One Full Week

Very late blog update here at Veronica HQ as I didn't leave the hospital until later than usual, and was lucky enough to depart with Hannah in tow... after Amanda, Amber and Kathleen were lucky enough to have her around all day, cradling a sleeping Veronica. Hannah's only back for a little from her shoot in Puerto Rico, but you can tell V is already smitten.



In terms of Amanda updates, it's still a rather frustrating ordeal as we still don't have a completely conclusive diagnosis, but she is in high spirits and still ready to take on anything so we hope that meeting with the infectious diseases doctor (the one we LIKE) tomorrow will reveal more.



As you can see, she and V are as sympatico as can be, and are more and more comfortable with each other and with being alive (and born!)... which is great motivation. Thanks to the supportive and often sweetly emotional calls and messages that keep coming through to Amanda; if you haven't heard back from her, it's because she is trying to avoid the sentimental right now. But your messages mean so, so much.



That's Ernie at work, the man is surprisingly comfortable for someone who's all muscle and sinew. Or so I've heard.



The visitors and well-wishers have kept up a strong presence, with some more people making the pilgrimmage to V...



Look how very tiny she looks here in these very big hands!



There's something so great about watching her be comfortable in the arms of all these different people; you are never this unknowingly vulnerable again in your life, and seeing people offer her protection and carry her through these raw, baby stages is really beautiful.



And back in the arms of the first man to hold her, Senor Chet.



Sending out all the love and protection in the universe to our Amanda tonight... I wish we could get House in to do some magical diagnosing (and then make out with me in a closet or something), but I know that the doctors we do have will figure it out soon!

Drea

The hits keep on coming...

Quick Amanda update... we have a diagnosis, she has a staph infection in her bloodstream. Obviously, this is not as ideal as, say, being at home safe and healthy with a newborn baby (and a previously undiscovered burlap sack filled with $100 bills)... but it is a diagnosis and she is in a hospital and already receiving IV treatment and so we count our blessings.



The infectious diseases specialist that she really liked is coming back tomorrow morning, and until then Amanda, Amber and Kathleen are tucked away with Veronica and trying to cut down on the visitors until they know more. Staph isn't an airborne disease, but one that requires direct contact and then open cuts, etc but they're just taking the safe route. However, continue to send your love!



I finally comandeered Kathleen's camera and have tons of pictures of a lot of you that have visited in the short 6 days that Veronica has been alive, so I'll post those now! My apologies to those of you where I don't know your name; Amanda does, and she's loved all the visits and support you've been giving her.



The little kids visiting and loving on Veronica are too cute for me, it's like existing in a Hallmark card or something.



Plus, you get to think of Veronica at older, non-sleeping-lump-of-cuteness stages, which is really cool. Look how kissable this little moppet is!



Don't worry, there's only about a million more... do all babies get this kind of attention? Here's Cat, she was there on V's delivery day, too.



Desperate Housewives represented in many ways, here's Sarah and her husband (John?! if it's not John than I'm SO sorry for my small brain/memory!):



And the lovely Dena Greene, also a new mama extraordinaire, just look at that technique!



Amanda's friend Dave Mitchell came by and apparently swooned the hell out of Veronica, Kathleen has not stopped talking about how trance-like he got her in her little baby stoned state.



Carol and Sage and lady friend (again, I'm really sorry if I don't know your name!):



Amanda will hate me for this one but I think she looks beautiful, this was on the first day...



I don't know who this woman is, but I have dreams where I wake up and magically look this stunning and sophisticated. Seriously, when I downloaded it, I titled this picture "Great_Hair".



And back to people I DO know! Well, sort of - this is Nigel (whom I adore) and Ben (that I can't believe I haven't actually met but will just adore from afar). How cute are they?



Some of the very first (and repeat) visitors, Ann and Sugarturkey...



The fun and lovely Deb, who is maybe the world's most hilarious Charades player ever:



Last but for sure not least, two of my favorite guys - Gene and Yancy (and then one of their lady friends, so I get to put in one final lack of name apology).



So there were are with those! This blog entry is groaning under the weight of all these pics, but thanks to all of you for stopping by and sending blessings and well-wishes. We'll keep you posted on Amanda's status, she's a fighter and they don't have her in a bubble so all should turn around soon!

Veronica is, as ever, perfect.

Drea

Day 5... continued

Just got back from the hospital, Veronica was enjoying a nice little cuddle with Myra near the window when I arrived:



It's a bit of a one-sided cuddle at this point, but those of us that get to snuggle on her feel even luckier for that! Amanda is still battling a bacterial infection and it's now in her bloodstream so they're really ramping up the treatment and have her on an incredibly aggressive antibiotic, which we all hope will kick said bacteria's ass soon enough.



As pervasive as my photo documentation has been so far, I didn't truly start to annoy Amanda until I started snapping pictures of her 5-days into motherhood and fighting a fever. The good news is that she still has enough energy and spark to give me dirty looks when I try and shoot her looking ragged. Encouraging, I say! I also say she still looks lovely, but she's allowed to disagree.



Sugarturkey was there again, keeping the male population represented and delicately posing in front of Amanda's new "Contact Isolation" sign outside her door, which bums her out (as it instructs us to keep from touching her), but we found it relatively amusing as we're already thinking of how we can use it in future jokes.



Speaking of future jokes, Kathleen and I tried (and failed) to hide this excellent "SORRY WE HAD TO MAKE A SUBSTITION" photo op from Amanda (who did not agree that it was hilarious)... but come on! Combined with that big yawn, it's too good for words.



So that's today... so far, anyway. More visitors, more medical developments, more Veronica perfection.

Drea

Day 5

Quick update on Amanda's health for those of you that have been worrying, they put her back on the IV last night for a more constant flow of meds and antibiotics but it didn't seem to help much and she spiked to 103.3 degrees late in the night. She was given regular Tylenol (she had been on codeine with Tylenol), which helped a great deal and she went down to 96.6.

She's at 100 again now, but they have a full team on it and hopefully it will be under control shortly. Her wrist x-ray showed no break or fracture, so ideally that will feel better soon, too!



Since we're talking numbers, Veronica has also gained a few ounces and is looking rounder and more humanish! She's been having Sunlight Baths in the morning by the window, all nakey and wriggly, to make sure she's getting enough Vitamin D3...

For more pictures like the above, Providence St. Joseph Medical Center has a really cute little online baby nursery! You can search for Veronica at:

http://www.our365.com/webnursery

Search by September 21, 2007, last name Gore, California!
Drea

Birthday shares

I've discovered that the list of people that Veronica shares a birthday with is both extensive and weird:

Nicole Richie? Liam Gallagher? Alfonso Ribeiro? Ricki Lake? Faith Hill? Rob Morrow? Dave Coulier? Bill Murray? Stephen King? Larry Hagman? H.G. Wells? See... weird. I'm for sure sticking with Leonard Cohen as my favorite. (Although I can already hear Rodney laughing over Alfonso Ribeiro and plotting how to make a baby-sized Carlton Banks outfit for Veronica.)



Could that little bow kill you any more?!? Absolutely slays me.

The last couple of days have been pretty rough on our Amanda, she's had a temperature of 100+ for about 40 hours, which is really hard on her body. This afternoon they decided to put her back on an IV as the antibiotics weren't helping fight whatever infection she has going on - on top of that, she has severe wrist pain from some other happening, which is hurting her a lot and keeping her from holding Veronica as much as she'd like. However, she's still in there and fighting through it!



So, think of Amanda and send some well wishes in whatever way suits you best, as a prayer or a text or a barbaric yawp on the top of a mountain. And in the meantime, I can't say this enough, please know that Grandma Kathleen and Auntie Amber are earning some impressive MVP points with their constant support for Amanda and Veronica... those two are the best (kudos, sister friends!)



That's Chet with Amber, back in effect, bringing in treats and deadpan comments. Good man, that one. Although it's tough competition, as Rodney sneaks into the running unexpectedly all the time - right here, he's making Veronica say "Dreee-ah!".



So overall, it continues to be fun and goodness and she looks a little different and more defined every day, and is healthy and wonderful. Now we just need Amanda to get her body temperature down and defeat the internal demons; she'll be able to go home once she has a normal temp for 24 hours, so hopefully that will happen soon!

Drea

First Monday

It's Veronica's first Monday! Hurrah! I guess I should tone down the dorky excitement some, although no one's ever accused me of not being in touch with my inner dork.

Some great pictures at the hospital this weekend, where Amanda is recovering and Baby V is thriving.



Come on, look at that sweet little head! Her skin is unbelievable, and Kathleen also introduced me to the joys that are her toes... they're like soft cheetos. An unromantic description, but it's the best I can do.



Grandma and new mom (aka Kathleen and Amanda) spent Veronica's first night of life awake and staring at her tiny little perfectness. After not getting to hold her for 7 hours after she was born due to some respiratory problems, Amanda was just taking it all in... but now they're a solid little team, look how natural! Amanda is on fire with this whole mothering thing, it's crazy.



Of course, she has a completely inspiring new charge... whose already changed dramatically (we think) in the handful of hours she's been alive. Oh, and she's a total frog, it's the cutest thing - her little legs love to exist in a funny little lotus position, with the palms of her feet lined up and cradled above her chest. If that flexibility keeps on, we might be able to get some sort of circus affiliation going yet (which could appease Rodney, who is still bummed she isn't a midget).



Cutest. Yawn. Ever. (Another Rodney note: he made Team Gore the SWEETEST little buttons with V's picture on them! Softie.)



Even though I was the 30th person to visit that day (Veronica is the new Most Popular Girl, thanks everyone for showing the love!), I even got to hold her wee self, hopefully she'll get used to my voice soon. Of course, I don't know if anyone really ever gets "used" to my voice. Mahalo!



So the girls are holding down the homestead in Burbank, and it's great to watch...



And not surprisingly, even the skies agreed that having Veronica around is pretty kickass amazing, and let loose with this beauty yesterday.



Lucky, lucky day...

Drea

Leonard Cohen

It turns out that Veronica shares a birthday with Leonard Cohen, which seems as lovely and righteous a thing as any. For that, and thinking of Amanda as a mother and what a full-time contract that is, I offer the follow lyrics from Mr. Cohen, and a picture that Rodney took yesterday at the hospital - amazing to think she hasn't even been alive for 24 hours yet! Whoooo, boy.



"Always" (Leonard Cohen)

The days may not be fair, always
Yeah but that's when I'll be there, always
Not for just a second, or a minute, or an hour,
Not for just the summer and the winter going sour,
But always, always, always

I'll be loving you, always
with a love that's true, always.
When the thing you've planned
needs my helping hand,
I will understand, I will, I will understand, always, always


Back to the hospital in a bit and hopefully some more close up pictures of the girls!

Drea

She is happening!

Veronica was born today, her stats are in the About Me section... but nothing can describe how perfect and tiny and rad she is, so I won't even try!

Last night, mama Amanda, her sister Amber, grandma Kathleen and Rodney went to dinner then I met them afterwards for chocolate cake (a must-have for any mother about to pop). Amanda was glowy and excited:



And soon to-be-Auntie Amber was happy to demonstrate how Baby Extraction '07 was going to work:



Today they all headed to St. Joseph's hospital with Chet, Amanda's BFF and birthing coach (who did ultimately get to cut the cord, huzzah!). We all hung in the waiting area, anxious and excited (Sugarturkey, Amber, Myra, Rodney):



Amber would like everyone to know that everytime we see something beautiful or amazing about Veronica, it's something she got from her auntie:



The C-section itself got started a little late, but soon enough it was underway and then we all crowded around the viewing window, hoping to get a peek the minute they wheeled her out (stepdad Ernie aka Pops, Amber, Kathleen):



And then they brought her out and the crowd goes wild!!! We could barely see her and we all started crying as soon as we saw Chet's head turn the corner, because we knew she was with him. So wee and pink and lively.



I tried to figure out how to smash through the glass to get to her but it was strong and mighty and kept me out:



The photos and phone calls were going like crazy, as there was a foot long list of people that wanted to know about the baby. Kathleen was lucky enough to catch Phil and the Desperate crew when they were at lunch, to pass along the good news.



This is one of my favorite behind-the-scenes picture, it's Amanda's sister and mom and a picture of her dad, Stan. We know he was here for this in crazy, incomprehensible ways, and he's for sure with Veronica every day - in her name, and in her blood.



So she's real and it's happening! More (and better) pictures soon, Rodney took some fantastic ones on his ninja camera (this was after he got excited because we thought maybe her ears were pointy so he said, "ooh, if she's an elf we can get into Ren Fair free!").

Congratulations to our girl Amanda, she can barely cook but she managed to grow this amazing little being. Going to be so fantastic seeing them grow! More and more here in the days (and years!) to come, so keep checking... I'm sure I speak for the rest of our little team when I say how proud I am of Amanda, and how much I'm looking forward to what's still ahead of us.

Drea