First Father's Day

Today I spend my first fathers day with my Family. My mom is flying in to stay for 2 weeks. There will be 2 grandmas in the house for a bit. Hopefully they won't fight over the baby.

Olivia on Excursion

Olivia is just over a week old and has done alot in portland. She has seen Multnomah falls, ridden a stern wheeler down the Columbia River. She's gone down town, road the max light rale, watched naked people on bikes (sorry no pics) and shopped at Saturday Market. Olivia's first few days have been very busy.

Hello from Olivia

SHE'S HERE!!!

Albert already got the head start on the important information but I thought I would fill in a little from my perspective.

On Thursday, the 4th, we had a doctors appointment and ultrasound. The results came back that Olivia's amnio fluid was really low. The doctor wanted to induce that evening. Since induction and interventions were not part of our birth plan Albert and I wanted to wait and try a few more natural methods. There was no evidence that Olivia was in distress. The doctor was just worried because low fluid could be dangerous.

We went directly from the doctors office to acupuncturist. I tried acupuncture on Thursday and Friday, tried "exercises" with Albert, nipple stimulation, spicy food but, Olivia was too comfortable so induction was scheduled on Monday at 6am.

At the hospital labor started out about as I expected. Painful, but I was able to relax in between contractions. The beginning was easy. They upped the pitocin and did checks on my cervix. Labor progressed a little slower than I expected, so we let them break the water at noon. After that it was a whole other show!!

The contractions became very strong and stayed one to two minutes apart. I could not relax, I could not focus. I did start to really want the narcotics to take the edge off the pain. The only thing that saved me was Albert. He was so perfect through the whole thing. Albert talked me through everything and just kept encouraging me to go on. I have never loved him more than I do now. He and my daughter are perfect.

Well anyway. All of a sudden I HAD do push! There was no way around it. In fact Albert tried to coach me through it to wait for the doctor and that was the only time I was really really really mad at him. I told him to shut up because no one was gonna stop me I had to PUSH! After about an hour of pushing Olivia was here. The nurse Joyce was an awesome help, Albert was perfect in helping me crunch up for each push, and my mom got to listen through the curtain. When they put the baby on my tummy I could not believe she had been in there this whole time!

I kept saying, "It's a baby, It's a baby". So far this was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but also my favorite.

Just Born Baby

Olivia is home now and has had her first night in her crib. She slept well, she only woke up once, we got a whole four hours of sleep!

Here are some pics from the hosptial of Eliz, Grandma, Grandpa, and I with Olivia.

Olivia's First Night

Olivia is here! We're spending the first night at the hospital. Hopefully we'll be home by Tuesday night. Olivia started feeding only minutes after birth. Mommy was glad to be done with labor, 7 hours, 1 of which was spent pushing. Eliz did it without any pain meds. Olivia Artemisia Palma. 7lb12oz born @ 420pm. 20inches long.

Here's Eliz after starting pitocin.

B-day

Today is the day. Right now I'm watching a nurse poke eliz to start an IV. Soon the birthing starts. Hopefully there are no complications. We are all excited and a little scared (eliz, grandma and grandpa clark and I).

Due date +2

Olivia is now 2 days past due. We're getting tired of waiting. Olivia needs to show up already. The doctor wants to induce. But we feel that we should wait till Olivia is ready to come. If baby is ok and mommy is ok then there is no reason to rush. We just need to keep on eye on baby via non-stress tests (strapping a moniter to mommy and timing contractions/movments). Eliz started to visit an acupunk (acupuncturist) to help things progress naturally. Avoiding intervention is ideal. Of course top priority is baby Olivias' well being. If there is any sign she is in trouble we will of course take action. I would like her to show up on the 7th. Thats her great grandmas b-day. But sooner is ok.

One day past our due date.

Well, Olivia was supposed to arrive yesterday but what does the doctor know anyway. He also thinks she might come on the 5th, 7th, or 15th. Just a bunch of guessing going on. My mom and dad are here. We have been showing them around town and doing lots of walking.

Today Albert, my mom, and I are going to the doctor to see if we are progressing along. We are going to get another ultrasound to measure Olivia and make sure her size is good. I think she is fine, she sure likes to kick me in the ribs while pushing on my bladder. Everyone says she had dropped lower so hopefully that means she is getting closer to making her arrival.

I really want her to come so we all can meet her, but then I think about what I have to go thru to deliver her I get a little scared. Plus everyone is watching me like the attraction at the zoo. Today we plan to hiking to walk alot. Well, we will see.