The first two weeks

We are starting to get more settled into a routine at home and becoming more accustomed to our new little schedule and how to make the most of our time. So far any extra time is spent just staring at her. :) But now that I am feeling much better, visitors are starting to slow, and we have, well, somewhat of a schedule, I promise to be much better about updating our blog.

Todd and I can not believe that two weeks have flown past us already. We have been soaking up every precious second. Quinn is still a tiny peanut, but it's amazing to already see changes in her. She is getting so much stronger and has tons of smiles when she is sleeping. She is rather quiet, but loves to squeak and grunt. :) I am also starting to see a little more Todd in her. We still think she looks a lot "Dalton", but I'm sure we will discover more and more her resemblances as she grows. Quinn is also a very good baby. She is seldom fussy, easy to please with eating (since we've adjusted her little feeding routine several times, and she takes to both breastfeeding and bottle feeding extremely well), and she started a consistent sleeping routine after her first week. Most importantly she is a healthy baby girl. We are so very blessed.

Doctor/Health Update: Quinn is still not quite up to her birth weight, 5 lbs. 9oz, but we are very encouraged she will be there very very soon. Her weight went up right after we left the hospital but slowed after that so we have her on quite a little feeding routine to plump her up! So bittersweet, we pray for her to gain weight yet we want to remember her as this little peanut forever. We see the doctor again this week. Mommy also goes to the doctor soon too, and she is feeling much better and amazed at her quick recovery from the surgery. She also can't remember a time her feet were ever this skinny (now that all the swelling has gone down).

Some "firsts" over Quinn's first two weeks:

First time feeling a little unsure about being held:
(Cuddling with cousins Aidan & Liam)

Correction - First time feeling unsure about being held:
(Cuddling with cousin Liam)


First car ride & First time at home:





First time on her billireuben blanket:
(Our little glowworm ~ She only needed this for one day at home for a little Jaundice that developed the day we left the hospital.)


First time stretching out on her own:
(Our little "February LoveBug")


First Bath:






First Real Outing (A Trip to Smashburger for lunch with mommy, Grandpa and Grandma Dalton):


First time in my bouncer:
(Still a little small for it :)


First time trying out a paci & cuddling with my favorite blanket:
(I've only used the paci a couple times.)


First full weekend with my cousins:
(I'm not sure I can keep up with them! But here was a relaxing moment cuddling with cousin Aidan and watching Despicable Me.)


First Bridal Shower:
(With one of Mommy's best friend's ~ Ashley (the bride))

A little birthday present!

I guess it technically could be considered a little Quinn birthday present...but mommy got a new camera! One day she will thank us for such great pictures of her. I still have to familiarize myself with so many of it's functions and another fun lens is on the way, but here are a few new pictures of our little beauty. :) Enjoy!









More updates about Quinn's first two weeks to come! As we settle into our new routine, we should be able to post updates more frequently. :)

Hospital Baby Pictures

Use the address below to view Quinn's hospital pictures through this upcoming weekend. She had quite the serious face on. :)

http://www.bellababyphotography.com/baby/home

password: yqcDPlpFOx

Enjoy!

Quinn's Birth Story

Our little girl made quite the little journey into the world (and she took mommy for a bit of a wild ride as well). Quinn started giving mommy trouble way back at 8 weeks in utero when she decided that morning sickness should last all day and for the first 6 months of her pregnancy. Mom got to enjoy a few great weeks before being diagnosed with gestational diabetes and shortly thereafter pre-eclampsia (putting mommy on bedrest at 32 weeks). One thing that Quinn can not quite take credit for was the kidney stones that decided to come all in the same month. :) Despite these complications, mommy will still say that there were so many amazing things about her pregnancy and being able to carry Quinn around for 8 months.

On Wednesday, February 16th we made a trip to the hospital after showing some of the severe pre-eclampsia signs to watch out for. We were monitored and allowed to go home after some tests and would conduct one more test that results would come the next day or two. In the meantime, Quinn had another ultrasound and was still turned in the right direction! We were so excited! On Friday evening the 18th, Grandma was in the middle of making a delicious home cooked meal, and the Doctor called us with the results (my protein levels had jumped from 500 to over 3,000; indicating that my kidneys were not doing their job) and he said hop in the car and that we need to get things rolling. So we were off, and excited that after this hospital trip we were going to be bringing home a baby with us. (Of course she would divert from her scheduled c-section date of Feb. 22nd that would take us to 37 weeks, she must have liked the 19th better.)

Upon arriving at the hospital, the doctor said we were stable enough to try to induce a regular delivery, so we did just that. Mom started feeling contractions somewhat consistently from 1am on, so she was sure they were making good progress. In the meantime, her condition was continuing to get a little worse, nurses didn't even want to tell her what her blood pressure was. :( And then some nausea started to set in as well, and swelling that we just couldn't believe. With severe pre-eclampsia setting in, they had to put her on some not fun drugs at all, but it helped to keep her stable. It was to help mommy from having any seizures or convulsions that they were a little worried about, and some extra padding was added to her bed too. Fun stuff. By 9:00 Saturday morning Dr. Newman came back in to reassess our progress. NOTHING!!! She was up far and hiding. At this point he left mom and dad with some decisions to make. We could continue to try to induce but it could take days (and mommy's condition was definitely worsening) or we could do a c-section delivery and avoid anymore risks to mommy and baby. Together, we decided pretty quickly that we needed to deliver her as soon as possible.

Before we knew it, mommy got her epidural and was prepped for surgery. Daddy was able to be there for the whole surgery/delivery and he was awesome! He was able to watch the delivery, cut the cord, all of the regular jobs of dad. Mom on the other hand did okay but struggled a little with the comfort of the surgery and they kept pumping her with more morphine. However, she does remember all the important parts, Daddy standing up to watch, Quinn crying right away, and being brought over for a little kiss with mom. Then she and dad got to go to the nursery for her first bath and all of her measurements and assessing while mom's surgery was wrapped up.

Our absolutely adorable Quinn Avery was born at 12:58pm. Measuring 5 pounds 9 ounces, and 19 inches long. She scored a 9 on both of her Apgar scores and passed all of her tests and assessments. She did awesome and we were overjoyed that our little premature girl was healthy as could be. Fortunately for mommy as soon as she was rolled into recovery, Quinn got to join her immediately. We stayed in recovery for about an hour and half before we got moved to our new room and could meet some more family. Grandma and Grandpa Dalton and Auntie Amy were anxiously awaiting to get their hands on our precious peanut, and mom was feeling great and completely blissful.

We were just beyond thrilled that our little girl was healthy and was able to stay with us during our entire stay at the hospital. We did take advantage of some sleep time at night and Quinn got to spend a little time with some friends in the nursery. She was rolled in every two hours for feeding, and I would get so excited every time I heard her little cart's wheels coming to the door. Amazing how much you don't care about sleeping anymore. Our hospital experience was fantastic and we were incredibly blessed with the exceptional care from our nurses. They were truly amazing are so very special to us. Mommy had to stay in bed hooked up to all kinds of things after surgery for a full 24 hours, including the anti-seizure medicine, which made her pretty loopy. We had to keep the room quiet, and the lights dim for her. Finally on Sunday, she was able to get up and move for the first time and gradually start detaching from all the devices that were hooked up to her. As time went on she felt better and better.

Quinn was born at 5 lbs. 9 oz. and dropped in weight as most babies do. She dropped a little more than the doctors wanted her to as she was already so little so we got her on a very set feeding schedule and some supplementing. Her weight was at 4 pounds 15 ounces and she gained half an ounce the last day, so we were all able to go home on Tuesday, February 22nd. YEA! Our little 4 pound 15 ounce peanut, needed more preemie clothes and preemie diapers, so grandma and grandpa were sent shopping!

In just two days since we had arrived home, we had a follow-up appt. for Quinn and she had gained 4 ounces! She is eating so well, and we are so grateful. The doctor said she is perfect. Which we already knew. :) We are definitely settling in at home, and she is doing extremely well. Our time is taken up just staring at her and smiling. We just love her to pieces! We can't believe she is one week old already. Despite all of the complications we experienced on this journey, mommy would already say even after a week that it has been easy to forget all of that. It all just goes away when you are gifted with such a blessing.

Here are a few pics from the hospital. We will post more about her first week's adventures soon!



First family picture.
Oh my goodness my mommy was swollen from the pre-eclampsia!



Leaving the hospital. Such a peanut in the carseat!

Quinn Avery

Our beautiful and precious bundle of joy is here!

Quinn Avery
Saturday, February 19th, 2011
12:58 pm
5 pounds 9 ounces
19 inches

We are over the moon and can not be more grateful for our healthy baby girl, and how both baby and mommy are doing since our delivery day. We will post more about Quinn's incredible journey into the world very soon, so check back soon.

For now here are a few pics of our little peanut to hold everyone over. :)

Little Lovebug Update

Just a little update...

Our little one has (as of this time) turned around and figured out which way is out. :) So there may be some changes in our plan. We still have our c-section scheduled just in case, but there is now a likely possibility we may not have that anymore. We will know more on Monday hopefully with our last ultrasound and dr. appt., and depending on where she is located that day :), whether we will have a c-section still on Tuesday or be induced at some time during the week.
Just wanted to give you all an update since things are still a little up in the air and to avoid all the "Is she here yet?" questions as it is possible now she may not be born on Tuesday. We shall see...

We will definitely send out an announcement as soon as she arrives!

As of this past Monday, our little peanut was being estimated at 5lbs. 10oz. and in the 28th percentile. Still room for her to turn and move around, and apparently show off her gymnastic skills, yesterday she had both of her hands and feet all up by her face.

Thank you so much for all of your positive thoughts and showing your care for us during this time. It has definitely helped us to get to this point of 37 weeks, which we are so very grateful for.
Thank you!!

Todd is fighting some bad cold/flu symptoms, so prayers for daddy that he can get rid of it before our little one comes.

XOXO