Catching up!

Life goes by too quickly... even if you're only getting about three hours of sleep at a time. Olivia continues to grow up and each day brings something new to our lives. We are working on a routine with our lives, but things aren't as easy as I thought they would be. She really is a good baby, but my level of patience has definitely increased :) She will be 5 months old on Thursday and I cannot believe it. She fills our hearts with her little giggles and smiles. We have gotten many pictures of her adorable dimples and a few videos of her laughing. In the past week or so, she has discovered her feet and has tried reaching for them. A few times, she's been able to grab them, but not hold on very long. She rolled from her tummy to her back a few weeks ago, but she hasn't done that again. When we put her on her back, she will sometimes move back and forth to try and roll onto her front, but it hasn't happened yet. She loves putting her fingers in her mouth and still loves her play yard. When she's in her car seat, she loves to play with her toys and pull on things. Recently, she has discovered mommy's hair and will pull on that too! Bath time is tons of fun, as she loves to splash around. Her legs are always moving, so we can't wait until she's ready for her bouncer (she's just a little too short). We've tried the bumbo chair recently and she let us know she was not a fan. It just seems that every day holds a new adventure and no day is ever the same.

We have taken her to the pool twice and last week, she tried the lake for the first time. I think she will be a bigger fan of swim pools once she gets to try therapy or warmer pools (our high school pool is on the cooler side).
Last week, the three of us drove to Brainerd to meet up with my family. They had been in Minnesota for a family reunion during the previous weekend, but we weren't able to attend as our club hosted our home meet. Olivia did pretty well with the drive (it took us a little over 5 hours, since we had to stop a few times to feed and change her). But, we survived the longest road trip thus far!
A few weeks before that, we celebrated 4th of July at our house in Brookings. All of Phil's family was here, as well as my mom, and we started off the morning at the parade. Olivia was not a fan of the fire trucks, so we weren't sure how she would do with the fireworks that night. She was a camp champ though and loved the fireworks! She would just stare at them and really didn't react to the sounds.
Every time I think that this is the cutest stage, she does something even more adorable and I realize that I am excited for her to continue growing up. Although it is really nice to have a snuggle baby right now :)

pictures

 Here's some pictures of our baby girl during the past few weeks!

aunt cindy, phil and great-grandma hollander

 

love my fingers!

 

nap time at grandma and grandpa's house

A Father's journey

So, not only have I been slacking in the photo department, I have been slacking in the update department. Life just gets going, I guess! I will write another update with more details on our day to day activities, but I have really been meaning to get an entry in honor of Father's Day.

As you all know, our birth experience was far from normal (although, what experience is normal). When we found out we were pregnant, I think the word to describe Phil's face was shock. Yes, we had been trying and yes, we were ready for a baby. But I will always remember his face when I rushed in and told him it was a positive on the test. He was such a great husband with helping me take my weekly or bi-monthly pictures to document my progress. He was the one to just sit there and listen while I cried and then laughed and then cried again when I told him how stressed or tired I was. He was just as excited to go to the birthing class with me, and even went to a 'daddy bootcamp' class, just to make sure he was prepared. After that class, the first thing he said when he got home was 'I am going to change every diaper. You get to spend time nursing, so I'm going to spend time changing diapers.' While that end of the bargain hasn't so much been upheld, he has gone above and beyond.

The night before we found out Olivia was a girl, he got to feel her move for the first time. With teary eyes, he just looked at me and even though not a word was spoken, we both knew how blessed we were and what a miracle she is. I enjoyed having 'daddy-daughter' time at night when he would put his hands on my ever-growing belly and talk with her or read her a story. He was so excited to put together the crib and dresser and all the other items that come with a baby. In fact, the day before I was induced, he had just put together the swing and the pack and play.

When I got the call from Dr. Weirda that I needed to go to the hospital, I sat on the stairs and cried and had a good freak out session. Phil was the one to calm me down and get things done. He got the diaper bag and reminded me to pack my bag. He was the one to drive the hour to the hospital while I was making panicked phone calls and sending out text messages. He was the one who was silently available while the medical staff all rushed to my attention. If I just kept my eyes on his, I didn't worry.

Once the labor began, he was there if I needed anything. He was the one to press skip on the iTunes when I thought I wanted to listen to a song and then changed my mind three seconds later. He was the one to sit in my 60 degree room, shivering while I continued to ask for it to be cooler (stupid magnesium sulfate). He was the one that kept reminding me that I could push one more time and that I was doing a great job. And he was the one that had to leave part of his heart in my room while he rushed with the NICU team to be with Olivia.

After she was born, the look on his face will forever be etched in my memory. The look of joy and pure happiness is the closest I can get to describe. He remembered to take over the camera and take pictures of Olivia. When the team of doctors was leaving the room with Olivia, he wasn't sure where he needed to go. Once I told him to leave and go with her, he had to leave me in the hands of my team of doctors. He later told me that the on the walk to the NICU, he cried because he wasn't sure who needed me most. He was the one to take the ipad to the NICU and get me some facetime with our daughter during her first 48 hours of life when I couldn't be there. He was the one to give me updates and bring back video of her just breathing. He was the one who first learned how to wash my pumping items (gosh darn on that one!), since I couldn’t get out of bed for the first two days!

Since we had such an emotional and exhausting first few days, I thought it would be good for him to get out of the hospital and walk around a sporting goods store with his dad. Of course, after he left, I was told I was being readmitted. So, back to the hospital he came. Since I didn't have any clothes or any of my hygiene items, I asked if he could go back to Brookings and then bring the items back in the morning when he drove back. He kept saying that he was driving the hour to Brookings, grabbing the items and then driving the hour back. While a 2-hour round-trip doesn't sound like a lot, he had been functioning on little sleep and it was about 9pm by the time he left. Without me knowing, he came back that night and slept in Olivia's room, since he knew that I would be angry with him if he came back to my room. When he arrived in my room at 6am, he said that there was no way he was going to be away from both of his ladies.

I knew from the time that I met him that he was going to be a good dad. Interacting with his three nephews brings happiness to his life. He has such a caring heart. He treats Olivia with such care and she had him wrapped around her fingers from the moment she entered our lives. I know as she grows up, he will be the one teaching her how to ride a bike and how to throw a baseball. He’ll read her books and tuck her in at night. And yes, I can’t wait for the day that he has his first tea party or princess ball. I know he’ll be the best-dressed person there :)

(Thanks to the wonderful and talented Hillery Janssen for the beautiful pictures)
 

Not too much

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend! While it seems like a lot of people got warm weather and sunshine, we were trying to enjoy overcast skies and temps that were a little cooler. Phil got started with his garden in the backyard, as well as did some yard work in the front yard. Olivia and I tried to join him outside, but Olivia wasn’t really enjoying the great outdoors. She will learn to love them though! She is really in love with her ‘fun yard’ play set and we love watching her hit the toys and watch the lights.  I’ve been trying to do more sensory activities with her, but as I’m sure it is with every mom, I don’t know how much or what or when or if I’m doing things right! As always, I know I need to follow the mother’s intuition, but I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the feeling of wanting to provide the very best for my kiddos and the doubts that come with everything.

 

 



Just rocking my 'O-hawk'

Olivia has done better with her tummy troubles. We think the Zantac is helping, and I have also gone peanut-free in my diet (for those of you who know me, you know how much I LOVE peanut butter, so I’m learning to love other things). She doesn’t seem to be as gassy and in pain, so we’ll continue with things until her next appointment with her pediatrician in June. Olivia is also learning the art of sleeping! We have gone back to the beginning and have tried things again that didn’t work in previous weeks. We propped her head up a little in her bed. We got out the magic blanket again. She just likes to be warm and snuggled when she sleeps, so she can easily fall asleep in our arms, but when we go to put her down, she wakes up. So, it’s been trial and error to figure out what works and what doesn’t.

 

 

She loves her play yard!

We really haven’t had any other excitement in our lives. Swim team is about to head outdoors for the summer season (poor little kiddos are going to freeze the first week!) Phil continues to run a kick-butt airport and deal with the construction of the runways. My dad and brother will be here in 2 weeks, so we are excited to have company for a few days (and Olivia is very excited to finally meet Uncle Tommy Awesome)!

 

Wedding, worries and weight!

This past weekend, Uncle Joel and Aunt Kristi got married! We travelled down to George on Friday afternoon and got ready for the weekend festivities. On Friday night, we attended rehearsal and rehearsal dinner before getting back to Sheryl and Warren’s house around 10:30pm. Saturday morning around 7:30am, Olivia and I were off with Emily and Alicia to Grand Falls Casino where we met up with Sheryl. The girls got their hair done at the casino while Phil and the other boys went golfing. Everyone got back to the house around 11/11:30am, so it was a quick change into our dress clothes and off to the wedding! Joel and Kristi looked wonderful of course and the day went very well. Olivia enjoyed her first wedding out of utero and did great.

While the wedding was wonderful and tons of fun, the past few weeks have been worrisome for Phil and I. Our darling little girl just doesn’t seem right and we are at lost for answers. She was 12 weeks as of yesterday and while every baby develops on their own schedule, and we know Olivia will probably be behind in a few things, she just doesn’t seem comfortable some days. When she was born, there was a slight issue with her bottom and colon, but after prepping her for surgery, they ran tests and decided she did not need the surgery. However, she has been having continued tummy troubles and in the past few weeks, she has spit up more often than usual. We have discussed this issue with her doctor and after the increased spit up, as well as some other factors, her doctor prescribed Zantac at her appointment on Friday morning. Olivia is doing a little better, but we are ready for her to just feel good. She continues to sleep about 2-3 hour at a time during the night and then during the day, she’ll sleep about 1-2 hours at a time. Other than that issue, she’s doing great! She rolled from her back to her front on May 9 (she despises tummy time) and at her appointment on the 17^th, she weighed in at 10 pounds! So basically in 12 weeks, she has doubled her birth weight. Currently, she’s in the Moby wrap, since she’s been fussy since noon (and it’s about 4:30 now). She loves the wrap (as do I- I finally was able to get to the dishes, laundry and now blog) J

If you’re my friend on facebook, you’ve probably seen my posts about how much Olivia enjoys walking and bouncing at night. With all of that walking and bouncing, I am finally within 3 pounds of my pre-pregnancy weight! I have so celebrate the small things in life, so while I would much prefer sleeping at night, I have to look at the brighter side of things. In terms of other health issues, I continue to do well and am keeping my blood pressure within normal range. I still feel lightheaded/dizzy at times, but it’s nothing that my doctor is too concerned with.

This weekend, we are looking forward to getting Olivia’s pictures done! Since we didn’t get her professional pictures taken after she was born, we are doing 3 month pictures.  I figure at 10 pounds, she could still be considered a newborn J Especially since the babies on the Tiedeman side are frequently in the 8 and 9 pound range!

A mother's reflection

In my almost 11 weeks of being a mom, I have learned a few things. I may not be the best, but I had a great teacher, so I’m hoping that some of that amazingness rubs off on Olivia.

The night that we got the call from the doctor was one of the scariest moments. I remember seeing the hospital number on my phone’s screen and thinking that it was odd that I would get a phone call from them at 9:15pm on Sunday night. When Dr. Weirda said that I needed to come down to the hospital, I sat on the stairs and cried. I knew that something was wrong, but I initially thought that I would be on bed rest and monitored and then sent home a few days later. I knew that was not the case when I was admitted and had three nurses working on me. The next 12 hours passed by in a blur and while I remember some things, I wish they could be happier memories. I remember crying and asking for a c-section because I was in so much pain, I remember being scared and confused when one set of nurses was telling me to push and another set of nurses was trying to draw blood and start a transfusion (I didn’t know what to do with my hand/arm, since one group was telling me to grab my leg and the other set was telling me to hold it out). I thought I would be the person to send continuous updates during labor to friends and families to let them know my progress. But, when you are told that your daughter is coming almost 6 weeks early, your mind is elsewhere. When I finally pushed her out, I was in shock that she was actually here. Just 48 hours before, I was having my maternity photo shoot. Now, I was watching as the doctors and nurses rushed in to take care of her. I briefly remember the nurse holding her in front of me and having our first family picture taken. And then Phil had to make the difficult decision of staying with me or going with Olivia to the NICU. I told him to take care of her and I would be there soon. Then came the news that due to the medications, I would continue to be on bed rest for at least 24 hours. My first time being a mom, and I got to see my daughter for 2 minutes in her first 24 hours of life. Thank goodness for technology and a supportive family that helped me do facetime with our ipads.

Olivia on day 1

Through all of that confusion, pain, and emotions, I was surrounded by so much love. My mom started driving when she got the call that I was being induced. She drove 12 hours through the night and through a blizzard for the first few hours. My mom and aunt arrived a little after Olivia was born. Phil’s parents had been there the whole morning. Friends and family had been praying through the night. A scary situation thankfully had a joyous result.

Mommy's first trip to the NICU

When I was finally allowed to visit her, I cried. I kept saying how sorry I was that I made her come early. I know there was nothing I could have done differently to change things. But, the guilt was still there. She was so tiny and so precious. When I was discharged on Thursday, I cried again. In the elevator, I looked around at the cards, flowers, well wishes and bags, but all I could see was that we didn’t have a baby with us. The one moment that I had dreamed about for months was not happening.  We spent the night at home and returned to Sioux Falls the next morning to see Olivia. Throughout that day, I wasn’t feeling well, but I attributed it to the stress of the previous days. When things didn’t improve, I called my doctor and after taking my blood pressure and answering a few questions, I was told to go back to Labor and Delivery and be re-admitted.  Once again, I was put back on meds and received the news that for yet another 24 hours, I would be away from my darling little girl. I was in denial that I was so sick. I continued to think about Olivia and my swim kids (they were in Aberdeen for the state swim meet) and distract myself from the reality of the situation. But when the doctor tells you that you would not be alive if you didn’t receive the care that you received, you listen. You stop thinking and just focus on what really matters. I had to rest and take care of myself in order to be a good mom.

We may have had a rocky start, but these 11 weeks have been full of love. So much love. My favorite part of being a mommy is rocking her to sleep and seeing that adorable smile peek through her blanket. I love having ‘mommy-daughter’ time during her feedings. I love picking out adorable clothes for her to wear every day. While I am very much looking forward to the night that she sleeps more than 3 hours at a time, I am thankful for such a wonderful baby. She may have been early, but she is making large footprints on our hearts. This past week, she pushed herself from her tummy to her back.  Her smile lights up the room and her little movements melt my heart.

I have learned so much. I have learned that I can love someone so much without really knowing them. I have learned that I will fight for my child, even if I’ve only been a mom for a few weeks. I have learned that the love of a mother (and father) can get you through anything.  I have learned that I can accomplish my to-do list with only a few hours of sleep.  What I thought was multitasking before baby is nothing compared to the multitasking I do now. My level of personal hygiene these days is sometimes debatable.  I know that I will celebrate the little things. I know that I will continue to smile with every movement, sound and action from my little girl.


Olivia week 9 

There are also things that I can appreciate even more. I can truly understand how much my mom did for me. From being there at almost every swim meet to driving me to multiple activities. I remember the notes that she left in my lunch box or on my sandwich bag. The care packages in college to the teddy bears at every special occasion. The love of a mother is truly an amazing thing. Thank you mom for being such a great example. Thank you for putting up with my emotional teenage years. Thank you for playing multiple roles in my life, from ‘nurse Jean’ to ‘mom Jean’ to ‘friend Jean’ and knowing which role I need at which point in my life. Thank you for laughing with me, crying with me and encouraging me when I needed it.

Baby, Mom and Grandma

Being a mom is a tough job. You have to put on multiple hats, be multiple people and be in multiple places. But the responsibility that I now have is something I would never give up. Olivia is the light of my life and we are so blessed that God sent her to us. I am full of many emotions for my first mother’s day and I look forward to many more! Happy Mother’s Day to everyone out there!

company, baptism and daycare.. oh my!

We are continuing to adjust to life with a baby. Olivia truly shows us that she is the boss lady and we just smile and go along with it. She is sleeping for about 3 hours at a time, so she sleeps for 3 hours, then is up for about 1 and then we repeat. I am looking forward to the day when I scare myself awake because I haven't heard her cry in over 6 hours! Although, when my mom was here and I was able to sleep for 5-6 hours at a time (as Mimi helped with night-duty), I was almost more tired. Crazy what a baby does!


Phil, Olivia and I with Kayley, Nick and Jack

The swim team started swim season a few weeks ago, so while I was working from home part-time since Olivia was born, it was different to have to leave Olivia and go to work outside of the home. When swimming started, my mom was here visiting, so we didn't have to worry about daycare. After she left, a few moms on the team were awesome and helped watch Olivia when we were in a pinch. Now that Phil and I are in a routine of working, we sadly had to put Olivia in daycare. She is going to an in-home daycare and thankfully it's only part-time, so I don't feel too guilty.

Poppi Bob and Mimi Jean

So, we had 17 days of visitors at the Tiedeman household! My mom arrived first and was 'Super Mimi' with helping around the house and of course spending time with Olivia. My Aunt Mag came for 3 days and we were able to shop, rest and have girl time (sorry Phil). After she left, some friends from college visited from Washington and stayed the night with their little boy. Next to arrive was my dad on a Friday and it was so wonderful to see him hold Olivia for the first time :) Then another friend from college (and Olivia's godmother) arrived on Saturday. Then for the baptism on Sunday, we had 21 people at our house! Olivia did so well during the service and she looked so adorable!  After the baptism, everyone came over to our house for an afternoon of catching up, pictures, snuggling with Olivia and eating :)  Sadly, all good things must come to an end, so after 17 wonderful days, my mom had to head back to Colorado. That meant it was really up to us to take care of this little baby. I think it helped to know that an experienced adult (and nurse) was here, just in case. But, we have now figured out a routine and while I don't know everything about Olivia (nor will I ever), we are figuring things out.


Godmother Kari, Phil, Katie, Olivia and Godfather Joel

This week was Olivia's first week at daycare. As I mentioned, she's only going part-time, so right now that's about 10-15 hours/week. Since I stepped down as head coach, I am on deck a little less and now I only have to write workouts for 2 groups instead of 4. School ended last week, but I still have to complete my written and oral exams. I was scheduled to take the exams in March, but since Olivia came early and I was dealing with the stress of her in the NICU, I wasn't ready to take them. I have to take them by July 18, so I'm not off the hook just yet :) With leaving her at daycare though, I thought I would be fine, since we had to leave Olivia in the NICU and since she had gone to a few swim mom's houses. But, when I was driving to the daycare house on the first day, it hit me that this was different. This was more of a permanent thing. This was the start of something that will probably last for awhile. And will probably turn into full-time once I finish grad school. So, I cried in the car. Then I was fine dropping her off. Then, I cried again when I said goodbye. And I cried all the way to the pool. But I got to smile when the day care provider texted me and asked how I was doing about an hour after I dropped Olivia off. And then I smiled again when she sent me a picture text of Olivia smiling. Thank goodness for good people to take care of babies :) There are so many moms that have to go back to work and I really am blessed that I only work part-time. But it still stinks. Thankfully, day 2 and 3 of dropping her off were easier.


Grandma Sheryl and Grandpa Warren

But, that's been our adventures thus far. Each day brings something new and we are just so excited that Olivia is doing so well! At her 2 month visit, she weighed in at 9 pounds! She's eating well and seems to be doing things right on track. In fact, two nights ago, she pushed herself from her tummy to her back during tummy time. The child HATES tummy time, so I think she just problem-solved and figured that if she could push herself over, then she wouldn't have to be on her tummy. Of course I still worry about her hitting all of the developmental milestones. But then I have to remember that each baby does things on their own time. And since she was a premie, we got hooked up with 'Birth to 3,' which is a service that comes to do checks on her to make sure she's doing okay. And if she needs a little help, they'll provide references for certain areas (whether it's PT, OT, speech, etc). But, we don't think our little girl could be any more perfect :)