Day 5

This morning I went in to see Alison/feed her and got to talk to the pediatrician who was making the rounds on the babies in the nursery today. She said she looks really good. She doesn't see any problems. She decreased her fluids (they give her fluid to keep her hydrated) so this shows that she is doing better just on her own. They said she doesn't have to be under the lights, so her bilirubin count is going down. And they again increased how much she can eat! So a good day for her. The doctor said she's strong as a horse.

Yesterday I noticed that her right arm was bigger than her left and it felt kind of tight. Turns out the iv in her arm had leaked and the fluid was going into her arm, making it so big. So this morning when I went in it looked back to normal. The iv monitor should have made them aware but it didn't, so it's a good thing I was paying attention!

Someone was helping to give me suggestions while I was nursing Ali today and it was so helpful! I changed the way I was holding her and she ate so much better. We were all impressed. She is doing so well.

Yesterday my mom came with my grandpa to see Alison.

Grandma holding Alison for the first time. She had a cold so Sunday she didn't hold her, plus they weren't letting many of us hold her Sunday!

Grandpa at 94 holding 4 day old Alison

4 generations!

Here's what the lights looked like. They aren't turned on in this picture. There was another one on the other side as well.

Doesn't she look so cute with her eye mask on?! The coloring is funny since the lights are on in this picture.

Day 4 update

Little Alison continues to do well. They have increased her fluids which have electrolytes, increased her feeding to 16 ml (she is eating every 3 hours) and she went under the lights for jaundice today. She looked so cute with her little eye mask on! I wish I would have taken my camera but I will bring it later.

I have been pumping at home and try to go in to nurse her at her feeding times. Alison is still figuring it out, but she is doing well. I have been supplementing with my milk after I try to nurse her and she does great with her mini bottle. The doctor told me yesterday that he thinks she will be there for 5-10 days (I think from her birth date), so hopefully that means she will get to come home next week towards the end of the week possibly!

I am feeling pretty well. I still have some cramping during the night, but Ibuprofen is enough to handle the pain. I'm trying hard to rest while at home. Justin comes with me to the hospital at night and Ali will open her eyes to look at him when he talks, it's so cute! He has been very helpful and didn't complain when I got up to pump last night in our room! My mom has been awesome, watching Molly so I can feed Ali as often as possible and getting me things I need from the store. My visiting teachers brought over a nice dinner last night, so I'm feeling pretty spoiled!

More Alison

I feel like the pictures from the last post don't do Alison justice! Here are some I took of her today (glamour shots!). She had a bath sometime before I visited her this morning. Isn't she beautiful!

peeking to see mommy!
little yawn
she liked the binky when I tried giving it to her today!

this is from last night. She's enjoying a warmer over her and breathing on her own.
the nurses say she is so sweet and we think so too!

Grandma and Grandpa Pendleton
Aunt Natalie
Uncle Ryan and Aunt Becky

Aunty Em and Uncle Zack

Most of our family members came to visit yesterday. It was kind of different because Alison hasn't been able to be in our room, so we can take one person at a time with us to see her in the nursery. A couple of times the nurses let us bend the rules and have an extra.

Alison continues to do well. They took the sugar water away in her iv, so now she just has an iv for an antibiotic which the pediatrician said they will probably take away tomorrow. They have fed her today with a small bottle about a sixth of an ounce is all every three hours and she has kept it all down. In order for her to leave, she has to keep a steady body temperature, be eating regularly and gaining weight on a regular basis. They told me they had to give her some oxygen today for a little bit, but other than that they said she has been perfect.

They haven't told me when she can come home, but I'm pretty sure she won't come home when I leave tomorrow morning. You haven't seen Molly in any pictures because no one under the age of 14 can come into the hospital. I'm excited I get to see her tomorrow! She has been a good little sport spending time with grandma and grandpa.

Oh and a couple of interesting little side notes. There have been about five 34 week babies that were delivered in this hospital this week! The nurses say that's the special they're running :) And my mom's second baby was also 6 weeks early. Pretty ironic!

Baby Pics

I am posting these for Nicole. The baby is doing very well and her lungs look strong.

She's here!

We welcomed Alison Kate this morning at 7:41 am!

Before my epidural at about 9:30 pm last night I was dilated to a 2, so they thought I would deliver around 4 am. Well, at 7:10 am I was finally dilated to a 6. Five minutes later I felt pressure and they checked me again and I was at a 10! I called Justin when I was at a 6 and told him to make his way over, then called him back and said hurry! He got here in plenty of time and the doctor was the last one to show up. After just a few pushes she was here. The cord was wrapped pretty tightly around her neck but the doctor cut it quickly and she was given to the nurses and pediatrician. I got to see her for just a minute before they took her to the nursery to receive oxygen. I still haven't held her, but I'm hoping sometime soon! I haven't heard on that yet.

Six weeks early, she weighs 5 pounds 3 ounces and they haven't measured her length yet, but she is doing well. She has an iv in and is under a warmer. She has some brown hair and is very cute! We don't know much more than that at this point. The pediatrician will give us updates throughout the day. We've taken some pictures, but we don't have the cord to connect to the laptop, so those will be coming!

Thanks for all of the encouragement, support and for keeping us in your prayers!

Justin and new baby girl's First Post

So, I am in the hospital with Nicole and had nothing better to do so I am posting on the blog. I guess the baby wanted out so here she comes. I never wanted to have a January or December baby but I don't have a choice in the matter. Nicole is doing great. She had some leaking this morning and was worried. I told her to toughen up and that it was nothing. Good thing she never listens to me! We went to the hospital, they did some tests, and viola the baby is coming. So they induced her and are pumping her full of pitocin. We expect her to have the baby sometime early next morning. In the meantime we are watchin movies and eating popsicles. Anyway, hope you liked the post. I know it isn't as snazzy or cool as Nicole's but this is what you get!

A new year

Last night Justin and I wrote down goals for the year; something I HATE doing and he LOVES. But I'm always a pretty good sport because I know you should make goals. It's not that I'm not motivated, I just don't care to write them down because then I'm accountable! Ha ha ha! Isn't that the truth.

Well anyway, we made some together and one involves "treats". We said we can have a treat on Sundays and one other day. And that's it! Am I doomed to failure already? Probably! I guess the good news is that I haven't had him define "treats" yet so I'm saying that things like pumpkin and banana bread are ok. They are, right?! I'll let you know how I do.

We just came back from being in WY again. Justin really wanted to go back up and snowmobile and be there for the open house for his brother Mark, so we did. We had a fun time and most of the family was able to be there at some point.

Justin heads back to school this coming Monday. He's had a 3 week break, which is really nice. Molly and I have loved having him home and I know I'm going to hear her asking where he is about 20 times next Monday when he's back at school.