Love

There's so much I've wanted to post lately but just can't seem to find the time to record everything Isla is doing. Last week I ended up having to take it easy to keep my blood pressure in check. And then Isla and I were snowed in for 3 days. Still no posts.

But this post is a must-do!

I tried to post this from the hospital on 12/12 but apparently the wi fi connection wasn't good enough! 

And more pictures...

That's Uncle T's thumb. And Isla's first chemistry set. And Pop Pop, and Uncle Todd (he says Sierra likes Irish Revolutionary songs and show tunes), and Aunt Tammy. But not in that order.

Lots to update...

So I've started posts several times in the past two months to update what's been going on with life--my thoughts on the adoption not happening, how the pregnancy was progressing (everything was normal except she stayed tranverse until close to the end, then turned breech for a c-section), and how Isla was preparing to be a big sister. 

Guess I'm not going to get those posts written. I think the pics sum it up though--Sierra Rose joined us at 11:14 pm on December 11. She was 7 pounds and 19 inches. 

My water broke that afternoon in the car, P was in surgery, I had to call mom to stay with Isla, then we waited for about 3 hours at the hospital to get an ultrasound.  They got her out of there fast though once we found out I wasn't going to be able to push her.  Dr S isn't a surgeon but the OB on call was who I would have picked to do the surgery if I'd had a choice and Dr S was there to assist her. The nerve block was weird but I didn't feel anything other than movement. Patrick said Dr C had difficulty finding Sierra in there. 

Recovery has been easier than I expected--not driving for 2 weeks was hard (I made it about 10 days), not lifting Isla is still hard, and I know I lift too much carrying the baby, her carrier, and the diaper bag. There are a couple organizing projects I was to do while I'm off work but they have to wait until P won't get on to me for lifting things. 

Breast feeding hasn't gone any better this time than the first other than I decided I wasn't going to stress about it so when she lost more weight than they like, her bilirubin was going up, and she hadn't had a pee diaper all day the day we got home from the hospital, I told P I just wanted her to have a full belly. She drinks formula like a piggy and gets some pumped breast milk each day. Apparently actual breast feeding isn't a warm and fuzzy activity for me. This time I can say that's ok and move on.

There's lots more I want to write so I have it in the future--she was 4 ounces and an inch and a quarter over birth at her 2 week check up!--but my yogurt has been sitting here next to me for almost 2 hours so it's time for breakfast. 

But first, I have to share what Isla said yesterday as we sat on her bed. I was giving Sierra a bottle and Isla had climbed on me, hugging me, looking at her baby sister. "Momma, we have a great fam-il-ly."  Yes, indeed baby girl. We do. 

Happy Halloween!!

Long time, no pictures even...

Disappointment....

We found out this week that S has decided to try to parent. I have a lot of mixed feelings about this--disappointment, relief, worry.... But I trust that God is in control and knows what is best for our family. At this point S could change her mind still, but I don't expect her too. I pray she can find the resources to take care of that little boy and that her domestic situation improves. So now I focus on the two little feet that are kicking me constantly. Our sweet little family of four with two precious little girls.

I like to move it, move it!

Sierra must have had a major growth spurt or something. For the past few days I've suddenly felt a drastic increase in movements! Mainly just pressing against me, but some other movements too!

What a summer!

Mine and Isla's summer hasn't gone quite as planned. I spent a lot of the early summer with pretty bad morning sickness. It is definitely better than it was--I'll sometimes have 4 or 5 days where I don't get sick, but then I'll go back to being sick every day for a week or so. But at least it's not ALL day anymore. I'm not sleeping as much as I was early in the summer either, but I still need to lay down to rest most afternoons. And then there's the weather--we have had a fairly mild summer temperature-wise (thank you God!!) and quite a bit of rain this summer. So out of 4 planned water park visits, we went to one, one got rained out, one was too cool, and we missed one cause momma was sick. We'll see how our planned outing Tuesday goes--the high is only supposed to be 82 and there's a chance of rain.

Otherwise, life is flying by. Baby boy is due next month--we've met the birthparents and they both seem very nice. I pray for their strength as they face this difficult time. The plan as of now is when she goes into labor, we'll head to Florida. We'll go to the hospital when the baby is 48 hours old and S can sign the paperwork. We'll drive back to the Northwestern part of the state to wait for clearance to leave with the baby. P will probably fly home and my mom will probably fly down to help me wait for clearance and drive home with me, Isla, and baby Derrick. S's due date is at the end of the month, but I'm hoping this will be a mid-month baby.

Meanwhile, my pregnancy is flying by this time. I'm 21 weeks with another little girl. Sierra Rose has been nicknamed Cereal by her big sister. We figure Isla can call her Cereal until Cereal gets tired of it and beats her up. Then they can work it out amongst themselves. My official due date is 12/21, but again, I'm hoping for a mid-month baby. Isla was 15 or 16 days early so I know if I go past that, my patience will wear thin!

More later--

Things I never expected to say....Tuesday edition

Stop licking momma's tummy!

No, you may not sleep with your shark. 

Seriously?

I'm 18 weeks today and I'm having morning sickness? I've felt pretty good for the past 10 days but there's been the mild nausea today and I just got sick. I'm glad everything is going well but enough with the puking! 

Happy 4th

Pictures

Sigh

I so need to update. But morning sickness and first trimester fatigue has been really hard on me. Then to top that off, Isla had a tummy bug last week and I got it this week. Still not 100 percent of even my pregnant self, but feeling loads better than I was. We were afraid I was going to have to go in my IV fluids.

Saturday marks the start of my second trimester so hopefully I'll start feeling better soon!

9 weeks....ETA Christmas Day!

Okay, so Isla was 2 weeks early so I know I'll expect this one early too, but I'm measuring on track for a Christmas baby. I can't seem to post the ultrasound footage but she quickly found the baby and a HR of 178!
And in 2 weeks we'll get to find out the gender of the baby we're supposed to adopt!

Coming soon....