Snapshots of Henry

I'm loving this little Henry boy and all his sweet pudginess.  I'm logging plenty of holding hours during feeding times (and between them too.)  I'm also in the newborn fog that comes with the territory as our whole family is getting acquainted with another member.  I forgot how difficult and exhausting it could be to nudge a wee one onto a feed/wake/sleep schedule.  I've had more than a few nighttime settle-the-baby moments where I'd have rather been sleeping!

But what a cutie!  Who happens to be losing hair faster than you can dial Hair Club for Men.

And whose eyes are still learning to focus together. Heh heh. 

His cord fell off early, but his belly button still hasn't completely healed.  I noticed a very small amount of dried blood with diaper changes.  It's definitely not infected, but I'm keeping a close eye on it.  I tried some Curious George bandages one day, but his skin reacted to the adhesive, just like his mama's does, and made the situation worse.  I'm now keeping it as open to the air as possible, which means folding down the front of his diaper to let it breathe.  Poor sweet baboo.

He's making mouth movements that are precursor to smiles.  I'm still waiting for the real thing!  I look deep into his eyes to coax one out of him, and he gazes back...at the lights behind or above me.

Until then, I'll settle for him taking good naps. 

Oh, yes, and buddy boy was up to 9 lbs, 4 oz., at his 3-week weight check. 

He's Here!

 We are so happy to announce the birth of our healthy, screaming son, Henry Quinn Weber.

January 5, 2012

8:56 am

6 lbs., 6.3 oz.

18 3/4"

Mama's little gnome.

After a few weeks of perpetual nervousness from strong Braxton Hicks contractions and one and a half full-blown false alarms, our doctor scheduled an induction of labor two days before my due date.  

Failure to launch at 38 1/2 weeks.

Here I am, right before going to the hospital for the first time with false alarm #1.  I was almost 39 weeks.  Catch that nervous twitch in my eye?  I had seen the doctor that morning, and all the way home had regular contractions.  As I was making pizza for supper, I finally started timing them and realized they were coming every four minutes.  They didn't really hurt that bad, but I remembered my labor with Quinn started with regular contractions that weren't very painful.  And I thought about the hour-long drive to the hospital.  We called the grandparents and packed.  We arrived at the hospital, but after several long rounds of walking and 50+ flights of stairs, we ended up coming home.  I had a lovely night's sleep, thanks to beautiful little sleeping pill that our wonderful, understanding nurse handed me.  By the way, I do not recommend traipsing up stairs if you haven't been exercising for four or more months.  I could hardly walk for three days, and couldn't cross my legs for five!

The next false alarm fortunately was stopped before we called the reinforcements.  I had woken up with really strong contractions, tossed in bed for two hours with them, then alerted Jason.  We got dressed, but then thought better of calling anyone, and settled down into comfortable spots in the living room to make sure it was the real thing.  I woke up several hours later with the contractions gone and no baby in my lap.

Doctor's orders--it's time to move out, kid!

 Our scheduled induction was a week later.  Labor and delivery felt like a doubtful dream.  I was afraid for some reason the induction would fail, and we would once again be sent home without a baby.  I had even deeper fears that something would go horribly wrong.  Despite all the confirmations that this boy was healthy, my heart still had issues with fully trusting God's decision in the whole matter.  My nurses made sure I was put in a different L&D room from Quinn's delivery, and I was so glad to not have the same ugly print on my hospital gown.  Despite my fears, I was super excited about getting that Pitocin drip, if for nothing more than the end of my uncomfortable pregnancy!

Partway through the shift, the same nurse from Quinn's delivery got called in, and I was reassigned to her!  While she and the anesthetist were orchestrating that great relief from the intense pain of childbirth, the epidural pain block, my poor dear husband had his own drama, and fell out cold on the floor, smacking the back of his neck and head against a cupboard door.  He came to very quickly, was helped to a chair by two more nurses and given a handy-dandy ice pack not customarily used for--um--head injuries.  After we realized he was OK, we had a hard time with the giggles.  Poor Jason.

Another shift change brought a familiar face--a friend from church who happens to be a very excellent L&D nurse.  It was her daughter who had taken Quinn's pictures at the hospital.  We were so very happy to see her, and she kept us distracted and entertained until it was time for business.  Not quite two hours later, Henry made his entrance into the world, crying and flailing.  I don't think there is a better sight or sound in the whole world.  And then he promptly peed on my doctor.  

Proud daddy!

So relieved and happy--plus I am NOT pregnant anymore!

Melissa and Henry

And of course, we cried.

When will the displacement reaction begin?

Mommy's already making funny faces at me!

The grandparents and kids arrived before the effects of the epidural had worn off.  I still couldn't feel my toes very well at this moment.  Helen--her sweet self came up to me a little nervously and asked if Henry was going to die.  When I assured her that he was healthy and breathing great, her face lit up.

Owen got to miss school to see his new baby brother.  What a fabulous excuse note his grandma got to write!  When he held his brother at home, he laughed out, "He's alive!  He moved his foot, and he's alive!"