Introduction to the world of... Roland Paul Klinge

Hello all... I had a baby last week, what did you do? I would love to share with you on this blog the weekly updates of no longer me but of Rollie. After all, it is all about him forever on.

First up: Birth Story
I went in to my scheduled appointment on November 23rd to check in on our baby and believe it or not, convinced my doctor that I should be induced that night. That isn't the whole story but it is the truth. He was overbooked on Wednesday (the day I was scheduled to give birth) and also was seeing enough progression to not hold off another day. SOOOO... we left the clinic and immediately went to Great Dane Pub for our "Last Supper" before baby. It was surreal to be honest. On the way there, we called all parties involved to tell them the change and then we ate very slowly and peacefully one last time. We then came home and made sure the house was ready for company and that we had all items needed/wanted. It is amazing how a momma-to-be is so prepared with the hospital bag but then adds two more bags seeing that the time has really come!
We were admitted at 9p that night and just hung out/slept until 2:30a. At this time my water broke with a lil pill assistance that induction does to soften the cervix. I thought for real that I had wet the bed X10. It felt like my water broke throughout the entire night until I got some medium contractions. I am not sure still if I have a high pain tolerance or if I just had weak contractions but the time came for Doc to suggest progression and for them to give me potocin to get this baby out within the 24 hours of my water breaking. I was totally against the idea of meds but when Doc told me that progression was needed, I told of baby and not myself. So, at 7a I started with the drug. HELLO CONTRACTIONS!
I was increased amounts throughout the day and the doctors waited for enough progression to see if baby was coming into the world. At 3p, Doc told me I was still at 4cm and determined that baby was stuck in a crevice of my body and my body needed to be relaxed fully for him to get moving again. Solution: Epidural. I got a tad nervous hearing that baby was still not progressing and Doc let me know he wasn't overly concerned but he would recommend an epidural for safety measures. That folks, is all I needed to hear to know that my plan was completely gone for a med free procedure and I was another tally of a brave momma for letting go of my plans and thinking of baby first. That epidural though... the guy really numbed me up. I had completely no feeling in my lower half until 30 minutes after baby was born.
Timeline continues... so at 3p I got the epidural and at 7:30p I started pushing my baby out due to my body relaxing and my cone-headed baby was in go position. I pushed. I pushed some more. I pushed even more. Because I had absolutely no feeling below my sternum, it took me trial and error to find the region of my body (muscle group) to focus on and that being said pushed for 2 hours straight. At this point, I was a mess and Doc was seeing a complication: Baby needed help with the exit door. So... along came the pre-finale: a cute lil 2cm horizontal episiotomy. He needed my consent and I gave it to him. I would have given him all the treasures of this world if he asked for it being that I pushed for 2 hours.
Then folks... Rollie came into this world with one last push. He was plopped onto my chest with all the slime to share. I loved him immediately and then they took him to his warming station due to Rollie feasting on meconium through the drown out process and needed to be suctioned for a lil. He didn't full out cry until an hour of life as he was given his first bath but oh those sweet, fussy noises that he made just melted me. All in all... my baby was born perfect in all areas of the word and I have the rest of his life to forget those 24.5 hours of labor and delivery.

Next up: First Days of Life
I was surprised how fast they ship you out of delivery into a recovery room. It was all but a hour post baby that it took for me to be reacquainted with another hospital bed. Rollie took a lil to follow me but dad stayed by his side the entire time we were in the hospital. It was utterly precious how involved Caleb stayed in the whole process. I am so thankful for the man who is the father to my child. Peeps, he is the real deal.
When Rollie arrived in the room he was zonked out and so was the two of us so we just went to sleep and recovered until morning (beside feedings every three hours of course). When morning arrived the family re-visited to the hospital to hold Rollie and to spend some time that didn't get the night before. When all family came and went, Caleb and I feasted on a gourmet, hospital meal and then watched TV before heading to bed. Rollie passed all of his tests the next morning and even got a circumcision to round out his whole hospital visit.
We were discharged on Thanksgiving morning and I shed a few tears knowing this was it for 24-7 nurse care and now 24-7 mom care had begun. Before leaving the hospital, the lactation consultants made sure that feedings were going fine and they felt they were. More on this in about 6 sentences...
Rollie was a champ in the care seat and when we got home, Thanksgiving preparations were in full swing at our house. Momma Klinge was on turkey duty and we all ate a meal together when we arrived. I could not have asked for a better "Welcome Home" than for family to be gathered for a holiday feast.
Once all parties left to go home, my sis-in-law, Beth, stayed to help with the first nights of being home. I cannot thank her enough still for the help she gave us. She was planning to stay for about 5 days but then Saturday afternoon came. We had a lactation appointment for a follow-up and I was eager to go because Rollie was not able to feed for about a day and I could not figure out what else to do. We arrived at the lady's office and she did her check-ups and then his weight. Rollie was born with 8lbs and 7 oz or baby chub but at the appointment he measured down about a pound. This being said we had to do some blood samples as Rollie was introduced to formula. The poor guy was so hungry but just could not feed off mom due to... Rollie was tongue-tied. Meaning: that stringy thing under your tongue that keeps your tongue from going out of control gave Rollie not opportunity to create a grip on feeding and therefore by the time I got home with him, his tongue ticked him off enough for him to stop trying to feed and just scream at me in frustration.
Back to the appointment: Rollie's blood results came back and we found out that he needed to be admitted to the NICU due to dehydration. Talk about a first-time-mom cry fest. I had a very hard time with myself not providing for him adequately and for my baby needing the NICU. The best part of the 27 hour-time in the NICU was that Rollie created his own sleep/eat schedule that he is rocking to this day. The worst part: he is now my formula-fed baby boy and I am a supplemental-milk mom. Does that affect me some days? Yes, but here is the thing; my baby needs what is best for him, not me. If this is how he needs to be raised to be as healthy and happy that he is then that is exactly how I want it to be.
Since being home for almost a week from the NICU, Rollie is just the best baby. He eats about 4oz at each feeding and we wake him every 3-4 hours to feed him. He is in the 85th percentile so far in all avenues other than weight and is SO close to getting there too. Other than that, he loves time on the couch with dad and he loves to snuggle as he burps on mom's warm chest. We love him oh so much and he could not be any better of a baby to us.

Next week: nursery reveal and Rollie's first trip in the car. See you all real soon, ya hear? Until then... here is a photo purge of my handsome chunk of love. Enjoy!

Sleeping the Day Away

First Bath at Home

Carseat Junkie

Wide-Eyed and Content

An End to Pregnancy Timeline Determined... BABY IS COMING!

WRITTEN ON FRIDAY, POSTED ON SATURDAY. Whoops.

You read right, this girl is getting induced. How do I feel about this? Well, to be honest I never thought I would go for it but I am here and looking forward towards an end.

It is 60% looking forward to being done and 40% just hoping I do not have to medicate my baby through this event.

With this news, it does come along with the knowledge that I will be eating hospital thanksgiving dinner. I will not be released until Friday morning. Am I bummed, oh for sure. BUT, I will be with family and our little person will be here too SO I will be so thankful this year.

When is this happening? Tuesday night 10p into Wednesday. Can I ask for each of you to pray for me to not have to get to Tuesday and be induced? Thanks! Why is this happening? I have measured large my whole pregnancy and my doc feels like being that I could ACTUALLY be 41 weeks, we are not going to press the limits.

Today I walked for 30 minutes on the treadmill and got a induction massage with some money we have saved for this time. The walk was just fine but the massage was beyond wonderful. I got so relaxed and feel so relaxed to do this last 5 days as a prego momma. So surreal to think about that, we only have 5 days left until Gibby is here.

So. Many. Emotions.

On another note, I just got done with working yesterday. I work until my due date and I am happy I did. I was totally capable of it and we were able to keep the funds coming longer than we thought. Babies are expensive I hear so I am thankful for the time I had to keep my mind off reality and continue to help my co-workers and clients.

Thinking about that, if you are lonely, need to talk, bored, or just think about calling me... do it on Monday or Tuesday because I will be sitting here waiting or will have a baby to introduce you to.

Our crib is 100% done. I mean it is up, it is ready to hold a child and decorated with cute items for the babes. My husband did such a great job, it was totally worth it but he said he will never build something to that magnitude in an apt again... tough on the wife, back, and cleanliness of our home. We spent Saturday cleaning up all the dust and messes around the house and it feels oh so good. This babe is going to be so welcomed into this home and cannot wait to bring Giblet home.

I am not showing you the crib until baby is here, I just want to reveal it then, okay?

Lots to update you on but nothing as exciting as this baby will be born by the time you read the next blog, you are welcome.

Week 40

• Baby Gibster is the size of a Jackfruit. Yeah, IDK what that is either. I do know that baby is for sure 8 lbs and is for sure 19 inches. I can guarantee this baby is large and very much in charge. What baby would be so content in this body without being a beach bum of a kid. 
• Lungs are breathing in the amnoitic fluid and what ever else. 
• Hair and nails continue to grow while safely in Ma.

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• I am addicted to eating food but not large quantities. I have been losing weight-ish. It is totally normal. 
• I have more energy this week than I have since getting to the third trimester. Feels weird because I am oh so large but I last longer than Caleb at night and I wake ready to conquer the day. Praise Jesus and pray to Jesus that this will last all through labor and delivery. One can believe, so I will.
• No real contractions but SO many braxton hicks. I am only dilated a cm as of today but they said that could change in a matter of hours so I am not disappointed in the progression.

I stand at the door & knock but Gibby has not quite answered

I am still here and baby is still not ready to debut... I am still here.

What did we do this week? Well we ate out 3 times, went to a movie, bought some new baby items and storage pieces to get ready for baby. Sometimes being couped up and not being able to think about anything else but baby's entrance calls for the budget to be stretched for a week and for us to enjoy time as two before three is a reality. I don't think any of you would judge me for a failed week of budgeting. I am always good with the budget so I didn't feel ashamed.

I had a COMPLETE emotional breakdown yesterday that called for the mother and husband to receive "urgent" calls at work in my hysterical crying stage. Peeps, the end of pregnancy does wonders to your body but sometimes, you go a little irrational and cray-cray. A girl just needed a reality check and she was back to positive/forward thinking. Thanks to the mother and husband that patiently explained to me that I was still a human and not a misfit toy.

I did have to take a day off work this week due to a pulled muscle in my back that is taking away sleep and all around comfort from me. It really stinks to have this happen because I thought my back issues would be minimal but at 39 weeks, I have found some pain in my back. One of these days, Giblet will be ready to come out and it will NOT be in December, I am committed to that.

We are in full nesting swing around here. The crib is all but nailed together at this point so you know what that means? I get my house back! This has been such a fun journey to watch my husband build a crib that he imagined on paper and then make it real life. It did take longer than we both thought but it is done! We now get to dust our home from top to bottom from all the sawdust that has accumulated and we are back to a two bathroom apartment after this weekend. I will show you the crib when the time is right, but in the mean time, I think I will give you a sneak peek at the nursery. Nothing to give away the gender, of course.

Cute, eh? We think so too!

Week 39

• Baby keeps growing, despite being so crowded in there. Weighing between 7-8 pounds and measuring at about 19 inches, this watermelon of a belly is about ready to pop.
• Nails are growing, mind is strengthening, and limbs are a moving... all good milestones for baby.

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• Ma has gotten two stretch marks right by her belly button which is not welcomed but taken with love as it means I am a true mom with marks to remind me often. Thanks, Gibster... Ma is thankful for these marks of memory.
• I am still having Braxton Hicks on a consistent basis but there have been no false labor pains as all is painless or feels like a bowel movement, shucks.

People, I was pretty positive this week. Do I get mad props or what?!?! Bring on week 40, or don't. I honestly am cheering for there not to be a post next week but I will be back if there is. Lata!

Staying Put Over Here

I hate to break it to you but we are home-locked these days so we didn't really do anything this week. This was the last week for the Farmer's Market downtown so we weathered the storm (rain) and bought some apple cider from the miserableness of the day and found out there is an INDOOR farmer's market. Can I get a Wah-Hoo?!?! I am pumped to support the local community from just a couple doors down. We were able to get some coffee and bakery items on Saturday morning and to satisfy my annoyance to play a game of cribbage. I get so restless staying at home and being couped up. My husband is trying so hard to entertain me and keep my mind off of my current state of being (very pregnant). On Friday we went to fish fry just next door again and loved it just as much. $20 for two kids to eat out is totally worth it to us.

In other news, the crib will be done this weekend and Caleb cannot wait to reveal it in a couple weeks. Peeps, he did such a good job. You will be so happy that our little one gets to have this and pass it on as the years come (in 20 years) for Gibs to use it on their little one.

Week 38

• 19 inches and 8 pounds. Wow, baby. The size of a pumpkin, how fitting for the season, no?
• Baby fuzz and leaving and there could be up to an inch of hair on this little one's head. I hope this little gem has just the most hair ever. I love fresh chubs with a loaded head of hair. 

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• I have a weird walk going on when I first arise from my desk chair at work and my co-workers have gone from teasing me to feeling sorry for me. It is all good though, maybe this babes wants to come make an appearance if it is making me this uncomfortable, or am I just wishful thinking?
• This is the largest I have ever felt and ever want to feel. I cannot tell you how puffy I am. My mom told me she felt like her legs were stumps at this stage and I cannot agree more. This morning was the first time that my toes tingled as they gained more meat (puffiness) to their sausage-ness. 
• Caleb made me a wrist brace to wear at night and I am so thankful as my wrist no longer wakes me in the night to indicate it is past numbness and into the painful sensation. 

Sorry for all the complaining, I need to look to the bright side of this things. My doctor checked me and told me I have a ways to go and I fell like this little Gibster is just content with Ma protecting it's every moment still. I will savor today.

Three Years of M-A-R-R-I-A-G-E

Hooray for love. Caleb and I celebrated three years together on Tuesday and really had a great time celebrating. It is amazing how the years come and go but the love for someone just gets stronger and more unconditional. Caleb is still amazed that we got to where we are today through it all and how the roles have changed. Peeps, my boy was obsessed with me through college and I was such a tease. Now being married, Caleb is amazed how the girl he waited for forever could be so obsessed with his every move. I cannot put my finger quite on it but I just think he is the bees knees and the best thing on this earth. Obsessed is an understatement. Sappy no longer, okay.

Caleb and I went out for fish on Friday at a place literally steps away and loved it. It will be a Friday fish staple now. We spent the weekend working on the crib together and being intentional to do things together. These days we are zombies when we come home from work and just stare at the TV all night until it is time for bed, we are just that lame and lazy.

SIDE NOTE: It snowed on Wednesday night and Caleb got SO excited. He was like a true child staring out the window and hoping for a snow day. Snuck this photo in to prove the obsession with winter Christmas.

Flowers on anniversary. So sweet!

On Tuesday, we went out to eat to a Thai/Irish establishment and enjoyed ourselves. Caleb tried curry for the first time and loved it. I had steak and potatoes because I had been craving it all week. It was a very small place so we were able to enjoy our time together with little interruptions. After, we indulged in the yearly slice of cherry pie brought to you by Dixie's Lunch Deli in Antigo, WI. We got home and popped in a movie, If I Stay. It was only subpar so we went to bed before it was over. That is how the date went down and now we are back to love and prepping for baby.

Notice the napkin, that belly gets into
ALL food.

Pie eating, he got a "hey, Laura!" look from
me. Good work, babes.

Week 37

• Yay! Baby has reached full term. 
• Gib-baby is about 19 inches long and weighs probably 8 pounds. This is like a real baby size that you visit in the hospital. Where has this kiddos growth spurt coming from? It is so ready to meet ma and dad. Come out lil one!
• Gibby is gaining about 1/2 ounce each day from now on as well as inhaling, exhaling, sucking, gripping and blinking . SO BIG!

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• I haven't really started to nest yet but I have been pretty particular of our home turing into a wood working station. It is dusty in here and there are tools in every room of the home. 
• Caleb and I have decided sleep is better than not so, due to my snoring episodes, we are trying remedies for that. Any suggestions?
• I have been using the restroom more often but this lil one has not dropped so we aren't thinking that we are going to be parents this week. We shall see though!

Big Doings in MKE - Last Baby Shower Before Baby

I FORGOT TO PUBLISH THIS POST, oops:

This is just the weirdest for me to think that I am a week from being okay to deliver this baby. I am so ready peeps, it hit me on Monday that I am just uncomfortable and so puffy (really I am just feeling like a hippo and not digging it.)

I am so thankful from my time in Milwaukee this past weekend. I was able to have some good time with my mom and grandma as well as see some of my family that are sincerely excited for me. I was able to visit my IL Corning family for my cousin's baby shower on Saturday and spend time celebrating her baby boy. I sincerely have a place in my heart that flutters as I get to visit those folks. That have so much life to share and just a love for Jesus that inspires my walk.

Cousin Elissa & Justine. Please excuse my chubby cheeks.

Momma with Cousin Emily & Elissa. They're the cutest.

For my shower, I didn't really take any photos so you will just have to imagine a brand new home, with 25 very loving family members, a mom that made everything perfect, my mom's cousin put on great food and activities, over load of love via gifts for the Giblet, boys downstairs watching football, and a mom-to-be feeling very pregnant but very blessed. I did so well at my shower but TOTALLY crashed once the party was over. Thank you all who came and could not.

Please pray for these next nesting weekends to come as I am at home in Wausau until baby is here.

Week 36

Just me as I woke. Please excuse my facial expression.
Woof!

• All body systems are ready for the real world EXCEPT baby's lungs
• Gums are rigid and skin is soft
• We have a honey dew baby this week with 18 inches long and 5.5 pounds

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• Mom is puffy from head to toe. Trying to embrace my only shoes that fit: Birkenstock sandals
• Sleep is sporadic and I am consistently lazy feeling
• I have my birth plan done and my checklist on track
• Our home is organized with all the things we received and the nursery is ready. EEEEEK!  

Next up? Our anniversary weekend close to home and anniversary on Tuesday. Last one as a family of 2.5! Oh how life is about to REALLY change.

Northern WI in Fall, A Beaut

I made it. I made it in the car for the two hour stints. Last week, I was celebrating 6 hours one way and this past weekend I struggled with 2 hours one way. This body is an aching machine and I get so incredibly uncomfortable. Enough about the trying times of Laura.

We went to the cabin this past weekend and it was so fun for us. We hiked some trails in parks and in the woods out back as well as going fishing for a lil.

No fish but it was a relaxing weekend for sure. We tried out the new restaurant that reopened in town for fish fry and it was actually quite good. We made specialty s'mores with Reeses and Cookies n' Cream Hershey's. The latter was gross but the first was SO delicious.

The colors were so perfect last weekend and it was like a painting everywhere we looked. Bear season was over and it was only bow hunting so it was peaceful and non-eventful, well except for when we arrived.

The car battery died when we got to the cabin because of 5 minutes of the battery solely being on. This equals we need a new battery. The initial fright of being a mile from the nearest actual road and me being um, well, pregnant... led to terror but then we remembered the neighbors (the only ones for 6-8 miles) were up north this weekend too. Mind you it is dark and I, Laura, am not willing to seek help... Caleb went over to them once they got home around 10:30p. The neighbors were skeptical being that they have never seen anyone up at the cabin really and my husband has a long beard, sweatshirt with it's hood up, and a man coming "out of the woods" but luckily they agreed to jump it the following morning. It was totally Jesus helping His kiddos on this scenario. He is so good to us.

Week 35

• We are to the point where length will not change much now but weight will. Hmm, I am thinking this is fun to think that I will have an 18in chunker on my hands. Seems tiny still though, eh?
• A coconut of a cutie for this week's visual at about 5.5 pounds now. 
• Gibby's ears are sensitive these days as high pitch noises can wake this being up from a slumber. 
• We were listening to music and  baby LOVED to "dance" to it. Just precious.
• Gibster's little hand made a debut this week pushing on ma's belly a couple times. It felt like the tiniest nudge I have felt. I almost cried in the name of love when I realized what was happening. 

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• My uterus is 1,000 times as large as it normally is as of this week. Oh wait, did I write that correct. Oh, yup... what is this business of baby growing doing to my naturalness. Taking it for a ride on elasticity, that is all.
• I still have to pack my hospital bag and finish with my birthing classes. Tomorrow I will get to that. Umm, right... I NEED to get to that.
• My husband has informed me that I am now affecting his sleep pattern so I need to "go back to normal so I am fun again" and he can "get some needed sleep". Oh brother, my husband. If you only knew you are not comparable to change like I am. Oops, did I compare pregnancy apples to apples? Is that fair? TBD.

NEXT UP: To see my mom's new home and have a big baby shower for this lil squirt this upcoming weekend. I am so excited as I have not seen my love of a mother for 2 months. I am squealing a lil to think about hanging out for the weekend (and seeing the rest of the family of course).