GrowingRays

Sunday, January 06, 2008

The gift of warmth

My sis made me a gift to keep my head and ears warm. Since I have a certain head shape and hair style I needed it to be slightly smaller and thinner than it came out. . . She followed instructions, but the yarn and design is super stretchy with all of those ribs. She suggested that some people had felted their finished projcet to get the proper fit so I decided to carefully felt the one she made for me.
I LOVE IT! It's perfect and now that it's felted it will do an even better job of cutting the wind to my ears.
Thank you Janet so much for making Calorimitry for me. I am looking forward to wearing it. I now have to choose between this and the Noro scarf you made for me last year!

More Gifties

My sister knit this baby wrap called Cache for Zuri from the softest merio wool yarn. She then gave me enough to either make soaker shorts or embelish longies. The wrap is a bit large for Zuri for us to do an action shot. My niece Jada models it on Janet's blog and she's a chunky 1yo. Looks like in a year baby girl will have a super fly outfit in wool!

Here's a pram sized blanket or lovey hand crocheted by my dear friend Elizabeth (Tinkerbell). Tink made this and the much larger crib/toddler bed sized blankets below for Zuri. Tink and I have been friends since summer camp if that tells you anything. I love and adore her and was so happy to have introduced/reintroduced her to crochet at college. It paid off.
Along with all of the other gifties they are beautiful and treasured. To those of you who have thought to give us gifts, thank you so much!

Gifties

A beautiful bouquet from Rocky's boss, Pete. Every baby I've had he's sent me flowers. They always make me feel so special. Thanks Pete!

Beatuiful stitch holders handmade by Jenny. These were a CHRISTmas gift. Jenny brought over a Bradley method and some natural birthing books last Saturday when we were laboring along with these and some yummy labor tea.

A cute giraffe, hand knit by Tommy a member of my knitting circle for Zuri. He makes toys for the children in his ministry at his church and I've been admiring them for months. He commissioned this for Zuri and I've seen it come along. Jenny brought it to us in the hospy.

Saturday, January 05, 2008

Zuri getting light therapy at home, and modeling on the side

Light therapy. . . seems like all we do these days. The yummy cashmere blend soaker is so soft and very nice with the flat diapers. At this size all of Zuri's diapers give her bubble but. It's hard for them to be absorbant and trim. This soaker looks like capri's though.

Big brothers look on as Z gets some zzzzzzzz's. Glo baby glo!

Lights off, for a diaper change. Since this thing is plugged in and we use water with wipes we don't want to really "light" her up!
These longies came out much better than I thought and since they do still fit Mardie I'm sure she'll get plenty of use out of them. . . that is until she out grows the rise. M doesn't wear a dipe anymore so I guess thats why they still fit.

Last two days at hospy and coming home

A visit from Uncle Colin

Daddy and our little Glo worm

Zuri passes her carseat test, we can officially leave the Hospital!

Ahhhh, resting in the hammock, finally home.

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Zuri is here

For pics and the story go to our family blog.

Zuri Elizabeth has arrived!

On 12/30 at 11:18pm we welcomed our family's newest addition, Zuri Elizabeth Ray. She weighed 5lb6oz. and measured 17.5" long. As her name means, we believe that she is beautiful.
She arrived after just a few hours of labor, love, prayers and miracles.
So many things just came together at the very last minute, but were obviously the hand of God. My water broke around 2pm on Sunday afternoon, but it was just a trickle and I didn't start into labor as a result of it. Since I was gbs positive we headed to the hospital around 4pm to get a course of antibiotics before Zuri was born.
After there was sufficient time for the antibiotics to work I was started on Pitocin to help encourage the contractions to get stronger and have a regular pattern. The labor truely started getting hard shortly after 8pm so it was just over 3 hours. I had some wonderful coaching from Rocky and Jenny my stand in doula. We used some Bradley method techniques to help with bringing Zuri into position. When things got really tough I had a dose of Fentanayle to help with relaxing. She was born 35 minutes later.
Since I didn't have any epidural my recovery time suprised everyone including myself. After Zuri was born she got chilled in the LDR room and was woring too hard to get her tempature normal so her blood sugar dropped. She was able to receive some breastmilk in the nursery and be warmed under the warmer and was soon released to our room.
She is now a little jaundiced. A little higher than they would like so we are staying another day.
Charmie and Mardie are elated to have their baby sister. They have been so happy to visit and meet her. We will all be happy when we can bring her home.
Thanks to you all for your thoughts and prayers.