One Week Old

Oh, my little Norah is already a week old in these pictures. I just can't believe it. It seems like she just got here yesterday but has also been here even longer. She is just so sweet and precious, cuddly and beautiful! She is such an angel, hardly cries and when she does it is just squeeky. I have to get it on video! It's been a rough week as far as adjusting to this new little person in our lives goes but we will get there. If only I could stay awake to feed her at night. She is not latching or nursing right now so I am pumping and giving her a bottle. It still takes a good 30 min for her to suck down 1.5-2 ounces. I went and got faster flow nipples today. We have been to lactation twice and are working on the sucking. She just falls asleep so easily! She will go one 5 hour stretch at night and that has been nice. The pumping in the night isn't as nice but I know she really needs my milk at this point. I do get to nap during the day and I am certainly tired enough to sleep hard at night.

I am feeling good. I was a bit skeptical after I got home that I would feel this good this soon. I did the dishes today and did some light vacuuming. Nothing big. I was a bit beat after that. I have a new respect for any woman who has had a c-section and an even greater appreciation for those who have had to have more than one.

I have been so blessed to have my mom to take care of us. Colin has filled in where needed and there has certainly been a need. I am so lucky to have all my needs, as well as my families needs, taken care of. Thank you Mom! Thank you Colin!

Lastly, which is worse - the 2 year old without a nap at 5pm but who goes to bed at 7, or the 2 year old who has napped but won't stay in bed at 8pm?

More hospital pictures of Norah

Norah Jane Croshaw

She's Here and we're home

We made it home from the hospital today. It felt like a long time but 4 days was worth the stay. I ended up with a c-section and am doing okay. Norah is the best baby! She sleeps so much that it is hard to get her to wake to eat. We are working on it though and I suppose in a week or two we will have it down. It just takes practice. Norah weighed in at only 5lbs 14oz. My smallest baby by far. She is 18 1/2 inches. She only lost 6oz and has leveled out. We are just so happy to have her and she is just so sweet. She makes these cute little squeeky noises. It is so relaxing to hold her. She is pretty floppy. Her siblings really adore her, Mia especially. Here are a few pictures. I am really tired and need to head to bed.

11 Years Down

A day late, that's my motto! 11 years and one day ago I married my very best friend. Colin has made my life better than I could have ever hoped for. He understands me, puts up with me and still loves me after all these years. I often marvel at how two people stay in love after learning each other's quirks and short-comings. I have plenty, I know. Colin keeps me going when I am so ready to be done with my day or our kids or whatever. He's understanding of my weaknesses. He lets me "do my own thing" when I want to and doesn't complain about my hobbies, pancakes for dinner, a sink full of dishes or having to fix his own lunches for work. I am one lucky girl and I am thankful every day for Colin and all he does for me and our family. Thanks for all of it babe! The good and the bad have made us stronger and I love you!

Not too sad - or at all.

I think my last post sounded sad and I really am not. I am not even nervous. I am more nervous about not being able to eat 8 hours prior to surgery when surgery isn't until 1:30. I feel peaceful and content with what will happen and I know that if she is to turn she will. I have been on my hand and knees cleaning floors but she I feel like she is wedged in there to a certain extent. Seh is Frank Breech - Her head is right in between my ribs with her bum in my pelvis and her feet near her face. I know that we are doing what is best for the baby and I will be just fine. I suppose it is fear of the unknown, mostly. She could still turn, after all and I will have worried and fretted for nothing. I am just super excited to see this little one!

Not fun!

I went in this morning for the version. It was so very painful and Norah did not want to move AT ALL! So breech she will probably stay unless we have a miracle happen. I am bummed a bit that it will most likely end up in a c-section but that is life and I am just happy that my family will be here to take over for three weeks. I know I won't be 100% by then but I will be very close. Thank you everyone for all your thoughts and prayers for us. The c-section is scheduled for the 20th later in the day.

Little Miss Norah

Colin and I went to the doctor today to see about this baby girl. She's still breech. Go figure. I am scheduled to go in Thursday, January 13th, to see if she will turn and stay. If she does then I get to go home and wait for labor, or the 19th, to be induced. I am dilated 2cm. Not that that means anything, really. If she won't turn and stay I think he will go ahead and do a C/S. If, while he is trying to turn her, my water breaks or the placenta pulls away from the uterine wall I will have to have the C/S right away. I am pretty sure that is what he told me. I had it all straight while we were talking with him, Colin too, and now we have gone over it, trying to work out details and such, that I may have some of it wrong. Well, the only part I am not sure of is the details on if she won't stay turned that day. I will have them all worked out before he begins the ECV. The nurse did tell me that if I have a C/S he will do a little tuck so I don't get that little pooch. There is an up-side to everything, right? Well, here's to hoping for the best! Now I need to go make a list of the things to get done before Thursday.

Baby Update

I went to the doctor today. He confirmed what I thought, the baby is still breech. She's just found a comfortable position and is staying there. There is still the possibility that she will turn before next Monday's appointment. If not, since I will be 38 weeks on the 14th, he wants to go ahead with the ECV on the 13th. They obviously don't want to do it before then because if I go into labor or my water breaks then we risk having a premie. If we wait until the next week, the 20th, we risk the baby being too big and difficult to turn. So, we just need this little girl to turn before the 13th so she can stay in there one more week. Then, when Colin has time off and my parents are here, we can have a natural delivery like we have planned all along. That is my prayer anyway.

BREECH BABY

I went to the doctor today. They used the ultrasound to check and see if she is head down. He was sure baby was head down two weeks ago. Well, she is not, yet. That was my prediction. I haven't had the usual feet in my ribs yet. I know there are a few exercises I can try. Now that I will be going every week they will check with the ultrasound to see if she has turned. I have about 24 days to go. If she hasn't turned by then they will try an External Cepahlic Version. In other words, they will try and turn her from the outside. I watched a few You Tube videos and the women don't seem to be uncomfortable. I don't know the success rate. My doctor said the baby isn't that big, under 7 lbs, so it should work. They will then put me in labor. I suppose if at that time she doesn't turn they will do a C-section. Not high on the list of things I ever want to do. Just pray for us, please.

Sewing project links

Car Seat Canopy - I didn't round the edges like she did. I rounded the corners where I knew it could drag on the ground or floor.

Car Seat Flowers - I found two errors on this link. Read the directions and you will know what I am talking about. When you sew the half circles at the bottom she says to put the wrong-sides together then sew. It is actually the right sides together then sew. Also, for the bottom layer of petals there are actually 10. She said only 9. I didn't put mine on pins, I just used hair clips. Pins might be a better idea if you think they might get taken off of the straps or fall off. I might re-do that. Cole likes to play with them.

Nursing Cover - I made mine a few inches larger in both the length and width. I just like the extra coverage.

Each project was easy and only the flowers were a bit time consuming. I did do one in about an hour but I was watching TV too. There are just lots of little steps.

Have fun!