Three Weeks Old

Wow, I knew it was going to be a lot of work, but this is exhausting! I honestly don't know how all you other mothers make it look so easy. Zach is still all over the board as far as sleeping and eating schedules go. I'm starting to hate the nights, because I never know if he'll wake up 45 minutes from when I feed him, or if he'll sleep for 4 hours straight. He does better during the days, sleeping and eating about every 2-3 hours. He is a sweet, darling angel, but my sanity will be much better once we get a little bit of a predictable schedule going. It is possible, right? It is amazing that he is 3 weeks old today. It honestly seems like we were just at the hospital yesterday. Maybe that's because, without a full night's sleep, these weeks just seems like one big, long day!

I love these golden locks!

He's filling out those tiny chicken legs. He weighed 8 lbs 10 oz at 16 days.

Indecision

He really is "The Thinker!" (See post from Sept. 27)

So before anyone goes embroidering his name on a pillow or engraving it in gold, hold up. We're pretty sure on the Zachary part, but with Alexander, the name seems to be too long for such a little boy. So we're rethinking the middle name and aren't 100% sure yet what it will be. Something short and sweet. Hopefully Corey will let me have the name Alexander or Alexandra for a future offspring, because I adore the name and want to carry it on in our family. Naming a baby is a big responsibility. For us, I had to spend a little time with the baby to see what fit best.

Folding his arms for the prayer for Thanksgiving-what a good boy.

He's ready for the mistletoe!

He's finally getting the hang of nursing. Some nights he sleeps well, others, he cries until Corey takes him out of the bassinet and snuggles him on his chest through the night. Zach sleeps great like this, but I don't think Corey is getting the rest he needs. Especially when he had to get up at 4am today for Black Friday at Cabela's. Poor Daddy! But he can't bear to hear Zach cry, so he sacrifices his sleep to make the baby comfy. Nursing him around the clock wears me out, and if he's done eating, burping, being changed, and won't settle down when I rock or walk him, it's Dad's turn. We're still getting the hang of it all. He's as sweet as can be, and we love having him in our home.

Zachary's first bath- he did pretty well!

I Don't Want to Miss a Thing

Little Zach is changing so much already. Over the course of just four days, he looks so different in these pictures to me.

Sometimes you can see his blonde hair shining in the light, and he looks a little bit like me.

Other times his skin looks warm and red and he looks almost bald.

And sometimes you can see the dark contrast in his skin between the light background and the dark birthmarks that are going away. His face looks really full in this one to me.

He went from 8 pounds down to 7 pounds 4 ounces, and is now close to 8 again.
Hmmm. . . I kind of want him to stay tiny for awhile longer.
I never thought I'd relate my feelings about my son to an Aerosmith song, but these lyrics describe many of my feelings toward Zachary:

"I could stay awake just to hear you breathing
Watch you smile while you are sleeping
While you're far away dreaming

I could spend my life in this sweet surrender
I could stay lost in this moment forever
Every moment spent with you is a moment I treasure

I don't want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you baby
And I don't want to miss a thing

'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I'd still miss you baby
And I don't want to miss a thing

Lying close to you feeling your heart beating
And I'm wondering what youre dreaming
Wondering if it's me youre seeing

Then I kiss your eyes
And thank God were together
I just want to stay with you in this moment forever

I don't want to miss one smile
I don't want to miss one kiss
I just want to be with you
Right here with you, just like this

I just want to hold you close
Feel your heart so close to mine
And just stay here in this moment
For all the rest of time

I don't want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you baby
And I don't want to miss a thing."


It's already going so fast, and I don't want to miss a second of it.

Son of a Buckeye

Today was our boy's introduction to Ohio State football, against Michigan, no less. We made sure he was sporting some scarlet and gray, and wrapped in an Ohio State blanket. He pretty much snoozed through the game- it was rather dull, wasn't it? At least we had a victory. We are enjoying each day with him, falling more in love with him each moment we spend with him.

"First down!"

Oh yes, everyone is wondering about his name. We finally decided on Zachary Alexander Wilhelmsen. Alexander is my maiden name, and I have always loved it for either a boy or a girl. The meaning of Zachary is "God has Remembered," and Alexander means "Defender of Mankind." It's a good, strong, long name! So now we have things covered from Z to A with him.

He has been smiling a little today, which is a delight. He was up every hour last night and has slept quite a bit today. Time to switch time zones from IUT (Intrauterine Time) to Mountain Daylight, Buddy! His golden locks are probably my favorite thing to gaze at so far. Everyone loves his full, juicy lips and button nose, also.

Tiny mullet- business in front, party in the back!

Here at Last

Our little bundle of joy finally arrived on Tuesday, November 18, 2008, at 4am!
My labor began at about 4 am on Monday morning, with some cramping that I didn't recognize as regular contractions until I was informed by the nurses at 10 am at the midwives' office as they monitored me. At that point, the contractions were 6 minutes apart and I was dilated 1.5 cm. I reluctantly decided to cancel my patients for the day as the intensity heightened and I realized this must be the real thing. By about noon, I called Corey to come help me get through the ever-intensifying contractions. We utilized some of the techniques learned in our Hypnobirthing class, such as counterpressure, massage, and relaxation techniques. We had our doula, Melissa, come at about 3 pm. She and Corey applied strong pressure to my hips and sacrum during contractions until they were between 3 and 4 minutes apart, at which time I decided the hospital was beckoning.

It was a bumpy ride, and I was having strong pain during the mandatory monitoring. I jumped into the jetted tub there, hoping to relieve the pain, but nothing was helping. I dilated from a 3 to a 5 in about 1.5 hours, and after much internal debate, decided that this was not going to be a great experience for me if I could not have a reprieve from the pain. The angelic anesthetist placed the epidural in the nick of time. We thought the labor would just last a few more hours at the rate I was going, but, of course, everything slowed right down. The next 7 hours passed uneventfully, and finally, after changing positions, things again began to progress quickly from a 7 to pushing time.

After about 40 minutes of pushing, Corey was able to deliver the baby, under the supervision of our midwife. This was special to me to have Corey's hands be the very first placed on our son before he was passed to me.

We were delightfully surprised that my recessive blonde genes won out and, for now at least, he has darling locks of blonde. He came in at a rotund 8 pounds even, and was 19.5 inches long. He looked a little beat up due to the length of the labor, but new parents never mind those marks. My right side took half of Tuesday to wake up, during which time Corey cared for the baby and bonded with him like crazy. Corey is the most doting daddy I have ever seen. It is precious to see how much he adores and is concerned for his son. Baby Tiny just slept snuggled up on his dad's chest most of the day and night Tuesday and Wednesday while I recovered. That's also how they spent half of the night last night. I thought it was the mom who was supposed to lose all the sleep, but I think I've rested more than Dad at this point. The baby has taken awhile to pick up on nursing, but is getting to be a pro now.

He is so tender, and his little cry breaks your heart. He is very alert most the time, and is the sweetest thing we have ever experienced in our lives. We had no idea what it would be like to have him, but now we can't imagine our lives without him. Thanks for all your kind thoughts and well-wishes!

One More Day?

If you've been watching our countdown, you'll notice that it says "1 more day" today. I hope it's not lying to us, but statistics show that first babies are often overdue. I would love for him to come tomorrow on the 13th, one month before my birthday, but I'll try and be patient until he's done cookin'. Meadow and the kids are in town, and I would love for them to see their new cousin/nephew before they go back to California. So if you want to pray that he comes on Thursday or Friday, that's allright with me!

On Monday, I had to leave work at lunch due to some intense back discomfort and nausea. I thought it might be labor, but as soon as I relaxed in the tub, I felt fine. At least I know my body is warming up for this upcoming marathon. I'm at work today with a light schedule, and I am not planning on being here tomorrow. If I'm feeling fine next week and haven't had him yet, I will probably still come into work so I can use the maximum amount of my leave time with the baby. I'm feeling a bit heavy and a little uncomfortable, but nothing is unbearable so far. We met with our doula last night and I really like her. She will be a tremendous help and support to Corey and I during the birth. She is there for physical and emotional support, helping with massage, getting us food, helping me adjust positions, and anything else we need. We weren't going to have one, but I am really comforted to know we will have an expert there guiding us through unfamiliar territory.

We are getting excited to meet this little one! We'll keep you posted.

In the Nursery

The nursery is pretty much finished, so I guess we're ready for the baby! It started out as a dark plum colored room.
We painted teal, beige, and light brown stripes on the wall, which took
Corey, Mike, Missy, and I about a day. We got a matching crib and dresser direct from a manufacturer here for a steal.
We placed vinyl lettering on the wall--it's a tiny bit crooked, but oh well. Corey gave me the rocker/recliner for Mother's Day.

My cute cousin Shelly gave me this darling shelf. She had it painted even cuter colors, but we repainted it to match the room. I couldn't find any bedding I really liked, so I made the curtains and dust ruffle out of one fabric, and the quilt and pillows out of another. I hand-quilted the polka dots on the quilt, and it is reversible with teal on one side and brown dots on the other. We're going to put his name on the sign, and the circles I painted and stuck to the wall.

I would still like to put in a rug, maybe one of these from Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

There is still some room for finishing touches, but we are pleased with the results thus far.

Flippin' Sweet!

We went to the hospital this morning for the doctor to perform the external cephalic version described in the previous post to flip our tiny tot into the correct position. Dr. Parker put some immense pressure on my abdomen, and at first,the baby moved about 90 degrees, but his heart slowed way down. They could see the cord around his neck, which is okay as long as it isn't too tight, but they weren't sure, so they stopped at that point. I was given some medication that helped relax my muscles, and the doctor tried again about 30 minutes later. He got to the 90 degree mark again, with the baby transverse across my abdomen (not the most comfy I've ever been), and with one last intense push, the baby flipped right into the head down position! I was so grateful and relieved, both physically and emotionally. After the first failed attempt, I had worried that a C-section was eminent. But Dr. Parker is The Man- he has a lot of experience and did a wonderful job, and will be the recipient of my delicious brownies tomorrow! We are so grateful for the fasting, prayers, and well-wishes that made this possible. It feels weird to have him in the right place. I am used to him kicking down low. Anyway, the doctor felt comfortable sending us home to go into labor naturally. If I had been at all dilated, we may have decided to be induced. However, without being dilated, induction increases the risk of needing a C-section, and avoiding that outcome was the whole purpose of the version. I am really excited that if all continues to go well, we will be able to proceed with a natural labor and childbirth. So keep checking back often in the next week or two for the good news!

Baby Turning Update

We met with the doctor today to discuss our options for delivering this breech baby, and have decided to have the doctor attempt to turn him to the correct position next Thursday morning. This is called an external cephalic version, and involves twisting my abdomen to try to get the baby to somersault or backflip in to a head-first position. Looks and sounds like fun for me, right?! Good thing I'm so buff and tough. I'm even going to try it without any anesthesia, although I may wuss out and take it, if needed. The other option is to wait and see if he does it on his own, which is not very likely, or to do a c-section. If the version attempt works and the baby is doing great on the monitors, we will likely go home until he is ready for delivery. If it doesn't work, we may have a c-section then, or wait it out and see if he turns on his own before natural labor starts. If he doesn't turn before natural labor, it will require a c-section. There is a slight chance of emergency c-section if he doesn't look great on the monitors after the version attempt. There is also the chance that they will induce me if he turns. We were planning to have this baby as naturally as possible, but you never know what is in store. Basically, anything could happen next Thursday--we might end up with a baby that day, or it might be another week or more. We will just monitor how the baby is doing and decide from there. So, since next Sunday is fast Sunday, if any of you would like to include in your prayers the desire for this baby to turn correctly and for all to go perfectly for his upcoming delivery, we would be so grateful. Thank you so much. We'll keep you posted.

Feliz Cumpleaños to Corey

Today Corey turns the big 32, so I get to brag about what a wonderful person he is and how grateful I am that he was born. Corey came into the world breech, as our son is trying to emulate. (As a side note, there is research that shows that if one parent was born breech, that their firstborn offspring is twice as likely to be born breech. Thanks a lot, Corey!) I don’t know a lot about his childhood, except that he ate sugar by the spoonful and loved his dog, Charlie. I guess the events in Corey’s life aren’t nearly as important to me as are the character traits that make him who he is. Corey has the most genuine, humble personality of anyone I know. He never tries to steal the limelight or draw too much attention to himself. He is a loyal friend and companion. He is so thoughtful of others. I can seldom think of a time when he has spoken negatively about anyone. Children are naturally drawn to him. He is going to be the world’s best dad. All our nieces and nephews already flock to him due to his playful, caring nature. I adore him and am honored that he is my eternal sweetheart. Have a good one, Sweetie!

Turn Baby, Turn

Our little one is being a bit rebellious by hanging out right side up instead of upside down, as he should be. It is four weeks before his due date, and if he doesn’t turn around, there is a good chance he will have to be delivered by Cesarean section. I’m not so fond of that idea. We really want to have a normal, natural birth. So we’re trying to enlist as many friends and family as possible to pray with us that he will turn to the correct position before his delivery to help ensure a safer, more predictable situation for both Mom and Baby. Thanks!!

Take a Hike

Corey and I are not huge hikers, but we did go on a huge hike with my sister Natalie and her husband Ryan this winter. In February 2008, we hiked 23 miles in two days over the sea cliffs of the amazing Kalalau Trail in northern Kauai. It was the most awe-inspiring and difficult physical feat I have endured thus far in my life. Most of the trail is very narrow and steep, traversing large changes in elevation over jagged cliffs with the angry sea crashing hundreds of feet below. Most of the foliage we saw was a stunning tropical rainforest, replete with melodious birds singing us along our way. We also passed by several lovely waterfalls and streams. However, there were a few miles of winding through dry, dusty lava rock on an 8-12 inch wide path that I like to refer to as Hell. We encountered this stretch after I had taken a nasty spill forehead-first with my 20-plus pound pack pummeling me into the dirt. (Luckily, this happened at one of the rare wide spots in the trail rather than off a cliff!) I was ready to turn back, but luckily, my courageous Eagle Scout husband treated my wound, took my pack off for a few minutes while I rested, and then encouraged me to go on. I honestly don’t know how I managed it, because at this point, I was quite dizzy and scared that I would trip again and go sliding off the cliffs and into the ocean. I fantasized about throwing the heavy trail mix and tent poles I was carrying into the sea below to lighten my load. (I did end up leaving a pair of pants and my airplane pillow behind at the campsite for future hikers or the resident hippies to use, which I’m sure lightened my load by about 6 ounces!) Toward the end of the journey, we were entertained by numerous mountain goats that distracted me from the difficulty. At last, a few miles in the distance, we could see the pristine beach that was to be our final destination. We arrived just as the sun was setting and cooked our delicious Camp Chef meals on the beach, just as a giant cruise ship passed by. I stared at the passengers enviously, but realized that while they travelled there in luxury and were likely dining on steak and lobster as they viewed the beach from afar, the pasta that we cooked over our portable stove tasted even sweeter because of the travails we had gone through in arriving at our destination. Besides, they could only admire this beauty from the distance of the boat while we were privileged to feel the soft sand and bubbly waves beneath our weary feet. The biggest regret I have is not planning to make the expedition over three days instead of two, because knowing we had eleven miles to traverse beginning at dawn without having even a few hours of sunlight in which to enjoy this paradise was very disheartening. Hiking the Kalalau Trail was an amazing experience, and left a memorable impression on me that often the most pristine beauty can only truly be enjoyed after conquering great difficulties firsthand.

I Does What I Likes, and I Likes What I Do

I never thought I would be a dentist. My heart was set on medicine, but after working at both a hospital and dental office after college graduation, I realized that I hated the stress and irregular hours characteristic of medicine. On the other hand, I became surprisingly enthralled with teeth. The dental lifestyle was a good fit also--no nights or weekends and only four years of school.
I currently work in a community health center.

We see all kinds of patients, but more than 80% of mine are living below the poverty level. My patients come from all around the world. Most are of Latino origin, but some are also from Mongolia, Russia, and other obscure places. I love that I get to see such variety every day. I have learned quite a bit of Spanish. I also have had the opportunity to perform many difficult procedures that I would likely refer to a specialist if I were in private practice. If I do not perform these services on my patients, they will likely go without treatment and end up with severe problems. Many of my patients have never been to the dentist before—you can imagine what an adventure it is when I say, “Open wide!”

My favorite procedures involve oral surgery. I love a good set of wisdom teeth to begin the day. You can’t say I’m not domestically inclined, because I love to sew—just not with the usual materials you would make a quilt from. I also enjoy cosmetic fillings on the front teeth—a mini extreme makeover for my patients. Most of my patients are both very humble and very grateful for the services they receive. My least favorite days are filled with arduous root canals and screeching, biting children (and adults).

I am very grateful that I was able to get my education in a great field doing something I enjoy that both provides well for my family and allows me to use my knowledge and skills to help those in need.

Chim-Chim Charoo!

(In case you didn't catch the Mary Poppins inspired title)

Not perfect yet, but better, right?

Sorry about the gore, but. . . awesome!