Round

Everything in my life is round.

My stomach is round and mushy. I feel like I'm still pregnant, although now I'm carrying a partially deflated basketball instead of a nine-pound baby. I know it's only been a week, but boy I miss my body. I miss sleeping on my stomach.

My boobs are round and hard. The milk came in with a vengeance while we were in the hospital and yowza! Annie is such a snoozefest, I find myself waking her to eat just to take some pressure off the girls.

My feet are round and puffy. They are more swollen now than they ever were while I was pregnant. No one warned me this would happen. The only thing I miss more than my pre-pregnancy stomach are my pre-pregnancy feet. And my hands. I'm tired of looking unmarried because my rings don't fit.

My baby has the sweetest, roundest cheeks ever seen. They are so soft and smooth, I have to restrain myself from squishing them whenever I hold her. I'm already missing them, knowing they'll be gone one day.

Look at those chubby, squishy cheeks!

EDIT: I had a doctor's appointment today to get the staples removed. I'm feeling much less Bride of Frankenstein now.  Apparently I'm healing great, everything looks really good, the nurses thought Annie was adorable (naturally) and seemed pleased with where I was at this point in my recovery. It was a positive report all around. So I'm trying to give myself (and my soft, round, mushiness) a little grace. 

There's an App for That

When you have a newborn, everyone is obsessed with their eating and pooping. Probably because it's the only thing your baby can do. With Violet, we had a little notebook we recorded her daily stats in religiously. It was handy for when the pediatrician inevitably asked at each appointment, and it also helped keep my head in the game come four a.m.

Well, we have apparently lost our touch, because we got fussed at by the nurse in the hospital for not keeping up with the chart they provided us with. I'd be woken up in the middle of the night and asked to recite half a day's worth of nursing and diaper changes. So after the first day of stern looks from those in charge, I downloaded myself an app to help keep track of all such vital matters.

Yep, they have an app for that.

Baby Connect is awesome. Not only does it let me record each diaper change, I can also describe its size, color and consistency (because life is in the details, they say). Then I can turn the collected information into a nerdy bar graph showing how many diapers were wet or dirty, compare today's stats to yesterday's output, track how long Annie has been feeding with the push of a timer button, remember which side she fed on, graph the total number of minutes spent feeding each day... talk about a nerd alert!

Needless to say, my nurses were impressed. Not necessarily by my fancy technology, just by the fact that we were finally able to fill out their chart.

All About Annie

Allow me to introduce you to Annie. At four days old, she is already proving to be quite a sweetie. And quite the sleepy head. This child of mine does nothing but sleep, to the point that it's hard to even wake her up to eat! When she does finally start eating, she only manages about 15 minutes before she passes out again, despite my best efforts tickling her, jiggling her, burping her.

And Annie is far too polite to burp. She has what I've dubbed "delayed burping syndrome". When she does let one out, it's a good half hour after she's eaten. So far Daddy is the expert in getting the burps out - he's always able to provide her with a good model to copy.

Of course, I hate to complain about all the sleeping. If anything, it's left me with quite a bit of time on my hands! I'm trying to enjoy it, seeing as it might all change in a second. Every night, Matt and I look at each other after a long day of Annie snoozing and say to each other, "we're in for it tonight!" And each night, we get at least a four-hour uninterrupted stretch of sleep.

All dressed up and nowhere to go.

I'd be getting worried, but we got an excellent report at our check-up with the pediatrician today. Annelise is in the 90th percentile for height, weight and head circumference. Surprise, surprise! She was born at 9 lb/5 oz, and left the hospital at 8 lb/8 oz. Just a day later, she's up to 8 lb/8.6 oz (hey, I'll take that .6!) Any minor worries we had were put to rest. I have to say, I love our pediatrician. She's exactly what every new mom needs - relaxed, laid back, encouraging. When I worried that I was having a hard time waking the baby every three hours to eat, she told me just to get a magazine or grab a quick nap and try again later. She was very happy with everything she saw at our appointment, and that makes this mama happy, too.

(All this talking about it has me convinced that she'll be up all night, ravenous, now! I really need to start appreciating what I've got!)

She's awake! Wait.... nope!

We're enjoying getting to know each other here at home. Violet is off at school right now, the visitors have gone home, Matt is taking the opportunity to knock some long-standing items off the to-do list. We're looking forward to our first family of four movie night tonight, adn then we'll see what the weekend holds!

Annelise - A Baby Story

And here's how little Miss Annie came into the world...

As you know, we had a planned c-section scheduled for Monday at 12:30. The idea was to get up, get ready, drop Violet off at school, and head to the hospital, nice and relaxed. I wasn't allowed to eat after 4 a.m., so Matt even set his alarm for 3:30 so I could get up and eat a snack. My parents were planning to meet us at the hospital before picking Violet up from school. My bag was packed, and I even upacked Violet's bag, since she never ended up needing it.

Oh, foolish me. I should have known.

At 2:30 in the morning, I rolled over in bed and my water broke. Oops. Talk about deja vu. I called the doctor as was told to come straight to the hospital. I called our neighbor A., our plan for just this type of situation. She unlocked her back door and after throwing Violet's clothes back in her bag, we carried her over. She was surprisingly agreeable (or just half asleep still) and snuggled right down, to our great relief. I called my mom, just to let her know the baby would be a little ahead of schedule. Then we hopped in the car and were on our way.

At this point the contractions had started up, pretty intense. Once the nurse checked me and discovered I was already five cm dilated, she stated that things were going to happen quickly. And did they! In no time I was in the intensely lit, freezing cold, very crowded operating room. And within 20 minutes, Annie was born, weighing in at a whopping 9 lbs 5 oz. No one in the room predicted she would be that big! Then I lay there on the table, getting put back together, while Matt watched over the baby as she rocked her apgar score and got herself nice and pretty. From my view, I caught a glimpse of little hands and feet waving. It was a very different experience than Violet's birth.

It's strange. I feel much more relaxed and far less emotional than I did with Violet. I think having gone through one birth and newborn stage and everyone has survived to tell the tale gives me lots of confidence. It's a relief to feel like I know what I'm doing this time. On the other hand, this being my first c-section, there is a lot that is very different, mainly with my physical experience. That has come with a bit of a shock. It was strange not to be able to hold Annie immediately, though it was sweet getting to watch Matt take over the Daddy role so instantly.

Once I was ready, I joined Matt and Annie back in the recovery room and got to know our chubby new friend. She nursed like a champ immediately and no one entering the room to help but remark on what a big girl she was! They gave me a lovely morphine drip with my new best friend, a little button I could push at will. And push I did, because the pain of a c-section is no joke. (Although the pain of delivering a 9 lb-plus baby would have been no joke either - I think she was breech for a reason.) Within no time, we were wheeled to our Mother-Baby "hotel" room and received our first visitors!

Papa stopped by.

Annie and Mimi.

Aunt Dani came by...

And so did Uncle Lukas.

Miss Amy meets Miss Annie!

Big sister makes her big arrival.

My girls!

Violet did so well meeting her little sister for the first time. She loved giving Annie the presents she'd picked out (random toys, a paci, a little Curious George doll) and really loved opening the presents Annie had ready for her (a big Curious George, book, and lots of candy). She was mildly curious: "Mommy, why is your tummy still big?"... "Mommy, the baby is too loud!" But she was also sweet and gentle with the new baby, even willing to share a spot on the bed with her.

Talk about a busy day! I am so glad I ended up having the c-section hours earlier than planned. By 5 p.m., 12 hours later, I was finally on the upswing and getting a jump on my recovery. The grogginess from the medication was wearing off, the morphine was doing its job keeping the major pain at bay, and I was actually able to get out of bed and move around a little. Annie proved herself to be quite a little sweetie, a trend that continues even now!

Going Home

They are kicking us out today. I'm excited to see my own bed, but bummed at the idea of having to get my own breakfast. I cannot say enough about the wonderful staff, care, facilities and overall experience we've had here at Emory Johns Creek. From the first hectic moments of showing up in the middle of the night, 5 cm dilated and 8 hours early for my c-section (oops!) to our last lazy few hours at "Hotel Emory", we have been taken care of with excellence.

Something tells me Violet will not be quite as adept at changing diapers for me or taking my room service orders! But head home we must. So let the real adventure begin! 

Getting to Know You

Violet brought her little sister a few presents when she came to meet her at the hospital. Good thing Annie had some presents for her big sister too!

Daughters

My happy girls!

Annelise Marie

We are so proud to introduce

Annelise Marie

Born at 4:38 am

9 lbs 5 oz

20 inches

With love,

Matt, Kristine, and big sister Violet

Birth story to come

Care for Tea?

Violet is turning into such a girlie girl. We have regular tea parties around here, she dressed up as a princess for "career day" at school, and girlfriend has more purses and bags than we can keep up with! Now if only she'd let me do something with her hair (not that I have any skills). Here's a glimpse of last week's pre-church tea time event, brought to you by a new pair of green rain boots!

We Made It

In 48 hours, there will be another Little Loughman! That is such a crazy thought. And I have to admit, as much as I didn't want a scheduled c-section, a huge part of me is relieved that the end is in sight. I swear, this week tried its hardest to put me into labor!

We had the carpets cleaned Tuesday. The house cleaners came Wednesday. Both required pre-cleaning and moving furniture and generally turning the house upside down. Wednesday was also an early release school day and we had professional development at a different school the second half of the day. I left there, raced to a doctor's appointment, and raced home for small group. Violet also ran a fever that evening, required an emergency call to Grandma to come cover for us at home on Thursday. (Thank goodness Violet seems better after taking a day off.) Thursday I ran around after school picking up a birthday present for a party V went to on Friday and buying cupcakes for my kiddos for our class birthday party for the new baby. Yesterday was my last day with the kids, a crazy thought in and of itself. My sweet room moms came in the afternoon for our little party - we had cupcakes and opened a few gifts and I read the advice the students wrote: "What should Mrs. Loughman do to take care of Baby?" My favorite pointers included going to the doctor to get the baby out (on it!), changing poopoo diapers, and teaching the baby to walk. Following dismissal I was at school another three hours, trying to wrap everything up and get ready for my long-term sub. By 6 p.m. I figured, it's as ready as it's going to get, she's just going to have to jump in and figure the rest out herself. And I was out of there!

Diaper motorcycle from one of my cafeteria ladies!

This weekend we're puttering around, returning a few unneeded baby items, testing out the video monitor, finishing up laundry, storing things away in the attic, just trying to tie up loose ends. A nap and a pedicure are on my personal to-do list. It is very strange to think we're about to become a family of four.

Picking a Date

You know what's surreal? Having the power to pick your child's birth date.

This morning I called Dr. K and scheduled our c-section. At yesterday's appointment this child still hadn't flipped and wasn't looking likely to. The doctor initially offered next Friday, exactly 39 weeks, but my substitute can't start until the following Monday. (Only a teacher would ever have that train of thought.)

So next Monday, September 23, it is. We'll wake up, load our bags, make the 10 minute commute to the hospital, gown up and be given our baby. So bizarre.

The number one question I'm getting these days is whether Violet was the same way. Um, no. With Violet, I apparently didn't realize how lucky I was. No swelling, wore my rings into the delivery room, water broke at home with my first contraction, easy breezy. What a different experience this has been, and continues to be. (Although I've gotten so many supportive comments from friends - thank you!)

I'm also continuously surprised at the idea that we're having a baby. I know, a little late for that realization, right? But I've been so focused on the pregnancy, how enormous I'm getting, how my students will deal with my absence, how uncomfortable I am, how Violet will adjust to our new family dynamic, that I keep forgetting that at the end of this road I'll actually end up with a tiny little baby girl. My head knows that life will change forever, the rest of me just keeps nodding uh-huh and continuing on its distracted way.

It's also hard to believe that one week from today will be my last day in the classroom until January. I'm planning a little "good-bye for now" party with the kids, with "baby" mini cupcakes. You know, gotta leave them with some happy thoughts of me before I disappear! I get nervous at the thought of giving them into someone else's hands, but what to do.

Well, I supposed the count down has officially started! Here's to surviving the next 10 days!

Head's (Still) Up

Well, if you haven't heard by now, Friday's procedure did not result in any flippy floppys for this baby. Apparently she's already too big healthy and stubborn determined for any sneaky moves like that.

Here's how the day went down. We checked into the hospital, went up to Labor and Delivery, I got into my gown and laid down on the bed, got hooked up to the monitors and heard little lady's heartbeat, got an IV hook-up in place, signed a bunch of consent forms, had blood drawn, and then we waited.

Sound familiar? Eerily familiar. Both Matt and I contemplated just going ahead and having this baby... I mean, we were pretty much halfway there at that point! The room was so quiet, the lights were dim, it was nice.

Of course, then Dr. K rolled in, greased up my belly, and things were not quite so peaceful anymore. Let me tell you, we all tried our best to convince this child to flip. The doctor broke a sweat, I was gritting my teeth so hard I'm surprised they didn't break, but at the end of the day, we had to call it. We barely got her to make a quarter turn. So after a bit more monitoring (and some juice and crackers from the very sympathetic nurses who knew I was starving), we headed home.

The entire experience has put me way over this pregnancy. I'm ready. I'm done. It doesn't help that I'm still dealing with the worst case of crud. I haven't been able to breath through my nose in two days. My voice sounds like I've developed a two-pack-a-day smoking habit. I haven't slept decently in weeks. Instead of craving chocolate, I'm craving mucinex.

Not that giving birth will make things magically improve, of course. And the unknowns of a c-section have me a little freaked out as well. I'm concerned about the recovery. I'm not excited about the idea of major surgery. Even though I know it's 99.9 percent likely that I'll end up with a c-section, the unknowns are still causing some serious anxiety. And I'm not just talking the unknowns of the procedure itself. I'm talking the big stuff. How will Violet deal with not only a new baby in the house, but a mommy who is not quite herself? How will my students adapt to the substitute? How will the sub keep up with my kids and report cards and conferences and my file cabinets? (Did I mention our first field trip is scheduled on my due date? Awesome timing.)

Deep breath. (Rather, attempted deep breath through my 87 percent stuffed up nostrils.)

When I Grow Up...

Violet's homework assignment this weekend was to draw a picture completing the sentence "When I grow up I want to be..." The first time I asked her, she responded right away with "a mommy!" Here is her take:

I especially liked the spaghetti coming out of her mouth and the baby in the tummy. Today she was giving me a list of all the things she can teach the baby when she is born. The list included: drinking from a bottle, drawing, and picking her nose.

Glad we'll have our bases covered.

17 Days

17 school days. That was all it took for my generous first graders to pass along their germs. I am officially sick. Ugh. It started as a tickle in the throat Saturday night. It progressed to a full blown sore throat by Sunday. And today, my voice was shot by lunchtime. Lovely. There's nothing more difficult than trying to communicate to a room full of children when you have no voice.

Unless it's trying to communicate to your own child when you have no voice. Poor Violet. Things have been awfully quiet around here since I picked her up this afternoon. It's sounded a bit like this: "Mommy... mommy... mommy... MOMMY...!" Me, trying to get eye contact so I can show her I'm listening. She rambles on about whatever, while I nod enthusiastically. Repeat.

Tomorrow should be a real joy.

Normally I'd be heavily medicating right now with a self prescribed cocktail of mucinex and sudafed with a little claritin thrown in for good measure. Pregnancy has whittled my list of medications down to cough drops, hot tea with lemon and honey, and tylenol when I feel desperate. None of which are clearing my head or bringing my voice back.

What happens if you have a baby when you're sick? You try not to breath on the kid? You're magically cured because your body recognizes you have way bigger priorities?

And speaking of counting the days, here's the latest rundown for those of you keeping score at home.
3: days until the attempted flip
16: days until the full moon
24: days until I'm officially due

Lest you think the only thing my students are generous with are their germs, exhibit a: a new backpack for V from one of my sweet girls. Violet has not put it down since I gave it to her.