Monday, February 23, 2009

A. Lincoln

We own several books on Lincoln. Travis heard good things about this new book called, "A. Lincoln". So, this is what I got for him for Valentines Day. We have been reading it together at nights the last few days. We're already on page 180. It's a really great book and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good biography on this most amazing man. The author is very good. He writes in a way that is easy to understand. It just flows so nicely and isn't really dry like a textbook.
Anyway, there is a mostly non-Elizabeth post. (o: I say mostly cause I'm throwing in a picture that Joseph took the other day. Aren't we a couple of dolls?

Friday, February 20, 2009

Had Enough?

Here are a couple more pictures of Elizabeth. Have you had enough of this topic yet? I haven't even scratched the surface! (o: I realized when I started uploading the photos that I don't have a recent one of Spencer with her yet. He loves her very much but was on the computer playing his SIM City 4 when I took the pictures of his brothers. (he has his priorities) Enjoy!

Connor isn't jealous like we were afraid he would be. He loves his sister and is very protective of her. She makes so much as a squeak and he's letting us know we need to attend to her.
Joseph is a huge help with Elizabeth. He loves to hold her and bring her to me when she cries.
Beauty in brown. She was looking at a picture on the wall at Chuck E Cheeses.
Sleeping and thinking at once.

Here is her side of the room. On the wall there are fairies and stars. The star theme follows all around the room to Connors side with planets and stars. (o:

Thursday, February 19, 2009

To Sum it Up...

So, here is the baby story in a nutshell. It's just too long to tell the whole story....I was originally due Feb.5th, but because of my blood pressure history, we had planned an induction for January 30th. I was supposed to call the hospital in the early morning hours to see if they had room for me in the inn. I called...no room. They told me to call my doctor and go in to see him and have a non-stress test and get my bp checked since it was not likely that I would be having a baby until the following Monday. I was so bummed, but what could I do?

I went in to the doctors office that morning. Baby looked great and my bp was pretty good. I had a bit of a headache though, which is a warning sign of PIH (pregnancy induced hypertension) and toxemia. The doc gave me a scrip for Hydrocodone and told me to go home, take one, and wait a while. If the headache persisted, call the office. My mom and Travis kept telling me to "get a headache", but I actually really did have one and it really wasn't going away. Plus, the drugs were actually making me feel worse. I called the doctor and they told me to go to the hospital for observation.

Just after 4 pm, we went to the hospital. They put me in a lovely backless gown and started up the non-stress test. The funny nurse talked to me and asked me questions and we filled out paperwork, all the while a machine was taking my bp. The nurse kept shaking her head and finally said, "Your bp is yucky!" Then she left. Pretty soon my super fabulous doctor, Dr. Lawrence (have I mentioned he is wonderful?) came in. He took one look at my bp, gasped and then grabbed my foot and said, "You are having this baby tonight!" (I looked over and my bp was 194/110) He then explained I would be getting a 24 hour dose of Magnesium Sulfate. It's awful stuff that makes you feel hot, exhausted and just plain horrible, but it also helps keep the bp down and prevents me from having a stroke. (like my mom had when she was pregnant)

I got wheeled into a room, administered lots of drugs that did make me feel yucky and then told I would be getting my epidural soon. It was awesome! I had these cute little contractions all day and I was going to get an epidural. I must say I would rather have contractions than that magnesium, but hindsight...I got the epidural, my bp went down nice and low and I laid in my bed watching National Treasure 2 with Travis, waiting for our angel to arrive.

Needless to say, the "mag" slowed down the labor process, but since I was in no pain, I was cool with it. I was pretty thirsty and hungry, but the awesome nurses brought me icechips, so I was good. (o: At about 12:25am I said it felt like I should push. The nurse said, "Let's do a couple of practice pushes." So I did. Couple of minutes later the doctor, not my wonderful Dr. Lawrence (cause he had to take his wife on a date for her birthday), but equally nice and almost as wonderful, Dr. Naomi Olson, came in. I pushed for a bit longer and out she popped, easy as pie at 12:41am. A NICU nurse was standing by because the mag was in my system plus it was also in Elizabeths. Baby came out, Travis cut the cord, and she got whisked off to the bed to be taken care of by NICU lady. She responded really quickly. Yelled her little Nelson head off, so they gave her to me. She was perfect in every way.
I ended up staying in the hospital until Sunday afternoon. I was on a liquid restriction while I was in the hospital because I had toxemia. The nurses all kept telling me how I really had Dr. Lawrence riled up and how I had scared everyone with my bp the night before. One nurse told me that I had a pretty scary night. I had no idea it was a scary night. I'm really grateful for doctors, nurses and modern technology that took such good care of me and made the birth of my baby girl seem not scary, even though they were all very worried.

The toxemia persisted for almost 2 weeks after she was born, but I am feeling better now. I'm just plain tired, but that's okay. This is my last baby and I am savoring every sleepy moment that I am having because I won't be experiencing it ever again.

That's my story. It's late and Spencer is standing here telling me I am taking way too long on the computer, so I will stop for now. I'm sure there are details I missed, but it's a good summary I believe. I'll end with a couple of pictures. This was not long after we got to the room and had just started the mag.

After they figured out that she was just fine, they finally gave her to me to hold.

Here she is just a few minutes old. She was so perfect.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Sadness Rules

Tomorrow my mom leaves us. It is going to be a very sad day. I have to have a baby in order for her to come visit, and since this is my last baby, will I ever see her again??? (I'm sure I will, but still...) Mom has been a tremendous help to me and the kids have just adored her. I was on bedrest the week after Elizabeth was born, and don't know what I would have done without mom.

In the very near future I will post lots of pictures and the story of Elizabeth's birth (so stop asking people~you know who you are). (o: For now, here are a couple of photos.
Joseph took this photo. Pretty cute of our little baby. I like the fact that my face isn't as swollen as it was the week before.
I always said I would never do this to my kids, but mom bought the glasses, so I just had to try them out.
This was the day before I went to the doctor and found out just how sick I was. I didn't know I was toxic (I had toxemia), I just knew that my face, feet, and hands were really swollen and I felt absolutely horrible. Who knew that you could die from child birth after having the baby. Good thing she is our last.
Last, but not least, my mommy and my baby girl together. I don't think I've dressed Elizabeth once since Mom has been here. She loves dressing her up and changing her clothes a couple times a day. It's been so sweet to watch. I love you Mom!!!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

More Pictures of Little Miss Perfect

Here are a couple more pictures of our little sweetness. She is a very good baby and the life of the party here. She is such a joy to have in our home already. Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to wish us a congrats. Once I feel a bit more like myself we will do more detailed blog reports. For now, enjoy the pictures.
Sleeping Beauty
A good shot of her eyes. Gorgeous, I know. (o:
My mom bought these shirts. Aren't they just the cutest?

Monday, February 2, 2009

She's Here!


Elizabeth Rose was born January 31,2009 at 12:41am. She was 7 pound 9 oz, 20 1/2" long. She is as perfect as a little baby can be. I will post the whole story at a later time, but wanted to get a picture on for all to see. (o: