Hey Thursday...why couldn't you be more like Wednesday?

After a sporadic 4 hour night of sleep, I headed off to a 4 hour deposition for work that lasted 8 hours.  So, needless to say, I missed the day's events, but this is what I heard:

Gigi (that's Annie's mom) came over to help Annie while I was out.  Our friend Jodi came over around 10:30AM with her 2 year old sack of potatoes named Brady (he's really cute, but he is a sack of potatoes :) ).  Brady really enjoyed the "Future Hokie" rocker, which he fondly referred to as the chicken chair.  Grandmommy & Grandpa (my parents) came over around 4, and they helped out by making dinner and looking after Maggie (aside from the nursing of course) while Annie got some much needed rest after the night we had. 

We also used the changing table on the new playyard, which is super cool & versatile.

Grandpa & Grandmommy with Mag-pie (under the blanket)

Another shot of Grandmommy & Grandpa with Maggie, now visible :)  Somehow they were able to get Maggie to sleep for more than 3 hours!  Must be the magic touch.

Bath Day & Evening Visitors

Wednesday was a good day...the night wasn't so hot, but the day was good.  The home health group came in the morning, and by the afternoon, the results were in: Maggie no longer needed to have the light therapy.  So, with that out of the way, we had a day of firsts:

Maggie's first bath at home

Maggie's first nap on the new bassinet/play yard

Maggie's first dress

Mag-pie's first non-family visitors: Thanks for dinner

Heather & Birch!

That afternoon, I received a call from work that I was needed for 4 hours on Thursday.  I wasn't too happy about it, but in this economy, I need to do what I'm asked.

The night proved to be less than fun.  We started off well with about 3 hours of sleep (Maggie in the bassinet, us in bed), but after the night feeding, Maggie didn't want to sleep. Finally, about two hours of different failed attempts to get her back to sleep resulted in Annie asleep with Maggie on her chest in the rocking chair, which I had pulled into the room.  I know it's all a part of the new baby, but that was probably one of the most exhausting nights we've experienced.

And now, a few poses for your enjoyment:

The prayer

The Thinker - She's ambidextrious :)

Turnaround Tuesday

The home health group made a visit to check on Maggie.  They drew blood for a new bilirubin test, and they weighed her.  Little Mag-pie gained an ounce, and later in the day, we were told that her lab results for the bilirubin count was down to 14, which is a good thing.  The home health group also instructed us to run the light therapy on her until midnight. 

Due to Maggie coming out of her jaundice-induced lethargy, our night wasn't stellar.  She was getting used to the bassinet & she was very, very hungry all night.  So, for a part of the night, she slept on me, and for the early morning she finally adjusted to the bassinet.  Annie was very happy to see this, and she was very happy to get more sleep. 

Monday Night Lights: Blue Light Special

I figured that I would start this post off with some photos of Maggie from yesterday...

We have discovered that Maggie likes sleeping with her arms above her head sometimes.

We found that a little water and a hairbrush makes a baby hairdo more fun!

And after going to her pediatrician, we found out that Maggie gained 7 ounces since Sunday, and her bilirubin count was higher than when she left the hospital.  Apparently, this partially explains the seemingly easy dozing off while nursing, since jaundice causes lethargy. 

The pediatrician called an infant home health group, and a nurse came by and dropped off a portable UV light for treating jaundice.  It simply slips up Maggie's back, with the light facing the skin.  It doesn't get hot, and she doesn't even know it's there. It also gives her a beautiful radioactive blue glow!  

We slept downstairs on the sofa, but we all got a good amount of sleep despite the blue light & noise from the machine:

This is a well-rested Mom and Mag-pie from this morning -

The home health group sent a nurse by this morning at around 10AM.  Mags had gained an ounce, and the nurse drew blood to see what Maggie's levels were like after a night of light therapy.  We should have results by 4 or so to see where she is in the bilirubin range.

First Night @ home & Adventures in Breastfeeding

Last night was our first night at home.  Maggie was doing fine for a while, but I think she realized that she was in a new place.  So, we lost a little sleep over it.  Between the diapers, the trial & error of different nursing positions(& Maggie falling asleep mid feeding), and the swaddled blankets coming undone, we only got about 4 hours of sleep.  Although, she did settle down enough in the morning for us all to get about 2 1/2 hours of continuous sleep.

Later in the morning, Annie tried a new method to keep the Mag-pie awake: naked baby feeding.  Despite my pleas to keep her diaper on, Annie tried nursing Maggie with no diaper on & only a cover on the bed.  It worked great! But, and a big BUT, Maggie did exactly what I had warned, and she pooped all over the cover!  So, from now on, the method will be used with at least the diaper on. 

I love it when I'm right, since it seldom happens. ;)    I also love being a Dad. :)

More Photos :)

The most beautiful way to begin the new year...

All I can say is "wow."  That's the closest I can come to describing the feeling I had when I witnessed our daughter being born into this world, but for those of you following our little web log who aren't direct family, there's just a bit to catch up on:

December 30, 2009 - Annie woke up at 2:30AM feeling slightly damp.  She thought that maybe she had just wet the bed.  Contractions started an hour or so later but did not progress.  In fact, they stopped when she would go to sleep.  Later in the day, after tracking the contractions for an hour, we called the doctor's office to see what they thought we should do.  We were advised to monitor from home for the day...oh yeah, and take some tylenol(what?)

December 31, 2009 - After my brother & sister-in-law had helped me complete the speaker wiring project in the new house, Chris & Jen went back to my parents' house, and Annie went shopping with her mom.  When she got back around 5:30PM, she had begun having contractions while she was walking around, and we decided to monitor them while getting ready to go to dinner with friends for New Years Eve.  But, instead of making the call @ 7:15 to Aubrey & Charlie saying that we were on our way, we had to tell them that our doctor had advised us to go to the hospital instead.  This is the beginnning of the best dream come true.

7:45 PM - We get to the hospital and are taken to our labor & delivery room.  It was confirmed that Annie's water had broken. 

9:00 PM - The doctor arrives and informs us that she will start Annie on pitocin, a labor inducing drug.  A short time later, Annie gets an epidural since her labor is now under the influence of the pitocin.

12AM - Happy New Year!  We watch the ball drop, and we wait....

1:00AM - Annie feels pressure in the base of her back-side.  We call the nurse, and she is 10cm!!  It's go time! 

Annie gave her all in the pushes.  Before I knew it, I could see a little bit of hair from our sweet girls's head!  And then, @ 1:59AM....

Our little Margaret Elizabeth was born! 

...& her Mom & Dad were happy to see her:

The parents were ecstatic too:

(Dad Lipp was on his way back from letting the dogs out.)

Since we delivered after midnight, we stayed from Friday through Sunday morning.  So, just to show a bit of the little Mag-pie after she was cleaned up, I have posted some pictures from the weekend.  Enjoy!  I know we are! :)