About Our Katie » July 2004 Journal Entries » AboutMyBaby - online baby scrapbooks, photo albums, videos, birth and pregnancy announcements

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Fri, Jul 30, 2004 12:00 PM
This morning Katie had her first appointment at the pediatrician. Right before it was time to go in, she took the poop of her lifetime. My mom and I just looked at each other as she kept going...and going... What a mess! She ended up soiling her cute little rosebud romper and got changed into a plain old white onesie. So much for impressing the doctor with her wardrobe! Ha ha...

Anyway, the report from the pediatrician was glowing. Her weight is up to six pounds, 13 ounces--seven ounces beyond her birth weight in just 15 days. She goes back in two weeks for another check-up. She's due to get vaccinations then--something I am NOT looking forward to!

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Mon, Jul 26, 2004 7:40 PM
Katie was "due" today, but I'm glad we've already enjoyed 11 days with her. She really is a pleasure. She only cries when she's hungry (and then she's easily satisfied). Last night she was up a couple of times, but ended up sleeping for close to five hours straight. I can't really complain about that!

Today Mom and I took her out and about. We did some very "exciting" errands. It was nice to get out of the house, if only for a little while. It will be great when Katie is a little sturdier and we don't have to worry quite so much about her fragile immune system and so on.

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Fri, Jul 23, 2004 1:01 PM
Today we had a visit from an Abington Home Care nurse. She examined Katie and said everything looks great! In fact, her weight is already back up to 6 pounds, 8.5 ounces--just half an ounce from her birth weight! I'm excited to see how much she weighs at her first pediatrician's appointment, which is next Friday morning.

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Thu, Jul 22, 2004 7:00 PM
Hooray! Katie and I are finally home from the hospital! She got a clean bill of health and is adjusting to her home beautifully so far. I'll write more later. I want to go stretch out and watch Jeopardy!

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Mon, Jul 19, 2004 5:30 AM
She's here!

On Thursday, July 15th I went into labor and delivered Katherine Elizabeth "Katie" Fanelli. The labor and delivery went very smoothly and weren't as bad as I thought they might be.

Unfortunately, when Katie was born she inhaled some amniotic fluid. As a result, she's spending the week at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Abington. When she first went there late Thursday night, they had her hooked up to all kinds of machines and monitors. Now, just three days later, she is off almost all of them. They are only keeping her there so she can complete her course of antibiotics.

Anyway, she is just as cute as a button. (My husband, my mother, and I all think so, so it must be true! We're totally objective, right?! Ha ha...) Seriously, she is nursing like a champ and doing many other great baby tricks--burping, pooing, peeing, and crying. We cannot WAIT to bring her home later this week!

I've posted a few photos in the Photo Album. More to come, of course! (It may not be until next weekend that I'm able to post, though; I'm spending most of my time with her at the hospital. Also, if I owe you a thank-you note, please bear with me.)

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Wed, Jul 14, 2004 6:00 PM
Today was the 38-week appointment. Everything is progressing nicely. The doctor even said the baby's head is "low and engaged," which I figure can't be a bad thing!

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Tue, Jul 13, 2004 9:20 PM
This afternoon we had our final ultrasound. They estimate the baby's current weight to be 7 pounds, 4 ounces. That's the 50th percentile. Not too bad--assuming their estimates are accurate!

Once again, she was very active during the ultrasound. We got to see her face, which, at this point, is pretty much smushed against the uterine wall!

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Mon, Jul 12, 2004 12:00 PM
I just need to whine and complain a little bit. Feel sorry for me...please.

For about a week now, I've had hives all over my body. They started on my hips and stomach, but have since spread to everywhere but my face, the palms of my hands, and the soles of my feet. To say I'm miserable would be a gross understatement.

I've tried hydrocortisone cream, Neosporin, Caladryl, Benadryl, Claritin, Aveeno oatmeal baths, and most recently, a prescription antihistamine that my doctor finally gave me on Sunday. The prescription drug seems to be helping a LITTLE.

The docs are sympathetic but ultimately nonchalant about my agony. Apparently it's quite common to develop a rash in the last weeks of pregnancy. The doc said something about hormones and increasing amounts of bilirubin. (I've decided that I HATE bilirubin, and I don't even know what the heck it is!)

Supposedly this condition will go away after delivery--which isn't much consolation, considering that could be a MONTH away! Sigh...

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Thu, Jul 8, 2004 7:00 PM
This afternoon, some folks from Unisys threw Steve a surprise baby shower. I took the ride over and joined in the fun, too. Steve was genuinely surprised--which was great! (One of his employees remarked to me, "Steve is actually nervous up there; I'm enjoying this!" Hee hee...)

Some of his staff collaborated on a "Daddy's Toolbelt" that was just too cute. (See photos in the photo album.) They also had him change a dirty diaper on a doll baby--just to show he still has what it takes! (He did just fine, by the way...) And we got two very generous gift cards that we can use to get additional clothing and supplies.

All in all, another great shower!

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Sat, Jul 3, 2004 1:00 PM
Steve and I are now graduates of our Childbirth Education Class. The last class, which was a double session, covered a lot of ground. We learned about the various forms of pain relief, including an epidural. We practiced our breathing and pushing. And, we ended the class with a review game called "Labor Feud." It was moms versus dads. Being a big goober, I really got into the game and didn't want it to end! :-)

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Thu, Jul 1, 2004 6:00 PM
I don't have much news to report... I just felt I should acknowledge that July is here--and D-Day won't be too much longer. I sure hope Little Miss Fanelli decides to arrive after Mom flies in or at least before she and Dad have to go back home!

On Monday, the doc told me that activity indicates a baby is "happy." If that's really true, then this one must be downright ecstatic. She is always moving, giving me all sorts of pokes, prods, and kicks. (Ouch!)

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