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December 30, 2003
John & Gus' first bottle!
Tonight John gave Gus his first bottle, the first step to getting Gus used to taking a bottle of breastmilk while at daycare, and get me used to pumping. It was so precious to see John feeding Gus...see for yourself. Gus was a bit confused at first, but caught on rather quickly. I don't think he's ever eaten so fast in his little life! He slept for two hours after that!
Zeppo found it all very exciting! (Zeppo is our friend Lynda's goddog, and she remarked that there was a conspicuous lack of Zeppo pictures, and she is right...) Zeppo now knows Gus' name and looks at him when we ask, "Where's Gus?" She was quite anxious when we first brought Gustav home, but that seems to have eased. She does whine sometimes when Gus really wails and screams. It will be interesting to see what she does when Gus is mobile... herd him??
Posted by janna at 10:00 PM
Was it the chocolate?
Gustav had an excellent night last night, sleeping from 12:30 to 5:30, and then from 6:30 to 9:15...I am in such a better place after that sleep and he seems to be, too. While I do think he is still trying to stack a bunch of feedings at night, he didn't seem as fussy or gassy last night. I cut out *most* of the chocolate that I had been eating (ah, the holidays), so I'm wondering if that is helping. I'll avoid it again today and maybe introduce it some other day. I have such a sweet tooth, so bad. Gus woke up in a very good mood today and is very alert and happy right now.
We took a trip to the city last night to visit Seth, Monica and Evelyn. Eveyln is three months old and will be a fantastic friend for Gus. It was so amazing to see how much Evie has changed in such a short period of time. I'm in awe! I can't imagine what Gus will look like at three months. It's so exciting to watch!
Gustav is a boy on the go (it helps that his bedrest Mama feels the need to escape after three months at home!). Tonight we're going to pick up John after work and go to the Museum of Contemporary Art and take advantage of their free night...thank goodness Gus likes the car (except when he's hungry, of course, which seems to be every hour this morning for some reason).
Here's a pic from a few minutes ago...
Posted by janna at 11:47 AM
December 28, 2003
Growth spurt?
"Hi, I'm Gus. The past few days I've decided that I'm a growing boy, so I need to eat, oh, at least every two hours, if not sooner, starting at 5 pm. I'll be ready for bed around two or three in the morning, if you're lucky. Maybe four. Oh, and you know how you were so amazed that I never really belted out the cries? Well, things have changed. I've found my voice, and I really think it's effective, if I do say so myself. I reserve it for those uncomfortable belly moments...if only I could pop a Tums!"
Despite the lack of sleep the last few days, Gus seems to be growing and growing and John and I grow more and more in love with him. During his alert times (particularly around midnight!), Gus really makes a load of eye contact and loves to listen to us talk. John can belt out the magic "shhhhhhhh" and calm him instantly. We're mastering the diaper change and haven't been peed on in at least 5 days...except for when he came out of the shower and John took the full brunt on his chest. So much for being clean. Have I mentioned how Gus loves the shower??? (have I mentioned that it is the only way to ensure that his parents also get clean?)
Grandma Shirley went back to Iowa this afternoon... Gus misses her already! Here's a pic from this morning.
Check out his hair!
Posted by janna at 01:19 PM | Comments (1)
December 25, 2003
Merry Christmas!
What a lovely, fast day...a thin layer of snow still covered the ground, the sun was unbelievably bright and all-illuminating. We came downstairs around 9:30 this morning after a night full of Gus feeding and dove immediately into cooking and picking up the place for our company. My mom has been here since Sunday, and today we had John's mom and grandma come over.
Gus is hungry, I am off... more later!
Posted by janna at 09:42 PM
December 24, 2003
Today was Gus' due date
Here we are, Christmas Eve and Gus' original due date. If we had really gone this long, I shudder to think at how big he would have been. I have a feeling that my labor story would be slightly different! As if to make up for it, Gus is eating with gusto today (oh, GUSto!!!), eating every 2 hours or less since 6:30 this am.
We had a good night last night. Since today was John's first back at work, Gus & I tried to keep it down so John could sleep. All was well until the wail of a soaked Gus getting his entire wardrobe and bed changed at 6:30. Apparently mama should have turned on a light during the 3am changing... I might have noticed the diaper wasn't on too tight. Thank goodness we have laundry in the house!
I'm typing this with my left hand as I feed and hold Gus with the right... once a multi-tasker always a multi-tasker. I feel wetness soaking through his clothes. God, diapers and I don't mix today!!!!
Okay, now I'm two-handed, Gus is sleeping and growing. His hair is getting lighter every day and I'm wondering if someday we'll have a little blondie on our hands.
For your viewing entertainment, you can see where Gus got his hair...
Here is John's newborn picture from the hospital:
And here is where Gus did NOT get his lack of hair...
Here's my newborn picture:
Here's a picture of Gus from two days ago...he's such a little person!
Posted by janna at 12:00 PM | Comments (1)
December 19, 2003
Two weeks old today
Happy two-week birthday, Gus! He really is growing and becoming more and more a little person. He has started to smile when we laugh, and it is the gummiest, pinkest, heartstring-pulling smile ever. Gus seems to try to follow things with his eyes and is still a fairly quiet and observant fellow while looking around. He tends to 'talk' when his eyes are closed or when eating (he's already talking with his mouth full...oh Gus, so much to learn...) He makes sounds back to us in response to us asking him questions. This past week Gus has started to eat more frequently in the hours leading to bedtime, while during the day he tends to eat every three hours. At night, it can be every one to two hours starting at eight until midnight. It's like he's storing up for the long haul at night, where he goes for two four-hour stretches. Fingers crossed that the night sleeping continues!
Yesterday morning we had Gus' first doctor's appointment...It's official, Gus has made it back to his birth weight, exactly, of 7 lbs 2 oz. When we left the hospital, he had lost some weight and was 6 lbs 9 oz. It looks like he is eating well and growing like he is supposed to be. First thing we had to take everything off Gus so he could be weighed properly. There he was, naked on the table, when suddenly the doctor wondered what was happening to his hand...Gus apparently felt it necessary to initiate his new doctor. We had a good laugh (and luckily Gus' doctor has a really nice disposition and could laugh about it...but then again, you don't often run into pediatricians who aren't nice).
To encourage the holiday spirit, here's a pic of Gus in his take-home outfit (you see, he was due on 12.24, so we thought it appropriate to have a xmas outfit). He was two days old here...
Posted by janna at 01:01 PM | Comments (4)
December 17, 2003
Our first family outing
We did it...we took the plunge. We decided to take Gus out to Costco for a little outing (little?). It was good practice for...the rest of our lives, I guess. Actually, Gus is going to the doctor's on Friday, so now we know how long it really takes to get us out the door and the car seat all situated. By the time we got close to Costco, it was time for Gus to eat, so we decided to go grab lunch. We had to walk through this outdoor mall, so every once in a while we had to walk into a store to check Gus, more for our own good than his, I'm sure. There's only one way to figure out how to breastfeed in public...you just have to do it and laugh and remember that if you do happen to flash the entire restaurant, well... you hope it brightens someone's day. With the help of John and a blanket, we were off! Gus was totally fine, oblivious to his location, and we all had a nice meal! John got to try out the Koala changing table in the men's restroom (so nice that restaurants are starting to recognize that dads might be out with the babe as well). After coming out, I took Gus and he managed to pull off my glasses for the first time (and as John said, probably the first of many times). Costco was next, and then we made it home, bulk-itemed out and ready for some relaxation. It was quite an outing for us! I must say, after being home for so long, that was the first 'big' trip out of Oak Park. I realize I didn't miss the traffic, the crowds, the hecticness of it all. I guess I have my own adjustment period...
Here's a cute one of Gus tonight on John's belly... Gus is having some belly issues tonight, but we're working on them.
Posted by janna at 11:06 PM | Comments (1)
December 16, 2003
John, you're truly a papa now.
Oh, if only you could capture these moments on film...
Are you ready for a poopy story? (does this officially make me an embarassing mom?)
Here's the scene: I decide to hold Gus in a sitting position, facing out from me. We're in the bathroom, John and I are looking at him in the mirror. He seems so happy, and it wasn't by the smile on his face, it was by the toots he was making. Relief...who wouldn't be relieved? We then realize that something has penetrated the diaper barrier. Okay, nothing totally new. John takes Gus to change his diaper. I hear an "Oh my!" It appears that by holding him in said position his poop managed to miss his diaper pretty much completely but hit the rest of his back pretty much straight on. (do you want to read more?? tee hee) We go into 'bath' mode at this point as no wipes will do. John somehow manages to get Gus out of his clothes without making matters worse for Gus (but John's tshirt and hands were well christened). We get him by the sink so we can sponge him off there. Gus is naked at this point, and John says, I'm just waiting for him to pee on me. Your wish is his command. All the way down John's tshirt... And can I just add that during all of this madness, little Gus just looked about, no crying, just let us clean him without a fuss?
In other news, Gus now has his first xmas tree (ours, too, as a couple)...just a potted norfolk pine, but it fits us perfectly right now.
Here's a shot of Gus after a hair washing, his favorite. He goes into some kind of calm, meditative state. I wish that for all of us...
Gus sleeping on his puppy throw...
Posted by janna at 01:51 PM | Comments (1)
December 14, 2003
Gus is a week old...
It's hard to believe it's only been a week since Gus was born. It feels like we've always had him, except now I look around our house and there are signs of baby everywhere...diapers on the dining room table, burp cloths on the couch. Not to mention the load of baby laundry we do a day. I blame us mostly for that. John and I are still learning the art of diapering. The one time I decided to change Gus on the couch, he pooped the minute I took his diaper off. Thankfully his blanket was under him. We are christened by this child in so many ways, I love it.
Gus is much more alert than he was after he was born, I guess that's to be expected. When he is awake, he is very observant and quiet, just looking around, taking it all in. When he is fussy, which isn't really fussy and doesn't last for long (knock on wood), you simply have to talk to him and it seems to soothe him. Or, feed him. Yeah, he likes that a lot, the food part. Thankfully he seems to be on the three or four hour plan. Once he gets to Cafe Mama, he is ready and we are thankful that it's working out.
John and I are certainly in full parental swing, with anxiety rearing it's ugly head in little ways. John and I wake up in the night, separately, thinking Gus is in the bed with us, lifting up pillows, trying to find him. A whimper comes from the cradle... is he spitting up? We still manage to laugh a lot, even at 3 am, especially at ourselves and our own silliness.
My mom and I have been pretty sick this past week with fevers, mucousy coughing, just generally lousy. Now that we have some antibiotics, we are feeling a lot better. I'm looking forward to being a mom off of medication. Gus seems to be doing well despite it all, such a relief.
Here we are...
Posted by janna at 12:16 PM | Comments (2)
December 10, 2003
Gus a week ago
Here's Gus just last Wednesday, the 3rd:
Here's Gus today, the 10th:
Posted by janna at 10:05 PM
Gus is four days old!
The pace of parenthood is much different than that of bedrest. Now when I sit on the couch, I don't have this big belly full of squirmy baby, I have a baby sleeping on my lap. There are always the standard concerns during our waking hours...is his hat on? Is he breathing? Will there or will there not be poop in the diaper? Is he getting enough to eat? Could we possibly love him any more than we already do? We are in awe, pure awe. I look at John with Gus and see him in this new light...I mean, he's a dad, we're parents together...It's so amazing that life allows you to make babies together!
Gus has taken to the outside world like a trooper. He's been a sleeper so far, often we have to wake him up to feed him, but when he's alert, he's VERY alert, moving his eyes all around. It almost seems like he's trying to track things that move, but we do know that light fascinates him. He often wakes up in the morning and just looks around. He's eating really well (and in turn, my body is adjusting...I feel I could feed the world right now, how does the body know what to do, all is cause and effect). Let's just say I'm, ummm, buxom and I'm 100% positive that I've NEVER ever been called buxom in my life.
Mom is here visiting, which is so wonderful. Unfortunately, her and I have come down with some kind of scratchy throat, coughy sinusey thing. Perfect for being around newborn children. Let's just say that there is a lot of handwashing, humidifying and kissing of baby toes rather than face going on here.
Here's a picture of Gus' first sponge bath at home. I think green might be a good color for him, so handsome.
Gus and I
What new things will Gus learn today???
Posted by janna at 10:39 AM | Comments (2)
December 09, 2003
Pictures of Gus
More to come...we'll pull together a page. This should hold you over for now!
Aren't they handsome?
Gus' first bath
Pure hope, isn't it??
Posted by janna at 12:22 AM | Comments (1)
December 06, 2003
The labor story
Heís here!
Gustav Hicks DeVylder (Gus for short)
Can you believe it???
It was quite an experience...
My water broke at 10:30 pm on Fri (Dec 5), after having some pretty serious contractions about 5 minutes apart for a couple of hours. I went to lie down because I thought maybe the position would stop them since I had so many stops and starts it seemed. About 10 minutes later, I had a contraction and then felt a POP...I swear to you, baby D had punched the water bag and it popped! So we were out the door within 10 minutes, at the hospital at 10:45, in a room by 11:15, checked at 12:00 (at that point I was 3 cm dilated, -1 station, so he wasnít even really engaged). The contractions were definitely increasing in intensity. Our doula was there, so thankful for her. We turned down the lights and I worked my way through the contractions. We were waiting for our doctor and for nurses to come in and check me, but no one came. By 1 am I was having contractions closer together, and they were lasting for a really long time. Also got ëridí of my dinner...chinese food. Wow. John was amazing, right by my side, supporting me through the contractions. Our doula thought I should try to go to the bathroom since I hadnít gone in a while...it was 1:45. I got up and just moaned, somehow got to the bathroom and had this uncontrollable pushing urge. Debbie, our doula, asked if I felt pushy. YES. She looked and could see the head! So I did this sumo wrestler walk back to the bed, put my legs up, John ran to tell the nurses that the baby was here, they came in, saw the head, I pushed once, the head came out. I pushed again, the body came out. Time of birth: 1:50 am.
HUH???????
I went from 3 to birth in less than 2 hours?????
Everyone was astonished, no more than me. I had imagined the moment of Gustavís birth to be full of crying and overwhelmed with emotion. Instead, my first words were, Iím so confused! I didnít think I could possibly be ready to give birth yet. As a matter of fact, I was sort of feeling slightly desperate when I stood up to go to the bathroom because I was thinking, if this is bad, it must get a lot worse since I probably have a lot more to do. Nope! It went so fast, my doctor didnít even make it. I didnít even have the antibiotics for my heart murmur and group b strep that I needed.
I donít know what we would have done without Debbie. John and I would have been alone that whole two hours and John practically would have caught Gus because we wouldnít have known any better! I was too concentrated on getting through the contractions that I didnít really have lots to say. Iím still processing it all, because it went so fast and I just want to really take in what happened. No epidural! There wouldnít have even been time for it, anyway... :)
He was 7 lbs 2 oz, 19 1/2 inches! I did tear a bit because he came out with his hand next to his head...probably the same hand that punched the bag open!
Posted by janna at 11:09 PM
He's here! Meet Gustav Hicks DeVylder
What a story to tell...
Posted by janna at 10:01 PM | Comments (6)
December 04, 2003
Soon?
It's 4 am... I had to get out of bed a few minutes ago because the contractions and pain were waking me up so frequently. I'm trying to see if moving around and eating something will change things. The contractions travel down across my belly and then really tighten up very low. Is that sensation the baby engaging? Is it me dilating more? We went to the docs today (or I guess it's yesterday by now) for our weekly appointment. I was 2 cm dilated, still 50% effaced (13 weeks of bedrest kept it there, or would it always have stayed that way?). My marching orders are to go to the hospital when I'm having contractions every five minutes or my water has broken.
I'm excited and nervous and anxious and excited and scared and excited and part of me wants to just go back to sleep and have sleep and part of me just wants it to happen so I can meet Baby D. He's still not real to me, even though he is as present an entity as he has ever been to this point. When I have contractions my uterus shapes to his body, I can feel him clearly. I think his little (or not so little) feet are snug up against my right ribs. Before we went to bed, I was having contractions that so distorted my belly, really accentuating his position, destroying the myth of the perfect round belly (I never thought it would contort like this!).
I'm having some peanut butter toast. I'm slightly paranoid about having to go in to the hospital in the middle of the night having had nothing to eat, because I suspect once I'm there I won't be having anything to eat either. How could I possibly deliver a baby with no energy? I guess you just do it...
Well, Baby D, I think our days of cohabitation are numbered. Pretty soon you'll be breathing on your own, pumping your own blood, smiling your own smiles. I wonder who you are, who you'll be, what little quirks you'll have (after all, you are a product of us, and we're full of quirks). There are many people who await your arrival. We can't wait to make you a part of our days. Come out when you're ready, because I think we're as ready as we'll ever be!
Posted by janna at 04:16 AM | Comments (1)
December 02, 2003
37 weeks...come on, Baby D!
We've worked so hard at keeping Baby D inside, and now he is not ready to come out. Or let's say, he's in no hurry to make an entrance. Who can blame him? This week has been a big growing week for the little one, and for me, too. I can feel his shape much more now, and he only has very little time to move between contractions.
We went to the hospital on Sunday night since I was experiencing contractions pretty regularly and then with more intensity. We were on the monitor for about an hour, saw what a REAL contraction looks like (previously our contractions were little bumps...now they were mountains!). The contractions weren't progressing the dilation, so they sent us home. I was so glad to go home that night. I really wanted a good night of sleep, some dinner, some relaxation.
When we got home, Mom was sitting on the couch. She had decided to stay an extra day to see how things were progressing. I bet she was a bit disappointed when I walked through that door. Smile.
Now we wait...we will go to the hospital only if my water breaks or we have contractions every five minutes and I can't talk through them. I'm still talking...we'll see tomorrow!
Posted by janna at 10:53 PM