1st Week Home

 Some serious stacking by Jackson. Thankful for any and all toys to keep this fun toddler busy

 Cozy fires built by pro-pyro Daddy! And fun watching lots of Christmas movies

 Jackson alternating between big boy bed and crib (Note, he decided to transition, on his own, to his big boy bed the week before Ellie's arrival. And to potty train. I was expecting a slight regression when she was born, so we've left crib and bed in his room.)

 This boy loves to organize, re-organize, stack, and re-stack. He found the loot on sissy's crib.

 Ellie meeting Uncle Jason, in town from Austin

Jackson pointing to the helicopter in the never-ending toy ads

 She's not a fan of bath time

I love the ruffly butt outfits for little girls. Too cute

We are so grateful to be home, healthy, and happy.  And it's even better that Andy is home, using up his vacation days, and being the best helper ever.

Our Christmas Miracle

"The Lord your God is with you; He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."  Zephaniah 3:17

Ellie is truly our little Christmas miracle.  I've recorded below her birth story for my own personal record of the Lord's amazing faithfulness, tender mercies, protection, and provision for us and over us on December 17th.  While it's not a graphic account, if you don't care to hear birth stories, don't read on.  But if you do read this post, I hope you're encouraged by the Lord's great love and my our little miracle baby.

I had many doubts about inducing at 39 weeks, fearful that if something were wrong with my baby it would be "my fault" that I "selfishly" chose to induce.  However, my OB assured me time and again that my body would be ready for an induction at 39 weeks, and that it's very common for second time moms to induce.  Even though my OB wouldn't be there for delivery since she would be on vacation, I trusted the OB who would be delivering our baby.  Plus, I wouldn't be in the hospital for Christmas and could be home celebrating Christmas with our family of four.  I kept praying that I would go into labor on my own, but overall that the Lord's will would be done.

Well, I definitely didn't go into labor on my own.  So, 6 am on Monday, December 17th, after very little sleep and feeling the excitement like it was Christmas morning, Andy and I rolled into Labor and Delivery, to find out I'm the only scheduled induction for that day (which is a very rare occurrence).

I get settled in a great big room (what can I say? My hospital takes care of their own employees), the nurse drew my labs, started my IV, and then we sat there (obviously me lying in the bed) for a while chatting.  I asked my nurse Amy if we were waiting on Dr. Favor to get there to break my water, and she said that we were, and that surprisingly Dr. Favor wasn't there yet, as she is normally in her patient's rooms early.  It was around 7:15 a.m when I asked if we were waiting on the doctor.

Around 7:20, Dr. Favor came in, checked me and said I was still only 1.5 cm, put a fetal scalp electrode monitor on the baby for more accurate monitoring, and broke my water at 7:30 a.m.  She said it would probably be later in the afternoon when I delivered.  Andy was about to head downstairs to get some breakfast.

Around 7:50, I knew my water had really broken (felt the "gush"...sorry, graphic), and my Pitocin was starting to kick in.  Nurse Amy went down the hall to send out my labs.  Andy stepped out of the room.  I heard alarms going off but didn't buzz the nurse, as I figured Amy would be back in a minute and could silence the quiet-sounding alarms.  Around 8 a.m., Amy rushes into the room with 2 other nurses, all with panicked looks on their faces. They start repositioning me, saying the baby's heart rate had dropped.  One nurse checked me, and out of my mouth came the question, "Is it a prolapsed cord?" with huge tears following this question.  With me being a NICU nurse and having attended one too many c-sections (both having gone well and many having gone not well), I have seen alot of the good, the bad, and the ugly of deliveries.  Prolapsed cord is in essence the lifeline being cut off to the baby, causing severe distress to the infant and sometimes even death.  I knew the seriousness of the situation if it really were a prolapsed cord.

Back to the birth story...the nurse checking me said she didn't feel a prolapsed cord (coming through the cervix), but they couldn't figure out what was wrong and I heard a nurse talking to Dr. Favor on the phone.  I knew they were rushing me back to a c-section and asked if they were putting me under general anesthesia.  They said "yes."  I was fine with it, as I just wanted them to get my baby girl out, but it was still all a shock, and I felt like I was on a movie set of ER, my worst nightmares coming true.  I'm still crying my eyes out, knowing the severity of the situation, but I managed to choke out that one of the nurses needed to find my husband and let him know where I was going.

It's about 8:03 a.m. and I'm in the OR, and they're prepping me for a c-section. Unbeknownst to me, baby girl's heart rate had dropped down to 30 in my labor and delivery room, but when they put a Doppler on my tummy before prepping me for surgery, they managed to get a heart beat of 148.  That was the most beautiful sound to my ears to hear a fast heart beat, but I was still internally panicked, crying, praying, hoping and pleading (between me and God) that she was going to be okay.  The anaesthesiologist, Dr. Nagrodski, commanded attention in the OR, asking if he could do a spinal instead of general anesthesia, and my OB agreed.  This way I could be awake and see the baby, and Andy could be in the delivery.  Otherwise, I'd be intubated, Andy wouldn't be able to be in the delivery, and it's a much more invasive anesthesia.  At this point, I'm asking the L&D nurse who's assisting with the spinal if it truly was my fault that this all was happening, and she repeatedly reassured me it was NOT my fault.  I appreciate Valerie's calmness and reassurances to me.

I'm draped up, it's probably around 8:06, and I remember Dr. Nag asking if I had not worn waterproof mascara that day, as he's sweetly wiping away tears from my face so I don't have a huge puddle of tears in my ears as I'm lying on the table.  That kind gesture really stuck out to me, and he calmly explained everything that was happening or about to happen.  Kristen, a neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) that I love and trust, was at my left side promising she'd stay with me until Andy got there.  Even though she was coming off the end of her shift and had a 1.5 hour drive home, she still sweetly chose to stay with me to make sure I was okay.  Andy came in right then with a bewildered look on his face, but I knew he was trying to stay calm for my sake.  He then proceeded to watch the c-section, even though I warned him it'd be gruesome, but he thought it was "cool" and I remember him saying it's like something he would see on Discovery channel, and somehow I found that very amusing in the midst of my emergency c-section.

So, prayers upon prayers (and I knew my family was praying, as Andy had enough time to send out a quick text to the grandparents and to his best friends, asking for prayers for the emergency c-section), out comes a sweet baby screaming her head off.  They quickly passed her off to the NICU team, where she received some blow-by oxygen.  Because Ellie was retracting and had mild grunting, and because of the circumstances of the delivery, the NICU team made the executive decision to admit her to the NICU.  My closest work friends were at the delivery, and so I knew sweet Ellie was in good hands..  I kept thinking in my head that I was so glad Joelle, respiratory therapist was there, and that Tara (another NNP) was the admitting NNP.  Also, Dr. Mena was the doctor on that day, and I overall was so pleased at all the experienced medical personnel that was there that day.  I remember asking Tara that the admitting nurses not "stick" the baby too many times (aka, get the most experienced nurse to do the admit blood cultures and IV), and she sweetly asked if I had a particular nurse in mind.  I said I didn't care, and I knew Tara would take the best care of her. Andy followed the NICU team to see where Ellie's room would be.

 7 pounds, 9 ounces

So, after leaving the c-section, and the tears still freely flowing, and the shock still permeating my body, mind, and heart, Andy joins me in the recovery room.  The nurse Valerie tells me that Dr. Favor determined that I truly did have prolapsed cord.  However, because I was only dilated 1.5 cm, the cord couldn't come through the cervix.  But, when my water broke, Ellie's head compressed down onto the cord (which is how her heart rate plummeted down to 30).  Dr. Favor later told me if my water had broken at home, that the outcome would have been very bad, which I knew meant Ellie would not have made it.  An amazing answer to prayer (God saying "no," that He wouldn't allow my water to break at home).

Another instance of the Lord's timing, Dr. Favor came "later" to my room to break my water.  If she had come around 7 a.m., NICU would have been in the middle of shift report and wouldn't have been able to assemble as quickly and efficiently as they did.  Also, how amazing that I was the only scheduled induction, and the c-sections that were scheduled were for later in the day, so I had all the L&D nurses, anesthesiologists, doctors right there for the emergent situation.

They wheel me to NICU so I could see sweet Ellie, and I could tell she was worn out from the admission labs.  However, she wasn't on oxygen, as I was originally anticipating she would be.  She was on no oxygen and just had her IV.  Dr. Mena had told me that I could probably feed her later that afternoon.

For some reason she kept sticking out her adorable tongue when we were down there. Cracked me up

First bath in NICU from Nurse Taryn

Horrible pic of me, but had to capture my first time holding my sweet, 8-hour-old baby

My favorite picture that Andy just showed me today. Jackson checking out his baby sister for the first time. Thankful for Andy being such an awesome husband and daddy, taking care of ALL of us these past few weeks!

Then L&D wheeled me up to a nice big room and got me settled.  Visual image, I'm still crying, tears of joy and gratitude, marveling at God's faithfulness and mercies and protection over Ellie and over me that day.  Marveling that He chose to save her life, that He orchestrated all the details perfectly, that He assured me it was right for me to induce rather than risk me going into labor on my own and all the "what if's" that could have happened if I had cord prolapse outside of the hospital.

My family brought Jackson up the hospital around 1 pm, and he was really intrigued with Daddy's Kindle and the movie on there.  Andy took them all to the NICU, where they got to watch Ellie's bath.  Andy held Jackson and Jackson just stared in wonder at his screaming sister.

Jackson, not really sure what's going on...

 Pointing to "Sissy"

 Jackson loved his new truck from Ellie

 Proud grandparents

Happy Ya Ya (notice the little IV in Ellie's right hand...poor baby)

 First family pic

No better way to spend a 4 a.m. hour, feeding and snuggling with my sweet girl

"Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness."

^{Lamentations 3:22-23}

Santa

Our trip to visit Santa this year (pre-baby Ellie arrival)

 Checking out the bear at Bass Pro Shop

 Loves pointing out the amazing fish there

She's Here!

She's here!

Elizabeth Ruth York

"Ellie"

Born December 17, 2012 at 8:10 am

7 lbs, 9 oz, 19 inches long

22 Months

I'm posting this 22 Month update a little early, since Baby Girl could be here any day now (and is scheduled for an induction on December 17th).

Lest I forget these sweet moments:

1) Jackson has been so sweet lately (with an occasional toddler tantrum), and he's lavishly bestowing hugs on me.  I'm soaking up every second with my sweet snuggler, especially before Baby Girl gets here.  I definitely think he knows something is "up," and I'm grateful he's choosing to be sweet the majority of the time (and especially since Daddy is traveling right now, I've very grateful for an overall happy toddler). Oh, and he's been VERY attached to his lovey and pacifier, more so than ever before. I guess it's his little comfort. He twirls his lovey just like I used to twirl my baby doll's hair.

Blurry, but testing out some of baby sissy's equipment we've been setting up in her room

2) He's very independent and will use his big boy potty very matter-of-factly before his bath. I did buy toddler underwear, but thought I'd introduce all that well after Baby is here.

3) When I'm reading a book to him (and he'll ask to "re, re, reeee"), and if it's a book we haven't read before or haven't read in a while, he'll run around to see the front of the book, stare intently at the front and back covers, and then run to look at the pictures I'm pointing to.  Really cute and sweet.

4) When I point to a picture of Jackson and ask who it is, he'll promptly say, "YOUUUU." I guess we rarely say "me, my, mine" in our house, so he knows that picture is YOU. He'll grab my iPhone and say, "You, You, You" when he wants to look at videos I've just taken of him, etc.

Watching a few minutes of "Elf" tonight. He loved it enough to stop playing with his trucks and trains

5) "Gloria" (the Christmas song) is his new favorite song, and when we listen to Casting Crowns or Chris Tomlin or Amy Grant Christmas at meal times, I'll look over and see him bobbing his head with a big grin, sometimes copying the words they're saying.  Amazing how much they pick up on.

6) He pointed out a bug to me in our sunroom this morning, and then quickly backed up while I screamed/killed the almost-dead bug. I'm so grateful he didn't try to pick up the nasty little roach. Let's hope my little screams will scare him off when I'm busy with baby.

7) He's been a little "off" on naptime, and definitely doesn't want to be left alone (hence another reason why I feel like he knows something monumental is about to happen in our family). But, he's usually fine if you sit in the chair next to his crib, and within 5 minutes he's sound asleep. Thanks to Andy and to my Dad for figuring out that trick! Or, if he wakes up in the 4 am or 5 am hour, we've figured out if one of us will lay in his twin bed, next to his crib, then he'll go back to sleep.  While I may not sleep, at least he's snoozing a little bit longer.

8) Jackson is becoming a little pickier in eating, which I know is normal. If I let him, he'd live off of cottage cheese, cheese slices, milk, and applesauce. Throw in the occasional spaghetti and black beans & rice, and he's fine. Other foods he's loving these days: apples, pineapples, broccoli, grapes, grilled cheese (those days can be hit or miss), clementines, pizza, bagel, and of course, Cheerios.

9) We had a "firetruck" play date with some women and their kids from our Sunday School class, and Jackson had the best time. He was perfectly content to sit in the backseat of the fire truck, and he would have stayed there all day if we had let him. The firemen were so kind and gracious, and they had even wisely stationed some firemen at the end of their driveway, since it's right on a busy road. They know little 2 year old boys would dash towards the street in a heartbeat (and thankfully they were there when Jackson ambled that way). I can't speak highly enough of our local firemen and how great they were with all the kids, very patient, lifting them in and out (and eying me warily, hoping I didn't go into labor at their station).

 It didn't matter who came by, Jackson just stayed in his seat and watched everyone (and of course showed off his cool firetruck hat)

 Leave it to the boys to be testing out the mechanics of the fire truck

10) Since I'm sadly "Scrooging" it this year, as in, we're not setting up a tree, I'm not pulling out any of my Christmas decorations except for stockings, bow for front door, and that's about it (all due to the reality that I don't have any energy to put it up or take it down, especially with a newborn in the house), we attended our church's Advent wreath making. While our wreath is a little sad looking, we all had fun singing Christmas hymns, hearing a short devotional, eating dinner and fellowshipping with our friends, and Jackson and Julia ("JuJu") had fun watching the big kids run around.

11) We had one scary experience with a (possibly inebriated?) Santa in our Village Christmas parade, and Jackson was NOT a fan (but neither were Andy or myself, especially when Santa begged us both to sit on his lap, which we politely declined). Headed to Zoolight Safari tomorrow with my parents, so I'll be sure to add on pics; and hopefully can get in one more visit with a "legit" Santa before baby comes.

Zoolight Safari!  Jackson loved riding on his first choo-choo, hugging the Chick-fil-A cows, and seeing all the amazing lights at the zoo:

It was like Christmas morning when we woke up today, as my Dad (Go Go) had surprised us all by putting up this Santa inflatable in our front yard. Jackson loved it!