under the weather

Shouldn't there be some sort of law that a momma of a 2 week old can't get sick?? : (

After going to bed Thanksgiving night, somehow, Maddie and I are the only ones in the house to catch whatever short-lived bug we caught. But short-lived as it was, it was yucky. I know it wasn't the food, because Maddie was already feeling icky and she hadn't eaten anything at all most of Thansgiving Day. Thankfully, I have a nice guy who held down the fort while I was in bed with a bucket : ( And Sadie even slept from 12:30-6am that night!! Dang, too bad I was curled in a ball for hours during the night, praying for my stomach to feel better!! At least Mike got a good night's sleep so he could manage the next day without me. I don't know that I got off the couch all day once I got out of bed, other than to take a shower in hopes that would make me feel better. I'm doing better today, still haven't had an appetite really. Mike and the 3 older kids are gone for the day to his Dad's side of the family Thanksgiving gathering. Sadie and I are hanging out at home. She's been sleeping most of the time. Wish I felt up to doing something, anything--a trip to a store, laundry, finish my December Daily so it's ready by Tuesday to start it up! Time to wake up, baby Sadie!! Another 12:30-6 would be grand if I could be sleeping during that time : )

Life right now

Chaotic. Messy. Tiring.

Laundry everywhere, literally. Clean, dirty, folded, unfolded.

A baby who is a night owl.

Baby "stuff" adorning every room in the house. Clothes, diapers, wipes, bottles, bibs, blankets, and much more... galore.

No time for emailing, blog updates, or checking other blogs.

Toys, crayons, books are EVERYWHERE. (Mostly Maddie's doing)

Boxes of cereal left out on the counter. Crumbs on the floor.

Mad dashes to make the bus, or if it's anything like today, miss the bus, and Mom packs everyone up and drives to school, barely getting there before the bell rings.

Forgotten "show 'n tells". Mom drives back to school to drop it off.

Late nights, early mornings. Multiple times up in between.

Five minute showers. Zero makeup, totally undone hair, pajamas and slippers most of the day.

One pair of pants that fit, and only because I just bought them 3 days ago. (Comfy lounge-y pants. Need to go buy another pair or 2).

Doctor appointments and basketball practices.

Just not possible to sleep when the baby sleeps.

7 o'clock dinners. Often without Mom and/or Dad getting a chance to eat.

And still, I am thankful for this crazy life.

How sweet it is.

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: )