Pumpkin

Each day is a new adventure with little Noah.   But we so enjoy it.

Grandma Sampson got Noah his first Halloween Costume.   He is our little pumpkin.   We tried to get some shots of him - unfortunately, they probably aren't as good as the ones that our friend Andrea got today...but we still think he looks darn cute.   We are trying to decide if we should take him trick or treating - we think we would clean up.    Instead, we will probably hand out candy here.   

Sleep deprivation is starting to get the best of both of us right now.   I would say that I'm just a little flakey and in a strange fog most of the time.    It is strange to say but I think I'm actually getting used to getting up every few hours.   I almost can't sleep longer than two hours without waking up.   But at least I'm not waking up to have to go to the bathroom and I can sleep on my back.    In fact, I think I woke Jesse up twice asking him to help me get the baby off my chest - turns out that it was just the cat Lucy....Noah was in the cradle.  Go figure.    

Jesse is not as much of a night person - and last night I woke him up quite a bit.    And as is our routine, Jesse takes over in the morning after my last night feeding between 6-7am so I can sleep a couple of uninterrupted hours.    Unfortunately, that came a little early today....and Noah did not really want to go back to sleep.   

But that is just it....each day, you need to be open to what it is going to bring to you and not force your own plan.    

Today, our big event was to go to the coffee shop - unfortunately, naps took precedence.    It is definitely time to get out of the house.    We are starting to go a little stir crazy.    We will try again tomorrow.

So if you would like to come by and visit, we are now accepting visitors.   Just give us a call so that we can maximize our time with you in between feedings.   

In Love with the Little Man

Words can not explain how in love we are with Noah.    Each day we watch him change in some small way.    He is just such a miracle and we feel truly blessed!  

Life in the ....well, not so fast lane

First let me start off by saying, the love you feel for a newborn is like no other.   

Adjusting to life with a newborn has been filled with so many different twists and turns.    There is no routine about it even though we are trying to establish a 3 hour feeding schedule.   I spend much of that time trying to keep him awake for some of the feedings.   But he is doing very well with the breastfeeding.     

We are keeping an eye on a borderline level of jaundice.  There are a couple of ways to treat it...right now, we are focusing on keeping him fed and moving it through his system.   We also try a little of our own light therapy near the window.   We have been having some wonderful sunshine days here recently.   

Other than that, Jesse and I are taking turns dealing with different parts of the day.   I'm up most of the night feeding and keeping an eye on the little guy.  Jesse is a much needed break for me at the 6-7am timeframe allowing me to go back to bed for a couple of much needed hours of sleep.   Then I'm up for a good portion of the remainder of the day - with a nap perhaps in the afternoon, when I can fall asleep.

So tonight, Jesse and I are celebrating our 1st year anniversary over a nice meal of pasta and a little vino.   Ahhh...simple pleasures.  One year strong and starting a family.   We feel blessed.

Noah meets his Grandparents today

The Sampson's continue to adjust to life as a family - and each moment brings some new learning.   Most important of the day, Noah has begun to figure out breastfeeding (well, Sara probably has too).   

But ....even as important, Noah has met both of his Grandparents today.

Thanks to the internet, Grandma and Grandpa Stronczek were able to meet their 11th Grandchild (now 4 boys, 7 girls).     We resumed our nightly iChat for them to be able to see the features of Noah.    So much better than the pictures.

And Grandma and Grandpa Sampson happened to schedule a trip to MA right when we were delivering.   They arrived back in Portland today.    They brought Noah some treats and he has been told that he will be a Boston Red Sox fan...that is not so bad.   

So we have family with us for the next day.    Such a nice break for some sleep!!

Thanks to those of you who have brought us food - it is such a treat!!

We will continue to update you with news as it comes.    

Thanks to everyone!!

Well, we have officially arrived at home with Noah.   What a welcome relief it was to get out of the hospital and breathe some of that fresh, sunshine, NW air.   Really...just like our wedding.

We got all checked out of the hospital at around noon today.   So many things to check off the list before they will let you go - felt a little like we had to go to class for a while - and to think either of us will remember any of it.  Ha.

Driving home with baby the first time was surreal.  Why did it feel like everyone was driving 95 and us 35...that is a baby for you.   When we arrived home - we had Dugan wagging his tail at the door ready to great us.   He was such a gentleman meeting Noah.   We have no worries there.  The cats on the other hand are suspicious and have been relegated out of the room.    

It was a whirlwind though from the moment we walked in the door - Noah was hungry, Jesse was hungry, I was hungry to the point of almost passing out.  So I started to feed Noah, Jesse made me some scrambled eggs which I chowed down mid feed and then Jesse ate.    Having a partner in all of this makes it so much more tolerable and that more rich of an experience.    

Once we settled in though, it was nap time for all of the Sampson's.    What a welcome bit of rest that was for us.   We slept on a comfortable bed for 1 1/2 hours - probably the longest uninterrupted time we've had.   

And so life begins for us....we are working through learning to breastfeed, get in a routine and enjoy this life!!  Because we know it will all fly by in an instance.

Thanks to all of your well wishes.   We appreciate them all so much.   It has been a time filled with emotion and joy.   So give us a bit of time and we will be back in touch with you all really soon!   

With love,  Jesse, Sara and Noah

Birthing and the first 24 Hours

Whoever said birthing was for weenies...but it so worth it in the end.    After just under 6 hours of induced, natural labor, Noah Matthew Sampson was welcomed into the world.    Was it work?  Absolutely.   Was it worth it?   100%.    And we are already thinking about how we won't have him wanting us to hold and carress him like this in such a short time.  Embrace today!

Our first 24 hours have been a bit of a blur.   You don't really get to rest all that much in the hospital.   Truly, there is someone coming through the door to draw blood, give a shot, check the baby, change the garbage, bring food - you name it.  When we hear visitors feet - it is a welcomed break.   

Noah seems to be a little nocturnal right now....we will work on changing that.  I'm so thankful Jesse and I are in this together.  Without him, I can't imagine going through this.    

The hospital care has been pretty incredible for the most part.   Our midwife Helen was a superstar.   Our nursing staff has been really good.   And the lactation consultant who stopped by to give us a couple of tips - what an angel.   

The pediatrician checked Noah out today and thinks he looks great.   He might have a chance for jaundice but that is all easy to deal with a little intervention.   

All in all - we are all doing great...albeit a little tired.   Life is good for the Sampsons!   Thanks to all of you for your love and support!

We have a son!!!

Please welcome Noah Matthew Sampson, born @ 4:16pm, Wednesday October 22.  Noah is 8lbs 40zs, 20.25" long and has a full head of dark brown wavy hair.  Noah and mom are doing well and are resting comfortably after a hard, but rewarding natural labor.

Here are a few pics of his first few hours outside the womb.

As you might imagine the Sampson's are a little tuckered out at the moment.  We'll post more details and pictures over the next couple days.  It looks like we will be at St. Vincents until sometime on Friday.

Thanks for all your well wishes and we look forward to catching up with you soon.

-Jesse, Sara and Noah.

Scheduling the baby...

Today, we had our weekly appointment with Helen.   Bless her little heart, I tell you (in my best Sarah Palin imitation).   

Anyway, they continue to monitor my blood pressure - it has come down but is not normal which is what they do not like.    They monitored the baby for about 20 minutes - the baby is doing well with normal heart rate and variations.   So from that perspective, all looks great.   

Since they are not thrilled with my blood pressure and the fact that I'm dilated close to 4cm, they feel that the risks of waiting any longer outweigh the benefits of having the baby.    This is good news and not ideal news.    The good news is that we actually get to have Helen deliver the baby, the benefits to the baby and me are much better in this situation and the chances of me having to have a c-section are much lower.    It is not ideal in that it isn't quite the natural surprise and experience we were hoping for (at least not in the way we were hoping for).   But as I mentioned in my last post, especially important for you mother's to be, labor is not about planning or predictability.   

It looks like I'll be checked into the hospital in the morning and slowly induced.  They are hoping that my body will need very little to get kick started into a natural labor.     Fortunately, it has been doing some work on its own to prepare anyway.    Fingers crossed and couple of prayers to the big guy upstairs and we hope to have a baby sometime later tomorrow - as natural as possible.   

So keep us in your thoughts and prayers....we will let you all know when we have brought our son or daughter into the world.  

Forced Rest at the Sampson Family Zoo

Well, today was an interesting day for the Sampson Family.   At Tuesday's weekly check-up, the midwife noted that my blood pressure has begun to creep up.     So to be safe, they wanted to see me again today.    Wouldn't you know it...that my blood pressure continued to creep ever so higher.     Unfortunately, high blood pressure in general is not good but in pregnancy is even worse because it can be a sign of preeclampsia (a condition that affects the mother's organs and potentially the baby - not good for either of us).   

So, they sent us over to St. V's...just across the parking lot...to monitor blood pressure, the baby and do some blood work.   After about two hours, they concluded that I'm likely suffering from gestational hypertension which should go away after having the baby.    In the meantime, I need to lay low.    The baby looks very healthy and is suffering no adverse effects from my condition.   And my blood looks free of preeclampsia related symptoms.  This is all very good news.   But I'm now supposed to lay low and rest for the remainder of the pregnancy....not full on my back for the whole time but no more work, no more big days.    

Not to worry, they think the baby is not that far off from delivering anyway.

We are home now resting.    That wasn't exactly what we had in store for the afternoon...but we are told, that delivery is not about predictability.   I'm sure I'll be on the computer trying to get a bit of entertainment now and again...TV bores me quickly.    So anyone that wants to talk on the phone or send emails...you know where to find me!!

Resting at the Sampson Zoo

She's mine, no she's mine, no she's mine...OK...we can all share.  

Nesting and Preparing

As of Friday, October 10, our baby was full term....37 weeks.    Jesse and I had a doctor's appointment this week where our midwife Helen indicated that this baby could come at any time.  Although, she prefers that I hold onto it for a week longer.   This was contrary to my plans that it was going to show up approximately 2 weeks late - sometime in mid-November.   So, yes that got our attention.    Bags are now packed, car seat installed in car.   

With that said, all is well in the Sampson household.   We (mostly me) are in major nesting mode at this time.   If the washer could run 24-7 and if there was anything else to clean, I would.   I really would.   Jesse is also in nesting mode - his looks a little different, he paints, organizes things (mostly to satisfy the crazy pregnant lady), fishes, organizes his fishing gear, talks about fishing, works and cooks.  The animals are nesting too - but that mostly consists of sleeping near or on me.    I never thought animals could sense something so much, but if you could witness this - you would understand.

The baby's room is ready - we have painted, cleaned bedding, received every type of powder, lotion, soap imaginable.   But alas', we think we are ready - at least for those items that we think we need.

But the miracle itself has us both so excited.    My dreams have been mostly about having a girl...and the best dream yet is the one where I had the baby and suffered from amnesia.   I had to ask Jesse in the dream whether my labor was long and painful.   Wishful thinking?   I think so.   

We look forward to sharing our memories with you!