I'm 4 weeks old!!

This was a big week for me...well, it was for Daddy. After discovering that it is possible for me to go to sleep when it is dark out, I realized that I feel better and so does Mommy. I kept her up on Sunday and Tuesday nights. But, I slept really good Wednesday through last night. Mommy was starting to wonder if her diet was effecting my sleeping habits...but for now she is just hoping that the new trend sticks.

I got two baths this week, including one yesterday with Grandma Katy. It's funny how I can not control when I need to go #1. I tend to do it right when Mommy is changing me or when she's giving me a bath with Grandma.

On Wednesday we got to go to visit Aunt JohAnna at her work. I got to meet Jill there too! Daddy was getting a pedicure and it was all Aunt JohAnna could do to get it done quickly so she could hold me. I was playing with Jill most of the night, until I got hungry and then it was time to go home.

Yesterday we stopped by Mommy's work again to pick up a blanket that was made by some of Mommy's 4-H volunteers. They made me a fleece blanket! It's really neat! I also got a cool outfit from Jody one of Mommy's co-workers. Mommy's going to have to start taking more photos of me in all of my cool outfits, before I grow out of them!

Yesterday was a big day for Daddy. He found out that he got a new position at work! He applied for the job when I was still in Mommy's tummy. When he stayed with Mommy and me my first two weeks, he didn't check his work email...and it built up and up. By the time he went back he had over a half a million emails! In it was one that said he had an interview. He did that last Friday. We are all excited for him and he starts his new job on February 8!

Yesterday we went to visit Lily and Megan at their house! It was real fun, I also got to meed Maddi. She has red hair. I wasn't very sociable because I was hungry most of the night. Since I took a 4 hour siesta by sleeping from 1:30-5:30.

I missed seeing Grandma Karen this week, Mommy & JohAnna said she has a bad cold, I hope she can visit me soon. I got to see cousin Zac on Tuesday for a short stint at the mall.

If you haven't been over to see me yet, call Mommy, I like having visitors!!

I'm a web star!

I just found out that I'm a web star! Mommy showed me Dionne & Lauren's new website: http://www.wisewomenbirthservices.com/ If you click on the "happy parents" link in the right hand corner of the page you can see me with Mommy & Daddy. They wrote up a nice story about how much they liked having Lauren & Dionne's help when I came.

I'm so excited to be on a 'real' website. This blog is cool, but it's not searchable in Google or anything. Mommy says that I'll have to be much older before I can have my own 'real' website. I wonder how long I'll have to wait!

3 weeks & Eating Out on the Town

I got to go to dinner at a restaurant with Mommy and Daddy last night! It was really fun! I got to see Grandpa Carl, Uncle Denny, Marshall and cousin Sean in addition Aunt Mary, Chris, G-ma Katy and Sean's girlfriend Amanda. We went to a steakhouse. We even saw Jimmy & Angie, Mommy's cousins. This was the first time that Mommy fed me in a 'public' place. That was a little bit of a challenge but it worked out. Mommy got to use her new "Hooter Hider." (see website) I think that Mommy struggled because we were seated at a table for 8 with 10 people and it was a very dimly lit restaurant. But, I ate enough so that everyone could hold me. A lot of people Mommy didn't know thought I was cute.

On Thursday, Mommy's friend Erin came again to visit me. She helped Mommy give me a sponge bath. This one went a lot better than the first one. On Friday I went to visit Grandma Katy.

I got another package in the mail! I got another outfit to wear when I'm bigger. It was from more of Mommy's distant relatives John & Colleen. I also got a gift from Amanda's family. Thank you to both!

Big News -- Most of my umbilical cord fell off yesterday!



Myles enjoys his tummy time!!

Mom's Note
Myles is doing well, although we've had a couple stints of colic. One on Friday lasted about 3+ hours. The good news is that he is sleeping for longer periods of time...especially at night! He doesn't seem to like to hit the hay until after midnight. However, that could be a Tony trait, since he worked 2nd shift for a LONG time.

I'm starting to adjust to less sleep, since I've gone a day or two with out naps during the day. Could have to do with the fact that I'm getting over 2 hours of sleep at a time a little bit more frequently.

Gotta run, he's hungry again!!

Christening the Ped's office...

This week is going very fast! Since Daddy is back at work, Mommy has had visitors to play with me so Mommy can take naps. Grandma Katy and Aunt JohAnna were over on Monday! Dionne came to visit me on Tuesday morning...she cleaned my belly button for Mommy. Hopefully my cord stump will fall off soon so I can have a real bath!

Mommy got announcements made about me and hopefully will be getting them to people soon. It's hard for Mommy to do a lot because she is tired and tries to sleep when I take naps. Unfortunately, I tend to take good naps during the day and like to stay awake at night. I guess I take after Daddy, he is a night owl.

Today Mommy took me to the Pediatrician's office for my two week visit. The weather seems to be really yucky when we go there. I guess there is some ritual that I can't have on my clothes when I'm there. So Mommy was taking off my diaper because I want #1 and #2. While she was cleaning me with the COLD wipey things...I couldn't help it and went #1! Mommy was trying to direct the spray, but it went all over me. At least it was warm! Unlike the wipey things. So Mommy tried to have the wipe absorb the liquid and I would just pause it. Then when she took it away I'd start back up again. This happened about 3-4 times before Mommy gave up and just let it go...all over my socks. There was a big wet spot on the table. The nurse lady said that patients like me do this all the time. Since it was my first time, I thought I'd share it with you.

Mommy was pretty embarrassed, but finally got me cleaned up so that I could get weighed and measured.

Here are my 18 day measurements:
Height: 20.5 in - 50th percentile
Weight: 9 lb 6 oz - 50th percentile
Head Circumference: 15 in - 40th percentile

Mommy was pretty close with her weight estimate of 10 lbs. Not quite there yet, but I guess my clothes and diaper weigh more than I thought. Dr. Kaye said that I am doing really good and that I don't have to come back until I'm 2 months old!

I also got a Hepatitis shot today. I cried a little, and so did Mommy. Although, Mommy is nervous because I have to get more shots next time. Maybe Daddy be with me for those.

When Mommy & I came home from Dr. Kay's office we had to stop in the icy driveway because the garbage can was blocking the entrance! Mommy went to get out of the car to move it and the car started sliding down the driveway!! So, Mommy quickly got back in the car and the car stopped eventually. After Mommy moved the can, she tried to pull into the garage...that didn't work. The wheels on the car just kept spinning. So Mommy had to back out of the driveway and make a running start! We got in on the 3rd try.

Mom's Note:
Myles is doing really well! He is sleeping now, so I'm going to go take a nap. We seem to be up from 11-2/3 am each night. Maybe it's because it's been cloudy, he can't tell that it's daytime! Thanks for all of the well wishes, and hopefully we'll see you all soon!

2 weeks and counting!

Well, I can't believe it's been another week! The days seem to go by so quickly. It doesn't help much that I sleep most of the time though.

Yesterday we had a lot of visitors. First off, Grandma Katy stopped by so that Mommy could give her a little photo album of when I was born. Mommy had one printed for her and Grandma Karen too.

After Mmommy and I took a nap, I got to meet Barbara! She brought Mommy & Daddy some poppy seed chicken bake and chocolate chip cookie for dessert! Mommy said it was really good and wants the recipe!

Grandma Karen stopped by for a little bit yesterday too. She can't go very long without holding me. Which is OK because I like it when people hold me. Grandma Karen got her photo album too, but then she had to go catch up with Grandpa Ed.

Today Mommy weighed me on the Nintendo Wii. Mommy has this game called Wii Fit Plus. It has a thingy she stands on and it can weigh us. Mommy couldn't believe that I weigh almost 10 lbs! Just to be sure Mommy weighed us again on the bathroom scale. Same thing.

Mommy is going to move me up to the size 1 diapers. I can still wear the newborn ones, but they are kind of tight on my legs. I can't fit into any newborn onsies that Mommy & Daddy have. I've been wearing size 0-3 stuff. They are a little big, but Daddy likes that, it makes it easier to change my diapers.

Next week will be a big week. Daddy goes back to work during the day. I will miss him a lot. Mommy says that if the snow melts and it's not slippery we might go for walks in the stroller. That sounds like fun to me, I like to be on the move.

TTYL
Myles

A day of firsts...

Monday was a pretty boring day. But, yesterday Grandpa Ed came and dropped off a rocking chair that was Great Grandpa Westfall's. Grandma Karen & Grandpa Ed recovered it. Mommy and I like to rock in it. Mommy took my picture in it with some of my furry friends.

Later on we left home for a while! We went to Target. Mommy and Daddy bought some items that they need to take care of me. I got to ride in the stroller for the second time. First time was when we went to Mommy's Dr's office to get her staples out.

After we went to Target, we stopped by Mommy's work. I was immediately surrounded by women. Yeah, I'm a chick magnet. Rosemarie got me out of my car seat and held me first. Then Linda got to hold me for a while before I got passed to Sharon and then Kathy W. Then I got passed to Sandy, Emily and Sue! See I told you I was surrounded! Don, Kathy S. and Randy all stopped to see me too. Robin was there, but she was afraid to hold me...I'll have to see what I can do about that for next time.

We then stopped at Grandma Katy's for a while so I could eat and my cousin Molly was there too.

Today I got two packages in the mail! One was from Judy, one of Mommy's co-workers. She sent me an Illinois hooded sweatshirt. It has chief Illiniwek on it. I also got a stuffed puppy dog who's heart can be warmed in the microwave from John and Noureen! Thanks also to Sharon for the outfits that say "I love my Mommy and Daddy" on them.

Today I discovered how to suck on my thumb. We'll see if I do it again sooner than later. It might have been a one time thing. Sure beats sucking on the silicone thingies Mommy and Daddy stick in my mouth every once and a while.

All this writing makes me hungry, Mommy is going to feed me now. Bye!

And now the rest of the story...

Ok, to bring you up to speed. Mommy has just been admitted to the hospital, it's about 3 pm on New Year's Day. Daddy called the Grandma's to let them know we were here.

My head was getting squeezed pretty regularly now, and Dionne suggested to mommy that we go for a walk in a special hallway. When mommy would have a contraction she would stop and grab the hand rails and squat breathing deeply while it was happening. Dionne said when she did this that it would help me to make more progress. We walked up and down, up and down.

Mommy's stats from Lauren's notes:
2:15 pm – 4 cm
80% effaced
0 station

4:30 pm - 5 cm
90% effaced
-1 station / 0 station
walking back hall; squatting through contractions; still laughing

At around 5:30 daddy went down to the atrium to have some dinner. Dionne and Lauren when too, after daddy got back. Mommy was sitting on the 'birth ball.' Which is really just a regular exercise ball, it just happens to be in the labor and delivery part of the hospital. Mommy really liked to sit on it, and it helped her to relax during the squeezing parts.

6:30 pm - 6 cm
100% effaced
-1 station
birth ball; walking hallway

Mommy is making good progress according to Dionne, Lauren and the nurses. Laura is still a little concerned that I'm at a high position. Everyone is joking about how I could be a New Year's Day baby. Discussions start about mommy moving to the birth tub. Mommy had been talking about having me in the tub and she is excited to try it. Dionne suggests that mommy wait until she is at least 7 cm before moving to the tub.

7:10 pm - 7 cm
100% effaced
0 station
lots of discomfort now; tub being filled; cool rag

8:00 – 9:40 pm TUB
while in tub:
7-8 cm
100% effaced
0 station
found her rhythm in tub; squatting; laying; positioning seems to comfort her through contractions; cool rag; pouring water

After making good progress Mommy gets in the tub. The water feels good and the squeezing is getting harder. Mommy is wanting me to come out soon, and after about two hours in the tub everyone feels like nothing has progressed. So Mommy gets out and decides to do more walking and squatting.

Mommy says to Dionne, Laura and Daddy in the hallway that she thinks her body is tightening up with every contraction. I think that mommy could tell that something wasn't going right. She kept telling me that it's OK to come down, and how everyone wants to meet me. Unfortunately, my head was just too big!

At about midnight Mommy got a drug called Nubain, it would help her rest and hopefully allow for more dilation. Mommy was very tired at this time, she'd been laboring with me for over 19 hours now. Everyone was talking about the next steps, an epidural and possible c-section. Mommy wasn't excited about those possibilities, but she was very brave when her and Daddy decided to get the epidural and pitocin at 1:30 am.

Daddy says that mommy isn't allowed to have narcotics again. He said she was not very functional while on the Nubain. The epidural took a while to administer because the anesthesiologist needed to numb a larger area on mommy's back. Once it was in and the drip started, mommy took a nap. With the exception of the blood pressure machine checking her every 10 min. With the epidural mommy dilates more but my head is not moving.

At 5:30 am Laura comes in and discusses having a c-section. This really gets mommy nervous because she wanted to avoid this at all costs. Daddy, Dionne and Laura reassure mommy that she has tried everything she can to have me...and tell her that she has worked really hard to get this far. Mommy is crying a lot now, and is scared of the operation.

Once mommy agrees to have the section at 5:30 am things start happening very quickly. Dr. Nona is contacted and will be at the hospital at 6 am. More of the epidural medicine is given to Mommy. Mommy had to sign papers and needed Laura's help in reading them. Then the nurse gave Mommy the nastiest thing ever. An antacid to prep for surgery. Mommy couldn't even have one chip of ice to clean out her mouth. Mommy had a sinus cold when she came to the hospital, and now that she is crying her nose is very stuffed up.

At about 6 am Mommy, Daddy and Dionne head down to the operating room at the other end of the hallway. The nurse warned Mommy of a little bump between the room and hallway. Well, to mommy it was more than a bump, mommy said "that is more like driving over railroad tracks!"

Mommy had a towel over her eyes, because she didn't want to see anything until I came out. All of the sudden Dr. Nona asked mommy, "can you feel this?" Mommy said no, and then it began. To Mommy it seemed like it took forever, but I was out in about 10 minutes! I was screaming right away because it was cold! Dr. Weaver (pediatrician) checked me over and then took me over to Mommy and she kissed my head. We were crying together for a little bit.

Then I went with Daddy to the nursery. They weighed me and put some black stuff on my feet and pressed them on a piece of paper. Mommy got moved into recovery at about ten after seven. Daddy and I met up with her there, and I was hungry. I had been sucking on my hands for a while already. I ate with mommy in the recovery room for about an hour. The nurse said that I was a good eater. Daddy was getting our room settled and Dionne and Lauren were waiting with us in recovery until Daddy was done calling the Grandma's. Dionne and Lauren went home to rest around 9:30 am. Mommy moved to the room around then too. After eating, I was pretty tired, so I took a nice long nap.

Unfortunately, naps weren't meant to be for Mommy & Daddy. Grandma Karen was my first visitor at about 10:15 am, followed by Grandma Katy and Grandpa Carl at about 11:30. Daddy went home to eat something and rest after Grandma Katy came.

The rest of our hospital stay went pretty good. Mommy had great nurses taking care of her and the nursery nurses were very nice to me when I was there too. Mommy's best friend Erin stayed with us on the last night (Mon. Jan 4) so Daddy could get a good night's sleep in his bed before taking us home the next day. I like being at home much better than being at the hospital!

So that is the story of how I came in to this world. I hope you enjoyed it. Mommy is very happy that everything went the way it did, because she got what she wanted...ME!

XOXO
Myles

My 1 week b-day highlights

My one week birthday was highlighted by lots of visitors!

In the afternoon my cousin Hailey stopped by with Uncle Marshall and Aunt Mary. Hailey is a lot bigger than me, she has a pink snow suit, I wonder what color my snow suit will be someday. I slept on Uncle Marshall almost the whole time they were here. Uncle Marshall said I'm a pretty 'little bug.' Since Hailey is a bug too, I will accept the title...for a while.

Grandpa Ed and Grandma Karen brought over meatballs with mashed potatoes and corn for dinner for mommy and daddy. They also brought my cousin Grace with them. She really likes me, I was almost smiling at her when she was holding me. I can't wait to play with her when I'm bigger.

Grandma Karen brought over a huge photo album that has pictures of daddy when he was my size. I guess I'm a mirror image. Mommy plans to post some of the pictures soon, so keep checking my photo album on photobucket: click here. Email mommy if you need the password.

After dinner Uncle Mike, Aunt Lisa and cousins Amber and Natalie stopped by! I must be pretty special to have all of these visitors. Amber and Natalie thought I was cute; they kept playing with my hair. I like it though. Uncle Mike was pretending he was Donald Duck. I got some clothes with footballs and cars on them! I will so make mommy put me in them when I'm big enough.

Oh my goodness, I almost forgot to tell you, I got a package in the MAIL yesterday! It was from what mommy calls our 'shirt tail' relatives Mickey, Tracy, Regina and Brian who live in Minnesota. I don't' really know what that means, but that's OK, it sounds like family to me. They got me a really cool looking pair of overalls. I can't wait to wear them when I'm bigger. I don't know where Minnesota is but it seems like a cool place. Maybe mommy and daddy will take me there someday.

In addition to the clothes, our family has got a lot of cards in the mail to say welcome to me. This is very nice, because I've heard mommy talking to a lot of these people before, and recognized some of their names when she read me the cards! Thanks to the following: Randy & Diane, Tony & Chris, Tante Rosemary & Great Uncle Joe, Dorothy, and the nurses and staff at Bromenn Hospital. Mommy also got a gift certificate from Moira in California!

Mom's Note:
Thanks to everyone for the well wishes and congratulations! Myles is such a joy.

We also had a special phone call when Myles was sleeping from our cousins in Germany. They were very excited to hear about Myles and will share more details about him with other Great, Great Aunts and Uncles, and cousins in Germany.

We didn't get his bath in yesterday, there was just too much going on. I hope to tackle that today. Along with some laundry, we've gone through a number of clothes this week, some out of necessity and some because that's another photo opportunity right?

Mom's word...

An uneventful Friday really, well productive I think.

Had an AWESOME night of sleeping, and hope to have the same tonight. Maybe 6-7 hours total. I took a good 2 hr nap in the afternoon too. Got the house organized a little more and Sean came over with Grandpa Carl and Rick to move the couch back into the living room so when we have visitors, we can all sit together.

Grandma Karen came over for a visit, and caught Myles awake and got to chat with him for about a half an hour.

I need to get a better system down for changing diapers, he peed himself 2 times today. The worst part is that I almost didn't notice the first time. Doh! Oh, well, an excuse to take more photos!

Hope to continue Myles' story of coming to the world tomorrow. It's nice to tell the story...I'm surprised at how much I'm forgetting or maybe not wanting to remember? :)

I think we might celebrate his one week by giving him a sponge bath. His hair could use a good washing I think. Who knows where the pee went both times...

Happy 1 Week B-Day Eve to Me

Wow! I can't believe it, I'm almost one week old! It seems like I've been around forever. After getting to know mom and dad on the outside, they seem like cool people. I think I'll keep them around.

Tomorrow will be my one week birthday. Not sure what kind of celebrations there will be, a party maybe? I've accomplished a lot in my first week of life really, let me tell you about it...

The warm water started to go down around 10:45 am on New Years Day, after mommy was up at 5 am having some crampy contractions. She was trying to time them, but they were not very regular and she was having trouble laying in bed and hitting the buttons on the computer at the right times. So she got up and ate my favorite breakfast, and then fell asleep in the rocking recliner until about 9:30 am.

I was pretty excited, because this was it. No more scrunched feeling in mommy's tummy. Mommy called Dionne who is a very nice lady that helped coach and reassure mommy and daddy during my coming out party. Unfortunately, Dionne didn't answer her phone right away. But mommy didn't panic, she just decided to get ready to go to the hospital.

After mommy finished baking Grandma Katy's sugar cookies, she took a shower and then tried Dionne again, no answer. So she called Laura, the lady who's been poking me in the head for the last few weeks. She called back 10 min later and said we should go to the hospital and get checked. I distinctly remember mommy saying to Laura when she asked how soon we could be at the hospital "well, it will be at least 20 min, I have to blow dry my hair first." Yea, that's what I thought too. Hello, MOM I'm trying to be born, could you speed it up a little?

So, we all get to the hospital and walk right up to the labor and delivery desk. It's about 1:15 pm. They are waiting for us. We go and mommy gets her gown on and they check the water that is slowly coming out still. The ph test said that it was amniotic fluid, so we get admitted.

Right after the admission decision came, mommy's phone rang! It was Dionne, she discovered that her phone was on silent by accident and would be over right away. Dionne would also alert Lauren who also helped mommy and daddy. Dionne and Lauren arrived within minutes of each other.

to be continued...