Like a waterfall in slow motion, Part One
3 years ago
Monday, July 16, 2007
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Baptism by Barf
So it's official...I'm a real-life mom. While nursing Evie at 5am this morning, she indicated that she had a bubble and needed some assistance to burp it up. So, I propped her up and gave her a gentle tap on her back. She proceeded to barf up all the milk she had consumed. All of it. All over me. All over her. All over the sheets. Everwhere. I was amazed at both the volume as well as the power such a dainty person could produce.
Bryan was still unconscious, so he was unphased until I woke him up to hold her while I mopped up the lake in which I was sitting. The bed has since been stripped and the sheets are being washed.
I know that this is only the first of thousands of such experiences, and I assure you that I won't write about all her bodily functions. However, I thought I'd share my first one, since I've been baptised into motherhood by barf.
Oh and in other news, she has a new trick. She can roll up onto her side, and she has figured out how to shimmy on her back like a sidewinder. If I lay her in the middle of the bed on her back while I'm getting situated to nurse her, I can count on the fact that she will find her way over to me and will be on her side, or tummy. Very scary. The same is true nomatter where she is laid. She has been laid on her back in her bassinet, fully swaddled, and five minutes later, we'll find her, completely unswaddled, laying on her side. We have found one blanket that she can't bust out of, and Bryan has figured out that she can only roll over with the use of her legs, so she'll be in baby lock-down now whenever she is put down to sleep.
Bryan was still unconscious, so he was unphased until I woke him up to hold her while I mopped up the lake in which I was sitting. The bed has since been stripped and the sheets are being washed.
I know that this is only the first of thousands of such experiences, and I assure you that I won't write about all her bodily functions. However, I thought I'd share my first one, since I've been baptised into motherhood by barf.
Oh and in other news, she has a new trick. She can roll up onto her side, and she has figured out how to shimmy on her back like a sidewinder. If I lay her in the middle of the bed on her back while I'm getting situated to nurse her, I can count on the fact that she will find her way over to me and will be on her side, or tummy. Very scary. The same is true nomatter where she is laid. She has been laid on her back in her bassinet, fully swaddled, and five minutes later, we'll find her, completely unswaddled, laying on her side. We have found one blanket that she can't bust out of, and Bryan has figured out that she can only roll over with the use of her legs, so she'll be in baby lock-down now whenever she is put down to sleep.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Update
I'm feeling better today, although still very sore. It's a major mistake to go off one's pain medications early after a C-section, regardless of how good you think you feel; it takes much longer to get caught back up.
The weepiness and neurosis seems to be calming down a bit...hopefully with each day things will start to regulate.
Evie is doing just great, and we are constantly amazed that she is ours. Her schedule is a little off, and she spent all day yesterday asleep, which meant of course, all night was party time....much to mom and dad's chagrin. The whole sleeping 3 hours on, 1 off thing was apparently a tease. :-)
The weepiness and neurosis seems to be calming down a bit...hopefully with each day things will start to regulate.
Evie is doing just great, and we are constantly amazed that she is ours. Her schedule is a little off, and she spent all day yesterday asleep, which meant of course, all night was party time....much to mom and dad's chagrin. The whole sleeping 3 hours on, 1 off thing was apparently a tease. :-)
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Just a little bit crazy...
So I guess I've officially entered motherhood. My milk arrived Friday morning, and Friday afternoon, my mind took its leave. I had heard about the "baby blues," I had read about post-partum depression when I was waiting for the arrival of my little girl. I watched Brooke Shields talk to Oprah about her troubles, and read excerpts from her book. I told Bryan, "if you see me getting dark, don't be afraid to say something in fear of offending me (which you probably will) I don't want to be one of those women who drive my car into the lake."
I have no intention or interest in lake driving, but I think I might be just a little bit crazy.
I experience flashes of horrible images as I make my way through the day. For example, on Friday when we were driving, searching for a cafe in which to eat lunch, I made Bryan keep driving past a particular location because there was no parking available on the cafe side of the street. As I imagined us carrying Evie across the street, I was suddenly gripped with fear, worried that we would be hit by a car, the only fatality being our baby. Thankfully, he assuaged my anguish by finding another restaurant- one with a parking lot.
I've also freaked out a few times at night, when she's slept a little longer than expected, certain she's stopped breathing while I was asleep.
I don't want to carry her down the stairs (I'm not allowed to yet anyway, what with the C-section and all,) but the thought scares me, as I'm sure I'll trip and drop her little body.
Now, I know intellectually that the possibility of anything happening is very low, and rationally, I am not that worried. 23.5 hours of the day, I;m perfectly fine. But every once in a while, I get a weird thought or fear, and with the raging hormones, it's enough to make me freak out just a little bit.
Friday night, the tears came, for no particular reason. I was sitting there, feeding Evie, watching Monster's Inc. on T.V., when I was gripped with overwhelming sadness. I looked at Evie and I just started sobbing. Bryan came in to find me blubbering like an idiot. He rubbed my back and told me it's okay to cry, even if I don't know why I'm doing it.
Friday was not an isolated incident. I have about 2 or three good cries a day currently. This is more than I've cried in the past 5 years, but what can I do?
I've talked to other moms, who laugh and tell me this is perfectly normal. "Welcome to motherhood," they tell me.
If I'm this bad now, how will I be when she's 16 and driving away from me? Ugh. I now know why moms always talk about how they wish they had a "pause" button. She's only a week old and already I'm sad about how big she is.
To add to the drama, today is my mom's birthday, so I'm even more emotional than I was yesterday. So if you call and hear me weeping, don't be alarmed...I'm just a new mommy.
I have no intention or interest in lake driving, but I think I might be just a little bit crazy.
I experience flashes of horrible images as I make my way through the day. For example, on Friday when we were driving, searching for a cafe in which to eat lunch, I made Bryan keep driving past a particular location because there was no parking available on the cafe side of the street. As I imagined us carrying Evie across the street, I was suddenly gripped with fear, worried that we would be hit by a car, the only fatality being our baby. Thankfully, he assuaged my anguish by finding another restaurant- one with a parking lot.
I've also freaked out a few times at night, when she's slept a little longer than expected, certain she's stopped breathing while I was asleep.
I don't want to carry her down the stairs (I'm not allowed to yet anyway, what with the C-section and all,) but the thought scares me, as I'm sure I'll trip and drop her little body.
Now, I know intellectually that the possibility of anything happening is very low, and rationally, I am not that worried. 23.5 hours of the day, I;m perfectly fine. But every once in a while, I get a weird thought or fear, and with the raging hormones, it's enough to make me freak out just a little bit.
Friday night, the tears came, for no particular reason. I was sitting there, feeding Evie, watching Monster's Inc. on T.V., when I was gripped with overwhelming sadness. I looked at Evie and I just started sobbing. Bryan came in to find me blubbering like an idiot. He rubbed my back and told me it's okay to cry, even if I don't know why I'm doing it.
Friday was not an isolated incident. I have about 2 or three good cries a day currently. This is more than I've cried in the past 5 years, but what can I do?
I've talked to other moms, who laugh and tell me this is perfectly normal. "Welcome to motherhood," they tell me.
If I'm this bad now, how will I be when she's 16 and driving away from me? Ugh. I now know why moms always talk about how they wish they had a "pause" button. She's only a week old and already I'm sad about how big she is.
To add to the drama, today is my mom's birthday, so I'm even more emotional than I was yesterday. So if you call and hear me weeping, don't be alarmed...I'm just a new mommy.
Friday, July 06, 2007
5 Days Old...
Evie had a big day today! She went out to lunch, she watched mom get a haircut, she went to Target, and she went to the doctor's office. She pretty much slept in mom or dad's arms most of the time. The doctor gave her a clean bill of health and said she's doing just great. She didn't mind him poking and prodding, and many comments were made at how "easy" she is. We agree, and hope that she will remain as wonderfully easy as she has been so far. We joke that her calm demeanor is due to good parenting. ;-) She's sleeping in about 3-hour intervals, and is awake usually for about an hour in between. She's eating pretty well, and hasn't lost any more weight (except the usual few ounces that are expected--she currently weighs 7lbs.)
She does have a little temper, and it seems she has the same amount of patience as mom...she's definately a pistol.
As for mom, my milk has finally arrived, thankfully. The Incision from the C-Section is healing well, and other than a little soreness, I'm feeling really, really good. Far better than I did when pregnant!
Surrogate grandparents Nancy and Mike left for home today, but we felt blessed to have their help the last few days.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Home at Last
The Scott Family is now home! With a new baby girl, a mommy who is recovering from surgery and two dogs, it's going to take us a few days to adjust. It will probably be a day or two before we're up for visits and phone calls, but feel free to send us emails. In the meantime, please enjoy some more photos from Evie's (pronounced E.V.) first days in the world. We'll try to update picts regularly.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Proud Mother and Father
updated by: Proud Father
Yes....it's true! "Baby Girl" Scott has finally arrived. Evelyn "Evie" Virginia arrived at 6:16 pm on Sunday July 01, 2007 weighing in at 7 lbs. 9 oz. and 19 3/4 in long. She is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen! She has cute little chubby checks and thin black hair (which shocked us both since Steph and I were bald until we were 12 months old). Mom and baby should be returning home on Wednesday July 04....what a celebration that will be!
I have attached a picture for all to see!
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Whew!
WE HAVE A BABY!
update from Aunt Jonna:
Steph and Bryan are the proud parents of Evelyn Virginia Scott, born approximately 6:30 p.m. on Sunday July 1st. She will be called Evie (pronounced E.V.) As far as vital stats go, all I have is that she is 7 lb, 9 oz.
The birthing process is one I'm sure Stephanie will not soon (if ever) be repeating. I had many phone calls throughout the day, so forgive me if I don't get the details in the right order, but here's what I remember: Stephanie was hooked up to Pitocin around 10:30 or so on Saturday morning. The day progressed very slowly. In fact, nothing really happened. Seems that baby Evie failed to read her eviction notice, or at least take it seriously. At about 10:30 that night, the doctor gave Steph and Bryan two options: up the Pitocin, break her water and push through the night, or stop the Pitocin, take a sleeping pill and start fresh in the morning. Stephanie, wise girl, chose the sleeping pill and got about 5 1/2 hours of sleep. They started again this morning. By late this afternoon there was very little change in dilation, (from a 3 (yesterday's number) to a 5). The decision was made to have a c-section and get on with life.
Both mother and baby came through great! Reports from the hospital are that Evie is gorgeous, has black hair, and looks a bit like Stephanie. I'm sure Bryan will be posting pictures very soon.
Can't wait to meet her!
update from Aunt Jonna:
Steph and Bryan are the proud parents of Evelyn Virginia Scott, born approximately 6:30 p.m. on Sunday July 1st. She will be called Evie (pronounced E.V.) As far as vital stats go, all I have is that she is 7 lb, 9 oz.
The birthing process is one I'm sure Stephanie will not soon (if ever) be repeating. I had many phone calls throughout the day, so forgive me if I don't get the details in the right order, but here's what I remember: Stephanie was hooked up to Pitocin around 10:30 or so on Saturday morning. The day progressed very slowly. In fact, nothing really happened. Seems that baby Evie failed to read her eviction notice, or at least take it seriously. At about 10:30 that night, the doctor gave Steph and Bryan two options: up the Pitocin, break her water and push through the night, or stop the Pitocin, take a sleeping pill and start fresh in the morning. Stephanie, wise girl, chose the sleeping pill and got about 5 1/2 hours of sleep. They started again this morning. By late this afternoon there was very little change in dilation, (from a 3 (yesterday's number) to a 5). The decision was made to have a c-section and get on with life.
Both mother and baby came through great! Reports from the hospital are that Evie is gorgeous, has black hair, and looks a bit like Stephanie. I'm sure Bryan will be posting pictures very soon.
Can't wait to meet her!
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