Home From the Hospital

So it's obligatory that I recount my birthing story here, but first I'll just throw in some pictures with a few captions and then you don't have to read everything. :)

We had some visitors in the hospital, but I only got a picture of these two cute girls with Emerson. They had quite the time when Ben got them all wound up, and they seemed pretty excited to hold the baby.

Here are me and Sammi getting all ready to go home. The nurses loved her outfit with all her accessories.

So tiny in her huge camouflage carseat!

Big Brother Emerson and Grandma J made us this cute sign. It was perfect for Bebe Sister because E loves to color with pink.

Having a Sunday nap on Daddy

July 23, 2010 Induction day: I got up and ready to be at Riverside hospital with Ben at 7:00 a.m. I was so nervous the night before, but felt much better after Ben gave me a blessing, and felt calm for the most part during the whole process. It was so nice to have Grandma J at our house so we could leave Emerson

The nurses called us back and got us all settled in with the lovely hospital gown and an IV in my arm. I think the IV is the worst part. I almost passed out with both of my deliveries at that part, but for some reason nothing else really bothers me too much. So then we settled in to wait. We read our books and chatted and napped until I started having quite a bit of discomfort and was dilated enough that they would let me have my epidural. (Insert praises sung of epidurals here.) The anesthesiologist was the nicest guy and did a great job. My nurse was awesome as well. She was great at talking me through everything and helping me relax through the uncomfortable parts.

After I got my epidural, things went much faster than with Emerson. We were to the pushing part before I knew it, and I had to hold back until the doctor got there. I did 3 rounds of pushing (and I felt quite a bit..yikes), and our precious little girl was born at 3:52 p.m. She was a little stinker and held her breath for a long time, but her Apgar scores were 8 and 9, so she was good. She weighed 6 lbs. 12 oz. and was 19 inches long. After her initial fury at being born, she just laid there and looked around while sucking on her fingers. I finally got to hold her after the doctor was finished stitching me up and I fell in love with her instantly. I think Ben was pretty smitten as well.

We spent the next two days in the hospital and I recovered so much faster than with Emerson. I think my body wasn't quite as in shock as it was with him. It was so nice to just relax in the hospital and hold my sweet little girl and get to know her. I missed Emerson a lot though and was so happy to see him when he came the first night to meet bebe sister. Ben was able to stay at the hospital with me both nights thanks to Grandma J taking such good care of Emerson. They came to visit on Saturday again, and Ben switched off with Grandma so that she could hang out with me and Sammi at the hospital and he and E got to do manly things at home. Then we all had Caffe Da Vinci takeout at the hospital together. (It was unreal how bad Riverside's food is. Yuck.)

Sunday afternoon we came home and I didn't quite feel ready to go home and be Mom to two kids! It was hard to be worried though when Emerson was so excited to have Mommy home. But luckily Grandma is around for a couple weeks while Ben is so busy with school. I think E's really going to be sad when Grandma has to go home because he's become quite attached to her. (He's not going to be the only one who is in tears.)

We sure love our little peanut and are so glad to have her here. We think she's the cutest girl ever!