Lisa & John's Pregnancy Report

Indigo Cheyenne Conner

Born 12/24/2005 @ 12:01 a.m.

5 lbs. 7 oz.

19 inches

Lisa and Indigo are doing well and we are all at home now. We're absolutely amazed everytime we look at her and can't believe that we are really parents. We are trying to adjust as best as we can to parenthood. I already miss sleep and I know that we will never get any again.

The Journey to get to where we are now was wonderful, scary, delightful, crappy and amazing all rolled into one. I know that it's just the beginning and that we have just been chasing the starting line up until now, but now we're moving. Below are just a few pictures of the new journey thus far.

Thanks for all the encouragement and love that everyone sent, it's meant so much. Now, on with the show.

 

 

Welcome to our journey to parenthood. Where you can follow us along as we get closer to the wonderful day when Indigo Cheyenne Conner (aka 'the bump') arrives.

Timeline!

12/2/05 - 36 weeks! only 4 weeks left. Check-up with Dandadee. The bump seems a little small for 36 weeks so he sends us upstairs for another sonogram to make sure that everything is OK. We're a little concerned as we go but feel much better when we see the bump doing well and thriving. Everything is great with her, they just say that she is a 'petite' baby and that she will gain weight over the next few weeks. Bright side, perhaps easier delivery since she is smaller. We got some 3D pics - She wouldn't move her arm since she had her thumb in her eye and seemed very content to lick her forearm.

12/1/05 - Third 'birthing class' completed. Saw a video about C-Section and all (and I mean all) that it entails. Pretty gnarly stuff. Practiced a lot of positions for labor as well as our breathing exercises. Only two classes left and the last one is a tour of the 'birthing suites' at the hospital. We're hoping that we can give birth in a jacuzzi because we're both really stressed out and the relaxation would do wonders and since we're already paying for it. OK maybe not but there is a slight chance since sometimes the jacuzzi sets all in motion and babies have been delivered in there. (Note to self: Ask nurse if they clean the jacuzzi between uses.)

11/17/05 - Second 'birthing class'. We can officially deliver babies and are certified by the state of New Mexico. Actually we just watched a video of a baby being born but we did stay at a Holiday Inn last night. OK we didn't but Holiday Inn starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astire is on the TV right now. So the jist of what we learned tonight is to make sure that Lisa changes positions a lot during labor so that we can get the baby to move into position so we can avoid a C-Section.

11/16/05 - Check-up with Dandadee shows that everything is going along smoothly. Some weight gain this month and that is good. Her heart sounds good and Lisa is feeling tired and achy but everything is good.

11/10/05 - We attended our first 'birthing class' tonight. We learned about contactions and how to time them as well as stuff about efacement and dialation. For Lisa's sake I really hope that we don't get stuck in an elevator and I have to deliver this kid. Sure, Vinnie did it on Doogie Howser but this is real life and Lisa hates elevators anyways.

10/31/2005 - Week 31. Regular doctor's appointment but Dandadee is elsewhere taking a seminar and getting ready to take some board exams. He has a replacement that is there on mondays to help with the workload. Doctor looks like Lorraine Swanson (as pictured left from Mad TV) and really acts like her too. She has the bedside manner of a meth mom with a nervous tick. Lisa dislikes her from the moment that she walks in the room. Dr. Swanson introduces herself three times, seriously three times before she even sits down. She measures Lisa's belly and presses too hard on her pelvis. At this point I can see that Lisa is winding up to punch her in the mouth and warn Dr. Swanson. Needless to say we will not be having anymore appointments on Mondays. Good news! Lisa gained six pounds in three weeks. Baby's heartbeat is strong and so is her grip on Mommy's spine.

 

10/21/05 - Week 30. Getting tired more often. Last gourd show before the baby comes. Lots of work involved since She is one of the organizers and is also teaching a class. Show is a success with Lisa getting lots of recognition for her work and a chance to teach others what she knows. Time to rest and get this thing done.

10/14/05 - Beginning of week 29. Appointment with Dandadee. This is a quick appointment that only takes a few minutes. He checks the vitals and all is well. Results from blood test come back normal and all is well. He measures the uterus and it comes in at 26 inches, that's a little small but within acceptable parameters. Weight gain recorded at 10 lbs. thus far, still low but baby is well.

10/5/05 - Sonogram appointment. New pictures show everything is progressing as normal. Kid looks great along with Mom. Both are healthy and happy. Doctor gets a really good look at the 'abdominal shelf' and sees why it is nothing to worry about. We watch her bounce several times off of it like a trampoline. New Pic - look at that face!

9/30 - 10/9 - Set up for Balloon Fiesta - Lisa spends the next 10 days selling her gourd art to balloon entusiasts from around the world. She's starting to get a bit tired from the weird hours and time she spends on her feet. Lots of rain makes for an interesting time as a river flows through the booth at times of heavey rain.

9/14/05 - Check up with Dr. Dandadee. Everything is well and normal. Still worried about slow weight gain but as long as baby is healthy then there's nothing to worry about.

9/3/05 - Later that same night. First baby kick can be felt outside of the womb. This alone makes missing my 20 year class reunion worth it. I have to say that next to the first sonogram this was very cool. She's got some strong legs which tells me that she will be a strong skater and ready for the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team in 2024.

9/3/05 - Labor Day Weekend - Official Baby Weekend (labor... baby... get it?) - We have purchased and built new crib and changing table for baby room. Putting the crib together was a piece of cake but the changing table had a broken piece. After a trip back to the store and new changing table we are able to complete the furniture.

			8/26/05 - Hospital visit to check on 'abdominal shelf'. Doc investigates, finds that there is no problem, it's more of a bubble off of the placenta wall and poses no danger. All technicians involved state how amazing she looks and that she is really (I mean really) healthy and normal.
Big Foot	Alien Peace	The Thinker
heartbeat 150 beats a minute	I'm Popeye!	look! a toe ring

8/18/05 - (20 weeks, 6 days) - Fourth check-up. Doctor checks all of Lisa's vitals and they look great. Not a lot of weight gain for Lisa yet, but Doc says that's normal. Hear heartbeat again and just can't hear enough of it. After appointment, Gramma Nanna (Judy) buys ice cream.

8/2/05 - Ultrasound shows the bump is healthy and getter bigger and heavier. Find something strange that Gaye calls 'abdominal shelf' and wants to investigate more, will make appointment. At this stage bump is really just skin and muscle so the 3D ultrasound reveals that the bump is actually a demon seed or Yoda, whichever you choose. Also we find out that the bump is a she. We're having a GIRL!

7/20/05 - (16 weeks, 5 days) Third check-up. Everything looks great after recent scare. Lisa is taken off bed rest (thank God, she's not they type to lay around.)

Same week - Of course after the announcement we have a big scare when Lisa's placenta begins to tear. Doctor sees us right away and checks everything out. Scary moment but all is well and baby is still strong and healthy. Lisa is on bed rest for two weeks.

7/2 & 3/05 - 3 MONTHS! We begin to announce to family and friends that we are "with child" by sending songram pics to Mom & Roxanne for their birthdays.

6/28/05 - First sonogram appointment with perinatal practitioner Gaye. Still looks like a hamster but can see heartbeat on outside of body. Look at her go!

6/23/05 - (12 weeks, 6 days) Second appointment. Lisa is doing great and all vitals are healthy. Hear heartbeat for the first time, whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh. Very cool moment for Mom & Dad.

5/26/05 - (8 weeks, 6 days) First appointment with Dr. Dandadi. Officially pregnant. Everything looks great and going as it should. first ultrasound, looks like a hamster but she is there and growing.

5/5/05 - Still not feeling well over the last few days, mood is bad. Takes another test before Aunt Jill arrives for visit. This time result is positive. Very ecstatic.

4/27/05 - Lisa's not feeling well, sort of fatigued. Takes pregnancy test but results are negative. Too soon to tell.

4/8/05 - Conception. He shoots, he scores!