Birthdays

Grandpa Strube and Cali celebrated their birthdays together on Tuesday.  (Ok, well, Cali's 2 week birthday, if you count that.)  Cali had her check-up that day and was given a clean bill of health.  Mommy did well feeding her like crazy to get rid of the jaundice, which is almost gone now.  Cali gained over a pound since she left the hospital...from 6lbs. 7oz. to 7lbs. 9oz!  Cheyenne also found out she could return to eating a non-restricted diet (well, excluding the obvious), so we took a stroller walk to a nearby sushi restaurant for some appetizers before grilling Grandpa's steak dinner for his birthday.  We all enjoyed Grammie and Grandpa Strube's visit and were sad to see them go.  

Cali was mad she couldn't have cake

The boys' favorite--steak

Yesterday, the last of Cali's umbilical cord fell off, so today was her first real bath.  Mommy and Daddy were dreading this day because Cali still screams through all her diaper and clothing changes, but she actually seemed to really enjoy the bath and was very alert and happy afterwards!  What a relief.

Even though Cali had found her thumb only seconds after birth, she has had trouble finding it the last couple weeks.  However, I don't know if you can tell, but she somehow found it through her pjs last night. 

Grandma & Grandpa Strube Visit

The day Brooke left us, Thursday 5/21, the Strube's arrived from their 'business' trip to Hawaii. This is an important and special visit for them because they are meeting their first grandchild. That night was spent just talking and passing Cali around from person to person. I returned to work on Friday, which was a challenge due to a lack of sleep. This left Cheyenne to fend for herself in the morning with our little monster, at least until her parents came over to visit from their hotel. Fortunately for us, the Strube's went grocery shopping. They stocked our cupboards, fridge, and freezer. They bought enough ingredients to prepare 2 large pans of lasagna, a crock-pot full of Sloppy Joe's, and a crock-pot full of Beef Stew.  This way, Cheyenne and I don't have to worry about preparing meals for at least...I would say...3 to 5 months depending on how we ration it. 

As for Cali, she is doing well. Sleeping longer, eating more. Here are a few things I wish she could realize at such a young age:

1. Peeing when we are mid-diaper change and when your diaper is off does NOT help the process -- and crying about it does not make it any easier (for any of us!)

2. Kicking us while we are trying to replace the diaper impedes the process and only prolongs your butt remaining chilly and exposed to the elements (resulting in MORE crying). 

3. Your hands are attached to your body and are controlled by your mind. You continually allow these alien limbs to scratch your face and throw your pacifier from your mouth. 

Have a fun and safe Memorial Day weekend...now enjoy some MORE photos below or at my Flickr site.

This is the baby blanket Kathy Strube made for Cheyenne when she was a baby (she is refurbishing it for baby Cali)

Proud papa with Cali in the early AM, Cali loves to control the destiny of her own pacifier

Grandpa Strube with Cali

Smoooooshy face

Mommy and baby

Baby feet

Notice the skin pigment difference between mommy and baby

Compilation photo

Auntie Brooke's Visit

We were blessed with another visitor and self-volunteered baby assistant for the past few days. Brooke, soon-to-be-Auntie Brooke, came to visit Cali McKenzie (and of course, Cheyenne and myself). We started by bribing Brooke with Jamba Juice before introducing her to Cali -- it worked! During her stay, we hung out at home and kept Cali plenty occupied, watched a few movies while Cali slept, and took a stroll through San Mateo's Central Park (yep, they dare to call it that). Brooke was told that it was necessary to nap while the baby sleeps. Brooke took that literally and challenged Cali to nap-offs throughout her stay. 

Cali - 8 naps

Brooke - 5 naps

Although, Brooke lost the napping war, she out did herself by preparing us Puppy Chow. That right there was worth her trip here -- nothing like comfort food to soothe a brain-dead, sleep deprived, almost-thirty-year-old father who never works out! 

Here are a few photos:

Here is an attempt at an artsy shot of me holding Cali -- a little blurry but in my defense baby Cali was a bit fussy -- silly girl doesn't respect the art yet!

Auntie Brooke with Cali -- both of whom just awoke from a nap (see, they are having a stare down).

Flowers and such seen during our leisurely walk through, yes, Central Park, which included the Japanese Tea Gardens.

The happy family!

Brooke, Cali, and the giant giraffe statue.

Cali's visitors

Soon-to-be auntie Brooke and friends Leslie and Justin visited Cali today.  Leslie and Justin's daughter Alana was very interested in the new baby.  

Heltemes Family Update

The past few days have been quite hot here. But we don't mind, because Cali is adjusting well to her new home. Our friend, Cecelia, has been staying with us and has been a great help! Unfortunately, she left us today to go back to her normal life. However, our friend Brooke is flying in from Milwaukee on Tuesday to stay with us for a few days. Then, Cheyenne's parents will be in town to help us and visit their first grandchild. 

John was able to sleep in this morning while Cheyenne and Celia watched over Cali and took care of some chores. Sienna, feeling more at home lately, took this opportunity to take a bath next to John in bed.

She was all 'smiles' today as she laid in bed with us. 

This is her 'I mean business' look.

Sure, hiccups happen to everyone, including babies. But what fun would it be if we didn't think our own baby was cute while doing it (and post it online)?

Going Back to Cali...

We were discharged from the hospital on 5/14 and sent home, to fend for ourselves with baby Cali. The first night was rough. Cali was adjusting to the new environment, which consisted of changes in her eating and sleeping habits. Fortunately, around 5:30am, we were all able to fall asleep. Sienna, our cat and eldest sibling, has had a rough adjustment period as well. She is not fond of the crying and has found new and interesting new spots to hide to avoid this new found annoyance. 

The past couple days have been much better. Less hysterical crying, whining, and pooping from Cali; but I continue to whimper, as expected. Sienna the kitty is coming around, at least she is eating now. 

Cali LOVES:

-- to eat, she is strong eater;

-- moving around, she is very active; 

-- to suck on things (fingers, pacifiers, and sleeves);

-- night time, she is NOCTURNAL; and

-- stories, Celia has told her all about Lord of the Rings.

Cali HATES:

-- diaper changes, evidenced by her continued pursuit to pee every time she is NOT wearing a diaper;

-- clothing changes, she is shy; and

-- giving blood, she has had three heel pricks for blood tests

Cheyenne is doing a great job with Cali. I, of course, am there to assist both Cali and mommy. I do what I can, when I can, to help out. Overall, it has been a challenge; but probably the most enlightening and special challenges of our lives. 

I was finally able to get around to editing some photos. Enjoy!

Introducing Cali McKenzie Heltemes

It has been an amazing day. After waiting through an evening of being induced into labor, Cheyenne's water broke at 1:35pm and was scheduled to have an epidural at 2pm, but Cali had other plans...she was ready to make an appearance. The epidural was cancelled and 100% natural child birth began. At 2:47pm, Cali McKenzie Heltemes was welcomed into this beautiful world. She weighs 6 pounds, 15 ounces and is 19.5 inches long. 

Both Cali and Cheyenne are doing great...oh, and yeah, I am doing okay--a bit tired and a little back pain, but I will manage (I can feel the women reading this blog, wishing the worst upon me as they read that previous sentence)!

I have been trying since 6 o'clock this evening to get photos uploaded but the internet has not been cooperating. I have posted a few iPhone photos on Facebook, but this is my first promising outlook at posting them on the blog or 3rd party site. Let's pray this works. 

These photos have not been edited or retouched, Cheyenne and I just look that good!

All of our unedited photos (due to time constraints) can be found here.

Labor Continues (edited at 1:37pm)

SUMMARY: We are still waiting, Cheyenne -- tired and in pain, John -- catering to Cheyenne's needs.

Late last night, the nurses began the inducing process. Cheyenne was immediately impacted by the medicine and contractions were coming faster and harder. It seemed promising, but eventually the contractions leveled off and soon dissipated - pain '2 out of 10'. We each tried to sleep, my attempt was a little bit easier because I don't have an 8lb baby maneuvering in my abdomen and a body constricting and aching all over. We each slept a little bit, off and on, between the hours of 3am and 6am. 

The doctor administered a different labor inducing drug, Pitocin, on the morning of May 12th. This drug is given over a longer time period and looks to not have the same effect (immediate response) as the drug administered last night. 

As of right now, the baby's head is resting on Cheyenne's sacrum (tailbone) and is causing much pain. The contractions are coming regularly and Cheyenne describes the pain as '6 out of 10'. 

ADDITIONAL INFO:

1:37pm - Pain at '8 out of 10', water broke

BREAKING NEWS: Routine Hospital Visit turns into Extended Stay

12:00pm - Cheyenne drove to her scheduled weekly monitoring at Mills Peninsula Hospital in Burlingame, CA expecting to have blood pressure and baby Cali monitored. These are just precautionary and routine tests. I expected her back within a half-hour, keep in mind her appointment was at 12:30pm.

2:00pm - I received a phone call from Cheyenne detailing her high blood pressure and low fluid (placenta). The nurses were going to keep her for observation and continued monitoring. The negative part is that Cheyenne had the car, our one and only vehicle. 

4:30pm - After scrambling to pack the final bags and to arrange a ride (thanks Andrew!) I arrived at the hospital around 5pm. Meanwhile, Cheyenne was napping.

6:00pm - Cheyenne was counseled by a mean Scandinavian nurse about eating Sun Chips (high in sodium). 

6:30pm - Cheyenne enjoyed a lovely hospital dinner. Mmmmmmm...lasagna.

7:00pm - Doctor arrives. Test results are back. Not preeclampsia. High blood pressure and low fluid resulted in the calcifying of placenta, or as the doctor says, "you're placenta is getting old." She further explains our options: (1) wait, or (2) induce. We elected with inducing -- safer for the baby and, plus, the baby has recently been projected to weigh 8 pounds!

7:05pm - I am writing this blog. I will continue to update this blog and Facebook as much as possible. Don't worry, I have our video camera, my D300, and the point-and-shoot camera. I will have the entire event covered from every angle; well, not every angle let's hope. 

7:10pm - We are calling family and friends to update them (mostly the ones who are immediately updated with Facebook).

Company

We had a nice 4 days with my parents...which mostly consisted of waiting...and waiting.  My mom was positive I was going to have the baby early, as she had me two weeks early.  No such luck.  We even walked 2 miles/day on the Bay trail or at a nearby lake, but nothing happened.  So we cooked, went out to dinner, started freezing meals for later, etc.  

I'm not sure what I'm wishing for now...if the baby comes this week, my parents will miss the birth while they're in Hawaii...but if the baby waits until they get back on the 20th, it'll mean I'm late!  I guess I don't have a choice anyway...so we shall see.

One night we took my parents out to the CA Academy of Sciences museum for their "nightlife" event.  Here are a few of the things we saw.... The albino alligator was back from sick leave--we had missed him at our last visit.  
Can you find the creature in this picture?  Hint:  it looks sorta like a sea horse.
My parents left Sat. afternoon, and Celia and Sean showed up an hour later for a quick 24hr visit.  While John worked on some homework, the rest of us went out for dinner and a movie.  On Sunday, we had a very nice fondue brunch at the Melting Pot to celebrate Mother's (to be) day.  We've gone out to eat numerous times this week and to two movies--I think we know we won't be doing either of those very easily very soon!  :)  It doesn't look like Cali will be showing up as my Mother's Day present...I think this child is definitely a daddy's girl--she's waiting for him to finish his finals this week. 

38 weeks!

If you haven't noticed, our blog has been pretty "boring" lately...my life has been consumed by getting ready for the baby, and John's life has been consumed by his new job, finishing school, and hockey.  Our work schedules were off this past month too, so we only had one day off/week together, and 2 of those weekends I had continuing education classes to go to...so we haven't seen much of each other lately.  :(  BUT...yesterday was my LAST day of work!  It hasn't set in yet, but i'm sure it will soon.  

Photo courtesy of Maxine Bauer

As for me...ironically, I had those couple bouts of premature contractions last month when it was too early to have them, and now, when it's perfectly ok, it seems they have stopped.  I get the braxton hixs (sp?) ones on and off throughout the day, but nothing consistent.  My luck, she'll come late now and my parents will miss it!  I'm about to go pick them up from the airport.  They'll be here for a few days, then they fly off to Hawaii for my mom's work conference/vacation, and then they'll be back for a week starting the 20th.  The doctor says she thinks the baby had a growth spurt this week...when she measured my belly, I am now measuring right on track instead of small like I had been.  So much for having less baby to push out--should have had her last week! ha.  I had a fun ultrasound this week...the baby was sticking her tongue out at us.  Sometimes I still can't believe she's in there.  Amazing.