Pictures of Sweet P

Our gorgeous girl weighing in at 8 lbs 3.7 oz


Love at first touch...


Roxie waiting for her new sister at home - they are getting along perfectly as they completely ignore one another.


Sleeping sweetly...I love it when she sleeps.


She's very alert and is already tracking with her eyes.


OK - not every picture is perfect. She is balancing precariously on her Dad's hands.

The Birth Story...

This is long and detailed...sorry.

The Induction (8/28 - 10:00 PM to 12:00 AM):

I was scheduled to have a two part induction - step one was a cervical riping which was to happen Tuesday night and then there were going to call Wednesday AM to start the pitocin drip and the actual labor induction. We went in at 8 PM to triage for a procedure (Miso) to help ripen my cervix. It was finally inserted around 10 PM and they wanted to watch me for two hours (during of effectiveness of drug). My mom and Tyler were there and we watched a classic Doris Day/Rock Hudson flick, "Pillow Talk." I had two contractions between 11 PM and 12 AM – nothing horrible, but definitely real contractions. We were sent home with the promise that someone would call us in the AM for the scheduled induction.

The Labor (8/29 - 1:00 AM to 2:30 AM):

We got home about 12:45 PM and my mom/Tyler went to bed. I laid down, but immediately had some painful contractions. I decided a bath might help the increasing pain and got in. From 1 AM to 2 AM, I went from 20 min, 15 min, 8 min and then by 1:45 PM my contractions were 2 min apart and incredibly painful. I got out of the bath and started to walk around the house – I was going to try to time them for an hour, but realized that I was having immense pressure and wouldn't make it to the hospital if I did, not to mention that pain was becoming unbearable. I got my mom and Tyler up and basically told them we had to go NOW. I was actually moaning through the contractions and was fighting the urge to vomit. I couldn't get a break between contractions. We all got in the car and I wasn't sure I'd make it to Swedish – the pressure on my bum was intense (this is about 2:10 AM) and I was really hurting. My mom was a freaking amazing coach – I think I broke her hand. My pain was so intense, suggested we go to the local hospital in our town b/c my pain is so bad– Tyler is trying to call the Dr on call at Swedish and finally gets her. We were actually pulling into the local hospital when we pulled a U turn. The Dr. was on speaker and I was screaming at him and her about how much pain I was in…apparently that convinced her I was in active labor and she told him to bring her to Swedish and to keep my pants on. Off we go . We made it to ER and I was screaming in pain. I asked everyone I met for drugs. We got in the elevator and I had another contraction – she asked me if I needed to push and I said yes. They stopped the elevator and got a dr to take me up. I think they were worried I was going to deliver in the elevator.

The Delivery (8/29 - 2:30 PM to 3:38 AM):

They were waiting for me in the delivery room – Dr Hannon (not my ob, but part of the practice) was waiting for us as well as Marissa our nurse from the previous procedure.. She indicated I was dilated and that we should get the IV"s and pain meds going. We got our IV in and everyone was helping me breath through contractions. Dr. Parks the anesthesiologist finally came in and within 5 minutes I had relief. After 10, I was numb. Dr. Hbroke my water as soon as I was numb and at just after 3:00 AM, we started to push and Piper's heart kept going into distress every push. After three rounds of hard pushes, Dr H busted out the forceps. Two more rounds of pushing and Piper made her debut at 3:38 AM. They let me pull her out the rest of the way and put her on my chest and Tyler cut the cord. She was so lovely. It was the fastest delivery from any FTM the nurses had ever seen and frankly took me by surprise! The Dr said my bulging bag of waters was the thing holding the baby in. Tyler cried and she grasped his hand almost immediately. It was love at first sight and an incredibly overwhelming moment of amazement and love.

Post Birth (8/29 - 3:38 PM to 5:00 AM):

I started feeling pretty crappy about 10 min. after we delivered while waiting for the placenta to deliver. I thought I was going to throw up and was shaking uncontrollably. Apparently I was losing a lot of blood and my blood pressure bottomed out (60/30). I was going in and out of consciousness as they delivered my placenta which broke apart. It took over an hour and a half to scrape out the placenta – during which they got Piper all gussied up and she got her first bath, immunization shots and cute outfit. I lost half of my blood, but after some time of scraping etc, they got all of it out. I was horribly weak for the next few days – in fact, I remember very little. On my last day (I asked to stay a day longer) I finally got a blood transfusion. It made all the difference in the world although I'm still pretty tired.

Moral of the Story

Piper's debut was nothing but spectacular and alls well that ends well. She came out perfect and any discomfort or issues I experienced were easily solved by modern medicine and the excellent care at Swedish. 100 years ago....this may have ended very differently, but huzzzah for progress!!!

Baby Bob = Piper Grace Lohse

Piper Grace Lohse was born Wednesday, August 29th at 3:38 AM at Swedish Medical Center. Her birth story is a wild and wholly one, but all is well and she is amazing.

Nervous. Bored. Kinda Sleepy.

My mom rocks. She's been with me for a week and has been keeping my entertained. I feel bad as she was hoping to have a baby to play with, not to mention, she was supposed to head back to Chicago yesterday. However, plans have changed. She's staying another week and I'm SOOO glad. I've been having a wonderful time spending time with her - we've managed to spend lots of money redecorating my living room with fancy, adult furniture. It's sparked a remodeling project that I'm quite excited about. But as the day to induction draws closer, I find myself a little nervous - I'm not sure what to expect and am a little sad my body can't do this on it's own (and on time dammit). Tomorrow night, I need to be there around 8 PM and they will insert the Cervadil. It will either help me go into labor by myself or Wed. AM they were start a Pitocin drip to get the contractions started. The irony is that there is a full moon Tuesday night and it's pretty well known that LOTS of ladies go into labor on a full moon. So two things could happen - either I'll be one of them OR I'll get bumped from my induction Wednesday for all the "naturally" laboring moms. I hope I'm in the earlier camp. Well, lugging all this weight around (and it's a lot, trust me) has made me wicked sleepy. I'm off to enjoy one of my last nights of uninterrupted sleep.

Still pregnant....

My apologies in advance if this sounds like a pity party, but I have to vent. I’m 40 w 6 d today and had my “41w “check up yesterday. First, my regular OB is on vacation this week, so I saw the Dr. on call in the practice. As I’m 41 wk on Sunday, they scheduled me for a NST and u/s to check aging placenta, fluid levels and obviously well being of the baby. I had the u/s prior to going to my regular appointment. The tech checked everything...it took about 5 min and looked fine...and then the radiologist comes in for his prognosis. Not only did he have the guts to try and change my due date to two weeks earlier, but said the baby is only 7 lbs 7 oz after not doing any sort of measurements. I was incensed, but whatever, and went on to my next appt. I got to the Dr. and went in for my internal exam (after waiting in for over an hour) – the on call Dr tells me I’m only 1 cm and 50% effaced! Apparently, I’ve "regressed" from 2 CM to 1 CM, but am only 50% effaced. WHAT???? How is that freaking possible? I GINORMOUS, not to mention, am "less" than what my normal Dr. has told me over the four visits!!! The previous Friday, my Dr assured me they would schedule an induction on the 29th “just in case” I didn’t go while she was on vacation. Someone in the office was to call and schedule it. Well, I come to find out at this last appointment that not only has it not been scheduled, this Dr. can’t do anything about it and just suggested I schedule my 42 week check in. I’m frankly, pretty mad at this point, but realize I can do absolutely nothing. The appointment ends with a 40 min NST in which the baby proceeds to start break dancing in my belly and I produce not even one contraction. OMG – I truly am going to be pregnant forever.

They were finally able to schedule me for an induction next week after I sort of begged. I go in Tuesday 8/28 for the cervadil and then am “on call” for Wednesday to come in! The Dr. had the gall after telling me this that she’s “sure” I’ll go before that….um what part of my exam gave her that indication? My sense is this kid has moved in and I will be attending college on their behalf.

OK – pity party is over, so what is the upside:

• Big kid= good sleeper (hooray!)
• My mom came in to spend time with the baby, but selfishly I get to spend time with her. We’re having lots of fun and both feel like we’re on vacation.
• The baby WILL come despite my impatience.

Can’t wait to meet you Baby Bob.

Happy Anniversary!

Happy 4th Anniversary Baby Bob's dad.

I love you.

It doesnt' look that big when I look down...

When I catch a glance in a mirror or window from the side, my girth actually impresses me. I swear, it doesn't look that big from up top. I am looking forward to getting my body back, but I do sort of like having the baby shelf - my cell phone rests perfectly on there and I can use speaker phone with ease. I won't miss misjudging sliding between objects and either a)getting stuck or b) getting scratches on my stomach.

This is one of three things I can still wear - if this baby thing goes on much longer, I'm going to be in a bed sheet vs real clothes.