Milk

I never thought milk would be such an overwhelming subject. We have two issues with milk.

1) Frannie had her two week check up on Friday and she grew .7 inches and her head grew 1/4 in. A big brain box as my grandpa would have said. However, apparently all her eating went toward that growth cause she only gained an ounce in the week. She was supposed to be up to 8 lbs by now but is at 7lbs11oz. I did read Dr. Sears who talks about "banana babies" who hypermetabolize and tend to grow in height before putting on weight. This sounds exactly like Brian so it makes sense since she looks like him that she'd have his body too (and too be honest I did tell her while she was in the womb that I hoped she got her Dad's body instead of mine cause if she were like me she'd have NO trouble gaining weight). So anyway, I have to pump after I feed her and give her whatever I get as a supplement. Trouble is, I'm hardly getting anything out from pumping so its seeming hardly worth it. I'm going back to the lactation consultant on Monday or Tuesday to see if maybe I should supplement one formula bottle a day.

2) The other milk issue is me not being able to drink milk or have any dairy or soy for the next 2-3 weeks. Frannie's stool is super mucousy and they say that's usually from a dairy allergy. So fun fun, no dairy or soy for me. Which means for all those who have been hoping I'd see the light of going back to eating meat, I am indeed cause I don't know how I'd get my protein without dairy and soy.

So there you have it. Frannie is otherwise very healthy and of course oh so cute. Updates to come.

Genetics

I ask you, whose child is this? Picture one is Brian as a baby...picture two is Frannie.
That's ok, I'm glad she looks like him. I'll work on her being a strong, compassionate woman who can do anything she puts her mind to....and after seeing her this morning she may like yoga/meditation too :)

Walking

Today was the first day we tried going for a walk in the stroller. This entailed Frannie and I driving over to Superior to my friend Sarah's house to walk with her and her boy Kaleb. This was a 15 minute car ride there which was fine but then putting the car seat on the stroller and heading out....well, she didn't like that. Hanging out in her car seat (so far) is not one of her favorite things. She screamed for the majority of the ten minute walk so we headed back. You have to start somewhere I guess.
We've also tried the Moby which works well for Brian but she wants to chew on me when in it. We'll try the baby bjorn next...

No one told me

I am basically the last person in my group of friends to have a kid, so why is it no one ever told me about night sweats which then inevitably are followed by violent chills??!! I thought I had developed a horrible fever but nope, the thermometer said normal. So this morning thanks to iPhones and google I determined this was indeed normal and good really as my hormones are readjusting and I'm losing some of that water I was retaining. I'm providing photo evidence of the return of my ankles and the latest Frannie pics.

First Dr appointment

We had our first outing yesterday, Frannie's first dr appointment. Our doctor has known her since birth because she was on call last weekend at the birthing center so she took care of Frannie from moment one.

Frannie was a champ. The car seat, ride there, and whole visit went really well. She is healthy and either has grown already or the hospital didn't get her fully stretched out because they measured her at 21 inches. That puts her in the 90 something percentile for height, and her head circumference was 14 (I think) which is like the 84th percentile. Her weight is back up to 7 lbs 9 oz which is 50th percentile. So she's incredibly tall and thin with a big head. I'd venture a guess that the long and thin came from Brian and the big head came from me.

Sleeping at night however is not her strong suit just yet, which is why all those cute sleeping pics are in the daylight. Here are a few more pics....including, as requested, one of me holding her.

Sleeping Beauty

Sleeping Frannie is is not only good for mom and dad, but its good picture taking time too.
Gramma and Grandpa Thompson were here today (they came up Thursday for the labor, dad went home after he knew that I was ok on Friday, mom stayed and then dad came up again today to meet "Junebug" and pick up mom) and today I also got my encapsulated placenta. I was doubtful at first but so far I have to say it has improved my mood and helped with my nausea. I'm digging it. The public health nurse came today too. Busiest day we've had since coming home.

Settling in

After finding out on Sunday morning that my hemoglobin had dropped to 5.8, I had to have a blood transfusion and we weren't sure if we'd have to stay another night. By late afternoon (after two units of blood), they told me my level was up to 8.7 so we could go. Got home around 8:30 and had a night of playing what makes Frannie happy/sleepy. Spent today snowed in cuddling, feeding, and getting to know our new addition. Even got a few naps.

She's here!

24 hours of natural labor later, she has arrived! Welcome Frances June Ferguson to the world. She weighed 8 lbs 2 oz and was 20.2 in long. She was delivered with forceps (just like her mom) and is healthy and happy. She is eating like a champ (also like her mom) and has a full head of hair (like her dad). We are still in the hospital and go home tomorrow. I can't say enough good things about St Lukes birthing staff/center. They've been great. Here are the first few photos of our new arrival. Thank you to all of our family and friends for your support and well wishes. We are so grateful.

Unplugged

Big news on both fronts.....

The "unplugged" is for the plug I lost yesterday and today. Apparently I was sealed up pretty well cause it just kept coming. I'm having more regular and more uncomfortable contractions now too, so hopefully baby is on its way.

On a less gross note, here is a picture of the outside of the house since they started siding it. There is also now a flushing toilet and things seem to be actually moving along nicely. Better late than never.

Swept

Latest baby update....as of 3:45 this afternoon I had my "membranes swept" to help move labor along. My blood pressure has gone up each of the two last times I've been in. She's not worried yet, but thought (and I agreed) that it wouldn't hurt to do it. She said I should go into labor within the next 1-2 days (if it works). I was dilated to 3 1/2 this time too...must have been those contractions I was having yesterday. Any time now.....

Baby progress

Baby Gumpet (as we are lovingly referring to it) is happily burrowed in my enormous belly. It's due any day now. I'm not going to say I've loved being pregnant (or even liked it really) but I am very grateful it happened and am thankful it has been such a smooth ride. Brian takes pictures every day so these are just a few to show the 40 week changes....

Addicted to convenience

I finally can post and upload my photos from my phone (thank you Brian for my lovely new IPhone 5) so I can go back to blogging! The first two posts you'll see are progress pictures.... Progress of the house this far and of the newest addition that has yet to enter the world but should be here at moment.