Pictures from week 2!

Here are a few pictures from week 2. We're all doing well. Sleeping and burping and feeding and diaper changing every 2 to 3 hours. Lauren is a wonderful little baby. Enjoy the photos!

2 weeks old

Hard to believe that Lauren is already 2 weeks old. We had our 2 week pediatrician visit today and everything is looking good! She has grown 3/4 of an inch and is now 20 1/4" long, and has gained a few ounces to weigh in at 7 lbs, 4 oz. The doctor had to prick her heel to run some newborn screening tests and she cried like we never heard her cry before (poor little thing). It broke our heart to listen to her be in pain. Ugh! More updates soon.

Some favorite photos from week 1!

Day four - lazy morning in bed (click on the photos to make them bigger).

First pediatrician visit

We just got back from Lauren's first pediatrician's visit. They took all of her measurements (length, weight, temp, head circumference, etc), and checked all of her reflexes. Poor little booger had to do the whole thing naked too, but she was such a good little girl and didn't cry once! She is measuring a bit small (weight is at 10%, length is at 50%, and head circumference is at 10% percentile). Overall though, doctor said she is healthy and just...perfect! Our next appointment will be when Lauren turns two weeks old.

We've been home with Lauren since Saturday and things are going really well. We're still figuring out her routine (feeding, sleeping, diaper changing), and what all of her squeaks and cries mean, but she's been such a good baby so far. She tends to eat every 2-3 hours, quickly followed by lots of burping and a good diaper change. I am still figuring out my own sleeping schedule right now and trying to follow everyone's advice to sleep when she sleeps (I am not very good at this because I would rather just hold her all day long instead). Somehow adrenaline is keeping me going!

Oh, and lots of you have been asking how Willie and Sydney are acclimating. Willie is super protective and lays next to us, runs over to us when the baby makes a noise, etc. It's really cute. Sydney watches from a distance and isn't sure what to think (I think she is processing that she is no longer mama's baby--awwww). More updates and pictures to come soon!

Lauren Avery Brewer's Birthday

Little Lauren entered the world on Wednesday, November 5th at 10:18pm. She weighed in at 6lbs, 15oz. Here is a timeline events from that memorable day!

8:00am - My water broke, I went to tell Scott who was still laying in bed, and said, "umm...I think something just happened?!" His face went blank, and we both sort of freaked out for a second! I called my doctor's office and they told me to go straight to the hospital. So, we both showered, grabbed out bags and hopped in the car.

10am - 8:00pm - We checked in to Labor and Delivery and things started moving right along. I had been cramping since the day before, but needless to say, at this point, cramping was picking up intensely. The hospital closely monitored my blood pressure and temperature due to my preeclampsia. I got I got an epidural to help with the pain (honestly, the epidural wasn't as bad as I feared it would be). During this time I just continued to dialate and contract until they told me it was time to push!

8:pm -10:15pm - I was pushing at regular intervals (every 1-2 minutes during this time). Doctor finally told me that my heart rate was going up and that I was getting a fever--all signs of infection, and that these things would pass to baby. He told me that he was going to have to use forecepts, start me on antibiotics and call the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to come get the baby right after the was born. The next big push he pulled her out and then it was done! I only got to see her for a second before she was taken away to the NICU unit, but then I finally got to see her again about 3am (5 hours later). Scott was the best birthing coach ever and was right there every step of the way--even cutting the cord at the end.

It was a wild ride! All-in-all labor was about 14 hours or so. Then, baby was back and forth between our room and the NICU unit during our hospital stay (as we both stayed on antibiotics to fight our infections). But, all-in-all, everything worked out amazingly well. We just got home today and little miss Lauren is a happy, healthy baby girl. We couldn't be happier! Thanks to everyone for their love and support.

Note: We will continue to use this blog to chart all the fun things of Lauren's life. So, keep on reading!

Eventful doctor visit

Just got back from the doctor. She "stripped my membranes" in hope that it would speed things along. She said I have a 60% chance of my water breaking and going in to labor in the next 5 days or so. Regardless if that happens, I have an appointment at the hospital at 6am on Tuesday morning to get induced! So, one way or another, baby will be making her debut within the next week. Soooooo exciting!

P.S. Having your membranes stripped is not fun. It is a painful exercise that results in lots and lots of cramps and bleeding following. I am super uncomfortable right now and plan on just laying curled up in a ball until the pain goes away. 

We can't believe she's almost here!