Friday, July 30, 2010

Finding Balance


We love the new addition to our evolving family. I can't put into words the new level of love and joy Rose has brought to our home. It could go without saying that our new addition has also changed the pace and pattern of our lives. Like all new parents, we are experiencing the hectic routine of feeding, burping, swaddling, cleaning and diaper changing. Add two dogs plus a high maintenance parrot and its no surprise there are days when we sit down for dinner over two bowls of cereal. To be quite frank, Amy is doing most of the heavy lifting in this world of parenting. I get a break from 8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday while at work. Amy is on 24/7, feeding every 2-3 hours.

That being said, we are very fortunate and grateful to have Amy's mom, Linda, less than two hours away in New York. She comes down each week and stays for two days. It helps to break up the week for Amy and gives her a chance to get out with the boys or go for a jog. In addition, it allows Amy and me to spend some time together, just the two of us. I feel like taking this time together is a critical part to the success of raising Rose. It helps Amy and me stay connected and maintain a sense of balance in our lives. This week's time with Amy was particularly special as we took the opportunity to get out for a bike ride. It was our first ride together since September of last year. In our nine years together we have spent a great number of hours pedaling along side each other, negotiating obstacles and experiencing the exhilarating wild ride of a fast down hill. Becoming parents to Rose offers a new opportunity to share in an exhilarating wild ride.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

An Early Start


For those of you who we have spent holidays, vacations or any other amount of time with Amy and I, realize we have a passion for the outdoors. In addition, Amy has a very difficult time sitting still. The woman is always on the move, either on the trail or on her bike. Since I have known Amy, I think the longest she has gone without doing some sort of exercise or physical activity is 3 weeks. This 3 week period was following a serious accident with a horse and left her in a back brace for three months. Even then she was back on the stationary bike within weeks. Throughout her pregnancy Amy was constantly on the go, hiking almost to the very end of the pregnancy. We did a 3 and a half hour hike in Herrimans State Park less the 48 hours before Rose was born. So needless to say Rose has already spent a lot of time on the trails. So at 10 days old Rose Katherine took her first official hike, a 2 and half hour stroll through South Mountain Reservation. Enjoying the outdoors with little ones (even really little ones) is easy. There are all sorts of baby carriers, from backpacks to slings. At this young age the sling is perfect for Rose. We have a Havo by SlingEZee. It is a versatile carrier for newborns, that is light weight and breathable. Perfect for getting out there on the trails. Plus, I look really good in it. Rose enjoyed her first day in the woods with the whole family. Actually, she slept through the entire thing, but I guess that is a good thing.

Friday, July 9, 2010

New Addition to the Menagerie


What an amazing experience we have had over the last 3 days. Little Rose is about 60 hrs old and she is an amazing gift. Many thanks to Joe and Shari, from The Birth Boutique for helping to prepare us for the day. Having the knowledge of what to expect and some confidence going in allowed us to relax and truly enjoy the moment.

The Prologue
This past weekend Amy had become quite frustrated and tired after being 1 week over due. On Tuesday morning we were at our regular scheduled weekly doctors appointment when her water broke at 1130am. The doctor sent us directly to Saint Clare's, Amy was 1 cm at that point. Amy was very fearful of having a C-section and did not want to be put in that situation, and therefore chose to start the pitocin. The staff were great and our doctor kept things simple. He said, "Look this should be an enjoyable experience. So don't think you have to be a hero." This was good for Amy to hear, as she is very stubborn and often feels she has the bear burdens she does not deserve. The Nurse asked Amy, "On a scale of 1 to 10, what amount of pain are you willing to bear?" Amy responded, "seven". Now, I know Amy and she has an amazingly high pain threshold. I watched her suffer through 3 months in a back brace following a broken back, with little more than Tylenol and rarely a complaint. So her "seven" would be my "eleven".

The Early Stages
The contractions came fast and furious for 2 straight hours with little break in between. By this time she was a little over 2 cm, but the pain was getting worse. I kept asking her what was the pain level. She started at four, then five, then six. After 2 hours she was at seven. I reminded her about the earlier conversation and she recognized the need for some pain medication. Once the epidural was administered, she was able to relax and went from a little over 2 cm to 4cm in about an hour. At this point, I thought it would be a good idea to head home to let the dogs out and get the bags we had packed. We had not brought them with us to the doctors, as we had not planned to be sent directly to the hospital. I left the hospital at 4pm, got the dogs situated, the house in order and grabbed the bags. At 5:30 I called Amy before leaving the house to make sure there wasn't anything else she needed. At that point, she indicated she was 9 cm. I thought "Oh man I have got to get back to the hospital or I am going to miss this thing".

The Sprint
I arrived back to her room just before 6pm. Amy had just begun pushing with the aid of the Nurse. I missed the first push, but quickly got to her side and actively got involved holding her leg and head and encouraging her along. She was amazing and powerful as she pushed for about 45 mins. Rose came quickly at 6:33pm, a beautiful little girl, a wonderful gift, an amazing day.

The Recovery
Now as Amy shifts from birthing to nourishing, she is doing a fantastic job. Rose latched on in the hospital for her first feeding like a champion and Amy has been so generous and loving with these early feedings. Last night was our first night home and things went pretty well. As instructed and trained, I have become the designated burper and swaddler.

The Road Ahead
Every new moment of this experience I gain greater and greater appreciation for Amy's toughness, perseverance, generosity, and love. We know this journey is not an easy one and it has just begun, but we are in it together...100%.