Simon’s “Empowerment” Haircut

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Simon hates getting a haircut. He cries and fusses every time. Except today! He went with daddy to the usual place, Great Clips in Pleasant Hill. The only reason Simon agreed to go was because he got so hot and sweaty at soccer lessons yesterday. His hair was dripping sweat and made him uncomfortable so daddy convinced him he needed a haircut.

The stylist’s name was Crystal and she “empowered” Simon to take charge of his own haircut so he wouldn’t be so afraid. He really hates the sound of the buzzer/clipper so she allowed him to hold it and listen and feel it against his pant leg. Then she let him feel it in his hand. Then she let him cut his own hair! Well, almost, he held onto the clipper while she guided the cut. He didn’t cry at all and it looks great. He got a chocolate lollipop as a special treat for completing his haircut.

20130521-173302.jpg

Iris’ outfit of the day.

20130521-173426.jpg

Cute ruffly behind.

20130521-213127.jpg

Simon is already doting on his little sister. While out shopping with Ron, he wanted to get these barnyard animal bowling pins for Iris but Ron reminded him that we already had them at home. So when they got home, they found them and Simon brought them to Iris’ room and lined them up numerically on her bookcase so they could “protect” her when she was sleeping.

20130521-173716.jpg

One more Iris picture, the “don’t you think I’m cute?” expression.

20130521-232233.jpg

I can take the lack of sleep when I see her cute little face. I’ve been trying to catch up on sleep all day since she did not sleep well last night. I was up every 1-2 hours. She is also starting to have longer awake times during the day, 2 hour stretches. I try to keep her entertained by singing or talking to her. Eventually, I run out of songs or things to talk to her about so resorted to reading her the news. She is going to be one up-to-date baby!

Also, just want to say, I admire those moms out there who went 30 days without washing their hair during their confinement period. I washed my hair within 2 days of having Simon and I lasted 7 days this time around. It just got too uncomfortable and gross for me to handle. But I did the same as last time and used hot water and a hair dryer to blow dry my hair immediately so I wouldn’t get a “head cold”. Anyone have a good recommendation for a decent hair dryer under $50? Or at least under $100? All I have now is a travel size one that takes forever to dry my hair since it is so small. I never really needed a nice one before but it is just getting too inconvenient using this tiny travel dryer.

I hope baby sleeps a little better tonight!

Our Baby Girl

Monday, May 20, 2013

Meet our baby girl: Iris Wenjing Chung (鍾文靜). She was born on Monday, May 13, 2013 at 10:36 am. She weighed 8 lbs 12 oz and was 21.5 inches tall.

20130517-210803.jpg

After cleaning up from our mother’s day dinner, I started noticing contractions right before I went to bed, around 1am. By 3:30am, contractions were coming every 5 minutes, lasting for at least a minute, for one hour (5:1:1 rule) so time to go to the hospital. I was admitted around 4:30am, had an epidural placed at 7am when the contractions got too strong for me to handle, started pushing at 10:20am, and baby was out by 10:36am (after only four contractions)! I was so relieved to not have a C-section again.

But after an hour of bonding time, they had to check baby’s blood sugar since I was taking glyburide for gestational diabetes and it was dangerously low at 19 mg/dl. Then immediately rechecked at 14 mg/dl. It should be above 50 mg/dl. So she was whisked away to the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) to evaluate her and treat her. I didn’t get to go with her because the epidural hadn’t worn off yet so I couldn’t walk. So I waited anxiously for at least three hours before I could see her but at least Ron was with her. Poor little girl had an IV line in her hand and lots of little electrodes taped to her body for monitoring. They had to draw blood for cultures to rule out infection and gave her empiric antibiotics (ampicillin and gentimicin). After having a dextrose infusion and close monitoring, she was stable enough to leave the NICU to my room the following afternoon. But it was a stressful time waiting to make sure she was okay. Her poor little feet got poked a few more times to make sure she was able to maintain her own glucose since she wasn’t getting much breastmilk yet and thank goodness she held her own.

Simon visiting his baby sister in the NICU.
IMG_2213-001

I was so happy to have her in my arms and not hooked up to the monitors and IV.
20130519-122420.jpg

The little scars she has on her foot from all the glucose checks.

20130519-135048.jpg

Simon helping to calm down Iris since she was hungry with no milk available yet.

IMG_2269 small

We were discharged on Wednesday 5/15 in the late afternoon and headed home with our newest family member. Simon couldn’t come to the hospital since he got sick sometime over the weekend with runny nose, cough, and phlegm. So since we’ve been home, he hasn’t been able to interact much with the baby since we are afraid of her getting his cold. Simon seemed happy to see us home since I think he might have felt a little abandoned when we left in the middle of the night for the hospital and didn’t get to tell him goodbye.

First car ride, going home!

IMG_2295 small

So far we are settling in okay. My milk has come in so she is finally starting to pee and poop. At her checkup this week, she lost about 4oz which is still within normal limits but she will get a weight check next week to make sure she is back to her birth weight.

Interesting facts:
– Iris arrived on her due date, which happens in only about 5% of births. (Simon arrived the day after his due date.)
– Simon was 8 lbs 12.8 oz and 21.5 inches tall so they are almost the same weight and height. One of the nurses commented that I “make very consistent babies”.
– May 13th is the date of my pharmacy school graduation 10 years ago! How time flies…
– I lost 15 lbs after giving birth (baby+placenta+fluid/water/blood) but still have 20 lbs to go.

It’s taken a little while to post this up since Iris is still adjusting her sleep, awake, and eating patterns. But I think I’ve been fairly lucky since my milk came in since she has had a few 3-4 hour naps so that I can catch up on sleep too.

A few more pictures:

All swaddled up and resting on a Boppy pillow.

IMG_2319 small

Sleeping in my arms, with a little grin.

20130520-125115.jpg

Piyo Piyo straight jacket makes for a good restful sleep.

IMG_2346 small

Car seats make cozy baby rocking chairs.

20130520-125138.jpg

Love these chubby cheeks.

IMG_2354 small

Big brother Simon.

IMG_2364 small

Having a happy dream.

IMG_2373 small

Daddy’s little girl.

IMG_2386 small

Happy 1-week Baby Iris!

Simon’s Artwork for Baby’s Room

Monday, May 6, 2013

39 weeks today! When are you going to come out baby girl?

My belly:

20130506-151424.jpg

Simon made this beautiful painting for the baby’s room using brushes and blowing air through straws. He says they are rainbows and flowers.

20130506-151632.jpg

He made another one of and orange tree and grape tree that needs to be framed. He’s so sweet. I look forward to seeing him interact with his baby sister.

Beautiful Day in WC

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Baby did beautifully at her non-stress test today but no big signs of her wanting to come out yet. I’ve gained less than 1 lb in a week so I hope that’s a good sign she won’t be a 9 lb baby. So will see my doctor again in a week to try to get things moving along if needed.

After my appointments, I met up with our nanny and Simon at the library where they have story time for 3-5 year olds. It was Simon’s first time and he did really well: listened and participated. I was afraid he might get fussy or bored but the storyteller did an excellent job with singing, reading, and other activities.

20130502-211458.jpg

It was a beautiful warm day outside so after checking out some books, Simon played at the water and sand park.

20130502-211639.jpg

Feeling prepared for baby and still unprepared at the same time. Maybe that’s why I was warned before not to take too much time off before baby’s due date so you would have less time to think but couldn’t physically handle working longer this time around. Wondering when she will arrive???