This Week of Sean

Sean's 3rd week of life has certainly been full. He has gained about 8 oz. since last Monday. This morning, during tummy time, he rolled himself over from tummy down to back down twice! He is strong, with good neck and back muscles.

Tummy time takes the place of the "old fashioned" practice of letting babies sleep on their stomach. With the advent of concern about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) babies now sleep on their backs. This has caused later development of crawling and walking skills. So, now, 2 5-10 minutes sessions of "tummy time" are recommended each day.

Sean made it all the way through Mass today with little fuss.

Sean's first bath. He is not a happy bather.

Suzanne, Kerry, and Suzanne's son Paul come to visit

Sean's first trip to the Pasta Grandparent's house. Dioxin (their cat) walks over to investigate

Uncle Joe and Sean

Dziadziu and Sean

Just the Stat's, Ma'am, the Stats

Today was Sean's second Dr.'s visit, his next is in six weeks. Dr. Hayes was very pleased with his progress. The stats?

• Weight: 8 lbs. 3 oz. - 50%
• Height: 22.125" - 90%
• Head Circumference: 14.25" - 25%

For those without kids - the percentile means ranked v. other boy children his age, e.g. 90% of 2 weeks old boys are not at tall (long really at this point!) as Sean.

Tonight the Johnson's came over for dinner (thanks for the pizza!) The kids are impatient for thier own little sibling to be born.

Mackenzie holding Sean (while Dave hoovers)

Abbie and Sean

Mommy is Famous!

Go to Danskin Orlando site HERE and then scroll down to the 13th picture. There is a picture of Mommy 5 weeks pregnant with me! (Sean) Thanks to Aunt Joanne for finding the picture.

Also - Thanks to the whole Pasta clan for feeding us several times since Sean was born!

Weekend Outings

Just a cute picture of Baby Sean. His eyebrows are starting to come in. He is establishing definite wake periods (well for three days now) of 9am-noon and then late afternoon.

We went to Jenn and Dave's Engagement Party for a little while on Saturday night. We saw several old friends for the first time in years - Steve, Gloria, Laura, Lisa and Nancy - some were surprised to be introduced to Sean!

Sean went to Mass for the first time, tonight at Sacred Heart. He made it through just the second reading before he woke up and started making noise - so, we spent most of Mass in the entry way and back of the church. Sean made three new girlfriends, including the new Sacred Heart director of education. The announcement was also made that Sacred Heart had an agreement to purchase the old Federal Reserve Bank building located one block north of the new co-cathedral - to be call Cathedral Center and house classes, meetings, offices, etc.

We welcome the Carter's to the Blog-o-sphere. They have just purchased a new house and are gutting and remodeling it. HERE is their story.

Kimmy, Jenn's sister, holds Sean.

Cool new cross walk lights located on light rail cross streets downtown.

David trying to figure out why baby socks have no-slip designs on the bottom (here, of baseballs.) Is this just in case a 1-month old starts to walk? Maybe for a 1-year old with really small feet?

David's Birth Photo

David at birth. I see a lot of resemblance - round head, similar eyes and nose.

Mexican Food, Finally!

First... I am still trying to figure out the picture posting problem. As far as I can tell these should show-up fine. Let me know if they do not!

It has been a busy week. We had really cold temperatures for several days and rain and dreariness throughout the week. Kathleen and Ted went home on Thursday. I cannot even begin to say how much of a help they were as we learned to live with Sean. Thank you!

We continued to have concerns around breastfeeding and then Friday (do I speak too soon?) it all suddenly seemed to click. Sean definitely seems to be getting enough food, as attested to by two poopy diapers in a row this morning. (Don't bug me about getting excited about diapers - I have a light saber!) We did buy a baby scale, just for peace of mind, to weigh Sean before and after each feeding. Think of the wonderful new graphs that will result! In four feedings today he is averaging 2.6 ounces in weight gain (with a standard deviation of 0.20 ounces.)

As you can see in the picture above Barley is finally settling in to the new baby reality.

Barley checking on the baby (or maybe trying to figure out how to whack him.)

Friday we took Sean out to eat for the first time. Barbara was getting house crazy and craving Tex-Mex so we and Aunt Joanne went to Los Cucos (visit their website, Los Cucos, it is pretty slick.) After dinner Kerry came by and we all chilled eating brownies in the Baby Room. Right now I (David) am spending my first solo time with Sean. Joanne and Barbara are out taking care of their nails.

1st Dr. Visit Redeaux

Re-post of previous post. Still having problems with Blogger posting new pictures. Click HERE to see a Picasa album with the same cute pictures.

Ok. I admit it. I dropped the baby. I was tired, I was on drugs (Benadryl for 15 ant bites), I fell asleep and dropped the baby. Yes, I did not wake up afterwards. It has now been 2 days and I think that Barbara has finally forgiven me! He is OK with no bruises.

Sean made his 1st visit to Dr. Hayes today. Everything was fine. She was a little concerned that he weighed in at 7 lbs. 8 oz., 1 oz lighter than at hospital discharge. It helped allay her concerns that during the visit Sean had two very wet diapers!

Picture Link Problem

For some reason pictures uploaded using Picassa to the Blog are not linking correctly for most viewers. I will fix it tonight!

First Dr. Visit

Ok. I admit it. I dropped the baby. I was tired, I was on drugs (Benadryl for 15 ant bites), I fell asleep and dropped the baby. Yes, I did not wake up afterwards. It has now been 2 days and I think that Barbara has finally forgiven me! He is OK with no bruises.

Sean made his 1st visit to Dr. Hayes today. Everything was fine. She was a little concerned that he weighed in at 7 lbs. 8 oz., 1 oz lighter than at hospital discharge. It helped allay her concerns that during the visit Sean had two very wet diapers!

Winnie The...

Pooh!

1st Trip to the Dr.! (and too cute)

Sean and Uncle Tadd

Repost of Previous Pics

Below are three pictures from Saturday that did not link well. Here we try again. Also, the onsie I described as an Atwatter Prairie Chicken was actually a red hawk my father photographed in his back yard!

Sean at Week's End

Sean wakes up in his Attwater Prarie Chicken shirt (Courtesy of Dziadziu)

Sean awake

Sean reading Put Me in The Zoo

Click HERE to see new photos.

Sean has been a little more awake and is now stretching out his legs a lot. He likes to kick himself out of position while his mother is trying to feed him. Barbara read Put Me in the Zoo to him, and he seemed to like the all the bright colored dots on the, uh, dog? (Further research HERE indicates that it is a leopard! It took me 37 years to figure that one out.)

He went for his first stroller walks yesterday and today. We did about a mile today and went to the house the Carter's are renovating. The Carter's and Johnson's came over last night. Keri, oddly enough, really enjoys "snorffing" his hair. There does not appear to be anything illegal or immoral about it, so we let her continue (plus her new house has a pool!) Abigail (3 yrs old) was very excited to see the baby again and also declared the his baby room was "very nice."

P.S. Attwater's Prairie chicken is an endangered sub-group of grouse. One of two remaining protected habitats is located across the road from ISP's Texas City plant (were Dave works) and the road the plant is on had its name changed from Industrial Rd. to Attwater Ave.

Relaxing Baby

Sean Relaxing on his Major Food Source (Mom)

Sean is doing awesome. He is now also stretching his legs out of the fetal position and kicking, especially while feeding. I am already thinking we may have another strong legged, early walking, champ like his cousin Elissa. Feeding (breast) is a little frustrating sometimes, but everything is working well. (Except dad can't make a spreadsheet of amount of milk consumed.) Look for a poopy diaper graph in the near future - data is being collected!

For Sean Album #2 click HERE. Although there are lots of pictures of sleeping people, it does not really seem to happen that often around here. Dave did, however, take his annual nap today (allotted for 2008 - the 2007 allotment was used up Monday) - this may be a problem.

Dave is really enjoying a life of baby care and working just 2-3 hours a day. Too bad it ends Monday.

A note: Dave's father has been appointed Dziadziu, Polish for Grandpa. It is pronounced approximately as JaJu. Other Grandparents have been appointed Grandma and Grandpa.

Day 2 at Home

Sean David arrives at home yesterday.

Sean is doing great! He is feeding regularly (once every 3 hours) and remains calm. He did sleep through the Ohio State slaughter last night but is happy to hand the championship trophy to Abbie and Mackenzie. Congratulations Gators!

Sean cries only when hungry or cold, which is easy to figure out. He is stretching his arms out of the fetal position on his own. He is also spending about 1/2 hour in alert awake state every other feeding or so. He just looks around and tries to focus on what is around him.

There have already probably been more pictures deleted of Sean than are taken of many kids. Click HERE to see more pictures. Hint: don't try to delete pictures of Sean if Aunt Joanne is looking over your shoulder - it won't be pretty!

National College Football Champions (Until 10pm Tonight!)

Go Florida Gators!

Sean is Home

We finally got released at 1pm.  Sean woke up and ate like a champ.  Once we got home all 3 Pastas celebrated with a nap.

Barley is not quite aware of what is going on.  She has noticed something else lying on Mommy's chest that is not her and that she is not allowed to approach the strange object.

Mom is sore, but feeling better all the time.

Monday Morning

We are still at the hospital.  Everyone is discharged, however Sean needs to feed one more time before we go.  He was circumcised this morning and just wants to sleep right now. His blood sugar was just checked and is fine, so we will wait anothe hour and try again.

Picture Site is up and running

http://picasaweb.google.com/dpastalaniec/WelcomeSeanDavid

Follow the link above to pictures of Sean David!

New Room

We are moving to a bigger room - 454.  Our new phone number is 713-363-5454.

As soon as we finish I should be ready to post a bunch of photos.

Thanks to all our well wishers and visitors!  The smoothness last night and today more than makes up for the first two days here.

Sean is quite a cutie!

Afternoon Update

Sean is feeding pretty good.  Mom and baby are still doing well.  The now official stats are 8 lbs 0.9 oz and 19.5 inches. So far he is a very quiet boy.

Day One

We got Sean back from NICU at about 5am.  Everything is fine.  He fed for a while and was taken back for his pediatrician examination - which checked out fine.  He came back to the room at 8:30.

Mom and I got pretty good rest overnight.

We are in room 280 at 713-363-5280.

Beer

Daddy's first post baby beer?  A St. Arnold Spring Bock (brought by Joanne!)

Picture of Sean and his proud parents

Taken by Dr. Tran

NICU

Means Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit

Pictures in a little bit.

More Info

Mom is doing fine.

Sean was born at 9:04pm.

Sean is going to NICU for 6 hours, has a little lung congestion.  Very, very alert and looking around.

Announcing Sean David Pastalaniec

No name yet!

21 3/4" and 8 lbs 1.4 ozs

And handsome to boot!

Its a Boy!!!

Full 10 cm Dialation

Let the pushing begin

No Change

Except Barbara is focusing on Double Dave's pizza rolls.

9.5 cm Dialation

Still +1 station.  Baby is dropping a bit.

9 cm Dialated

She is now fully effaced, still at +1 station.  Next check is at 7:30.

Visiting hours here are 9a to 9b.  After the baby is born it will stay in this room for about an hour with no visitation.  The baby then goes to the nursery for 3 hours and then to our room. After the baby leaves the nursery it will be taken to our room. 

7-8 cm Dialation

And she is at +1 station (experts tell me +3 to +4 is the goal.)  At 10 cm Dr. Tran will be called.

We are discussing her 1st meal post-partum and what will it be.  Barbara is showing lots of spirit.

6 cm Dialation

90% effeced and 0 station - for those who know what that means.

Barbara slept for a while and is feeling pretty good.

Practice Makes Perfect

First - time stamp is fixed - now central standard time (might take effect after this post.)

Grandmas, Joanne and Rhonda practice watching new born babies in captivity. It was Grandma Margie's first time in Texas Women's.

The grandmas will hopefully get a chance to see PastaNoodle in the wild soon.

4 cm Dialation

The father is always the last to know.  While I was talking to my brother Barb was checked and clocked in at 4 cm.

Going Well

The epidural worked great!  Barbara is painfree and much happier.  Contractions are about the same.

Its Epidural Time

The pain meds did not work well, so its epidural time. All visitors, even dad, have to leave for that - they are scared about people fainiting.

So Grandma Kathleen and I went out to Camp PastaNoodle II in the 3rd floor waiting room. We arrived just as Grandpa Dan won some moola on Sweet Danielle in the 6th Race at Gulfstream Park - watching on streaming video on his laptop.

Around lunch time Nick, Heather and Elissa came by to visit.

2.5 cm dialation

Dr. Tran says Barbara is showing a good pattern and is at 2.5 cm. She has gone from 70 to 80% effaced.

She is about to be put on Nubain for pain. Dr. Wants to wait until 3 cm before epidural. Next examination is at 3pm. Baby predicted between 7 and 8pm. !!!

Contractions Increasing

Contrary to what I have told some, Barb is NOT on any pain meds yet.  Contractions are regular at 2 to 2.5 minutes, up to 5 on a 10 pain scale.  She is waiting for Dr. Tran to visit (soon) before going on meds.

Barbara is tough!

Water Breaks

At 10:41 Barb's water broke.  She is happy to not face the hook again.

Time Difference

To concerned Blog patrons: the time displayed for the post is in Pacific time.   Add 2 hours to get to Houston Central time.

Contractions are now every 2-5 minutes, twice as strong as before.  Mom and baby are doing well.

Picture Update

Chariot to Labor and Delivery romm #2.

Getting ready to sleep.

Pastanoodle Phase II

Barbara (and me) slept well last night, Barb helped by meds.  Barbara got a shower in too.  I grabbed breakfast and met a very friendly guy who has been here for 22 days trying to keep a set on twins in the womb for 28 weeks - 1.5 to go!

At 8:35 Dr. Tran broke her bag of waters, at least a little - may need to try again later.  The cervix was much thinned, but still 1 cm..  The pitosin is being started now.

Our nurse for the day is Brandi - a very busy person...

Saturday Schedule

Right now Barb is on an IV with sugar water (food!) And sleeping meds.

They will remove the ripening meds at 8:30am and give Barb a chance to take a shower.  They will then contact Dr. Tran to see if it is ok to induce - likley yes.

Dr. Tran already said she plans to stop by before and after a 9 to 1 meeting she has tomorrow.

So, everything is cool! Good night...

Yea! We have a room!

We are firmly ensconced in L and D room #2.  Telephone 713-363-5002.

Barbara is having sharper contractions than before, but widely spaced and nothing too major.

She gladly had her first liquid in 13 hours, and some apple juice too.  She can drink until Midnight.  She also got to walk around a little bit.

We Have Cervidil!

The Cervidil was installed at 8:40pm.  Barb gets to drink something at 10:40pm. 

Both sets of future grandparents and future aunt Joanne are hanging out at Camp PastaNoodle in the cafeteria.  (Camp Casey was taken)

Still no room

Barbara is still waiting.  No update on timing and no FOOD!

The Inn is Full!

The are no available rooms.  The Cervidil treatment will be delayed until 6:15p at least.

4:45p Update

Another hour to go for the cervital treatment.  Barbara is HUNGRY!  Assuming she is not in hard labor she will be allowed clear fluids at 7:45p.

Hopefully we will get a real Labor room soon after that.

Barbara is actually starting to have some.contractions - maybe Pastanoodle likes all the attention it is getting!  Nurse Venus thinks it may be dehydration causing them.

Picture of Barb

Delay

We just were told that Barbara cannot be treated with cervital (sp?) Until 8 hours after she last ate, not 4.  So now treatment will begin at 5:45pm. 

Normally inducees are scheduled in the morning and told not to eat after dinner.

Noon Update

We are checked in to the L and D clinic and all the paperwork is done. (Holy Mackeral!)

Nurse Venus is drawing blood and the ripening will start as soon as they are sure a room is available in L and D.  If no signs of impending birth occur we could be in the clinic untill 11pm.

There is no cell phone signal in the clinic.  The phone number is 713-363-5996.  Call!  It should be pretty slow here.

Oh, we also know the baby is head down, but is facing up.

Everything is OK

I should have emphasized that PastaNoodle is OK.  Strong heartbeat and breathing.

Pastanoodle on the way

During the 39 Week check-up Dr. Tran did an ultrasound to check for size.  Size was 7lb 9oz.  However, amniotic fluid was low.  Normal is a rating of 5 to 25, we were at 5.3.

So, we are now checking in to Texas Women's.  12 hours of cervix ripening will be followed by induction sometime tonight. 

I am set up to post via email from my Blackberry, so I will be posting updates here.

PastaNoodle: 39 Weeks - The Baby Room

No, not the Baby Boom! Everything is still normal. Maybe 2 contractions today. Our 39-Week appointment is Friday morning. I fully expect Dr. Tran to order an ultrasound, which will find a big baby, and then schedule induced labor. But, who am I to know?

The rocker-glider arrived today. It was a Target bargain. Barb practices with a misc. penguin.








Floating shelves on the south wall.








Ikea lights with lights off.








The crib on the north wall.








A full east wall shot.








Changing table