Abigail’s Birth Story

February 11th started out like any other day. We ate breakfast together, sent daddy off to work, the kids watched Signing Time while I checked email, our blog and facebook. After Signing Time I usually put on some kids music and we have a little dance party and the kids take off to play. This time when I participated in the dance party I started having a few contractions. Nothing big really considering I was only 3 days from my due date. It did make me a little nervous so instead of dancing I decided I better start getting the house cleaned up, some dishes washed and just in case I should finally pack my bag.

---- Micali and Eli switched beds on me when I told them it was naptime. They thought they were SOOO funny---

I had an appointment scheduled for 3:45 and was glad I would be able to see if I was making any progress towards labor. I was feeling anxious, HUGE, and ready for this pregnancy to be over. The contractions continued throughout the day but stopped while I was in the shower and long enough for me to take a nice afternoon nap while the kids slept. When I woke up from the nap the contractions continued---painless but consistent. I decided to try to find a babysitter for Micali and Eli so that Luke could come to the Dr. with me just in case. It didn’t work out so well and I ended up going to my appt. by myself. He was a little behind but by 4:30 he checked me and I was a 3.5 and he said I was definitely in labor. He gave me the choice of staying at the hospital to be monitored or coming home for awhile to relax. I chose coming home. Although he said he didn’t want me staying home longer than 2 hours.

------Last picture with just two sweeties in my arms-----

I told Luke the good news. Our regular babysitter came home to be with the kids and we left the house at 6:00. By this time the contractions still weren’t very serious. I didn’t want to go straight to the hospital so we made a few stops, got the mail, got a couple of little gifts from the pharmacy for Micali and Eli, and went to the school for Luke to work on lesson plans. After holding out the entire two hours we called the Dr. and told him we were headed to the hospital.

---just before we left for the hospital. The smile is because I knew these would be my last pictures of the belly and my next pictures would be with a baby in my arms!------

I was dilated to a 4.5 upon arrival however the nurse was concerned because HE (another male nurse) couldn’t feel the head down. Dr. Black did a quick ultrasound to make sure she was in the correct position and I opted to have him break my water to speed the process up a little. This immediately made me a 6 and of course the pain picked up a little (who am I kidding---it picked up a lot and HURT).

--waiting waiting waiting

After that we just waited. I had told my  doctor I would like to go natural and not have an IV. He was very kind and respected my wishes. So both the nurses and doctor were pretty hands off and let us do our own thing.

She was born at 9:40 and after the last two pushes of being flat on my back to help her out I couldn’t have been more relieved. The cord was wrapped pretty tightly around her neck, I was surprised at how purple she was. She didn’t cry hardly at all and still at day 6 has been the most calm, quiet baby ever!

--- I made it!

---She made it!

I am so grateful for my opportunity to be a mother and be a part of raising these three little cuties. I love that I can be home with them all day and am so blessed to have a husband who provides for us and loves being at home and playing with the kiddos when he can.

-------Today at lunch Micali repeatedly asked Daddy why he had to go back to work. He said I am a dad that is what I do! She put her said lip out and said to herself---My daddy has to work, POOR ME! After a few days of him being home with us it is hard for her to understand him going back!--------

More pictures of Abigail and her servants

These are some pictures that mommy took during a make-shift photo shoot while Daddy and Eli made a small army of snowmen in the back yard. Micali was inconspicuously missing (she was at a friend’s house most of the day) so it was quite quiet around here. Tomorrow I return to work. Bummer.

 

Not sure if it is flattering her or not.

Coming Home!

We are home and doing well. I took a few pictures of Abigail in the hospital and thought I would share a few more of them. I also noticed in the comments that some would like to hear more of the birth story. That will follow sometime soon. Right now the little baby is trying to wake up so I just have to be fast and add some pictures for your enjoyment!

 

Daddy and baby

 

Pictures of Abigail

So, Micali stayed to be a big sister and was not happy that I wanted to bring her home for a nap. She was just lying there with Abigail on her lap smiling away. Here are some pictures of all of them. Enjoy.

Right before I took her to the hospital.

Micali showing Abby baby Gabriella

 

Everything is still going well. Except that two little ones here at home don’t want to sleep. Sheesh.

Newest Addition

 

We are pleased to announce that baby Abigail Brielle was born last evening at 9:40 pm. She weighed in at 7.1 oz and measured 21 inches long. Her hair has a reddish tint to it according to the doctor and Kristen (I don’t see it yet) but she’s adorable. I left the main camera at the hospital when I brought Eli home. He was pretty much clueless about there being another short person in the room and was trying to make a break for it at every turn. Micali chose to stay with mommy and hold her baby sister. Let’s hope this bodes well. I am including a couple of short videos so at least you can see what she looks like. When I go back to get Micali for naps I’ll post the other pictures.

Mommy and baby are doing fine.

There won’t be a whole lot of sound because she was really quiet.

The Happenings of Micali and Eli

-Micali is cracking us up with all the words she uses. She heard her Daddy call Eli “Homeslice” (He isn’t sure where he came up with that) so, now she thinks it is funny to go through the house calling for her Homeslice. She also refers to him mostly as Eejah Pejah, or just Pejah Pejah.

-They have both found babies that they have taken care of so well this entire week. Eli even needs his baby in the crib to sleep with him. His daddy isn’t so impressed with his son carrying around the PINK baby but, I think it is cute! They buckle them in the car  seat, put them in the swing, bassinet, and often bring them to me to babysit.

-Eli is saying and signing so many words. His signing vocabulary is much bigger than mine. He totally impressed his Physical Therapist and her partner who was coming to see if he also needed speech therapy. She couldn’t believe all that he was saying. He knows his colors and loves bringing things to me and telling me what color they are.  He also is saying and trying to sign his ABC’s—they are kinda hard for his little fingers to figure out but I have also noticed that he can identify some of the letters he sees as well.

-Micali has mastered the game of Candyland. She always seems to win no matter who she plays. She loves the quality time and that it is something she can do that her brother can’t.

-Eli spends lots of time in front of the bookcase looking at books. And of course after looking at them they slowly end up on the floor one at a time.

-They both also love going to Music Makers. A couple of moms started doing a playgroup type thing involving music. They have a theme every month and sing songs, read books and dance to music with that theme. Eli’s favorite time is marching and dancing with little instruments.

They are at a good age now for playing and enjoying one another. They can hardly stand being apart and if they are they ask where the other is. I hope I can help them always love each other so much!

The shower was totally worth it

Yesterday I woke up extremely miserable from a sore throat, ear ache, and sinus headache. It wasn’t possible for Luke to stay home so the kids and I snuggled in my bed watching movies on Netflix. Micali and Eli did a great job entertaining themselves.  The best part is this morning I am feeling SOOO much better.

Wednesday just happens to be Luke’s long day too.  He has a class at night from 5-9 so, there isn’t much time with him at home. Finally by evening time I decided I needed to take a shower. I peeked in on Micali and Eli playing ever so quietly and nicely together. I told her to stay with Eli and that I would be in the shower if she needed anything.

After a few minutes of peace and quiet, I hear sweet Micali say, “Mamacita!” She only heard that once from her Daddy the night before when we were playing hide and seek. It made me laugh to hear her call me that. Then she peeks in and says she loves me, shows me the ice cream she had taken out of the freezer and asks if she can have some. By this point I realize they are no longer just playing nicely in their room. How did she manage to get the ice cream out of the freezer by herself?? I tell her I will be done soon and we can have some ice cream. A few seconds go by before I once again hear “Mamacita!” This time she had found the gum and thought she might need that too. Both times she came in and asked for a treat she was oh so kind and told me over and over again how much she loved me. By this time I was wondering what else they were getting into but decided to not hurry myself and assess the damage later. After getting out of the shower and looking through the house I didn’t notice anything out of sorts besides the ice cream Micali had put on table for me to eat with her as soon as I could. I decided the shower was totally worth and felt so much less congested afterwards.

Peless Party of 4

This week I have thought a lot about my two cute kiddos and how much they have grown. I have enjoyed watching them do all the little things they do. The last couple days they have been sick and needed a little more mommy time. Today I decided to forget about all the things I could be doing and absolutely enjoyed cuddling with them. At dinner Luke said, so tell me about your day. What did you do? I told him I spent hours in the rocking chair singing and snuggling. I am grateful for this time that I have to spend quality time with just the two of them. I know in a couple days life is going to change again and I will get busy taking care of their baby sister. I am excited to see how this little girl will take her place in our family.

---Also on a side note—I went to the Dr. today. Everything is good. He said he would see me next Thursday if he hasn’t delivered the baby before! Getting closer!

A Substitute

Eli’s wrestling partner (Micali) has been out of commission the last two days. He used his problem solving skills and came up with a substitute almost the same size.

I think it is almost as fun for him too….  

Never Enough Sleep

 

---Micali snoozing in our bed. Eli sleeping on his bear with all his balls. Everyone of those balls has to be found and put in bed with him before he will go to sleep. He keeps careful inventory too! ----

 

Yesterday we were invited over to our neighbor’s for a late Sunday lunch. We were suppose to be there and Micali and Eli were still sleeping. They looked so cute and since I was hoping to wake them up anyway, I decided to take their pictures. (I just realized the reason they didn’t turn out very well was because I had it on manual focus instead of auto) Micali has a cold and a horrible sounding cough. Because of this she has been waking herself up and ending up snuggling with me the last couple nights. Three people in our bed is a lot when Micali chooses to sleep in a horizontal position. I kept turning her around and somehow she kept getting back in that position and took up half the bed herself. We are hoping for her to stay in her own bed a little more tonight.

(taken today while I was posting this)

We are trying to finish getting everything ready for the little one. I got on Diapers.com and ordered a bunch of diapers, a baby bath, and a baby chair/ rocker that I saw in a magazine and thought could be very useful. I also got some cute pink baskets for her things since we don’t really have a dresser. It was fun to shop and the best part was I didn’t even have to get out of my house! The last of those packages arrive today and we will be SET!