Almost exactly 24 hours ago at the moment I am typing this post, the newest member of our little family entered the world: Catheryn Ann Unger. Kate was born weighing 6 pounds, 14 ounces and is 21 inches long.
Jess and I were originally scheduled to be at the hospital at 7am for induction, but they called at 5:20am to tell us we were postponed until 11am. That gave both of us a chance to get a little more sleep and relax a little before the big day ahead. We arrived at the hospital at 11 and they began administering Pitocin around noon ( after some issues inserting an IV for Jess – let’s just say that she is apparently quite valvey?!). 2pm rolled around, Jess was only about 5cm dialated and 80% effaced, so they broke her water. Then began the long afternoon and evening of waiting. Epidural came around 6ish and at 8pm she was still only 5cm dilated. I was just banking on a long night ahead when Jess mentioned feeling like she really had to push ( this was around 8:30pm ). Nurse Angel checked and sure enough, Jess was 8-9cm dilated and Angel could feel the baby’s head. The doctor was paged, lights were turned on, the bed was rearranged, I may have peed a little, and the next thing I know Dr. Madion is telling Jess to push at the next contraction – by this time is about 8:55pm. 7 minutes and 3 big pushes later, Kate popped out and immediately began crying. And crying. And crying. Though our little darling is barely a day old, we have already determined 2 things: dirty diapers REALLY annoy her AND she holds a grudge. Last night, she held a grudge for about an hour or two just to let us know she was less than pleased to be in a cold, bright room. Since then, she holds grudges for about 5 minutes to let us know we didn’t properly warm our hands before touching her or the wipes are too cold.
Jess and Kate will be released tomorrow morning and I hope to post a handful of video and lots more pictures! Here is the first video, though it is raw and unedited:
It has been quite a while since my last post and quite a bit has happened since then. Will and I “remodeled” a closet for Jessica ( I use that term very loosely here ), we put a fresh coat of paint in the baby’s room, and completely repainted and spruced up Will’s room ( pictures on that to be forthcoming ). Will also got in some solid superhero time and generally provided good entertainment on otherwise snowy days.
The month was also spent preparing for the arrival of babySister. She was due to appear last Sunday ( 3/29 ), but has apparently decided to take her sweet time. So… Jessica and I are going to the hospital at 7am tomorrow morning to be induced ( Jess, not me ). It is definitely a different feeling this time around – having been through it once before, the feeling of the unknown is absent, though it is replaced with a little worry about Will and how he will process everything. But that is part of being a parent – making sure all the bases are covered and faking it if they aren’t!
I will update again in the next day or two, hopefully with some new and exciting pictures and movie clips!
If you haven’t yet heard, Jess is pregnant with our #2! The baby’s due date is March 29, 2009 – the first day of Spring Break! So while we won’t be enjoying the warm sunny beaches, we will be wrapped in the warmth of our new family. And to help keep the Spring Break feeling alive, we have affectionately nicknamed the baby “Lido,” as we usually go to Lido Key for Spring Break.
We have already had a few doctor appointments, but today was the big 20-week 3D ultrasound and little Lido was quite cooperative. After a few minutes of measuring and pointing out the heart, hands, and feet, the ultrasound technician told us we were having a girl! Jess and I are both very excited and will keep everyone updated…
Well, you don’t know what we can find
Why don’t you come with me little girl
On a magic carpet ride
You don’t know what we can see
Why don’t you tell your dreams to me
Fantasy will set you free
Close your eyes girl
Look inside girl
Let the sound take you away
I am not certain why, but the lyrics to Steppenwolf’s “Magic Carpet Ride” have been bouncing around inside my melon since we left the doctor’s office just less than 2 hours ago. You see, Jess had her cervix checked (the first time) and turns out that she is 90% effaced and 2-3cm dilated and that little Nemo’s in -1 Stage. In a nutshell, it all means that Nemo has begun inching his little way towards the light and her cervix is preparing for the delivery. It does not mean that I will wake up tomorrow morning a dad (though I just might start saying “who’s yer daddy” to anyone that will listen, including cars next to me at intersections) or possibly even by Sunday, but it does mean that Jess’ body is beginning to prepare itself for the events ahead. Which is exciting.
Which brings me back to “Magic Carpet Ride.” Though the song is generally accepted as one big, drug-induced, euphoric ride, I have always imagined it as an adventure to neverland (sans the ticking alligator), full of wonderment and possibility… and the unknown. Which is how I am feeling right now. Excited, anxious, and possibly needing a little bit of drug-induced euporia of my own. But I have absolutely no doubt that when I finally hear the sound of little Nemo’s voice, I will Let the sound take you away.
I will update again as we learn more. Until then, “Who’s yer daddy?”
Less than 3 weeks. Yup, that’s the timeline. Oh boy. Here we go! The due date is quickly approaching (Feb 15) and I think we are mostly ready. Or at least as ready as we’ll ever be. Which, when you think about it, how *ready* is that? Am I ready to be a dad? Am I ready to change diapers in the middle of the night, half asleep, and *not* make a mess? I don’t think anyone is ready for those kinds of things. I think they just happen and you roll with them. Hmmm… that was a bit deep and almost uncalled for at this hour. Maybe we can chalk it up to nervous jitters because we have less than 3 weeks. Oh boy. Here we go.
We have begun our weekly doctor appointments, which so far have been fairly mundane. Nemo is correctly positioned now (head down) and the heartbeat at last check (Tuesday morning) was thumping away at 156 beats per minute. That number still floors me – I am near death if my heart rate gets that high (note to self: need to get in better shape lest I be not-quite-*ready* to chase a little one around). The doctor has not begun the cervix checks, which I imagine was because I kept saying “check the cervix check the cervix check the cervix check the cervix” and he wanted to deprive me a bit. Just kidding. I don’t really want to see a cervix. Really. I don’t.
We had our “prepared maternity” meeting at the hospital tonight, which was basically just Jessica filling out a bunch of forms (she may have put me up for adoption in the process, not sure though) and then a quick tour of the facilities. It was over in about a half an hour and the person with whom we met didn’t even introduce herself to me. It has already begun. My sperm did their job (or rather one did it’s job) and now I am relegated to the sidelines, forced to chant things like “check the cervix” and “push it out, shove it out, waaaay out” (and maybe throw in a little kick at the end for effect). Either way, it’s doesn’t matter. I’m just the dad.
I will try to take some pictures of Jess in the next couple of days. Unfortuantely, as you can tell from these pictures, she has caught on to my sneaky ways and now prefers to hide out under a blanket whenever I approach with camera in hand and smile on face. Apparently, she is a bit more ready than I am in that category.
I will try to post more Nemo updates in the final weeks/days, so keep checking back.
