Week One with Pepper

This first week home with a new little one definitely has had its ups and downs. Pepper dropped a lot of weight right after birth so we have been feeding her every 2 hours. Keep in mind that every 2 hours is from the start of one feeding to the start of another. It takes her 30 min-1 hour to eat, so you can imagine what a full time job this is. Sleep deprivation is the biggest challenge for Jo and I as we do best with 8-9 hours/night of sleep. We are walking around like zombies and Jo still is out on the job site every day trying to work. Thankfully he has not had any large mishaps yet. No matter how tired I get, one look at Pepper really makes it all worth it. She is amazing!

The only way to make it through the day

So warm and cuddly!

Found her thumb

In the womb

Storytime with Dad

First bath at home

Happy at first

Did not enjoy getting head wet

Sporting Smartwool.

Visitors

The support of friends and family is a critical component to surviving this crazy, chaotic time as new parents. We are especially blessed to have a huge group of these wonderful people that have showered our lives with visits, food, gifts, arms willing to hold a screaming child, compliments as to the beauty of that screaming child, babysitting (yes, Jo and I managed to leave her for an hour with Grandma and Grandpa F), and house cleaning (thank you mom). I also have to mention that Johannes is an amazing dad, an invaluable asset to our parental team. On the days that I am the most sleep deprived I try to think of those that are single parents and those that do not have support of family and friends. I truly don't know how they do it. 

Shawntae

Grandpa Lee- with a cold

Robb

Zeke and Jess

Christina

Great Grandma Dorothy

Hailey

Great Grandma Barbara

Sharlene our office nurse

Grandma Em

Barbie and Sue from Dialysis Unit

Auntie Jamie

Grandma Pat

Grandpa John

Gr-uncle Keith

Moose

Devin

Mamma Moose

The Destination is Worth the Journey

At the beginning.

Pepper on her way out.

Pale and not breathing. This is her being bagged to help her breath.

This is the color a newborn should be. Notice her amazing head.

Meeting Dad

Meeting Mom

Our whole family

7lb 2 oz "with 5 lbs of head" per Dr. Larson.

With Dad while I was in recovery for 3 hours. She cried the entire time.

Dr. Larson

So tired!

First Bath

3 chins, so cool!

I love kissing her.

Proof for Jo's siblings that he really does change diapers... even poopy ones!

Pepper was quite obliging, letting me have a wonderful nights sleep on Saturday night. On Sunday at 7 am labor began. It was not bad at first but the intensity grew. The epidural was awesome and worked perfectly, until they turned it off for more effective pushing. Unfortunately, my sacrum is pointed up. Not something you want to have if you are wanting the baby to exit. I put in a good effort, as evidenced by her poor molded skull after two hours of intense pushing. The end result was a c-section. How blessed I am to live in a time where moms and babies survive despite uncooperative sacrums. The day was not an easy one for a number of reasons, but by far the hardest part was waiting out the silence after they removed Pepper from my body. It did not last long, but it felt like FOREVER until we heard that little cry. Jo and I are incredibly excited to be the parents of Pepper Ricia Em Fackenthall. She is perfect, of course.