Baby's First Outing

Well, this is much in delay, but Jamey had his first outing last weekend. In the morning, we headed over to Target and Babies R Us for a few returns and purchases. Jamey slept right through.

But then, the bigger adventure came that evening. I had gotten a call from Monica and when I called her back, she invited us over for dinner. Although my initial instinct was that it would be so much for Jamey in one day, we decided, "Why not?" In addition, in the parking lot of the high school where I teach, there was a children's fair. Sure, Jamey would be oblivious to it, but the hope was that Monica and Chris' 18 month old (Christopher) would find some things to enjoy.

So we headed over to their place that evening, with Jamey asleep of course. He stayed in his carrier through the whole dinner. Perhaps the best part about the visit was when Christopher met Jamey for the first time. You may remember that I have mentioned Christopher before in my blog. He is the little boy who would put his hand on my belly and declare "Baby" when I was still pregnant. I was anxious to see how he would react when I didn't have my giant belly.

When we first came in, he was overwhelmed to see Glenn and I, and danced around. After about five minutes, he noticed this carrier sitting on the floor. Looking up at his dad, he squatted down and gasped. "What's that?" he asked, in his little Christopher voice. As quickly as possible, I whipped out the video camera. He was very good with the baby, though. He didn't dare touch him. He just squatted right in front of his character and stared at Jamey and then he would swivel his head to one of the adults with a big grin, as though he had made this amazing discovery. At various times throughout the dinner, he would remember that the baby was there, squeal and point at the carrier, screaming "Baby!" It was a cool site to see.

After dinner and a quick feeding, we went to the fair. As may be predicted, Jamey slept through the entire field trip. Nothing bothered his slumber-- not the lights, nor the sounds. It turned out that the rides were all too big for Christopher, but he seemed just as happy to point, stare, and oooh and ahhh them. He also played a game where you pull a duck out of the water and get a prize. He wanted to keep the duck more than the prize that he won, however. Monica also ended up winning them a hermit crab.

We had a very interesting interaction with an extremely well dressed carnie-boy. Glenn had pulled out the video camera to tape a sleeping Jamey in front of the ferris wheel. Just then an 8 year old came over and said, "May I look?" I said looking was fine. He stared, and as he started to talk, I began to wonder if he was somehow a 30 year old trapped in an 8 year old body. "How old is the little guy?" the boy asked. Other statements made by him, "I have two brothers and they are 6 and 7. Where do the babies go to, I tell you?" "Is he your first?" So now, for the rest of time, we will be wondering who this strange little boy on the video is. We noticed later that he was going around offering to help out the various game workers, which is what led us to realize that he must be one of the carnival people.

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Other James tidbits:
-His favorite place to sit is in his bouncing chair. He loves to sit and face looking out the glass door in the living room, taking in all the light that is outside there.
-Just like all other babies, he makes lots of little noises. In fact, when he is sleeping, and is stirring, he sounds a bit like a little chicken. He makes little peeps as he struggles to come out of his sleep. To accompany that, his little arms will flail around with the startle reflex and punch at whatever is around. I could watch it forever!

Speaking of Jamey, he seems to be stirring, so that is all for me at this point!

1 week old

It has been one week now, and in the last few days, Jamey has been more and more awake. He has been especially wide-eyed around 3 o'clock, giving me the opportunity to take photos.

Jamey loves to sit in his boppy when he is awake, facing out the window. The light fascinates him, and he can just stare for days. (As can Glenn and I-- the only difference being with stare at him!)


Here, a few more photos to enjoy!



-Jamey is a very good baby, as long as you keep him full. He is a big eater, and VERY strong. At times, the main reason, I can't nurse him is because he uses his arms to push me away. At the doctor's visit, he was on his belly, trying to wriggle away from her, and she said, "What are you trying to do? Are you trying to crawl? Yes, you are trying to crawl!"

One more funny story-- I had to go to the OB's office for a check-up on Wednesday, and as I walked in the receptionist gave me a knowing look. As I told her my name, she looked at the other woman and Receptionist 2 said, "told you". At this point, my curiousity is peeked. Receptionist 1 said, "Oh, there was a little rumor and we weren't sure if you had already delivered." She glanced down at my still swollen belly and said, "I can see now, you haven't."

I laughed and said, "Oh, I have. I used to be much bigger."

I didn't care. It was just a funny story!

The Birth Story

If you have been reading the blog or have been in contact with anyone who knows me, I am sure that you are aware that I have had the baby. Jess did a wonderful job of guest blogging for me, when the only access to the Internet that I had was a keyboard in the corner of my hospital room that plugged in somewhere I couldn't figure out.

Now with a week old little boy napping in his bouncer, I am finally getting the time to start this blog entry. No telling when I will finish it, as I hear his bird chirping right now, which usually is followed by a desire to eat.

In any case, although the facts are out there, I wanted to put out the story of James' birthday, if for nothing else than posterity and for him to read in the future.

When I last wrote, I was still desperately looking for ways to push myself closer to labor. A friend of ours told me that 2 out of the 3 of his children were born a day after his wife went to a grocery store here called Magruder's. Half as a joke, half because we had forgotten onion at the grocery store two days earlier, we went to Magruder's on Thursday. On top of that, when Glenn went out to frisbee, I pulled out the dance mat that goes with our imitation Dance Dance Revolution and did some easy dancing. Jamey and I were very good and I think I even danced better than I ever have when not pregnant! After 20 minutes, I was winded and sat down.

The next morning, I started to notice a little bit of wetness and began to think that perhaps my water sack had broken. I called the doctor and he told me to go into Fairfax Hospital and get it checked out, so off we went. Arriving at the hospital, I wasn't sure where to go, so instinctually we first went to the ER. When I told the woman my problem, she said, "And how far along are you?" I looked at her and said, "Today is my due date." Her eyes bulged and she directed me to labor and delivery. Once there, we were told that before they could do anything for us, we should go back downstairs and register!!! So back down we went, and on the way back up, I felt something that felt a little more like my water breaking, but still no knowing gush of water. Finally, in the triage, they hooked me up to the fetal monitors and determined via pH test, that I had indeed ruptured my water.

Now here is the strange thing.... at this point, I was still unsure as to whether this pressure I was feeling was contractions. I wasn't in a great amount of pain, per se. It just felt like a lot of pressure. So I turned to the nurse and shyly said, "This is a stupid question, but how can I tell if I have had any contractions?" She smiled and said, "Oh, you've had quite a number of contractions. " I said okay and continued lying there.

Once checked in, they put me on pitocin to get the contractions stronger and more regular. At that point, I was 3 cm dilated and 70% effaced. At first the pitocin wasn't bad. I calmly watched some Ellen on the tiny tv, and greeted Jess when she came in from work. But by 4 PM, the contractions were beginning to be unbearable. Frankly, more than the contractions, I was having back labor, and my back was killing me. All I wanted was for that pain to go away. Each time the nurse came in, she asked my level of pain, and each time, when it didn't seem to be enough, she raised the level of pitocin. "I'm really sorry to say this, and it will sound terrible, but I was hoping by this point, you would be in a little more pain."

This sounds sadistic for her to say, but let me say that she was an AMAZING nurse, named Kate, and she was so friendly. Seeing her work made me want to advise all my students who are going to nursing school that they should work in Labor and Delivery. Finally, I told her that I was ready for my epidural. She pulled in the cart for the anaestheseologist, and it sat there taunting me for about 5 or ten minutes before the doctor showed up. By this time, it had to have been between 5 and 5:30 because the news was on. As Kate and Glenn held my hands, the man did his thing, and I must say, it didn't really hurt. So I have put in my vote for that one--- epidurals... not too painful. And if ever I had a test of the use of my breathing and tuning things out, this was it. As they were doing their work, Dr. Berry-- my OB-- came in, and stood in the background, listening to the news. I can't remember what story was on, but whatever it was, Dr. Berry found it fascinating and began to engage the anaestesiologist in conversation about it. I sat there thinking, "UM, hello???? Remember me??" But in the end, I used all my strength to focus on the letter H on my armband and tune out their voices. It worked and suddenly, it was in. And let me tell you... everything that is said about epidurals? Oh, it's true!! Best invention EVER! Suddenly, it felt that the labor could go on forever and I could handle it. I could push that baby out for days, and that would be fine. I was laughing again, and able to hold a conversation.

Every hour Dr. Berry came in to check me, and for two hours, he found that I wasn't going anywhere. As in, I wasn't dilating further, and I wasn't becoming more effaced. He looked dismayed and told me, that my contractions were also not really getting as strong as he would have liked. The reason? The baby's head was too big. In order to dilate more, we needed for his head to come down and press on my cervix. However, my pelvis was too small, so his head wasn't coming down to the cervix. Thus, I was stuck where I was.

I could have laid there for hours and hours, and in the end come to the same conclusion. Or I could take the next half hour and have my baby. So I chose the second option, and was off for my C section. Within minutes, I was prepped and ready to go... with one problem. Dr. Berry seemed to have disappeared. I listened to the nurses slowly get more angry that he was keeping us waiting, and it wasn't for about twenty minutes that he showed up and spit some anger back at them. "You were paging the wrong doctor! You paged Dr. Beery and not Dr. Berry," he bellowed. Apparently Dr.'s Berry and Beery had been sitting in the dr's lounge, but because Dr. Beery was off duty, he/she wasn't answering pages.

With his arrival it began, to the wonderful musical stylings of what I can only guess was HOT 99.5, judging by the song selection. "Shake It", "I Kissed a Girl", and "In This Club" were all among those played. And then, at 9:16 PM, as I lay there, I felt a strong pressure and I heard, "There he is." And then I heard something that made me laugh. It came from Dr. Berry, who til this point, just figured my average sized baby had a big head.

"Whoa, that's a BIG baby!" Dr. Berry exclaimed. "That might be a 10 lb. baby." The funniest part about the statement was the honest surprise in his voice. As I turned my head to the side, I saw them carry him to the warmer, his head alien-shaped from trying so hard to get through my pelvis, and covered in blood. Glenn left my side to welcome James Morgan into the world at 9 lb. 1 oz and 22 1/4 inches long.

The next several hours are a complete blur. I remember waking up in the PACU-- surgery recovery area. I was alone in my little triage area, but I turned my head and there, facing me, was the soft face of my little boy, fast asleep. It was a special moment, and although I couldn't really move, I felt connected to him right away. Eventually, they moved me up to my room, we bonded with Jamey, and "a few" visitors snuck up to see him. My parents were there, Glenn's parents too, and Aunt Joyce. In addition, Jess was still there waiting for Jamey, as were Monica, Marla, and Chris.

The stay in the hospital wasn't that eventful. Lots of visitors, another fantastic nurse, during the day times, and a lot of bonding time with James. Dad claims he has no eyes, but it was just that for the first week, he really likes to just sleep... Oh well!

We have found that Jamey has our temper. Generally Glenn and I are happy people, but when the temper flares, watch out. We were ready to go home after a few days.

James Morgan has arrived!

This is Jess and I'm posting for the new Mommy and Daddy, while they are still at the hospital. For those of you that haven't heard, I will try to summarize the "birth story" and let Melissa give all the details when she returns. Melissa went to the hospital on Friday and found out that she had broken her water. She checked in around 1pm and was attended to by the great nurses and doctors in Fairfax hospital (I was very impressed). She progressed to 4cm in a couple hours, but did not budge after that.

The doctor thought the baby could be too big to deliver naturally and suggested a c-section. After we all waited patiently in the waiting room, we got the big news!

James Morgan Rife

July 11th, 2008 - 9:16pm

9 pounds, 1 ounce

22 1/4 inches in length

Melissa is doing great and is up and walking around. Jamey has been resting peacefully and Glenn is taking care of everyone.

I've posted a couple different photos and a video on my blog, if anyone wants to see more!

http://babylamken.blogspot.com/

~Jess

Babies, babies everywhere!

Are they all trying to taunt me? One of the doctors in my OB practice? Jamie Lynn Spears? Nicole Kidman? Matthew McConaghey? And even my high school friend Heather? All of them have alreadey had their babies. Don't get me wrong. I am extremely happy for all of them, particularly Heather, whose little girl is adorable. But everywhere I look, it seems that people are popping out babies. I am wondering if my friend Kris, who was due yesterday, has had her little boy yet. I am guessing no, as she would have sent out word if she had.

And here I am, back from another weekly visit to the doctor. Again, there has been progress, I am dilated more, and apparently, "My water sac is bulging." On a side note, don't ask how much exactly I have dilated. This is the exchange that took place with my doctor today-- my doctor who may be even more laid back than my old OB Dr. Fruiterman.

Him: "How much did she say you were dilated last week?"
Me: "One centimeter."
Him: "Yeah, you are definitely further along than that now."

But, as he said, that doesn't always mean anything. He made reference to a woman who came in, having no dilation, and then went into labor 4 hours later. As everyone says, "The baby will come when he wants to come. Nothing is really a sign."

On the note of info, that I have received today, I can tell everyone that I officially have an induction date. If he is still playing stubborn by then, I will be induced on July 17th at 7 PM, but with a slight change of plans. The induction will take place at Fairfax Hospital, and not Fair Oaks, as originally planned. Somehow I feel that Murphy's Law is going to take over on this one.

And the reason for the change? Remember that doctor I mentioned at the beginning of the blog entry who works in my practice and gave birth? Well, she delivered several weeks early, making things at the practice a little crazy. Due to that, apparently they have moved all inductions to Fairfax.

At first I was dismayed, but the fact is that Fairfax is another Inova hospital, just like Fair Oaks, and beyond that, it is a really great hospital as well. It's just a small amount further away. That's just the way life goes-- you just gotta roll with the punches.

I have, though, instructed Jamey that he better come out soon!

(On a side note, we have decided to spell his nickname Jamey and not Jamie, as Jamey denotes the name James more. Also, it is a little more unique, which is one thing we want to add to his name. )

Everyone loves a pregnant woman!

It has been my experience that most people are nice to pregnant women, but I didn't know that even children know how awesome pregnant people are! :)

Two nights ago, Glenn and I went out to our favorite Italian restaurant for our 2nd anniversary. It was a very low key affair, as we have so much going on, if you know what I mean. The hostess led us to the table, and as we sat, a little girl, turned to look at me. She was probably about 4 years old, with curly blond hair in pigtails. As we picked up our menus, I heard her say, "Mommy, that's my friend. That's my friend over there." Glenn and I looked over and she had her finger pointed out toward me. She was continuing to say something about me being her friend. Her mom and I shared a knowing grin. I wasn't sure what had brought it on, as I hadn't said anything to or even looked at the little girl on my way in. I figured maybe it had something to do with the fact that I was pregnant.

We enjoyed a great dinner. I watched the little girl out of the corner of my eye, and as the family got up to leave, I noticed something that made me smile. As her mother got up, I saw that she was probably just as pregnant as I am. That made it all come together. By our estimation, the little girl has probably been told that her friend is inside Mommy's belly. And seeing me walk in with that same size of belly, the girl figured that maybe her other friend was inside my belly.
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Well, as you notice, I did what many said I never would-- I made it to July without having delivered the baby. Not that I was trying to hold out so long, but this is what has happened. We had our weekly doctor's visit yesterday, and I have progressed a bit. At the appointment, I was 1 cm dilated and more effaced, but she didn't say by how much. In an attempt to move things along, she scraped my membranes. I'll let you look that up, if you don't know what it means. For many women, this sparks everything and sets it in motion. As long as your body is ready to go. So cramping followed, as it was supposed to, and shortly through the day, I lost my plug. This can mean nothing and can mean everything. Some women lose their plug weeks before they go into labor, and some, just as they begin. We shall see which camp I fall into.

And that is where I currently stand. I get up every day and move around. I make Glenn laugh by doing fake little aerobics. He loves to see my giant belly move around. And of course, I am suddenly eager to go retrieve things I left upstairs. And yet, he still seems to comfortable. What is it going to take??