Go Ben Go!

Ben is doing great. Today the doctor said all he needs to do to come home is "grow, learn how to eat, and grow." This however, will probably take about 4 weeks. He is moving out of the Intensive Care Nursery (NICU) and into a regular hospital nursery some time this week. He is already gaining weight and should be back to his birth weight soon. Pictured here: a special toast to Benjamin from Marty & Sara.

I'm becoming that mum

The mum who is convinced her baby is the cutest one there is. I guess that is how you are suppose to be. They took out his IVs today and his little heart murmur has disappeared. He should be driving by mid April.

Oscar Night in Vancouver

A Beautiful Day

my heart is abloom,
shoots up through the stony ground

What do J-Lo and I have in common?

I guess just that one thing (no my bum is not insured)...we both gave birth this week. I'm not sure if she opted for the popular celebrity plan of C-section plus tummy tuck. I went more for the traditional "get it over with as soon as possible" style." From the first day we told our house mate Rachel we were pregnant she said, "okay we need a birth plan!" And we put it off and put it off, and then what do you know my water broke at 28 weeks. We kicked that birth plan in gear knowing that we may not get all our wishes because of the preterm rupture. However, looking back I did get quite a few things I had hoped for. Dane & Rachel were there. My midwife made it in time (after we had to demand that the nurse phone her because things were moving very quickly). I was not induced and I didn't take any pain medications (two more things we hoped for). Although the doctor and nurse left much to be desired, Candace and Laura (the midwives) and Dane & Rachel (my personal supporters) made up for it. I had a quick, INTENSE labor and delivery (4 hours 20 mins) resulting in a healthy (albeit little) red headed baby boy. He just trucked along the whole time - not once were we concerned about his well being. It was a pretty crazy experience. I guess Day 32+3 turned out to be far from average and 32+4 was insane and wonderful.

Update on the little guy: He is doing great without the CPAP machine on (CPAP was helping him breath). He has a bit of jaundice (as many babies do) so he has been under the "blue light special" the last 24 hours. He is eating like a champ and as soon as he is done with the light we will take some more pictures of his amazing little body and red hair.

It is a pretty hard time for us. We are juggling the sadness of him being in the hospital and not at home with us with the absolute joy of having him in our lives. We are looking forward to the day we can bring him home. This should be in a few weeks - just in time for Dane's spring break and a visit from Aunt Julie.

Getting Stronger

Ben is getting stronger. Tomorrow could be the final round with the CPAP machine.

We love you Ben. Go For It.

Mom and Dad

Confession

Hey Splinter siblings,

I will have to admit, whenever I look at little Ben, I think that he might - just might - grow into a spitting image of another curly haired, red-locked hero. Oh yes, I am talking about Alora Danin. Of course, i am stilling searching for Cherlindrea's wand amidst the breast milk, hobbit diapers, and pizza boxes.

Shalom,
Dad

What to read while in the NICU

"It has seemed to me sometimes as though the Lord breathes on this poor gray ember of Creation and it turns to radiance-for a moment or a year or the span of a life. And then it sinks back into itself again, and to look at it no one would know it had anything to do with fire, or light...the Lord is more constant and far more extravagant than it seems to imply. Wherever you turn your eyes the world can shine like transfiguration. You dont have to bring a thing to it except a willingness to see. Only, who could have the courage to see it?" -GILEAD by Marilynne Robinson

Another Ben Wade?

Hey all,

If you are itching to support our little guy, go rent 3:10 to Yuma - a great western that stars Russell Crowe as Ben Wade, someone with a lot of goodness hidden behind a somewhat prickly outershell. (Not to worry Grandmas, I am sure that our Ben Wade is going to be a sensitive little rustler.)

Shalom,
Dad

The First 48 Hours

Our New Son

Benjamin Wade Splinter Halton

born: February 20th @ 1:56 AM

weight: 4 lbs 13 oz.

hair color: red and curly

32+3=not your average day

Due to a few symptoms you probably don't need to read about on a blog, I had to go into the hospital this morning for an assessment. Luckily Rachel decided to stay home with me until the nurse came and then until the nurse called my doctor. She drove me in and then stayed for a few hours with me. Dane arrived shortly and we had a little Camp Good Times in the assessment room at the hospital. After a few pokes, prods, questions, answers and waiting they let me go home. So I'm back but I don't have as much faith that I am going to make it to 34/35 weeks.

Shot Out to all those in Victoria: Vic General was by far the best hospital out of the three. Go Gail!

Daily Essential: Being home again.

32+2+Season 3

We hit another milestone over the weekend. First it was 72 hours, then 7 days and now we have made it to 32 weeks. As always everyday counts but now we get into the - "oh my gosh we are going to have a baby soon" mode. The plan is my doctor and midwife will pick a day around 34/35 weeks and schedule us to go in for an induction. Now when is that you ask? Good question. Technically we hit 34 weeks on Mar 1 and 35 on Mar 8. Now does this mean they induce during that week or after Mar 8th? I have no idea.

In other news: We are officially moving onto Season 3 of Veronica Mars (which we borrowed in full!) We had a major set back when Disc 6/6 in Season 2 did not arrive in the mail on Friday. Knowing it wouldn't arrive Sat or Sun and I can't get the mail on Monday...my great husband rented it for us late Sunday night.

*Weekly essential: My mum is coming on Weds!!
*Weekly skill needed to obtain: learn how to fix my own knitting mistakes
*Yummy food to eat: Frank's lentil soup (we have been saving it because I love it so much)
*Baby prep: Dane is going to pick "Bob the Revolution" - our super fancy stroller that The Splinters gave us for Christmas.
*Athletic Feat of the Week: yeah right! It wasn't mine, but Canada's Women's Water Polo won their first game on their qualifying trip for Beijing.
Big decision of the week: What to read next. I just finished Grisham's new book "The Appeal." No comment on that one.

Our youngest friend in Vancouver

Although we have a ton of friends with children outside of Vancouver (most outside of BC) we have very few in Vancouver. Last week the baby we do know came for a visit. Karen brought over her youngest (Arbutus). She however left Isaiah (the president of the "silly Dane" fan club) at home with Tom. She'll probably never see this post but I thought you all might enjoy a look at the baby we have watched grow up these last 15 months.

31+5 - Nesting 101

Our lovely housemate Rachel decided it was high time to kick this nesting thing into gear. Dane and I are just barely recovering from this years events and haven't "furnished the nursery" so to speak. With me couch bound and Dane a first year teacher, we haven't exactly had time to get ready for the baby (not to mention that we thought we had until mid April!). So Rachel & Sara hit some stores last night and got us started. We are very thankful and getting more excited each day(car seat also arrived yesterday - thanks Mum!).
My doctor seems pretty certain that I won't go into labor until I'm induced. This will most likely be scheduled between he and my midwife sometime the week of Mar 1-8 when the baby is 34-35 weeks old. The really exciting part is that at 35 weeks he could very well come right home!

31+1

Day 31+1 was much less busy than yesterday. We did have a few visitors (my Aunt Tee, Uncle Ken, cousin Jordan and his girlfriend Angela) by around lunch time. It is always nice to have visitors. Dane went to see what he will call "the film that will win best picture" but I'll let him write about that. The picture is a tribute to all the lovely bouquets I have received since I've been home. This one is from my Aunt Jane, Carol and Cousin Lauren (came complete with celebrity gossip magazine).

I'll try and come up with something really exciting (other than giving birth) to write about this week. Perhaps a detailed description of my online scrabble/boggle games against Audrey.

31 WEEKS TODAY

Although every "wheel" and pregnancy dater/chart is slightly different there seems to be a consensus that we hit 31 weeks today. This also means I have been on bed rest for 22 days. Luckily my cousin Ali is getting enough exercise for both of us as she is headed to Italy to hopefully qualify for the Olympics on the Canadian Women's Waterpolo Team! You can follow all news yourself here.

We've had a lot of "official" visitors today. Nurse, Prenatal Instructor (who happens to be 6 months pregnant) and then one of the midwives!

Daily Essential: Planning our summer holiday to Savary Island

Daily Essential: The Bendy Straw

Day 18 (30+3)
It really is the small things these days. Small things like the bendy straw. My sister -in-law Jenn uses these little toys for all her drinks and I'm beginning to see why. They really are quite handy, especially when you have to be "reclined" or laying down all day. In other news: Day 18 involves a visit from a real baby boy (and his mum).

Subtle tribute to Marty & Sara

Most of you who read this blog already know these two. But I want to "publicly" tell you all how great they have been to us since we met, but primarily since Day 1 of this operation. Meals, washed dishes, more meals, company, a ride to the ultrasound, phone calls...you name it these two have done it. All I've got to offer them in return are thank yous and a new teen drama and a few used People magazines.

30+2 (Day 17)

Today is Day 17 (30+2) but this entry will reflect solely on Day 16.

Most of you have heard of my hairdresser and in typical Jane fashion, I have recommended Lisa to you. When Shandelle (who recommended Lisa to me) was getting her haircut on Saturday Lisa asked about me and the baby. The next thing I know Shan calls me and tells me Lisa wants to come over with her on Sunday and cut my hair for me. Little did she know the first thing on my list to do when I got back to Vancouver (before I knew I would be coming via hospital transport on a helijet) was to book an appointment to have my hair cut (or more importantly when you have as much hair as me, to have my hair cut & thinned).

30 Weeks!

Today is another big milestone in Operational Antepartum. We made it 30 weeks (15 days). We are going to celebrate by going to the lab for some more blood work. Yes! No seriously folks, we are thrilled to have made it this far. We had a good report from the ultrasound yesterday. The baby is still in the right place and growing. When the tech said "there isn't a lot of fluid around the baby," I resisted the urge to say something really sarcastic and rude like "yeah duh that is why I'm here." She was a nice technician. I need to be nice too.

Daily Essentials: homemade pesto & smuffins, real mail

Interactive blog: What would you do if you had to lay on the couch for 5 weeks straight? Remember you have to be semi-reclined or lying down, only rising to use the bathroom and answer the door.