Carly's First Day

The news from the Carly Camp over at Plantation General is that Carly is already a genious. Not only has she passed her hearing exam (Jen is already insisting she get good grades by asking the nurse whether she got an "A"), but she is learning to nurse and has filled 5 times as many diapers as the other babies. She's apparently robustly healthy...

Jen is feeling great, thanks to the fantastic pain management system in place at PGH. When I called today I was shocked to hear such a chipper "Hello, Anita!" especially only one day after surgery...Jen did say there's discomfort when she has to get up and walk, which the nurses have made her do 2 times, but it's manageable, even if the walking around part is not exactly Jen's favorite part of the day.

Grandma Jody has snapped a couple more shots...one of Carly (where Jennifer swears you can see she has Daddy Storm's ears!) and one of the giant stork that is now sitting on the front lawn at Jen's place to welcome them home!

I'll be dropping by tomorrow to bring Jen a decent lunch and generally walk around holding Carly and talking silly baby talk to her! I'll take more pics then...

More news tomorrow -- Anita

Carly Makes Her First Photo Appearance

For those of you keeping up, heeeeeeeeere's Carly!

Welcome to the World!

Please welcome Baby Carly...as of this posting, only 5 and a half hours old.

Carly was born at 12:50pm at Plantation General Hospital and weighed 6 lbs, 3 oz. She was 19 inches long! Grandma Jody says she has a nice little fuzz of light brown hair and beautiful pink cheeks...

Mom and baby are doing great and looking forward to coming home in a couple of days...

Pictures coming soon!

CarlyWatch-March 28: Start Your Engines...

Hi CarlyWatchers....the big news is coming our way today! Jen called this morning and it looks like the fluid levels never went up any further, and in fact, started to go back down, so the doctor says it's time to go get Carly!

It didn't happen at 7AM as expected but the c-section WILL happen today...Dr. C has appointments for c-sections every two hours on Fridays, so all that needs to happen is to slip Jen into one of those time slots, and approximately 30 minutes later, we'll have a baby...

Jen really appreciates all of your well-wishes...please keep her in your thoughts today as she prepares to bring her daughter into the world!

More news as it happens -- Anita

CarlyWatch-March 27, Part 2

Hello CarlyWatchers...more news from Plantation General this evening!

Looks like Jen is being prepped for a 7AM c-section...the doctor will perform the tests to determine if the fluid has increased significantly...if not, Jen will be whisked right into delivery on the assumption that the fluid levels are not going to get much higher. He thinks this is likely to be the case.

But Jen's ready! Her friend Vivian has already been over to the hospital and helped Jen wash her hair, paint her nails clear and generally get cleaned up in preparation for the fact that she's probably not going to feel much like primping after surgery. Check out this pic of the pretty mommy-to-be!

I'll have more in the morning...Fingers crossed, everyone! -- Anita

CarlyWatch-March 27

Hello friends of Jen -- Anita here, again...the IV fluids have increased Jen's amniotic fluid from a 3 to a 4. Since there was a slight improvement, there was no c-section planned yet.

All of the tests will be repeated tomorrow...if the fluids continue to increase then we can sit and wait a few more days. It's possible Jen will remain in the hospital during this time, but we have to wait and hear more tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Jen's in good spirits, if not getting a bit bored....at my last call she was contemplating a new manicure and pedicure since the hospital requires you only have clear or light nail polish on before a c-section. So it's goodbye, for now, to Jennifer's favorite red toe polish!

Here's a new picture of Carly, face-forward...you can see the nose, an eye and the lips and cheek! Hi Carly!

That's today's report...stay tuned!

Hello from the Hospital...This Might Be IT!

Hello everyone! Jen's friend Anita here...Jen entered the hospital today, so this is being dictated by Jen to me, her official "Birthing Communications Coordinator." I'm proud to be a small cog in Jen's Pregnancy Posse and Birthing Entourage. I'll be blogging, emailing and phoning all the news as it happens over the next few exciting days...

Here's the story...
Went to Dr. R for a checkup today to specifically check on my amniotic fluid level. Normal range for the amniotic fluid is 10-20. Two weeks ago I was a 7 and today I was 3. Yikes...where is the fluid going? It certainly doesn't seem to be streaming down my leg!

So Dr. R, for the second time, took me in to the special "We've got to talk"room in his offices and told me we had to check into Plantation General as soon as possible for monitoring and IV fluids in the hopes we can get the fluid levels back up to normal. It was big news, but as I left his office we were actually smiling at the fact that we have a 35-week-old, 6 lb 2 oz baby on our hands. The last time we were in this room, we didn't know if we would make it this far.

Mom and I went home and grabbed my bag 'o stuff and went to this hospital. I'll be here at least overnight with an IV and fetal monitoring. Tomorrow morning at 8AM'ish they'll do a sonogram to check fluid levels. If they have gone up I'll be discharged and if not, I'll be having a c-section on Thursday or Friday because Baby Carly is breech. Doc says it's a 70% change I'll be having myself a baby in the next 48 hours.

What a perfect time for this to happen -- no Baby Daddy (he's in Philly on business) and no Birthing Coach (she's in Atlanta on business). But that's OK because today is also full of great news...

I've officially hired a nanny!
Nanny Charity "signed on" today and has just left the hospital after a little visit with me this evening. I'm very excited about her being Baby Carly's nanny...she has lots of great experience and we really clicked. She actually has some Doula experience, so she might just join me in the delivery room if she can.

And finally...meet the Entourage!
Speaking of the delivery room, I've finalized my Birthing Entourage and I just want to share it with you. The Birthing Entourage is the group of friends who have gathered together to help me through this special time...

Silvia -- Birthing Coach and Official Baby Protector
It's Silvia's job to be with me in the delivery room and help me keep focused. She will also be dispatched to follow Baby Carly once she is born, to be printed, weighed and cleaned up after we have spent our first few minutes together. The hospital requires this to make sure there are no switcheroos!
Vivian--Official Photographer/Videographer
Vivian is working the digital and video cameras in the delivery room with Scorsese-like skill to ensure we record all the best moments! Note to Vivian from Anita -- stay away from recording Jen's "Lady Business" -- no one needs to see that.
Grandma and Grandpa Barr -- The Welcome Wagon
The Barr grandparents will act as the welcoming committee for those who visit me. They get to tell people when to go home if I'm tired!!
Storm -- Baby Daddy-to-Be
His job is to work on making it home to see his daughter.
Anita -- Communications Coordinator
It's Anita's job to make sure you all know what is going on! She writes all the news that's fit to print!
Jill -- Stork Committee and Keeper of the Cat
Jill is having an 8-ft stork put in the front yard so that when I come home, everyone will know Baby Carly's in the house!! And of course, her most important role is that she is the official Mandy-sitter. Mandy needs love during this stressful time -- plus she can't sleep without her Milk-Treat!

OK -- that's all from me! I'm tired....Good night!

From Anita: as they say in the news biz, "More news as it happens!" Talk to you tomorrow with a Jen update.

Both Sides Of Baby Carly's DNA

A few people who have never met Storm recently requested for a picture of Baby Carly's Daddy to be put up on the blog.

Above you can see both sides of Baby's Carly's DNA with baby, toddler and adult pictures of both of us.

As I'm sure all expectant mothers are, I'm so curious to see what she is going to look like. Is she going to take after one of us, or will she be an obvious blend? Only time will tell...

Baby Carly Has A Hospital Appointment To Be Induced On April 21

First things first ... Baby Carly made me eat all the Easter candy that has contributed to our gaining 6 more pounds in the past 2 weeks. Yes, I mean "our" because I've decided that she needs to take some responsibility here too. After all, she is gaining more than a half a pound a week herself. So, "we" have now gained a total of 44 1/2 pounds.

But the light at the end of the weight gain tunnel is getting brighter ...

I had a checkup with Dr. C today and we now have an appointment scheduled at the hospital for April 21 at 2:00 a.m. for Baby Carly to be induced. As of today she is head down again, and hopefully she will stay that way. But if she happens to be in a breach position on April 21 then the appointment will automatically be converted to a C-section appointment.

So April 21 is now looking like the latest possible date for her birth. But the possibility does exist that this appointment could be moved up. I'm going back to Dr. R (the specialist) next Wednesday and we'll get an update then on my amniotic fluid level. Dr. C says if my fluid level doesn't return to normal then they might have to encourage Baby Carly into the world even sooner that 4/21.

I go back to see Dr. C next Thursday, and every week thereafter until the birth.

OMG!!! I'm going to have a baby ... SOON!!! :o)

Baby Carly's Rainforest Is Ready For Her!!!

A big thanks to everyone who contributed to Baby Carly's Rainforest, and to Storm for putting all her items together well in advance of when she will actually use them.

As you can see, the rainforest is ready for her!

We've found a spot in Carly's home for each item, as seen in the picture collage above. It's pretty much her house now, which is fine with me. I've discovered that nothing shrinks a house like baby gear!

As you can see from the top picture, Mandy was an active participant in the assembly process. She thinks that all this stuff (and the nursery) is for her. She certainly is in for a big shock!

"I Don't See You Having This Baby Anytime Soon"

"I don't see you having this baby anytime soon." -- Direct quote from my specialist Dr. R today during my routine checkup.

Baby Carly is up to 5 pounds 7 ounces (compared to 3 pounds, 3 ounces a month ago), and the cerclage is still holding tight thanks to Dr. C's excellent stitch work. I was very glad to hear this after having some pretty intense and painful contractions this past Saturday around 5:00 a.m. I was worried that these contractions might have loosened up the stitches, but that is not the case.

Anyway, Baby Carly continues to grow fast. Her growth rate is now in the 68th percentile (50 being average) compared to the 64th percentile a month ago. She's growing just slightly faster than 1/2 pound a week.

She was in a head down position for the last 2 visits with Dr. C, but today she was breech. I'm now 33 weeks pregnant and her position at 35 weeks could influence if Dr. C wants to do a scheduled C-section. It all depends on which position she ultimately gets stuck in when she finally runs out of room. My uterus has expanded tremendously for her, but it can't expand forever!

My Mom came with me to the ultrasound today (her first time to see both Baby Carly live on the screen and the ultrasound technology in use period) and I learned that as the babies get bigger the ultrasounds get less cute. For the first time I didn't get any souvenir photos.

It was much harder to see anything that looked really "baby like." And Baby Carly did not help at all because she was facing my back and would not turn her head no matter how many times I poked her and changed positions. My Mom was able to see bits and pieces like the beating heart, hands, internal organs, etc., and she did get to hear the strong heartbeat.

The only thing that was new or different in today's appointment was the fact that Dr. R said my amniotic fluid level was a little bit low. He said not alarmingly low, but low nonetheless.

He instructed me to start drinking more water. MORE WATER?!?!? I already have a bottle going at all times and feel like I'm going to float away. I'm already going through more than a roll of toilet paper a day.

Ok. More water it is. Whatever is best for Baby Carly.

My activity restrictions remain the same ... just keep walking and standing to a minimum and no lifting. I'm glad that I'm still allowed to drive and don't yet have to be confined to the bed.

I see Dr. R again for fluid assessment in 2 weeks.

Cheers!!!

8-Month Belly Shot

I officially look like I swallowed a soccer ball now.

I've had multiple strangers in public inform me that I'm having a boy, because I'm carrying so low and all in front. Based on all the pinkness going on in the nursery, these comments would stress me out if I hadn't had so many sonograms to confirm from every possible angle that Baby Carly is indeed a girl.

Routine Checkup With Dr. C Today

Dr. C today told me that he's very pleased that we are successfully passing the week #32 milestone today. He said we've come a long way from the day at the hospital when it put the cerclage in at week #17.

The good news is that Baby Carly is still in a head down position, which is the same as the last appointment. All fingers crossed that maybe she is stuck this way, because this would decrease the chance that I'll have to have a scheduled C-section.

The bad news ... yes, you guessed it ... was the scale reading. I've gained 4 more pounds in the past 11 days. One pound for every letter in the word c-a-k-e. The nurse who weighed me was kind enough to say "your baby is growing really fast now."

So I'm up to 38 1/2 extra pounds now. My only comfort is that in this week's People Magazine I read that Isla Fisher (the red head who played Vince Vaughn's "stage 5 clinger" in Wedding Crashers") gained 55 pounds during her pregnancy with Borat's baby. And she's only 5'3".

In other news, I had a 3-day spell of "really puffy feet" since my last checkup with Dr. C, but the swelling has gone down and I can see my ankles again. Dr. C said not to worry about this because all the extra blood has to go somewhere. When it happens he does advice that I elevate my feet above my heart.

My next appointment with Dr. C is March 20. After that I'll start seeing him weekly.

Baby Carly's Car Seat Gets Inspected Today

I've read recommendations that the infant car seat should be installed in the car by week #32, just in case. Today I am exactly 32 weeks pregnant and I'm happy to be able to check this off the list.

The Plantation Police Department does car seat inspections twice a month at the Toys R Us, so I went today for an inspection. It's a good thing that I did, because the officer's first reaction to opening the car door was, "Oh, this is all wrong."

They helped me re-install it correctly, so now we are all ready for a safe journey home from the hospital for Baby Carly. I can't wait!!!

Storm's First Impulse Purchase For Baby Carly!!!

While Storm was shopping at IKEA today he bought this cute and soft stuffed hippo for Baby Carly. When he brought it over this evening he was pleased with how well it matches the Jungle Luv theme. He also pointed out that Baby Carly has a stuffed giraffe and a stuffed elephant, but that there was a hippo void in the nursery that needed to be filled.

"It's my first impulse purchase for Baby Carly!" he proudly announced when he presented it to me.

I'm sure she will love it! I sure do. It's perfect.

April 29: Significant Date For Both Baby Carly And Carly Simon!!!

Howie just informed me that Carly Simon and Baby Carly already have something special in common above and beyond having the same first name ... they now have the same "release date!!!"

See below for the latest "news" posting to www.carlysimon.com ...

THIS IS SO COOL!!!

New Carly Simon Album - Release Date 4/29/08

Carly will be releasing a new album entitled This Kind Of Love on the Starbuck's label (Hear Music) on April 29, 2008. This will be her first album of all original music since 2000. Inspired by and subtly infused with the rhythms of Brazilian music, This Kind of Love explores a wide swath of emotion-romance, reflection, melancholy, anger and humor. It's at once one of Simon's most personal albums as well as one of her most stylistically diverse outings. The CD is co-produced by Simon, Frank Filipetti and Jimmy Webb and features 13 tracks: This Kind Of Love, Hold Out Your Heart, People Say A Lot, Island, How Could You Ever Forget, Hola Soleil, In My Dreams, When We're Together, So Many People To Love, They Just Want You To Be There, The Last Samba, Sangre Dolce and Too Soon To Say Goodbye.