1 month

Hi All,
Just wanted to give you an update on Lauren. We saw the pediatrician yesterday and Lauren is doing great! She is 9 lbs and 6 oz and 21 inches long. She is in the 50th% for height(but is on the cusp for the higher percentile) and weight and is in the 75th-90th% for head circumference. (She is going to be so smart!) The doctor decided to start her on Prevacid as her reflux has seemed to get worse since birth. She spits up before I can sit her up to burp her and at times sputters and coughs during feedings. She also has a lot of gas which could be due to her constantly swallowing trying to keep her feeds down where she gets extra air.
We decided to give Lauren a pacifier at 3 weeks as she has been doing great with breastfeeding and sucking is a real source of comfort for her. Below is a picture of Lauren, yesterday, on her 1 month birthday. As you can see, she is a really content little baby and is so good!

We love you all! Amber, Jeff, and Lauren

Fun with the camcorder

Hi all....Jeff here..This is my first attempt at the blog. Amber does quite a great job with this thing. At anyrate I love reading all your blogs and enjoy most when you post video. This is my attempt at a video blog.. The first blog is of me the last day at the hospital. Lets just say I was a bit tired. Im sure Lauren will be so proud!

The second video is our favorite. Little Lauren has a bit of reflux and gas after eating. This video is one of her first tastes of gas drops.

Enjoy! I am sure we will post more again soon! I think we already have upward of 200 pictures of Lauren... At this rate we should have 36,500 pics by the time she is 5!

1st pediatrician's appointment

Lauren went to her first pediatrician's appointment on Tuesday March 3rd. Her weight was 7 lbs. 12 oz. (25-50%). Her height was 20 3/4 inches (75-90%). And her Head Circumference was 14 1/2 inches (75-90%). She is going to be tall, lean, and smart! :)

Here are a few of our favorite pictures since we got home...

We think Lauren is going to be a thumb sucker! Just couldn't resist this photo op!
Precious!

She loves her swing!

I am sure that we will update soon. Enjoy!

Love, Amber, Jeff, and Lauren

Bilirubin

We met our pediatrican on Thursday morning when she indicated that Lauren was jaundiced. Her level was acceptable though. However, before leaving the hospital on Thursday I felt as though Lauren looked more jaundice than that morning so I had the nurse check her level. It had risen from 10 to 12.7. They decided to send us home with a bilirubin blanket to help Lauren's body break down the bilirubin. We went in for her labs on Friday (which she didn't let out a peep when they stuck her heel) and unfortunately it had risen to 17. The pediatrician's office called later that afternoon and indicated that I needed to stop breastfeeding and formula feed for the weekend. I was very upset as Lauren and I were making good progress however, I followed the doctors orders. I reintroduced breast feeding on Sunday and she wanted nothing to do with it. We went back to the lab on Monday morning and then to a breast feeding support group. It was trying for both of us as she was crying, I was on the verge, and we were both sweaty from the whole ordeal! However, I am happy to report things are going beautifully now. As for the bilirubin, it went down to under 10 which we were so happy about! No more stupid blanket! Yea! Below you can see a pic with the glow of the blanket.

Introducing Lauren Collette Klein

Lauren Collette Klein was born February 24th at 4:45 PM at Clarian West Hospital in Avon, IN. She was 8 lbs 2.5 oz. and 20 inches long.

The Klein Family

Lauren's first bath

So beautiful!

My water broke at 4:45 AM when I got up to use the restroom on Tuesday. We called the doctor and after several questions was told to come into triage to be assessed. It was determined my water did in fact break and because I was having irregular contractions that weren't strong enough to deliver her, I was given patosin(sp!?). I got to 6 cm on my own before I got the nubane and subsequently the epidural. By 3:00 I was 8 cm dialated and almost completely effaced. At 4:45 PM Lauren arrived.

We was fortunate enough to be able to have my parents there with us. On Thursday, my Dad went to Terre Haute and picked up Great Grandma Braden and brought her back to the hospital for a visit. I love this picture of 4 generations...

We were able to leave the hospital that evening (the 26th) to come home.

(Sorry about the sideways picture. I am not sure how to get it turned!)

I will post more tomorrow as I am getting sleepy after this entry. It is 3:59 AM and was wide awake after a feeding so I thought I would try and get the blog up to date.

Thank you to all of you for your thoughts, prayers, love, and support over the last several weeks. I don't know if mentally/emotionally we would have made it without all of you. We love you and are so grateful for each and every one of you.

Amber, Jeff, and Lauren!

Gods Arms

As part of our journey, Lauren and I experienced a car accident on February 12th. We were rear ended by a 25 foot box truck. The car is a total loss as you can see in the pictures and the only thing that was really left untouched was the drivers seat. I know God's arms were around us that day and am so thankful to him. I had some bumps, bruises, and definately soreness but am blessed neither of us had more serious injuries. I am also thankful Lauren waited almost 2 whole weeks before formally introducing herself to us! :) (See next post!)