Margaret, Jeff and Scott

It's so nice to meet you Margaret, Jeff and Scott!

Larry and Sam

It's great to meet you Larry and Sam- Thanks for the armadillo!

Oran's Second Week Home

Oran did lots more exploring in his second week. He had his first ride on the subway- and slept through it. He also walked a large loop through Prospect Park. We are grateful to the big trees because it was about 93 degrees out. Again, Oran took the walk sleeping...while Grannie Kip pushed him.

We went in to the doctor's on Wednesday so that Oran could be weighed. He is still a tiny guy holding on at 6 pounds, but starting to gain steadily. Like most newborns he lost weight for the first days of his life...and it has taken a little longer for him to start gaining as my milk was slow to come in thanks to the c-section...

Oran seems to know that his chief responsibility is eating...he tends to cluster feed from about 4 in the afternoon until 8pm...and he seems to be growing in length if not in pounds, his big feet escape every blanket and swaddle we make for him.

Nighttimes started out very challenging at the beginning of the week, with Oran perking up around 10pm and not being willing to sleep until after 2am...By mid week though he started to give us a break and started sleeping between feedings.

This will be Grannie's last week in New York. We are sad to say goodbye to her on Saturday. Oran doesn't know what he will do without hearing "oodles of poodles eat noodles" to distract him from his baby woes! He will get to see her again in November to celebrate her 60th!

This Monday Grandmama Lucy will be coming to stay with us from Augusta. And later in the week Katie and Skipper will be joining us from Atlanta.

Tummy Time

"Get me off my belly!"

The doctor recommends a few minutes of tummy time every day...this is supposed to build coordination and prevent the development of a flat spot on the back of the baby's head. Oran is not convvinced...

First Walk

Oran took his first walk to the Park with Grannie and Grampie Greenthal on Saturday July 22. We tried out the stroller and the sling- the sling is the easiest way for me to take him out on my own as I can't lift the stroller yet due to the c-section...We made it to the park and then to the sandwich shop before a summer deluge of rain hit- thanks to the stroller rain cover Oran stayed serene and dry!

Marion Family Bassinet

I love to sleep where all my aunts, uncles, and cousins did when they were babies!

Oran's First Baths

Ready set dunk! Oran seems to like the water- but I admit that I'm not sure we've perfected the art of bathing him yet- it's kind of an in and out situation at this point...any advice is welcome!

First Week Home

Our first week home has been great- Granny Kip stayed on to help through July 29th and Grampie Stanley came on Wednesday from Seattle to meet Oran. Aunt Grosvie, and cousins Claire (18), Frances (15), and Henry (10) drove down from Cleveland to meet him as well...We were sad to say goodbye to Skipper, Becca, and Grandmama Lucy on Sunday after leaving the hospital- but Grandmama Lucy will be back in the first week of August as will Katie and Skipper.

Highlights of the first week home included Oran's first doctor visit. He was pronounced perfect (we really like this doctor). He was given his first bath with the help of Grampie Stanley, and also had his first meal out in a restaurant as well as a walk to Prospect Park. He also got to listen to Grampie Stanley play guitar, and sing him lullabies.

During this week we discovered that Oran has his anxious time of day around 8pm when it starts to get dark out. His daddy is good at soothing him by lying him on his chest and humming. We are working at helping him understand that the night is for sleeping...Oran also enjoys havng his legs bicycled by Grannie Kip and he loves it when she sings "oodles of poodles eat noodles" to him!

He is very good at gazing into people's eyes, and seems to track the rattle when it is shaken for him. The most surprising thing he does is roll himself from his stomach to his side when we try to give him tummy time. It seems that he will do anything to get off that belly!

As we close Oran's first week home, we would like to thank everyone for being so generous with gifts and support for us- it is a blessing to bring a child into such a community of love!

Hospital Days

Oran and I were in the hospital for 4 days following his delivery. Unfortunately, Beth Israel's family friendly policy did not extend to dads and Jason was not able to stay at the hospital with us. We were allowed visitors from the early morning until about nine at night however- so he could be with us most of the time. Beth Israel encourages moms and babies "rooming in" together, unlike hospitals that whisk the babies off to the nursery all night- so Oran and I were together each night getting to know each other's sleep patterns- or lack there of!

Highlights of the hospital stay included visits from Uncle Skipper from Atlanta and Aunt Becca from Seattle- who flew the 3000 miles to us 35 weeks pregnant. Oran was especially excited to be held next to his new cousin to be. Grannie Kip and Grandmama Lucy continued to be by our side as well.

At the hospital we learned how to swaddle Oran into a very tight little burrito, and we also learned how much he likes to kick his legs, wave his arms, and of course eat. During the hospital stay I got a chance to try to recuperate as well. Before giving birth, I had blown up with water weight due to the preeclampsia- gradually the weight has come off but I was still pretty swollen at the hospital so it was nice to have the help of all the family and the nurses.

By Sunday we were all ready to come home and introduce Oran to his Brooklyn home!

Oran's Arrival

Oran arrived on Wednesday, July 12th at 11:10pm two and a half weeks before his due date at Beth Israel Hospital in Manhattan. When I went into the doctor's office the Monday before his birth I had started to develop a condition called preeclampsia- a high blood pressure condition associated with pregnancy that puts mom and baby at risk and is resolved by delivery of the baby. Because my case was borderline, the doctors monitored me at the hospital from Monday until Wednesday morning. This gave "Granny" Kip and "Grandmama" Lucy time to arrive before the birth. On Wednesday morning my condition was confirmed and I was sent down to labor and delivery to be induced. Unfortunately, in order to deliver safely, they have to give women with preeclampsia magnesium sulfate to lower the blood pressure- this is the same medication used to slow or halt pre-term contractions. To make a long story short, the magnesium sulfate canceled out the effect of the inducement. We tried for labor for about ten hours. After there was no change we opted for the c-section.

Jason was allowed to stay in the OR with me during the delivery and see Oran as soon as he came out pink, with a healthy newborn cry. After the nurses did his initial apgar tests Jason was able to bring him to me. Dr. Faroqui who has seen us throughout the pregnancy and before, did an excellent job with the surgery and with lifting Oran into the world. After about an hour and a half for the entire procedure we were all taken to recovery where Oran got to try nursing and meet his grandmothers.

As far as deliveries go- there was a lot of unexpected involved in this one from inducement to the c-section. But, no matter the route everyone agreed that Oran is a perfect, beautiful baby! We were all so happy and moved to finally meet him! And, thanks to Beth Israel's pro family policy Oran was only taken to the nursery briefly before being returned to our bedside in recovery. Jason, Oran and I spent our first night together as a family!

Oran's First Post

Hello friends and family. I've asked mom and dad to set up this blog for me so you can keep up with my progress. I'm much too busy looking at lights, playing hand, wiggling and looking like a serious old man to keep up with the blog, so I'm going to let mommy do the rest of the posts. I hope what she writes won't embarrass me when I'm a teenager...