Cora

She's here, she's here!  And yes, I said SHE!  After thinking I was having a boy my entire pregnancy and the ultrasound tech slip up (read about that here), I was shocked when Mike stood up in the operating room and said "It's a girl!"  But we have ourselves a little Cora Lee and we couldn't be more thrilled.

Cora's birth was the complete opposite of Evan's.  Having a planned c-section, I was hoping things would go just like that...planned.  And they did.  Mike and I went to bed Sunday night just like we normally do and surprisingly we both got decent sleep.  When we woke up, it was like any normal day. My parents were here, but they visit often so that wasn't unusual.  The family had breakfast and coffee while watching the Today show, again, just like any normal morning.

We were to check in at 9:40 and around 8:30 is when things started to feel "real."  Mike and I were both ready to go and we had a lot of nervous energy.  We felt like we should be doing something, not just sitting around waiting.  After all, we were having a baby today.  When it was time to leave for the hospital we hugged and kissed everyone good-bye.  The next time I would be home, I would have a brand new baby.

Family picture right before we left for the hospital.

Checking into the hospital was a breeze.  We were shown to our room and we got settled in.  I put my surgical gown on and we waited.  Everything was so calm and relaxing.  The hospital even had relaxing music playing in the room.  During the next two hours the nurse took my vitals and prepped me. The surgical team stopped in and introduced themselves.  We met everyone from the anesthesiologist to the pediatric nurse that would be in the OR with us.  Our parents also popped in quickly to say hello and wish us luck.  In between visits Mike and I just kept grinning, we were so excited the day was finally here.  We also were taking last minute bets if baby was a boy or girl.  Every hour Mike was changing his mind but I was holding strong that we were having a boy.

Taking selfies while we wait.  I have my lovely surgical gown on.  

When it was time for surgery, Mike and I walked down to the OR together with the nurse.  It was funny because we passed the waiting room where our parents were anxiously waiting.  Their faces were priceless as they saw me smile and wave as I walked by on my way to have a baby.  Mike had to wait just outside the OR until I had my spinal and got the final preparations for the c-section. Everything seemed so casual, I just lied there on the table listening to the chatter of the nurses and the top 40 radio station in the background. They finally brought Mike in and our Dr. followed shortly.  I was much more alert for Cora's birth than I was with Evan's.

The c-section took longer than I expected.  Probably because I was so alert and anxious to meet my baby.  I could here Mike taking deep breaths and I would look over at him and ask if he was OK.  He said he was but he looked pretty nervous to me.  Finally the Dr. said "OK Dad, get ready."  Mike stood up and shortly announced, "It's a girl!."  I could hear the shock and excitement in his voice. The sweet cries of my baby girl soon followed and I felt relief.  Mike went with the baby while the nurses cleaned her up.  While I waited to meet my baby girl I just kept smiling and laughing...I have a daughter.  It was so weird to me.  I also remember thinking that I couldn't wait to get pedicures with her.

Mike came back in and said, "Here's Cora."  They laid Cora on my chest and we snuggled.  It was a moment I will always cherish.  She kept sucking on my chin and sticking her hand in my mouth.  I was completely on a new mommy high.  After a while, Mike and the nurses took Cora back to finish getting ready.  As I was getting wheeled out of the OR, my current favorite song was playing, Boys Chase Girls by Ingrid Michaelson, I took that as a sign that everything was going to be just fine.

We passed the waiting room again on the way back to my room.  I saw all my family and Mike's mom was holding Cora.  They were all so happy and full of smiles.  Mike came to our room with Cora as soon as I got back.  He had specific instructions to do this because with Evan, I was in my room alone for quite some time while the family held him and took pictures in the nursery.  I wanted my baby as soon as possible this time.

Mother Daughter selfie.

After the three of us bonded a bit, Mike went out to the waiting room to get Evan.  Andrea had brought him up to the hospital to meet his baby sister.  Evan came in wearing his Big Bro shirt and he had a Big Brother sticker on.  He also had a present for the baby.  Mike held Evan while he looked at Cora.  He smiled when Cora let out little squeaks.  Mike and I gave Evan a preset from Cora, a toy tracker.  As soon has he got that he was more interested in his new tractor than his sister.  Evan was a little shy around Mommy, he didn't want to sit in the bed with me, he preferred to stay with his Dad.

Mike, Cora and I stayed in the hospital for three days.  Evan came to visit us everyday and each day he warmed up to Cora more and more.  He liked to pat her head and give her kisses.  Once I was out of bed and moving around, Evan warmed back up to me as well.

The four of us are adjusting at home quite nicely.  My mom is staying with us for two weeks.  Mike was in a wedding the first weekend we were home so I definitely needed her there to help.  There are moments when things get chaotic but for the most part things are going smoothly.

Evan and Grandma made us a Welcome Home sign.

Big Brother Love!

Relaxing at home reading her Pooh book.

We are currently focused on getting Cora to eat.  She lost 11% of her birth weight and at her 1 week check-up only gained 2oz of it back.  Because of this, Cora isn't awake much.  We have to wake her for all feedings and keeping her awake while she eats is a struggle.  We had to introduce a bottle earlier than I had planned because she just wasn't getting enough milk by nursing.  We haven't had to use formula yet, but in my head I know that's probably coming. It's not what I wanted but right now I just want to make sure Cora is getting the nutrition she needs and is gaining weight.  We go back for a weight check on Thursday.  I'm crossing my fingers she is fattening up.      

Happy Easter

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter.  This Easter was a little bit different for our family than years past. There was no big Easter dinner or big family get together. Today is our last day as a family of three. Tomorrow is the big day for Baby 2's arrival.  Mike and I wanted to keep things low key and enjoy our little family. We were blessed with 70 degree weather which made the day even better.

After E checked out his Easter basket, we headed to church.  It was a packed service.  Thankfully the weather was nice because people were sitting outside in the courtyard.  The church was beautifully decorated and I enjoyed the service.  E must have been worn out from checking out his Easter basket, he slept through the majority of the service.  

After church we tried to take some pictures but E was not in the mood.  He was ready to hunt for Easter eggs.  There's always next year for some nice Easter pictures.

My parents arrived this afternoon for Baby 2's arrival and we spent time outside playing and grilled burgers for our Easter dinner.  Mike's parents will drive over tomorrow and meet us at the hospital and Andrea will be spending the day with E and bring him to the hospital to meet his new brother or sister.

Mike and I are truly blessed to have such amazing family to support us.  Easter 2014 will always be a special time for us.

Here are some pics from the day:

Checking out his Easter basket.  New sand shovel!

Reading his new book.

Slept through church but sticks and trees caught his attention on the way out.

Attempt at Daddy and E pic.

Attempt at Mommy and E pic.

Easter egg hunt.

Easter egg hunt.

Brunch, stuffed french toast, bacon and fruit.

He?

This week I had an ultrasound to check in on the baby’s growth.  Moms with a history of preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome potentially can have babies with lower birth weights.  Our Dr. wanted to make sure Baby 2 was growing in case I had to deliver earlier than the 21st.  We told the ultrasound tech right away that we didn't know the gender of the baby and we didn't want to know so make sure we didn't mistakenly see anything.  It was towards the end of the ultrasound and she was trying to get the baby’s heart rate and the tech made the comment, “HE won’t stop moving around.”  Now, I don’t know if she just said “He” and didn't mean anything by it or if she knew what the gender was and let it slip.  Mike didn't catch this comment during the ultrasound but now we’re all wondering… “Is Baby 2 a he?”  Only time will tell, 8 days to be exact, and we’ll find out! 

As far as the growth of the baby, just fine.  Estimated weight is 7lbs and 13oz. which seems huge compared to E who weighed in at a tiny 6lbs 6oz.   

Spring Break - Gesellchen Style

Mike and I had very different spring breaks this year.  He spent his in Phoenix and Vegas, while I spent mine in Iowa and Minnesota.  I feel like there’s something wrong with this situation!  Mike has an annual guys trip to Vegas for March Madness.  It was good for him to get away from his daily routine of being at home with E.  It was good for me too, I really enjoyed the time I had with E. It’s rare the two of us get that much time together without Mike.  My mom came to our house at the beginning of the week to watch E while Mike was gone and I worked.  Then we drove to Iowa and spent a few days at the farm so we could see my dad and grandma.  It’s always good to go back “home,” I’ll always be an Iowa country girl at heart.  At the end of the week, Mom, E, and I drove back to Minnesota so I could start another week of work (12 working days left before maternity leave!) and Mike came home on Saturday.  Mike said he had a fun trip but was ready to be home with his family.

Here’s pics from E’s and my spring break:  

We played with the barn cat.

We took naps.

We pet the goats.

We drove tractors.

We ate cupcakes.

We went out for lunch.

Over the Next Month

In less than a month, we will be welcoming Baby 2 to our family. My c-section is scheduled for April 21st at 11:40am.  I have four weeks left of work and am cutting back to 8 hours per night instead of 12.  I'm looking at this as a blessing and going to take full advantage of my extra time at home.  Over the next month, I plan on enjoying my pregnancy as much as I can.  If Mike has his way, this will be our last baby.  If this is our last baby, I want to be fully present and remember what it's like to be pregnant.  I'm going to spend time just lying on the couch feeling my baby kick and flip all over in my tummy.

Over the next month I also want to soak up E as much as I can. I want him to feel loved and secure and show him there is enough love in our family for both kids.  I want to remember E as my little baby before he quickly becomes the big brother.

I'm so excited to meet this baby.  Our family has been anxiously awaiting it's arrival and he or she is already so loved.  However, this last month will also be very special.  I'ts our final days of a family of 3 and I will cherish every moment.

A Year of Blogging

This week marks the one year anniversary of my blog.  I took time to read all of my posts over the past year.  When I started this blog, I wanted to be able to share things with family and friends who I don't see that often.  I also needed a creative outlet of some sort and I enjoy writing so blogging seemed the perfect fit.  After I was done reading, I didn't realize how much it meant to me having my family's lives documented like that for a year.  I've really enjoyed having this blog and I hope one day E and Baby 2 will look back and appreciate reading stories of their early childhood and not be too embarrassed.

Over the next year, I'd like to get more familiar with the tech portion of the blog and spice it up a bit.  But for now I'll just keep writing stories of how each day I'm finding my maternal side and loving every minute of it.  

Feeling Like Spring and Mommy E Time

Today is one of those days that gives me hope that once again it will be summer.  Yes, my yard is still covered with over a foot of snow but I can see some grass peaking out where paths were shoveled.  And the sun is shinning and feels so warm.  I'm feeling confident the Twin Cities is turning the corner into spring.

E and I headed out this morning for some much needed Mommy E alone time.  E is a Daddy's boy through and through.  He'll even go through phases where he'll want nothing to do with me which of course breaks my heart but I get it, he's with Mike 24/7 and he's a toddler.  It doesn't help that with my work schedule I barely see E for 2 days and then it takes him a day or so to adjust that Mom is back home.  So E and I needed some quality 1-on-1 time.  And frankly, Mike's been getting a little too comfortable in his AHD routine so I forced him out of the house to do something on his own.

First stop for E and I, Caribou.  I've been on a Caribou kick lately, I've stopped there the past four days in a row and ordered the same thing, Sparkling Green Tea Lemonade.  If that drink doesn't scream spring, I don't know what does.  I continued my trend for the week and ordered my drink and E had a mini strawberry smoothie.  We spent the morning reading books and chatting about the pictures on the wall.  He was the perfect Caribou date!  

                                             

       

Next stop was Trader Joe's.  I like shopping at TJ's because of their unique selection and during the week it's not crowded at all.  It's perfect to bring E there because I can let him walk freely and throw stuff in the cart without worrying he's going to get in someone's way.  It's small too which makes it easier to keep an eye on him.  Not to mention there's always samples and balloons or stickers for him to enjoy.

I couldn't resist the gorgeous spring flowers as I walked into Trader Joe's.

After groceries, it was home for lunch, a little construction site play and then down for a nap.  Now I'm enjoying the quiet of my house and the crisp fresh spring air coming in the open window.  Mike is continuing his alone time and went for a run.  Tonight it's off to sister Andrea's for dinner, no cooking or dishes for me tonight!