Tuesday, May 28, 2013

And We're Back!!

Just a short 2 year hiatus from blog posts...sorry about that, life got in the way, as they say.

Our sweet Elaine was born April 7th, and I found myself revisiting this blog to see what TR was doing @ a month old, 2 months, etc.  So, I figured why not record how Elaine is doing as well.  So, without further ado....

Elaine Evalena Ziegler was born at 6:57pm on Sunday, April 7, 2013.  We were 39 weeks 5 days, and didn't think this one was coming anytime soon.  Her brother was 8 days late, so as ready as we were, I was trying to stay patient and wait to go past my due date.  I was surprised when I woke up that Sunday morning with a painful contraction, went for a long walk, had a few more on and off that morning, and they subsided.  I mentioned to Thad about the different contractions, but not to get his hopes up because they could be nothing.  Well...that set the excitement wheels in motion, and before long, he'd texted everyone that I was having contractions.  Can't blame him for being excited, but I just didn't want the pressure.  So...we just went about the day.  Went to Starbucks, managed through a few tantrums thrown by TR the Toddler.  Went for a walk around the neighborhood, and asked Lynn to pick up TR after his nap so we could just rest and hang out.

Uncle Sammy & sweet girlfriend Caroline swung by San Antonio on their way home from Austin to have lunch with us.  We hadn't seen Sam in a while and hadn't met Caroline yet, so it was a great distraction from the several contractions I was excitedly hiding from everyone.  After they left, I laid down for a nap and was woken up by yet another painful contraction around 2:30pm.  I had a couple more, so decided I should probably start timing them - surprisingly, they were 6-7mins apart!  Lynn came over as planned to pick up TR, and while I was managing through contractions, they were starting to pull my focus.  She left with the Bird around 4, and I knew it was time to get in the bathtub.

This time around, I was convicted to go without an epidural and wanted to labor at home as long as possible with Thad and our Doula, Salli.  So, there I was, practicing my breathing exercises, relaxing in the tub, staring at the green leaves up in the "Treehouse" as we call our upstairs master bedroom & bathroom.  We had spa music playing, Thad was next to me timing contractions, and everything was completely calm & serene.  As contractions started to get more and more intense, we made a call to the OB on call to let them know that we would most likely be coming to the hospital to have this baby soon.  We asked Salli when she should come and she responded with "Whenever you need me."  Although this sounds like an arbitrary response...there was a definite distinction when the time came that we needed her.  She arrived at 6ish and we decided to have her check and see how far dilated I was to determine if we needed to go to the hospital.  By this time, contractions were very intense and required complete focus and breathing techniques. Just getting on the bed for her to check me was a major accomplishment.  As she started, my water broke and Salli exclaimed that "You're complete, we need to go to the hospital now."  Side note:  Salli is very cool, calm & collected.  So, "now" means NOW!

Well, as i mentioned, we were upstairs, and the thought of getting myself downstairs seemed utterly impossible.  I made it downstairs, but then had an overwhelming urge to push.  Thad saw the look in my eyes saying "I can't make it, let's just stay home", and he grabbed my arm, threw it around his neck and basically carried me to the car.  We sped down Broadway, got on I-410, sped down the open highway, and when we got to Fredricksburg Road, I said to Thad "You can NOT stop this car until we get to the hospital.  I don't care if you have to run red lights and drive around people, but this baby is coming now!" 

Thad pulled up to the first hospital entrance he saw, grabbed someone with a badge and a wheelchair and we began to RUN to Labor & Delivery.  We got to a room with no sheets on the bed.  They got me into a gown and began an IV.  I was positive for Group B Strep, so I knew I needed antibiotics during labor.  After a few minutes of people buzzing around me turning things on, getting my vitals, my body said that it was GO time, so I exasperatedly asked "When can I push?!"  I heard a calm voice next to me saying "Just do what your body is telling you to do."  Sweet Salli - you can always count on her to be the calming force in the room.  So, Dr. Mark Hedges came in and directed me to give a strong, slow push, and 3 pushes later, she was born!  11 Minutes after arriving to the hospital  Thad and I gave a sigh of relief and disbelief and then I heard the nurse say "Don't you want to know what it is?"  And the next thing I know, Thad is saying "It's a girl!  We have a baby girl!  We have a daughter!"  What a moment.

I held her for only a few seconds, until they whisked her off to the NICU for a pneumothorax (ruptured lung) and antibiotics due to my GBS+.  It wasn't the ideal situation, but I'm trying not to dwell on it, and just remember that I have the healthiest, happiest baby girl God could have ever given us.

This experience is not one I will ever forget.  Laboring in the bathtub, looking at the trees, feeling my powerful body doing what it already knew how to do, feeling Thad's confidence in me, laughing with him during early labor, and then pushing her out without anything numbing the mental or physical experience.  I loved every bit of it, and would do it again in a heartbeat.

Elaine Evalena Ziegler

Is here!!  She's such a sweetheart and we are ridiculously in love with her.  I want to get as much info about her down before it leaves my memory, so here is goes:

She is currently 7 weeks old and doing awesome.  At the Dr 2 weeks ago, she weighed 10lbs 3oz, so I'm guessing she's close to 11lbs by now.  We'll go for her 2 month check up - and shots, no bueno - next week.

She is exclusively breastfed and nurses like a champ.  I'm so thankful that we don't have any issues with bf'ing, reflux, colic, dairy, etc!  With TR, I gave up cow's milk for a year, but Elaine seems to be doing just fine.

She eats every 3 hours during the day, and has gone up to 7 hours at night!  Not consistent, but I'll take it when I get it.  That 7 hour stretch usually starts around 7/8pm and goes until 1 or 2, so i'm trying to think about how I can get her to shift it to more like 10-4, but she'll be sleeping through the night eventually, so I'm not worried.

We have since moved to a new house between TR and Elaine, and while Thad slept in his own crib in his room from day one, Elaine has been upstairs with us since she was born.  We have an office/nursery off of our bedroom, so it's a pretty perfect set up.  I can just walk 5 steps over to her in the middle of the night.  I have a feeling she won't be moving downstairs anytime soon. :-)

She can still wear some newborn sized clothes, but quickly out-growing them in to 0-3 months.  Girl clothes....so fun!  And Thad is getting potty trained (more on that in a different post) so he's wearing little boy underwear, which rivals the cuteness of girl clothes.  So we are on cute overload around here lately. :-)

She has fallen into an Eat, Play, Sleep routine pretty naturally.  She eats anywhere from 6-7am, up for about an hour/hour and a half, and then down for hour/hour and a half, and then continues that cycle throughout the day.  Morning naps are much more predictable than afternoon.  In fact, just like pretty much every other kid, the afternoons can be fussy and no fun as she processes all the events of the day.  It's tough being a newborn!

Girlfriend HATES her car seat - just like her brother did.  But luckily, that's really the only time she will really "whoop it up" as Grandma Dorothy used to say.

She's starting to really look at me and smile lately...which is THE BEST.  All in all, we are so in love with our Bunnygirl and can't wait to see what life has in store for her!


Thursday, June 30, 2011

Agua





Grandma & Grandpa Holt/Rossmann got TR a water table for his birthday.  To say he is obsessed is a complete understatement.  At all hours of the day, he is pointing and whining to go outside and play with the hose, and God help you if you take it away from him.  We need to videotape one of his waterhouse meltdowns some day soon.
This is a catch up post from a few weeks ago in Conroe.  It's been so fun having sweet Becca in town, with her hilarious Aussie bf Adsy.  We will be so sad to see her go back, but hopefully a move for both of them back to the States is in the works. :-)



Unfortunately, Thad Rossmann was not so much into family time and this was the face we saw a lot that weekend. :-(


TR was in full toddler effect that weekend....happy one minute, break down the next.  We've officially entered the "hitting, pinching, biting, throw ourselves on the grown" portion of toddlerhood.  Good times.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Lake Diversion










What a great Saturday we had at Diversion lake with The Labatts & Kanes.  I waterskiied for the first time in years, TR played in the baby pool, and we just soaked up the untouched beauty of this remote lake.  Only 26 families have houses there, with no public outlet.  It's like skiing on glass...perfection.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

What's that I hear?

...Nothing! Ahhhh...silence.  Last week was NOISY! Lots going on at work, LOTS going on at home. Who knew planning & hosting a first birthday party would be so exhausting. It was fun, but glad it's over and done with. Cake pops, mustaches, "Mo" Mosas, crying, holding, picture taking, playing, more crying, summer heat, and more crying....here's the evidence:


4 Thads, 3 Mo's


3 Week old Owen Labatt made an appearance!




Not so sure about his cake...

Okay, maybe this is cool...

Nope, I hate it!

Godmother Jennifer & Eric made the loooooong day trip from Houston:

As you can see throughout the picutres, TR was none too happy with pretty much every aspect of the party...the crowd, the cake, the mo's.  And didn't want anyone to hold him but Mommy, which I happily obliged.  Happy Birthday sweet bird!


Friday, May 6, 2011

11 Months!


Yeah, 10 months just kind of slipped past us.  Sorry about that faithful readers.  Our little Bird is just growing, smiling, cruising, teething, EATING, crawling, loving, and LIVING!  Honestly, I still look at him and think "wow, I've kept you alive all this time.  And you're not only alive, but growing right before our eyes."  Obviously, the alternative isn't an option, but for all you parents out there, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.  But then again, I think my dad & sister are the only ones who actually ever glance @ this blog, so Dad -  maybe you can understand what I'm talking about. :-)

Not sure on weight or height for him, but probably around 22lbs, 29 inches.  Currently, he's:

Eating - just about anything - Fish & Bread are his favorites - he & Jesus would be best pals over the dinner table.  Not so much into too many finger foods, but we're working on it

Sleeping 7pm to 6-7am.  Sleeping anywhere from 2-4 hrs a day.  When he's home w/ me naptime is @ 8:30 & 1:30...pretty nice.  I'm enjoying it while I can!

Loves reading books, playing with anything that makes noise, or that he can bang together

Waves bye bye!!

Only 2 bottom teeth, but I think the top two will be coming in soon!  Poor guy has been in some teething pain recently.

LOVES his Dada, and especially loves his grandmother Ada - Thad's mom.  He just lights up when he sees or hears her, and is pretty much a stage 5 clinger the rest of the time. ;-)

All around, he's just a happy little guy.  Always looking for the next laugh, always wants to be surprised, loves to be outside, loves any animal or airplane.

CAN. NOT. BELIEVE he will be a year in less than a month.  Time is flying too quickly!!



Speaking of...someone just woke up to play!