Success!

Since our Saturday appointment with a lactation consultant, I've been really good about taking an herbal supplement - fenugreek - to help with my supply. Along with that, Dan's been making me raspberry leaf tea which the LC recommended along with the fenugreek. Well, today I went to my new moms group and the guest speaker was a lactation consultant. She had her baby scale with her so I weighed our little man. And he gained 11 ounces since Saturday! That's 11 ounces in 4 days and Owen weighs 9 pounds, 15 ounces. He's finally up over his birth weight and in a big way!

He's been so calm and happy lately. We've really been enjoying his awake time. In fact, two days ago he didn't nap all day! The little guy was exhausted by bed time, but he had a good day. He has been fighting sleep more and more, but like his mom, he's a good sleeper when he finally falls asleep. In fact, he and I took a 3 hour nap this afternoon. It was like heaven! And now it's bed time...

3 Weeks Old

Another week has passed and I'm feeling pretty good. My appetite is in full force, my milk production seems to be up, Owen is awake and happy more often, and Dan and I are figuring out sleeping and eating for ourselves a little better. These pictures from this week include Owen's first and second baths, sleeping and eating with Daddy, and hanging out with Mommy. So fun!

Another Weight Check

Owen is back up to 9 pounds! He gained 4 ounces last week. That's not quite enough for his pediatrician's comfort though, so we're starting up a new supplementation schedule. On one hand, I'm pretty bummed that breastfeeding isn't working out like we were imagining or planning. On the other, it will be good to know for sure that he's eating enough and gaining weight. I am going to start pumping after feedings too to see if I can increase my supply. It's going to be even more work than now but Owen's health definitely comes before my convenience. I am looking forward to him sleeping better though. There have been a few evenings that we've boosted his dinner with some formula and he sleeps pretty well those nights. Last night, I gave him boob only and he was up at 1:30 and never settled back down. I definitely can't do another night like that tonight. Not two in a row...

Oh, and we gave Owen his first tub bath today! We took some pictures so I'll post them soon. He loved it except the getting out part. He's just so stinkin' cute!

Two Weeks Old

Owen is two whole weeks old today! In some ways, it seems like he's been here much longer (e.g. the lack-of-sleep department) and in others it seems like he just got here. His umbilical cord stump fell off today, so that means we get to start bath time!!

Owen has developed a little bit of baby acne, but nothing that time won't fix. It's too bad that babies have to go through this stage, but it's totally normal and doesn't bother him at all.

His favorite toy so far is his papasan baby swing. We turn up the rocking and put on some music, and he can sit in there for a while. Sometimes it puts him to sleep, and other times he sits there wide-eyed enjoying the ride. I think personally it would make me sea sick, but he must have inherited his Daddy's strong stomach along with his good looks.

Owen is also quite the snuggle bug. He loves to be held and rocked and will nuzzle into our necks when we're burping him. His neck is getting a little stronger so he'll sit up and look around when he's resting against our chests. He's also eating like a champ so hopefully he'll start packing on the pounds soon (though even at 9-ish pounds, he's already a really good workout - especially with the diaper changing station upstairs!).

Anyway, this new parenthood is quite the emotional roller coaster. Dan and I are doing really well as a team, and we're gaining some confidence. I can only imagine how much more Owen will develop over the next two weeks, but I'm not in a huge hurry to find out. Our baby is growing up so fast!!

Spring Is Here

Technically it has been here for weeks, but Spring seems to have finally arrived here in Seattle. This is the third sunny day in a row and it's amazing how much that helps me emotionally. It's easier to function on not enough sleep and we've been able to take short walks around the block. Owen likes to be on the move, so Dan straps him into our baby carrier and off we go!

I was feeling sick for the past 5 days. I was nauseous and had no appetite, making breastfeeding impossible and wreaking havoc on my mind. I've been a worried, weepy mess for almost a week. Getting out of the house, even for a doctor's appointment, has worked wonders for my mood. I joined a new moms group that started yesterday, so I have that to look forward to for the next 8 weeks. And I also went to a breastfeeding support group. Unfortunately, that wasn't as helpful so we're going to call a lactation consultant just to make sure that we're doing everything possible to keep baby Owen healthy and growing.

Well, it looks like our snuggle bug is ready for a nap so Dan and I might try to sleep too.

Happy Belated Easter

Dan, Owen and I spent a (not-so) quiet Easter at home yesterday. The picture of him crying is much cuter now that he's over it, but that was how our day went. It turns out I was having some withdrawal side effects from the pain killers I was taking last week for my c-section, and it took a while to figure out what to do. In the mean time, it was affecting my milk production, so our little man was having a tough time. We warmed up some formula and he had a little, and that seemed to be enough for him to feel better. I got a ton of sleep last night and managed to eat a lot today, so I'm feeling better and Owen's getting plenty to eat now. Phew! Here are some new pictures of our not-so-little man. What a cutie!!

8 Days Old

I can't believe that Owen's first week of life has come and gone already. In this newborn haze we're living in, time is really flying. We're getting some sleep, but I keep waking up thinking Owen needs me, whether or not he's actually up. Feeding seems to be going well too. He eats like a champ and hopefully is gaining back some of the weight he lost right away after his birth. We have another weight check appointment with his pediatrician on Tuesday to make sure he's headed up.

Dan has been incredible this whole time, which should come as no surprise to anyone who knows him. Owen and he have a great bond, and Dan has been going out of his way to take care of every little errand and chore so that I can focus on eating, sleeping and feeding. I didn't really get out of bed until 1:30 today (with a few feedings in there), which was some much needed sleep that I wasn't able to get last night.

Dan and I have been working really well together as a team. It's really really hard work caring for a newborn - which of course we knew would be the case, but until you're in it you have no idea! And my postpartum hormones are going nuts so I'm crying about everything. Most of my tears are of happiness and pride, but poor Dan spends his days with two crying family members! I think what I cry about most is Dan going in to work next week. Hopefully he'll be able to work part-time from home, but since it's our company's busy season right now, it's hard to be as productive at home as it is from the office. But I'll leave this topic alone from here, so as not to send myself into fits.

Thanks to everyone who has brought us food and sent gifts that we haven't sent thank you cards for yet. We appreciate all of the love and support you have all shown, even if we haven't been able to communicate that to you yet. Everything that you have done has made this huge transition in our lives a little bit easier, and we can't begin to thank you for how much that means to us.

Baby/Daddy Time

I used to post about Dan and Owen's baby/daddy time at night, where Dan would play with Owen in the womb. Dan would push my stomach, and Owen would kick his fingers. Or Dan would just hold my stomach and feel all of Owen's big movements.

Well now, baby/daddy time has taken on a whole new meaning. Dan and Owen spend a lot of time together. Dan is amazing at consoling him and they have really bonded. I'm good for food; Daddy's good for all the rest. I love the two of them so much, and they love each other so much...So much love! This picture was taken right after a traumatic diaper change. As you can see, Daddy has the magic touch and calmed Owen down immediately. As I sit and type this, Owen is asleep in Dan's arms and he wouldn't want it any other way.

This Thing Called Love

Wow. Owen is 3 days old, and Dan and I couldn't be more in love with him. What an overwhelming feeling. We came home from the hospital yesterday and that was an experience in itself, but getting home and realizing that they actually let us keep him was enough to make me cry.

Owen and I took a nap when we first got home, while Dan and Grandpa Louie went to the drug store to fill my prescription and pick up some last minute items to help our first night home go well. The best part of that nap? No nurses came in to take vital signs! We got to sleep soundly in our own bed, on our own terms.

Owen woke up at his normal dance party time (9:30 PM) and took a little while to settle down, but he and I figured out a feeding routine that helped all 3 of us get some sleep last night. Luckily, my milk came in last night (which is really good timing, especially after a c-section) so he's much more content now after he eats. Unfortunately, he's much gassier now too and I'm pretty bad at burping him but I'll get better with time.

He is just now waking up and sounds hungry, so I've got a job to do...

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures!!!

Aunt Kathy, I am definitely a redhead! Here's a picture of me just minutes old. It's especially obvious against my blueish skin. I've really pinked up since then, so it looks more blond now.











Here's me on the scale. One of the surgeons said I was as big as a fourth grader!

9 pounds, 12 ounces; 22 inches long











Daddy got to hold me the whole time Mommy was getting fixed up after I was born. I'm his new weight-lifting routine.

Not only that, but Daddy always has the magic touch. When I'm crying, he knows how to make me feel better.









Mommy finally got to hold me a little while later, after the medicine started wearing off and she could sit up. She looks pretty good for 26 hours of labor and major surgery, doesn't she?

She got 2 hours of sleep between 7:30 AM on Thursday and night time on Friday night. Luckily, I have been a super sleeper at night so she and Daddy can both get some rest.







I make sleeping look good! I make super cute sleepy noises and love to be swaddled.












While I am always the cutest baby ever, I seem to change almost by the minute! Daddy and Mommy take so many pictures because I just keep getting cuter and cuter!











My hair is definitely red, but in some backgrounds you can really tell! Aren't I amazing?

Introducing...

Owen Robin Mudgett, born at 9:38 AM on April 3, 2009, weighing in at 9 pounds, 12 ounces, and measuring 22 inches long.

I woke up yesterday at 7:30 AM and my water had broken! We came to the hospital where I was admitted, and waited for labor to progress. We had no idea what we were in for!

My contractions didn't pick up in intensity or frequency until around 5:00 PM. Around then, I had to start focusing to get through the peaks, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. At around 9:45, I was finally checked to see how my dilation was progressing, but I was only at 3 cm!! I couldn't believe it, because the contractions were really getting tough by then. I was very discouraged, but Dan was super supportive and helped me keep believing in myself. We spent a long long night pushing through contractions that were 3-4 minutes apart and lasting around a minute. Then at 4:45 AM, I was checked again. And I was still 3 cm. His heart rate was still good, but since my water had been broken for almost 24 hours and my labor wasn't progressing, we had to turn to pitocin to medically induce stronger labor. By then, I could barely handle the contractions I was having, so I gave in and got an epidural. They ramped up the contractions, and I got to sleep for 2 hours!

At 7:00 AM, I was checked again to see how the pitocin was working. And I was still 3 cm. Now his heart rate was starting to dip too low after each contraction, and we had to start considering a c-section. Another midwife came in at around 8:30, took one look at his heart rate chart, and said, "Let's go have a baby!" Less than an hour later, we were getting prepped in the OR, and he was born at 9:38 AM. He's incredible and we are so excited. And exhausted. He's been super quiet all day, but it's been pretty busy with nursses and visitors. We're hoping he stays sleepy tonight so Dan and I can get some rest. But now that it's dark, he's a little more active. We're going to try breastfeeding again to see if that might help calm him down, but even if we're up all night, we couldn't be happier.

I'll post more pictures soon. He's here!

As Promised

Here is one final shot before this little guy comes. As you can see, it's in the hospital because I'M IN LABOR!!! I woke up around 7:30 and my water was breaking. I went into the bathroom and had a strong contraction. So we called our midwife at 8:00-ish to let her know. Because we suspected my water had broken, it's our hospital's policy to admit expecting moms right away, instead of waiting for contractions to be 4 minutes apart, lasting a minute, for at least an hour.

Before we headed here, I made his birthday cake. I'll have to frost it when we get home, because we didn't wait around for it to cool down enough to decorate there.

Anyway, we're here now. We get monitoring done for 20 minutes every hour to check out his heart rate and to monitor my contractions. Since my water's broken, they haven't done an internal exam to see how far dilated I am (there's no need to check yet, and they don't want to risk infection if it can be prevented).

Dan and I went to our midwife's house last night to talk to her about our induction options. She gave us a lot of information, but said that there's a reason he's still in there so maybe we give him the benefit of the doubt and let him come when he's ready. So last night, we decided that as our first act of being patient parents, we'd let him come out when he wanted. And then he chose this morning to get things started!

We have a long day/night ahead of us, especially if my contractions don't pick up soon, but it's nice to know that we've started the labor process. I'm hesitant to think that things will move quickly enough to have him today, but early tomorrow is fine with me.

I have so many emotions flooding me right now. We've waited for this for so long, and we're less than a day away from meeting him, seeing him, holding him. As uncomfortable as these contractions are, they're so so so worth it. And according to these monitors I'm on right now, my contractions are about 4-5 minutes apart and lasting a little over a minute. I think we're heading in the right direction!

We'll post pictures and a full birth story soon!

No Joke

Still pregnant...