Holding Harrison for the first time!

Daddy gets diaper duty!

Daddy got to change Harrison's first poopy diaper today! During the diaper change Harrison let a pee pee out too.

We can't believe how much a day makes a difference. Harrison looked better today than he did yesterday. He had some mild edema which is starting to subside thanks to some stellar diapers. Today they turned on the giraffe lights for jaundice which is very common among premature babies. He wears the cutest pair of goggles! Harrison also received a blood transfusion this afternoon for his anemia. It was discovered that he has a small heart murmur that is due to a artery in the heart not closing completely. Medication administration will help clothes that artery.

More exciting news to report is that he is now off the c-pap machine that was helping him breath. Right now he has a itty bitty nasal cannula on and is getting about 24% oxygen; he is doing all the rest of the breathing on his own. Hopefully soon he won't require any breathing assistance.

As I mentioned in a previous post that Harrison is quite feisty---well he is sure proving that. The nurse today told us that they could hear him crying at the nurses station last night...which is quite amazing for the fact that he is inside the incubator. All I say, he is just like mom---wants to be heard!

It's getting easier to distinguish which features Harrison is getting from each of us. He definitely has daddy's toes, ears, and thick blonde hair. I think he has mommy's lips, but I am still not quite certain.

We haven't got to hold him yet. Last night we were scheduled to hold him, but they had two admits, so it really wasn't the time. We were there to visit him this afternoon and plan to go back tonight and get to hold him for the first time. We can't wait. We will be doing what is called Kangaroo Care. This means when we hold him it's skin to skin. This way Harrison doesn't have to burn too many calories trying to stay warm while being held---mom and dad's body heat will help minimize calories burned.

Otherwise---Mom and dad are hanging in here. We aren't afraid to admit that we are exhausted! There aren't enough hours in a day to get even a quarter of the way through our to do list and I am learning that pumping is second job in itself.

Short video of our litty guy.

HARRISON IS HERE!

Harrison came into this world on November 28th, 2009 at 6:47 PM. He is 16 inches long and weighs 3 lbs 3 ounces.

Upon arriving at the hospital U was dilated to 9 cm (10 cm is complete). We waited for the NICU team from Gunderson to arrive before the doctor broke my water. About 30 minutes of pushing, he was here!

Daddy and Grandma Nelson were here to help us through labor. (I don't think I could have done it without them). Daddy did get a little light headed at one point and had to sit down, but he recovered quickly.

As daddy would say, he came out "pissed off"! Kicking and crying which was a relief to his mommy and daddy.

Being born 11 weeks early will come with challenges. Right now his home away from home is Gunderson Lutheran NICU. At this point in time he is doing very well. The doctor said, "he is a strong boy." When I talked to her last night she said they were more than likely going to be taking him off the respirator by morning. He was fully breathing on his own at birth, but they like to intibate regardless just because being so little breathing can be such a chore. He is somewhat anemic...the doctor said he lost some blood through the placenta at birth or the bruise he got to his noggin on the way out.

I would have never imagined waking up yesterday that I would be parents by the end of the day.

It looks as though we can expect Harrison to be in the NICU for 5-11 weeks. We will get a better idea of how well he is doing and discharge date when we get to his unit. At this point in time we are expecting to be discharged from the hospital this morning and be with our son by this afternoon. (Only immediate household family can see him due to the H1N1 outbreak). We will be sure to get video and lots of pictures!

We did get to spend a few brief moments with with before his ambulance ride. We all got to hold his little hand and smooth his head. For a 29 week old baby---he looked really good. The picture above doesn't do justice (we only had out cell phones to take pictures during the delivery). Better pictures are soon to come.

Be sure to check back for updates. I hope to blog about his entire birth journey!

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

3rd and Final Trimester!!!

GOBBLE-GOBBLE-GOBBLE-GOOBLE! Now that is one stuffed turkey!

We are offically in the third trimester at 28 weeks. What does that mean? Less than 12 weeks until Harrison's arrival!

Harrison is reaching 16 inches in length and weighs about 2 1/2 pounds. He has definately grown or my clothes are shrinking. During the next few weeks he should be getting into right position (head down) for arrival. Over the last few days, he has definately moved, but I am not so sure it's the correct position (or I am hoping it's not, because I am currently rather uncomfortable). It doesn't help that I have been battling a cold for more than a week and my poor left foot has suffered multiple bouts of Charlie Horses. But enough about me--more about Harrison. Other gains that he has made is the ability to cough and blink as well as having REM sleep---yes, he can now dream about Mommy and Daddy!

The search for daycare is on-going. We were hoping to have found someone by now---but we have more interviews set up for next week. I am trying not to get too discouraged and keep and open mind!

Second Trimester Home Stretch...

Here is this week's bump update! Yes, Harrison's home continues to grow as he does. At 27 weeks, Harrison weighs between 2 to 2 1/2 pounds and measure 15 inches (from head to toe). The end of this week marks the beginning of third and final trimester! Harrison definitely still has some growing to do as well filling out before his arrival, but as far as skills such as breathing he will continue practice in preparation for his life outside. Another skill I am sure Harrison has already mastered is kicking.

I continue to feel good--well actually the best I have felt since finding out we were pregnant. I am calling this our "honeymoon stage." But I do have to say that after these 9 months I am going to take less things for granite...such things as sitting on the floor doing scrap booking and being able to breathe properly. Putting on shoes is more of a chore these days as well. Thank goodness I am addicted to flats (that slip on), but maneuvering myself to put on tennis shoes is much more complicated than ever before.

We also started the interviewing process for daycare providers. I was actually looking forward to this process, until now. There is no ands, ifs, or butts---we need to find a daycare, I am just anxious we won't be able to find the right provider. The search continues...

This is all I have for this week's update!

Surviving Friday the 13th!

Today we had our monthly appointment with the our doctor. Only good news to report on Harrison's end. Our doctor had a student with him today and finding his heart beat wasn't a challenge as it usually is. As soon as the doppler hit my belly we heard the whooshing/thumping of his heart (150 beats/minute). My blood pressure was good and Harrison is measuring in at normal 26 week size (for all of you that say I hardly look pregnant---he is your average size baby). For the appointment we had to arrive early at the lab so that I could start the glucose test (checking for gestational diabetes). The test itself was not bad...nothing more than drinking a bottle of Kool Aid. I expected it to be a sugar high (as I suppose it was), but it didn't taste like anything more than your average Kool-Aid. Now, let's just hope we pass!


In other news...Over the last few weeks we started looking into daycare options. Our heart was set on a church day care...but the only problem was over the last three weeks we haven't heard anything from the facility. I had left countless messages for the child care director, sent e-mails, left two hand written notes with the receptionist. Doug went as far as actually going to the daycare, leaving our cell phone numbers and home number, still no word. I know what you are thinking--we probably should have gave up, but we heard such good things about the daycare, we kept in on our list. Well...believe it or not after 3 weeks I received a phone call today from the child care director. When she called she introduced herself and me, trying not to be rude said, "it's been over three weeks we have been leaving messages for you to call us." Her explanation was that she was "looking into whether or not they had openings." So---you can imagine my fury when it has taken her 3 weeks to look into whether they will have openings or not...a simple phone call in between letting us know that she got one of our messages and she was looking to whether or not they can take an infant. After all of this saga...they don't have any openings...The director asked us if we would be interested in keeping our name on the waiting list. I simply replied, "no." What was this lady thinking...after 3 weeks of not simply returning a phone call, no apology and now your asking us to be on a wait list? I think we have waited long enough (though I didn't not say that). I tried to keep myself as composed as I could---I suppose I could blame it on the hormones, but I was really heated after getting off the phone with her. It took everything I had not blow up at this lady---I had to keep reminding myself this was church facility.

The search for a daycare continues...

Welcome to Charlie Horse Haven...

I am beginning to wonder if there is a boxing match going on in this belly of mine. Harrison is getting stronger and it's evident in his kicks. The other night dad tried to listen to Harrison's heart beat through my stomach (an online tip suggested trying this), but rather than hearing the heart beat dad was just getting kicked the entire time.

It's pretty evident I am indeed pregnant now---and there is no way to mask the growing bump, especially when you can see it constantly moving, even through my jacket! I am also feeling a couple of less than desirable pregnancy "perks." The other morning I woke up to a terrible Charlie Horse in my left calf. Just as I was trying to rub through that pain, I got a second Charlie Horse in my left hip. It was a lose, lose situation...as soon as I stopped rubbing my calf to go to my hip--the Horse tightened up again... I am feeling a little more winded these days as Harrison is starting to make his way to closer to ribs. It's getting tight in there. All I can think about is how claustrophobic I would be. I have also been experiencing some Braxton Hicks---Don't be alarmed (as I was). At this point in pregnancy this is actually quite normal so long as they don't have cycle or are minutes apart from each other.

At week 26 Harrison eyes have opened (let there be light!). He weighs 2 pounds plus and is more than 9 inches (head to bottom) and up to 13 inches including his legs. Like I mentioned earlier---he is quite the kicker---perhaps a football player?

It's amazing how much time is flying by. I haven't even started Christmas shopping and after next week, it's only a month away (and a month closer to Harrison's arrival). I am planning a shopping trip to Albertville this weekend---this will be a true test on how much I can shop while carrying around our precious cargo. Dad will be at home installing the new gates for our vehicles---that way Big Sister Whitney Dog won't be tempted to jump over the seat and land on Harrison by accident.

Stay tuned for more updates!

An Assembly Line...

Dad has been incredibly busy assemblying Harrison's crib, dresser/hutch. He also installed a new ceiling fan. This week dad has the week off being Mr. Handy Man as we have taken a break from ordering madness.

The room is really coming together!

Counting Down!

Yeah! I thought it was essential to blog that Harrison's arrival is now less than 100 days away! Reality is certainly sinking in as we went full force pulling his room together over the weekend. It's so much fun! The problem is, I want everything and it's only one room... Stay tuned for Wednesday's blog update that is sure to include some finished photo's of the nursery.

It's Harrison's Pad!

Welcome to Harrison's room!

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Thanks to the help from Grandma Nelson last week---the painting is finally complete! Doug and I put up the chair rail, blinds, and curtains up over the weekend. There are still some odds and ends to finish (new fixture, etc.), but all in all we are happy with this almost complete baby's room. Also this past weekend we ordered the crib, hutch, and dresser. We are waiting to purchase the rocker until the rest of the furniture comes.

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Harrison is focusing on learning to breathe this week. His nostrils are opening and he is practicing breathing amniotic fluid. He also measures more than 9 inches (crown to rump) and is weighing almost 2 lbs...what a growing boy! He is sure making his presence known (the bump!).

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Harrison has definitely kept his parents busy this week!

Cradle Bedding has arrived...

Here is a sneak peak of the cradle bedding. We ended up opting to order a neutral set (in mind that Harrison may get a sister in the future). The cradle has some history as my dad made it for me (not knowing I would be a girl). We can't wait for Harrison's arrival to put this cradle to use for the first time in 25 years!

Does anyone have any Holy Water? (Happy Halloween 2009!)

H-A-P-P-Y H-A-L-L-O-W-E-E-N!!!!!

Yes---Halloween 2009 has come to a close. We had a fantastic time last night sporting our Priest and Nun get-ups! We ran into interesting costumes---even meeting 3 Jesus. (Check out all of our Halloween pictures on Face book).

We definitely brought in some comments. We actually ran into a guy that said, "I saw you at Mulligans, the only thing that would make your costumes perfect if for you to be pregnant." I turned to him, pointed to my belly and said, "I am!" He looked at us in amazement and not quite if he believed us... I think I look pregnant by these pictures, but you be the judge. Not everyone was as blind as the Mulligans guy...When we walked into Brother's Bar---the first thing that I heard is, "Oh sister, you shouldn't be drinking." We actually both got on the bar to strut our stuff as best costume (I wish we would have gotten a picture of this)...

Needless to say---obviously we lived up last night! :) We can't wait until Harrison can join us next year! I am hoping to snatch up a couple good deals later this afternoon for his first Halloween in 2010.

In other news... Harrison's room finally got a much needed coat of paint. Dad and I just finished putting up the chair rail just a few minutes ago. We still have to touch up the white trim and do a few odds and ends, but everything is coming together. Now all we need is some furniture.

As for the swine flu? I am officially vaccinated as of Friday. Within two weeks we should have built up enough immunity to fight that nasty bug.