My girls...

We've had a great couple of weeks. Nothing exciting, just getting to know our new family of four and learning how to manage life with a new baby! Emily has been such a joy to have, I can't believe how natural it feels to have her home...like she was always meant to be with us. It's hard being a mother of two though. Especially when both of them need something at the same time!

Madison has her good days as well as her bad days. She has been great toward Emily, she is always gentle and wants to hold and kiss her daily. But toward me...different story. She is alot more whinny, she doesn't do what I say (she'll give me this look like "why do I have to listen to you!") and she has recently started screaming. This is so different from my well-mannered girl that I get so frusturated!!! She has had quite a few timeouts this week! But I know that this phase will pass and Blain and I are taking the time each day to spend some alone time with her and I think that has really been helping!

Emily is starting to show a pattern in her eating/sleeping schedule. The best part is that her long stretch of sleep during the day is during Madison's naptime and so I get one to three hours of quiet just for me!!! The down side to her schedule is that when she is awake, she wants to eat continuously and be held. We've been supplimenting alot with formula because I'm not producing enough to keep up with her! Blain and I both love that she wants to cuddle, even if she wants it all the time!

I can't believe that she is three weeks old! At times it feels like I just had her yesterday and at other times, it feels like she has always been here! I feel blessed to have two beautiful girls and am soaking every day in.

Quick Update...

So, we took Emily to the doctor on wednesday and everything seems to be going okay. When she was discharged from the hospital she weighed 7lbs 9oz and yesterday weighed in at 7lbs 13oz. So she has gained a few. The doctor wants to see us again next week to make sure she continues to gain (since she is still below birth weight) and to make sure her jaundice continues to improve. She has had a great couple of nights...sleeping for solid 3 hour blocks, hopefully those will continue!

Madison continues to love to hold and kiss her sister, but is testing my patience! She doesn't want to listen the first time anymore and is doing alot more whining and rolling of the eyes! Blain and I have been good at giving her individualized attention each day and she seems to really enjoy it.

Life with two girls has been wonderful and we are so blessed that Emily came to us healthy and so precious!

Here she is...

I checked into the hospital at 3:30 pm August 6th. It took 3 nurses and 2 hours to get my IV in! Around 5:30, I was finally given Oxytocin. I started having contractions right after the doctor came in and broke my water, sometime between 7-7:30 pm and three hours later...we welcomed Emily Brianna into the world! I am proud to say that I was once again able to deliver without medication! My mom was there as my doula and coach and Blain was an amazing partner, helping me to breath through the painful contractions. I was also blessed to have Margie (mom-in-law) in the room the whole time! AND...my dad cut the cord!!!

My doctor was outstanding! He was patient when I screamed and let me push when I needed to push...not rushing me and not raising his voice! The nurses (every single one) were so kind and helpful night and day! They really took care of me! My mom brought me home Friday morning and we've been doing well all weekend!

Madison has been so wonderful through the transition. She has spent time with both Blain and I separately each day and she constantly wants to kiss and touch Emily. It will be interesting to see how she does when it is just her with mom and baby...right now there is plenty of family around to give her added attention. Hopefully the next few weeks will go well. That is the latest here in Monterey! Keep you updated!

Tomorrow is the big day!

It's official...7 am tomorrow I go into the hospital to get induced. Saw the doctor today and I am 3 cm and ready to get going! Wish us luck! We are very nervous!!!

Is July really over?

I can't believe that it is August already! This year has gone by faster than any I remember! Maybe because so much has happened. Went to the doctor again on Wednesday. Blood pressure, heartbeat, and weight are all fine. Still 2 cm, cervix is soft and so I think the plan is to be induced on Wednesday or Thursday of next week. I have one final appointment on Tuesday and we will get the final word then! I can't truly believe that by the end of next week I'm going to be a mother of two, Blain is going to be a father again and that Madison, my baby girl, is going to be a big sister. We are excited, nervous, scared, anxious and thrilled all at the same time!!!

Madison has school today which she is looking forward to. Once a week she has class. It's this big room where they have free play for the first hour. There is an arts & crafts table, kitchen, trucks & cars, tumbling mats, etc. Then we all spend 15 minutes or so cleaning it all up and then it's circle time. They sing lots of songs which Madison is doing great at participating in. She likes doing the hand motions and clapping at the end. Then it's story time and snack and the adults have a different topic to talk about each week while they eat. It's a 3 hour class, but luckily we don't have to be there the whole 3 hours if we don't want to...it can be alot! But she gets to go to school with her best friend, so she really enjoys it!