She was born Monday January 12, 2012 via scheduled c-section at 4:14pm. She weighted 6lbs 7 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. Eric and I, and many family members, had once again guessed boy and larger than Annabel (she was 7 lbs, 7 oz), but we were wrong.
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| The night before |
A scheduled c-section is an interesting experience in how you just show up at the hospital, wait around for your time and walk into the operating room. It is truly amazing to see so many people in one room who are all there to help you have a baby. Everything went smoothly; the spinal didn't hurt, and I was much more comfortable and interactive this time around. And, hearing a baby cry for the first time was, once again, the most amazing sound in the world!!
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| Check out the umbilical cord. Amazing. |
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| I really like the sincere look of excitement in the resident Dr. Craven's eyes. |
We lucked out again and got a private room. They try hard to get moms who are post c-section into private rooms, but it's not guaranteed. I couldn't imagine sharing a room with others after such an event. Annabel stayed late at day care until about 8 on that Monday. We stayed two nights with Eric driving back and forth to help get Annabel settled for bed (which went really late both nights), and our friend Savannah stayed the night at our place. Eric returned in the morning to get her off to day care. I was alone a lot, but managed, and Eric was exhausted. Annabel seemed to have mixed feelings about everything, but did great those couple days.
The evening that Eric brought Annabel to the hospital to meet her new sister, she walked into the room apparently unsure why she was there, saw the baby and said, "baby came out?!" She excitedly came near me and the baby and gave Hadley a plush Thomas and book that she had picked out as a gift for "tiny baby."
Annabel really struggled for a few days and I felt like we needed to reconnect after being away from each other for a couple nights. She seemed a bit saddened and it didn't help that she was carted off to day care right away for a few days, maybe feeling like she was being pushed away a bit.
She has been sweet with Hadley, often saying, "I'm your big sister," "you're fine, you're fine," and "it's otay, baby." Just recently she started singing her Tinkle, Tinkle Little Star when she cries. She's getting more comfortable with her and occasionally is not the most gentle, but overall pretty good with her. She called her Viola for a few days, as that is the most recent baby she had met. She has chosen Rosie as Hadley's engine name and Guido as her Cars name. In general, Annabel has been thrown for a loop and has been more difficult. She hasn't been going to bed very easily and decided that since she's not going to day care, it is a good time to drop naps (No!!!). We are trying more outings, as we have been cooped up with my limitations and cold weather. Eric and Annabel have been playing outside, weather permitting, and that has helped somewhat. Even getting out of the house for Hadley's 1 month check-up (up to 9 lb, 2 oz) seemed to help.
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| Can't get enough of the hands above the head. |
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| Annabel was sleeping and we set Hadley on her, but cute none the less. |
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| Annabel set this up one of the first days we were home. So sweet. |
Annabel stayed home with me quite a few days right away after Hadley's birth, where the plan had been to go to day care to allow me a bit less work at home and rest to recover. She had some sort of pink eye that kept her home, then day care closed a few days due to providers' illness. It was really good for our hearts, but terrible for my recovery. Eric worked every day minus the day she was born and the day after, so it was a challenge.
Quickly after we got home from the hospital, Eric and I both came down with the worst sinus congestion/pressure and cough, from which we are finally recovered. The infection stayed an entire month with us both needing to take antibiotics in the end because it would not go away. Extreme pain on the bridge of my nose and teeth pain, with decreased ability to taste. It would fluctuate a bit, but it was miserable.
I have barely left the house since Hadley's birth and the odd thing is, I hadn't feel stir crazy at all because I was barely functioning, so anything outside normal daily care wasn't even of interest. However, if this illness hadn't struck, I think my recovery would have been smooth. Pain has not been too bad and no surgical complications.
The hardest part has been not being able to pick Annabel up. I've had to a few times this week out of necessity at home, but I do not like the ache afterwards. She has figured out that I can't lift her, so if she doesn't want to do something, she just parks herself on the floor and will not move. This has forced us to stay home, as I cannot chase her or pick her up if needed. She does, however, say in the cutest voice with a serious look, "I know you can't hold me." Or, "can you hold me just a little bit?"
My mom and sister were here in early February which as so wonderful and helpful. I know both girls miss them. I'll tell more about their stay in a future post as soon as I can.
Luckily, Hadley is a wonderful, calm baby so far. She is definitely more of a sleeper so far than Annabel, so that is lucky now that our time is split between two kids. She has the calmest cry; sounding like a little cat once in awhile. She is calmed quite easily. Overall, I've felt a lot less anxiety over taking care of an infant, which I'm sure reflects onto Hadley too.
Thank you so much for all of the kind words of encouragement and prayers during Hadley's birth and after. We have been so grateful for multiple friends in town who have brought us meals and baked goods. We have never been the recipients of meals before, but does that ever make a HUGE difference. We will definitely have to pay it forward some day.
Our friends Carrie and Hamish, said it best in regards to Hadley's arrival with "the best thing ever" and "good job team." Great reminder to enjoy every minute and that we are in this together.
