Now that we're back to normal life, and I am feeling almost completely recovered, here are some pictures of Kara...
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Only Half-drugged
Well, things seem to be slowly getting better with me. I'm functioning on less medication and needing to rest less.
I had an interesting morning today. With Larry working out and then going straight to work, I had to get all the kids ready by myself this morning. After getting Miranda and Derek out the door by 8:10, I quickly got myself and Spencer ready and dressed- out the door at 8:20 and to Spencer's preschool. Luckily, Kara slept through all of that. When I got back, I had 30 minutes to feed and dress Kara and Lindsey before seeing the doctor. Immediatly after seeing the doctor, I picked up Lindsey, drove home, and waited at the bus stop for Derek. (11:15) The bus was late, so I had to have a friend pick up Spencer from his preschool at 11:30. I finally breathed a sigh of relief after the kids ate lunch and I was able to feed little Kara again.
I feel like all I can do is get the kids dressed, fed, and off to their various destinations. Forget about housework, laundry, or a rest! I usually do all the laundry on Mondays, but since it is already 1:30, I think we'll have to wait til tomorrow! I think it's going to take a while to figure out how to take care of everyone and manage the chaos/housework.
I had an interesting morning today. With Larry working out and then going straight to work, I had to get all the kids ready by myself this morning. After getting Miranda and Derek out the door by 8:10, I quickly got myself and Spencer ready and dressed- out the door at 8:20 and to Spencer's preschool. Luckily, Kara slept through all of that. When I got back, I had 30 minutes to feed and dress Kara and Lindsey before seeing the doctor. Immediatly after seeing the doctor, I picked up Lindsey, drove home, and waited at the bus stop for Derek. (11:15) The bus was late, so I had to have a friend pick up Spencer from his preschool at 11:30. I finally breathed a sigh of relief after the kids ate lunch and I was able to feed little Kara again.
I feel like all I can do is get the kids dressed, fed, and off to their various destinations. Forget about housework, laundry, or a rest! I usually do all the laundry on Mondays, but since it is already 1:30, I think we'll have to wait til tomorrow! I think it's going to take a while to figure out how to take care of everyone and manage the chaos/housework.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Update
I am feeling much better than before, but I've had continuing headaches that I can barely manage with the drugs I have. It has been very frustrating to feel great for a short time in the morning, and then need to lay down to ease the headaches! It seems like the blood patch mostly worked, but I am still feeling some of the neck/base of the head pain again. The medication is making me feel a little dizzy and sleepy, so that is also a pain. I just wish it would go away! I want to feel like myself again! I see my doctor on Monday, so maybe he will have some suggestions.
In the meantime, Lindsey is getting to watch Blue's Clues, which she loves. Kara continues to thrive and sleep a lot. Nursing is going really well. Derek has written a list of over 100 things for Spencer to buy with his money. (I guess he has given up on actually earning money himself). Larry is slowly fitting in some workouts and some waterpolo practices.
In the meantime, Lindsey is getting to watch Blue's Clues, which she loves. Kara continues to thrive and sleep a lot. Nursing is going really well. Derek has written a list of over 100 things for Spencer to buy with his money. (I guess he has given up on actually earning money himself). Larry is slowly fitting in some workouts and some waterpolo practices.
Another Clone??
Do we have another Dickinson clone??? You be the judge...
Derek- two weeks old
Miranda- 6 weeks old
Spencer- at least a couple weeks old (no umbilical cord)
Lindsey- ready to go some from the hospital.
Derek- two weeks old
Miranda- 6 weeks old
Spencer- at least a couple weeks old (no umbilical cord)
Lindsey- ready to go some from the hospital.Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Feeling MUCH better
Last night I went back to the hospital to have a "blood patch" which essentially blocked the hole they made in my spinal column and immediately relieved my headaches/neck pain. I was there a little over an hour and felt relief almost instantly. I feel so much better being able to move around, sit up, and walk.
Kara is now one week old and I think she has the magical Dickinson sleeping power. She's alert and awake for about 45 minutes a day. It has been a blessing considering my condition.
We have had so much help this past week, that I've really felt so blessed! We have so many people that have sent meals, called on the phone, and offered help. Thank you, everyone!!
Kara is now one week old and I think she has the magical Dickinson sleeping power. She's alert and awake for about 45 minutes a day. It has been a blessing considering my condition.
We have had so much help this past week, that I've really felt so blessed! We have so many people that have sent meals, called on the phone, and offered help. Thank you, everyone!!
Friday, September 12, 2008
Kara Renee Dickinson
Hey, this is Michelle. I'm home now from the hospital with little Kara. She is very similar to my other girls, though a little darker hair and slightly fuller lips.
I went into the hospital around 3 pm on the 10th, and had her at 6:26 pm. It was all quick and went with no complications, except with the epidural. While he was doing it, he got a "wet tap" which means that he knicked my spinal column and some fluid came out, so he warned me that I was in for a spinal headache within 12-24 hours. As we talked about all this my blood pressure dropped real low, so they gave me some medication to help raise it and pumped me as full of liquid as they could. Fortunatly, the actual delivery went very well, I was happy and was having no headaches or blood pressure problems by then.
Kara gurggled out a bunch of amniotic fluid at birth and cried quite a bit. She was beautiful. I didn't need any stitches or anything. She wasn't very interested in nursing until the middle of the night. The next day, the headache came, though it is very mild compared with how horrible I have heard it can be. I can stand or sit up completely for short periods of time, then I have to recline or lay flat for the headache to go away. (So, I'm sitting with really terrible posture to write this). It is a dramatic difference from a base-of-the-neck headache that really hurts while standing to instant relief and no pain while laying. I am expecting the headache to last about a week, from what I hear. Apparently I have to wait til the hole in the spinal column heals and fills up with spinal fluid (right now it's kind of like an underinflated tire). So, I'm on doctor's orders to drink lots of caffeine and fluids and take Motrin for the pain. Bring on the Mountain Dew! I feel totally great, except for the headaches.
Thanks for all the congratulations, everyone. She is doing great and I am doing well and have an excuse to lay around and watch TV, so life is good. I will post more pictures later today!
I went into the hospital around 3 pm on the 10th, and had her at 6:26 pm. It was all quick and went with no complications, except with the epidural. While he was doing it, he got a "wet tap" which means that he knicked my spinal column and some fluid came out, so he warned me that I was in for a spinal headache within 12-24 hours. As we talked about all this my blood pressure dropped real low, so they gave me some medication to help raise it and pumped me as full of liquid as they could. Fortunatly, the actual delivery went very well, I was happy and was having no headaches or blood pressure problems by then.
Kara gurggled out a bunch of amniotic fluid at birth and cried quite a bit. She was beautiful. I didn't need any stitches or anything. She wasn't very interested in nursing until the middle of the night. The next day, the headache came, though it is very mild compared with how horrible I have heard it can be. I can stand or sit up completely for short periods of time, then I have to recline or lay flat for the headache to go away. (So, I'm sitting with really terrible posture to write this). It is a dramatic difference from a base-of-the-neck headache that really hurts while standing to instant relief and no pain while laying. I am expecting the headache to last about a week, from what I hear. Apparently I have to wait til the hole in the spinal column heals and fills up with spinal fluid (right now it's kind of like an underinflated tire). So, I'm on doctor's orders to drink lots of caffeine and fluids and take Motrin for the pain. Bring on the Mountain Dew! I feel totally great, except for the headaches.
Thanks for all the congratulations, everyone. She is doing great and I am doing well and have an excuse to lay around and watch TV, so life is good. I will post more pictures later today!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
more baby
Baby was born at 5:30 pm on Sept 10th, and all is well and better than well . More details will be blogged later, but here are some pics.
Monday, September 8, 2008
BYU Football = Heaven??
We DID make it for our exciting BYU football game in Pack 10 country this weekend. We were really wondering because I had some false labor the afternoon/evening before we left. Since everything calmed down during the night and morning before we left, we decided to risk having the baby in Washington, packed up the hospital bag, took the kids to grandma's house, and left for our getaway.
We spent a very relaxing evening with our friends Ken and Claire before going to the game the next day. After waking up the morning of the game, Larry turned to me and said, "This game is like heaven. I get to see all of my friends there, my dad, my brother. I get to talk to everybody." His one worry was that he wouldn't get to talk to everyone as much as he'd like to. "And, you're at a BYU football game," I added.
As I thought about it, it really was a big deal to Larry to be surrounded by friends and family, enjoying a football game. I think Larry is the most loyal friend that a person can have! So, thanks to all who were there to make a really special memory for Larry and me.
We spent a very relaxing evening with our friends Ken and Claire before going to the game the next day. After waking up the morning of the game, Larry turned to me and said, "This game is like heaven. I get to see all of my friends there, my dad, my brother. I get to talk to everybody." His one worry was that he wouldn't get to talk to everyone as much as he'd like to. "And, you're at a BYU football game," I added.
As I thought about it, it really was a big deal to Larry to be surrounded by friends and family, enjoying a football game. I think Larry is the most loyal friend that a person can have! So, thanks to all who were there to make a really special memory for Larry and me.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Baby News
So, I now have an induction date- Wednesday, September 10th! I am still hoping/planning to go to Seattle this weekend with Larry to the BYU game and to stay with friends. I think it will happen, since I have not gone into labor on my own since Miranda, but we shall see. Wish me luck!
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