Little Hog Fan

Here are a few pictures of Perri in her cheerleading uniform. It pretty much swallows her but we had to try it on.
She wasn't exactly happy about us undressing and redressing her to get the pictures, as you can tell. But, it paid off because we actually won!! YAYYY!!!!!

Bad at blogging

So I'm learning how horrible I am at remembering to put blogs and pictures up on here. But then again, we do have a two week old so there's not exactly that much time when I can get on here and post. Anyhow, my apologies.

Everything is going well around here. She's been having some pretty fussy times but today has been amazing so far! Craig has been home most the week with me and is being amazing by letting me sleep at night if she's already eaten and taking her to her room and rocking her to calm her. But still, I manage to be exhausted every day. I am so appreciating this though. Won't be able to happen come next week when he goes back to work though.

Perri's jaundice is getting better and after three doctor's visits and labs, we don't have to go back until Dec. 12th for her one month check up. AND, she's gaining weight!! We went in last Tuesday and Friday and her weight was still at 7 lbs 3 oz. (she was 7lb 12 oz) at birth so they were talking about having to see a lactation consultant to weigh her before and after feedings etc, but we went in this past Monday and she had gained 5 oz. over 4 days!! Yay!!!! She's still a skinny minny but finally gaining some weight!

We didn't venture to Arkansas this year for Thanksgiving but were able to have it with some friends here who are pregnant and having a little boy in 2 weeks so that was nice. Perri actually slept the entire time and let us have our first meal together in two weeks!! haha. Oh the things you take for granted without a baby.

Sorry to be short but she's starting to wake a bit. Here are some pics of her lately, I'll get Craig to upload all of them shortly.

New Pictures

New pictures of Perri are on our photos page.  Click the "Photos" link to the right.

The past few days...

Just thought I would update a bit about the past few days and how everything is going. This little girl is amazing at night, praise the Lord, and I am actually having to wake her to feed her! And most times she'll go right back to sleep after she nurses!! Craig definitely appreciates this, as he's had to go back to work already. We thought he would be off more this week but he has some huge projects due tomorrow that made him have to come in early but thankfully he'll be off most, if not all of next week for Thanksgiving. Luckily, mom is here with me and helping me, cooking, cleaning, watching Perri so I can shower and nap, etc. She's really been a blessing this first week at home, especially since Craig isn't here to help. Today we went to the doctor for her check up and she's only lost one ounce since discharge Friday so she's now at 7 lbs. 3 oz, where her birth weight was 7 lbs. 12 oz. She is slightly jaundice so we had to get labs done to check her bilirubin level which showed slightly elevated levels so we have to have her in the sun atleast thirty minutes twice a day in her diaper. Mom took her out this afternoon and she immediately fell asleep from the warm sun. Other than that she is doing wonderfully and we go back Thursday morning to see the doctor to have them check out the jaundice. Also, her cord fell off last night! Yay!! It had been barely hanging on and then I went to change her last night and it was off! Fell off after only 5 days!

Tomorrow she'll be one week old and I can hardly believe it! It's gone by so fast and I am loving this little girl like crazy. Though my days revolve around feeding her, which has become quite tiring, its all so very worth it. I am feeling great, and recovering very fast. Im really not sore anymore and am moving around like normal and taking walks and such. A c-section was so not what I wanted for my birth but thankfully recovery has been easy so it's all okay. Below are some pictures of the past few days! Enjoy!

Beautiful Girl

Day 1 at home has been going great. We're learning more and more about her and her likes/dislikes, etc every day and are loving her more each day. She's such a sweet little baby and we can't get enough of her. My dad and sister and Craig's mom went home this morning but my mom is staying to help out for the week and help us get some rest and help around the house and we really are appreciating it!! Just wanted to put up some pics of our beautiful girl.


Our little ladybug


"The Thinker"


Pretty Girl



Sleepy!

We're home!!!

This is Leah now, finally posting an update on everything. Well, Perri's arrival ended up hardly as expected and was very scary for me but it got her here so all is well. We went in Wednesday morning to be induced at 5:30am. At around 7:00 or so they got my Pitocin started and then broke my water right after. I got checked a few hours later and hadn't progressed at all. So they kept upping the Pitocin until finally it was at the highest it can go, and still, nothing. My contractions were getting really bad and found out I was also having back labor and was in tons of pain so I got the epidural around 10:30 or so (not for sure on times, I was in serious pain) My doctor kept checking and realized my cervix has a hard "rim" on it, not allowing me to dilate any further than 1 cm. After a very rough procedure to actually cut the cervix and try to make me dilate, my doctor told me my body simply could not dilate. Not due to the induction or anything but that my cervix physically cannot dilate due to the hard rim. She's never seen anything like it except for people who have had cervical surgery, but I have not, so we aren't sure why I have this. She said its like a hard scar tissue almost.

So, after learning this, it came down to an emergency c-section, which I was not prepared for at all. It was very rough and hard on me but I was so thankful Craig was with me through it all, by my side. I was having lots of trembling and shaking and couldnt breathe so that only made things harder on me. Perri was born at exactly 5:00 pm on November 12 and weighed in at 7 lbs 12 oz. and 20 inches long. She actually had a little cone head like most babies do, but this is not normal for c section babies. The reason is because she was so far down in the canal for about 4 or 5 weeks that her little head got the cone shape. She would've come much earlier had I been able to dilate, but due to that, that's why she didn't make her appearance on her own. First night was pretty hard and I was loopy on morphine for the pain but am now feeling great and they actually let us come home today!! We are in absolute love with her and are loving being a mommy and daddy to our sweet girl. Amos and Emma, our other children, are accepting her quite well, and Emma is being very protective of her, and even giving her some licks once in a while.

We are all doing well and glad to be home and will keep posting pics, as we have TONS between us, the grandparents, and her Aunt Sarah. Thanks everyone for the well wishes and prayers, we really appreciate it all!!!

Pictures of Perri

By popular demand, here are pictures of Perri Elizabeth Opitz. Leah and Perri are doing great. Leah will post more details in the next couple of days. Maybe we can go home tomorrow but Saturday is more likely. Click the link below for more pictures.

Perri Pics

Perri has arrived

Perri was born at 5 pm today. She was 7lbs 12oz 20 inches long. Leah and Perri are doing well. More post to come.

6 more days!!

Sorry I don't have a pic to put up here but am proud to announce we for sure have 6 days or less until little miss Perri makes her appearance!! Yay!! We went to the doctor yesterday for the 39 week appointment and all is going well, pretty much fully effaced but still at a measly 1 cm. BUT, we are still set on the induction for next Wednesday, the 12th. We tried to move it to Monday but the hospital is completely booked, and apparently so booked they've been having issues with enough room because so many babies have been born, so I'm glad we set this date a while back. So anyhow, 6 days until she's here unless she would like to come early, which is totally fine with me!! I'd really rather not have to be induced, but that's okay.

In other news, we FINALLY got the word that the dresser has made it to the warehouse and should be available for pickup within a week or two. Stinks it most likely won't be here until after she's born but at least we know we are getting it soon. I hate that her room isn't going to be fully ready when she comes, but it's okay I suppose.

Well, that's all I've got for you all for now. We will keep updates on here if anything happens and if I don't post before Wednesday, the hospital has wifi and we're bringing my laptop so pics and info will be up asap as she is born!! Keep us in your prayers please for a safe delivery and healthy baby!

Halloween

Well, yesterday was Halloween and still no Perri.  Leah and I were hoping that we would have a little tike to dress up.  Instead we had to settle and put Emma in her cowgirl costume.  She didn't care too much for it at first but after a while she got use to it.  She liked helping pass out the candy to the kids that came to the house.  I would give the kids a handful of candy and Emma would give them a lick.  Most of the kids enjoyed seeing Emma in her costume.  Leah and I were a little disappointed at the number of trick or treaters.  We thought that we would have more.  We have tons of candy leftover.  I guess I'll have to take care of that.  Anyway, there is a video of Emma doing some tricks for some treats.  Also have some pictures of Emma and Amos on Halloween on our photo page.