A Peanut Gallery

Here are some pictures of Cara from the last week. She is such of a good baby, hardly ever cries and is content to just cuddle with Mommy.

Lips, dimples and more...

Little peanut has been home for three days now, so I thought I would highlight some of the happenings.

A Peanut Personality: Cara is a very happy & content little baby. She loves to be swaddled and cuddled, stare into everyone's eyes and grab onto fingers. She has discovered the pacifying joys of her vibrating bouncy seat and loves to snooze there between feedings.

First Doctor's Appointment: Yesterday was the first of many well baby check ups for Cara. She is seeing the same husband/wife family practice that Caitlin does and we just adore both Doctor Dena and Doctor Quinn. We expect to have a positive relationship with them for years to come. Doctor Quinn got the pleasure of examining Cara. He reported that she must be eating well because she only lost 4 ounces since her birth, which was very good. We are a little concerned about jaundice but are not going to panic until the test results come back. Cara could get her first exposure to bright lights...blue lights, that is. Mommy also noticed, during this visit, that Cara, who looks very much like her big sister Caitlin, shares something more than adorable facial features. The girls also both have sachral dimples...Cara's being more of a sunburst in shape. Mommy was comforted to learn that the Doctors' daughter has one too--we are not alone. We have decided to do an ultrasound to rule out any foreseeable problems. Once again, our small baby will be on a stretcher. Overall though, our little Peanut was given two thumbs up and cleared until her next appointment on August 3rd.

Fascination with Daddy's lip: Babies have a very strong sucking reflex and Cara certainly proved that yesterday. Her daddy went to pick her up from her crib and was holding her level with his face and they were gazing into each other's eyes...a very precious scene. What did Cara do next, you wonder? Well, we all thought it was an innocent kiss but...she grapped Daddy's lower lip and began sucking. She wouldn't let go! Daddy said he had a hickey after she was done! We all got a wonderful laugh out of that.

On a side note: Mommy's feet are so swollen and she thought it was bad before Peanut came into the world. Darn midwife was right, it got worse before it got better. Poor Mommy could barely stuff her gigantic feet into her Crocs yesterday. Oh, the agony!

We imagine that life with two girls is going to be a riot and the adventure of a lifetime. Stay tuned for more.

This is the story of a baby called Peanut...

This is the story...of how our little Peanut came into the world...enjoy!

I started off the day feeling a bit "odd" but decided to go to work because I had a lot to finish up and wanted to talk to with my co-worker about our plans for Tuesday. We were both going to call in and have some fun, just the girls. So, I went to work with some mild discomfort but didn't think anything of it. Around 12:30-1, things started to pick up a little, so that I was a tad uncomfortable but still, I blew it off as Braxton-Hicks since I was still about two weeks away from my due date. Just for kicks, I decided to get on the Department of Corrections' instant messenger and see if one of my other co-workers, Jeanne, was on. She was and I asked her to help me time these "contractions". She did and asked me what I was feeling. She was determined that I was in real labor and spent an hour trying to convince me to either go home or to the hospital. I was determined to finish up the paperwork that was on my desk before I went. After all, it was nothing and I would just sit on my butt at home.

Well, around 2:30, I finally decided that I'd better go 'cause I was getting more and more uncomfortable. I had Ben call my midwife as I got the heck out of the facility. I had a contraction while waiting to get out of the prison. Other staff on their way in were concerned about me, asking me if I'd be okay driving . Thankfully, UCH-Fitzsimons is all of about 5 minutes from my work, so I knew I'd be fine. I walked out to my car and called Ben. He said that my midwife wanted me to go to the hospital to get checked out.

I walked into the labor & delivery unit all calm and said, "I think I might be in labor, maybe not, but..." and then ushered me into the triage area. I was talkative and joking the whole time...contractions not disrupting anything at this point. They hooked me up to the fetal monitor and watched the heartbeat and contractions. At this point, they were coming every 3 minutes. Then, my midwife, Jessica, came in and did a vag exam. I was so shocked to hear that I was 5-6 centimeters and would be having my baby that day.

I called my mom and she & my dad began the journey from Montrose. I had to stay in triage until they got a reactive strip on the baby and then got moved into a labor and delivery suite. Wow, was that room nice! I had a wonderful view of the on-going construction.

My contractions were picking up but still nothing major...this was about 4 o'clock. Ben & Caitlin (we decided to bring her to the hospital) arrived around 5pm and things were steadily starting to pick up...I couldn't talk between contractions, etc.

Well, Ben & Caitlin didn't have long to wait because within 30 minutes, I was deep in labor--panting and all. At one point, I was told I could not push due to my cervix not being completely ready, and I was about to get drugs...then...three or four pushes later and whoosh--out came Cara Louise!

It all happened so fast that we didn't get any "arrival" pictures of Cara and didn't have anyone there to take pictures of Ben cutting the cord, etc. My labor was 5 hours from start to finish with only about 30 minutes of
"hard labor".

My parents arrived around 8pm and got to meet and snuggle with their 2nd grandchild. My mom was right, she didn't make it having to come all the way from Montrose. I just can't believe that Ben & I did it all by ourselves and with Caitlin witnessing the whole thing ("the baby was all bloody and came out of my momma's butt!"). We are so proud of her for being so good and so brave. Everyone was saying what a good job I did, but I'm no hero, just a happy mom! :)

We were moved pretty quickly to post partum where we all relaxed, ate and slept. I was discharged around 6pm on Tuesday. I was actually ready to come home and be a mom to both of my girls. Caitlin has been a wonderful big sister, being very loving to Cara and helping Mommy.

There ya have it, the whole story...hope you wanted to hear it.

Our newest arrival!

I'd like to introduce the newest member of our family---*drumroll*--Cara Louise Adowa Ogoe! Our second daughter was born on July 17, 2006 at 6:07pm. After a very fast and uneventful labor, our little peanut entered the world weighing 6 lbs, 6 ounces and 19 1/2 inches long. Mom & baby were released from the hospital last night and are recuperating and bonding at home with Dad and big sister Caitlin.

More details on Baby Cara's arrival will come soon!

Could she be?!

***For the record, Cara was not posterior at all. The ultrasound showed that she was in a favorable position. This obviously helped her "fast decent" when she was born! :)***

I don't know how to start this because I rarely post about worrisome things but, this is pulling down my soul, so I felt that I'd better get it out in the open.

I had my 37 week midwife appointment on Wednesday and everything was going hunky-dory until my midwife and student (it's a teaching hospital) decided to measure the baby. Well, they were applying some pressure up top and down below and were looking at each other. My midwife had the student do the same. The conclusion, neither could be totally sure that little Cara was head down, ready for delivery. My midwife said that is almost felt like TWO HEADS?! I'm sure the look on my face was priceless as I grabbed Anne, the midwife's, arm. She assured me that the odds were very slim since I'd had two ultrasounds already and they only saw one baby...but still, I think my heart skipped a few beats. Then, she went on to say that they want to schedule another ultrasound ASAP to make sure that Cara is head down. I think that she's posterior, like her big sister was, and that's throwing them off...a sunny-side up baby. So, I'm sitting here waiting for a call from the ultrasound clinic to schedule my appointment. What will they do, you ask, if she's breech? Well, turns out that they will admit me as outpatient to the hospital and send me up to see the OB doctors. They will attempt to turn her in utero and see if that doesn't work, a c-section will be scheduled for Cara's delivery.
This is not how I wanted things to be...not to say that there's anything "wrong"--yet , but still, I don't need this stress and worry so close to my due date. I was hoping that all of this excitement would be a signal to Cara to surprise everyone and make her appearance. So far nothing, just a lot of movement and fierce kicks.
I suppose a c-section isn't the end of the world but it sure would complicate my recovery and totally violate my expectations. Instead of a nice, calm birth, I will be in a sterile environment with doctors that I don't know (midwives cannot do c-sections) having my belly cut open. The thought sends chills down my spine, so I'm trying not to think worse case scenerio.
Actually, in light of what a few of my friends have gone thru lately, I feel incredibly blessed, even if I do have a breech baby.
Right now, we're just taking everything one step at a time starting with the appointment for the ultrasound.

Could you all cross fingers, pray, think good thoughts or whatever it is you to for luck for me? We are all kind of sitting on pins & needles right now...

Thanks!

Be happy & safe!

Here's hoping that you all have a safe and wonderful 4th of July!
Not sure what we're going to do this year since the holiday falls on a Tuesday (who's bright idea was that?) and I have to work today (Monday). In years past, we've gone up to Ouray, CO for the whole day. They have a wonderful small town celebration with a parade, water fight and all of the tourist-y stores are open late. We would go up in mid-afternoon and hang out in town (sometimes soaking in the hot springs) and then curl up in blankets and watch the fireworks shoot off from the mountains overhead. It was the coolest thing because the fireworks would echo off of the mountains, making a huge BOOM! sound. Trust me, not much compares.
We are thinking about hitching the Light Rail downtown and strolling around LoDo (if anything is open) and then watching the show from Invesco Field @ Mile High. We'll see what ends up happening...all that I can say is that I'm thankful to have the day off.

(And yes, that's the Denver skyline!)