October 16th: 1 month

Happy 1 month, Ben! 

Benjamin, you are such a joy in our lives and you are certainly keeping us on our toes! I can't believe how quickly this first month flew by. You are already so awake and alert. You grow everyday! 

During your last day at the hospital, you tested at a high risk for jaundice. We had to bring you in for labwork the next day and the pediatrician ordered you a billibed to use at home. I was happy that you didn't need to be admitted to the hospital, but I maaay have cried a little knowing your first full day at home with us would be spent in a billibed. 

You were such a champ --- you never cried during any heel pricks for the labwork. And although you hated the billibed, you were really good as long as either Mom or Dad was next to you. We read you a lot of books that day! I also slept on the floor next to you all night and let you hold on to my finger with your hand so you would get some sleep. Your labwork the next day was improving, so we only had to have you in the billibed for half a day more. By your two week appointment, everything was looking good and you had gained back all the weight lost at the hospital plus an extra 6 ounces. 

When you were nine days old, we had the most adorable photos taken of you*. Although it was nice and cozy warm during the photoshoot, you were not a fan of being moved around and squished together! Every time the photographer would move you into position, you'd move back to where you were most comfortable. You gave the photographer some sass, and we kind of love you for it. ;) 

I mean, c'mon now. 

We love to catch your smiles when you're dreaming!

Too cute to handle.

Everyone was so excited to meet you. Your Nana stayed with us for a few weeks and you were able to get in a lot of good snuggles and bonding time. You really love to be held! From day one, you've had really good neck control. You don't love tummy time on your mat right now, but you love being held upright so you can look around. Your pediatrician was pretty impressed by your neck control and strength, and your Mom and Dad are already boasting about your strengths to anyone who will listen ;) Right now your one newborn-sized sleep'n'play fits perfectly, while your 0-3 month clothes are a little big. You are growing so fast, I don't think you'll be able to fit in that newborn size for long! You are sleeping for 3-4 hour stretches at night and 2-3 hour stretches during the day. 

You also had your first-ever playdate with your friend Reese (just five days younger!)**. She napped the entire time. I bounced and rocked you while drinking a large Coffeesmiths latte. ;) We're pretty sure you're going to be one active boy! 

Likes: Being held, rocked and/or swaddled; eating; "reading" books (especially books with baby faces and your farm animals book); car rides; walks in your stroller  

Dislikes: the billibed; your swing and bouncy chair; lying flat; baths; diaper changes 

Life is definitely different around here now, and we wouldn't have it any other way. 

*These photos WILL be showcased at your high school graduation, college graduation and wedding. 
**It took this new Momma two hours to get out the door for this playdate. 

Ben has arrived!

Benjamin Andersen Garbe 

09/16/2014, 8 lbs, 21 inches 

I've been meaning to write out Ben's birth story before I forget the details*. We are so happy Ben is here ---- it still seems so unbelievable that we have this tiny, adorable human in our life now! 

I went in for my 39 1/2 week appointment on Monday the 15th to re-check my blood pressure. The week before it had been in the high 150s, but I didn't have any signs and symptoms of preeclampsia or other complications. Just in case, Dave and I got as much ready as possible over the weekend and "assumed" a Monday baby arrival. Truthfully, I think we both figured my blood pressure would be back to normal and I'd see my physician at my 40 week appointment on the 18th. I was really hoping Ben would arrive naturally sometime during the week prior to my 40 week appointment. 

Sunday night I started having a lot of pressure in my abdomen, but I assumed they were Braxton Hicks contractions. It did cross my mind that I may be in early labor because the pressure was so intense, but I decided that it would be best to get a full night's sleep. If the contractions started to get worse, I figured they would wake me up. They really didn't feel anything like what I've read contractions should feel like, so I wasn't too concerned/excited. 

On Monday, I was still feeling a lot of pressure. At work, it started to get more and more uncomfortable, but I knew I would see an OB in a few hours so I decided to wait to ask her if I should be paying a little closer attention to how I was feeling. ;) At the appointment, my blood pressure was in the 140s --- still high, but not as alarming. Again, all other tests for preeclampsia were negative. My OB was out of town that day --- so I saw another OB who was really wonderful --- and she suggested I do a fetal stress test and an ultrasound just to rule out any other reasons why my blood pressure would be elevated. Ben passed the fetal stress test with flying colors (he moved a ton --- as he did throughout my entire pregnancy!), but the ultrasound showed really low fluid levels and the OB said I needed to be induced ASAP. It was noon and she asked if I could go to the birthcare center right then and there ---- I think the look of terror concern on my face led her to then ask if I could make it by 1PM. I said I could and called Dave right away --- he packed up the rest of our things, I got things settled at work and ate a peanut butter sandwich and two bananas knowing I wouldn't be able to eat for quite a while (a true runner's breakfast, am I right??). 

Before leaving the clinic, the OB also cautioned me that I would likely have to have a c-section. Actually, she said that she was very confident a "trial of labor" would fail. The doctor on-call at the birthcare center, though, wanted to try to avoid a c-section if possible. I'm glad the OB mentioned this to me beforehand --- I was able to prepare myself mentally for this possibility during labor when things were not progressing.  

When we got to the hospital, things were going really well. As it turns out, I WAS having contractions every 2 -3 minutes apart, they just didn't feel like radiating pain, just pressure. The nurse drew more bloodwork to continue to rule out preeclampsia and I was hooked up to fetal monitors and an IV of pitocin. I have to say, I really enjoyed this time spent with Dave in early labor --- we were so excited (and nervous) and the room was so peaceful. After some time, I took a whirlpool bath ---- I would HIGHLY recommend this --- that took all of my pain away. I was only able to stand the heat for a short period of time, though. When I got out of the tub, Ben's heart rate was dropping and I had to get back in bed to lie down to more closely monitor how things were going. I was slightly concerned about this, but also the contractions were starting to get more intense and it was hard to think about anything else. 

I labored for several hours before our active Ben kicked me really hard during a contraction and broke my water (thanks, buddy!). Prior to my water breaking I really felt like wonder woman --- I could handle the pain! Woo! But after? Forget it. I got to a point where I thought to myself "okay, 4 more contractions and ask for the epidural". I got through 4 more, told Dave and the nurse I wanted the epidural and waited for the anesthesiologist to arrive (from home. bless that man.). All I can say is epidurals are a magical. I tried to get as much sleep as possible at this point. Every time I would get checked, it would be disappointing --- I was hardly progressing at all. Ben's heart rate continued to be great in general, but he had a few drops here and there. I remember the nurse saying she'd call the doctor if it happened one more time. I think at that point, I knew I'd have a c-section and that I had to be okay with it. After 16 hours of labor, the on-call doctor asked me if I wanted to move forward with the c-section and I said "yes!". I was ready, and I think Ben was ready. 

The c-section went really well. Thank God for Dave --- I don't remember what he said or if he said anything at all, but just being able to hold his hand during the surgery made everything easier. He was really my rock throughout the entire labor and surgery. When Ben was born and I could hear him crying, I was so happy and relieved. I could have cared less what happened after that. Dave was able to go over and see Ben while they cleaned him up and then they were able to bring him over to me. Ben was born September 16th at 5:56 AM weighing 8 lbs and measuring 21 inches long. 

Rocking the hipster glasses during surgery

Dave and Ben went to the recovery room while I was stitched up. When I got to the recovery room, the nurses said that Ben was having a really hard time "transitioning". Usually, when a baby is born, the fluid in his chest is squeezed out ---- harder to do during a c-section, and Ben was really struggling. It was a flurry of activity --- there was a high-risk birth that one of the flight nurses kept having to answer her cell phone to coordinate while in that room, and there were so many people running around that I couldn't quite figure out what was going on. They told us he'd have to go up to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and I really wanted Dave to go with him. I had been pretty adamant about that when we talked about potential complications during a birth class we took together --- if for whatever reason I couldn't be with Ben, I really wanted Dave to be there. 

I don't know if it was maternal instinct, the fact that I work at St. Luke's and had full faith in their NICU, or the morphine --- but I really felt 100% like Ben was going to be okay, even though he was up in the NICU. I think Dave had a better understanding of how serious things were (they should dole out some morphine for the dads, amiright?) --- but, fortunately, his breathing got better after a couple of hours and they were able to discharge Ben. I remember they wheeled him into our birthcare room and I was so, so happy to see him. 

We didn't create a "birth plan" and I'm glad we didn't. This was certainly not the experience we were expecting, but I am so thankful that Ben is a healthy baby. It feels like he was always meant to be here --- like this particular person was always going to be part of our lives. It's a great feeling! 

*written the week after his birth for us to look back on someday! If you made it through the whole story, I probably owe you a pistachio chocolate chip cookie. ;)