Welcome Bridget Harlow O'Brien!

Bridget came to us on Saturday 11.12.11 at 7:20p via C-section; weighing in at 9 pounds, 11 ounces and 20.5 inches.  She was Pixie in the hospital until we were discharging.  Brendan and I had been having a very hard time with a name.  Finally, as they were getting the wheelchair for me to leave the hospital Brendan and I laid Pixie down and started to call her different names…she was making a little fussy noise when we laid her down and then when we called her Bridget she stopped fussing.  That was when we knew she was Bridget. Harlow is Brendan's mom's maiden name.  With that said we still call her Pixie!

The short of it is that I labored at home starting on Friday after we got the call that I was schedule for a C-section and continued to do so until about 5:30p when Brendan said that we were going to the hospital.  When I got there I was dilated to a 6 and 100% effaced.  When they told me that I felt so validated that the pain was not just in my head and that I was not a wimp! From the moment we reached the hospital everything became very rushed.  I remember the lady who took me from the ER to the birth center kept saying do not bear down…and I just remember thinking, lady I have no desire to do so but I am not going to tell you that because I want to be admitted.  As we got into the room they were giving Brendan scrubs to change into and I was off to surgery.   Within minutes Pixie was born! 

Due to a ton of fluid I was carrying and that Pixie was born via C-section,  she did not transition very well (from womb to outside life).  We both had a bit of a fever so on Sunday they put an IV in her and gave her antibiotics.  Then on Monday night Bridget was really fussy and I could not console her.  The nurse took her to the nursery to give her another round of antibiotics and noticed that she was having dusky spells (not breathing right) and they heard a heart murmur.  She was then taken down to NICU.  This was not a fun experience but I was so glad I had decided to deliver at TG!  She was in the NICU for a little over 24 hours.  Poor Brendan had to take care of me and Pixie while we were on two different floors.  Billie and Pat came over a ton during this time to take care of us.  Brendan had to be the person to stop all visitors because we were in no state for it.  

Pixie ended up being discharged before me!  We went to our pediatrician and everything seems to check out great. We have a follow up appointment with the NICU cardiologist in a couple of weeks so I will keep you posted.  Due to everything going on, we did not take many pictures!  But here are some so you can see how stinking cute she is!

Dad and Bridget!  Dad did all of the heavy lifting since mom could not really get out of bed.  He did all of the diaper changes and lifted her to me everytime we had to feed.

Bridget taking a nap on mom's bed after feeding.

Homeward Bound! The white outfit is what Brendan and Connor went home in.  She does not look like a newborn in this picture...it cracks me up!



I know this is a boring video...but she is just so alert and ready to take on the world...that I had to post it. This was taken when she came back from the NICU.

Really a c-section?

It has been a quiet week for the O’Brien’s.  Brendan and I did not get out of our PJs Sunday…it was most delightful!  When I came to work on Monday I walked in to this happy bunny from “Grandma” Jane and “Auntie” Quinn…it was so fun because when people walked in to my office you could see their mood lift and just be super happy.   Every time I looked at it I wanted to take a nap…so Laurel took it to my car on Tuesday.  This will be the perfect chair do to the monthly pictures of Pixie to show how much she has grown!  I am so excited!

As you can tell from the pictures…I am trying to stick it out but I am definitely tired and ready for decisions to be made. Wednesday we had our doctor’s appointment and this is where we are at….we had to schedule an ultrasound for Thursday to see how big Pixie is getting. I am not sure who I have mentioned this to but last week I was told to prepare for a c-section. I have been trying so hard to be a come what may person...but c-section was not in my plan. Don't get me wrong I am in a loose loose situation...I really do not want to go through either process...I want to twinkle my nose and magically have her in my arms...All of that said, I have come to terms with the possibility of a c-section and we are now at the mantra of healthy baby- healthy mom. On Friday, I got the call from my doctors office that we are scheduled for a c-section on Tuesday at 8a! Ready or not we are having a baby!

 

Thursday was a very happy day!  We got to celebrate Judy’s 73^rd birthday!  Jude is a kick…some of my favorite things that come out of her mouth are:  “shut up you’re not special”, “God Kid”, and then the profanities that she can string in one sentence is AMAZING.  Most of all she is one of the most supportive women you will find.  She does not coddle unless you need it…rather she gives you practical advice on how to move forward.  For example, buy a plastic bat and beat the hell out of a tree if you are so frustrated you can barely take it.  I will say…it works!  Happy Birthday Jude!!

The gang is all here to celebrate Jude's birthday!  Front Row from Left to Right:  Janice, Jude, me, Bobbi Jo, Michelle.  Back Row from Left to Right:  Bob, Quinn, Jane, Rick, Deb, Marc

Toot, Toot!

Yes, that is the sound of my own horn. Actually the way I am feeling I feel like it should be more of an ooga, ooga (HA!).   I stood in the pouring, and I mean pouring, rain last night for 99 minutes (90 minutes of regular + 9 minutes of added time) to support our Seattle Sounders and watch Casey Keller play his last game in Seattle.  Although, we did not win because Real Salt Lake and the referee were total dork-faces…it was a valiant effort and work the freezing feet!

We had our doctor’s appointment on Wednesday and there is no progress…but we still have a couple of weeks.  We are now at our weekly appointments so I might know more next week.   At this point, the doctor is recognizing that Pixie is a LARGE girl and is monitoring her size closely.   More to come on this.

I had the opportunity to meet with Cailyn, Jocelyn (AKA Joc) and Ang Ladenburg (ok it is really Angela Lindquist now…but that will never be her name to me) at one of my favorite places in Tacoma---the Rosewood Cafe.   These are friends that are always so supporting, encouraging and just flat out fun!  We are so different in personality, views on life and how we handle things yet we are the same at the core and value each other’s thoughts and perspectives.   I am not really sure how the 4 of us came together as a group…I mean, we worked together,  but we have maintained this cherished friendship for years and have not worked together for YEARS!  It is always fun when we get together (because we see each other quarterly at best) we just picked up as if we saw each other last week…it is not strange that we do not know every detail of everyone’s life.  It is just accepted that those details don’t matter and what matters is that we are here and love each other!  I always leave refreshed and ready to take on anything that comes my way.   At this get together, I was so encouraged about the birthing process and afterwards.  Joc, Cailyn and Ang have all had such different experiences and were so gracious enough to share what they really went through and how they felt…basically telling me that if I do not feel a particular way that people are expecting me to feel that it is ok and I am not a crazy person!  I just love these ladies and am so blessed to have them in my life! I could go on and on so I will stop…   Sorry I did not take a picture of this group…but I will when they meet Pixie and post it for you!

Random things:

Ok you know---these boys are the love of my life---This is Joel (Obi Wan) and Jackson (Chewbacca) on Halloween...Can you really look at this without smiling?  They come home in less than 14 days!!

I had to go in for another glucose test (if you have never had one before,  it is like simple syrup with lemon lime flavor, it is pretty much horrible).  When I got to my office,  this was waiting for me...How sweet is Michelle.  She knew I needed a pick me up. 

I had pitting edema (where you swell so much it leaves indents)  on Thursday night so on Friday Pat and Olivia (AKA Oli) came over in the morning to make sure I was elevating my feet and to visit.  So super fun!!

Rough day today with lab tests and kind of feeling done....but we took the weekly pictures...be kind!

Until next week! XOXO