Isn't this what you were really wanting...

I know the real reason you keep coming back is not because of my excellent prose but for pictures of Tyler. So here you go. Have I mentioned before what a great looking kid he is...didn't think so! ; )

Both Tyler and mom went to the doctor this week and the reports were good for the most part. Tyler's weight is back up and he is doing great. Em's blood pressure was down on Monday but back up on Wednesday. More rest and she should be back up and swinging in a few weeks.

I'm really feeling disconnected this week. I always knew I would have to go back to work at some point, but hate the fact that I can't be at home with Tyler and Emily for the next 2,3 maybe 4 weeks (or years). Maybe I'll win the lottery this weekend and I can become a stay-at-home father.

I would love to write more tonight, but it's 11 p.m. and I have to go work tomorrow so I can pay a few more bills and buy a few more diapers.

Thanks again to everyone who is keeping up with the blog and checking on Tyler and Emily.

Signs that you are a father..

8:55 a.m. Wednesday morning

I'm back at work and really miss being at home with Tyler and Emily. Work is busy as always and I look forward to going home every evening to spend time with them.

I had a sign of many days to come this morning when I looked down a few minutes ago and realized I had baby formula/spitup on my shirt. I'll take it as a sign that Tyler misses me and wanted me to think about him all day.

I promise to write more tonight and post up a new photo.

The next Gerber baby...?

11:15 p.m. Wednesday

With a slight case of insomnia and a little extra time between feedings, here is what I came up with. Could Tyler be the 21st century Gerber baby? You decide...

After a long day...

10:30 p.m. Wednesday

After a long day who doesn't enjoy a nap.

Everyone is settling in...

12:10 a.m. Wednesday morning

It seems as though we are slowly settling into a routine here at the nursery. Granted it's a routine that if we didn't open the windows once and a while, Em and I wouldn't know the difference between night and day. Basically life revolves around Tyler - and at times I think he is smart enough to know it.

As new parents we are learning a lot, both from Tyler and the "What to Expect the First Year" book. Most of the lessons though center around breastfeeding. Em's best friend in VA told her she was going to make me a honorary member of the Le Leche League because..

(Pause to check on Tyler)

Tyler was still hungry and I learned once again what burps cloths are good for - another t-shirt for the daily load of laundry. Anyhow, Em's best friend was telling her that she was going to make me a honorary member of the Le Leche League (http://www.lalecheleague.org) and let me teach classes since I've learned so much while helping Em with Tyler. The question is...can I use that on my resume?

Otherwise Tyler is doing great. His lungs have fully developed into those of a teenager and he is doing a great job of letting us know when he is unhappy. I told Em today that he seems like he has even grown a little bit in the last week.

Emily is also doing much better. We all went to the doctor on Monday and Em's BP was down to 134/74. The hope is that with continued bed rest we can lower it a little more and keep it under control.

And on a final note - Tyler got to watch part of his first Red Sox baseball game last night. Tyler was upset so I picked him up to rock him back to sleep. We went into the bedroom to watch the end of the game. The Sox were down 8-6 in the bottom of the 9th. With two runners on base, Big Poppi (David Ortiz) hit a walk-off home run to win the game. Now I just have to teach Tyler the difference between "Big Poppi" and his own "big daddy."

Tomorrow we will discuss more about the joys of parenthood (expect this whole lack of sleep thing!)

Smart little devil...

12:05 a.m. Monday

So it's only been one week since he arrived and he already has me wrapped around his finger. We just finished one of his 30-a-day feedings and put him back in his crib to sleep. After a few minutes, I heard him grumbling around in his crib so - like a concerned father - I went into his room to check on him. Well, he wasn't completely awake, but visibly unhappy and not sleeping. So I picked him and took him to the rocker and started rocking him back to sleep. Within 30 seconds he had his eyes closed and a big ol' grin as if to say "Ha, I fooled you and I'm too cute to put back in the crib for at least 10 or 15 minutes."

He was right of course!

Running on fumes...

12:35 a.m. Sunday morning

I asked Em's mother to come and stay with us tonight and help with the nighttime feedings. I am literally running on fumes and need one good night's sleep to recharge my batteries. And if you can believe it, I'm considering 4-5 hours of sleep tonight a "good nights sleep." But after a week and a half of nothing but 1 hour or less cat naps, I would sleep in the creek behind the house tonight in order to get some needed rest.

Tomorrow morning our neighbors are coming over and the wife is going to stay with Em while her husband and I go for an 8-10 mile run at the mountain that will also help to get me going again.

So now we discuss the long awaited topic - breastfeeding. After a week of helping Em attempt to train Tyler, I have a whole new perspective on breastfeeding. The mere fact that humans, like other mammals, are able to provide a food source for their newborns in really an amazing thing. It's something that I really took for granted until I spent countless hours with Em this week helping her try to teach Tyler.

Well, long story short, Tyler is technically a premie. So just to get him to stay awake, let alone try to breastfeed, is a big challenge right now. For you mothers out there, our biggest problem is that when do get Tyler to latch on, which is rare, he goes back to sleep. All of this has made me realize why health officials push for breastfeeding, but yet so few women actually do it. It's a tough task to train an infant to feed from his mother. I'm really hoping that Tyler gets a hold on it soon because I know that Em is tired and frustrated and wants to give up at times. I'm doing the best that I can to encourage and help her what little I can with the feedings.


Before I go to bed, here is another picture of Tyler when he was sleeping. He managed to get his hands out of his swaddle and get his mittens off - what a cute little stinker.

Night everyone.

Breastfeeding (or not)

11:45 p.m. Friday

I know that many of you were anxiously awaiting my blog entry on breastfeeding. Sorry, but not today. Much like the Atlanta Braves bullpen, I just can't deliver tonight.

The nurse at Kaiser Permanente started us on a new schedule of feeding every two hours in order to encourage better breastfeeding from Tyler. Needless to say, Em and I are exhausted and I imagine that we have another long night in front of us.

Tomorrow I will give you a father's perspective on helping his wife and son learn to breastfeed. For now...sleep (at least for the next couple hours or so.)

BTW, for my readers that are baseball fans - I think the Betemit trade is a bad decision. I know we need some help in the bullpen, but Chipper has been having a tough season with injuries and Betemit has been a great backup. I think if it were up to Bobby, Betemit would still be with the team.

We're back from our first visit to KP...

1:50 p.m. Friday

We're back from our visit to Kaiser. Tyler is in perfect health. The doctors and nurses were in awe over what a beautiful baby he is.

While we were there, we also got Em's BP checked and it's still high - 137/100 to be exact. Her doctor doubled her medicine and told us to go back to KP tomorrow and Monday to have it checked again. Let's keep our fingers crossed that we can get it back down to normal.

Time to feed Tyler.

Next blog entry topic - breastfeeding. Hey, we are all adults here right?!

Diapers everywhere...

12:30 a.m.

By the way... Any mothers or fathers want to give me an idea of how many diapers we can plan to go through over the next couple of years? It has only been a few days and I think I have been through more than 50 diapers! I've emptied the Diaper Genie twice already.

Also, if you have time, click on the ads above if they interest you - each time you click, Tyler gets $.27 towards his college (soon to be diaper) fund.

Good night...

Getting late...

11:16 p.m. Thursday night

Em and Tyler are both sound asleep. I'll have to wake them both up in for the next feeding in a little while.

I just went into Tyler's room to check on him and I still can't believe he's mine. I know sleep deprivation can do crazy things with your mind, but I really do feel at times as though someone is going to wake me up from this dream.

As I was...

(Pause)

12:15 a.m. Friday morning

So even though I wanted to finish my entry before the next feeding, the truth is there is no schedule for newborns. Tyler is changed and fed now and it's time for a little sleep for daddy. Tomorrow is Tyler's newborn visit at Kaiser. We meet with Dr. Arnold at 10:30 and then head across the hall to Ob/Gyn to get Em's BP checked. I'm praying that it has gone down. I bought an inhome BP monitor and seriously doubt its accuracy. So I'm looking forward to the (fingers crossed) good news that Em is doing better.

Look for another post tomorrow after we get back - maybe sooner, I think insomnia is starting to set in. Either that or I'm starting to get used to this sleep schedule.

Nap time...

Time for daddy to take an afternoon cat nap. Here is a b/w photo of Tyler before he went to sleep earlier today.

Public Service Annoucement....

1:30 p.m. Thursday

While I have your attention, I want to make this PSA. I went outside to check the mail and Emily and I received a letter from Citi. There was some suspicous activity on our Mastercard and they wanted to bring it to our attention. I went online and sure enough, someone bought $45 worth of Papa John's pizza in Stone Mountain and spent $95 at Shaper Image (I imagine it was an online transaction).

The reason I am telling you this, is that I am a fanatic about tearing up receipts and shredding finacial information at the house. Someone that worked at either Niketown or Compusa stole the information and used it while Em and I were at the hospital.

So, moral of the story is to monitor account transactions online (if possible) since protecting your information is not enough.

BTW - guess what Emily wants for dinner now - I think I will pay with cash! : )

Zero to Poopy Diaper in 60 seconds...

10:25 a.m. Thursday morning

There is no doubt in mind that single mothers are some of the most amazing people in the world. After a few days of taking care of Emily and Tyler, I am amazed at how they can do it.

So here we are on Day 3 of being parents and it's hard to put into words everything that is going on in my head. It is a amazing and wonderful experience, but it makes running a marathon seem like a walk in the park. The hardest part right now is waking up at some unknown hour of the night and finding it in myself to be alert - in 60 seconds - to change a poopy diaper and start feeding Tyler. And then repeat again in 2-3 hours!

Like most people, I'm used to my alarm going off at 5:30 a.m. every morning and hitting the snooze a couple times to wake up. Newborns do not come with a snooze button and they don't sing a Top 40 song to wake you up. I'm not complaining though. Even if I only see Tyler's newborn smile once it day, it makes everything worth it. I know it's only been a few days, but he really is a wonderful baby.

Em is also doing well - her BP is still a little high, but with continued rest it should come down. I'm keeping her off her feet as much as possible taking care of as much as I can. Sometimes I wonder if I should have been a nurse...

...and then I wake up. I really do love my job and I can't imagine having to stick a needle in someone else.

But since we are on the topic, I want to once again say how wonderful the KP clinicians at Northside are. We received the best care possible and could not have asked for more. And while I'm at, let me throw in a shameless plug for Kaiser Permanente. I added a link to our web site on the right side of the page under the links. If you have the time, check out our site and consider us the next time open enrollment comes around.

And with that, I'm off to do some laundry and pick up around the house.

Until the next poopy diaper rolls around...

: )

Time to go to beddy-bye

12:50 a.m. Thursday

Time for mommy, daddy and Tyler to go to bed. I wanted to write more tonight but I need my beauty sleep - I have a long way to go before I catch up with my son's good looks. After all, I know the main reason you keep coming back to my blog is to see more pictures of Tyler.

Here is a picture of Tyler after his last feeding tonight. See you all in the morning.

I'm back...

10 p.m. Wednesday

Hi everyone,
I had no idea until I'll talked to a few people that blog had been so popular and people were still checking it. So since I have a captive audience and a "little" bit of time between feeding and diaper changes, I will continue updating the blog everyday - at least until I return to work.

I will write more tonight after the next feeding, but for now I will let you know that things are going well for all things considered. Em's blood pressure is still a little high and Tyler is still having some problems learning to feed from Em, but for a premature baby he is doing well. He is still taking the bottle, so he is certainly not going hungry.

More updates and some new photos from today later tonight.

Good News...

Good news everyone. The midwife just came by to check on Em and told us she can go home today. Yeah!!!!

Here is a picture of Tyler from this morning. The color on the photo is off a little bit, but I don't have the time to color-correct the photos. He actually has darker skin like his daddy.

Thanks to everyone for calling and checking on Emily.

More pictures of Tyler and update on mom...

10 a.m. Sunday morning - Hi everyone. Not sure who is still checking the blog, but here are some more pictures of Tyler from soon after delivery.

Tyler is doing great. He is truely the most beautiful baby I have ever seen and joy to have.

We have had a few problems with Em. Last night they came by to check her BP and it was highly elevated. To make a long story short, after another very long night, Em is now on some IV meds to lower her blood pressure. We had a scare when her BP got to a critical point and the doctor was concerned about futher problems. While she is doing better, the doctor is still concerned and will keep a close eye on her.

I imagine we will be here a few more days before Tyler, Emily and I head home but I will keep everyone updated.

Thanks to everyone who has been keeping us in their thoughts and prayers. More pictures and updates this afternoon.

Tyler's First Pictures

10:45 a.m - Here are the first pictures of Tyler. They are not the greatest but I've only had two hours of sleep so I'm not quite feeling like Anne Geddes. Mom and the 6lb bundle of joy are doing great.

More news and photos to come later.

Tyler is here...

5:30 a.m. Saturday Morning - Tyler Josef Grund was born around 2:15 a.m. this morning. It has been an exhausting day/night for Em and I so we are finally in our room and going to bed. Tyler is the most beautiful baby I have ever seeen. He's also very tired and sound asleep in the nursery. Tomorrow I will give details and post up the first photos.

For now, just know that Em and I have been blessed with the most wonderful baby any parents could ever ask for. As for me, I have been blessed with an amazing wife named Emily.

God bless everyone who kept up in their thoughts are prayers today.

Matthew : )

Still waiting...

10:15 p.m. - still waiting on Tyler - Em is doing great.

7cm

She's at 7cm now. The doctor told her to take a nap and rest up for the upcoming delivery.

Back to holding her hand...Next post will probably be a baby.

Red Bull Count: 4

Starting the 4th Red Bull - not sure how I'm still on my feet. Em is doing great - just a waiting game from here. Baby has dropped down real low - should be here soon.

Taking a break...

7:30 p.m. - Em is relaxing for a few minutes with the epidural and so I'm taking a quick break. Forget running a marathon - this obviously takes the cake. I know how worn out I am, so I can't even imagine how Em feels. Not sleeping in three nights is going to hit me like a freight train tonight. Until then though, we keep chugging along. Right now it's all kind of a dream state - probably the exhaustion.

But more importantly, Em is doing great and so is the baby. BP has dropped significantly and she is not suffering like she was earlier. Well, back to coaching mama. Keep her in your thoughts.

Epidural is in...

Epidural is in and Emily is feeling much better. We are slowing progressing. She is doing a great job. I'm so proud of her!

Things are progressing

No real news at this time. Contractions are about the same distance but a little more intense. They gave her some pain meds, so she is dozing off between the contractions. Just a little more time before Tyler is here.

Red Bull Count: Starting #3

Here we go...

It could still be a few more hours, but the process has definitely begun. Contractions are in a good pattern of about every 3-3:30 minutes. Em is miserable, but hanging in there and even cracking a few jokes.

Water just broke

2:45 p.m. - Em's water just broke.

Tyler "Marathon" Grund

1:30 p.m. - Check out this article:

http://www.halhigdon.com/kidsrunning/littleboy.htm

In 1968, at the age of 5, this lady ran her first marathon. At the age of 10, she ran 3:01 in the marathon. It took me 4:45 at the age of 28.

Why, do I bring this up...? Just doing some research to find out what age Tyler can start running with me. From what I have read, he can start running 5 and 10Ks at an early age. The Peachtree Jr. is age 7-12, but maybe I can have him running the real Peachtree Road Race with daddy by 12 or so

According to the experts though, no marathon for "Marathon" until he reaches the age of 18 - at least that is what they recommend.

I know, I know...let's get him into the world first. But hey, I have a little free time right now and I haven't had a real night's sleep in 3 days.

Tyler has the hiccups...

1 p.m. - That is about the only exciting new news. Em has a monitor on her stomach where you can hear Tyler's heartbeat. Well, a few minutes ago we started hearing a funny noise and Em said he had the hiccups.

Em's contractions seem to be slowing down but are a little more uncomfortable. I'm going to head out around 2 p.m. to run over to the fire station and have the baby seat checked to make sure it's installed properly. Other than that, nothing too exciting right now. The original time I was guessing for delivery was 8:30 tonight, but I'm going to have to move it back a few hours to around 10:30 - seems as though the process is going real slow.

Red Bull Count: 1 and holding but 7 more waiting for me in the fridge. : )

"Whiskers are intact, but there is still time"...

Em is feeling the contractions a little more than she was before. She hasn't starting pulling on my beard yet, but she wanted everyone to know there is still time.

Right now is basically the long, boring part of the labor. We are taking bets on when Tyler is going to be here. Pick a time and day (today or Saturday) and post it in the comments below. I will take the person with the closest time to lunch in the coming weeks.

Overall, everything is going well. Em's BP is still running a little high, but we should have the baby here before it becomes too big of a concern.

"Hi everyone" - Em

9:55 a.m. - Actually she didn't say that - but I'm sure she was thinking it. I thought I would share a photo of the beautiful "mom-to-be" as we wait for Tyler.

By the way - big thanks to the people at Northside Hospital for supplying the free Wifi connection here in the Women's Center that is allowing me to post these updates.

Fact for the day...

9:30 a.m. - Did you know that on average they deliver 70 babies A DAY here at Northside - Wow! Last year they delivered over 18,000 and this year they expect to be close to 20,000.

Despite the constant output of this "baby factory," the care has been wonderful. The Kaiser Permanente clinicians here at Northside are the best you can ask for. It has been nice to see some familiar faces and also also meet new people.

Em is doing well - the contractions are starting to show up on her monitor, but still early.

Moving along...

8:15 a.m. - Nurse just let us know that Em is at 2cm. So it's a start, but still going to be a long day.

They also started her on the Potosin (labor-inducing med) this morning, earlier than I expected. I didn't think it would be until this afternoon. With that started, the baby could be this afternoon or tonight, rather than tomorrow. More to come later - going to get some breakfast and a Red Bull - I've hardly slept in three days.

Today is the big day...

July 21, 2006, 7:30 a.m. - Today is the big day here at Northside Hospital. If you are glancing over at your calendar confused, no, it is not August 15. As Em said last night, her body decided to evict Tyler a little earlier than we expected.

For those of you just learning about the news, let me recap the past few days. On Tuesday Em went into the Kaiser Permanente TownPark Medical Center for a routine appointment. The appointment turned out to be anything but routine as they discovered that her blood pressure was extrememly high and sent her to Northside Hospital. After getting a room in the High Risk Perinatal section of the hospital, our hopes and those of the staff, were that with a little bedrest, her BP would go down. No such luck. Thursday morning we were advised the best step to take next was to induce labor and prevent any harm Em or the baby. The good news is that Em and the baby are both doing great. More than anything, this is just a precaution to prevent Em from going home and suffering a stroke or seizure from the elevated BP.

So, here we are on Friday morning. They started the meds yesterday to "prepare" Em's body for labor and continued that through the night. Now we are just waiting to see the doctor and find what the next steps are. Most likely they won't begin the next set of meds to begin inducing labor until some time this afternoon.

So that is the news for now...Stay tuned for updates throughout the day.

Mattthew