One Month Old!

On November 20, Isaac was born.  It now has been a month.  I am so happy that he is growing healthy and strong.  However, I still reminisce over his birth and first couple of days and weeks.  I think about when they put him on my stomach and our first night at the hospital.  Yes, I have cried several times over these treasured memories.  Sometimes I wish I could freeze time or that I could perfectly remember a moment forever.  Still,  his size shows me that time can't be stopped.  My one month old boy fits into three month old clothes!  There are outfits he never even got to wear.  His neck is getting stronger, he can lift his head up longer.  He can smile which is probably one of the best things I have ever seen.

Three Weeks Today

Ribbit

My Beautiful Boy

Isaac is now over two weeks old. It sounds crazy, but he is growing so fast. Everyday his face is fuller, his hands seem bigger, he is heavier to hold. 

Now, if he would just cry less... I'm not saying he cries all of the time, I mean, he doesn't cry when he's eating or sleeping. Breast-feeding is getting easier, Yay! Plus, I can now get into a pair of pre-pregnancy jeans!  If it weren't so cold out,  I might try to go out more often.  Not to mention, that it's cold and flu season.  We are all starting to adjust to the new "schedule".  Kadin has been great too! I am so thankful.

Something Different

1 Week Old, Life On The Outside

This week is one big blur. I am feeling much more like my old self.  Today we went to the doctor for Isaac's first appt.  I really did not enjoy it at all.  He hated being examined but who wouldn't...bright lights, cold hands, doctors.  His response seemed to shock the doctor and nurses.  They said, "He really doesn't like this."  Duh!  I could go on but I won't.  So they told us that he is actually 21 3/4 inches long not what the hospital measured him at (19 in).  I thought that 19 inches was incorrect.  I must say that it explains why I could still feel him kicking my ribs after he dropped.  It has been good to getting to know Isaac.  He is strong and healthy with an excellent set of lungs!  But, I have to say that breast feeding sucks... literally.  I have been told that it gets easier and it has.  I just want it to get even better right now.  So that was our adventure for the day.

Thank you to:

God, You are so good to us.
Our Northside family, for your loving care.
Our families, for your unconditional love and support.
Papa Weiss, for the prayer you prayed.
Tracy, for a great education.
For everyone who helped birth little Isaac: Christine, Dr. Bowen, Kim.
Athena (the lactation consultant).
Everyone else, thank you for the food, encouraging words, prayers, flowers, taking out our trash, trips to the store...
Thank you!

Baby Isaac

In order that Sarah's energy be used where it is most important and also that the facts of the birth of baby Isaac be told fairly and accurately I (David) will be updating Sarah's blog today.

The story of Sarah Kathryn True's labor and Baby David Isaac True's birth:

Tuesday, November 20, 2007.
• 3AM- Sarah awakes to signs of early labor, and returns to sleep

• 5AM- Sarah has a dream: She's at work in the break room talking to two coworkers, one turns to Sarah and says, "We've got to get her ready" and kicks the stool that Sarah is sitting on. In real-life Sarah awakes and finds that her water has broken.

• 5AM- 8AM- More active labor begins, stronger contractions, Sarah becomes more serious, needing a quiet and dark place. During this time, Christine (Sarah's Doula) arrives to help out, the doctor is called, care and a ride to school is procured for Kadin, the car is packed, a few bites of banana are eaten...

• 9AM- Around this time it becomes obvious that things are moving forward pretty fast. Sarah starts showing signs of transition and we start for the hospital.

• Now, at this point in the re-telling of events it should be stated that at no time did Sarah lose control or freak out or start screaming and swearing. She would just alternate between measured, heavy breathing and almost complete relaxation.

• 10AM- We arrive at the hospital after a fairly uneventful car ride. We had pre-registered and the doctor had called ahead for us, so we were able to pretty much go straight to our room. This was fortunate because upon entering the room Sarah was beginning to feel the urge to push. Sarah was checked by the RN and we were informed that she was "complete".

• Between 10:15 and 11AM our room was in a bit of a whirlwind with nurses, doctors and staff all working to prepare everything needed (in their minds) to bring a child into the world. We could tell that there was a little concern with the staff that Sarah's doctor had not yet arrived but none of that concern was coming from Sarah.
This was also the time when it became clear just how blessed we were (are).

A Quick List Of Blessings Up To This Point:
1. Most of Sarah's early stage labor had happened while she was asleep.
2. Most of Sarah's active labor had happened while at home in the comfort and quiet of our bedroom.
3. Everything was moving at a very quick but manageable pace.
4. The car ride was smooth, traffic was fairly clear and nothing was forgotten.
5. There was no wait to get to our room.
6. Because Sarah arrived pretty much ready to push, there was no time for the hospital to strap her down with IV's, monitoring devices, or anything else that often impedes a natural birth.
7. The RN (Kim) had been a doula for seven years before her two years as a RN, so she perfectly understood our birth plan and was incredibly helpful and supportive.

• 11AM- At some point Dr. Bowen arrived, a squat bar was attached to the bed, pushing began. Sarah was incredible, she had Christine on her left helping her breath, Kim to her right helping her focus, Dr. Bowen in catching position, and me behind her as something to support and rest on in the bed. Pushing went like this: Sarah would open her eyes and start to sit up as a contraction would begin (between contractions she was so relaxed you would think she was sleeping), she would wrap her arms over the squat bar and breath and push. She had such amazing control and focus!

• 11:27AM- Baby Isaac sees the world for the first time. He is bright-eyed and BIG (almost 10 pounds). While delivering the placenta and still in complete control of her pain, Sarah begins conversations around the room expressing her concern for Dr. Bowen and how it seems that he would never be able to holiday.

• Over the next day and night the hospital put it's many stamps of approval over the mother and baby, we signed papers acknowledging that we understood how dangerous it is to not pump a newborn's body full of diseases and viruses, and no, you may not cut him there... We were also told by Kim (the RN who had been a doula for seven years) that this had been the best natural birth she had ever seen. I do believe that Sarah was seen as a bit of a rock-star there at the hospital.

We have now been home for two days. There has been very little sleep, but much joy. People have asked about the "baby blues" or "post-partum this-or-that" and as of yet there have been many tears, but none from sadness. Sarah and I have a quite a few moments where we have just looked at our new baby and cried over how beautiful he is and how wonderfully blessed we have been. For that we thank our friend and father in heaven.

We will post pictures and video as it comes.
Thank you for your prayers and kindness.
David, Sarah, Kadin & Baby Isaac True

41 Weeks Tomorrow

That's right I am still here and pregnant.  You would not believe how many people have asked... "have you had the baby yet?"  I guess it is a reasonable question.  Obviously from this post the answer is clear.  Believe it or not, it's not that bad.  I mean it definitely does not make my top ten list but I have had a fun week.  I went to yoga twice, I cleaned, went Christmas shopping, made cookies and dinner for Bible study, saw a movie with Kadin and hung out with Jill and Justice.  I don't have much planned for the upcoming week except Thanksgiving festivities which I am very excited about.  Today, Judy said that it would be great to have a baby on T-day.  I disagreed because I want to eat.  She told me that should I have him on Thanksgiving, she would personally cook a Thanksgiving meal just for me!  I agreed.

40 Weeks Today

Well, I have reached my due date. Its all that I thought it would be and more. Not really. But today was a good day. Church was really good and I got to hang out with Christine and Lauren. Plus, last night we had a really fun game night. I hope that the days of waiting are as good as they have been recently. I just wish I could sleep a little better, as if sleeping well is going to last long anyway:)

39 Weeks Yesterday

I have been trying to post for a while now. It took some time to figure out how to put a picture up. Anyway, I am 39 weeks now. I thought last night was going to be the night but alas not. I still can't complain too much. Although it would be nice to not work this week. It has been a really fun couple of weeks. For one thing my Papa sent me a pair of beautiful earrings purchased in India in 1946. Which I love, seriously vintage. I also went to a Fall party at my friend Nicole's house. She has the coolest dogs... Mr Hobbes a Bijon and Shelby a Goldendoodle. It was good to see people and eat good food! Finally, I also caught up with Jill and Justice. We got to hang out all day it was so much fun. I got to see Justice in action and his personality is as adorable as his pictures are. It was good to get some mothering advice from Jill because she is a really fantastic mom. Plus, she let me borrow some great stuff. I am really hoping to get together with her again:) As for now, I am going to continue to clean my house. Thank God for Lauren... she helped me clean yesterday and we got so much accomplished.

37 weeks on Sunday!

Although I have come a long way. I still feel like I have a long way to go. I must say that not knowing when Isaac will get here is a little annoying. The pregnancy hasn't been that bad... Thank you God. It is getting harder though. I get tired so easily now and just about everything aches. I keep telling myself everyday is one day I don't have to do again. I just hope he gets here before Thanksgiving!

This song has been in my head for the last three days... yes it has yes it has.   Peter Sarstedt  looks like a mix between Borat and Sonny Bono.

movies and plays oh my

It has been an excellent month for movies and plays for me! First, David took me to see Dracula at playhouse in the park for my birthday. It was really fun and I had never seen the play before. Then Judy took me to see My Fair Lady at the Aranoff. It was really amazing. I haven't seen plays of that caliber in a long time. Last night, David and I drove to Columbus to see Across the Universe. Why Columbus you ask? Well, ATU only had limited showings and alas Cincinnati did not make the cut. Shocking! It was quite the mini trip. The movie was well worth the jaunt. The movie is a musical created from Beatles songs. So all the characters are from the songs too. For example, Jude the lead boy from the song... Hey Jude. I thought it was completely creative. Obviously there were more than a few drug references... and when I say reference what I mean is that they were on LSD a large chunk of the movie. The art direction was phenomenal. Best since Pan's Labyrinth. I hope that it comes to Cincinnati soon because I would see it again.

I gave in

After three plus years of not having a blog, I have finally created one. I don't know what my major problem with blogs was... I mean I read them and I like them. I must admit it is a little intimidating choosing what to write. Ahh that's the reason I never had one. I always thought " what could I say of interest and not get in trouble for later?" Not to mention someone somewhere correcting my grammar and vocabulary seemed a little scary. Oh well, I did it! (quite the risk taker). What if I dileberatly spell things wrong and say things to make peopel mad ( I love Brittney).... would I be even more the risktaker? No. I guess not. Wow walking on the wild side wears me out, well that or perhaps it's just being pregnant.