Our first 2 weeks as a family of 4

 Well - I have to say - I am just in Mommy heaven these last couple weeks.  I have just really tried to sit back and count my blessings and realize how lucky I am to have such a beautiful, healthy,  happy family.  We have gotten so lucky to have some gorgeous weather - and we started enjoying it all together pretty much from the start!

Saturday - our first day home all together!! We were giddy driving home - with our sweet family ,and it was a gorgeous day outside, we felt on top of the world! We picked up some Jimmy John's on the way home, and once both kids were down for naps - I got in my 'nesting' mode - I was putting away/cleaning/organizing the house like crazy.  I had so much energy and I guess sitting in a hospital bed for 2 1/2 days straight will make you want to get up and move around!  After naps - we actually walked up to the park and got some good play time - this first picture is Ellie all snug in her stroller (don't worry, I rested on the bench and let P chase Will around) 

Sunday - We were a tad tired on Sunday (we mostly were taking turns holding Ellie in the big chair in our room and dozing with her, as she doesn't really like to be put down :))  But, we had another great day - but we had some visitors coming - Lindsay and Chad Kobus came down from Lincoln to visit!! We were SO excited to see them and get to spend some time with them - and agian, enjoy a beautiful day and playing on the swingset in the backyard.  Uncle Cody also came by to meet Ellie - and both were so generous to bring dinner for us. 

Monday - Monday morning was Ellie's first doctor's appointment - and I took her to that, while Patrick took Will up to the park.  She had a great report - weighing in at 7 lbs 15 oz, stable from when we left hospital and that is great!) Then, we picked up a prescription for Will at CVS (and I got asked for the 2nd time already when I was due with my baby....ugh, excuse me people, do you not see me carrying/holding the baby i JUST had?!  I mean, I realize i still look pregnant people, but really, it's probably best to just not say anything!) 

First doctor's appointment



Silly brother riding his bike



Tuesday -  we enjoyed a nice trip up to the firestation to visit Uncle brett and see some firetrucks.  Will was a little apprehensive at first, and then started to warm up to it all, but still didn't want to sit in the firetruck :)  He was holding on to Patrick for dear life!  But, it was fun and appreciate Brett taking the time to show us around and put on all his gear for us!



Looking so pretty to go see the firetrucks




Playing at the park with Daddy

 Wednesday - Will went to St. Luke's and had a great time playing with his friends - and Mommy and Daddy got to love all over Ellie all day!  We were both able to 'get some things done' and be productive - at least mommy felt like it!  Just doing the laundry, and emptying dishwasher can be huge accomplishments these days!

Thursday - we enjoyed an awesome day at Deanna Rose farm!  This is an awesome place for kids to visit!  They have animals, you can feed the goats, see cows, ride bikes, play in the playground - just all sorts of fun things for kids.  Another gorgeous day - and I had my first real hormonal/emotional moment - where I felt this overwhelming feeling of happiness and love for my sweet family.  There are lots of stay at home Mom's there also, and I was so wishing that I could do this with all my family, all the time.  I know we still have time to do that on the weekends, and I could tell I was being very emotional, it was just a great moment and I felt just incredibly happy and had such a full heart.  (big fat tears were streaming down my face there - whoops)

Friday - we went up to see Mimi and Grandpa - and play with Emma.  We had a nice lunch and then took Will to get his haircut. 

Sweet Emma and Will enjoying some play time together

Saturday - we started off by doing our usual Eggtc for breakfast!  It was so fun to see our normal waiters and people at Eggtc - (we definitely started going every Saturday morning!)  So, Will got his French Toast - I got a hug from our normal waitress, and we had several compliments on our sweet girl (who slept through it all - you really forget how much they sleep so early on.....and how much they poop!!)

Then, Amy, Daniel and Gwyn came over to play!  We had a great time playing at the park, getting a Starbucks drink and playing in the backyard.  Amy and I even got a little time in the sun while all the kids were sleeping..... or supposed to be.  * Funny story - Daniel was in the pack and play upstairs in our room, well, we have Will's monitor on up by our bed, and instead of sleeping, Will was singing some songs in his crib - Patrick, who was inside, hears Daniel yell down " STOP SINGING BUBS" :)  HAHA!! So funny!  Those kids are so funny together - glad they get along so well, but neither of them slept, so they didn't stay too long, as that's never a good combo.

Caught her with her eyes open! So pretty!

It's SO tough being a sweet baby!

Love these silly, fun, sweet, onery boys!! BFF's

Sunday - we got to enjoy celebrating Elaina's 5th birthday!  It seems so crazy that she is already 5!  Will loved spending the time playing with his cousins and singing to Elaina - and of course, enjoying some birthday cake :) 

Monday - I was somewhat anxious for this day to come - with Patrick going back to work (we had such a FUN stay-cation as we called it - doing something fun everyday - as you can read)  So, knowing also that it was supposed to SNOW on Monday, and it would likely be too cold to go out and play - I was a little nervous as to how the day would go.  Well, we had our ups and downs - Will slept in pretty late, which was nice and woke up in a great mood.  (see pics below) and he spent some time loving on Ellie (he is ALL about her - and will always ask to see her.  If she is sitting in her bouncy chair - he will crouch down and say ' Hi Ellie in this funny little voice - almost kind of nasally and whining, something that Patrick and I laugh about and imitate how he says it!)  But, he is definitely smitten with her and just loves being around her. Couldn't have asked for better reaction from him!

Anyway, I should have just recognized that Will didn't nap at all on Saturday or Sunday = not a happy, rested todder = him pushing my buttons all day and trying to see what he could get away with = a very bossy, demanding, temper-tantrums type of day = made for a long day = we do better when we get outside = me having my 2nd hormonal night, when after Patrick got home - he is playing with Will and they are having fun and I felt like all I really did all day was nag at him or make him try to listen.  I was all sad that I was going to be the not fun parent, all the while realizing I was having a hormonal moment and that was silly.  Let's just say - with her needing to be held almost all the time, unless in a really good sleep - and him being super needy - it was a little challenging, but we made it!

Be still my heart - my sweet babies

Love

Only way I could get Will to get his diaper changed - if he could lay next to Ellie

Watching a movie on this cold day - stuck inside

Tuesday - today we had Ellie's newborn pictures.  Again, I was a little nervous with getting both kids out, ready, clean and out to pictures (it's a 45 min. drive) all by myself.  But, it's AMAZING what a good night's sleep does for Will - and he woke up today and was just the normal sweet boy that I know.  He listened well all day - we had fun playing in the morning and we giggled together a lot.  He is so funny right now, and I was so glad to remember that he's usually like that (not the bi-polar boy he was the day before)  Anyway, he did great on the drive out - and thankfully, she slept the whole time too - and was a GREAT model for the photo shoot.  I'm so excited to see how they turn out!

Well - that's about it for now..... I just wanted to make sure I documented how much fun we have been having - we have been out and about and living like we usually would.  It's crazy how much more you do when you have another kid to entertain/look after.  I know we would have never gotten out so much when Will was that newborn, but with her, we are just kind of staying active and busy - which is how we like to be!  We had a wonderful time together - the week that Patrick took off - and made some very sweet and special memories that I never want to forget. 

Will is going to St. Luke's still on Wednesday's, so I'm excited tomorrow to just snuggle up with my sweet girl and focus 100% just on her :)

We are very blessed.  Thank you God for all that you have given us.

Elizabeth 'Ellie' Grace has arrived!!

Well our sweet girl has finally made her debut into the world - on Thursday, April 3rd to be exact.  The funny thing is, I was scheduled to be induced on her due date (Friday, April 4th) and had finally realized that I was ok with knowing that we would be induced and we were making plans for that. 

I actually wasn't feeling very well on the Wednesday before - started having a bad head cold, and stayed home from work that day to try to rest and get better - knowing she would be here soon.  SO glad I did that - b/c it seemed to work!  Anyway, late in the night that night, or early Thursday morning - at about 2:30am I started having contractions (I had had some the week prior, that didn't turn into anything) so, I waited until several had come and gone until I started tracking the contractions on my app I had loaded on my phone.  Well - those puppies were coming pretty hard, and at about 4-5 minutes apart.  In between these, I went to the bathroom, and lost my mucus plug (sorry if it's TMI, but hey - it's my birth/labor story and I'll tell it like it is :))  So, anyway, at that point, I got a little excited thinking maybe this was really going to happen.  I went back and laid in bed, after waking Patrick up - and was already feeling like I needed to breathe through the contractions.  I waited an hour, and then called the Dr. on call that night (which just happened to be Dr. Wittek!) and she said - alright, I'll call the hospital and tell them you are coming in!  Oh my gosh!!!!  Here we go!!!!!!  So, Patrick called Bill - who got up and came down at 3:30am to stay with Will (thanks again Bill!)  I proceeded to take a shower, wash my hair, dry it and straighten it (for those of you who know me, this takes quite a bit, but knew I would feel better going in with clean hair that wasn't all frizzy and gross looking)  Anyway, so we left for the hosptial at about 4:30 and went right to triage. I have an old co-worker who is now working nights at Shawnee Mission - so I sent her a message saying we were coming in and while I wanted to catch up with her, I didn't really want her doing my 'exams' :)  So, I got checked and was at a 2-3cm - so they basically make you wait in that room for an hour to make sure you really are in labor.  Ugh - what?? Last time I walked in and was able to get epidural right away.  So, I'm thinking, ok, I can do this - but really, I didn't remember the contractions hurting as bad when I had Will.  After some major "ow ow ow ow ow's" and "I just feel like i have to poop!" comments through contractions - they said, ok you seem to really be in labor, we'll get the IV started and get you into a room (Thank you Jesus -- please get that epidural in my ASAP!)

We got settled into room around 6am - and I got the epidural around 7am - the anticipation of that huge needle (not like i look or have ever seen that needle - I can't even think about it!) is worse than the actual stick.  Now it does burn for a bit, but I was very ready for the burn and the contraction pain to be done, I didn't care at all.  Luckily that kicked in pretty quick and by 7:30 was sitting pretty comfortable and we even tried to close our eyes for a bit.  Dr. Wittek came in and broke my water around 8am, where I was a 5-6cm  when she checked, and said that since I was at that point when the nurse last checked, that I may need some pitocin in a bit.  So, I figured we were going to be there for a bit, and Patrick and I turned on a movie and the nurses were joking that it's funny you have to go into labor to have a little date night/alone time together! ha!  Well, next time I got checked, I was at a 9cm!  Whoa- what happend to 7-8?!! Guess breaking my water made things happen fast.  They called Dr. Wittek to tell her to come back and told me that I would start pushing soon.  Once they go through instructions again on how to push, and told me I was ready, I still laugh to myself b/c when they said we are ready to push, Patrick takes off his NorthFace jacket and puts it on the couch, like he was all ready to do this!! :)  Haha--still have that visual in my head and found it so funny.  Anyway, after pushing once, I had that feeling again that her head was basically out - and when I asked if it was, they all said, yes it was.  One more push and she would be out!  It really is such a surreal experience and thought, that I would push one more time and this little human being would be in our lives forever.  Well, that was all it took - and out come our Ellie!  This time I was more aware of how she would look coming out - and they cleaned her off quickly and then had us do skin to skin for awhile.  I just kept staring at her, but couldn't figure out who she looked like, and was just trying to soak her all in.  Then, they let me try nursing her - and as the nurse took her stats, she noticed that she was shaking and they checked her blood sugars, which ended up being pretty low.  So, they had us do more skin to skin time, and really once all said and done, it was about 1 1/2 hours that I was holding her, and I realized Patrick hadn't even gotten to yet!  We were almost ready to be moved to our new room - and luckily he got to hold her for a bit before Bill, Marilee and Will all came in to visit. 

Will was a VERY tired boy - as he woke up at 4:30am when Grandpa Bill came down - so he didn't know what to make of everything . He is pretty apprehensive of new situations/places anyway, and he was very clingy to Patrick.  He liked looking at his sister - and luckily went to me right away and I got some snuggle time with him too.  They didn't stay long - as he was very tired - and had a great time staying with Mimi and Grandpa - although Patrick and I both said that it just didn't feel 'right' in the hosptial without having Will there with us.   We had lots of visitors including: Grandma Bobbie and Grandpa Don, Aunt Amy, Brett & Angie, Brady and Emma, Uncle Joe, Grandpa D, Breane Lucas, Michael, Debra, and Ben.  Thanks for all the sweet thoughts and wishes. 

During our short stay Ellies blood sugars were going a little up and down- which they say is pretty normal the first day or so and then should start regulating.  Anyway -they had to poke her lirrle, tiny foot every time before AND after feedings to check her count and had to have three in a row over 45.  After having two in a row, she would dip again and we would start over.  By about 6pm on Friday we were finally done with that and she passed that test!

The other little challenge was that she wasnt latching on as easily as it was with Will (guess thats more rare and I shouldn't have taken for granted how easy it was for us to get started.  Well, after two days of very sore, blistered nipples (she has a VERY strong, tight-lipped suck), and workign with the nurses and lactation consultant on some suggestions - our new pediatrician that we started seeing said she could possibly need her tongue clipped.  What?!  I had never heard of that - Dr. Slaymaker said that basically it's kind of a lost art, and they don't really even teach it anymore, - so it's not a procedure that he does, but another doctor that would be in that morning could look to see if it's something she would recommend for Ellie.  Basically, they reassured that's a very painless process, there are no nerve endings in that lower tissue of your tongue - and they could do it that morning if we wanted.  Well, after consulting with this next doctor, we thought we should go ahead and see if it would help - and they took her to nursery (we didn't really want to watch/see it )  - although we were told she did great and hardly cried at all.  Phew. So, they brought her right back in to nurse and it was AMAZING!! It made a huge difference and so glad we did that. Turns out being tongue-tied is very herditary and come to find out - Grandpa Bill also is tongue tied. 

So, we got to go home then after that procedure, at around 10am on Saturday morning (after taking some adorable pictures of Will (in a good mood this time) checking out his new sister :)