September 19 - 9 days old

Our first week at home

Today is our 1 week anniversary of bringing baby home! Due to Ellie's low birth weight, she spent 4 nights in the NICU ward at Foothills Hospital, and then one night with me in my post-partum ward before we were allowed to take her home. Mark was able to spend the last night with us in the hospital as a "care by parent" night, which was really terrific.

Ellie was born by emergency c-section after about 7 hours of labour, and as a result of her low-birth weight, needed to be in the NICU mainly for observation. She was hooked up to external monitors (thankfully no internal tubes) and her vitals were watched. We were blessed with an amazing nurse on Night #1 who brought Ellie to me to feed every 3 hours - nurses on both the post-partum and NICU wards said that had never happened before. I feel that this helped with both bonding for Ellie and I as well as the excellent start to breastfeeding that we have had. I am very thankful for this nurse.

Since Ellie was in a different ward than I was, I was blessed with the ability to truly sleep between feedings. Mark would wheel me down to the NICU every 3 hours to feed her, then back to post-partum to sleep - he'd then go and sit with Ellie and talk to her or just hold her. My day nurse on Day #2 was marveling at my mobility - I guess there were 3 c-sections on the 10th and I was doing the best of all of them. I think this is because when I was in my room I could just sleep - as hard as it was to not have Ellie with me, I can see the blessing of it in that I was healing a lot faster than anyone expected.

We were able to introduce Ellie to my parents, Wendy and Julie and Mark's Mom and her husband. It was very special for me to have my sisters come and meet my baby - something that I was priviledged to do for both of their first-born children. There's something truly magical about meeting a baby in the hospital I think.

We were able to come home as a family last Monday evening - a really special event as we didn't know if Ellie was going to have to stay at the NICU until she gained more weight. Since she's been home, she's been eating like a little piggy and has almost regained her birth weight.

The Lord has truly blessed us with this tiny addition into our family - Mark and I thought life was complete before her arrival and are amazed at how more full life has become.

Family Pictures

It's a Girl

Eleanor Patricia was born on Wednesday, September 10th, at 7:12 p.m. Weighing 4 lb, 11 oz, 17 inches from head to toe. Mother and baby are doing great.

Mr. Webster's definition of: WAIT[ing]

Main Entry: wait
Pronunciation: \wāt\
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French waiter, guaiter to watch over, await, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German wahta watch, Old English wæccan to watch
Date: 14th century

Transitive verb
1: to stay in place in expectation of
2: to delay serving
3: to serve as waiter for

Intransitive verb
1 a: to remain stationary in readiness or expectation
b: to pause for another to catch up —usually used with up

2 a: to look forward expectantly
b: to hold back expectantly

3 a: to serve at meals

4 a: to be ready and available
b: to remain temporarily neglected or unrealized

Our first Baby Shower!

When my office first brought up the subject of having a baby shower, I had hoped that we would be able to have it before the baby came. My co-workers set the date for September 4th, and we all kept our fingers crossed that the baby wouldn't come before that date. Since I was placed on modified bed rest last week, it was a little unknown if the shower would happen, but my doctor said I would be able to go so I was very thankful for that.

Wendy and Julie picked me up with Emmarae and Hadyn - a tight squeeze in Wendy's car, but no one seemed to mind. We arrived at my office just as the pizza lunch was getting delivered and we dug right in - it was great to see my friends and co-workers and visit with them (outings have been a real treat over the last week), and pizza is always a good meal.

I had a terrific time and it was a great experience to share with my sisters and nieces - Mom was on holiday or she would have been there too!