7 Quick Takes Friday (vol. 24)
Here she is!
Our little baby “Joy.” She arrived Monday afternoon weighing 6 lbs. 7 oz. and was 19 inches long.
The short version of the birth story: The induction began around 8:00am. The combination of being sick with a sinus infection and frequent interruptions from people coming in and out made pain management difficult, so I went ahead and asked for the epidural around noon, even though contractions weren’t too bad yet.
Unfortunately the epidural didn’t get full coverage. There was a spot about eight inches in diameter on my lower right side where there was zero pain coverage.
The anesthesiologist obviously felt bad about it, so she added more medication to try to get it covered. Didn’t work. She added more and more medication but we couldn’t get that spot anesthetized. We did, however, get the rest of my lower body anesthetized to oblivion — at one point I saw the nurse set something big down on the bed and I realized with a jolt that it was my freaking leg. I lost all sensation, even pressure, in all my lower body except that one “hot spot.”
Being completely unable to move any of my lower body while experiencing the pain of pictosin-induced transition contractions will not go down as one of my favorite childbirth memories (though I did offer it up). As a sort of anesthesiology consolation prize, the anesthesiologist asked if I wanted some straight-up narcotics to “take the edge off.” I told her dump that and every other kind of pain-killing substance she had into my IV. As promised, the “edge” was taken off — along with any other possible care I might have had in the world.
The baby arrived a little bit later around 2:15 and, due to some combination of the narcotics and the grace of God, I didn’t have any of the stress I typically have in the first few hours postpartum. I was just thrilled to meet her and overwhelmed with happiness.
I can’t thank you enough for all of your prayers. When I was going through all the pain after the failed epidural I thought of how many people were praying for me and it really gave me great comfort. Also, my husband and I have both noticed a certain peace that’s come with this baby, even through the inevitable ups and downs of the first few days, and I think that your prayers have a lot to do with that.
I am so impressed with Care Calendar. It’s a free online service that lets people coordinate with one another about bringing someone meals. A dear friend set one up for us, and it’s been so handy to be able to log in and see who’s bringing us what for dinner and when. It’s also helpful to our friends to know when we need meals and what other people have already made. I highly recommend bookmarking it to use next time someone you know needs some help!
Also, I can’t believe how helpful it’s been to have dinner taken care of every night. I knew it would be nice, but I’ve been blown away by just how much it helps us to enjoy this time that we don’t have to think about what to fix for dinner.
Breastfeeding is going amazingly well in terms of pain. In one side the pain is about a 9 on a scale of 1-10 (better than a 10!), but on the other it’s only about a 4! This is unprecedented and unbelievable — I daresay miraculous. I think it’s due in some combination to:
- Your prayers.
- The Saint Diet. One of the drastic changes I’ve seen in my body since cutting out sugary and processed foods a couple months ago is that I’m less inflamed and sensitive generally.
- Approaching latch with even greater ninja-like precision than usual.
I still have major low milk supply issues as I have with every other baby, so I’m pumping and taking herbs to deal with that. I’m thrilled that the pain is better though!
New life brings out the weirdest behavior in people. On the one hand, everyone we’ve been around this week has been raving about what a beautiful, precious blessing our new little girl is. On the other hand, more than one person has expressed horror at the idea of future children — I don’t mean something like “it would be difficult to have another one too soon”; I mean if you saw a video of their face you’d think they had just heard about some horrific crime against humanity.
One person asked if we’re done, and when I said we’d like some space but that we almost certainly would have more children eventually, her face contorted into a look of disgust. She leaned forward and asked pointedly, “WHY?!” Yet moments earlier she was wiping a tear out of her eye while gazing at the baby.
I understand people feeling like more children would be too difficult for various reasons, but what puzzles me is the downright vitriolic reaction that some people have to the idea of future kids. Weird.
I am sooooo excited: as soon as we can get out, I’m having my husband take me out for a SUSHI EATING EXTRAVAGANZA. I have been craving sushi for nine months and haven’t been able to eat any of the raw fish, so our next date night (with baby in tow) is going to consist of me eating embarrassing amounts of food at our favorite Japanese restaurant.
(After I wrote this it occurred to me that planning to be gluttonous during Lent is not my most spiritually mature move ever. Hmm. I might need to re-think this plan.)
I look forward to reading your posts!
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photo by Alexandre Chang
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My first Quick Takes! I’m excited that I actually thought of it on a Friday (or at least a late Thursday night…) Thanks, Jen, for hosting. And ‘Joy’ is BEAUTIFUL. Wow–she’s a pretty baby. Congratulations!
yayayay Jenn! I’m so happy for you! I’ve been praying for you all week!
I am so glad that both mom and baby are fine.
Also glad to hear that you aren’t in complete agony. I remember counting the days. I had decided that I could handle it for 2 weeks and if it still hurt, I would quit. Somewhere between day 7 and 14 I would realize it wasn’t too awful anymore.
I don’t think I had it nearly as bad as you though. It was mainly latching on that made me cry.
Your new baby girl looks like an absolute angel. What a precious gift.
It is too bad some can only see the joy in babies who are already on the planet and cannot see the value and joy inherent in those which have yet to be created (or born, but that’s a whole ‘nother topic).
You, baby “Joy,” and the rest of your family are in my prayers.
Baby “Joy” is adorable! What a blessing for your family
This is the best quick takes yet, with that photo of your beautiful daughter headlining it. Yes, love the comments from well-intending (?) people who go from tickled to horrified when you tell them you are not completely closed to having another. I think somewhere deep inside, they are questioning their own decisions in this realm, and the world has suddenly turned upside down at the moment you reveal your openness to new life.
She’s so beautiful! There have been many babies in Blogland lately and she’s one of the prettiest I’ve seen. What a darling. Well done!!
And I love that you may be having more children. I would have as many as I could if only I could.
she’s beautiful.
I had a conversation like #6 with my brother last week. I told him I am hoping ot at least get to have a fourth and he said, “Why” just like that, like I am committing crimes against the planet by contributing to overpopulation. And then I said that attitude worries me because people start to consider human life less valuable than environmental goals and justify abortion. Which is when I found out that he doesn’t think abortion is necessarily wrong. ANd then I hung up and sobbed on my husband that I don’t know who my brother is anymore. Which is true.
Anyway…Go ahead and have your sushi feast. You just gave birth, a postpartum feast is in order. After all, doesn’t the feast of Annunciation or other feast days trump Lent, at least a little? Isn’t the celebration of a child’s safe birth a reason to feast? Look at me, trying to pretend I know something about Catholicism. It’s late, I babble.
Congrats again on your beautiful baby girl.
She is beyond cute! Congratulations! I’m so glad breastfeeding is going better than expected! I’m praying for you!
I don’t like sushi, but the second I deliver a baby I NEED me some feta. Oh, it’s amazing!
Congrats! So happy for you. Am typing on my iPod whilenursing at 430 am so this is short.
I have been blessed with enough milk this time. A list of my supplements is on my blog. Maybe some are different and might help!
http://Www.maherfamilygrows.blogspot.com
Fairly new reader to your most astounding writing! Blessings to you and your dear Joy, and family! Keep multiplying!
If I had to do it over – I would have one every 15mos!
I had my first induction with my last, and will not even get into the details…I just offer up a quick prayer that you only focus on your of joy
— and not dwell on the stupid hospital! (Yeah, I still have issues! ;D)
She’s beautiful!!!
Eii
Congratulations! And oh my, she is indeed a beautiful baby. (This is not always the case, and a Dutch comedian has taught me to make appropriate use of the term “sweet baby. Not needed here.)
Have the sushi! Lent is about fasting and feasting, after all, and you can do it while feasting on your husband’s love and being the three of you together. Joy is too young to participate in Lent and she deserves a spoilt nutrition source. I mean mum. (And if you want you can feel guilty about it, very Lent-ey
)
I’m a new reader of you blog – CONGRATULATIONS!!!
I had to comment on the vitriolic reactions of people to the idea of more kids. We are currently expecting our fourth (our girls are 4, 3 and 1), and we even got that reaction after the birth of our last baby – from people at church, where there are few families with more than 1 or 2 kids.
Life with lots of little ones IS hard, and we are hoping for a gap if we have any more babies (although that plan didn’t work out so well this time), but I think it’s so sad that people can’t even fathom why we would want more.
I told my husband the other day that the comeback I always want to use (but never do) is, “With kids this great, why wouldn’t I want more?”
Anyway, just commiserating, I guess, because I really don’t understand it – even from family members, who are so excited about this baby but 6 months ago were appalled at the idea of more kids and are already talking about making sure it doesn’t happen again.
What a beautiful baby, congratulations. Keep em coming!
God Bless!
Oh, wished to share this recipe – shared at another wonderful blog: http://inclotheslinealley.blogspot.com/
Housepoet’s Lactation Cookies
Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
4 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons flaxseed meal*
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups oats, thick cut if you can get them
1 cup or more chocolate chips
2 tablespoons of brewers yeast** (be generous)
Directions:
Preheat oven at 375 degrees F. Mix together 2
tablespoons of
flaxseed meal and water, set aside for 3-5 minutes.
Cream (beat
well) butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, mix
well. Stir
flaxseed mixture and add with vanilla to the margarine
mix. Beat
until blended. Sift together dry ingredients, except
oats and chips.
Add to margarine mixture. Stir in oats then chips.
Scoop or drop
onto baking sheet, preferably lined with parchment or
silpat. The
dough is a little crumbly, so it helps to use a scoop.
Bake 8-12 minutes, depending on size of cookies.
Serves: 6 dozen cookies
*can be found at any local health food store
**IT MUST BE BREWERS YEAST, NO SUBSTITUTIONS.
Eii
Congratulations!! She is beautiful.
I had an epidural that failed on one side with #4. At least it made it somewhat tolerable instead of me wanting to crawl completely out of my skin for 5 hours (I always have back labor for some reason).
So glad breastfeeding pain is better than it was! Praying it goes to 0 soon. I had to chuckle at the thought though that maybe you still had meds in your system from all those narcotics.
I can’t believe I have NEVER been to your blog before. I didn’t know conversion meant CONVERSION…I love converts…there so committed and knowledgable.
On a bigger and more significant note: CONGRATULATIONS on your new adorable baby.
So glad I came here.
this is my favorite quick takes friday yet. She is beautiful Jen. Surely, she is “Joy!” Lovely, still praying.
Congratulations on your beautiful little girl!!!!
I am really ticked at people who have nasty reactions when you say you want to have more children. Children are BLESSINGS and how many children a couple have is a PERSONAL decision!!!! I am absolutely dumbfounded as to why people would be so rude.
Congratulations again! I hope breastfeeding continues to go better and better!
She’s beautiful! Welcome, Joy.
Amen to meals for new moms. I need to check out that resource… Providing meals and nourishment is one of the best ways we can care for each other. Our church community does this well, too. I’m so glad you have people caring for you in this manner.
And, my vote is for you to go out for sushi. You’re giving up sleep for Lent.
Congratulations on your baby.
She’s beautiful. So glad that everyone is well and healthy.
Oh, Jennifer, Joy is BEAUTIFUL!! Congratulations.
After we had our second daughter, a friend of my husband’s, who happens to be Jewish, said to him, “Well, now you’re done. Right?” And my husband said something kind of like what you said. “Well, we’re not sure we’re done.” He was appalled and gave my husband a speech about being responsible to the earth to not have any more children, yada, yada, yada. That was the first time I had heard someone actually articulate those kinds of thoughts and to me, THAT was appalling.
Congratulations! She’s beautiful!
I mean, so long as you don’t have any more…(wink, wink)
CareCalendar is wonderful – our homeschooling group uses it now – it makes it so easy to schedule meals and other help. Do your kids jump up and down at the front door when someone brings dinner, sounding as though you haven’t fed them in weeks? Mine always did – so embarrassing!
Congrats on the arrival of baby Joy! She is beautiful!
Congratulations Jennifer!
CONGRATULATIONS, JEN!!! She is beautiful, and I’m so happy to hear you have your sense of humor back so quickly
I experienced the same reactions after my SECOND was born, just because the girls are close in age. People just don’t get it.
I’ve done quick takes for a while, but this is the first week I’m linking here!
God Bless you!!!
She’s beautiful!
Wow, she is so beautiful. Thanks for sharing a picture!
Congratulations!
It’s too bad some people look horrified that you don’t plan more kids. If it helps any, we’ve only been blessed with one child (and she’s 16, so I highly doubt there will be more) and perfect strangers have let me know that having only one is a selfish act. Thank God you are listening to the voice of One instead of the many.
Congratulations!
“Joy to the world, a child is born!”
all the best to your family!!
And thanks God for good friends who contribute to heartwarming meals!
You may not really have low milk supply issues, it may be that your baby is just acting like a truly normal baby and nursing really frequently. Sleepy babies sometimes don’t nurse enough at this point, but normal breastfeeding newborns nurse sometimes as much as 14 times a day. It also isn’t unusual for your milk to not come in in full force until day 5 particularly if you’ve had a medicated birth. The thing is that if you’re expecting your baby to go for a long time between feeds (s in two hours or so) and they don’t you may think that you have milk supply problems. Relax (as much as you can) tuck yourself in with that little girl and simply nurse frequently.
I’m sorry for the people who can look at a brand new baby and then be disgusted that you’d want more. Of course, if you see riches in a contemporary sense, I guess all you see are the dollars going out to take care of this baby. The psalmist had a different take. He saw the man as blessed whose quiver was full of children, whose children were like olive shoots around his table. I agree with him, even though we only had two ourselves (I would have loved to have had more and actually wanted at least 5). I’m still hoping for a dozen grandchildren (number 1 arrives in May).
Beautiful photo, beautiful baby. I am so happpy for you. And I’m glad you got the drugs earlier and often!
She’s a beautiful child! And I’m so glad you’re boobs are acting better with this child.
To avoid gluttony during Lent, order a modest amount of sushi to go. Then you’ll have to stop when you run out. And make a firm date night for sushi gluttony for Monday, April 13th. Heh.
Regarding point 6, I have had that same question. We had our third baby in December, about two weeks before our oldest turned three. So I know that’s a little close in spacing, but I don’t know why it merits the vitriolic responses we’ve gotten from some people. When I’m in the grocery store with the three of them (and they behave very nicely I might add), I often get older ladies giving me audible noises of disgust and saying things like “good grief.” I try to smile serenely but it’s irritating. Oh well!
Congratulations on your beautiful new baby!
Congratulations! What a precious miracle. God is always faithful!
I’m so impressed that you’re back online already, and so glad you are getting lots of help from your family and friends, and so glad that breastfeeding is going well! Your baby is adorable. Are the kids still calling her Joy?
#7: Who says you have to approach it as gluttony? Focus instead on appreciating the wonders of God’s creation and the blessings of your life: God created the creatures of the deep and made them tasty! God blessed the human race with memory, reason, and skill, so that the great idea of sushi could be passed from person to person around the world, and the wonders of modern transportation could bring you safe seafood in central Texas! God blessed your family with enough money to afford an occasional lavish meal! God gave you the grace and determination to resist temptation for nine months! Etc. etc. I mean, we’re supposed to put aside alleluias for Lent, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be grateful for anything, and gratitude is a whole lot better than gluttony.
Your daughter is gorgeous!!
She is beautiful!
Eat the sushie. You deserve it. I believe God would understand. It is not like you are going to do this all the time. The soul needs earthly food and reward also.
Now you have a Christianing/ Baptism to have.
COngratulations!
She is absolutely beautiful! And just plan to be gluttonous on a Sunday if at all possible.
Jenn, congratulations!!! And I think it’s SO COOL that you want more.
Laughing out loud at your birth story – sorry, maybe you can’t laugh at it yet! Won’t be long…
Couple things to share. As an “all-natural” kind of person, you wouldn’t think I’d suggest this, but I’m going to anyway: take motrin for breastfeeding pain! I took it around the clock for a few days with our babies and it made the whole experience much better! Just to get you through the “toe-curling” stage.
It’s great that you’re doing the Saint Diet, but to get more milk flow, you need to eat a LOT (especially healthy fats like butter and coconut oil), and drink a lot of water, too. Makes a big difference. Also, check out this link I found: http://www.cheeseslave.com/2008/04/22/low-milk-supply-related-to-iodine-deficiency/
That Care Calendar is SO COOL – can’t wait to try that next time I’m planning meals for someone.
OK, I’m done rambling now. Enjoy your sweet little baby girl.
Kelly
Congratulations! I am anxiously awaiting the birth of my baby girl sometime in the next 10 days or so. Blessings to you and “Joy”.
So happy you and the baby are doing so well, especially with the breastfeeding! You’ll continue to be in my prayers.
BTW, she is beautiful!
Hello! I just found your blog a few weeks ago and have been enjoying it thoroughly! Congratulations on your precious new baby girl- she is beautiful
Beautiful, beautiful baby. Congratulations!
She is gorgeous!!! Congratulations on your new bundle of “Joy”!!
Congratulations! She is a beauty!
Congratulations on the baby! Isn’t “Joy” the name the kids picked?
What a beautiful baby. The photo says “God is Perfect”. I rejoice with you.
She is totally and completely beautiful. God bless you both.
Hi Jen,
This is my first Quick takes, too. Many congratulations on the birth of your sweet baby girl. Prayers for the best babymoon ever!
Beautiful baby. Thanks for sharing her picture with us.
She is beautiful and you have brought another child into this world who will live for all eternity! Talk about a good day’s work.
I’m so glad the breastfeeding is going better than usual, but my prayer will continue that it be pain free.
For over 40 years Americans have been barraged by anti-child propaganda and Christians have absorbed and now regurgitate the message too. One of Chesterton’s buddies once said that it is easy to be blind to an evil – as long as the evil is big enough. Spritually blind, propagandized people need lots of prayer to see the Truth and their own ridiculous contradictions. Judy
Congratulations, and that really is a beautiful picture.
(Yup, highly original, that’s me….)
Oh, she’s lovely
I would re-iterate my opinion that you’re dealing with yeast– in particular if the pain is primarily located in one breast. If the pain ever switches back to the other breast, I’d say you’re a shoe-in. I’ll post the link to my post about yeast here, as well.
http://theforsheyfour.blogspot.com/2009/02/yeast-infections-info-for-nursing-moms.html
She’s beautiful, Jen! congratulations!
and my eldest has started asking me, “why do they say that?” when I get the regular query of, “are they all yours?”
I tell her that most people just have two kids, and we are very blessed.
Many congratulations! She’s beautiful!
She is just beautiful! Congratulations!
Oh Jennifer! CONGRATULATIONS!
PLEASE have your sushi celebration dinner. Rejoice with your husband and baby and God with mouthfuls of raw fish.
Have you tried de- or non-alcoholic beer for lactation?
Be well.
Joy is precious. How could you not have more? Congratulations!
I am doing 7 Quick Takes for the first time, so hopefully I did it right. Thanks for hosting!
Congratulations to you and your family.
‘Joy’ is beautiful, and I’m glad breastfeeding going well.
Enjoy your sushi, pregnancy was your time in the desert, it now time for a mini Easter to celebrate the return of foods you gave up.
She is SOOOO beautiful! CONGRATULA?TIONS!!!
Growing up as I did in a Protestant home, there was a little Sunday School song I learned. Though I’m now Catholic, it still works:
Rosemary
“Jesus and Others and You,
What a wonderful way to spell Joy…”
Congratulations!!! Prayers will continue. (By the way, the world is becoming UNDERPOPULATED.)
CONGRATULATIONS!
With a stunning lack of originality I must say that she is absolutely beautiful. However, then you know we’re all saying it because it is absolutely true.
I’m one of those weird moms that think most newborns are not cute but this little girl? Definitely cute.
Thanks for sharing!!!
Jen – I agree with Charlotte. Eat the sushi and offer up the sleep! Congatulations on the healthy birth of “Joy,” she is breathtaking. And don’t worry about the people who are appalled at having more that one or two. Pretty soon they will have bred themselves out of existence and the world will be a happier, pro-life place.
BLESSINGS!!
She’s beautiful! And so teeny! Congratulations
I got a lot of hassle from my family after our third daughter was born. My granny asked me if I was getting my tubes tied and I said no and she gave me that disgusted look and said “Why not?” (and she had 7 kids!) One of my other aunts pushed the tube tying too, and even some person I went to school with that I ran into told me to get my tubes tied.
I’m glad breastfeeding is going better this time!
My first Quick Takes, I’ve been reading your blog for a while…Congratulations on the birth of your sweet Joy! I am 5 weeks from due date and can’t wait for Sushi Night myself!
She’s beautiful! Congratulations.
Congratulations!!! Joy is a BEAUTIFUL baby!!! I have 6 kids and have gotten all sorts of negative reactions anytime I admit we are open to more. Our oldest is 21 (married with his own baby) & our current youngest will be 2 in May. I'm 42, but really hoping that we will be blessed at least once more.
I shared the link for the CareCalendar with the meal coordinator for the young families group at our church, it looks like a wonderful resource.
Your family remains in our prayers, I'm so glad things are going better than you had anticipated.
She’s so beautiful, Jen! Congratulations!!
I am so happy for you! She looks absolutely beautiful. Congratulations!
Beautiful.
CareCalendar! What a *cool* idea! (Is it a bad thing to judge originality by whether I would have thought of something, or wish I’d thought of something?)
Many congrats!
Thanks for hosting even with a newborn. And yay for prayers working! (Um, I guess thst means yay for people who actually pray. . . ;-D )
Congratulations to your family on your *beautiful* new baby! She’s gorgeous.
I know what you mean about people’s comments. We only have three and my own mil said to a virtual stranger one day that she certainly hoped we weren’t going to have anymore.
I seriously considered one more if for no other reason than to spite that woman. Surely, there’s a good Biblical names that means, “to spite my mil.”