Nurse Cammie

Mama and Dad have enjoyed all the staff here at Swedish Hospital. They have all been great. Our favorite nurse has been Cammie. She's been really helpful and friendly and honest.

Visit from Carmelita

Hey, our bud Carmelita visited today, and brought the most beautiful flowers. It was great to see Carm. She told us about the Fourth of July party and fireworks, and seeing the gang there.

Thanks Carm!

Safety Kit from Diantha

Yesterday Mama received a package from her pal Diantha, a baby safety kit! Mama says it'll help keep me safe and sound. Thanks Diantha!

Heart monitor print out

Dad is quite impressed by my heartbeat. First 120pbm, then up to 160bpm, all in a minute! Ho hum, its normal for me.

Dad says,

Check it out! This is a print out from a recent fetal heart monitor.

The bold vertical red lines are spaced one minute apart. The black squiggly line depicts the rate at any given moment. You can see that in one minute, his heartrate was at 119bpm, then nearly 170bpm just seconds later! His heartbeat hovers around 140bpm, but its always accelerating and decelerating. Crazy!

The bottom graph shows contractions... well, it shows that she is not having any.

Day 15! But who's counting...

Lil Giuseppe here, turning over the blog to mama for a bit.

Being on bed rest really makes you appreciate the little things in life-going outside, standing and most of all the phone calls, thoughts and posts from everyone! It's really fun to read all of the posts that people have placed on the website. We're hoping that Lil Giuseppe will decide to stay in until July 6th. I have an amnio scheduled for Wed, July 5th when the doctors will check Lil G's development. That day also marks the start of the 35th week!

Lil G again here! Hey, we're famous! We got a mention on Carm's blog, Cozzie's Corner. Have a look! :)

p.s. Dad says,

None of the photos came out today. Lots of sunshine but somehow bad light. Go figure. We'll try again tomorrow.

Flowers on the window sill

Mama has received lots of pretty flowers. There are flowers from Todd, Carol Anne, Dad's sunflowers, Jackie's orchids, and a bouquet that Dad got at Pike Place Market. Aunt Barb's roses didnt make it into the photo as they sit on a table elsewhere.

Here is a picture of the window sill with the flowers.

Photo of Grandma Barb

Dad took a photo of Grandma Barb yesterday. I think its a good one!

Jon and Allison sent me clothes

Mama's cousin and his wife, sent me a great outfit. Thanks Jon and Allie!

No news is good news

The nurses come, check on me and mama, and then they leave. Then they come back... then they leave again. The doctors come... then they leave. Then they come back... then they leave again.

Yesterday mama went for an ultra sound. They say all is well.

I get my heart rate monitored three times a day. My heart speeds along, rates of 130-160 bpm are normal.

So, no news today. No photos yet, maybe later.

Visit from Uncle Paul!

We had a nice visit from Uncle Paul (Cynthia's brother). He is working on a ship called Lady Washington, a replica Tall Ship plying the waters of the Washington coast. They take general public passengers as well as groups. Paul is purser, and does other duties. To learn more about the ship, visit the Lady Washington website. Paul had the day off, so he took the opportunity to visit.

Family at the hospital fountain


Uncle Paul

New baby bucket

Our friends at Dad's work got us a baby bucket, er, baby restraint system. We love it! Grandma Barb brought it to the hospital to show mama.

Dad strapped Samuel in there.


Then he gave it a little test. I hope he never tests it when I'm in there!

Flowers! and update

The doctor visited this morning. He said everything is great. He said the latest I would be born is July 6 or 7. The longer I stay in mama the better - he said 1 day in mama = 3 days in the nursery. The doc said that at this rate I might get to go home with my mom and dad!

Dad brought mama some flowers. Wow, pretty! And the flowers are nice too!

Another visit to the garden

Mama says I'm at least 34 weeks, which is really good. Mama is done with the antibiotics. They measure my heart rate three times a day. Dad is always impressed with the fluctuation in rate - it varies from 120 to 165 bpm! Normal for me, but Dad says I'm a Speed Racer!

We took another trip to the hospital garden this evening. Here are a couple of photos.

Mama with Samuel the Bear


Grandma Barb and mama

Visit from Dana!

Mama's buddy Dana visited this afternoon. Yay!

Mom is waiting, dad is painting

We're still waiting! I don't know when to come out! Doctors says it might be anytime, but definitely sometime this week.

Dad met Grandma Barb at home this morning and they put a coat of paint on my room.

Mama and Grandma Barb in the hospital garden

Mama has been inside since Sunday morning. The weather is great - early summer in Seattle is splendid - so the doctors suggested mama go outside. Dad drove the wheelchair and Grandma Barb opened the doors.

Crabby and Duck sat in mama's lap, GranBarb accomplished some knitting and Dad was goofball photographer. We all had a nice visit in the garden.

Mama and Grandma Barb in the hospital garden

Swedish Medical Center

All is well, we are in a holding pattern. Dad took some photos of the hospital - enjoy!

Swedish Medical Center, in Seattle's First Hill neighborhood


Model of Swedish in the main lobby


Swedish Southwest Wing - the window on our room is above the tree on the left


Madison Street, where we get Jamba Juice, Bluewater Tacos, and Starbucks!

The Waiting Game

Well the water broke but I'm not going anywhere yet. Doctor says I can stay in here as long as next Sunday, but I might make other plans and come out sooner.

Dad just went to the fourth floor to see Michaelanne's new daughter Gaida - dad said she was cute!

Here are a couple of photos. Enjoy!


Cynthia and her mom in the hospital room:


Our support staff:

Wow! What a development!

Mom and Dad are recovering from a big shock. Mom's water broke Sunday morning, so now we're at the hospital with mom on her back. The doctors say that I'll be born in a few days, a little early but no problem.

My room is coming along

Here's a picture of mama in my room. Mama and Dad chose the colors - they are Straw Hat and Cornflower Blue. They painted just a little bit to see if it's right - what do you think?

Sunday!

Busy weekend - went to Chris and Melissa's wedding yesterday - it was fun and everyone was talking about me! Later Dad is going to pack for a trip and make a lasagna.

Mama and Dad finished baby class Thursday night and they are getting ready for my arrival. Both are painting my room today - photos of that soon!

Mama looking at the redleaf lettuce:


Mama and Lil Giuseppe's Sunday portrait:

Happy Birthday GranTom!

Happy Birthday GranTom!!!

Mama on her way to work

Dad was out hiking yesterday so we didn't have time to take the picture. So we got the picture done Monday morning as mama started to work. Here we are !

Gardening and painting

Another Sunday, another day to work in the garden. Only this weekend is so rainy that we didn't do much out there. So it was a good day for mom and dad to paint my room. Here's a couple of photos.


The weekly picture of mama in the veggie garden.


Mama planting squash in the garden.


Mama planting basil.


My room is coming along!

Sunday means workin' in the garden!

Here's my mama and me workin' in the garden. Today we planted bok choi, tomatoes, peppers, arugula, and beans.

Mama with the first garden.


And here with the second garden - look at all that lettuce!


Me and mama in the garden.

Dad's devils club!

Here is a picture of Dad's devils club plant - its crazy!

What a weekend!

Yesterday Mama and Dad went for a big wildflower hike. Beautiful warm sunshine, and lots of wildflowers. Photos to come soon!

Mama's getting bigger - her belly is now 40"! I like to exercise at bedtime. Mama and Dad both feel me kicking!

Today we worked in the garden. Here are more pictures from the garden.

Mama and the first garden. There's garlic, kale, bok choi, spinach and peas.


Dad between lilac and tamarisk.


Here's a side profile of mama that shows me pretty well! You can see the second garden behind mama. There's cilantro, parsley and lettuce.


Here's mama and the tamarisk tree!

Working in the Garden

Mama worked in the garden today. Here are a couple of photographs.

This is the new garden. It has cilantro and parsley, red leaf and butterhead lettuce, and don't forget Dad's hops!


Here is Mama standing in front of the clover. That little bulge is me!


Here is Mama in front of the original garden. This one has bok choy, kale, garlic and peas.

Dad is out climbing at Joshua Tree, so mama's in charge of me, the house and the website! I think she has lots to do! Mom and Dad had their first baby class. They like it and said that they learned a lot about relaxtion. I think that will be good for my mommy. Sorry we didn't add a new entry, just a post.

Got pictures!

My mom and dad took me to the doctor. We had an ultrasound done and we have pictures! (Click the pictures to enlarge them.)

Here I am, Lil' Giuseppe, sideview:


And here is a picture of my feet!


This is a picture from my bottom - it shows my boy parts:

I visited my grand-folks!

Mom and Dad took me to visit GranGlo and GranTom in Franklin, TN. Uncle Dave was there too - it was fun! They are very excited about my arrival, due in August. Sorry, no new pictures. The doctor said we'll take pictures in a couple of weeks.

Another Pooh Poem

My mama has been very sick, but I'm pretty insulated so I'm staying well. Sorry mama!

Here is another poem from my Pooh book. It's called Lines Written by a Bear of Very Little Brain.

On Tuesday, when it hails and snows,
The feeling on me grows and grows
That hardly anybody knows
If those are these or these are those.

On Wednesday, when the sky is blue,
and I have nothing else to do,
I sometimes wonder if it's true
That who is what and what is who.

Workin' on my room!

Here are two photos of my room. My mom and dad are going to paint it. It's a terrible teal color with lots of holes and other problems. They have prepped the room and spackled the holes.