Frederick Nathan

[Frederick Nathan - Frederick after my paternal grandpa - Frederick Songer and also my dad's middle name and Nathan after Joey's paternal grandpa - Nathan Hale and also Joey's dad.  Things I remember about my grandpa Fred - he was a hard worker and appreciated the little he had.  And he was a good-natured husband and an awesome grandpa who let his grand-daughters brush and put all sorts of bows and clips in his hair.  Nathan Hale was a lot like Joey's dad - very mellow and humble and found joy in the success and happiness of others.]
 

June 6th Friday 2014 (journal entry)

Little Frederick Nathan was born into the world this morning at 5:04 am weighing 7 lbs 4 oz and is 20.5 inches long.  He's gorgeous.  He's got a head of shiny black hair and perfect red lips.  Oh, I'm so happy and just loving having a soft, warm, perfect newborn curled up on my chest.  We've been doing some nice mama/son bonding.  So, Wednesday night I started having contractions at 2:00 am.  They got strong and some were close together (like 3-4 mins) and I went for a walk around the neighborhood at like 3:30 am.  I was about to call Kate when they started getting further apart (around 4:30 am) and by 6 am they were about 30 mins apart.  Huh?!!  So confusing.  They lasted ALL DAY LONG on Thursday.  Most were 30 mins apart but some were 8 or 15 - just so random.  Joey stayed home from work thinking we'd probably go to the hospital.  Well, he actually just cleaned and cleaned all day.  I cleaned some too and by the time our kids went to bed - our house was sparkling clean.  It felt so good.  My parents were coming at midnight.  Around 9:00 pm the contractions came closer and harder and more consistent.  I timed them from 9:00 to 11:00 (I wanted to make sure)  So, just as we were about to pick up my parents from the airport - we had to leave instead to the hospital.  Allison Walker stayed with the kids and Kate went to pick up my parents.  So, we checked in to the hospital at exactly 12:00 midnight on 6/6 and were admitted.  I had a sweet nurse who totally babied me and called me hon, sweety and girl.  I was dilated to a 5 and they asked if and when I wanted the epidural.  Yes, and how about now?  At around 1:30 I got an epidural and oh. my. goodness. - it felt good.  My sleep deprived body that had been experiencing contractions for 24 hours got to completely relax.  My achy legs and whole body just felt awesome.  I just laid there and enjoyed the feeling of being relaxed and pain-free.  It really is amazing that they can do that.  I almost felt guilty after just reading a book about giving birth in the 1800s.  Dr. Long came in at 4:00 a.m. and I was at a 6. She broke my water and I could really feel the contractions through the epidural but it just felt like pressure.  It was building and building and at 4:40 the nurse asked if I was feeling pressure and I said - yes, A LOT.  She checked me and said "it's baby time!"   So I had gone from a 6 to a 10 in 40 minutes.  I started pushing about 4:45 and pushed for about 4 sessions of pushing and at 5:04 he was born!!  I can never get over a baby being born - its so very miraculous.  I felt a euphoria afterwards that I've heard of but never experienced.  I felt so extremely happy and so in love with this baby right away.  Everything went so well, I felt relieved and surprised that it was all over already and I had this perfect baby in my arms.   Then about an hour later I got up with the nurse to use the bathroom and I felt awful and dizzy and extremely tired like I couldn't hold myself up.  The next thing I knew I heard a new nurse's loud voice saying "Katie! Katie, are you with us?"  Two nurses were holding me sitting up and I was totally out of it.  I felt like I had been gone for a long time and then was waking up from a long dream.  I had fainted.  I've never fainted before - it was wild.  Joey was laughing at me later because I was like "Oh, I feel so awesome!  I feel so good!"  and then --- faint.  During my euphoria moment Joey was acting kinda subdued and quiet and I asked him if he was ok.  He said "I'm so worn out.  Just watching that took it all out of me."  The nurse listening chuckled and got a real kick out that.
Things are good.  Frederick looks cuter and cuter every hour.  Not nursing very well though. My parents and the kids are coming to meet him!!

First moments

Frederick's first visitors were Kate and four adoring cousins bearing gifts of yummy snacks, drinks and gum for baby's parents.  The Wilsons left that very day on their trip to Utah and somehow squeezed in time for a visit to the hospital.  We are so glad they did!!

Kate snapped a few precious, precious pictures of this baby - just a few hours old.... (after he had just gotten his bath and his hair did)

Next - Frederick meets siblings!!!

  

And Grandma and Grandpa!!!!

Later...LOVE AT HOME

 

 

First Doctor Visit - 4 days old.  Gave a stellar performance for Dr. Owen.

It was wonderful having my mom and dad here for the first week.  They played with my kids and took care of meals and laundry while I enjoyed (and survived) the first week of having a newborn.  I'm so grateful to them for flying out and taking time away from their responsibilities to be here.  Oh and thanks to all you siblings who helped with Grandma Ferguson so they could come!

These are the kinds of meals I sat down to every night.  I loved being able to eat healthy - something my mom is good at and I am not.  They even brought Halibut from the Puget Sound.

 My dad took the kids to the Children's Museum and played with them a lot.  He also organized my whole garage (Ems you would be so proud)  and painted some more kitchen chairs (see G&G strike again post)

And he framed out the little window in the hideout and did lettering on the window and above the dutch door.  Now it's officially -- "the hidout".  I love it. 

 Maryanne saw him doing it and exclaimed "Oh gwampa it's puwfect!!!"

And that long long post is all about the week you got here dear "baby Fwedawick" (Maryanne).  We love you so much. welcome welcome to this crazy world little peanut.