Katherine Week 1 1/2

My post is a little late coming. I guess when given the choice to blog or fold the laundry I usually pick the laundry :)  Not today. It is time to post some pictures so the laundry can wait.

Katherine has in her short time with us found her way to all of our hearts. We just love this little bundle of joy. She is a very calm baby (so far).  The only time she really cries is when she is hungry or her diaper needs changed. The first few days home were a little tiring. Katherine had a bit of night and day confusion  but she seems to have settled down during the night and is sleeping some amazing stretches at night! In fact last night I didn't wake up until 6:00 this morning and had to run in the front room to make sure she was okay. She was! When I woke her to feed her she was super hungry but happy.  She sleeps bundled in all Grandma Hunnies Blankets. I think she looks pretty funny all bundled. It seems to have done the the trick. She sleeps just as well as she does in my arms this way!

Katherine has already been to the doctor twice for jaundice checks and has another appointment on Friday. I was getting a little annoyed with always taking my baby to the doctor when it is plainly clear that she doesn't have jaundice.  (But she is cute in her car seat)

 

 She has more color than all my babies put together. That changed at my last doctor appointment. I finally found the humor in the jaundice checks. The nurse informed me the doctor thinks all his white babies have jaundice because their skin is so yellow. He is black. This made me laugh. I guess compared to his children Katherine is quite yellow...but I call her my little cherry. She is the reddest baby I have ever seen especially when she is mad. Even her feet turn red!

 Saturday Greg took the kids fishing. Katherine and I decided to join him! It was a bit chilly in the morning so we bundled up real well. We had a good time but the wind was too strong for Katherine so she and I spent a little quality time in the car :)

The main side effect of me eating chocolate is that Katherine gets just  a little gassy and gives us really cute smiles as she works it through her system :)

Greg's coworker brought us the sweetest little presents for all the children. Katherine got a "cake" and the kids all got puppets and stories. 

Katherine in her bulldog attire. It is probably the only time she will wear the hat. It just doesn't look good on her!

Katherine's hair.

Katherine as she is right now :) Isn't she sweet! I just love this little bundle of joy. I am grateful for facebook and blogs so I can share pictures with all of my family who don't get to share the love this snugly bundle has to share. She is just so sweet!

For those of you following me on facebook this is a huge repeat of pictures/comments  and for that I apologize but this is is my journal so you get a repeat!

Our Little Angel Has Arrived!

We are excited to announce that Katherine Elaine Francom joined our family yesterday at 2:25 pm. She weighed  7 pounds and 8.6 ounces and was 21 inches long.

Excluding the fact that I have been contracting for weeks and quite ill for the last week this was the easiest labor and delivery I have ever had.  We spent most of the labor joking and talking. It was actually a relaxing experience and I never would have thought I could say that.

After contracting all night on Wednesday and Thursday I called Labor and Delivery for some advice on Friday morning and they suggested I come in and be checked. I was actually upset they wanted to see me. My contractions were tapering off. They were only coming about every 5 minutes and the intensity was not as strong as I thought they should be. I went in and found I was dilated to a 4-5. That was shocking to me! I am usually admitted at a 2 or 3! So they decided to observe me for an hour. I was upset because I only had about 10 contractions that hour and they were wimpy. I kept walking around and resigned myself to the fact they would send me home. I was emotional and crying a bit because I wanted to have my baby. The doctor came and checked me and informed me that I was a 7. I couldn't believe it. The contractions weren't painful enough in my mind! Actually they weren't consistent, hard, long or following any pattern...but they were working and I was relaxing through them as I should. So...they admitted me...here I am a few hours later at a 9 working my way to a 10.

See me! Smiling! Happy! Almost done! What the heck? I had a really good labor coach and decided to follow the Bradley Method. Apparently it really works... The scary part of the labor was ahead for me. :) The last hour and I was starting to feel apprehensive! It had been too easy. Apparently my really nice contractions were not quite enough to get the baby out so they gave me a little bit of pitocen. I didn't like that...then the baby was turned face up so the doc got to put his hand inside and turn her around. At that moment I thought I was going to maybe die and Greg says I kept saying  I should have got an epidural over and over and he kept saying something back to me like just push her out and you will be done :) That was true. A few pushes later and she was out. Beautiful little thing. I sure am happy I didn't give up! I kept my eyes shut the entire time I was pushing and when they placed her on me I finally cracked them to see my beautiful baby was a girl.  With no epidural recovery was fast...with all the labor practice and preparation there was no tearing. I didn't even swell. With the best labor coach in the world there were no tears or stress and he even helped me through the last hour with all one could wish for in a coach. Thank you Greg. You were amazing. The nurses are great here :) They joke about how some women can just come to the hospital and give a baby as if there was nothing to it. Apparently that is me. Good thing they didn't witness the other three long painful labors. I like the reputation I have here. (unlike the poor lady down the hall who spent some time screaming bloody murder even though she had an epidural.)

So Here we are...the laboring crew celebrating in our own ways. 

The Family arrived before the first bath and everyone got to watch!

Everyone had plenty of time for snuggles!

All my favorites in one shot. 

The kids have been staying here at the hospital with me! 

They have been so very good. Katherine has an elevated risk because of the Coombs factor (Jacob had it too) so we have to stay until Sunday.  So far her levels are great. 

Just for fun a few more of my new little angel Katherine. 

Greg Is Amazing!

A month or so ago our TV took a turn for the worst. The sound died. So...we celebrated tax returns by purchasing a new tv. The only problem was we needed a new home for the TV to sit on. Greg being the handy man he is went to work and made me a beautiful TV stand.  He converted part of the unfinished basement into a workshop and in about a week made me this!

I think he did a fantastic job and am so happy he is willing to build cool things for our family :)