Sophie is Home!

Posted by Tracy
Sophie came home today, much to our delight! I think we were all very ready to leave that hospital room behind and feel the warmth of home again. For Sophie, this would be her first time home in our Apartment.

Hanna and Sophie were both doing very well, and the doctors felt that it was time to be discharged from the hospital. After a ton of different checkups and tests, one of the Nurses came back in the room and told us that Sophie's bilirubin levels were too high and that we would need to treat her at home with lights. Although it was a little scary at first for an obsessive and loving mother, we soon learned that it was nothing to fear and actually quite common. They sent in a social worker who set up everything so that the bili-bed would be delivered to our home today to treat Sophie's jaundice.

Not much more than 30 minutes after we got home and unpacked the car, the bili-bed arrived and Sophie was 'tanning'. Hanna fed Sophie a couple times and put her own head down for a nap. I'm still busy figuring out schedules, school-work, watching Sophie, and putting the finishing touches up on Sophie's room. Both Hanna and the baby are doing great! Sophie didn't like the bed very much in the beginning, but she is sleeping well on it now.

I can't begin to describe the joy that I am feeling having my wife safely at home, and looking over the most beautiful baby I've ever seen. I feel so blessed, and I could never thank God enough for all he has given me.

Hanna's staples also were taken out and she is doing quite well. She has a follow up appointment in about a week, and another in about 6 weeks. Sophie goes in tomorrow (and each day thereafter till she's better) to the hospital to check on the bilirubin levels. Assuming she does well, we can return the bili-bed and Sophie can set up camp in the pack n' play.

I'll try my best to keep everyone informed. By the way, check out our photo's on Flickr. I put about 40 new pictures online just now. A direct link to Sophie's Set of pictures is right here.

Blogs and Spring Cleaning

Posted by Tracy

One nice thing about being in a hospital with a very sleepy wife and baby is that you have the opportunity to catch up on things and get organized. When I haven’t been staring at our most beautiful baby in the world, or serving the most amazing wife on the planet, I’ve been trying to reorganize our internet lives, email, blogs, and bills. Hopefully, you’ll notice that I’ve worked out some kinks in the blog, updated some spaces, and by tomorrow morning I will have added lots of pictures to the Flickr account (The hospital wireless internet access does not like me uploading lots of pictures). In this modern world of ours, the apartment isn’t the only thing in need of a good spring cleaning.

Hanna is recovering well, but obviously quite sore. We actually just made an entire lap of the 4th floor here in the hospital. I’m so very proud of her. She’s been absolutely amazing at everything she’s done, and I’m learning that being a mother will be no exception. She and Sophie are getting to know each other better every minute, and I couldn’t be luckier to have these two amazing women in my life.

Hanna has been up and walking, although decently medicated at the time. Her incision is looking to heal well, and she is more beautiful than ever. The baby is doing well and has been feeding great. She is such a good baby! She just wants to be held, feed, and sleep… not much different than her mom on any given day. Just Kidding! (Well, kinda…)

Everything seems to be on schedule for us to leave sometime tomorrow, and I will be updating everyone as regularly as I can.

Sophie Marie Farr: Our Pleasant Surprise

Posted by Tracy

Well, for those of you who don’t know already, our little bundle of joy arrived over the weekend and this message is coming to you from the Hospital. On Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 9:38 am, Sophie Marie Farr arrived and taught us what falling in love was all about. At 6 lbs 15 oz. and 18 ½ inches, it really is remarkable that something (or someone) so small could have such a dramatic influence in your life. But Sophie is become the reason in ours.

About 2 weeks ago we found out that Sophie was breech at one of our regularly scheduled doctor appointments. The doctor explained a procedure called an External Cephalic Version which could be used to ‘flip’ or turn Sophie the right way, allowing for a normal vaginal delivery. Little did Hanna know what she had gotten herself into, when on Tuesday we went to the Hospital for the version. Making a long story short, Hanna—and Sophie—did not enjoy the experience. On top of the pain of the procedure, it didn’t even work. Sophie was still breech and a C-section was to be scheduled.

Tuesday, March 25th was scheduled for the cesarean birth. Tracy was simply hoping that the baby could arrive safely, but would appreciate the kind gesture of waiting until exams were over. Well, the baby waited for the exams, but she wasn’t going to wait any longer. On Saturday, March 15, Hanna noticed some ‘leaking water’ and thought that her water may have been breaking. She left from work and Tracy picked her up and took her to the hospital. After some checks, exams, and an ultrasound, we were sent home and told everything was fine. And maybe it was; but Sophie had had enough.

At about 6am on Sunday morning, Hanna woke Tracy up saying that her water broke. Tracy had never gotten up so fast out of bed. Whether it was the anticipation and excitement of having a baby, or the idea of a pregnant woman’s water slowly making its way to his side of the bed, we’re not really sure—he refuses to comment. Regardless, we packed up as many miscellaneous items as we could and jumped in the car; Destination: Hospital. Hanna had about two good gushes of water before reaching the Hospital, but the real show came after the nurses had sat her down on the bed and began running tests. Her water definitely broke and we heard the words of our nurse, “She is definitely coming today.”

Even though family couldn’t be here for the birth, the universe (a.k.a.: a loving God) sent Hanna a gentle sign reassuring her that He was ever-mindful. Hanna's two sisters are Chelsea and Nicole. Our first nurse who took care of Hanna all the way up until the operation was named Chelsee. Our second nurse who took care of Hanna during and after the operation was named Nicole. I’ve often thought that subtle coincidences bringing comfort or joy are usually God’s way of saying, “I Noticed.”

By about 9:00 am we were on our way to the operating room and Hanna was being drugged up for the operation. Her anesthesiologist was amazing (Dr. Gardner), and helped her though some tough parts of the operation. At 9:32 the first incision was made and at 9:38 Sophie had arrived. Tracy saw some things which he might never talk about again, but seeing his daughter arrive is something you might never get him to stop talking about either. She was perfect. After a moment of family cuddling, baby was off to get weighed and mom was getting put back together. A little after 10:00, we were back in our first room recovering and the baby was getting cleaned up and ready to stun the world. By 11:00 we had made it down to the Mother and Baby room, which we’ve been in ever since, and Tracy was going back and forth between Mom and the Baby (who was still in the nursery). By noon, baby and mom were reunited and haven’t been separated since without the death glare from Hanna.

Sophie is doing great and Hanna is happier than ever. Dad couldn’t be prouder of the two most amazing women in his life. We miss you all and hope to see you soon!

Sending love from Tracy, Hanna, and Sophie!

B a b y S t a t s :
Weight: 6 lbs. 14.9 oz.
Length: 18 ½ inches.
Time of Birth: 9:38am MST
Date of Birth: Sunday, March 16, 2008