Big Sibling Day Camp

This morning we took Siobhan to her 'Big Sibling Day Camp' at the hospital. As we've been impressed with all the other classes we've taken at the hospital, we were excited about this one too, especially Siobhan. Sadly, it was a major disappointment; typical over promise and under deliver experience. The teacher seemed to forget this course was for the KIDS (all under the age of 6) and that she was suppose to teach them about new babies and the hospital experience. She spent so much time talking about her own grown kids when they were young it was beginning to feel a bit creepy. Plus when she did speak of the topic, her tone and language was directed to the parents and not the kids!

Baby Sister Bib

Of course all the kids checked out within a few minutes of the class starting and began playing with the dollies she had laid out on the floor.  We were excited when she got down on the floor to their level and said she wanted to show them how to hold a new baby. She asked one of the kids to sit on the floor and just placed the dolly in their lap; that was it! She forgot to mention that their arm should be under baby's head, no sudden shaking/jerking of the baby, that a grown up should be near by, etc! The parents all added these tidbits. How could you forget things like that?!

Dadda Teacher

Damith ended up showing Siobhan with the dolly how to properly hold a baby. When the teacher proceeded to show the kids how to change the dolly's diaper, I checked out. I am not going to ask my 3 year old to change her little sister's diaper; she might help, but not do it alone!

Tic Tac Week Thirty-five

Baby girl is about 5.5 pounds and about 18.25 inches from head to toe, about the size of a honeydew melon. She is running out of room, but is still actively kicking and punching! Her kidneys are fully developed now and her liver is processing some waste products. Her hearing is also fully developed and her lungs are mature.

Siobhan likes that baby sister is eating everything that we are eating. During snack time today, we were sharing chocolate animal crackers and Siobhan said that baby sister is happy because she is having cracker crumbs. Also, when we eat spicy food, she asks is baby sister's tongue also hurts! :)

Tic Tac Week Thirty-four

Less than two months to go!

At about 4.75 pounds  and almost 18 inches long from head to toe, Tic Tac is about the size of a cantaloupe. Research using fiber-optic scopes shows that her pupils constrict when exposed to bright lights. Both her central nervous system and her lungs continue to mature. She also recognizes and reacts to songs, to which Damith and Siobhan are enjoying. She clearly lets us know if she is liking (or not liking) a song they are singing or playing.

Baby girl continues to be very active and now has hiccups about twice a day, with the longest episode lasting over a minute. Earlier this week, I experienced the worst heartburn I have ever felt! We had enjoyed a wonderful dinner with the Millsers (nothing new in the meal) and I didn't start feeling any symptoms until the middle of the night. I was so uncomfortable! I immediately took some Tums and my heartburn medicine prescribed by the doctor, but it seemed to take FOREVER to kick in! The only position that offered a bit of relief was sitting upright in the glider, but then I couldn't fall asleep. Damith came in to check on me and offered a glass of milk. I don't know if it was the milk or the combo of it with the medicine, but within the next hour I was able to sleep. Unfortunately, it was 4:30 in the morning! Thank goodness Akki is staying with us and graciously took care of Siobhan so that Damith and I could get a few hours of additional sleep.

My sister Brandie thinks Tic Tac will have a fuller head of hair than Siobhan because my heartburn is more intense with this pregnancy. I wasn't sure I believed this 'wives tale' until I read that researchers at John Hopkins released a study showing that there is a correlation between heartburn and the hairiness of a newborn. Now I am anxious to find out how hairy Tic Tac is!

My tummy measured 34 cm at this week's OB appointment, and over the last two weeks, I have only gained half a pound. During this visit, the nurse pricked my finger to test my iron levels once again and I am still in the normal/safe range!

I also got my Tdap vaccine during the visit as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends that women get the Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy regardless of when they last had the shot. The Tdap vaccine offers protection from three serious diseases: tetanus, diptheria, and pertussis (whooping cough). By getting the vaccine while pregnant, I am passing on antibodies to help protect baby girl from catching the disease from others as she won't receive her first Tdap vaccine until she is two months old.

As of yesterday, my belly button has now become flat. But with the skin stretching, that area is so sensitive now! I don't recall it being this sensitive with Siobhan. Thank goodness for Vitamin E!

Tic Tac Week Thirty-three

Baby girl weighs about four pounds, about the size of a durian, and measures about 17.7 inches long from head to toe. She will continue to gain approximately half pound per week until birth. In addition to nutrients, the umbilical cord is supplying antibiotics to Tic Tac which will help her fight infections after birth. She is coordinating her breathing with her sucking and swallowing. Her bones continue to harden. However, the bones in her skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap. This makes it easier for her to fit through the birth canal.

She continues to be quite active, with her movements now visible! At times you can see my tummy rhythmically pulse when she has hiccups. I am beginning to tire quicker and walk slower, but we are still keeping up with our walks!

It's raining, it's pouring...

For the majority of this week, it has felt like we are in Seattle with the clouds hiding the sun and the dampness in the air. It is a nice change from the 90+ degree weather we experienced last week, but I am missing our sunny Colorado!

In the past two days, the rain has been almost constant, primarily in a drizzle, but at times a downpour! Around dinner time last night, we started receiving flash flood notification on our phones. These notifications became more consistent, with a sense of urgency as the night progressed. Thankfully, our neighborhood has not been that hard hit. We do have some standing water on the roads, but no major flooding like other areas in Boulder County and Colorado in general.

Boulder is one of the front range communities most vulnerable to extreme flooding as the Boulder Creek flows thru much of Boulder, particularly downtown Boulder and the CU Campus. As of this morning, Boulder has received nine inches of rain, with 6.5 inches in just the last day!  Over the last 48 hours, Boulder has received 50% of it's annual precipitation!  In looking at some of the pictures being posted by local news channels, it is scary to see the flood waters, especially in areas that we used to live and places we frequent while in Boulder!

Flood Marker on Boulder Creek at Broadway

Boulder Creek @ Broadway normally

Road collapse @ Dillion & Hwy 287

The forecast shows rain will continue to fall through tomorrow, but sunshine is expected to return over the weekend!

Preparing for Baby

In preparation of baby's arrival, we are taking a few refresher courses offered by the hospital. Last Saturday we took the Infant First Aid & CPR course. We had originally taken the course when we were pregnant with Siobhan and received our CRP certification. But we let the certification lapse this summer and thus we took the refresher course. The course covered adult CPR and first aid as well and we highly recommend everyone take a course! 

This afternoon, we met with a registered nurse who prepared us about what to expect when we arrive at the hospital to deliver baby girl. She explained the hospital's policies and procedures, plus the services available to us while we are in the hospital. We also had a walk through of the delivery and postpartum units. As we entered the delivery section and were walking to the 'sample' room, we walked past the nurse that helped us deliver Siobhan! Then as we continued down the hall, Damith realized we were walking to the delivery room in which Siobhan was delivered! Deja vu!  The registered nurse showed us some of the birthing and relaxing techniques, many of which were newer to us.  We might actually try some of them with Tic Tac! 

Next Saturday, we are taking Siobhan to a 'new baby day camp for big sister and brother'. I don't know why they call it a day camp when the course is only an hour long and parents are encouraged to attend. The course is to introduce older siblings to the hospital setting and to learn about new babies and how life will change. Hopefully, the course will be productive! 

Tic Tac Week Thirty-two

As Tic Tac's circulation continues to improve and she gains more fat, she can regulate her body temperature better.  She now has fingernails, toenails, and continues to grow hair (or peach fuzz) on her head. During this week, she will also start shedding the fine layer of hair covering her body (lanugo).

Baby girl continues to rapidly grow and put on weight. She will gain a third to half her birth weight during the next seven weeks! She is about 17 inches long and weighs about 3.75 pounds (the size of a large jicama).

Why couldn't we wait to take our belly shot until this week as I am now craving jicama mexican style with lemon and chilies!

At our OB visit this week, my belly was measuring 32 cm.


With baby's continued growth, I will be gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that weight goes right to baby girl. I wish I had read or remembered this prior to our doctor's appointment as I put on 3.7 pounds in two weeks!  But Damith was quick to remind me that all our prior visits have been in the morning and this one was right after lunch. Thus, some of that weight was lunch. I loved my husband just a little bit more at that moment!