First trip to the pediatrician

Arrival in the examination room:  "Do I have to wake up and get undressed?"

Sounds good, little guy.

Proud papa and Theo:  "Check my cute wooly cardie!"

Day one at home

Snoozing in his parents' bed.

A very lovely and happy Nommi.

We spend hours just looking at that little face and cupid bow lips.   :-)

Theo meets Jim the Cat

Jim remains wary, but is adjusting pretty well.

Theo comes home

Cozy in his car seat.

Nommi keeps an eye on the sprout.

Proud papa!

The newly augmented Schulman family (western branch) crosses the threshold.

THANKS TO OUR LOVELY SUPPORT TEAMS!

Here are a few of the folks who helped us so much at Kaiser SF Hospital:

Nommi with our discharge day nurse Theresa.

Night Nurse Erin. She loved Theo!

Day shift Nurse Joy and pediatric NP Suzanne. More Theo fans!

And a huge thank you for the wonderful care we received in hospital from:  Delivery OBs Todd and Herr; delivery nurses Michelle and Melissa; post-partum nurses Joelle, Erin, Mary, Marge, Joy, Colleen, Theresa, Stacey, Vanessa and Aida; and lactation consultants Teena and Julie.

PLUS (we should have taken their photos!) - A HEARTY THANKS goes to the terrific people comprising our grief, fertility, pregnancy and post-partum support teams, recently and over the past 3 years: doulas Felicia and Deva; post partum care from Carla; therapists Phyllis and Dorothy; masseuses Celine and Barbara; acupuncturists Dennis and Amy; yoginis Cherie, Deborah, Anja and Cynthea, fertility MD Hirata and nurses Emma and Katherine, the perinatology team at SF Kaiser (Drs. Field and Regenstein, NP Candy, Maria, and NST nurses Jill, Monique, Pauline and Ann); Dr. Hermes; the *amazing* and strong mums of the online support group SPALS (Subsequent Pregnancy After Loss Support) and the families and Betty and Kathleen of our local support group SAND (Support After Neonatal Death) at Alta Bates in Berkeley; and of course our parents, aunties, cousins, siblings and dear friends. The care and encouragement provided by all these individuals contributed greatly to our journey to bring Theo forth into the world since the trauma of Georgette's passing. Thank you all!

Day four, getting ready to go home

Nommi and Theo share a quiet moment.

Papa works on his soothing technique.

Nanny Janet and Poppy Rudy dress Theo for the ride home.

Cute and snuggly - it's cold out for a little one!

Waiting for our wheelchair escort to the hospital entrance... 

Mum and Dad couldn't be any prouder!

Day two - Nanny enjoys her new grand son!

Hanging out with his Nanny Janet

One day old - a bath already?!

Theo getting his first sopping sponge bath. I don't think he likes it.

Welcome Theo!

Theodore George Alouf Schulman

born: December 25, 2008, 4:03 a.m.

at San Francisco Kaiser Hospital

weight: 9 lbs, 7 oz (4280 g)

length: 20 3/4 inches (53 cm)

Theo made his entrance via unplanned Cesarian Section after 5 and a half hours of a fast and difficult natural labour that led to him being in distress.  The doctors said Theo came out waving!  A little hand shot forth as soon as the incision had been made into his watery home. At birth, our robust little man bounced back nicely with Apgar scores of 8 and 9 at one minute and 5 minutes of life.  

Theo's first picture

Theo with Nanny Janet, in the NICU, waiting for his mummy

Daddy comforts Theo in the NICU, a few minutes old

Mum and son, the first moments. Magic!

The last NST

Nommi and nurse Monique at what would turn out to be our last NST*, 11 a.m. on Christmas Eve.  Nommi's labour began at 10:30 p.m. later that day.

*NST = non stress test, essentially monitoring of the baby's heart rate and possible uterine contractions, and measurement of the amniotic fluid. Nommi started weekly NSTs the first week of October at 29 weeks, progressing to twice weekly tests by 34 weeks (2nd week of November).  This reassurance was exceptionally helpful given the history of our daughter Georgette's death from poor placental health complications when she was full term in December 2005.

Theo's due date, December 21

But where is our winter solstice baby?  Nommi after a one hour walk at Inspiration Point in Tilden Park.

Nommi, Theo the Bump, and Jim sharing a cuddle

Cute or wot?

The Happy Expectant Parents

Here's our "American Gothic" - but where's the pitchfork?  Taken on a warm December day on the front steps of our home.  :)

Full term! Just two days shy of 38 weeks.

(Teddy's "due" date - at 40 weeks - is Dec. 21, the Winter Solstice)

How are we doing?

Pretty darn well!  Dr. Field checks the fundal height and the heartbeat.

(Nommi's belly at 37 weeks, 4 days)

The Perinatology team at SF Kaiser

Photos at nearly 38 weeks of the supportive and sensitive prenatal team we grew to know so well.  We couldn't have done without them!

Our wonderful nurses Candy (left) and Jill (right). Jill did nearly all our NSTs. Candy gave us many hugs and reassurance! (And has a thing for the Giants - note the bobbleheads atop her office bookcase.)

One of our two super perinatologists: Dr. Anne Regenstein

Our other peri, the big-hearted Dr. Robin Field

Maria, our nursing assistant who checked N's vitals, coordinated our appointments, and gave great smiles.

NST

At SF Kaiser for Nommi's twice weekly NST (non-stress test).  The NST monitors the baby's heartbeat and movements, and Nommi's contractions, and amniotic fluid index.  

Full moon rising.  At 36 weeks and 5 days. 

Theo passes the test as always - he's a champ.

Thanksgiving

Nommi lets Theo and the feast settle...

(36 and a half weeks)

Nommi keeps fit

Nommi doing Pilates.  In her black exercise togs at 36 weeks; and in a red tank dress - flexing her muscles - at 32 weeks.  

...with a little graphical help from Mike's Auntie Maude (check the biceps!)

Theo's first election!

Theo's family celebrates Obama's victory!  And Janet (Nommi's mum)'s birthday the same day.  :)

(Nommi at 33 weeks)

Handsome like his papa

This boy loves the camera!  Here's his wee face again, nestled into the side of Nommi's uterus.  His face is the white moonish shape on the right, beneath the black porpoise-like shape (amniotic fluid).  His wee hands are resting on his right cheek - quite the cherub!

Note:  As babies grow larger, ultrasound can only capture a portion of their bodies at a time, such as a close up of the head, the abdomen, knees, etc.  

just look at those little pursed lips!

(a few days shy of 29 wks)  

The teddy view, updated

A view at 24.5 weeks, measuring at 50th percentile - smack dab average for his "age!"  What a cutie.

young teddy facing the "camera"

- his face is at far left, the black circle is his left eye socket 

- hands and feet all facing forward (foreshortened round blobs)

- a bit of swirly umbilical cord (ghosty bubbles) seen at top center

Ojai, Labor Day Weekend

Family gathering in Ojai over Labor Day weekend for Tami and Jon's wedding (Tami is Nommi's cousin).  

8/30/08: Nommi's dad Rudy, N & M, and Nommi's sister BJ, in our croquet whites.

8/31/08: Our fancy dress for the wedding day.

(Nommi at 24 weeks)

Getting bigger

This is a composite of 4 ultrasound photos which our technician made for us.  My, but don't those baby skulls look very ghoulish!  You can see his boy bits between his legs.  (His "twig and berries" as Nommi's Auntie Ruth would say!)  This is at our 20 week "midterm" anatomical ultrasound.

a rather robust 18.5 centimeters long, 13 oz

Getting bony

Here's Little Teddy at 16 and a half weeks, just prior to Nommi's amniocentisis (which we decided to have to rule out Down's Syndrome definitely, as well as other Trisomy chromosomal problems or open spine problems).  The ultrasound technician (Karen) was so impressed with his calcifying bones, she remarked "are you sure you still want an amnio?"  We went ahead with it, and it was normal - yeah!

please note the spectacular calcification of his little skull. nice!

(spine, ribs and one femur also visible)