Clara's 1st Week in Review

Forgive this VERY lengthy post, but I when it hit me yesterday that Clara had just turned 1 week old I realized I better start getting better about documentation if I want to remember everything! kudos to you if you manage the whole thing!

First I labored for about 30 hours to get this baby girl out ... about 7 hours at home until my water broke, then 15 or so hours at Nativiti med-free, and then we transferred to Conroe Regional Hospital for pitocin with no success and ultimately ending in an emergency c-section. (Birth story still coming.) She was born at 8:23pm that incredibly stormy Tuesday evening. 

After being dilated to 9cm for 8 hours even the water wasn't helping

Transferred to Conroe Regional Hospital

Emergency c-section, Bryan ready to go

Last photo as a family of 2!

My favorite picture from the entire day - she's here!

She's perfect but has a huge cone head :)

Mom, Dad, Meemaw & Papaw wait outside the nursery while I'm stitched up

Hello family!!!

Screaming through her first bath

Phew, being born is hard work

Since visitation hours in the labor & delivery wing end at 9pm, Mom, Dad, Meemaw & Papaw Meloy all had to return the next morning (Wednesday) to get a chance to hold her. MeMaw & Paw Evans also joined us that morning. I was still recovering from surgery so my activities were limited, but I fought for the removal of several cords/lines/etc so that I could shower and dress (and basically just feel more human!), and by that afternoon Ronnie, Celina, Alexandra & Little Ronnie plus several friends came to meet Clara as well.

Holding Clara for the first time

MeMaw & Paw Evans

Meemaw & Papaw Meloy

4 Generations!

Smittin' :)

Bryan's family! I had finally been allowed to put clothes on, but still hadn't been allowed to shower

With Stephanie - our school friend

With Rachel - my A&M roommate

With Aunt Tricia

With Uncle Dewayne

Both of us getting so sleepy after a long day, I think I'm singing to her

Skin to skin with our 2 day old HOLDING UP HER HEAD!!?

(I don't have a picture of Laura & Collin - we need to see you guys again soon!)

Thursday was pretty relaxed. We had a few visitors (I didn't get a picture of Lauren, Chad and wee Landon! doh! but the cute grey & pink hat you'll see in MANY pictures is courtesy of this sweet family) and did a little napping and a little feeding, and the lactation consultant came by to talk to us for a couple of hours. (Plus all the doctor & nurse visits throughout the day like on Wednesday.) Mom & Dad went to visit Grandma in Port Lavaca which was the perfect decision.

Leah made this :) love!

With Leah - good friend & co-worker

First time in "real" clothes!

We also took the opportunity to take a couple of photos of just us with baby and baby by herself :)

 

  

  

Friday morning both baby & I had to get thoroughly checked out before we could be approved for discharge. My staples were removed and steri strips put on. Dad decided to come give us a hand with getting our stuff loaded and getting to the car and all that. We finally got all of the paperwork sorted and signed and were allowed to be on our way. On the way home Dad did some grocery shopping for us (thank you!) and we stopped by Nativiti to check in with our midwife, Trish. Mom met us there. Once we were home we did lots of feeding, rocking, and loving :) That afternoon Leah & Duncan dropped off Maverick (they took such great care of him (and Andrea & Phillip too!) for us while we tried to have a baby and recovered in the hospital!!) That evening (thanks to some glorious weather!) we hung out outside with our neighbors like we normally do on Friday nights and Clara got to meet just about everyone (although I don't have pictures of everyone). 

Thanks for helping, Dad!

First car-ride

With our midwife, Trish Perkins

"Sweet Momma & Dad  - baby girl had her hand up!"

Duncan & Leah dropping off Maverick

Neighbors Kristen & Craig

And their daughter, Aubrey (future babysitter!)

With our neighbor, Kara

With our neighbor, Jenalie

He's hopelessly devoted already :)

Saturday was a low key day around the house. Mom had been staying with us since we were discharged, and Dad had come to visit too (and enjoyed some tummy time with the wee Clara). Plus MeMaw & Paw Evans came by to see Miss Clara once more. We found out the sad news that Grandma had passed away that evening and began making plans for the following week.

Loving on her Nona

Tummy time with PawPaw

More tummy time! Strong little girl

Bryan & his grandparents

Still figuring out this whole nursing thing

I loooooove my Daddy :)

Sunday was Clara's first outing - we went to Uncle Dewayne and Aunt Tricia's for Father's Day, and had her first sponge bath at home. We also packed up and got ready for our first road trip/hotel stay the next day.

Family minus Kyle, Grady & Marissa

All the Dads

Cute, cute, cute in her towel!

Monday morning was Clara's first pediatrician appointment (she had dropped to 7lbs, 3.5oz at the hospital and was back up to 7lbs, 8.5 oz by this day, getting closer to original birth weight of 7 lbs, 12 oz!). Dr. Watson said she looked good - but we will never, EVER schedule another appointment for a Monday morning if we can help it. It was a ZOO in there and we waited an hour and half to be seen. By that time she was starving so I had to nurse in public for the first time, and she was rather put out with everything. 

I HATE being naked, Mom!!

Clara had a present for Daddy while we waited :)

Daddy sang to her to pass the time

Phew, I'm glad that's over

Following the appointment Bryan & I drove to Memorial Herman because they have a FABULOUS shop for breastfeeding mothers. I bought another nursing night gown (I love the first one Mom gave me SOOO much!) and another nursing bra (2 just isn't quite enough with how often I'm getting around to laundry right now). Then we drove the 3 or so hours to Port Lavaca, with only one pit stop at a Whataburger to change and feed Clara. (I didn't know where she would end up being hungry so I just pumped in the car and had a bottle ready - didn't want to have to nurse in a shady gas station or something.)

I bet Bryan's the first man to ever use the men's room changing table at Whataburger, haha He's such a good Daddy & helpful husband!!

Once we arrived in Port Lavaca we checked into the hotel quickly, changed Clara again and then headed over to Grace for Grandma's visitation. It was really nice to see so many people, friends and family. After the visitation we went to Aunt Quay & Uncle John's house for a late dinner and visiting, and those of us singing/playing in the funeral had a chance to practice. 

Had her movie running in the background

So many came to remember Grandma

Meemaw & Aunt Mary

Friends & Family

Monday night at the hotel was interesting. I was afraid we'd wake everyone in the rooms near us up but we never got a noise complaint, so I hope not. We were so tired - partially from just traveling after surgery and all that, plus making sure an infant is fed, changed and happy all night is a little bit of work :)

You're not going to make me sleep in the car seat, right?

Bryan writing the music to the song while Clara snoozed

All the pumping/nursing accessories had to travel with us

Slept in the field goal position in her RNP most of the night :)

Early morning stretch

Tuesday morning we got up and got ready at a fairly leisurely pace which was nice, and headed over to Alamo Heights Baptist Church. The ladies of the church had arranged to feed our entire family (which is HUGE) before the funeral service at 2pm, which was so very, very sweet and generous of them. It was also delicious - especially the cinnamon banana pudding :)

 

We practiced our music, fed and changed Clara, greeted folks as they arrived and the service started. It was the perfect service for Grandma - sweet, full of funny stories, and a reminder of what a Godly and service oriented person she was. I think we all felt very blessed to be there. It was good for closure and for enjoying fellowship with others that loved her. I have several pictures below, but other people spoke. These are just a few.

Practicing pre-service

Fellowship!

Bryan spent about 2 hours making up the guitar music to a hymn - impressive!

Uncle John speaking

Grady speaking

4 Granddaughters singing "Friend"

Uncle Barry & Brynn playing/singing

Very elegant, simple and perfect

Clara also got to meet her Uncle Grady & Aunt Marissa for the first time! 

Aunt Marissa!

Uncle Grady!

The ride home was a little rough but we made it! We did stop by Target to get a few things we needed. By the time we got home we wanted to crash but couldn't because Clara was in no mood to sleep - she just wanted to cry and cry and cry. Oh well. It happens :)

Tummy time to fight off the big, bad, mean gas :(

That wraps up our first week with this sweet little bundle! It was the slowest and fastest week of my life, and very full of ups and downs. Enjoying Week 2 as we speak!