Daniel Joel: Day Two

Whew! This parenting stuff is hard work! Since Daniel is singing me a lullaby (at least, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and call it that!), I want to take a moment to note a few of day two's highlights:

• The highlight of the day was calling China (yay Skpe!) to introduce Daniel to his namesake, Dan Kennedy. A very emotional call for everyone involved. And that's all I'll say for now, or I'll start crying and not mention anything else!
• Lots of phone calls and emails! Many thanks to those who called, emailed and left messages on here and Facebook. We so appreciate the love of our friends and family around the world!
• First non-family visitors. Our good friends, the Lipfords, visited today, along with our friends Fantasia and Star. An unexpected surprise was a visit from Sue, our first post-partum nurse. She felt bad about the long wait I endured while the pharmacy lost, messed up and otherwise delayed my pain meds for six hours yesterday. She brought an adorable dog rattle as a gift to apologize. Totally unneccessary, but absolutely appreciated.
• Flowers! My sweet hubby brought two dozen red roses. We also received a beautiful poinsetta plant from our church, as well as some pretty yellow and white flowers from the tech team (where Niels serves). Thank you all!
• I finally started to emerge from my drug-induced stupor! I'm still on Percocet for the pain, but I can mostly function on that.
• Mom helped me start to look like I'm emerging from my drug-induced stupor. I changed from the hospital gown to my own new blue nursing gown.
• The quest to nurse continues. For all their glory, the girls are lacking a bit on their nurse-friendliness. I'll leave out the specifics, but we'll just say that we appreciate your prayers that we'll be able to overcome this obstacle. We do have a plan in place, but it will take a little bit to see results. He is losing a bit of weight, which is normal, but so far, he's still in a healthy range.
• My newest medical trick...because if there's a complication or quirk, you know I will find it...I have a swollen uvula (the thing that hangs at the back of your throat). Since I had unplanned general anesthesia, I had to be intubated. I just had a sore throat yesterday, but this afternoon I started gagging and dry heaving. I went to bathroom to check things out and saw that my uvula is so big that it actually catches in my throat and blocks my air. Go figure. I've been downing water and popsicles like nobody's business, and finally got some numbing spray (that Pharmacist has it out for me, I think!). It's still quite annoying, but I'm hopeful that it'll shrink down tomorrow...I hope!
• I changed my first diaper. A lovely #2 from my boy! Many more of those to come I sure. Daddy's turn next!
• The final weight tally was a 6 pound gain from my starting weight. Thank you, Hyperemesis Gravidarium. Current weight difference after having an 8 pound 4 ounce baby: exactly ZERO. Thank you, pre-eclampsia!
• I slept for more than 20 minutes! This new system we're trying is quite time consuming, and I haven't had much opportunity to sleep. I finally broke down and sent DJ to the nursery for a feeding (we have to supplement with formula for the time being) and was able to sleep for almost 90 glorious minutes!
• More new pictures! We've added some pictures to the Picasa link and here is the link to the FaceBook album (even non-FB users should be able to see these).

Little guy is finally starting to doze off, so I'm going to try to get a few Zzz's myself before his next feeding in 90 minutes. Sigh....

Today's the Day!!!

So I was able to sleep longer than I expected, but it's 2:45am and I can't sleep anymore! I am so excited to meet this little guy I've been carrying around for the last 9 months!

Yesterday, Bailey and I enjoyed our last quiet day together. I think she knew something was up. She was so cuddly and was quite put out when I had my laptop in my lap instead of my lap dog! I was putting Christmas music on my computer so we'd have something to listen to in the hospital, and that seemed to trigger about nine months of emotions. I cried all day long! It's been such a hard pregnancy, but we managed to keep our little guy safe to his big day. All told, we've had:

• 3 trips to the ER
  
• 1 night in ICU
• 8 trips to Labor & Delivery
• 11 weeks of Hyperemesis Gravidarium (severe morning sickness), including 6 weeks on a 24/7 pump of Zofran
• 3 weeks of restricted activity
• 9 weeks of bedrest due to pre-eclampsia 
• 14 weeks with this insane headache
• more blood work and labs than I can count or care to remember
  
• and one amazing, wonderful week on our Alaskan cruise!

After so many weeks of being restricted and limited, it's so exciting to finally reach the end. We can't wait to hold our son and to begin the process of recovery. I have a good bit of muscle atrophy from the bedrest, so it will take a little longer than usual until I'm feeling normal again, but we're grateful for the help of friends and family, especially in the first few weeks, to help us with the baby, meals and keeping up with the house.

Niels will post an update in a few hours (!!!) with The Big Announcement, but I wanted to take the opportunity to make one last post and request a few prayer items for our expanding family:

• for the safe delivery and health of our little boy
• for all to go well for me with the C-section
  
• wisdom and guidance for Dr. Brister and the rest of the medical staff who will be taking care of us
• for our little guy to take quickly and well to nursing
• for strength to adjust to a vastly different sleep schedule--especially for me, as I generally need 10 hours to function since my head-injury. I know that won't happen for the foreseeable future!
• for an easy recovery from the C-section and muscle atrophy
• for travel safety for the family and friends coming to visit us
• for Niels and I to have wisdom to be good and godly parents to our precious boy!

We expect that I will be in the hospital for five days (til Saturday) given my special circumstances with the head injury and risk for HELLP syndrome. So Niels will be the point person for the next little bit. We look forward to seeing and/or hearing from you soon and introducing you to the jongste de Jong (youngest de Jong)!

The Pack 'N' Play is Up 'N' Set

Niels finished his last project of the day: the Pack 'N' Play. Since our house has 3 levels, we really wanted to have someplace to change and put down the baby on every level. We have the crib upstairs, the bouncer on the main level and now the Pack 'N' Play for the basement. 

Here's the completed project:Here's what he started with. I'm so blessed to have a husband who's good with putting things together!

Of course, Bailey was a great supervisor. She was quite interested in all these new toys that are not for her! We did get her some new rawhides which distracted her for quite a while, and we have a "big sister" present for her when we come home from the hospital!

Busy Daddy!

Our countdown to parenthood is in the hours now (60 hours at this exact moment!). Niels took me out for one last errand run with just the two of us. The next time I'm in the car, it will be when we take off bright and early Tuesday morning--4:30am--for our c-section! 

It was a pretty winter night with light snow (sorry, Mom!) and we went to Target for a pack 'n' play (thank you, Canton Family!), and then Babies R Us for the above bouncer (thank you, Ingrid and Bart!). I probably pressed it a bit, because I'm absolutely wiped! So Niels is now working on the pack 'n' play and I am banished to the couch for the night!

Tomorrow is our last day together before we meet the baby. We have grand plans to watch football all day! Monday is Niels' last day of work and then it'll be Tuesday morning before we know it!

Good News from Jen's Neuro

Today we received the okay for Jen to have a spinal rather than general anesthesia for the c-section. This means Jen will be alert for the delivery and Niels can be in the operating room to see his son being born!!!

One Month From Today...

Our c-section is scheduled for 7am, Tuesday, December 9...just one month from today! It's been a long, difficult pregnancy and we are both ready to meet our little boy! I'm still on bed rest, which is not as fun as one might think! I've watched about as much TV as I can stand, and have become an expert on computer games. I read when my headache and dizziness isn't too bad, but for the most part, I'm learning to stay in bed, or at least horizontal. Whenever I get overly ambition, I usually pay for it for a few days. There are so many things I'd like to do, but they'll just have to wait til after our son arrives...in just one month!!

32 weeks and counting...

This week is week 32. Jen has managed to stay pregnant despite 3 trips to the hospital in the last 10 days. Fortunately, all tests so far show that Jen is holding off the pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome. Oh, BTW, DJ is doing just fine. Blissfully unaware of the havoc he is wrecking on mommy's body. 

Since we've had several requests, here is the latest 'belly-shot'...

Just to be fair, here's a picture of me being the sensitive daddy...

And one last one... a bit more artistic....

Jen took this last picture. You think she might have a future in photography??? ;-)

DJ's nursery bedding

We're winners! Niels and I won the auction on this crib bedding from eBay for half the list price on Amazon. YAY!  It's a nine-piece set that comes with:

* crib sheet

* quilt

* dust ruffle

* 2 valances

* diaper stacker

* toy bag

* decorative pillow (not really needed, but oh well)

It might be nice to get the mobile too, but we'll skip the other accessories. Now all we really need is the crib mattress and that part will be done! Next month we'll get the changing pad and start collecting diapers and wipes! Baby DJ will be here in only nine weeks!!!!

DJ's 28 week pictures

Another profile picture.

This one was fun. It looks like he was smiling at us!

We caught a kick in print!

So DJ's doing well. This was just a short ultrasound, so we didn't get his measurements. It seems like we may have another one in the future. 

I've gotten sick during the last two ultrasounds. It's getting harder and harder for me to sit upright or lay on my back for any period of time. Walking isn't that great either. I get nauseous and lightheaded and my arms and legs go numb. So we did most of both ultrasounds with me laying on my left side. 

Yesterday was a long appointment. It started with bloodwork and glucola for the 3 hour gestational diabetes test. Then the ultrasound. Then another blood draw, then the doctor, then another two blood draws an hour apart. My headache was raging pretty hard by the time we saw the doctor, which was a concern, so I had to have more blood taken as they continue to watch me for pre-eclampsia. I'm doing the ever-so-much-fun 24-hour urine test today and will have more blood drawn tomorrow. 

Niels continues to take good care of me, and of course, the most important thing is that the baby is doing well. We continue to pray that we hold off the pre-eclampsia and I can wait out the pregnancy at home. 

Baby DJ and his 'Crib'

Last Saturday, 1 day before the storm blew out our lights and power Babies R Us came to deliver the baby furniture. They delivered it, hauled it up the stairs and put together the crib. The armoir and dresser were delivered fully assembled. After the delivery guys left we immediately put in some of the baby stuff so it kinda looks like a nursery.

Here is the process from office to nursery...






Note the litte touches of Mommy's history in the room.. the COW, the Vikings hat, DJ's uncle and his cousin CJ. Still looking for some things from Daddy. You can see more pictures of the transformation here.

Oh, and to top it off, here are two pictures of the future occupant of this beautiful room...


So, after 6 ultrasounds we finally have a profile picture... Hello DJ! Mommy and Daddy can't wait to meet you!

Receiving Blanket from Papa John and Grandma Pat!

This just came in the mail today for baby DJ. Pat made it from scratch. So cute! Can't wait to bring baby de Jong home all bundled up in it!

Nursery Update...Cleared and Painted

So Babies R Us called to say that our furniture is ready. Nothing like a little incentive to get the nursery cleared out and painted! Since Jen has doctor's orders to take it easy--we were in the hospital this weekend with early signs of pre-eclampsia--we recruited a little help! (THANK YOU, LIPFORDS!!!!)

Sweet baby James Lipford takes a last look at the office on Sunday.

On Monday, we cleaned and taped up the baseboards and ceiling.

Today, our good friend Rachel started the transformation to baby blue.

Niels got home from work, changed into work clothes (a new term in his vocabulary since meeting Jen) and helped finish the first coat.

One coat down, one to go...tomorrow.

DJ's nursery

It's a been a hard, frustrating, draining, scary week. Maybe we'll update on that later, but for now, we'll focus on the positive part of the week. Our good friends, the Lipfords are here helping Niels clear out DJ's room so we can paint it baby boy blue. Our furniture arrived a few weeks early so the rush is on to get everything read before the furniture comes. 

Here's DJ's furniture. We like that it matches the furniture in the rest of the house, and if we decide he doesn't need the armoire or dresser, there are plenty of other places to put it to good use!

Big Milestone!

Today marks the first day of my 24th week of pregnancy. This is an important milestone because it is the generally accepted time when a baby born pre-mature can survive. Of course, we're more than happy to have our little boy stay where he is for a little while longer, but after the miscarriages and complications with this guy, it feels great to make it to this point!

Our 1st anniversary picture

Those of you who have been to our house have seen our stairway tradition. We have photo frames with pictures from our engagement and wedding, and more frames hanging in anticipation of our future anniversaries. We had a formal photo taken on our cruise so this picture will become our first anniversary picture. DJ is really making an appearance!

Baby DJ from the Outside

For those wondering how the baby bump is coming, here are a few pictures of me trying on my "old faithful formal." We think DJ is really excited for his first big trip. Every day he seems to be popping out a bit more. The last picture is really impressive.

DJ is half baked!

We have two due dates for baby DJ. The first, December 11, is based on Jen's calendar. The second, December 16, is based on how the baby measured at our 7 week ultrasound. But, as people tend to do when they are looking forward to a milestone, we choose to follow the first date, which makes today the start of DJ's 20th week--half way!!!

It seems like I have been pregnant forever. Maybe that's because I've had the complications of three pregnancies already! When I saw my OB after finally getting rid of the pump, she told me that less than 2% of pregnant woman get as sick as I was. Lucky me!

Niels and I are looking forward to the next 20 weeks (and beyond). I'm still down 12 pounds (as of this morning), but if you look very carefully--or if I wear a maternity shirt--you can see the beginning of a baby bump! We're counting the days til we see our little one again on August 4 and the BIG ULTRASOUND. And if all goes well, we'll finally know which name of the two we've chosen to start using at home. (The rest of you will have to wait unti DJ's arrival!)

Maybe Baby?

Today Jen is 19 weeks pregnant, and we are counting the days til August 4, when our big ultrasound is scheduled. If all goes well and baby de Jong cooperates. We'll find out if we're having a boy or girl!

Jen has been bonding with other December mommies on the Fertility Friend message boards, and yesterday followed a fun link to Make Me Babies. This site takes photos of two individuals to create a baby picture. See our adorable DJ above. We'll have to wait a few years to see how accurate the site is, but in the meantime, Daddy and Mommy have a picture to admire!

Operation Dump the Pump

Today is day two of Jen's much-anticipated Operation Dump the Pump. After nearly a month on the Zofran pump, Jen was finally given the okay to wean off it. She is extraordinarily happy about this because, even though it did slow down her "worship of the porcelain god," dealing with tubes and needles every day is no fun at all! In order to reach this milestone, her OB required that she:

1. stop throwing up so much (she's eight days and counting!)
2. stop losing weight (she was down 15 pounds, but has now gained back two)
3. starting eating normal foods in normals amounts (the weight loss referred to #2 is a result of a lack of #1, along with a ten-week diet of jello, flavor-ice and Gatorade...Niels can now take her out to eat and she orders more than mashed potatoes and pickles).

Jen was especially looking forward to today's OB appointment because she was eager to hear baby DJ's heartbeat after such a sickly month. She left quite encouraged to hear a very strong rate of 150. (Oddly enough, the old wives' tale about a baby's gender is no help at all. 150 and above is guessed to be a girl, 150 and below for a boy...sorry Gramma Chi!).

The next big day on our calendar is August 4, when we have the BIG ultrasound, aka the "hearts and parts" sonagram where, if DJ cooperates, we'll find out if we're having a little jongen or meisje.

Stay tuned!

Baby's first outfit!

Niels and I saw this onesie on Cafepress when we were pregnant the first time. We didn't order it at the time (which turned out to be a good thing!), and promised ourselves that we would order it when we finally made it to the second trimester!

Well, this week is week 14--officially trimester two!--so baby de Jong finally has something to wear.

Isn't it cute!?!

Now we just need to find some good NFL gear since he or she will arrive just in time for the playoffs!!!