Two Weeks Old!

Check out our big two-weeker! He's had an "exciting" couple weeks. He's now eating and "sleeping" in 2 1/2 - 3 hour chunks of time. He had his first sponge bath, outing (to Babies 'R Us of course), and stroller walk. He also had his circumcision completed, which didn't go completely smoothly, but is now healing nicely. He's had lots of visitors including his "Aunt" Emily, his Nanas & Papas, his Aunties and Uncle Grant, Jenny (Connor's mommy), and our favorite neighbors Tracy, Ryan, Steph, & Scott.

He now weighs 10 lbs., 11 oz....up 4 oz. from his birth weight and 12 oz. in one week. He has also grown 2 1/2 inches and is now 22 1/2 inches long. We still try to squeeze him into all his cute newborn sized clothes and diapers, but they are quickly beginning to look like muscle shirts and speedo swim suits. He's also found his lungs! While he still makes cute squeaky noises, he will now let us know when he's really mad! He smiles a lot in his sleep (which melts our hearts), and we can't wait to see more "awake" smiles in the coming months. Most importantly, we still think he's adorable and love him to pieces!

Colin is Here!

Friday, May 28th was the big day! We left the house at about 10:30 a.m. and arrived at Scripps La Jolla about ten minutes early for our 12:00 p.m. check-in time. Colin's delivery was scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

My labor nurse, Leah, was great. She hooked me up to the monitors, started my IV, and prepped me for surgery. Our families arrived at about 12:30 p.m., and we visited until I was taken back to the operating room a few minutes after 2:00 p.m.

The surgery was fairly routine. There were no concerns, but the doctors and nurses were shocked at how much fluid I had. Due to my gestational diabetes, I was warned my fluid levels were double the normal level. Colin was born at 2:42 p.m. As they were pulling Colin out, they kept commenting how HUGE he was! My OB was very happy that we decided to have a c-section. At the time, they guessed his weight to be in the mid-nine pound range. Kevin moved over to the side of the room to see him as they were cleaning him up. He came back over to me several times and kept telling me over and over how beautiful he was! Kevin was very emotional, as was I. After he was all cleaned up, they placed him on my chest for a minute or so. This is our first official family photo!

The nurse then took Colin to the well baby nursery, so they could check him out. Along the way, they were greeted by our anxious and happy family. The nurse was wonderful and took this picture for us.

Kevin was able to stay with Colin in the well baby nursery while he was checked out. His apgar scores were a 8 and 9. While he was there, he was weighed and measured. The doctors were right....He was a big baby! He weighed 10 lbs., 7 oz. and was 20 inches long.

During his check, they noticed that Colin's respiratory rate was a little high. I was able to see him briefly in the labor/ delivery room (where I was prepped for surgery) before he went back to the nursery to be monitored for an extra hour or so. After I was moved to my recovery "suite" (my corner room was really big!), they brought Colin back to me for his first feeding. After feeding, his respiratory rate started to go down. The nurse was pleased with his progress, and she decided to leave him with me and they would monitor him from our room. At this point, I was still feeling great...although a little groggy. All the family came up to the room to meet Colin. A few hours later, my pain level became more and more unbearable. Because I had previously had guillan barre, the anesthesiologist didn't want to give me the morphine block in the operating room that they normally give patients. The alternative pain medicine wasn't working and I had to beg for something different. Later that evening, they finally got permission to change out my pain medication, which took the edge off and caused me to sleep through most of the night. I vaguely remember Kevin and the night nurse helping Colin feed from me. Luckily, I felt like a brand new person the next morning and needed minimal medication from that point forward. The below picture was taken in my recovery room before I started feeling poorly.

The next day, the family came back to the hospital and we celebrated some more. We ate some cake, compliments of my mom, to celebrate Colin's "birth" day.

We stayed at the hospital a total of four nights. The second night was a little scary because Colin kept choking on the extra amniotic fluid he had in his lungs. (This is what caused his respiration rate to be high after birth.) Kevin and I were afraid to sleep, and the next morning we were a wreck. Luckily, Kevin's parents were around and let us take an afternoon nap, while they babysat for us in the hospital room. It was the greatest gift!!! (Not to mention, the Starbucks and pastries they brought us every morning- yum and yum!) The next two nights went wonderfully! Colin's lungs were cleared out and we were able to relax a bit. We started sleeping when he slept. He has always been a great eater and met all his benchmarks along the way. He did lose a little bit of weight, dipping into the 9 lb. range, but left the hospital a 10 pounder!

Colin is a beautiful baby, and Kevin and I feel so incredibly blessed! We are blown away by the unconditional and intense love we feel for this little guy! We are now back home and enjoying our family time. We feel like the luckiest people in the world that Colin James Whalen is our son!

Belly Pictures by Ashleigh

A couple years ago, Ash bought herself a fancy camera and with no professional training, she has become an awesome photographer. She offered to take some maternity pictures of me, and with two days to go before Colin's arrival, I decided, why the heck not!!! She hasn't touched up any of the below shots, and I'm already thrilled with the results. It was exhausting getting out there this morning, but so worth it. Thanks Ash!

Come and Knock On My Door

Nine months ago (Yes, you read that correctly!), Ash and Grant put an offer in on a short-sale home in our neighborhood ("short"-- ha, ha!). Last night, they learned the home FINALLY became theirs! This has been a HUGE roller-coaster ride, but they are now able to take a deep sigh of relief, and they are looking forward to moving in this weekend. The home is about a 1/2 mile from our house and while it needs a little TLC (mainly cleaning, paint, and new landscaping), it is going to be great for their family. Their current home is 1900 square feet and their new home is 3400 square feet. It has a great layout-- it's very similar to ours (maybe why I like it so much :)) with all living space on the main floor and a bonus room. guest room, and bathroom upstairs. It's going to be great for their family and it's going to look gorgeous in no time. We're so excited they are going to be neighbors! Congratulations Ash & Grant!!!

The Nursery is Finished!

So after weeks, and weeks, and weeks of waiting, Colin's dresser arrived last Friday and we have finally been able to finish putting together his room. I am so excited how it turned out! We still need to get some picture frames and misc knick knacks, but overall, it's now ready for his arrival...and not a moment too soon! Special thanks to Ash & Lys for their help in not only painting his pictures and designing his letters, but also helping us hang everything up. They are great aunties!!! Also, a special thanks to my mom for making the drapes.

Crazy Week

It's been a crazy, crazy week! After my May 10th doctor's appointment, I was sent to the hospital for a non-stress test. Everything checked out fine, but the nurse at the hospital told me my 19 week anatomy scan indicated that I had polyhydramnios, or extra amniotic fluid. I was never told this, so after researching this online (which is always scary), I asked my doctor about it. He said that my fluid levels were just above the normal range, so he wasn't worried. He said if I was concerned, I could go get another ultra sound done to make sure everything was ok. (This is now 18 weeks later!)

Kevin and I decided to go down to UCSD on Tuesday, May 18th and have an ultrasound done just to be on the safe side....And we are so glad we did! My fluid levels are now double what they are supposed to be and Colin was measuring 9lbs, 4 oz. WOW! The perintologist believed I had developed late-term gestational diabetes. My glucose test the next day, confirmed this. With my new diagnosis and my high "walking" blood pressure (it's prefect when I lay down), I have now been to the hospital for blood tests and non-stress tests four different times in the past week and a half. I was told there was very little I could do for the gestational diabetes at this point, but I should cut out all sugars and cut way down on my carbs...a lot easier said than done.

During this whole ordeal, my doctor was actually out of town. I was able to talk to him on his cell and his associate took good care of me. Regardless, we were very anxious for my appointment this last Monday, May 24th to find out what was going to happen next. We were told that babies with gestational diabetes tend to have slower lung development, so it is important they are not delivered too early. On the other hand, they also have a higher rate of still birth, which is very scary! There's also the issue of his size to consider. Keeping all this in mind, my doctor recommended I deliver Colin via c-section this Friday, May 28. He's afraid that Colin is at a high risk for shoulder dystocia--he's too big to slide easily through the pelvis, which could result in a broken shoulder, collar bone, nerve damage, etc. While a c-section isn't ideal, Kevin and I just want him to be here and be healthy, so whatever that entails, I am ok with.

So, to sum it all up, it looks like Colin's birthday will be May 28th!!! We're so excited!!!

Baby Avery

A few weeks ago, Kevin, Alyssa and I hosted a BBQ for Ash, Grant, and Carter to help welcome the future addition to their family-- Baby Avery! Baby Avery is due mid-July, but with Ash's pregnancy complications with Carter (now 2.5 years old) and his pre-term birth (33 weeks), we decided to throw them a little party early just in case. Luckily, Ash is showing no signs of pre-eclampsia. This pregnancy has been very different from her last. We are thrilled for Ash, Grant, and Carter, and so excited that baby Colin is going to have a cousin his same age! So fun!

Carter is going to be a BIG brother!

Grant and Ash