Wednesday, February 23, 2011
It's been decided...
The girls and I are staying in the UK instead of moving back to the states. It was ultimately my decision...Dan will be gone so that's why I say it that way...and I figured it would just be better to stay in a place we call "home" since this has been the longest we have ever stayed in one place. I won't have to deal with a move...change schools for the girls...I have my friends and support over here...yes, I won't have the sun...but to me the positives outweigh the negatives. And so that's that...Dan put in the request for the OHA and COLA for me and the girls, he's talking to the visa man since the girls and my visa run out this June, and I've told our property management we're staying another year. So it's a go...well as long as we get our visas sorted...which shouldn't be a problem...I feel a lot less stressed out now. It will help the girls as well...I think they will already have a lot to deal with since their dad is leaving for a year...it broke my heart to move them from their friends and their home as well...and so that is that. Now we are just debating whether or not we want to go back to the states for a couple weeks with Dan...Dan and I are actually leaning towards taking a big road trip...make our way to Italy...I have to admit....that sounds a lot more appealing! Oh life...it can change so much in such little time.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
And she does it again...
Hannah makes me laugh with her little random comments...
Like yesterday.....
Just sitting on the sofa, singing, "It's a hard-knock life."
Stopping mid song and telling me I have a hard-knock life because I have too many kids.
It made me stop what I was doing and have a laugh...I did tell her it wasn't that hard...only some days when kids don't listen....
In reality though, I couldn't imagine my life without my kids...the craziness that happens day to day....the loud, random conversations and noises that happen in the car...even with my 23 day baby...I don't remember being without her...well I do but it's different. I wonder what I did all day since it seems as though I don't have any time anymore...life is busy...feeding, changing diapers, conversations of all sorts with my two older ones, trying to have a moment with my husband...even when it's like today....our Sunday drive...holding hands...and me trying to tune out everything that's going on (Bells singing, Madison and Hannah talking nonstop the whole trip about who knows what and Abs just sleeping through it all), feeding kids (they are all home since the girls are on a 10 day break at school), and sleeping...well at least trying to. It all makes me kind of laugh...the chaos....the so unexpected of having a house full but loving it and not wanting to be without. (Most days at least.)
Like yesterday.....
Just sitting on the sofa, singing, "It's a hard-knock life."
Stopping mid song and telling me I have a hard-knock life because I have too many kids.
It made me stop what I was doing and have a laugh...I did tell her it wasn't that hard...only some days when kids don't listen....
In reality though, I couldn't imagine my life without my kids...the craziness that happens day to day....the loud, random conversations and noises that happen in the car...even with my 23 day baby...I don't remember being without her...well I do but it's different. I wonder what I did all day since it seems as though I don't have any time anymore...life is busy...feeding, changing diapers, conversations of all sorts with my two older ones, trying to have a moment with my husband...even when it's like today....our Sunday drive...holding hands...and me trying to tune out everything that's going on (Bells singing, Madison and Hannah talking nonstop the whole trip about who knows what and Abs just sleeping through it all), feeding kids (they are all home since the girls are on a 10 day break at school), and sleeping...well at least trying to. It all makes me kind of laugh...the chaos....the so unexpected of having a house full but loving it and not wanting to be without. (Most days at least.)
Saturday, February 19, 2011
I caved
I have been postponing buying a double stroller for awhile. I searched for my "perfect" stroller and found it...too bad the price tag that came along with the Phil & Teds Explorer stroller was just a tad high and it's in £ and I convert to $ still....I just couldn't justify buying it...well I could...we really haven't had to buy anything for Abs...but it was still so hard to click the purchase button every time I put it in my basket. Then in my email, I received a 10% off coupon...AND it was already 10%off with the bundle package....but I still waited. The other day, Dan told me just to buy it already....so I did but was so mad to find out it was no longer 10% off! So I didn't get the 20% off...only 10% but can I just say...I'm so happy with it. I LOVE how compact it is and I LOVE the one hand release. So after all that delay...seriously..it's been months...I can now contain my two littlest ones....although some days...I feel like I need a stroller that seats 4 so I can just contain all of them. That would look a little strange though to have my 7 and 5 year old in a stroller....
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Always something....
This was taken with my phone....we were in the car right after school to go to the Commissary. I hear Hannah say, "The comb is stuck in my hair." I look back and see this...
I was kind of mad...I was wondering what would possess her to do something like that but I didn't let her know I was mad...then 5 seconds later I'm laughing...uncontrollably. Madison is in the front telling me I better stop laughing or Hannan is going to start crying. She starts crying...I'm laughing even more...the whole situation...Madison telling me how I'm being a bully and that I better stop laughing so hard or I'm going to crash the car. It doesn't help that I hear a snort or two coming out of Madison's mouth (she's wanting to laugh too but she's being the nice big sister) and hearing Hannah occasionally laugh. The whole thing is just ridiculous. I have to run into the store...Hannah starts crying she can't go in looking like this...I laugh some more and with Abs in my arms, Bells in Madison's we go in and try to get out quickly. We head home...but before that stop by a friend's to drop some things off and there the two of us have a good laugh about it. I see how tangled and twisted the hair is...I'm worried I'm going to just have to snip the hair. We get home, we eat, I meanwhile snicker every once in awhile when I see Hannah with a comb stuck in her hair...we are calling her comb head at this point....I get some wire cutters after dinner and work on just breaking the comb to bits...trying not to get the hair...and after what seems like an eternity working on it, we get the comb out! Hair comes too...but it's not all the hair so there is no complaining. I now no longer have a comb head!
I was kind of mad...I was wondering what would possess her to do something like that but I didn't let her know I was mad...then 5 seconds later I'm laughing...uncontrollably. Madison is in the front telling me I better stop laughing or Hannan is going to start crying. She starts crying...I'm laughing even more...the whole situation...Madison telling me how I'm being a bully and that I better stop laughing so hard or I'm going to crash the car. It doesn't help that I hear a snort or two coming out of Madison's mouth (she's wanting to laugh too but she's being the nice big sister) and hearing Hannah occasionally laugh. The whole thing is just ridiculous. I have to run into the store...Hannah starts crying she can't go in looking like this...I laugh some more and with Abs in my arms, Bells in Madison's we go in and try to get out quickly. We head home...but before that stop by a friend's to drop some things off and there the two of us have a good laugh about it. I see how tangled and twisted the hair is...I'm worried I'm going to just have to snip the hair. We get home, we eat, I meanwhile snicker every once in awhile when I see Hannah with a comb stuck in her hair...we are calling her comb head at this point....I get some wire cutters after dinner and work on just breaking the comb to bits...trying not to get the hair...and after what seems like an eternity working on it, we get the comb out! Hair comes too...but it's not all the hair so there is no complaining. I now no longer have a comb head!Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Hanners
Hannah asked me today why boys sing about girls and girls sing about boys. I told her it's because boys like girls and girls like boys....she said she was "bored" of those kinds of songs and would start writing songs about herself. That would be a lot more interesting. I laughed out loud...the guard on base did too...he heard the conversation as well.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
The Red Book
The red book is the "naughty" book at the girls' school. That is the worst consequence besides going to home and being suspended I guess. Hannah had her name written in it Thursday. It's all quite comical actually.
Thursday just before dinner, my friend called me and asked if I had heard what our two kids did to get in the red book. I was thinking they got into a fight or something horrible...I mean it's the red book. Hannah hadn't mentioned it and her teacher didn't talk to Dan so I had no clue. Apparently, Hannah and her friend decided it would be fun to climb over the bathroom stalls. Hannah went first and her friend followed. I went into the kitchen to talk to Hannah and see if I could get it out of her.
"Hannah, did something happen at school today?"
"I can totally climb the walls in the bathroom!"
"Who's idea was that?"
"Mine, I did it first."
"Oh, someone else was with you?"
"Yes, (And then she said her friend's name.)"
"And did something else happen."
"We got our names in the red book, no biggie."
She was totally unaffected by the red book consequence. I had to try my best not to laugh. Her teacher while telling my friend what had happened had a grin on her face the whole time. They were put in the red book so they could see how serious and dangerous climbing over the bathroom stalls were. I don't think they had to put their names in it but oh well...Dan and I just let Hannah know how dangerous it was to do that. How were we suppose to ground her for that???!!! And so my daughter's name is in the book for all those who follow will see her name...oh that daring Hannah.
Thursday just before dinner, my friend called me and asked if I had heard what our two kids did to get in the red book. I was thinking they got into a fight or something horrible...I mean it's the red book. Hannah hadn't mentioned it and her teacher didn't talk to Dan so I had no clue. Apparently, Hannah and her friend decided it would be fun to climb over the bathroom stalls. Hannah went first and her friend followed. I went into the kitchen to talk to Hannah and see if I could get it out of her.
"Hannah, did something happen at school today?"
"I can totally climb the walls in the bathroom!"
"Who's idea was that?"
"Mine, I did it first."
"Oh, someone else was with you?"
"Yes, (And then she said her friend's name.)"
"And did something else happen."
"We got our names in the red book, no biggie."
She was totally unaffected by the red book consequence. I had to try my best not to laugh. Her teacher while telling my friend what had happened had a grin on her face the whole time. They were put in the red book so they could see how serious and dangerous climbing over the bathroom stalls were. I don't think they had to put their names in it but oh well...Dan and I just let Hannah know how dangerous it was to do that. How were we suppose to ground her for that???!!! And so my daughter's name is in the book for all those who follow will see her name...oh that daring Hannah.
Friday, February 11, 2011
2 weeks
It's been 2 weeks already....crazy! We had Abs' doctor appointment today. Oh but first, yesterday we had her hearing test. The equipment was broken at the hospital when she was born so we had to wait until we could get her an appointment with the ENT there at the hospital. I was stressing about it since this baby doesn't wake up with the doors slamming, kids crying, kids shouting...nothing makes her stir. She passed and her hearing is great. She is just use to all the loud noises from the womb and knew she was coming into a crazy, loud family apparently.
Everything else is great too with her...she now weighs 8lbs 6 oz and is 21 1/2 inches long. She's grown a lot! She replaced her 9% weight loss and added 5 oz and has grown an inch! I can't remember her exact head circumference but that was in the 75th percentile. The weight and height were in the 50th...smallest baby I've ever had...well with weight and head! She is amazing. We're so blessed to have her in our family. Yes, she's only 2 weeks old but she already adds so much. Oh, and I have to mention, she slept 6 1/2 hours STRAIGHT last night....and I had to wake her up to eat so who knows how much longer she would have gone. I woke up thinking I had a really good sleep...then I look at the clock and realize I'd been asleep for 6 hours straight! She ate, pooped, we cuddled and she smiled and then went back to bed until 8:00. I love this kid!
Everything else is great too with her...she now weighs 8lbs 6 oz and is 21 1/2 inches long. She's grown a lot! She replaced her 9% weight loss and added 5 oz and has grown an inch! I can't remember her exact head circumference but that was in the 75th percentile. The weight and height were in the 50th...smallest baby I've ever had...well with weight and head! She is amazing. We're so blessed to have her in our family. Yes, she's only 2 weeks old but she already adds so much. Oh, and I have to mention, she slept 6 1/2 hours STRAIGHT last night....and I had to wake her up to eat so who knows how much longer she would have gone. I woke up thinking I had a really good sleep...then I look at the clock and realize I'd been asleep for 6 hours straight! She ate, pooped, we cuddled and she smiled and then went back to bed until 8:00. I love this kid!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
A name!!!
So after discussing the spelling of the name we have come to an agreement...
Abigale Danielle
I got it the way I wanted...after Dan agreed I felt bad and was just going to let him have Abigail....but being the sweet husband he is, he told me I could have it the way I liked because of the hard work I do. I seriously love that man! Who else is happy...Grandpa Gale...I can now "officially" say Abs is named after him. He was also the first I called to let him on the news.
And a new friend who happens to be a photographer took these amazing pictures of Abigale...like the one above...so I can't take credit...well the adorable baby I can....not the super cute photo.
Monday, February 7, 2011
I know....I keep saying this...
Bells LOVES her little sister. She loves her so much that she is now taking up the responsibility of waking up every 2 hours at night to tell us, "mom, dad...sister." It's pretty much the cutest thing to hear her call it out from in her room. She gets very concerned with every noise Abby makes. She is very tired today...her poor eyes have purple rings underneath....Bells that is.
Yesterday Abby was in our lounge sleeping and then she woke up and started crying. I was in the middle of washing bottles and Bells came running from the other room to check on her baby sister. The door was closed and Bells is still too short to reach the door handles. She starts yelling for Dan and me to come help her sister...meanwhile she's on her tippiest of tippy toes trying to reach the handle. Dan comes and opens the door and Bells goes running to her sister, saying, "sister," finds a bottle and hands it to Dan. I just can't get over how motherly she is towards her when she's only 17 months herself.
And lastly Dan and I were up talking one night and he was looking around at the pictures I have around the room. He looks at me and mentions how in all future pictures he is just going to be surrounded by women. It made me laugh. I love how Dan is totally fine with having his 4 girls. I can't stand when people say something along the lines of, "why don't you have a boy? Or what did you do? Are you going to try for the 5th to be a boy?" Seriously...girls aren't that bad! Dan and I are just grateful we have 4 beautiful, healthy girls...I can't stand when people get so upset about the gender of their baby....I seriously feel they should just feel blessed they were able to have a child. Anyway....there's my rant about that. I love how Dan also makes up songs about being just a diaper changer...it's a pretty funny song...if only I could catch him on video singing it without him knowing.
Yesterday Abby was in our lounge sleeping and then she woke up and started crying. I was in the middle of washing bottles and Bells came running from the other room to check on her baby sister. The door was closed and Bells is still too short to reach the door handles. She starts yelling for Dan and me to come help her sister...meanwhile she's on her tippiest of tippy toes trying to reach the handle. Dan comes and opens the door and Bells goes running to her sister, saying, "sister," finds a bottle and hands it to Dan. I just can't get over how motherly she is towards her when she's only 17 months herself.
And lastly Dan and I were up talking one night and he was looking around at the pictures I have around the room. He looks at me and mentions how in all future pictures he is just going to be surrounded by women. It made me laugh. I love how Dan is totally fine with having his 4 girls. I can't stand when people say something along the lines of, "why don't you have a boy? Or what did you do? Are you going to try for the 5th to be a boy?" Seriously...girls aren't that bad! Dan and I are just grateful we have 4 beautiful, healthy girls...I can't stand when people get so upset about the gender of their baby....I seriously feel they should just feel blessed they were able to have a child. Anyway....there's my rant about that. I love how Dan also makes up songs about being just a diaper changer...it's a pretty funny song...if only I could catch him on video singing it without him knowing.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Her birth
No, we haven't finalized the name or spelling...we both avoid the conversation.
I feel so blessed to have made such great friends here. Madison, Hannah and Bells stayed at a friend's house Thursday night since my surgery was Friday morning in Lakenheath...about an hour away from our house. I was worried how Bells was going to be but my friend told me she was great...she slept through the night and had a blast. I wasn't worried about Bells...I was worried about my friend taking care of my "wild" child. It was so nice not to have to worry about them and know they were in good hands...Dan and I went out to dinner after we dropped the girls off and then headed to the Air Force Inn and tried to get some sleep. I say "tried" since I was up every hour...I was a little anxious. We had to be at the hospital at 7 am...my surgery was scheduled for 10...and so we got there...they checked me in...I had all my labs done the day before so we just stayed in the triage room and talked with all the doctors...then the anesthesiologist. Then he came back after speaking to us about 10 minutes later and said they were just about ready for me. It was 8:30...I started getting super anxious and nervous...hello...surgery....spinal block....not fun. So I walked on back with the docs to the OR room and they started right away. I handled everything fine...the spinal block doesn't really bother me physically but I always get nervous what if they totally screw up....I can handle the "sting" from the numbing shot...I got really sick....really, really sick. I never had that happen to me before. I got scared...I couldn't move...I just kept throwing up....I felt super nauseated and I was tipped down towards my head so they could get blood to my head which made me feel like I just wanted to be put out...I couldn't take it. They kept giving me stuff to make me feel better...after the third try of meds and them making my heart beat as though I had just ran 10 miles....I started to feel better. Dan came in about this time to hear, "we had to stabilize her." He looked confused...held my hand....and I just remember saying, "I'm sorry I got sick." Apparently the spinal block worked GREAT on me...so great I went from 0 -90 in about 5 seconds so my blood pressure dropped super low. I felt much better after what seemed like forever which was maybe 10 minutes and they started the c-section. It took a little bit longer than it normally does...4th c-section means a whole lot of scar tissue to go through. She came out at 9:28 and I heard her cry, Dan looked at her...they pulled the curtain down so I could see her and her little head full of black hair...I cried...I usually get a little teary eyed when I first see them..this one was a little more emotional...we're done...this was it...last baby....they asked me once more if I it was a go on getting my tubes tied...I said yes....and so they finished up the procedure...Dan decided to stay with me since until they were done with the surgery....he was worried since I guess he still wasn't sure what had happened before he came in. He went with the baby, I went with the docs and then we all met up in my room. I was able to hold Abby for the first time...so sweet...so little....I was in love instantly.
Dan went and picked up the girls...before he left we had a friend who was getting his pre op appointment so he stopped by to say hi and see our new addition. We chatted...he took some "great" pictures and then they left and I had my first moments with Abby by myself. I love her soft hair...she likes it when we rub it. The nurses were great...so nice...so helpful. I kept wondering why I didn't have Bells there. The girls and Dan came back...they met their new sister and Bells wanted nothing to do with Abby. It was really great to see all my family together though...kind of crazy how big we are now.
Night time came and the nurses weren't so nice. Before the nice shift left, the doctor came by to check on me...he asked me if I was ready to get the catheter out and walk around...I was so ready. I hate laying in bed. The nights shift came on...she took it out...I walked around just fine. It felt good. I only had to do the dreaded "pee" show. She took it out around 7:30 pm....It was 12 am and I still hadn't gone. She was pressuring me...she told me if I didn't do it by 1, I'd have to get a dry catheter in to see what was going on. I was stressed out! I took a shower, ran all the water faucets in the bathroom...nothing. And so in went the catheter....out went a lot of pee...I had tons of water. She was giving me another chance...4 am. I was totally stressing out, chugging down water...oh and Abby was also not really wanting to eat so that was stressing me out as well. At 3:45 I peed. I was relieved. I apparently had a relapse in the medication they give me with the spinal block which caused my bladder not to work properly. Now I had to deal with Abby and her only wanting to sleep and not eat thing. I tried the breastfeeding thing...it seemed as though all the nurses I had were all lactation consultants and so they encouraged it. I was in pain by the 24th hour. It just isn't for me....really. And so luckily I had a super cool nurse who was all about comfort for the mom and getting the baby fed and she brought me in a pump. I was so happy. She also brought me in formula since I told her I've always had to supplement the first week or so and she didn't give me a long speech about the benefits of breastfeeding. I was so happy...we slept a lot better...and they even took Abby for 3 hours and I slept for those 3 hours. It was so nice and such a great night.
I had spoken to the doctor Saturday and he asked if I wanted to go home Sunday...I said yes. I was tired of that room. 5 am the pediatrician came in...Abby had lost a little more than they wanted....9% of her birth weight and so we were going to have to get her weighed Monday. They asked me if I still wanted to leave...I still did...I figured we would just stay at the inn that night. Other than her weight she was healthy. I just had to wait for my doctor to discharge me. I fed Abby and then we fell asleep. I was so asleep that the doctor had been trying to wake me up for about 5 minutes. I was out...exhausted...I know I would hear Abby cry but everything else was ignored. I checked out just fine and by 11 am we were out the doors of the hospital.
It was a great stay...besides my uptight nurse the one night, I was super happy with everything. And really, I can't complain too much about her...she was just doing her job. And most importantly, my family was able to visit me whenever...they didn't have those crazy hours like last time.
Monday's appointment went well...Abby hadn't gained as much as they wanted...really...how much is she suppose to gain in one day...but I had just fed her before they weighed her and so she was a little heavier which helped since her weight loss was now at 7.5%...enough to not have us go in again until her 2 week check up!
Abby is such a good baby, yes we have to wake her up every 2-3 hours to feed her, but she goes right back to sleep if she already isn't asleep. She hardly cries and is so cute when she's awake. She's very alert and loves her sisters. Bells has warmed up to her quite well and is Abby's little protector. When Bells hears Abby, she goes running and says, "sister." She also likes to check on her first thing after she wakes up in the morning. I do occasionally find some odd toys in Abby's bed...play food, toy car, phone...Bells is looking after her little sister and making sure she has toys.
I'm trying to adjust to life. My feet are still very much swollen...I'm suppose to rest but I can't....too much to do. I was out at the Commissary on day 4...today we ventured out to the post office. I'm feeling pretty good though...minus emotions being everywhere. That will hopefully be sorted out in a few days since I'm even getting tired of myself being this way.
I feel so blessed to have made such great friends here. Madison, Hannah and Bells stayed at a friend's house Thursday night since my surgery was Friday morning in Lakenheath...about an hour away from our house. I was worried how Bells was going to be but my friend told me she was great...she slept through the night and had a blast. I wasn't worried about Bells...I was worried about my friend taking care of my "wild" child. It was so nice not to have to worry about them and know they were in good hands...Dan and I went out to dinner after we dropped the girls off and then headed to the Air Force Inn and tried to get some sleep. I say "tried" since I was up every hour...I was a little anxious. We had to be at the hospital at 7 am...my surgery was scheduled for 10...and so we got there...they checked me in...I had all my labs done the day before so we just stayed in the triage room and talked with all the doctors...then the anesthesiologist. Then he came back after speaking to us about 10 minutes later and said they were just about ready for me. It was 8:30...I started getting super anxious and nervous...hello...surgery....spinal block....not fun. So I walked on back with the docs to the OR room and they started right away. I handled everything fine...the spinal block doesn't really bother me physically but I always get nervous what if they totally screw up....I can handle the "sting" from the numbing shot...I got really sick....really, really sick. I never had that happen to me before. I got scared...I couldn't move...I just kept throwing up....I felt super nauseated and I was tipped down towards my head so they could get blood to my head which made me feel like I just wanted to be put out...I couldn't take it. They kept giving me stuff to make me feel better...after the third try of meds and them making my heart beat as though I had just ran 10 miles....I started to feel better. Dan came in about this time to hear, "we had to stabilize her." He looked confused...held my hand....and I just remember saying, "I'm sorry I got sick." Apparently the spinal block worked GREAT on me...so great I went from 0 -90 in about 5 seconds so my blood pressure dropped super low. I felt much better after what seemed like forever which was maybe 10 minutes and they started the c-section. It took a little bit longer than it normally does...4th c-section means a whole lot of scar tissue to go through. She came out at 9:28 and I heard her cry, Dan looked at her...they pulled the curtain down so I could see her and her little head full of black hair...I cried...I usually get a little teary eyed when I first see them..this one was a little more emotional...we're done...this was it...last baby....they asked me once more if I it was a go on getting my tubes tied...I said yes....and so they finished up the procedure...Dan decided to stay with me since until they were done with the surgery....he was worried since I guess he still wasn't sure what had happened before he came in. He went with the baby, I went with the docs and then we all met up in my room. I was able to hold Abby for the first time...so sweet...so little....I was in love instantly.
Dan went and picked up the girls...before he left we had a friend who was getting his pre op appointment so he stopped by to say hi and see our new addition. We chatted...he took some "great" pictures and then they left and I had my first moments with Abby by myself. I love her soft hair...she likes it when we rub it. The nurses were great...so nice...so helpful. I kept wondering why I didn't have Bells there. The girls and Dan came back...they met their new sister and Bells wanted nothing to do with Abby. It was really great to see all my family together though...kind of crazy how big we are now.
Night time came and the nurses weren't so nice. Before the nice shift left, the doctor came by to check on me...he asked me if I was ready to get the catheter out and walk around...I was so ready. I hate laying in bed. The nights shift came on...she took it out...I walked around just fine. It felt good. I only had to do the dreaded "pee" show. She took it out around 7:30 pm....It was 12 am and I still hadn't gone. She was pressuring me...she told me if I didn't do it by 1, I'd have to get a dry catheter in to see what was going on. I was stressed out! I took a shower, ran all the water faucets in the bathroom...nothing. And so in went the catheter....out went a lot of pee...I had tons of water. She was giving me another chance...4 am. I was totally stressing out, chugging down water...oh and Abby was also not really wanting to eat so that was stressing me out as well. At 3:45 I peed. I was relieved. I apparently had a relapse in the medication they give me with the spinal block which caused my bladder not to work properly. Now I had to deal with Abby and her only wanting to sleep and not eat thing. I tried the breastfeeding thing...it seemed as though all the nurses I had were all lactation consultants and so they encouraged it. I was in pain by the 24th hour. It just isn't for me....really. And so luckily I had a super cool nurse who was all about comfort for the mom and getting the baby fed and she brought me in a pump. I was so happy. She also brought me in formula since I told her I've always had to supplement the first week or so and she didn't give me a long speech about the benefits of breastfeeding. I was so happy...we slept a lot better...and they even took Abby for 3 hours and I slept for those 3 hours. It was so nice and such a great night.
I had spoken to the doctor Saturday and he asked if I wanted to go home Sunday...I said yes. I was tired of that room. 5 am the pediatrician came in...Abby had lost a little more than they wanted....9% of her birth weight and so we were going to have to get her weighed Monday. They asked me if I still wanted to leave...I still did...I figured we would just stay at the inn that night. Other than her weight she was healthy. I just had to wait for my doctor to discharge me. I fed Abby and then we fell asleep. I was so asleep that the doctor had been trying to wake me up for about 5 minutes. I was out...exhausted...I know I would hear Abby cry but everything else was ignored. I checked out just fine and by 11 am we were out the doors of the hospital.
It was a great stay...besides my uptight nurse the one night, I was super happy with everything. And really, I can't complain too much about her...she was just doing her job. And most importantly, my family was able to visit me whenever...they didn't have those crazy hours like last time.
Monday's appointment went well...Abby hadn't gained as much as they wanted...really...how much is she suppose to gain in one day...but I had just fed her before they weighed her and so she was a little heavier which helped since her weight loss was now at 7.5%...enough to not have us go in again until her 2 week check up!
Abby is such a good baby, yes we have to wake her up every 2-3 hours to feed her, but she goes right back to sleep if she already isn't asleep. She hardly cries and is so cute when she's awake. She's very alert and loves her sisters. Bells has warmed up to her quite well and is Abby's little protector. When Bells hears Abby, she goes running and says, "sister." She also likes to check on her first thing after she wakes up in the morning. I do occasionally find some odd toys in Abby's bed...play food, toy car, phone...Bells is looking after her little sister and making sure she has toys.
I'm trying to adjust to life. My feet are still very much swollen...I'm suppose to rest but I can't....too much to do. I was out at the Commissary on day 4...today we ventured out to the post office. I'm feeling pretty good though...minus emotions being everywhere. That will hopefully be sorted out in a few days since I'm even getting tired of myself being this way.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
She's here!
She arrived Friday at 9:28 am London time, weighing 8 lbs 1 oz and 20 inches long with a full head of dark hair. She's beautiful...we have a name...we haven't decided how we are going to spell it and we're not sure about her middle name. 
Her sisters love her...we love her....she fits in our family perfectly. My fabulous birthing story will come once we have her name settled...seriously...Dan should just give in to my way. I'm too exhausted to discuss it...and so it remains unknown...but at least we don't have to call her "baby."
Her sisters love her...we love her....she fits in our family perfectly. My fabulous birthing story will come once we have her name settled...seriously...Dan should just give in to my way. I'm too exhausted to discuss it...and so it remains unknown...but at least we don't have to call her "baby."
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