Cletus the Fetus is no more! Our baby boy was born on Wednesday at 1:47 pm by c-section. He was 5 lbs 13 oz, 18 1/4 inches in length, and head circumference of 13 inches. The birth was precipitated by bleeding, caused by a combination of placenta previa and severe nausea. While we were hoping to get another 12 days of bed rest, I am happy to report the birth went very smoothly.
The name of our son is Wesley Martin. Wesley is a family name - he was a dear cousin to my husband. Martin was my father's name. Both of these fine men are no longer with us, and we wanted to honor them by naming our son after them. Many folks guessed at the names, especially on my husband's side. We still enjoyed keeping it secret, sorry! To tell the full truth, we had baby names picked out years before we ever conceived.
I'll update the blog later to reflect on the birth, which was a positive experience, and tell you about how Baby Wesley is doing. For now I'd like to say he is a premie, but he's doing very well. He needs to learn how to 'feed' before he can come home from the hospital. So we're working on his growth in the NICU by feeding him donated breast milk and I am supplementing that with any colostrum or breast milk I can produce by pumping. He gets sleepy during feeds, or he gets a little uncoordinated. They call level 2 NICU the 'growers and feeders' so that's exactly what he needs to do before he comes home! I get to go home tomorrow, but will be over at the hospital daily to spend time with Wesley.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Insomnia.
Clam shell here! Little Cletus is as happy as a clam. He moves around, he gives me strong kicks, his heartbeat is always strong on the NST monitors. That makes me the clam shell, of course. (Cute nickname courtesy of my dear aunt.) I watched him kick my abdomen a few times this evening. Then he disappeared when I poked at my belly. Oh, you can run kiddo and you can certainly try and hide, but your jig will soon be up. You'll be swaddled nicely in a few weeks and then we'll see how much you can kick me from the Babby Burrito!
When you're in bed or reclined much of the time, it's difficult to to find yourself tired and ready for bed. I've turned off the TV and played all of my Words with Friends games. It's time to wind-down. So I thought I'd give an update. I slept extremely well last night, with the help of exhaustion and some benadryl. The night before - not so much. I think I fell alseep around 4 am and then snoozed on and off for most of the morning. My doctor was pretty reasonable - so long as I get enough sleep, he doesn't want me to worry about when I get it.
The advice I've seen again and again re: bed rest is to set up a routine. I suck at routines. (That's why an insulin pump works so well for me; it gives a lot of flexibility.) I have two weeks to go and I'm not going to sweat it. Clock watching doesn't help insomnia. Fortunately now I'm feeling pretty sleepy. Something else helped for the past few nights - a heating pad. Oh, it was lovely on my back and kept me toasty warm. Hospitals have some really cool gadgets, and the water-filled heating pads, or 'K-packs', are pretty magical. They get warm quickly and stay nice and warm. This balances out with the really iffy HVAC system, that's always blowing around air and usually warm if I want cool or cool if I want warm. I gave up on the thermostat. Messing with the dial took it from Cool to ICE or from Warm to ZOMGTROPICS.
Two weeks to the evacuation date! And now Cletus is kicking me again. See what I get for taunting the boy? He's so advanced, he can read unpublished blog pages. ;)
You'll have to ask Future-Dad about his adventures in the Infant-Care class he took on Saturday. He did have someone there for moral support, since I couldn't attend. It sounds like it was a very informative course, and I've been reading the book - it's quite good. Maybe I'll get a few more pages in and then find some zzz's.
When you're in bed or reclined much of the time, it's difficult to to find yourself tired and ready for bed. I've turned off the TV and played all of my Words with Friends games. It's time to wind-down. So I thought I'd give an update. I slept extremely well last night, with the help of exhaustion and some benadryl. The night before - not so much. I think I fell alseep around 4 am and then snoozed on and off for most of the morning. My doctor was pretty reasonable - so long as I get enough sleep, he doesn't want me to worry about when I get it.
The advice I've seen again and again re: bed rest is to set up a routine. I suck at routines. (That's why an insulin pump works so well for me; it gives a lot of flexibility.) I have two weeks to go and I'm not going to sweat it. Clock watching doesn't help insomnia. Fortunately now I'm feeling pretty sleepy. Something else helped for the past few nights - a heating pad. Oh, it was lovely on my back and kept me toasty warm. Hospitals have some really cool gadgets, and the water-filled heating pads, or 'K-packs', are pretty magical. They get warm quickly and stay nice and warm. This balances out with the really iffy HVAC system, that's always blowing around air and usually warm if I want cool or cool if I want warm. I gave up on the thermostat. Messing with the dial took it from Cool to ICE or from Warm to ZOMGTROPICS.
Two weeks to the evacuation date! And now Cletus is kicking me again. See what I get for taunting the boy? He's so advanced, he can read unpublished blog pages. ;)
You'll have to ask Future-Dad about his adventures in the Infant-Care class he took on Saturday. He did have someone there for moral support, since I couldn't attend. It sounds like it was a very informative course, and I've been reading the book - it's quite good. Maybe I'll get a few more pages in and then find some zzz's.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Halloween!
Cletus' Mom here, writing from the hospital. No medical news to report. The c-section is scheduled and we're working to make it to week 36.
Halloween was a lot of fun. My Mom asked me if the kids in the hospital were allowed to trick or treat, and I was dubious at first. (Germs and all of that.) But I heard from the nurses that sometimes kids of the staff will come around in costume, so I rethought my Mom's idea of handing out treats. She brought over some decorations from the dollar store, and my siblings put them up for me. I received a lot of compliments, particularly the spooky spider hanging from the doorway. My friends came by on the 30th in costume and we knitted and celebrated! Halloween itself was fun - kids did come knocking due to my 'Trick or Treaters Welcome' sign, and I had a lot of candy folks brought over to hand out, and my good friends J&E to keep me company.
My favorites of the weekend - My friend made a Nerd Herd uniform from the TV show Chuck, complete with lanyard and name badge. SO CREATIVE! And the Star Wars family - Momma Leia, Darth Vader, and a diminutive Yoda. I wish I'd thought to take photos! My niece and nephew looked awesome, and came by with their parents to visit. My niece thought the make up was itchy but she made a great kitty cat with just enough spooky. My nephew is two, and as Batman really had the hang of this trick or treat thing. He was walking up to every adult in my room to ask for help with opening his candy!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
My Home Away From Home
Big Changes since I updated last. Baby Daddy mentioned it, but I'm in the hospital for the next four weeks.
My visit home was really brief after being discharged on Monday afternoon. I was back in triage on Wednesday morning, and knew what the recommendation would be: I would stay until delivery so the nurses and doctors can monitor me if anything goes wrong with the placenta. The day and a half at home was short - and I felt a little bit bashful when I returned to the hospital so quickly - but I'd followed the doctor's advice and enjoyed every day I could be home. I had two baths. I slept soundly in my own bed. I enjoyed a special dish prepared by Future-Dad (was delicious!). I could wander into the next room and give him an impromptu kiss, although I'd be ushered back to bed. Fortunately he made trips for the same purpose. It was/is hard to miss him like that, but we're always texting or talking or using skype. He's a supportive and loving husband and Future-Dad.
Now that I'm back, he's helping me to cozy up my room. So far a nice houseplant and family photos are cheering up the place. The triage nurse picked out a room with a view (that is, not the wall of a building but instead a trees and the parking lot). Even seeing the world outside reminds me that I'm a part of it. It's sunny and lovely today, particularly from my climate-controlled environs. Ha!!
Cletus, he is the Good Thing To Come after all, is doing great. His heartbeat is strong and the nurses and doctors say he looks 'beautiful' on the monitors. He's moving around, kicking and overall just being a healthy little guy. The doc says that since the placenta is taking up room at the bottom of the uterus, his head isn't inclined to nestle into the lower portion and keep him in one position. He's free to move about and do back flips at will! We're prepped for a c-section, including the steroids to help develop his lungs early, so now we're just hoping the placenta holds on until the third week of November so he can keep growing in utero. If I don't need a transfusion, so much the better. We're in a good place, and being well taken care of.
My visit home was really brief after being discharged on Monday afternoon. I was back in triage on Wednesday morning, and knew what the recommendation would be: I would stay until delivery so the nurses and doctors can monitor me if anything goes wrong with the placenta. The day and a half at home was short - and I felt a little bit bashful when I returned to the hospital so quickly - but I'd followed the doctor's advice and enjoyed every day I could be home. I had two baths. I slept soundly in my own bed. I enjoyed a special dish prepared by Future-Dad (was delicious!). I could wander into the next room and give him an impromptu kiss, although I'd be ushered back to bed. Fortunately he made trips for the same purpose. It was/is hard to miss him like that, but we're always texting or talking or using skype. He's a supportive and loving husband and Future-Dad.
Now that I'm back, he's helping me to cozy up my room. So far a nice houseplant and family photos are cheering up the place. The triage nurse picked out a room with a view (that is, not the wall of a building but instead a trees and the parking lot). Even seeing the world outside reminds me that I'm a part of it. It's sunny and lovely today, particularly from my climate-controlled environs. Ha!!
Cletus, he is the Good Thing To Come after all, is doing great. His heartbeat is strong and the nurses and doctors say he looks 'beautiful' on the monitors. He's moving around, kicking and overall just being a healthy little guy. The doc says that since the placenta is taking up room at the bottom of the uterus, his head isn't inclined to nestle into the lower portion and keep him in one position. He's free to move about and do back flips at will! We're prepped for a c-section, including the steroids to help develop his lungs early, so now we're just hoping the placenta holds on until the third week of November so he can keep growing in utero. If I don't need a transfusion, so much the better. We're in a good place, and being well taken care of.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Now We're in Week 32 - Working to Get 'Un-Bummed'
I'm home from another visit to the hospital. For whatever reason, I knew mentally that the placenta previa would cause bleeds but I thought it was something I did that caused them. Not necessarily! The uterus is stretching and growing, and Cletus is growing as well so he needs the room. The uterine growth can cause that placenta to stretch or pull away slightly and bleed. There's no way to prevent it, and no way to know if it'll be mild or serious. In fact, now that I've had three different bleeds - it's interesting to note that all of them occurred while I was laying down. I'm done feeling guilty about it.
The third time at the hospital wore me down emotionally. I was really bummed out, and then really thrilled that they agreed to let me go home. Going home wasn't a for sure thing - they prefer to keep you after #3. Since being at home I've slept a ton, enjoyed a nice bath, and been taking it easy, just like I'm supposed to. Have been working to adjust some settings on my insulin pump to help with blood sugars.
I had an ultrasound yesterday. Kiddo is an estimated 4 pounds 3 ounces, and in the 71st percentile for weight. I take these measurements with a grain of salt because the larger a fetus gets the harder it is to estimate weight accurately. His organs still look great. I saw the bladder, kidneys, heart, brain etc. He's still super active, with a lot of fetal movements on the NST monitor and he's still got a great heart beat. It's very comforting that he looks so healthy. He still looks to have some hair on his head!
I finished one knitting project, and have started another one. I painted a little birdhouse when I was in the hospital. I've been watching a series called Downton Abbey, which is fan-freaking-tastic. I try to catch The Big Bang Theory on TV on Thursday nights. Was anticipating part two of Ken Burns/Lynn Novick Prohibition series but it was a repeat of part one. Boo-urns! (Aside: I saw a show about ice cream that said a lot of factories switched from making/bottling beer to producing ice cream after Prohibition passed - I hope the documentary mentions this. ICE CREAM YAY! I'd so rather have some ice cream than a cocktail.) I play a lot of Words With Friends (email me if you want me screen name), and my Mom and I have a good Scrabble rivalry going. There are a million diversions at my disposal, but sometimes I don't feel like doing any of them. I love that my friends and family still visit me and message me. In fact, some buddies were going to bring a costume party to me at the hospital next weekend - but I was cut loose from the clink! Worth missing out to be home, all in all.
The third time at the hospital wore me down emotionally. I was really bummed out, and then really thrilled that they agreed to let me go home. Going home wasn't a for sure thing - they prefer to keep you after #3. Since being at home I've slept a ton, enjoyed a nice bath, and been taking it easy, just like I'm supposed to. Have been working to adjust some settings on my insulin pump to help with blood sugars.
I had an ultrasound yesterday. Kiddo is an estimated 4 pounds 3 ounces, and in the 71st percentile for weight. I take these measurements with a grain of salt because the larger a fetus gets the harder it is to estimate weight accurately. His organs still look great. I saw the bladder, kidneys, heart, brain etc. He's still super active, with a lot of fetal movements on the NST monitor and he's still got a great heart beat. It's very comforting that he looks so healthy. He still looks to have some hair on his head!
I finished one knitting project, and have started another one. I painted a little birdhouse when I was in the hospital. I've been watching a series called Downton Abbey, which is fan-freaking-tastic. I try to catch The Big Bang Theory on TV on Thursday nights. Was anticipating part two of Ken Burns/Lynn Novick Prohibition series but it was a repeat of part one. Boo-urns! (Aside: I saw a show about ice cream that said a lot of factories switched from making/bottling beer to producing ice cream after Prohibition passed - I hope the documentary mentions this. ICE CREAM YAY! I'd so rather have some ice cream than a cocktail.) I play a lot of Words With Friends (email me if you want me screen name), and my Mom and I have a good Scrabble rivalry going. There are a million diversions at my disposal, but sometimes I don't feel like doing any of them. I love that my friends and family still visit me and message me. In fact, some buddies were going to bring a costume party to me at the hospital next weekend - but I was cut loose from the clink! Worth missing out to be home, all in all.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Miss me much?
Yes...this is baby daddy...finally posting something in over a month (maybe two). As I sit at the dentist office, waiting to get my teeth polished up, I figured "blog?? Why the hell not".
*off topic* getting your teeth checked feels so much like a class exam to me. You go in, they poke/prod/scrap your teeth up. If you pass, 'gold star'! If you fail...needle-time in your mouth, lots of high screeching machinery and your face is numb for the afternoon. Now if I was a good boy, I'd be all flossing, brushing, mouth-washing every freaking day and night. But, I was never good with my homework...reason I'm waiting like a deathrow inmate at the dentist
Back to baby talk. Really, what it comes down to my absence from blogging is 1. My ADD kicked in and 2. Just been busy doing other things (which compliments my ADD well. As baby mama has mentioned, in previous blogs, baby is doing well. Mom is doing well (although going tir crazy from bedrest) shes in the hospital again *boooo* hope I can pick her up tomorrow. But were in the homestretch! Late november we'll have a new roommate!
Oops, time for my teeth torture. More later :)
Monday, October 17, 2011
More Favorite Things!
This bed rest thing gets me bummed out sometimes. It's required giving up more of my autonomy than I'd care to, and I try to remind myself it's for a wonderful cause (Cletus!).
Here are some happy things, to make both me and you smile:
Peanut Butter! I can eat it on a spoon. It's excellent on apple slices. There are other people with Type 1 diabetes who are PNB fiends like myself. Brett Micheals for one. Not that I consider him a role model, but we do have that common bond.
Manicured Toes! I don't often put polish on my toes, but I am vain about my feet. I keep them well-groomed and lotion-ed up. My Aunt did my nails for me a few days ago - in OPI's "I'm not really a waitress" red. HOT! They make me smile every time I look at them.
The Joy of Others! My husband has been playing around with his media center.This means organizing DVDs, recording our CDs into digital form so we can play them via our network, and adding features to his big entertainment center on the cheap. It's highly creative and he has so much fun with it. Plus it's essential like a DVR for us, so if I want to watch something later he can record it for me.
Baby Giggles! I'm on a parenting message board that tells it like it is. The joys and travails are enthusiastically shared, lamented, and support abounds. Folks post their videos and photos of babies and kids, and the giggling baby ones are the best.
Our Doggies! Okay, sometimes my girl Lucy annoys me. She's not the brightest, and she's not the pleasantest - she's actually sort of stinky with a big bark - but she's a very happy girl and does come and sleep at the end of our bed at night. Anya is sweet and she comes into the bed room and lays down; I'm going to assume it's to keep me company. Although she does give me the eye if I'm laying on her couch, as if to hint 'So, ya gonna move already? I wanna lay down!'
Baths! They are awesome. I'm allowed to take them again, and it's very luxurious. My sister even gave me some nice bathsalts. Classy ones - they don't smell like artificial flowers, just lavender and calm. I never used to like baths but then again, I never had an extra weight strapped to my front either. Buoyancy for the win!
Here are some happy things, to make both me and you smile:
Peanut Butter! I can eat it on a spoon. It's excellent on apple slices. There are other people with Type 1 diabetes who are PNB fiends like myself. Brett Micheals for one. Not that I consider him a role model, but we do have that common bond.
Manicured Toes! I don't often put polish on my toes, but I am vain about my feet. I keep them well-groomed and lotion-ed up. My Aunt did my nails for me a few days ago - in OPI's "I'm not really a waitress" red. HOT! They make me smile every time I look at them.
The Joy of Others! My husband has been playing around with his media center.This means organizing DVDs, recording our CDs into digital form so we can play them via our network, and adding features to his big entertainment center on the cheap. It's highly creative and he has so much fun with it. Plus it's essential like a DVR for us, so if I want to watch something later he can record it for me.
Baby Giggles! I'm on a parenting message board that tells it like it is. The joys and travails are enthusiastically shared, lamented, and support abounds. Folks post their videos and photos of babies and kids, and the giggling baby ones are the best.
Our Doggies! Okay, sometimes my girl Lucy annoys me. She's not the brightest, and she's not the pleasantest - she's actually sort of stinky with a big bark - but she's a very happy girl and does come and sleep at the end of our bed at night. Anya is sweet and she comes into the bed room and lays down; I'm going to assume it's to keep me company. Although she does give me the eye if I'm laying on her couch, as if to hint 'So, ya gonna move already? I wanna lay down!'
Baths! They are awesome. I'm allowed to take them again, and it's very luxurious. My sister even gave me some nice bathsalts. Classy ones - they don't smell like artificial flowers, just lavender and calm. I never used to like baths but then again, I never had an extra weight strapped to my front either. Buoyancy for the win!
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