Welcoming Sadie

So as a woman, I know most women are obsessed when it comes to baby stuff. How, as a woman, it doesn't matter if you know the pregnant lady or not, you are going to ask her when she is due. And if it's a boy or girl. And if she has names picked out. Or how, when you cross a woman with a brand new baby you ooh and ahh and often hear the story about the labor & delivery, ask a name, find out the weight, and yes, sometimes you don't even know the lady. We find knowing this information so much fun, whether we have kids or not. Curiosity is just one of those female things. And so with that intro, I bring you the story of Sadie.

Sunday night, November 8th, Mike and I watched "The Proposal" (a pretty good movie in my book, by the way). Then I thought that maybe, just maybe, my water broke. I went to bed, very uncomfortable, and curious as to whether or not my water did break. I figured it could wait until morning, since I wasn't even sure. And I wasn't about to either wake all the kids and take them by Grandma's at 11 o'clock at night, or call Grandma and have her come over at that hour, since I wasn't even sure. The next morning I told Mike to go to work, figuring it was a false alarm. After taking Maddie to school, I decided to give the doctor a call, figuring she'd ask me to come into the office, they'd do their litmus paper test to see if my water broke, and send me on my way. At 9am-ish, she actually told me to go straight to L&D at the hospital. I was skeptical, thinking, I really don't have to go to the hospital...but I went anyways. I took my time, though, and made sure I had my camera, of course, just in case, and even put my bag in the car thinking maybe, just maybe we'd have a baby that day! And if I did, I didn't want Mike to have to drive all the way home just to get my bag. Anyhow, after hooking me up to all the monitors, it turns out I was having contractions (nothing major, but they were regular). My water did not break, in fact. Around 10am-ish the nurse told me in her opinion I was going to have a baby either way that day. And the doctor on call felt that with my contractions the way they were, and as uncomfortable as I was, she didn't feel comfortable sending me home, just for me to come back. Shortly after 10:30 am, the nurse came back in and told me the doctors planned on doing the c -section at 11:30am. WHat!?!? Mike was still at work. I thought maybe they'd make me sit there all day, and do the c-section late afternoon. I called Mike and relayed the info (and the doctors assured me they'd wait for him to get there : ) In the meantime, I was stuck four times in attempts to start the IV. I had to drink this NASTY stuff, something for stomach acid. I told them how I was excited I'd be home in time to watch the Packer game and the Viking game on Sunday the 15th (had I had the c-section on the 13th, I would've been watching from my hospital bed), and how yes, I was one of "those" people who still loved Brett and that Maddie, our third, would've been Brett if a boy. Once Mike arrived (by 11:30), everyone was pretty much ready to go. By noon or so, we were in the operating room. I don't remember receiving the spinal being so painful with my other kids, but this one was awful. I remember thinking, I'm never doing this again! Instantly I got sick and it made me goofy for a short time. But everyone was absolutely wonderful who was there--the nurses, the anesthesiologist, my OB, the OB on call, and Mike. And just like that, 15 minutes later, a little lady was born (who was nameless at the time...everyone in the room was calling her "Brett-tina"). It was instant relief, the nine months of feeling icky, the terrible heartburn, and the sleepless nights would be over. And as soon as I saw her, I thought, I could totally do this again.

"Little Girl" remained nameless until about 5 o'clock. Mike called her Sadie right off the bat. But then we went back and forth with using as first names Aubrey, Molly, Carleigh, Katherine, Josie, Claire, Elsie (Ella), or Lyndsey. Mike repeatedly said it was up to me. I was a little torn. I loved so many names!! But both of us have always loved the name Sadie, and since I did pick out Maddie's name with Sadie being a close second back then (along with Norah and Josie), I guess we pretty much had it decided all along. We waited until the kids came with my Grandparents to meet her (after school). Once my Grandparents left, we asked the kids what names they thought about. Then we asked what they thought of the name Sadie, and they all loved it. The meaning of Sadie is "princess". The kids love that the name means "princess". And so, Princess Sadie she is.

I was sick the rest of Monday. Like, the throwing up kind of sick. Yuck. Anything I tried--water, 7up, jello...didn't stay down. I could barely keep my head up. I had never felt like that after my other c-sections. Even though Sadie slept in the nursery Monday night (I couldn't get out of bed yet), I got next to no sleep. But each day got a little better.

We got to go home Thursday after having stayed 3 nights, even though I stayed 4 nights after having the other 3 kids. We were excited to go home, though.

next post...at home.

one week

I can't believe she's a week old already. She is absolutely perfect. The kids have been great; shockingly getting along with each other and of course, still can't get enough of the baby! Mike has done a wonderful job taking care of us. His hugs at the end of the day make me feel better. Not that I've been upset, just drained, and becoming inpatient while waiting to feel 100%, while right now I am probably about 75%. And while he is very understanding, I'm thankful when we were discharged from the hospital the nurse told him to expect me to be even crankier and more irritable because on top of having a baby and the pain factor from the c-section, my iron was pretty low. Not that I've been cranky, but I think someone telling him that is good; just a reminder my hormones are still freaking out and who knows when and if I will lash out for no reason. Emotions are up and down for no reason at all, so it's good to have someone around who is okay with that. : )

Today is our first day at home without Mike. He made a great stay at home mom. He took care of making the kids' lunches, kept up on laundry (with some help from my Grandma), I hear the kids' rooms are clean (though I can't do stairs yet, so haven't been up there to see), and has in general kept up with the kids' school stuff. The girls and I don't have to leave the house and can't anyways as long as I am on painkillers, so Maddie, Sadie, and I are just hanging out. Lots of games of Princess Memory to be played. And lots of "ooo-ing" and "ahh-ing" at the baby of course : )

she's here : )

Sadie Katherine, born 11-9-09 at 12:15pm. 7lbs, 6oz, 21 inches long.

First photos:

Today I took some beautiful pictures, since they already got me out of bed and had me up and moving. Haven't uploaded them quite yet, but I'm really excited to share those. She is absolutely perfect, and we are so so happy.

I'm not feeling exceptionally great, so I will post details and more fun photos later tonight or tomorrow: )

feelin' crafty : )

So I made my thank you's & delivered them--and so proud of myself because I used only my paper scraps! I worked a teeny bit on my maya road mini baby book using this ADORABLE collection of goodies:

I also made this banner (a kit I purchased from Hannah's...I had a coupon!) The photos don't really do it justice. It's made using Basic Grey's Nook and Pantry line...I have to say, I love the colors in this line!! I'm excited to use the scraps to make a mini thankful/grateful book.

Started my baby announcements...planned on having them done other than adding the photo and the details. Figured I'd bring them to the hospital and fill in the blanks. Now I'm thinking I like how it looks all typed up, which means I'd have to finish them once I came home (not sure I'll feel like doing that!!) Hmmm...anyways, I'm using this paper from Cosmo Cricket's Nutmeg collection. Was looking for something girly and fallish. May have to get more. Trying hard to keep them simple and inexpensive, but we all know how that ends up : )

Wow, 6 1/2 days or LESS to go!!! Yikes!!!! Guess I should pack my bags...

it's the final countdown

For real this time. Less than two weeks. Maybe even less than the ten days I currently have written on the calendar... Mildly freaking out. Not about having a fourth child so much, but about having the house clean (which I've been cleaning like crazy constantly, just seems like it's never clean though!) About having the baby (totally freaking out about having a c-section. Or anything to do with the hospital "stuff".) Wondering if I'm forgetting anything. Hoping to finish so many projects I've started (the bathroom frames hung up, make the thankful banner I bought from Hannah's last week, finish the baby mini book I started making, the 8x8 calendar I barely started for the baby, working on finishing my December Daily book I made for last year but never finished (which I am totally okay with. It'll be a fun year to do a book like that with a new baby : ) working on thank you cards--which I'm in the process of making, baby announcements--which I wanted to have made when I go to the hospital so all I have to do is literally print the photo and fill in the blanks, and send (and I am desperately trying to find a good fallish/girly double sided paper for this, and I may have to drive back down to Archiver's or Hannah's to get some! I know what I want to make, it's just getting the paper to do it. I was thinking one from the Bo Bunny Delilah line??

Oh, I'm taking suggestions by the way.) I know that's an awful lot of creative stuff to have on my plate right now. But, oh well. Trying to take advantage of the free time now. So I can sleep when the baby sleeps : )