Micah's Arrival

Well Micah is 1 week old and things have calmed down enough for me to write a bit about his birth. I'm notoriously bad at keeping records and a terrible journaler, which is a shame for an English major, so I'm going to write the whole story here on the blog where it will be immortalized. That being said, if you don't want to read a novel, feel free to look at the pics and move on. In fact, I'll write a little abstract for those who just want the facts:

ABSTRACT: My due date was Monday, the 16th, but on Saturday the 7th my blood pressure rose. I monitored it over the weekend, had blood tests and urinalysis on Monday (came back negative for preeclampsia, which I had with Sophie), and then it rose again Monday night. Doctor decided to induce on Tuesday a.m. Went in and started Pitocin at 10:15am (80% effaced, not dilated at all). Drugs worked, got epidural after 4 hours, had Micah after a bit of pushing at 7:40pm. Weighed 6lbs 5oz and was 18 inches long. Came home on Thursday evening and have been enjoying our sleepy guy ever since.

FULL VERSION: After having preeclampsia with Sophie I was very wary of headaches and rising blood pressure this time around. After taking Sophie to a gymnastics birthday part on Saturday the 7th, my blood pressure was higher than normal (my baseline is 100/60 and it was 125/70) so I continued to monitor it through the weekend. I had a headache constantly, so I went in Monday a.m. for blood tests and urinalysis. They all came back negative, but my doctor said he was on call that night and had no problem inducing me at 39 weeks if my symptoms got worse. We went to dinner with friends that night and my friend Amber decided to try to convince me to have the baby that night so she could come hang out w/ me at the hospital. I said that would only happen if my blood pressure was higher. Went home and it was 136/75. Called doctor, he said he thought I was fine but if we wanted to have the baby before I got sick, we should probably induce Tuesday a.m. So we got some sleep and went to the hospital the next morning. Around 10:15 they started the pitocin. I was 80% effaced but not dilated at all. I got an epidural at 2:15 and was 3cm and almost 100% effaced. Most of the day was just a waiting game - Mom crocheted a blanket for Micah, Erik froze and watched episodes of The Cosby Show, and I tried to sleep a bit. At 5pm I was still at 4cm, but doctor broke my water and by 7pm I was complete and ready to push. I pushed casually for a little while to try to get Micah to turn - he was presenting with his ear and they weren't sure which way he was facing. He ended up coming out with his head turned sideways and took a big gulp of amniotic fluid on the way out, which was a little scary but they kept assuring me his coloring was good and he just needed to have it suctioned. He was 6lbs 5oz and 18 inches long.

I was really wanting to have him in time for Sophie to meet him that night, so our friends Chris and Jan (and Amber) graciously brought her around 8:30 or 9 to see her brother. She was so sweet and just kept saying that she loved her baby brother. Of course she looked huge next to him, and I still can't get over how big she is. She was a lb heavier than him when she was born, and he just seems incredibly tiny. When we left the hospital he weighed 6 lbs even, and as of his 1 week check-up he's back up to 6lbs 3oz.

We are adjusting well to life w/ 2 kiddos, thanks in large part to my mom being here. She is our personal maid, chef, and nanny and we are so grateful to her. Erik's parents came over the weekend and Sophie was thrilled to have them to play with. She pretended to be "Erik the Dog" most of the weekend. Then we were blessed with a visit from Erik's uncle and aunt from Indiana, and Sophie immediately took to Uncle Jim and wrestled with him for an hour Sunday afternoon. So if anyone wants to play rough, Sophie is ready and willing to take you on. She is not exactly a gentle, quiet child - I blame her father for this - but she is adjusting well and seems completely in love with Micah.

One matter for prayer is Micah's stomach. Sophie had a severe dairy/soy allergy when she was an infant and apparently this can be genetic. I don't know that that's what's going on with Micah, but he's been showing a few symptoms of it and we're praying and hoping that it's not an allergy. I had to abstain from all traces of dairy and soy for 8 months with Sophie, and I'm not sure that medically that will be good for my heart this time. So just pray for wisdom if you think of it, and for a healthy baby. Other than that he's completely sweet and content - a great sleeper and he's becoming more alert and a better nurser each day.

We are so thankful for our sweet Micah Henry. Micah means "Who is like God?" and we pray that he will be a witness to our amazing Creator as he grows up.

From the moment he entered the world he has loved sucking in his lower lip. It's really precious, but makes nursing a major pain.

So blessed to be holding my healthy son

Meeting his big sister

At home with his proud Daddy