Andrew's first car change, at Target on our way to the doctor visits.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Andrew's first doctor's visit.
We then ran over for a quick doctor's visit to check him out and make sure that his first few days home were ok and everything is progressing well for him.
We filled out all of the paperwork and then went in to the patient's room just in time for Daddy to find out Andrew needed a new diaper! A quick change on the table and he was ready for a weighing.
The nurse weighed him and then asked what he weighed at discharge and then went over to re-calibrate the scale one more time. Checked his chart again and then asked if I could carry him out to another scale just in case this was reading improperly.
It read the same thing and she said that we should have no problem with Andrew eating and gaining on breastfeeding with this little monster!
At birth he was 8lb 13oz.
Thurs night he was 8lb 6oz.
On discharge he was the same 8lb 6oz.
Three days later with only breastmilk (and a recent clean diaper!) he was a whopping 9lb 2oz!
So he had not only gained back the 7oz from birth to discharge, but also put on 5oz in three days! Only on breastmilk (and he is a feeder) he gained 12oz!!!
The rest of the exam went well and the doctor said that he had really good color and everything else was looking fine, so with a rooting baby he started feeding while Daddy cleaned up the room a little and got things ready for the trip home.
Another diaper change in the parking lot and we were on our way back home!
-N
We filled out all of the paperwork and then went in to the patient's room just in time for Daddy to find out Andrew needed a new diaper! A quick change on the table and he was ready for a weighing.
The nurse weighed him and then asked what he weighed at discharge and then went over to re-calibrate the scale one more time. Checked his chart again and then asked if I could carry him out to another scale just in case this was reading improperly.
It read the same thing and she said that we should have no problem with Andrew eating and gaining on breastfeeding with this little monster!
At birth he was 8lb 13oz.
Thurs night he was 8lb 6oz.
On discharge he was the same 8lb 6oz.
Three days later with only breastmilk (and a recent clean diaper!) he was a whopping 9lb 2oz!
So he had not only gained back the 7oz from birth to discharge, but also put on 5oz in three days! Only on breastmilk (and he is a feeder) he gained 12oz!!!
The rest of the exam went well and the doctor said that he had really good color and everything else was looking fine, so with a rooting baby he started feeding while Daddy cleaned up the room a little and got things ready for the trip home.
Another diaper change in the parking lot and we were on our way back home!
-N
Sleepless night for Angela
Well, I have to say that Angela is really really strong and such a devoted mother. She was up all night with Andrew as he was really fussy and wouldn't;t go down for much of any length as he had a really bad bout with gas. Though we are pretty sure that it is directly related to Mom's diet. Two nights now he had similar issues, and two nights now she had the same thing for dinner. So we will be cutting that out of her diet for a while to make sure all is well.
I feel so helpless when he is like this as I keep offering to take him and give him a bottle when he needs it, but we are still concerned about making sure he is fully accepting of breast milk instead of the bottle. He has only gotten the two at birth (due to low blood sugar) and two others while we were in the hospital. So he has really been doing well with breast feeding and Mom, though tired, I think is enjoying the time with Andrew until he goes into baby-bliss and goes totally limp from exhaustion and a full belly!
Since she was up al night and I didn't take much of a shift from her, I on the other hand am completely rested and ready to go.
I am doing some more loads of laundry this morning and then off to get some necessities from some stores. Hoping to stock up so we don't have to make many runs over the next few weeks for the basics.
Nana (Angela's Mother) is having fun with Andrew and I think that she has truly realized how much she is in love with her first Grandchild. She has a constant smile and a gentle tone whenever he is around and especially when she's holding or rocking little Andrew.
If we can get Angela some sleep all would be right with our newly expanded family with Andrew.
Now off to get some work done!
-N
I feel so helpless when he is like this as I keep offering to take him and give him a bottle when he needs it, but we are still concerned about making sure he is fully accepting of breast milk instead of the bottle. He has only gotten the two at birth (due to low blood sugar) and two others while we were in the hospital. So he has really been doing well with breast feeding and Mom, though tired, I think is enjoying the time with Andrew until he goes into baby-bliss and goes totally limp from exhaustion and a full belly!
Since she was up al night and I didn't take much of a shift from her, I on the other hand am completely rested and ready to go.
I am doing some more loads of laundry this morning and then off to get some necessities from some stores. Hoping to stock up so we don't have to make many runs over the next few weeks for the basics.
Nana (Angela's Mother) is having fun with Andrew and I think that she has truly realized how much she is in love with her first Grandchild. She has a constant smile and a gentle tone whenever he is around and especially when she's holding or rocking little Andrew.
If we can get Angela some sleep all would be right with our newly expanded family with Andrew.
Now off to get some work done!
-N
Friday, January 27, 2006
Grandpa Voss Visits & Home from the Hospital!
Grandpa Voss flew into New Jersey this morning just in time to visit us at the hospital and welcome us home as we were discharged! The weather was beautiful, with clear skies and not too much wind. Andrew was all bundled up, and our first time using the carseat went pretty well. Andrew slept the whole car ride home. Now for a quiet first weekend at home!
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Andrew gets ready for his first visitors.
Andrew wakes up from his first night with us in the hospital room, only 14 hours old!
Gotta get up since his first visitors are coming any minute!
Best feeling in the world.
Best feeling in the world is to wake up with your newborn son in your arms on his first day in the world with you.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Welcome Andrew Robinson Browne!
Andrew Robinson Browne
Born Monday January 23, 2006 at 11:10pm
Weighed 8lb 13oz
Measured 21 inches long
Final prep
Angela was wheeled into the operating room and she was prepped with iodine as well as a drape for the procedure. I was on a seat out in the hall until they told me to come in.
Angela was then anesthisized and they called me in for the birth of our little Josephus that we have prepared for and dreamed about for 9 months !
Anxious father to be, worried husband,
Nathan
(posted after the fact as narration)
Angela was then anesthisized and they called me in for the birth of our little Josephus that we have prepared for and dreamed about for 9 months !
Anxious father to be, worried husband,
Nathan
(posted after the fact as narration)
Anxious hour!
We had to wait from approx 10pm through until 11pm for the OR to open up and be prepped for Angela and Josephus.
That hour seemed like forever! We went back and forth on the pluses and minuses and all of the options and changes that this decision would make.
Lots of nerves, pins and needles with this choice and it was only made more difficult with approx 2-3 hours of sleep for Angela from the night before with all of the contractions.
The nurses came in with what looked like an Intel bunny suit for me with a lunch lady hat, a full white jump suit and little blue booties for over my shoes. It barely fit, but if I am to go in with her it's what I have to wear!
Lets get the show on the road and have this baby!
Soon to be a daddy,
Nathan
(posted after the fact as narration)
That hour seemed like forever! We went back and forth on the pluses and minuses and all of the options and changes that this decision would make.
Lots of nerves, pins and needles with this choice and it was only made more difficult with approx 2-3 hours of sleep for Angela from the night before with all of the contractions.
The nurses came in with what looked like an Intel bunny suit for me with a lunch lady hat, a full white jump suit and little blue booties for over my shoes. It barely fit, but if I am to go in with her it's what I have to wear!
Lets get the show on the road and have this baby!
Soon to be a daddy,
Nathan
(posted after the fact as narration)
Rothenberg visit
Dr. Rothenberg came in to examine Angela and said that she is approx 4cm and 100% effaced so not a lot of progress. He did also say that Josephus is not decending much at all and gave us two options to decide between.
The first is to give it from 10pm until 4-5am (approx 33hrs of labor!) and at that time we would have to either give birth or have a cesarian section if he hasn't decended by that time.
Or he suggested a Cessarian section prior to that labor and Angela could finish with the labor and have little Josephus this evening.
Angela asked about the likelihood of Josephus actually decending and other litle questions about it and finally asked for the course that he would recommend for her.
After some short discussion we decided to go forward with the C-Section and he ordered up the operating room for Angela. The nurse pointed out that she would be next in line as there was still someone in there and she would be out shortly.
Big decisions, but we are in an age of modern medicine and have come to trust our doctors and what they recommend. So we both felt comfortable; though very nervous; about making that decision based on the information that our doctor had at the time.
-N
(posted after the fact as narration)
The first is to give it from 10pm until 4-5am (approx 33hrs of labor!) and at that time we would have to either give birth or have a cesarian section if he hasn't decended by that time.
Or he suggested a Cessarian section prior to that labor and Angela could finish with the labor and have little Josephus this evening.
Angela asked about the likelihood of Josephus actually decending and other litle questions about it and finally asked for the course that he would recommend for her.
After some short discussion we decided to go forward with the C-Section and he ordered up the operating room for Angela. The nurse pointed out that she would be next in line as there was still someone in there and she would be out shortly.
Big decisions, but we are in an age of modern medicine and have come to trust our doctors and what they recommend. So we both felt comfortable; though very nervous; about making that decision based on the information that our doctor had at the time.
-N
(posted after the fact as narration)
Rothernberg and the game plan.
Dr. Rothenberg came by for another visit and examined Angela. She is now approx 3 cm and 100% effaced. So she is progressing, just not very quickly.
Dr. Rothenberg said that he will run home for some dinner and be back around 10pm to check on us at that time. We will get another exam and at that time we need to make some decisions about what we are doing with the inducement and what our plans are with respect to next steps.
Angela (a nurse) said for me to grab something to eat and suggested the Philli cheese in their cafeteria. Yum... About a 6 on a 1-10 ranking. That and a banana with a Snapple.
-N
(posted after the fact as narration)
Dr. Rothenberg said that he will run home for some dinner and be back around 10pm to check on us at that time. We will get another exam and at that time we need to make some decisions about what we are doing with the inducement and what our plans are with respect to next steps.
Angela (a nurse) said for me to grab something to eat and suggested the Philli cheese in their cafeteria. Yum... About a 6 on a 1-10 ranking. That and a banana with a Snapple.
-N
(posted after the fact as narration)
New nurse and a visit
Well, more of the same waiting for us. Now Angela is much more comfortable and is resting and other than the pressure from the contractions she is a lot better since the epidural.
We got another nurse named Louisa this afternoon who is from Hong Kong. All of the LDR nurses have been great with us so far. They have all answered everything and set us at ease through the whole process during the last 21 hours.
-N
(posted after the fact as narration)
We got another nurse named Louisa this afternoon who is from Hong Kong. All of the LDR nurses have been great with us so far. They have all answered everything and set us at ease through the whole process during the last 21 hours.
-N
(posted after the fact as narration)
A little scare...
Directly after the epidural and spinal block Angela's blood pressure dropped to 83/34 and even lower for approx 10 minutes before the anesthisiologist and nurse were able to bring it back up with an IV push as well as an epi in her IV to raise the pressure. During this time little Josephus' heart rate went from the average of 130-140 bpm all the way down to 62 bpm!
I was really really worried throughout the entire experience while Angela was quite passive (the pressure nearly made her pass out as well) and confident.
Once Josephus and Angela stabled out and was observed for another 30 minutes everything went back to normal of waiting for her contractions and watching the monitor and telling her how strong the contractions would have been without the pain blocker.
Settling in for a short nap if she can and I will keep an eye on everything, or at least I will try to keep encouraging her!
Nathan
(posted after the fact as narration)
I was really really worried throughout the entire experience while Angela was quite passive (the pressure nearly made her pass out as well) and confident.
Once Josephus and Angela stabled out and was observed for another 30 minutes everything went back to normal of waiting for her contractions and watching the monitor and telling her how strong the contractions would have been without the pain blocker.
Settling in for a short nap if she can and I will keep an eye on everything, or at least I will try to keep encouraging her!
Nathan
(posted after the fact as narration)
Epidural pain medication
Angela got her epidural procedure done and within minutes she wasn't in any more rough pain from the contractions. She would look over at the screen and see that she was having a contraction and she could still feel the tightness of the contraction, but none of the really rough Pitocen enriched contractions.
Both of us were perfectly ok with getting one so we were not concerned with it when it finally came. One of Angela's friends who is in the field explained that if you can and don't have a problem with the treatment to get it early so that labor (especially if it is a long one) isn't such a painful experience with an inducement.
She actually has a smile on her face now and can talk without forcing it where as before she was fully concentrating on doing her proper breathing and other techniques that we learned in class which helped quite well prior to the inducement, but after the petocin it wasn't as effective.
I am glad that she is finally able to rest a little from the first many hours.
Nathan
(posted after the fact as narration)
Both of us were perfectly ok with getting one so we were not concerned with it when it finally came. One of Angela's friends who is in the field explained that if you can and don't have a problem with the treatment to get it early so that labor (especially if it is a long one) isn't such a painful experience with an inducement.
She actually has a smile on her face now and can talk without forcing it where as before she was fully concentrating on doing her proper breathing and other techniques that we learned in class which helped quite well prior to the inducement, but after the petocin it wasn't as effective.
I am glad that she is finally able to rest a little from the first many hours.
Nathan
(posted after the fact as narration)
Contractions!!!
What a trooper, she fought through a sleepless night with 14 hours of total labor naturally and then two and a half hours of stronger pitocin enhanced labor (where the contractions were well off their scale for measuring how she is doing) until she finally asked for an epidural to ease the pain. I am so proud of her and everything that she has come through so far.
The anesthesiologist is with another patient and has been called, so he will be here soon enough.
Nathan
(posted after the fact as narration)
The anesthesiologist is with another patient and has been called, so he will be here soon enough.
Nathan
(posted after the fact as narration)
Rothenberg visit.
Our OB came by for his morning rounds to see how Angela is coming along. He noted that she has really done well that the strength of the contractions are really measuring high on their equipment. I think that she is doing really well, but still a little worried for her and Josephus since she still has a way to go. Rotherberg said that she is approx 80% effaced and about 1.5cm dilated. A long way to go to get to 10cm!
Dr. Rothenberg broke Angela's water so that little Josephus and her body would get the message to get a move on! So now as he put it we are fairly committed! We will have a baby today!
He also started the pitocin for Angela to strengthen and regulate her contractions. They were still 3-5 mins apart sometimes and would every once in a while give her a 10 min break. So unfortunately she is going to get this stuff added to her IV. We have both heard bad things about this stuff in terms of your contractions getting worse with it. She is really brave and I know she has got to be getting tired now after active labor for 14 hours!
Nathan
(posted after the fact as narration)
Dr. Rothenberg broke Angela's water so that little Josephus and her body would get the message to get a move on! So now as he put it we are fairly committed! We will have a baby today!
He also started the pitocin for Angela to strengthen and regulate her contractions. They were still 3-5 mins apart sometimes and would every once in a while give her a 10 min break. So unfortunately she is going to get this stuff added to her IV. We have both heard bad things about this stuff in terms of your contractions getting worse with it. She is really brave and I know she has got to be getting tired now after active labor for 14 hours!
Nathan
(posted after the fact as narration)
Morning visit
We got our morning visit from our new nurse for the morning and afternoon named Angela. She examined Angela and let us know that we are coming along nicely and that she is now approx 60% effaced and 0 cm dialated. So we are making progress but no dialation so far.
The contractions are still maintaining every 2-4 mins and Angela is a real trooper, I can't imagine going through this for 9 hours already and still having a long day in front of us. Her attitude is perfect, but I am a little worried since she won't be able to eat anything until this is all over.
Nathan
(posted after the fact as narration)
The contractions are still maintaining every 2-4 mins and Angela is a real trooper, I can't imagine going through this for 9 hours already and still having a long day in front of us. Her attitude is perfect, but I am a little worried since she won't be able to eat anything until this is all over.
Nathan
(posted after the fact as narration)
Bagel run.
I ran out to get a bagel from Mtn Lakes bagels and brought back some for the nursing staff and Angela for once she recovers; she's a sucker for a salt bagel!
-N
(posted after the fact as narration)
-N
(posted after the fact as narration)
Long night...
Angela has had a long night so far. The contractions have maintained and increased in strength as well as frequency to coming approx every 3-5 mins and sometimes in spurts every 2-3 mins. To us it seems that the Cerbidil is working it's magic so far, or at least the contractions are coming faster and more furious now!
Nathan
(posted after the fact as narration)
Nathan
(posted after the fact as narration)
Can't sleep!
How can either of us sleep with him coming tomorrow! We have to bed down, but we keep talking to each other. The nurse came in with a sleeping aid for Angela so that she can get some rest between the contrations if at all possible.
Only 4 hours of this so far and we are looking to have no progress yet at the last exam, but we are hopeful!
-N
(posted after the fact as narration)
Only 4 hours of this so far and we are looking to have no progress yet at the last exam, but we are hopeful!
-N
(posted after the fact as narration)
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Long night, get some sleep.
Angela and I had a visit from our OB/GYN Doctor Rothenburg and he gave us a little run down of what he expects for the process. We would have the Cerbidil al night and in the morning he would come in for another exam. Depending on how that exam goes we will start with the pitocin after that. So we will be having a peak at Josephus tomorrow sometime in the afternoon most likely!
Can't wait to meet him, Angela is doing really well, I am going to get comfy for the night in the chair which folds out into either a torture contraption or a bed one of the two and settle in with thoughts of Josephus all night!
-N
(posted after the fact as narration)
Can't wait to meet him, Angela is doing really well, I am going to get comfy for the night in the chair which folds out into either a torture contraption or a bed one of the two and settle in with thoughts of Josephus all night!
-N
(posted after the fact as narration)
Start the process!
Angela and I met our evening nurse named Amy. She got us all set up and told us about everything that is going to happen over the next little bit. Angela got all suited up and hooked up to the monitors for her contractions as well as Josephus' heart rate. They also "cuffed" her so that the machine could take periodic measurements of her blood pressure.
Once hooked up Amy introduced us to Pat who would be the nurse all night and together we talked about the readings on the monitor. Angela had been thinking that these were minor contractions, when in fact they were reading per the machine as REALLY quite strong! She was having contractions that were clustered approx 4 mins apart for a stretch of 20 mins or so.
Once they got a baseline set for her vitals and little Josephus' heart rate we had another nurse come in and give Angela a little exam. She was not dialated and no thinning of the cervix (Effacement). So we had a ways to go still. She administered the Cerbidil to Angela and the process started.
Nathan
(posted after the fact as narration)
Once hooked up Amy introduced us to Pat who would be the nurse all night and together we talked about the readings on the monitor. Angela had been thinking that these were minor contractions, when in fact they were reading per the machine as REALLY quite strong! She was having contractions that were clustered approx 4 mins apart for a stretch of 20 mins or so.
Once they got a baseline set for her vitals and little Josephus' heart rate we had another nurse come in and give Angela a little exam. She was not dialated and no thinning of the cervix (Effacement). So we had a ways to go still. She administered the Cerbidil to Angela and the process started.
Nathan
(posted after the fact as narration)
Checking in to Saint Clare's
Angela and I made it to the hospital just before they were supposed to close the side entrance for the night which allowed us a little shorter entrance to the check in location. I dropped her off and parked ready for a long night of hopeful rest and progress before Josephus starts getting us totally exhausted!
A quick stop for pics before registering and we went and signed lots of paperwork and got our bracelets for each of us for our stay.
We walked up to the labor, delivery, and recovery (LDR) area and got situated in our room (LDR Room 2).
-N
(posted after the fact as narration)
A quick stop for pics before registering and we went and signed lots of paperwork and got our bracelets for each of us for our stay.
We walked up to the labor, delivery, and recovery (LDR) area and got situated in our room (LDR Room 2).
-N
(posted after the fact as narration)
Yum dinner!
Angela and I were a lot later than we thought for leaving (lots going on and lots of little tings to get us out of the house) so we had to change our eating plans on the way and juststopped by Panera Bread for a little nourishment before checking in.
Both of us are a little anxious, but we are really looking forward to meeting little Josephus sometime soon.
Mom is having some contractions like she has had for about a week now off and on, so hopefully a little encouragement from the docs will help move us along!
Nathan
(posted after the fact as narration)
Both of us are a little anxious, but we are really looking forward to meeting little Josephus sometime soon.
Mom is having some contractions like she has had for about a week now off and on, so hopefully a little encouragement from the docs will help move us along!
Nathan
(posted after the fact as narration)
One last exam
The nurse came in again (Louisa) and examined Angela one last time prior to Rothenberg coming in for his visit. Only 3cm and 100% effaced this time, so not much movement since 5pm.
-N
(posted after the fact as narration)
-N
(posted after the fact as narration)
Going in to the hospital!
Angela and I are headed to the hospital, on our way we are going to stop and grab something to eat before the long process of bringing little Josephus into the world!
Nathan
(posted after the fact as narration)
Nathan
(posted after the fact as narration)
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Progress update
Tuesday I spent the day working from home. Amazing how much you can
actually get done when you are sequestered all day without
interruptions!
Angela is starting to get some contractions and other little painful
episodes, but nothing regular at all. We shall see today if
anything is going on as we have an appointment at 1:30 PM with the
Doctor for our weekly checkup.
Again, funky weather. Tuesday it was freezing and still about an inch
or so on the ground, I wake up today and it's completely
cleared off, we have lots of rain, and it is 61! Supposed to dip to
nearly 20 by midnight and potentially snow. Whats up with these
swings!
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Puttering around the house.
Yesterday had some serious weather changes. The day started out
nearly 42 and by midnight it was only 28! Add to that 40 MPH winds,
rain, sleet, hail, and 2 inches of snow and we woke up to drifts
against the sides of the house that made it tough to get out of the
garage and the doors!
We had a fairly easy morning and just kind of got little things done
around the house until we got a call from the Cifaretto's asking if
our power was out (their's had been since 3am!).
I cleared the drive and walks and then went grocery shopping in the
afternoon.
The evening we watched the Pittsburgh vs Indianapolis football game
and then ran around the house cleaning up and putting Christmas boxes
away for the year.
Now off to read a little before heading off to bed. We have been up
fairly late every night for a week for no apparent reason, other than
to work on the computers.
No news on Josephus yet, Angela says that he is just kicking around
like normal, so I think that we might have to wait until Wednesday to
speak with the Doctor about our game plans.
The bags are all packed and by the door in the basement ready to go
whenever he is. I keep worrying about the snow and ice with Angela,
so I keep going out and shoveling, salting, and brooking away water
just in case she has to make a dash for the car!
-N
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Just a picture of Racquel sitting on the "Princess" chair in the new office. She now has a princess chair in both the office and in little Josephus' room for when he comes home.
Of course, the question will be if she actually sits in there with Angela and Josephus or if she will run away when he starts crying!
-N
Angela working away.
Angela is just working away at her new little nook in the new "Office" for us.
-N
Still waiting
Angela and I are still waiting for when Josephus is good and ready to make an appearance in this world.
It's kinda fun not knowing when he is going to come into our lives, but it pretty much puts our lives on hold for a few more days.
At least he made it past the Friday the 13th mark! His true due date has always been January 18th, so we are creeping up on that date pretty quickly.
-N
It's kinda fun not knowing when he is going to come into our lives, but it pretty much puts our lives on hold for a few more days.
At least he made it past the Friday the 13th mark! His true due date has always been January 18th, so we are creeping up on that date pretty quickly.
-N
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Obstetrician visit
Well, we made it to the doctor for a quick visit and he said that
little Josephus isn't really ready to leave his little home quite
yet.
Everything looks good and Angela came to lunch with the guys from
work after the appointment. Everyone enjoyed seeing her wobble around
and I think that she enjoyed seeing someone other than the cats.
-N
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