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Happy Halloween

i want candy
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

Cate is pictured here in one of her Halloween outfits (somehow, she has two) and Henry will be decked out in his convict costume again this year. Bring on the trick-or-treaters!

The New Normal

bathtime - three weeks old
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

Cate is three weeks old today and Telfer and I finally feel like we are settling into life with a baby. I feel better for sure, although I am still anemic and a little weak. Mendy stayed with us until last Wednesday and was so much help...I have a feeling she won't be able to stay away for too long.

Telfer also had vacation all of last week. We took Cate to the Yard House for lunch to celebrate her daddy's birthday on Tuesday. On Thursday, we took Cate all the way into Los Angeles to attend her first literary event (Marilynne Robinson, author of Gilead and Home, at the LAPL). I get a little type A (is this a surprise?) taking Cate out into public, but we figure, really, our window of opportunity for doing some things (literary events, long lunches) with a child is a small one...

Over the weekend...

alyce & cate & their moms
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

Cate met her first aunt and uncle set as well as her first cousin, Alyce. So fun. Austin and Adrielle spent Saturday at our house, totally spoiling us with three kinds of amazing homemade pizza and two kinds of equally amazing pie (I just had a piece of pumpkin a minute ago). Adrielle, needless to say, was very busy in the kitchen the entire time she was here.

It makes me very happy to know that Cate will have TWO cousins less than a year older - Alyce is ten months older and Neva is five months older...

And the postpartum drama continues

two weeks old today
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

Last Monday I felt great, really great. The spinal headache was gone, Cate was doing good, we all even went out to dinner. No one told me how HUNGRY breastfeeding would make me.

But then on Wednesday afternoon, I walked Cate into her room to change her diaper (meanwhile Henry is loudly stalking a lizard in the dining room - we still haven't found it...) and started to bleed heavily. Like grisly-murder-in-our-house type of bleeding. Fortunately, Telfer was on his way home and we immediately went to the hospital. I had a D&C to remove a little leftover piece of the placenta, which honestly, wouldn't have been that big of a deal except that I began hemorrhaging after the surgery and lost half my blood volume. Two blood transfusions, one night in the hospital with a fast-food eating roommate, a husband who couldn't stay in the said room and a breast-feeding baby left us pretty discouraged at the end of last week.

Again with God's timing...Mendy's visit coincided with most of the trauma/drama and she has been absolutely invaluable help, as has Telfer (who had to forgo a professional trip to Florida this weekend). Today I feel pretty good: I am showered and dressed and I think we are even going out to lunch with Chris and Mendy to celebrate Telfer's birthday (tomorrow). I am so thankful for so many things. God is good all of the time.

There are lots of new pictures on the flickr link. Cate is getting chubbier and naturally, we think she is the cutest baby in the world. And she is getting a little cranky at the moment so I had better go...

One week old

cate and grandma
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

Today marks Cate's one-week "birthday" and the first day that Cate's mom can somewhat function. Think that being a anesthesiologist's wife holds some special perks in the labor department? Turns out, not so much. My first epidural went haywire (official name: wet tap, well, I think that's what Telfer has been calling it) that left me with a severe spinal headache until today (it's still here but I can function).

God is so good. If my mom hadn't been here at the end of last week...well...let's just say I could barely get out of bed, let alone take care of an infant by myself. My favorite moment: throwing up for the third time since the first grade along the side of the road. Good times! Have I said how thankful I am that my mom was here?

Besides the headache debacle, this whole baby thing is going extremely well. She is literally the sweetest baby on earth and she eats and poops like a champ. We went to the pediatrician this morning (Telfer even ducked out of the OR to meet the doctor and to hang out for a bit) and Cate is within ONE ounce of her birth weight already.

Thank you for all your thoughts, prayers and kind comments this last week! It has been fun to read through everything this morning.

Moment of Zen

Cate's moment of zen
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

That title is a shout out to the Daily Show and/or Jon Stewart. Focus on the crossed legs...Also just a cute picture. I keep telling Andrea - there isn't much I can do to be helpful while I'm at work, and even when I'm home there are clearly some things I can't be that helpful with. However, the things I can do include blog posts (most of you probably thought I didn't know how to do this :), taking pictures, helping with dinner and dishes, etc. Also we are trying not to neglect Henry too much through this transition period so even if you don't see him in as many pictures, know that he still is an important "big brother".

Grandma comes to visit

awesome grandmas
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

Both of them that is! Andrea's mom Rose has been here since last Saturday and while we had a little time to hang out before Cate decided to arrive she has been an amazing help both in the hospital and since we got home. I started back to work today and I'm not sure what Andrea would have done without her mom here (long story). My mom was also in town earlier than planned (she's coming again next weekend) due to unfortunate health problems with my grandpa. The benefit was introducing both grandmas to Cate within just a day of coming home from the hospital. Also Nana (Cate's great grandma) came out to visit along with my mom - pretty great. We love our families.

Cate is already getting mail!

Cate hugging blanket from Missy and Jason
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

Well our family has officially expanded. I mean this in the sense that we got a package today with Cate's name on it! It contained a beautiful and cute blanket (hand-made I believe) for Cate from Missy and Jason (thank you) which as you can see she is already quite attached to. Ok, maybe I set up the photo op but isn't that what a new dad is supposed to do? Also check out the generous length of hair in the back :)

Home from the Hospital

Cate comes home from hospital to relax (10/8)
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

Well we ended up staying in the hospital one more day than planned (although only 2 nights total) as Cate had some jaundice and they wanted to watch her etc. We came home Wednesday afternoon 10/8 and Cate soon got to try out her own bassinet which she seemed to quite like as you can see here. She also has already shown a propensity to sleeping well in her car-seat although we will see how long-lasting that is. She is very sweet and we love her.

Jaundice Cate

Cate peeking from behind blanket
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

I love this picture because Cate looks so little peeking out from behind the blanket. Her bilirubin is pretty high so she has the pleasure of some "photo-therapy" by way of this special bed with the slightly freaky blue light. In a couple of the pictures I've taken her lips look blue! She is doing well though, and despite one extra days stay at the "Hotel Loma Linda" we hope to take her home tomorrow (Wednesday). Sadly, I feel Cate was genetically disadvantaged in this area as both Andrea and I had jaundice - but we both turned out ok, right?

Family of Three (or 4 with Henry)

and the two shall become three
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

We are thrilled with the new addition to the family. Cate is beautiful and already a blessing as well as a delight. Thank you for sharing in our joy and showering us with prayers, good wishes, and congratulations. We will do our best to keep things reasonably updated...

Cate Cordelia's first hours

Here's a picture of Cate at approx 4.5 hrs old.  We think she is about perfect (of course).

cate cordelia arrives

cate was born today,october 6th, at 12:27pm weighing in at 6 pounds 12 ounces and measuring 19 inches long. M and baby are healthy! Pics to follow depending on hosp technology.