decided to get some medicated sleep. i will need to get back some energy after all these sleepless nights if i'm about to go into the hard (??!!?) part. will soon get 12 mg of morphine and see how long that gives me. likely won't be as long as planned since my contractions - now real - will wake me up. sent gavin home to get some sleep also.
the "bad" news: made a silly agreement with gavin before we got in here, that if i'm actually dilated (2 cm or more), i would agree to the name Thistle. so that's what it's gonna be, and please keep your (negative) comments to yourself. i can't say that i wasn't playing a bit of "hard to get" over the name anyway.
off to sleep-land now, more later.
ZZZZZzzzzzzz.....
going in for sleep
hey all,
after comparing all of our options, we've decided to head into the hospital for a few hours of artificial sleep. this seemed like a good option in that some 84% of women go into labor within ten hours of going down. also, I haven't slept more than about thirty minutes at a time since Wednesday night, so getting a little rest will no doubt help make labor more successful. we'll let you know what happens.
after comparing all of our options, we've decided to head into the hospital for a few hours of artificial sleep. this seemed like a good option in that some 84% of women go into labor within ten hours of going down. also, I haven't slept more than about thirty minutes at a time since Wednesday night, so getting a little rest will no doubt help make labor more successful. we'll let you know what happens.
no real news
hey all. fourth night with no sleep :). it's been hard to sit still to type--sorry for the lack of updates. we're discussing our options at this point. hang in there--we hope to have news soon!
btw, I guess what we're going through is called "prodromal labor." apparently some--perhaps many?--women don't experience pain during this phase at all (and possibly lots of women just skip it). our birth team doesn't know why it's happening to us, taking so long, or causing so much pain. anyway, at the hospital yesterday the baby looked fine and we're continuing to experience cervical changes (in spite of no dilation), so things are fine from a medical perspective. I just need to keep my spirits up as I'm getting worn out from pain and lack of sleep.
Gavin is an angel and Carter's doing great, so please don't worry about us and we'll let you know when something changes.
btw, I guess what we're going through is called "prodromal labor." apparently some--perhaps many?--women don't experience pain during this phase at all (and possibly lots of women just skip it). our birth team doesn't know why it's happening to us, taking so long, or causing so much pain. anyway, at the hospital yesterday the baby looked fine and we're continuing to experience cervical changes (in spite of no dilation), so things are fine from a medical perspective. I just need to keep my spirits up as I'm getting worn out from pain and lack of sleep.
Gavin is an angel and Carter's doing great, so please don't worry about us and we'll let you know when something changes.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
more contractions and more pain
we had a third night of contractions and no extended sleep :). at the peak, contractions were four minutes apart. now they've moved back to about fifteen minutes apart. I think we'll be calling the doula today to possibly come over and help with pain management and see what she can tell about our progression and what to do to get things moving forward. I am getting very tired, which is a bad sign. but, so far, we are managing. also, Carter is with his aunt and uncle, so we can really focus on labor today. more later!
update for Matt
contractions have returned to a more frequent rate, between four and ten minutes apart. we're doing fine, feeling pretty normal, but wondering if we're progressing toward something or whether this set of contractions will stall out in a few hours. going to go get in bed now and see whether that works. more when we get up.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
passing the mucous plug
yay! I lost the cervical plug this morning and then tortured Gavin by showing it to him. if you're not sure what the so-called "bloody show" is, there's more information about it here. it's a symptom that the cervix is dilating, although it doesn't always mean labor (and, as my midwife told me yesterday, the lack of a bloody show doesn't mean you're not in labor).
night-time report
contractions continued during the night, though neither close together nor in a consistent pattern (fifteen to forty minutes apart as far as I know). I slept in between each one and stayed in bed from about 10 p.m. through 8 a.m. the sleep was great, since I hadn't been able to do much of it in the twenty-four hours before. compared to my other standards for pain (getting tattooed or having my legs waxed) the contractions are much more difficult to manage. I think it's because I can get myself into a place of relaxation for the former activities, but I haven't yet figured out how to relax, instead of tense up, during contractions. it may be easier when I'm already awake and a little more practiced. I'm also not sure why we've had 36 hours of pre or early labor without any progression, but I'm hoping my acupuncture appointment this afternoon can help kickstart things so we don't have to spend another few days like this. one sort of sad thing is that I've kind of lost track of the baby (she's fine--I can feel her moving--but I mean in an emotional way). the discomfort is so consuming that I kind of forget that she's in there, too, and that I'm doing this for her. my acupuncturist told me to get out a little baby sock and look at it to remind me, so I'll probably try that today. we'll keep you posted!
Friday, June 1, 2007
the end of the day
the contractions have gotten a lot more erratic, although they are quite intense. I spoke to the doula, midwife, and acupuncturist, all of who encouraged me to get as much rest as possible. the midwife says it's totally normal for first time moms to go into labor and then stall for a while, even for a few days. so we'll see. for the moment, I'm just going to try to get some sleep tonight and see what happens tomorrow. also, for the record, contractions hurt ;).
nothing going on
we seem to be stalled. I'm going to try sleeping. we'll keep you posted if anything changes.
no progress so far
slept for a couple of hours, waking up once and a while with contractions. they are still happening but seem a bit less intense. now that we're in daytime hours we'll contact the doula and other support people to see what we can do.
I feel totally fine...
contractions are about seven minutes apart. they are intense, but when I'm not having them I feel normal (just a bit sleepy). watching a movie now. need to make it a couple more hours before I get Gavin up. talked to Dad, who's pretty sure it really is labor. I'm still not convinced because I feel so normal. can't sleep, though. will keep you posted.
possibly in labor
hey all,
it's hard to tell for sure, but we may have entered early labor. I've been having uncomfortable contractions for a few hours now (since around 10--it's now 1:30 a.m.), and while they aren't regularly spaced, they are close together (five to fifteen minutes apart). so far nothing's felt unbearable and I was even able to doze off between contractions for a while. might be up for the long haul at this point (or this could just be a false alarm). Gavin's sleeping. I'd really love it if he could get a few more hours if this is really it. will try to keep you posted. if you don't hear anything else, it's likely because I fell asleep, meaning it was all just more practice contractions. wish me luck!
it's hard to tell for sure, but we may have entered early labor. I've been having uncomfortable contractions for a few hours now (since around 10--it's now 1:30 a.m.), and while they aren't regularly spaced, they are close together (five to fifteen minutes apart). so far nothing's felt unbearable and I was even able to doze off between contractions for a while. might be up for the long haul at this point (or this could just be a false alarm). Gavin's sleeping. I'd really love it if he could get a few more hours if this is really it. will try to keep you posted. if you don't hear anything else, it's likely because I fell asleep, meaning it was all just more practice contractions. wish me luck!
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