Daddy Posts Pics, Mommy writes

Brianna, Kaitlyn and Daddy reading.


Kaitlyn wanted to see my tongue and then wanted to show me hers.


I am getting tired.


Giving baby sister big kisses.


Look at my green eyes!


Fish fry


I am standing weird cause that fire is a little hot!


Waving goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa


Kaitlyn learning how to tell if the fire is hot


Kaitlyn, Kandi, Great Grandma Bonnie and Brianna.


Hi!


Me after bebo went bubb bye


Eating like a big girl!


2 weeks, 1 day.


Its just about as big as her!

Tummy time

Last night Andy got Brianna down on the floor for her first official "tummy time" session. I have done it too, but only reclined in a chair with her on me, since it has been difficult for me to get on the floor after surgery.

Anyways, the tummy time session with daddy went really good. She was moving her legs like crazy, we thought she was going to take off on us. She lifted her head many times, and even turned it completely over to face the other side.

We will have to get pics next time! Mommy and daddy are SO proud!

A free woman!

Brianna is officially a "free woman" - her cord fell off 2 days ago - on her 2 week birthday. Congratulations, Brianna!

Kaitlyn also recently got yet another tooth. As far as we can tell, that brings the total to 11. What a big girl! Her newest thing is dancing. She has all sorts of great moves, such as putting her arms together in front of her like an elephant trunk, and moving it up and down. I have no idea where she got that from. Daycare maybe? Or her own imagination? I do know that neither Andy or I have ever done the "elephant" for her. She also loves to stomp, jump, turns circles, and twist. What a great dancer!

I'm also not sure I have mentioned about her new "shhhh" thing. She will go to the TV, turn it off, look at us, put her finger to her mouth and say "shhhh". She then proceeds to say everything in a whisper, until she turns the TV back on or gets distracted/excited.

I wish I knew where she got this stuff! It sure is great entertainment though!

Penguin Love/Musical Genius

Brianna napping with a friend


Kaitlyn showing off her awesome musical talent

GOOD news

Brianna's total bilirubin went down, including that one number they were concerned about. Her total is now 10.8 (so it has went down significantly, even since Friday). The concerning number went from 1.2 to 0.5 - so that is great! We (Andy especially) have questioned the possibility that the lab we had done on Friday was contaminated and produced invalid results, because the lab tech didn't do the greatest job. She took much longer than most lab techs and still only got 1/2 of the blood they usually do. She was scraping blood along the skin instead of just scraping it from the puncture itself, etc. She just didn't seem to do the best job. Everyone has off days, but we would have requested somebody different today if we had gotten her again. Luckily we didn't need to do that because we got a different girl and she was quick and efficient. Anyhow, we will never really know and there would be no way to find out if that was the case...but what really matters is that the number is fine now. SO relieved!!!

Everything else is great. She now weighs 7 lbs, 7 oz. That's 2 oz above her birth weight and 4 oz up from Friday evening! They want to see 1/2 to 1 oz of gain a day, and she has been at about 2 oz a day! So more good news, and 7-7 just happens to be what I guessed last night.

Her weight is in the 20 something percentile, her height in the 70 something, and her head in the 40 somethings. So a smaller head than Kaitlyn, taller than Kaitlyn, but similar in weight. (In regards to her placement on the growth charts).

Her cord is hanging on by a tiny bit. The pediatrician even cleaned it and tried to see if she could get it to come off but it wasn't quite ready...it should be off within a day or two though.

I am extremely relieved that things are finally coming together and calming down. Now we can just enjoy our time with her rather than worrying about her health and toting her back and forth to the doctor.

Brianna's Bilirubin

So like I said, the lab results had come back and the number went down a little. They (actually the doctor on call for our regular pediatrician) wanted us to come for a "weight check" though, too. So we did...turns out it was more than a weight check! They were concerned about a different number from her lab results. Bilirubin levels consist of 3 different numbers - 1 is the indirect bilirubin, 1 is the direct bilirubin, and those 2 added together are the total bilirubin (the number we always hear about). Her total bilirubin went down, but what was weird was that the direct bilirubin number went up - in fact, it doubled and was only .1 below the level at which they really start to worry. It should be going down along with the other numbers. They wanted to check her weight and liver and spleen and stool etc. The direct bilirubin going up can be an indicator of a possible liver problem.

Sound scary, yes. Of course they didn't tell me all this on the phone or I would have been freaking all afternoon. BUT as scary as it sounds, it seems as though all will turn out okay. He saw her poop and it is the perfect color (a person with a liver problem would have different colored poop). She has plenty of urine output and it is also the right color. She has gained plenty of weight - they like to see so much gain per day and she doubled that, and is now just 2 ounces short of her birth weight. If she hadn't of gained a lot of weight, he would have been more worried. He felt for her liver and spleen, and said they feel perfect. Everything points to a perfectly perfect outcome...they just wanted to check in with us before the long weekend and everything. Then on Monday, we have her 2 week check anyways, and they will also do yet another lab to re-check those bilirubin levels.

So yeah - it was a little scary for us in there for a few minutes, with all the talk about "degenerative liver disease" and some other thing I forget what it was...but in the end, the doc said he was very pleased with everything else - it made him feel better, and it makes him feel like the number will almost surely be down by Monday.

So cross your fingers for us, again, that everything turns out well! I know it will, I have faith :-)

Bilirubin and TGIF

We went early today (7:30) to get Brianna's bilirubin checked yet again, and I just got the call back that it is going back down, now at a 14- point - something (I forget exactly). So, yay! They do, however, want to do another weight check today, so back to the clinic we go at 5:00 this evening.

I tell you, this week has been absolutely crazy and I am SO glad it is almost over. I know Andy feels the same, as he has had to mess with his work schedule for all the time off, and make up time every night after Kaitlyn went to bed. Next week is much better - as of now, the only appointment we have is Brianna's 2 week check on Monday. Let's hope everything goes smoothly and we don't need to make any additional appointments! For our sanity! Not to mention the poor baby girl being toted to the clinic every day, sometimes more than once a day.

Hug A Developer

Staples and birthday wishes

We've had a crazy week filled with appointments. 3 on Monday, 2 on Wednesday, 1 today, and 1 tomorrow. Today's appointment was for me, to get my staples out. I was SO looking forward to having those stupid things gone...and it really does feel great. The official staple count was 23. Having 23 staples in your stomach is not comfortable! I don't remember what I had last time, but it seemed about the same. Now I just have those dumb, pointless steri-strips that fall off well before they tell you to take them off.

Happy birthday to Andy, who turned 29 today, September 11th 2008. Next year you will be 30, hun...enjoy your last year as a 20-something!

Jaundice

Our little sweetie is having a bit of a jaundice issue. Kaitlyn actually did, too, but it was mild. A level of bilirubin above 5 will result in jaundice. Many babies get mild jaundice and it usually goes away on it's own. Typically, the level will peak by 6 days old, and then fall. A level above 20 requires phototherapy (the blue "bili-light) in the hospital. After a couple days of phototherapy, it usually clears right up. A level above 25 brings increased risk for all sorts of awful things. (Yeah, I need to learn that Google is not always your friend).

Brianna's level was a 15 on Monday, which is high but does not require hospital treatment. We were to bring her back in 2 days to get the level rechecked. Also to feed often, exposure to natural light, and keep track of wet/dirty diapers. Today we brought her back, and the level actually increased to a 16, which is unusual since it usually peaks by now. Still does not require phototherapy, but it does need to be monitored carefully...so back we go on Friday for another check!

Wish us luck and cross your fingers for a lower level on Friday!!

Happy 1-week birthday!

Brianna Marie is one week old today! Today was also my original due date. I can't believe how fast time has gone!

Brianna has been a wonderful baby so far...she really does not even cry that often. She is cute and cuddly and smells nice. We love her, and it is great having her here with us :-)

Kaitlyn is doing great as a big sister too - we are SO proud of her!!!

Long one - updates and what not.

We've been home as a family of four for a couple of days now and things are going well. It is challenging right now with me still recovering from surgery (a huge gash in your stomach inevitably makes things hard!) but Andy is great with helping me out when needed. My feet are extremely swollen (just like what happened last time)...I have rolls in my ankles when I stand, and that is no exaggeration. But on the bright side - I love having a newborn to cuddle and hold again. Though I also miss being able to bend over and hug Kaitlyn, or pick her up, or play on the floor with her...I can't wait to do those things again!

I never really mentioned how surgery went - it was okay. I was expecting it to be a little easier though, I must admit. I was scheduled at 8 am but did not get in until around 10, due to an emergency before me. Totally understandable of course, it was just a bummer to have to wait that much longer. Finally though, we got the party started. First when they put in my IV (which I've had many of in the past) I bled all over the place which has never happened before. They always have problems with my IV's, but never a problem with bleeding. Seriously there was a pool of blood on the floor beside us! Then, they ended up having some problems with my spinal. First they couldn't find the right spot, and so he had so spend a few minutes "digging around" in my back. That was awful. And then it seemed to work fine, until towards the end (after Brianna was out). I started to feel a lot of pain while she was "irrigating" (whatever that exactly means). I was literally bawling on the table. They kept trying different drugs to calm me down or take the pain away, but nothing was working and they were actually a minute away from having to put me completely under. But I made it, and luckily I did not have to go under. At that moment, I would have loved it, this is true. I was in so much pain - not to mention being scared because, well, you aren't supposed to be feeling this, right? . BUT if I had gone under, from the time I woke up afterwards and through the rest of my life I would have been SO bummed, especially after my ordeal with Kaitlyn. So I am very thankful that we made it with no general anesthesia!

We are nursing and it is going fairly well, at least compared to last time. So yay for us! Brianna is already showing us some things that are uniquely "her". She is a STRONG little baby, which is no surprise considering what she felt like while I was pregnant with her. She routinely breaks completely out of the tightest swaddle. She rolls over on to her side a lot and it sometimes looks like she may make it all the way over. Brianna has long fingers and toes, which she definitely did not get from her daddy because he has short fingers. And my fingers are average, so I don't know how she got such long ones. She doesn't really keep her hands in fists much, or bring her hand to her mouth a lot. I remember Kaitlyn always had two fingers in her mouth, and if not, then her hand was in a fist. It is just really cool to see the differences between the two, even so early on.

Kaitlyn is doing a wonderfully as a new sister. She is still somewhat unsure of things, but will give baby "kisses" from time to time. She has been helpful as well, even bringing me a pacifier that she found on a table. I was very proud that she didn't try to keep it for herself, because I would hate her to get into that habit at this age, when we've been broken of it for over a year now.
Actually, it seems that the most concerning thing for Kaitlyn is the huge gash covered in staples that runs from mommy's belly button all the way down. She quietly stares at it, looking very concerned. I tell her it is mommy's "owee" and she will point and repeat "owee". Sometimes she will point at her own stomach and say "owee". A few times she has reached for me and asked me to pick her up, and I feel bad that I can't, and there is no way to really make her understand exactly why. I just wish I could explain to her that I would love to hold her but my "owee" is going to prevent from doing so for awhile.

It has been busy so far - trying to figure out a routine and all. Tomorrow (and really, next week) is filled with appointments - 3 alone for tomorrow morning, 2 on Wednesday and 1 on Thursday. So it will be a crazy week trying to juggle that plus all the new things going on. But it has been great having a new little girl join our family. Twice the love! So much fun!

Well, hello!

Just wanted to check in quick, so that there is at least one post out of a bazillion that is from me. It is nice to be home and we surprised even the nurses by getting the doctor to okay getting out so early. Recovery was much faster (so far) than last time. Part of that might have been the general anesthesia last time, plus I had been up and in labor before the surgery itself...who knows. I also had a different pain med for the first 24 hours this time, and some of the nurses suspect it helped me out a lot. It sure made me ITCHY though. That's okay, I will take itchy over pain any day.

So anyhow, it is good to be home. I am quite slow moving and still very, very sore (luckily I have some good pain pills to help with that)...but I'd rather be sore at home than in the hospital where the bed sucks, people check on you every hour all night, etc.

Brianna is doing great! Our first night home was okay...We were up off and on a lot between 9 and midnight, and then I was completely up from midnight to 3:30...but since then I only had to get up once more to feed her and then she went right back to sleep. Andy was nice enough to let me sleep in this morning while he got Kaitlyn off to daycare and what not. Brianna is currently sleeping although I will have to get her up soon to eat. So yeah - it's going well. Having 2 under 2 is going to be a challenge for sure - we were reminded of that last night. But it will be fun and interesting and worth it.

Hopefully one of us will post some more pics later!

Why no new pics today?

Cause we came home and, well, there isn't any time :-). 2 days for a C-Section and we got to come home!!!

Please note, we are screening calls and do not answer the phone most of the time. There is just too much going on. Please leave a message though.

Thanks,
Andy

One Last Pic

Everyone is asking if she looks like Kaitlyn or Kandi or me. Well, let us know. (PS: You can click the images to view bigger images.)

More Photos, Day 2

Look at the three of us! We can't get a pic with Kaitlyn yet, she was scared of baby tonight.


Look at my hair, just kinda fuzzy on top.


Let me sleep please. It is light outside.


My eyes aren't brown, must have been the light and that goo they put in my eyes, they are actually a dark blue.


Kaitlyn reading her big sister card from Auntie Danika, Uncle Anthony, and Cousin Taylor.


Look at my "Awesome BIG Sister" sticker that came with the card.


Look at me scream cause it stuck to me.


Looking at the balloon and some of the pretty flowers, Nana and Papa on the left, Brinda's on the right. Thank you, they are so pretty!

Want to know hospital updates, read on, don't want to, don't read on, specifically to a couple people.

Kandi is up and walking around today. She got rid of all that surgery stuff, IVs and all, so she is a free woman. She is doing good walking around, actually taking time to move flowers around the room. She is feeling pretty good. She is sore yet, but God after watching the C-section, I am too. There is a hard hope that she may be able to come home on Thursday afternoon if everything continues to go well. Lets hope for her sake. That room was steamy today and she wasn't thrilled about that. I was freezing, I had the blankets over me. Hormones, I think so. I am going to get frozen out of our bedroom, and that is one big task.

As for Brianna, she is doing very well. She is doing a great job at learning to feed. She is a very sleepy baby, for now anyways. She normally has to be unbundled to feed her. She is a cuddler, all you have to do is cuddle her and she instantly falls asleep. Like Kandi and I were joking, first time in the last 9 months she has stopped moving. She was born at 7 lbs, 5.6 ounces. Last night at midnight, she was 7lbs, 2 ounces, so she lost a few ounces, but that is normal.

Thanks,
Andy

As promised...

Mommy's last pic of being pregnant, 9/2/2008, 5:xx something in the morning.


Where am I?


See my dark brown eyes?


I stopped crying to try and figure out what is going on...



Dr. Mary Bray and LSC Nursing Instructor.


Look at my dark hair.

Introducing Baby G #2

Brianna Marie Ganoe was born at 10:35 am on Tuesday, September 2, 2008. She was 21" long and weighed 7lbs, 5.6 ounces. She has dark dark eyes, dark hair, more in back than top.

Brianna and Kandi are both doing good. I will try and post pics tonight!

On the eve of baby 2, some pics of Kaitlyn....

Just some pics of Kaitlyn Rose before ******* ***** arrives...


Something weird is going on here...


I don't know what they are up too...


I just don't know, someone please help me....


Ohhhhh, now I understand :-)


Daddy's little programmer.


Going home after a hard day of work.


Man, this programming stuff is tiring.