2 Weeks, 3 Weeks, 4 Weeks....Oh my!

We've been having so much fun with Miss Alice and she's been growing so fast, I can't keep up with her! We went to the dr. to check Alice's jaundice level 2 days after she was born. She was down in weight about 7oz making her a whopping 5 lbs even. But the jaundice was fine. So we went back in at 2 weeks for her second PKU screening. So sad to have to watch your baby scream in pain and there's nothing you can do about it. On a happier note though, she gained some weight back. She was 5 lbs 6 oz and 19 1/2 inches long, putting her at 3% for weight. Can you believe that!??! She grew an inch in 2 weeks!






(She has the same cardigan on as when she came home from the hospital. Look how long her arms have grown since!)
3 Weeks






4 Weeks

I don't know why but for some reason they told me to come back when she was a month old. When I got there they said she didn't need to come in till she was 2 months. Oh well, whatever. They took her weight....at 4 weeks she was 7 lbs 8 oz and 20 1/2 inches long!! 2 more weeks and another inch. Wow, that sweet girl is growing way too fast for me. Alice is now in the 10% for weight. She has graduated from Preemie clothes to New Born size status although it looks like she's got her mommy's narrow shoulders b/c the sleeves keep falling off her shoulders. She's still in Newborn diapers...which are just about the cutest things ever. Am I right? She's doing great, following objects with her eyes and focusing on things and faces for longer periods of time as well as staying awake for longer periods of time. I'd say she's awake about 2 hours twice a day. Any other time she is just eating or sleeping. She is a great baby. Only cries when she needs to eat or to tell you, "burp me, I'm about to puke!" Oh...and I guess when she has gas. It hurts her little tum tum, but for the majority of the days she is a happy baby. I'm so grateful for that!

One Week!

I can't believe how fast time has flown by already. Here's Alice at 1 week old. We had a Dr. appt. for her 3 days after she was born to check on a little bit of jaundice in her chest. Everything looked fine with that. She weighed in at a whopping 5 pounds even and still 18 1/2 inches long. My milk finally came in and she's nursing great. She eats about every 2-3 hours in the day and about every 4-5 hours at night.

Alice's Story

I haven't updated in forever. It was on my list of things to do before the baby was born. Woops! I have so much to catch up on but I didn't want this story to get muddled before I could type it out.

The birth story:
I had been going to my regular doctor appointments and at about 25 weeks my dr. told me that my stomach was measuring small. I am tall and I have a long torso so we didn't get too worried about it. Also, because the Dr. in Las Vegas told me the same thing about Carly when I was pregnant with her. She seemed a healthy weight when she was born and we all chalked it up to just a formality that they have to take. Just to be safe my Dr. had me get another ultrasound. I did and things with her growth looked fine. 2 weeks later I had another appointment...same thing...baby was still measuring a few weeks behind. We set up another sono but this time she was a little further behind. Nothing to worry about quite yet, just to keep an eye on. Every appointment was the same. Her growth wasn't on schedule so we'd schedule another sonogram. At about 34 weeks we had a sono where we found that baby was 6 weeks behind schedule but measuring on the lower side of average for a baby that gestational age. We'd do one more sono at 37 weeks and check her weight. I went in on Monday for yet another sono but this time Joseph came with me. I'm grateful he did. After the sono the dr. came in and said, "Um, I need you to go home and get things ready, and get to the hospital as soon as you can. You're having this baby today." He said that she hadn't grown at all in the last 4 weeks and she was measuring in the 7th percentile for weight for her gestational age. I was in shock. Of course I started crying. This is NOT what was supposed to happen. The doctor was supposed to just be making this all a bigger deal than it was...plus... I still had time! I was supposed to get all my painting done and put up the baby room decorations and you know...actually realize I was going to have a baby. So we made the necessary phone calls asking people to keep the girls over night and called my parents who said they'd come right down from Las Vegas when I was in labor. (at least they got a bit of a head start) Then we headed to the hospital. I told Joseph I didn't have anything for her to wear! When we moved from AZ I had to sell everything and give things away...including all our baby clothes. My mind set just hadn't been on baby mode so I never really went shopping for clothes. I had a few things but not for a preemie baby. So on our way to the hospital we made a short detour to get a few preemie onsies and a going home outfit. ha ha

When we got to the hospital the dr. had already called to say we were on our way. They admitted me right away and I was in a hospital gown and hooked up to IV and PIT within the hour. I was talking to the nurse about how I had wanted try going with out drugs with my first baby but everyone around me scared me out of it. I thought I'd try again with my second but they induced Carly with pitocin also and I've heard of really horrible contractions with Pit so I didn't even try to go drug free. I was a little disappointed to have to be induced with this pregnancy also and miss another chance of going natural. The nurse told me that she had had 4 out of her 5 labors natural and 1 of which was while on Pit. I decided that I can do it and I'll try it by taking it one contraction at a time. I was doing well and before I knew it I was at 7cm in about 5 hours. The pain was starting to get harder and fewer breaks in between each contraction. I finally told Joseph I was really going to need him right next to me now. It was about 4 am when things started to get ugly. It was the worst pain ever. I felt like I was getting punched over and over in the kidneys and someone was drilling into my hip bones all at the same time. (I know, lovely thought right? :) I had been told that when going natural every woman gets to the point that she says she can't do it any more. And by that time, they're pretty much ready to start pushing. I was thinking about that while trying to breath through the pain. Telling myself, "I'm almost there, just one more contraction. Almost there..." But then I started with the doubt. The nurse had just checked me an hour ago and I was only at a 7. There was no way I could take more of this. I told Joseph I was done. "I don't like this anymore. I can't do it. Help me! I need you to help me." I'm sure I scared him enough to take me seriously. He made sure I was sure and called in for the anesthesiologist. They said he was on his way. (which seemed like an eternity) He finally came in and got me preped. I had to hold perfectly still through 4 extremely unbearable contractions while he put that scary needle in my back. Just when I thought I was done with the pain he said, "Ok, that should kick in in about 15 minutes." What! I couldn't do 15 minutes! I needed it NOW! These contractions were coming 1 minute apart and felt like they were on top of each other. The nurse checked me right after the epidural was in and said, "Oh! That's why! You're at 10 cm!" Really? Really. I did all of that work and got to 10 cm and THEN got the Epidural? The nurse informed me though that baby hadn't descended all the way yet and we had to wait for her to drop. My water hadn't even broke yet. I had to wait 4 more hours (at 10cm) for her to finally drop and my water to break. So yes, I am grateful for the experience of natural labor, I'm glad I made it all the way to 10 cm. However, I am also grateful for the epidural so that I didn't have to be at 10 cm for 4 more hours. And for the record, I NEVER want to do that again.

At about 8:20 my water broke and the Dr. was called in. I pushed 3 times and baby Alice was out.



Alice Grace was born at 8:33 am weighing in at 5 lbs 7 oz and 18.5 in long. She had a sweet peaceful look on her face and a full head of hair.




Come to find out, the whole reason for the stunted growth was her umbilical cord was too small. It was just really skinny which made it hard for enough nutrients to get to her body. But she herself was healthy as can be with a great set of lungs and a good strong body.

Joseph followed her to the nursery (for some reason he wasn't allowed in to give her her first bath. He's always been able to bathe our babies for the first time) and took a picture of her through the window after her bath.



Carly came to visit a few hours later. And yes, she looked SO big to me. It's funny how it does that. You leave them a baby and they come back 12 hours later a little girl.

She's a great first timer big sister!

Joseph left right after school let out to go get Ella and bring her back to the hospital. She was a pro.


It was hard to see Ella go. I think it had just been a hectic couple of days with picking up Ella from school and dropping her off at a sitter's house, telling her she's going to spend the night and then leaving to go have a baby with not much of a warning at all at what was going to happen. She was tired and full of emotion and just bawled when she had to leave the hospital with out her momma and new baby sister. Carly was great and pretty easy going about everything.



After a long drive Nonie and Pop also made it to the hospital that evening, just in time for her birthday.




We got to leave the very next day. I was fine and she was perfectly healthy so no need for the NICU. That was such a blessing.



We're home now and although that first night home is always the worst, Alice is so sweet and calm it made it easy to make it through and we've established a routine already. I'm pretty tired but I think this baby has actually been the easiest for me to adjust to out of all 3 of them. Maybe because I have my parents and Joseph here to help me. Everyone loves her so much.
The girls can't get enough of her. Carly wants to squeeze and pinch her any chance she can get and I have to keep reminding her to be soft, but she just loves her and wants to constantly hold her.



Ella is such a sweet little mommy and so soft and gentle with her. Both girls have been such a big help and always want to hold the baby or help change the diaper. They are fascinated with the breast pump and how it works. Ha!



My mom with the girls. She loves the babies and I'm thankful for that. She's a great person to pass the baby off to when I need a nap.:)

She's pretty alert for being so little and early and we just love her to pieces. She does a good job nursing and will eat about every 3 hours.




It's funny how having a new baby brings such a sweet spirit into your home. Maybe it's because her spirit is so fresh and new, straight down from Heaven. Alice is such a peaceful baby (knock on wood) who rarely cries. Every time she is awake everyone is excited and wants to be around her.

Father's Day

I couldn't go with out posting a shout out to my main squeeze. Joseph has been working so hard for us the last few months and has missed out on 3 vacations in the last 3 months already. I know he is getting burnt out, he's been getting no sleep, no time with family, no home cooked meals but he's still pressing forward working long hours 6-7 days a week for us. I love that man!





We celebrated Joseph's day on Saturday just in case he had to work on Sunday evening. While he was at work I ran as many errands as I could to get some great steaks and all the fixins. The girls helped make a flower pot that we turned into a "golf course" and filled it with candy so that when he gets his home office he can put it on his desk and fill it with pens. It was cute and the girls had fun with it. They LOVE making surprises. We had a fun dinner and afterward we gave our cards and gifts to Joseph. He got an outfit, a (much needed) 1 hr. massage gift card, his golf candy pot, and lots of drawings from the girls.

I let Joseph sleep in as much as possible on Sunday, although our church starts at 9 am so I don't know how much I could call that "sleeping in". He ended up having to leave for work after church but was able to get things done quickly and be home for dinner again! Yay! (We've seen Joseph home for dinner about 4 times in the last 3 months. So this got quite the excitement.)


Happy Father's Day sweetie! We love you SOOOO much! Thanks for being such a hard worker!

Wouldn't Ya Say My Collection's Complete?

Well...the results are in and we're having our third girl! We were all a little shocked because everyone was thinking it was a boy (well, Carly wanted a baby zebra but that's a different story.) but we're still super excited! I've always wanted my girls to have lots of sisters. There is just something about them. And hurray for getting another "dolly" to dress up! :) We love the name Alice and are still working on a middle name.


just a picture of the foot and hand. I thought it was pretty neat because it's pretty clear.

Mother's Day

My Mother's Day was fun and relaxed. I got a great homemade meal from Joseph (who might I add is a fantastic cook!) and a much needed 1 hour massage. Seriously...best gift ever!


The girls each wanted a turn taking a picture...


Ella gave me a coupon book, a foot massage and a fancy pen with a flower on it. She was so sweet about wanting to make this day special for me!



Carly gave me a coupon book, helped Daddy make me dinner and a "fairy wand" made out of a stick, ribbons and Hershey kisses.

Easter

I'm late, but who am I kidding, that's kind of been my M.O. lately.

Easter was fun. We started early with coloring eggs. About 3 weeks early. But the girls were so excited to do it and we needed an activity.






Looking like nice ladies is just too much to handle in our family. Apparently we'd much rather look like this....




Aren't they beautiful? We are proud for sure! :)


The week before Easter we went on a big trip. First to Nauvoo, IL to see Joseph's parents. The car was packed, we were on our way. Then an hour into our trip Joseph kept getting phone calls for hail cars and decided to be dropped off in McKinny and catch a ride with a partner back home. There was no way he was leaving this big 500 car hail mess just to get messier. What a let down! He had already been so busy and we were hardly seeing him and I kept telling myself that the end was near and we were going on a big vacay. Booooooo! But! You gotta do what you gotta do. Accountants have tax season, Retail managers have Christmas season....and we've got hail season. So daddy worked 14 hour days and we went to have fun with Grandma and Grandpa!

Eating sweet homemade ice cream and goofing off with Grandma!







Right before we left Nauvoo Grandma had a fun Easter egg hunt for them right when the woke up.





Saying goodbye to Grandpa and now off to Kansas!


Next on the list was Lawrence, Kansas where my brother and his wife live. They had a new baby, Murray Lawrence. My first nephew on my side of the family! We got to see my two brothers, my sister, Grandma and my parents. We were just missing my brother Lincoln who wasn't able to make it.




We did a lot of baby snuggling....








Blessing attending.....






Eating out.....






and Catching up.....


Ella was great, she went around and took pictures of everyone. Pretty good shots might I add and I didn't have to move a muscle. Just sit and enjoy my delicious dish. Don't know everyone? Let me introduce you:



Hi, this me. :)




My dad (aka: Pop) with a zonked out little Carly.


Ella Bella. (standing on a booster seat so she could "trick" everyone so they would think she was taller.)


My brother Adam and his cute wife Ashley (aka: the new parents) and Ashley's parents and sister.



The oldest of my 3 younger brothers, Noah (he wears his sunglasses at night) and Noah's GF Kylie (aka:balloon animal creator and great kid entertainer)



This is my mom...aka:Nonie. She loves the babies. (I think she secretly wants to steal them.)



My Grandma aka:GiGi. She's great and I love her.



My one and only sister Ashley. Soon to be Ashely Trunnell no longer.


Wedding shopping for my sister who will be getting married in August....


Balloon animal making....
And yes, one daughter has a pink poodle, the other (if you were wondering) is a bazooka...and yes, she was the one that asked for that.

Oh, but our journey didn't end here. It was very eventful. After the blessing and celebrating my dads birthday we went on over to my hometown of Liberty, Missouri to visit with my best friend, Abbie. We had good times but it was a short trip. I had to leave the next morning. Even though it's short, it's always nice to see her. I feel so greatful that I live close enough to be able to visit.

On my way home we had some crazy weather. Going through Tulsa, OK I got caught in a tornado storm. The lady at the toll booth said there was one coming straight for us. I was listening to the radio for any warnings but like that is going to help if I didn't even know where I was. I ended up having to pull over because the rain was coming down so hard and fast and then it started hailing golf ball sized hail. I though it was going to break my windshield. And yes, I was scared out of my mind. Ella thought it was cool and Carly slept through the whole thing. Here is one picture...I caught a piece mid air.

These crazy things mangled my car.




We were on the road again and both girls had finally fallen asleep. I have to share this picture of Ella that I caught while stopped at a stop light. I'm glad she understands safety.


Now I'm about as bord typing this as you are reading it. So I'll just leave you with the end of April which was Easter morning. It was fun and hectic, as we had church at 9 am and woke up fairly late.