August 20, 2009

Kassidy is three weeks and three days today! Wow! Time sure flies sitting on the couch staring at her! Our past three weeks have been busy, which is why I have not updated the blog lately.

Here is Kassidy, just hanging out after a diaper change. Kassidy is our little poop monster! She goes through more diapers than we can count. She is also known for taking two diapers a change. She manages to get both mom and dad with her random peeing and pooping episodes.

Here is Kassidy with Uncle Mike. We went home for the Cactus Open Golf Tournament and the Threshing Bee. Kassidy got to meet a whole bunch of her family members, who couldn't get enough of her.

Kassidy got lots of kisses from her cousin Tate and her Aunt Stacy couldn't hold her enough.

Not only spoiled by her cousin Tate, his sister, Julia, loved holding too. We decided Kassidy looked best with the "band-aid" over her lip. It was kind-of scary to see her lip without the "band-aid" on.

Kassidy got to meet Great Grandma Smith, too! They became snuggle friends quite quickly!

A four generation picture was easy to take, Grandpa Richard, Great Grandma Smith, Kassidy, and Daddy were ready and willing!


Hayden, Alayna, and Nolan will be great cousins to hang out with too! They can't wait for Kassidy to start crawling and walking so they can play. "She's kind of boring right now."

Uncle Luke got to meet Kassidy and hold her for a brief moment. Kade, his son, wasn't too sure what to think about his dad holding a baby.

Aunt Tiffany, Luke's wife, couldn't hold Kassidy very long with Kade in the room. He REALLY didn't like his mom holding another baby. All in all, I think it's safe to say Kassidy will have to grow on Kade.


Aunt Monica was able to stop by too for a quick snuggle session.


Kassidy in her car seat, where she spends most of her days. Thankfully, she doesn't mind it too much. We have found feeding isn't very easy in the car seat and is quite messy.

Does this need an explanation? Of course she does!

Our precious angel taking a snooze. In our ultrasound pictures, her hand was always by her face. This is how she sleeps now! Too cute!

Mom's friend Jenny Andrews came with her family to visit. This is her daughter Alaina. She wanted Kassidy to be able to play too. Holding just wasn't good enough.

Aunt Tara is a baby hog! If she is around, don't plan on holding Kassidy, unless you steal her from her! Kassidy loves her Aunt Tara.

.....Doctor Update.....

We had our first visit to Gillette Children's Hospital on August 4. They put in her mouth piece and showed us how to add tape to Kassidy's top lip. The mouth piece will help pull her palate together (the roof of her mouth) and the tape helps make the lip more elastic. The orthodontist was on vacation the following week, so we did not have a visit August 11.

However, I had my c-section incision checked out August 11. All is looking good. I am healing well and feeling great. There are only a couple of things that still bother it. As far as I am concerned, a c-section is the only way to have a child. Forget all that labor craziness!

August 13, we had another weight check at Partners and Pediatrics in Rogers. Thankfully, this isn't too far of a drive. Kassidy weighed in at 7 lbs. 10 oz., so she was back to her birth weight! Yipie! Feeding is going much better with her mouth piece. It was taking almost an hour and a half each feeding, now she is down to about a half hour.

August 18, we went to Gillette again. We will go there every Tuesday. Dr. Cermain, the orthodontist, re-shaped the mouth piece and added the nose stint. How did Kassidy do? Well, she wasn't real fond of the nose piece to begin with, but quickly became used to it. This process remains to be more difficult for mom and dad, than Kassidy. She is such a little trooper.

We go to the ENT today to find out what is in store for her first surgery. We scheduled her lip repair surgery for Monday, October 19th at 10:15. The surgery is about an hour procedure and we will stay over one night at Gillette Hospital. They said typical recovery is about a week. They will repair Kassidy's lip and nose; insert tubes into her ears to prevent ear infections, as everything doesn't drain correctly without the complete palate; and whatever else the ENT doctor says.

Kassidy is a strong little girl. She can hold her head up and has a very strong grip. She focuses on things more and more each day. Her little arms and legs move constantly when she is awake. She continues to sleep well through the night, about three to four hours at a time. After being gone for the weekend, getting her back into her sleeping routine was a little more difficult, but she is falling back into her routine. She doesn't cry a whole lot, just fusses when she has gas pains. These are coming more frequently this week. She is a great baby!

If you are in the area or want to be in the area, give us a call. Visitors are always welcome! I will go back to work in the end of October. I took off enough time to get through her first surgery. My cell phone is: 320-493-2783. Tuesday's are not good days because of our visits to Gillette, but most of the time our schedule is wide open.

Thank you for all of your continued prayers and support. The Smith family can't say thank you enough! Have a great day! Enjoy the rain!

August 5, 2009

She's here! Kassidy Rae Smith was born on Monday, July 27 at 1:41 p.m. at North Memorial Hospital by c-section. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 10 oz. and was 19 1/2 inches long.

Delivery was a breeze. We arrived at North Memorial at 11:00 Monday morning and were given our room. The nurses were in and out of our room prepping us for the c-section. At about 12:50, the nurses came and started the IV and got Wayne is scrubs. We arrived in the operating room at 1:30 and she was born at 1:41! Wayne barely had enough time to sit down before the doctor said, "Stand up, here it comes!" Before Wayne got into the room, they began the surgery. I asked if they had started cutting yet. Dr. Sarkinen said yes. I replied, "Ow! That hurts! Just teasing!" The room stopped on a dime. They all enjoyed my humor, thank goodness. They also reported that was the first time anyone had ever done that. Does that surprise you?

Wayne was able to go with Kassidy to get cleaned up and he cut the umbilical cord. She was taken to the NICU because she had fluid in her lungs. I was taken back to our room to recover. This meant a long time before being able to hold our new bundle of joy. I sent Wayne to the NICU constantly to check on her while I waited. It wasn't able to hold her until 7:00 that night. Man, did that seem like FOREVER!

Our first family photo:

Kassidy was admitted into the NICU again on Tuesday morning at 4:00 a.m. for problems with choking and breathing. This was a huge set-back because we had just got her from there. Because she had to be re-admitted, her stay had to be 8 hours. I was still hooked up to an IV and had my catheter in. I couldn't go to the NICU until I got rid of those things. Thankfully, we had the most wonderful day nurse, Collette. She stretched a few "guidelines" and got me unattached. Wheelchair here we go! Tuesday was a long day, with many trips back and forth from our room to the NICU.

Tuesday night at about 7:00, Kassidy was able to come back to our room....where she stayed. It was a long restless night, as any move she made we were checking on her. It's amazing what you can do on little to no sleep.

Wednesday was a better day for us. We had lots of visitors and no major medical events. Most of the day was spent becoming a professional breast milk pumper! Kassidy is able to latch on to me, however, it takes too much energy for her to get the nutrition she needs. So, I am pumping like a mad-woman. Just say...Mooooo!

We were able to go home on Thursday in the late afternoon. We didn't have any visitors on Thursday, which was okay because we were able to catch up on a little sleep and enjoy Kassidy all to ourselves.

Life at home has been great. Wayne and I are surviving and learning together. He feeds Kassidy while I pump, which is a long process. She is eating about 2-1 1/2 oz. per feeding, but each feeding takes anywhere from 45-60 minutes. She has lost 10% of her birth weight, which brings her down to 6 lbs. 14 oz. So feeding continues to be difficult. We have been going to weight check appointments just about every day (PAIN in the rear) and then to Gillette yesterday.

Yesterday, we had our first appointment at Gillette Children's Hospital in St. Paul. We met with Dr. Cermain who is Kassidy's orthodontist. She will be helping close the gap in her lip and palate with the plastic appliance. Kassidy was fitted for the appliance yesterday, which looks a lot like a retainer. We take this out twice a day to clean it, which for the first day went well. She also has tape pulling her upper lip together. This process will close the gap by 30% before the surgery. We also met with Dr. Wood, her plastic surgeon, who reassured us he is the best and will fix her right up. He also explained that she has a unilateral cleft lip and incomplete bilateral cleft palate, which is more severe than we originally thought. You wouldn't know it by looking at her or watching her. Her mom gets more worked up than she does!

She is the most precious bundle of joy we could have ever been given. It is amazing how much she has changed our lives in 9 short days. We can't imagine our lives without her.

July 13, 2009

Good Evening!

We had another doctor appointment today. It began with an ultrasound (as usual) and everything looks great, expect baby's position. Baby remains breech with feet down today, rather than up by its head. We scheduled our c-section today for July 27 to take place at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale. We will be in the hospital for 3 days barring any major problems. With our luck, we should probably pack for a month.... There still is a possibility of going early....although we are not ready/prepared for that.

Not much else to report. I threw my back out this weekend moving stuff. I know, I know, sit with your feet up. Well, I learned my lesson because now I am bound to the couch with a heating pad.

We continue to work on the baby's room and clean the house for the final time until baby is 18 years old! :) Just teasing...kind of.

We will make phone calls after baby is born to inform everyone. We have one more doctor appointment next week on Wednesday and will update after that. Now, to play more of the waiting game.

July 6, 2009

36 Week Ultrasound Update

Yesterday, we had our 36 week check-up (yes, that means 4 weeks left! Ahhhh!). We met with our favorite doctor from the Oakdale OB/GYN group, Dr. Sarkinen. She lives in St. Michael, about a mile up the road from us. She was a breath of fresh air, compared to who we have seen the last couple of weeks.

During the ultrasound, they looked for biophysical movement (again) and took measurements. Baby passed the movement tests again, 100% so far on these tests. I tried to remember the measurements, but she went kind of fast. Here is what I remember: head is approx. 9 cm. (approaching a dangerous measurement!!! I don't want anything over 10!!!) and weight is approx. 7 lbs. (also approaching dangerous). Don't panic, I don't mean dangerous as if something is wrong, just dangerous to MY body on the exit of this precious little one. Wayne keeps telling me the bigger the better, easy for him to say sitting in a comfy chair on the sidelines! However, he is right, the bigger the better for upcoming surgeries. (I hate it when he's right AND I have to admit it.)

Baby is still breech. We did not learn about a c-section yet. We'll keep you posted. Everything looked good and if baby can wait until the last week in July, Dr. Sarkinen will be able to deliver. We go back next week on Monday for another ultrasound and doctor visit with Dr. Sarkinen.

Only one photo to share today. This is a profile of baby.

Have a fabulous week!

June 29, 2009

Biophysical Ultrasound Update...

We had another ultrasound and baby passed with flying colors in about 15 minutes. Some babies take up to 30 minutes to go through all of the tests. They continue to look for each arm and leg to move and for fetal breathing. We are doing great! We also got some new photos of the baby's face. It is amazing to see how much he/she has changed in such a short amount of time. The baby's tongue was going crazy while we were watching.

The baby is now back in it's favorite position, like a pike diver. Its head and feet are up near my ribs and bottom is down by my pelvis. I think this baby might have an inkling into my fears of labor, hence, staying breech and requiring a c-section. We have not scheduled a c-section yet, but will find out more next week on Monday. The ultrasound next week will also give us more information about the baby's weight and length.

No major changes to report. We lost our second daycare provider. This process is becoming a little too much for us. We think we have things lined up and then WHAM! we are back at the beginning. Wayne is priming the basement as I update. He really does not like painting, as he reminds me each time I check on him. He is doing a great job though! We should have painted walls this week. Nothing like waiting for the last minute.

I am feeling good for the most part, enjoying the cooler weather! I am probably the only Minnesotan enjoying the winds and 70 degree temps. It beats the 90 degree temps last week. I get to go outside and not swell up like a sausage! Someone told me early in my pregnancy to buy a small batman pool (why batman, I don't know) and sit in the backyard. I thought they were crazy at the time. Now, the neighbors kiddie pool isn't looking too bad! Would they know I used it while they are at work?

Here are pictures from our ultrasound:

1. Profile picture of face

2. Looking directly at baby's face. You can see the cleft lip on the left side of the face.

3. The bottom of baby's foot and the other foot is underneath.

4. Another face picture with a hand up my the nose. "Enough pictures of me already!"

June 24, 2009

I have been getting some harassing phone calls and emails in regards to my lack of updating lately, my deepest apologies.

We had a doctor appointment on Monday, June 15, which I did not write about. We arrived at the clinic for another biophysical ultrasound and then to meet with the doctor. Last week, we ended up waiting for over two hours to see the doctor after our ultrasound. We were a bit unnerved to learn at 9:30 in the morning (appointments start at 8:00 in an OB/GYN clinic, not family practice), the doctor was already running late. We decided we were not going to wait this time, so left. The only information we received from this appointment was from the ultrasound tech. The amniotic fluid looks good and baby passed all movement tests in about 15 minutes. I am surprised it took that long, as this baby is a mover and shaker! I hope he/she gets my dance moves and not Wayne's.

On Wednesday, June 24, we went in for our weekly biophysical ultrasound....again. We switched doctors for this one as the head of North Memorial scheduling called and apologized for our previous two visits. Everyone was on schedule this time! The ultrasound went great. Baby passed all movement tests in about 10 minutes. The ultrasound tech thanked us for our efficiency. We also learned that the baby has moved from a pike position to feet down and head up. Wayne and I thought this was progress, that the baby had moved to a new position. Not a great position, but a new position none the less. However, when we met with Dr. Martini she was quick to point out that this was a worse position than before. She said we will decide in the next weeks if a scheduled c-section is up our alley. Other than positioning, everything looks great.

I think I have begun my nesting phase, as I am cleaning and organizing. Or maybe it is going stir crazy being in the house because it is too hot for this body outside. Or maybe it is because we still have a baby room that needs: paint, doors, trim, window casing, closet fixtures, furniture, etc. Or maybe it is because my house is a disaster and I am now up off the couch long enough to do something about it. Any of these are viable possibilities. No comments from the peanut gallery please!

Thank you for the emails and phone calls, although I poke fun at you, I sure appreciate the thoughts and prayers. Our next appointment is Monday and PROMISE to update after that appointment.

Have a great weekend/week!

June 9, 2009

Today, we had our final ultrasound at the Perinatal Center at North Memorial in Robbinsdale. We learned the heart, brain, lungs, and kidneys are working well. We also learned that Baby Smith weighs 5 pounds right now, putting it 12 days ahead of where it is supposed to be. I declared this should mean I get to deliver early, the doctor clarified that this means our baby is in the 95% percentile for weight. In English, what does this mean...BIG BABY!!! However, this does mean that our baby is growing and developing on its own just fine, which is great news. We got to see the bladder full of fluid, which is also a good thing. Baby is swallowing amniotic fluid and its kidneys are functioning properly. The swallowing piece is huge with the baby's cleft lip and palate.

They were unable to determine if the cleft lip remains to be unilateral or if it may be bilateral. Bilateral means both sides would be affected. With the baby's position, it was too difficult for the ultrasound technician or doctor to determine. Upon leaving the parking ramp, we learned you must have cash to pay. We did not have cash, but rummaged just about enough change to pay. We came up $1.00 short and the parking attendant still left us leave. Moral of the story: Parking attendants aren't so bad.

We took a tour of the hospital during our fourth child birth class. There is a different room for each stage of labor. I hope we don't get lost! We also saw a c-section video. I say, enough videos. They tend to scar me for weeks. For those of you who have given birth already, I applaud you. I am feeling a little leery about this whole process.

Our next ultrasound is on Monday, June 15 and child birth class is Tuesday, June 16.
Thank you to everyone who has been praying for our family. We appreciate it!
32 weeks and counting.