Trial by fire...day 2

Violet came home at 12:30 yesterday to an amazing array of love from our friends...you will have to wait to see the photos, why, you will know in a minute. Our first night went well. We made it through with some sleep deprivation and are working on a system for feedings and whatnot that will give both of us time to get a little shut eye. Violet is a sweet tempered baby and really only cries when she is getting a diaper change or is mad, which is rare. She makes a little chipmunk noise that cracks us up and melts us at the same time. Her cry so far is very polite, "excuse me...I am really mad here...pardon me".

Why you can't see photos right now...
We are in the hospital. (1 st day photos...she isn't still covered in goo)

See that little white pug in Violet's head? That little thing is an electrode they put into her head when they broke Mandy's water to monitor her heart rate and blood pressure.
I had never heard of this and was surprised when they told me that is how they were doing it.
I guess it is more accurate than the through the belly way. Violet had pooed a little bit on the inside, I don't know if this has anything to do with anything!
Just that it meant she had to be tested a bunch when she was born I guess.
Anyway...the culprit...the little nubbin...left her with a tiny scab that turned into a bit of a red bump and was healing well in the hospital. I did ask about it though. It looked swollen and angry to me, but Carlos, the wonder nurse, told me it didn't look infected at that time and that we would watch it (he also showed us the most amazing burrito wrap swaddle that works great for babies who really need their hands up by their heads, which Violet does...photo demo to come when we get back home). When we were discharged, the pediatritian said it was ok looking, but it had lost the scab and was seeping a little bit, normal.
Last night we noticed a little spot on the changing pad, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. I had noticed a bit of dried stuff on the spot and figured it was just the ointment they had put on there. Then...when I was feeding Violet, I leaned her forward for a burp (she is already at Trucker level, by the way) and I saw a bunch of pus on the sore. I called Ken in for help and a consult as I was still groggy from last night. Ken said we absolutely should call our Dr. They told us to come in right away, then called back to tell us that they couldn't see us there yet as she wasn't officially ours (Deasree was still working on getting the papers notarized and had decided she couldn't get them done until Monday) so they weren't allowed legally to do anything. Sigh. So we called Deasree, and fought to get her to help us figure out what to do. She called the Dr. that had been on call in C'ville while we were there, and Dr. Cruz said to just go to Vanderbilt Children's hospital emergency room to get it looked at as they have to take all patients and would know how to help us with the insurance thing.
The VCH is a great facility (and they buy a lot of art, they just bought Silly Old Bear, one of Ken's sculptures last week!) with amazing doctors and nurses and we have been treated well here. So here is the rundown...
Checked in at 11ish, they took us right back as she is such a tiny baby.
3 nurses cooed and ooed and ahhed over Violet's cute factor and sweet temperament.
After being checked out, the doctors told us that the spot was indeed infected as there was a little abscess under the skin and it was good that we had come in as this type of spot can easily become a systemic infection (WHAT??? YIKES!!! Ok, keep calm mom and dad) and that they would need to take blood, urine, and a spinal tap (WWWWHHHHAAAAATTTTT!!!!!!) to test for things like staph and menengitis and scary things like that. She was a little trouper as they had a really hard time finding veins in her hands and feet and stuck her a bunch of times (it is a teaching hospital...sigh) and then ended up having to put it in her elbow. So she has the tiniest, huge armband to keep her from bending things up. It looks so pathetic but doesn't seem to bother her unless she punches herself in the head with it. (Ugh)
Ken and I had to stand in the hall while they did the spinal tap. She was screaming, Ken was white as a ghost, I was oddly calm (I have been in the hospital a bunch and also really do trust the Vandy system as they have been good to me here, maybe I just knew one of us needed to be sane and that time it would have to be me) and Violet made it through with some loud screaming and a bunch of bandaids and pokes.
So here we are in the hospital...again...less than 24 hours after coming home.
(Sounds of sleeping)
This morning, everything seems to be going well. The doctors and nurses marvel at her even temper. I have now experienced the mistake of taking out the old diaper before putting a new one underneath...they just changed the crib. And Violet is testing well and the spot on her head is looking less angry.
Ken is at home looking in on the dogs to give Keona her pills and to make her more rice and broth...food poisoning the vet thinks, a week of not eating and being ultra nervous as we keep being gone, and a new dog sitter, Lindsay, thanks Lindsay for being so on the ball and available!
Will update as labs come in.

Violet meets her big brothers...Thursday

Thanks for the balloons. They gave us a lot of photo ops. Here are two...
Ken, happy to be a dad, looks upon his daughter. We hope the curious George will make it through Ruby...the stuffed toy killing dog.




The stay in the hospital was amazing and allowed us to really get to know and bond with Mandy and her boys. Since Mandy was on meds for the preclampsia for the first 24 hours after birth, she had a really hard time sleeping. I was COMPLETELY wired and hopped up on adrenaline so we talked all night in between feedings and changes. We had a lot of time to talk about our families, friends, lives, etc. It was good. The boys came to meet their little sister on Thursday. Tyler held her and though she was really pretty. Gabe really just wanted to see his mom and ignored her after a quick hello. Nathan is the baby man. He held her a number of times and toward the end of the visit sat down and fed her. See that grin! They have a really good understanding that she is their sister, but that she will live with us and will be more like a cousin who they only see sometimes. Mandy has done a great job prepping them.
Ken ended up sitting with the boys while Mandy was on the monitors after our doctor appointment Tuesday. They are now in love with him. When they came to the hospital, Gabe went over and sat down next to Ken. Nathan asked if they were going home with Ken. It was very sweet and I am sure it made Mandy know that Ken will be an amazing dad.

Whoa Nelly!

We are parents...was this part of the deal?
Kidding of course! We are elated and sleep deprived (though not because the baby was troublesome, more because I was so adrenalized I just couldn't sleep last night. So forgive the typos and look at our KID!

First one is straight out of the shoot. With icky stuff still on head.

Second one is under the heat lamps...soooo calm.

Third is a good detail of the chin dimple.

Fourth is baby with me! Ok it is first, people are looking at us weird as we are lurking about the Red Roof inn stealing their WIFI!
The prettier pics are still on the camera. More when we get home!

SHE'S HERE!!!

Violet Lenore Rowe
was born at 8:18pm
Tuesday, June 17th, 2008
7lbs 3oz
20 inches long

Momma told Aunt Steffy the following;
She has a perfect round little head, dark eyes, bow shaped lips, and dark curly hair (that is still matted to her head). She is alert and checking everyone and everything out. She is perfect and beautiful!

Violet added from the background a good strong cry - I am sure she was saying hello to me for the first time.

Mandy is doing great. She was sipping her Mountain Dew and is gradually getting the feeling back into her legs. The process went very quickly. They went to see Mandy and go to the doctor this morning. For those who have been counting the days and weeks with us, she was at 36 weeks and 4 days. Mandy had preeclampsia and was at 4cm, so the doctor said let's have a baby. They went to the hospital and monitored them for a couple hours, broke her water at about dinner time and when things were finally ready to go she only had to push a handful of times. Everything went great and all is well!

Libby said she will send Ken with the camera and computer to Starbuck's soon and send photos. We will get them posted as soon as we have them!

Yeah! Congratulations to Libby and Ken!

So close to being done!

The polka party was amazing this weekend. We had about 11 or 12 people come by to help us get things going. They helped us get the crown molding painted, the first layer of dots double coated, and the dressers sanded and first coated.
We thank you all heartily!
Tonight Andee, Stacey, and Andee's sister Suzie came over to do the second layer. It is cute as a basket of puppies painted in polka dots. I hope she likes it!

Here are some progress photos...around the room to the right starting at the door and ending with the door. The big empty spot is for the crib and 6 prints I traded a student for. The other hole on the right wall is for the dresser with the changing table on top.
Will post more when the furniture is in.