630 am - Day 2

Luca did well for his first night.  Not only did he receive some shots, have a hearing test, and get checked by the nurses every couple of hours...but he also slept well.  We had him in bed with us and he slept like a baby (sorry, couldn't help it).
   He's nursing well and pooping and peeing often.  Just 1 more procedure today and then we're going to try to check out of the hospital today after our doctor visit.
   Notice all the cups in the picture...Kristine and I are staying hydrated...water juice and now coffee.  Life is good!

11:25 pm

Luca is not letting us get our rest!  Still up with him, but he's feeding/sleeping now so we might get a little break soon.  Everybody is learning how this wonderful, crazy world of the 3 of is will work itself out.

Kristine wins...

First to be peed on.  6:00pm.  Luca's age: 14.5 hours old.

13 hours

Luca is just over 13 hours old.  He is feeding better.  He knows both my and Kristine's voice.  He has met Ma and Dr. Barth as well as a cousin and an Aunt.  Kristine and I have each only slept for about 2 hours in the past 36...but life is good.

Nap time?

Kristine and I have been awake since 5am yesterday.  In that time, we have increased our family number by half again.  Vitamin K and bath for Luca...then nap time for Mitch and Kristine.

Luca meets the extended family

Baby Luca with Aunt Nini.  She wanted another baby...buy not for real.  Just to smell him.  :)

What a pair!

Luca and Dad

635am

Luca Robert Moberg Jackson born at 3:33 am weighing 7 lbs. 7 oz. on Thursday, March 3.

Delivery

Did I mention that Kristine and I had this baby without the use of any drugs.  Nothing for inducing.  Nothing for contractions.  Nothing for pushing.  We only had each other...I couldn't be more proud of Kristine and baby.  They both did AMAZING!

Stats

7 lbs.7 oz.   20.5"  Good latch.  Everything is great!

Queen City's Prince

Born at 3:33 on 3/3.  Details to follow!

219am

We're pushing.

1245am

Still in labor.  Contractions are only about 3.5 minutes apart now.  Definitely more discomfort and pain for Kristine now.  She's getting more and more vocal with every contraction.  Lots of burns too!  That's a good sign!  That's all for now.

11:45 pm

Contractions are getting stronger.  We're out of the whirlpool now and laying on the bed.  Kristine is resting the best she can between contractions.  We were told that this is a marathon and not a sprint....Kristine said during one of her contractions "why doesn't anyone say how hard this is!".  More to come as it is available and I'm available to blog it.

We're officially committed...admitted

Whirlpool tub in room makes a nice relaxing time for Kristine and baby.  Contractions have continued to become more frequent, stronger and longer in duration.  Earlier today...at about 5:00 Kristine was dilated to about a 3.5.  When checked for admittance at 9:20 she was a 4 which is a great number to be at!  Should progress about 1cm per hour or so from now on.  Kristine is doing so great...I can't believe how proud of her I am and how unbelievable she is!

Hospital visit part two

Back at Sanford Hospital.  This time we're not leaving without our son!

Back at home

Kristine is dilated to about a 3.5...with contractions happening about every 5 minutes.  We decided to come home to continue labor and will go back to the hospital when contractions are a little closer together.  Will keep you all posted.

Walking the halls

Waiting for another hour before being monitored again.  Kristine in het sexy new outfit!

At the hospital...part 1

Contractions were inconsistent...but Dr. Nelson wanted us to come in because of the low fluid thing.  Kristine is hooked up to an NST machine again...things look pretty normal.  Might be admitted...might go home.  We'll keep you posted.

Maybe today?

Left the bakery to come home and focus on the baby and our family.  Kristine started having contractions this morning at about 3a.m.  We've been keeping track of the contractions today since she got out of the bath...that's what the picture is of.  Nothing regular yet, but he should be coming soon!

Post Doc

So Kristine's fluid level are in the 5th percentile...very low.  We are out at the mall walking to try to start this labor.  So far everything is ok.  We go back to the doc on Thursday for another check.  But everything is A-ok.

Ultrasound and Due Date

Checking Kristine's level of amniotic fluid.  Dr. Nelson was concerned that fluid levels hadn't increased.  It is completely normal as the babies head may be moving down further.  This is a cautionary check to make everybody happy that the pregnancy is progressing as normal.  Baby weighs about 7lbs. 5oz. right now.  Not too big, not too small!  We always knew he'd be about perfect.  Everything on the ultrasound looks good.  They're measuring the fluid now...they take a measurement from all 4 areas of the uterus which will them tell the Dr. that everything is hopefully ok.

We also discussed the due date and how we feel that their week count differs from ours.  Dr. Nelson has changed the due date to March 5th as per our request.  That way, if we have to induce, we can at least put it off for another week.  We all think that he's going to come out before 3/14 though!  Our induction date would be 3/13 with hard labor probably coming on Monday, 3/14.

Going back to talk to the doctor now about the ultrasound...will keep you all posted.

Doctor check

Belly measuring 38...about the same as last time.  That, I just found out, is a measurement of the top of the uterus.  Cervix check:  still not forward.  Very thin...about 80% or 90% thinned out.  Dr. Nelson could get a finger in the cervix and could feel the babies head.  She was excited that she could finally check the cervix.  Dr. Nelson also wants to check the fluid level...Kristine has been measuring about 38"...the same as last week.  Now we're headed to ultrasound.

NST Test results

NST test went great.  Kristine was hooked up for about 30 minutes...she had one contraction during the test.  The baby looked great all thru the test, even during the contraction.  It's called a Non Stress Test, except during the contraction...then it's referred as a Contraction Stress Test. The picture shows her contraction and his heart rate.  He did great. Now on to the doctor check-up.

1 day over due

Blood pressure: Good.  Pulse:  Good.  The doctor is going to hook Kristine up to a NST machine today...that means Non Stress Test.  There are 2 monitors...1 to measure the baby's heart rate and the other to measure her contractions.  On the machine, the number on the left is baby's heart rate and on the right side are Kristine's contractions.  We're not sure how the contraction number is translated, but we'll find out in 20 minutes when the test is over.