Lucy is born!

Just wanted to sneak away from the hospital to post this update (and eat lunch free of charge, put away laundry and let the dog out). Lucy Amelia Faber is here!

She weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces, was 19.75 inches long, has all of her openings, and is extremely healthy. What happened was that Allicia's water broke at 4 a.m. Tuesday, and we went to the hospital shortly before 7 a.m. In my brain, I was thinking that the labor would only last a few hours. However, it kept going on. And on. And on some more!

Finally, I thought we were going to get a breakthrough. Early in the evening, Allicia was dialated at 7 centimeters. Great! I did want a Feb. 29 baby, but more than anything, I wanted my wife to no longer be in pain. I'd never seen her go through something as painful as what she went through on Tuesday, and it was nearly heartbreaking to me.

But then she got stuck on 7 centimeters. Around 10:30 the doctor came in and said that she would go through a C-section delivery instead, because the baby's heart rate jumped a little, and stalling at 7 cm was not a good thing.

Waiting for the C-Section to start, I prayed. Said a decade of the rosary. I knew that things would turn out well, but I was still scared. Surgery is never 100 percent, and I wanted my little girl to be ok.

Thing is, when the C-section started, I didn't have enough time to think of bad things: The C-Section was quick! Extremely quick, maybe 10 minutes to get the baby out.

"Stand up and look over the curtain, and get your camera ready," the doctor said.

I was completly unprepared for what I'd see. A head. A baby. Our baby. Bloodier than Ric Flair and CM Punk, but still absolutely beautiful. I don't think I'll ever live to experience a moment as wonderful as that moment in the OR. Maybe I didn't cry, but holding that baby, I was a giddy, giddy mess.

I'll have more to say on the subject when time permits, but I just wanted to post an update for everyone. Thank you so much for the prayers.

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Give a Little Gift

I was born 8 weeks early. I have spent my entire pregnancy praying my baby would not be premature. I have a friend, Janet, and her husband, Mike, who weren't as lucky as I have been.  They don't know I'm writing this post, and I really hope they don't mind. I'll show it to them when we're done here...

Janet and Mike are a sweet couple, smart, and funny. I enjoy their company.  I met them through a friend a few years ago.  

Janet and Mike got pregnant with twins after being married over a decade.  They delivered their babies early, 16 weeks early.  Which means their twins Jaina and Cade were born at 24 weeks. Sweet baby Jaina fought hard for a few days, but is now waiting in heaven for her family.  Cade spent about 4 months in the NICU surrounded by nurses and doctors who cared for him expertly.

I cannot imagine travelling back and forth every day like Janet and Mike.
I cannot imagine the pain of bringing Cade home without his sister.

Cade 4mo old and home!

Why am I telling you this story and showing you an adorable baby photo?  Janet is participating in the March Of Dimes walk and is raising money in honor of her beautiful son Cade, and in memory of her precious daughter Jaina. I'm hoping that by being a friend of TheCatholicLovebirds and all that we love, you might consider donating to this fight.  There are so many babies born early, March of Dimes is doing everything they can to prevent this. When it can't be prevented March of Dimes does what they can to support these babies and their families.  Think of all your friends, how many have been affected by miscarriage, early births, premature or preterm births, birth defects?  Then click the link below and donate.  Donate in honor of the babies that fight to become adults.   Could you give a dollar? One dollar isn't much of a sacrifice really when you think of it... You've probably got that much between the couch cushions.

I've committed to donate a dollar amount equivalent to the weeks at which Lucy is born. What will you commit to?  Pickel Family MOD page

MOD mission statement

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Motherbird: A tear-jerking commercial

Props to The Mill for creating this commercial for Hallmark. With my daughter Lucy on the way, commercials like this leave more of an impact than they would have three years ago.

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Middle Name Game

I've always know I wanted to name a daughter Lucy, but now I'm struggling with a good middle name for our little gummibear.  I could use your help!

I've listed a bunch of names we've been throwing around and I'd love to get some input. Please feel free to share what you think.  Do you know someone with one of the names and they are awesome(or horrible?)  How about if you think the name sounds right sandwiched between the two permanent choices?

I think I just need an outside perspective.  


Potential Middle Names for Lucy ________ Faber

Amelia (one of my favs, also belongs to Cousin of hubby and MIL's middle name)
Hartley (originally a guys name, shows up several times on my mothers side)
Anne
Aurelia
Virginia (a grandmother)
Helen (a grandmother)
Janine
Faith (my mothers name)
Elizabeth (a grandmother)
Ella
Ellen
Catherine
Also taking new suggestions if you think of something adorable!
 

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Baby update: Successful ultrasound

"The ultrasound can't detect everything," the doctor said. "We can only tell you that the baby appears healthy based on what we see."

That's a slight paraphrase, but it's what Dr. Beardface told us Thursday morning when we went in for another ultrasound. Our little gummy bear Lucy is a little over 22 weeks old, and to try to keep things simple, only has two "vents" on the umbilical cord. Normally a baby has three: two to deliver nutrients, and one to remove waste. However, since the cord only has one cashier open to take food orders, the doctor wanted an ultrasound to make sure the baby was growing the way it should.

Does that sound normal and uncomplicated to you? Good...cause to Allicia and I, it was a cause to panic! Just a few days ago, we were told the baby was fine. And now they want to do another ultrasound? Did they think of something that could be wrong? Most of my mind knew that everything would be fine, but that one percent was panicking (ok, more like 33 percent) and praying that our baby would be fine.

You can't take this for granted, especially after so many of our friends have experienced miscarriages.

I suppose the worry now is just practice for when the kid is running around without a bubble surrounding her. Oh, and we got further confirmation that the baby is a girl.

Which is fine with me. I think I'd be upset if it was a boy now, what with all the wonderful clothing we've already received for Lucy.

Thank everyone for their prayers.

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baby update

We saw the baby doctor yesterday to go over the results of our ultrasound done two weeks ago.  We were informed the baby has only a two vessel umbilical cord and were told not to worry.  I was totally cool with the diagnosis. The Nurse Midwife we saw at our appointment yesterday said it was never usually discovered until birth. We'd do a few extra ultrasounds starting in about 8 weeks and I'd have to sit through a few non-stress tests.  Measurements were good. Weight gain/loss on track.  Heartbeat (love hearing that) was great at 160ish.  See ya in 6 weeks.

No big deal. I wasn't worried.

Then, the secretary calls from my OBGYN's office and says that the doctor would like an ultrasound (yes, I tell her in 8 weeks, I was aware) actually- he wants one next week. A fetal echocardiogram. Basically meaning he wants to double check the baby's heart is working properly. (I work in a medical office we do echocardiograms on adults all the time) ...

Now I'm a little worried. I know I shouldn't be, but this is my BABY we are talking about here. How am I not supposed to worry.

All the evidence points to a very normal abnormality with little to no complications. A link here for some reassurance. 

I suppose if we lived in the time when ultrasounds were rare, and shoddy quality at best, it wouldn't be a factor. I wouldn't know this information, would deliver a normal healthy baby, and then the doctor would exclaim that the umbilical cord was different than most others. But man, this is throwing me for a nicely placed loop. 

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It just got real

Sorry for the delayed posting. Been a hectic few weeks due to a new shift change at work (now working 11:30 to 8, as working into the evening gives me an extra dollar an hour).

But I did want to write quickly and let everyone know that after visiting the doctor, we are having a girl (Lucy Hartley Faber)! Yes, I was hoping for a boy. Since my sister has two boys, we would have gotten more hand-me-down items, and when our kids get to high school, an older brother would be added security when it comes to my daughter bringing home some boy who just wanted to get into her pants.

I'm not going to go King Henry VIII on my wife for not giving me a male heir, but part of me was a little disappointed.

For about 45 seconds. Then I started thinking about how amazing it would be to have a daughter, and since that Ultrasound, I'm counting down days in my head until our daughter is born.

Ironically, the ultrasound showed something I'll appreciate later on in life. The nurse was unable to actually see the baby's reproductive organs on the screen, instead pointing out three little white lines. These lines are apparently what is used to determine gender.

And it was then that my wife made an outstanding observation. "The one time you want your daughter to spread her legs, she doesn't do it!" Yes, our daughter being uncooperative during the ultrasound (delaying the gender reveal by 30 min or so), was frustrating, but I'm sure when she hits high school, I'll be thankful that she's already made the right decision to keep those private parts hidden from the world.

Before the gender was revealed, we knew we were having a baby. But finding out if the baby would be a boy or girl just seemed to make it more real. Instead of us having a baby being some abstract idea that would get here on Feb. 29, 2012, it got real. As if a candle was lit inside my brain, it dawned on me that I'm going to become a father.

I'm going to have a daughter.

God help us all.

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Crazy Dreams

So apparently at this stage of my pregnancy (17/18weeks along) having odd dreams is normal. Just so we are clear the dreams are hormonal, and in no way a reflection on my mental status. Seriously, I was so happy to get an email from WhatToExpect.com with my little timeline reminding me that I am not a wack job, it is just the hormones. Thank you baby Jesus. I was really concerned for the sake of my parents cat, who has had purple hair in one dream; my living room which didn't really have bean bag furniture on Thursday; and my baby who was born while a cannon shooting blue goo and confetti exploded in the same room. This too shall pass!

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Updates from the Baby Doctors

dustin and I went to the doctor for our second visit yesterday.  VERY EARLY in the morning I might add.  Everything was well, we heard the baby's heartbeat for the first time. At our first visit we saw the heartbeat on the ultrasound but no sound. This time we got to hear it. So cool!  It is crazy thinking there is a person inside of me. Amazing to think that we create new life, and it is happening all over the world, every day! One day that little whoosh woosh sound coming from my belly will be eating PB&J, asking for the car keys, getting a job, going to school. Wow...

I'm about 16 weeks pregnant now, which means I have about 24 weeks to go.  It seems like dustin and I are always counting down to something! 

Next up- We will be going for an ultrasound in October to find out the gender of the baby. Yes, we want to know. We aren't quite sure yet if we want to do something special to break the news. We've heard lots of suggestions from people who have had the technician write the results and seal it in an envelope.  dustin likes this idea. I don't like surprises. We'll see!

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Baby worries, part gazillion

It seems like all I worry about in life is money. It would be a lot easier if this shit grew on trees. Yes, that's a horrible cliche, but where else is money going to grow. In a flower bed? Then you'd have more theft, and nobody likes a thief.

Location of fictitious money aside, the one thing I hope and pray for is the ability for my wife Allicia to be a stay-at-home mom. Call me old-fashioned, but I think a woman (if she wants to), should be able to stay at home to raise her children. Yeah, financial considerations in this lifetime are nuts, forcing most families to work two jobs.

But what happened? Just a few generations ago, a stay-at-home mom was common. What has happened financially to change that?  I'm not sure, but I just know that money shouldn't have this sort of grip on people. Yet here I am, opening this blog with the admission that I worry about money constantly.

No matter how many times I crunch estimated costs, the salary I make now (just shy of $25,000) cannot cover the living expenses. Even if we shaved $100 off rent, knocked our tv package next to nothing (there's no way we can cut tv: I love WWE Monday Night Raw way too much), and cut down debt payments to a bare minimum, it still doesn't seem like enough.

So where does this leave me? I desperately want to give my wife her dream of being a stay-at-home mommy. Job promotions dangling in front of my wide-eyed dreams seem to be a running theme in my life, but work posted some new customer service jobs. Same stuff I do now, but with a salary bump of at least $3,000 a year. If that doesn't pan out, perhaps if I took a second part-time job on the weekends I could make it work.

I know God will provide a way. Our intentions are pure: we want to give our gender-to-be-named child the best possible home life. I'm not begging for more money so I can buy a big-ass tv and every new video game (I would, however, speed up the creation of my arcade cabinet project I've been working on).

Help us God!

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Baby sonogram!

Today was the long-awaited day, when Allicia would visit the doctor for the first time and find out that there really was a child inside of her.

As you can see from the video above, we indeed are not crazy: there's actually a kid inside of my wife! At first, the baby wasn't moving, which was slightly alarming. But then after a few seconds of the sonogram wand moving around inside of her, it was like our child woke up and start dancing like a fool.

It's very inspiring to actually see the child for the first time. This whole time, we knew the child was there, but actually seeing the baby for the fist time was an unreal experience I don't think I'll ever forget. They gave us the due date of March 2, which still gives us a shot at having a leap-year day baby on Feb. 29.

As happy as I was to see this baby, I was a little disappointed: I wanted two! I knew this whole time we would have twins. I've wanted twins for so many years, and thought this was the right time! Perhaps we'll have twins down the road, but it seems like this year, with the exception of getting married, has been a year of God saying No to me. No, you can't have this better job. No your car won't run flawlessly for more than three months. No you don't have as much spending money as you want.

It would be nice to hear a Yes on something substantial by the end of this year. I do have a chance at a decent promotion at work, which would bring Allicia and I anywhere from $5,000-17,000 in extra yearly salary.

I hope I get a Yes on that one soon!

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