Sleep????

I am officially exhausted and Kevin is officially exhausted. Ella will not wake up during the day. We have tried everything to wake her up in the day time hours. She wakes up at midnight and wants to be held. She wants to eat and then play til about three am. When she finally decides to sleep, she wants to sleep on my chest with her head under my chin. It is sooo very sweet. Night before last,it was around 8pm and I had been up for about 20 hours. I had gotten Mary Catherine fed and bathed and it was her bedtime. Ella was in her glidder naping. Kevin was trying to get Mary Catherine in bed. Ella woke up screaming. I sat up on the couch to pick up Ella and I must have fallen asleep sitting straight up. Ella continued to scream. Kevin finally came out of Mary Catherine's room (who was also screaming at this point because she has figured out she is going to have to get a flu shot next week)to see if Ella and I were okay. He wakes me from the sitting sleep and suggest that he take Ella and I take Mary Catherine. I agree thinking, I can lay down with her and close my eyes for just a few minutes and get a little quick power nap while also getting Mary Catherine to sleep. So I am now multitasking sleep and dealing with children. So at approximately 8:15pm, I go in Mary Catherine's room and lay down with her on her twin bed. The next thing I know, I wake up and the clock says 11pm. I am thinking "Oh My I need to take my medicine and go out there and get Ella so Kevin can go to bed." I walk out of Mary Catherine's room, make a fast stop by the bathroom and then go into our bedroom. I remember sitting down on the bed and taking my medicine but I don't remember anything that happened after that. The next thing I know, it is 5am and Kevin is standing there by our bed with a screaming child wanting a bottle. I must have been simply exhausted. I got up and took Ella and felt guilty for leaving poor Kevin all night. Ella then wouldn't let me put her down for the next 12 hours. The next night Kevin agreed to take the night shift. I felt somewhat guilty but I needed some serious sleep so I went to bed about midnight. At approximately 3am, I hear this awful screaming. I go into the den and I can't find Kevin or Ella. Half out of it, I hear the awful sound of a screaming baby. I head then for the nursery. The door is closed but they are definately in there with the lights off. I open the door and walk in. I go toward the rocking chair and see Kevin sitting in the chair. However, the baby is not in his arms nor is she laying on his chest under his chin. The baby is sreaming and so I ask "Where the heck is my baby?" Kevin says,"She is in the crib. I am letting her cry this out. You have her so spoiled that she will not sleep unless we are holding her." I simply responded by picking my baby up from the crin and then asking in a not very calm tone "if he (Kevin) had lost his freaking mind?" I then proceeded to explain that you simply do not let a week and a half old baby cry it out. You do not do that until they are 4-5 months. Kevin insist that the Doctor told us to do this with Mary Catherine four years ago. I do not recall this conversation. We will address this with Dr. Whitehead at Ella's appointment next Monday. To make a long story short, I was exhausted, the baby was screaming bloody mercy, I was MAD as fire and Kev was not going to win this battle at 4 am with me. I then insisted that he go to bed and I would take care of Ella myself. As right as he might have been, it was not what I thought Kevin should do in the middle of the night with my little angel screamer. I was mad most of the night as I held my precious little screamer right under my chin and as close to my heart asI could get her. I stayed awake and rocked her while she slept like a little angel. The next morning, after Ella and I both got a little nap, the whole thing was very funny but at the time there was not one funny thing about it!

Fisher Price-Soothing Motions Glider

This is one of the GREATEST gifts Ella received! The Finance Department at the City of Florence (Kevin's Co-workers) gave Ella the Fisher Price- Soothing Motions Glider. Ella loves it and is sleeping in it most nights. It rocks her back and forth or side to side (the seat swivels). It has a turtle speed and an rabbit speed. It can also play music if you want (with volume control). It has two varieties of music- fast or slow. It has a little mobile that you can put on or take off. We have it off right now. The Glider sits at couch level so Ella is at eye level when I am laying down on the couch and she is in it. I highly recommend the Glider! Thanks City of Florence Finance Department-WE LOVE IT!

Welcome Home Baby Ella!

Today we came home from the hospital. Ella is such a sweet and quiet baby. She never made a sound the whole time we changed her into her going home outfit, put her in her car seat, got in the car and drove home. This was totally different from our experience with Mary Catherine (who screamed from the moment we mentioned going home until we got there.) Ella was so simple and easy compared to last time. I don't know if it was because this time around we knew how to dress a baby while sleeping or if it was because we knew how to put her in the car seat without scaring her to death. I tell you this going home experience was a dream come true.

Ella looked like one of those department 56 snow babies. She had on a gorgeous little white soft corduroy gown smocked in pink. She wore a beautiful white sweater that Mary Catherine also wore home and a pair of hand knitted booties (which are already almost too small).

When we arrived home Gaga, Meme, Mel and Mary Catherine were there waiting on us. At home there was a beautiful vase of pink sweetheart roses from Daddy Kevin.
They smelled so good. He is such a good daddy and husband. Meme and Mel had been at the house with Mary Catherine for about 24 hours and had washed all the dishes, clothes, changed the sheets and vacuumed. Mel and Mary Catherine also raked up two big piles of leaves. What a big help!

Ella brought Mary Catherine a very special gift home from the hospital. She brought Mary Catherine a bitty Betsy Vera Bradley purse in petal pink. She also wrote a very special note to her big sister. Mary Catherine's purse matches Ella's diaper bag and bottle bag perfectly. Ella wanted to make sure Mary Catherine had a purse to carry their lip stick(hello kitty lip balm), some change, a squishy thing and a extra passy for Ella until she is old enough to carry it herself. Mary Catherine was very excited about this idea and immediately filled her bitty Betsy with all of the special items needed.

Mary Catherine wanted to make sure Ella liked her nursery so took Ella into the nursery and took photos of her in her crib. Circle One at Effingham Presbyterian Church brought dinner tonight. It was soooo good. They fixed lasagna, salad, bread and a lemon pound cake. It was a wonderful meal and so thoughtful of them to think of us.

Flowers from Mary Catherine

Today Meme and Mel came back to town to keep Mary Catherine. Mary Catherine had lot of things to do to prepare for Ella's arrival home. Her Meme said when they got to the house she worked very hard helping getting the sheets changed, picking up her toys and raking leaves. Once she finished all of her preparations,ate supper and had a bath she wanted to come back to the hospital to see Mommy and Ella. Meme said Mary Catherine was out in the flower beds looking about and she asked her what she was looking for? Mary Catherine told her she was looking for some flowers to take her Mommy and Ella. Meme told her they would stop by Walmart and buy her Mommy and Ella some flowers. Excited about this idea, Mary Catherine went in the house and hunted her billfold. Meme explained that she wouldn't need it that she and Mel would pay for the flowers. Mary Catherine liked this idea. On the way to the hospital, they stopped by Walmart. Mary Catherine selected some very smart carnations and a very smart glass vase. What a beautiful gift for Mommy and Ella. When Mary Catherine got to the hospital we took lots of photos. Then Mary Catherine helped Mommy practice walking in the hospital halls. She liked helping Mommy walk. Mary Catherine and Mommy went down to the family waiting area and had some very special "Mommy Love" time when we took a break from our walk. Mary Catherine is learning to be a very good big sister!

Lactose Intolerant

Today we found out that Ella (Ella Boo)is lactose intolerant. The nursery and doctors changed her formula to a lactose free formula. They said we may have to change again before this is all over. She was throwing up curdled milk and it was nasty! Dr Collins (who is with McLeod Pediatrics) checked her today and said she is a happy, healthy baby. She has a bit of dry skin which is normal on babies whose Mothers were a bit dehydrated. That should clear up in a few days on its own. She has no angel kisses. All vital signs are good and the hearing test was good. Ella's nurse today is Tania Manos. She is very good and very helpful. We have called her to the room several times with Ella throwing up. She is very calm and has a nice effect on me. She was also the person who held my hands while they gave me my epidural yesterday.

We had lots of visitors last night and today. Other than those who were there when Ella was born. Several others came for a visit today. I got to meet my cousin Wills Urquhart today. Mr. Miller McElveen came for a visit. Great Aunt Carol Ann and Uncle Larry McLaughlin came by. They brought Ella a newspaper from the day she was born and a little doll. They also brought a little matching doll for Mary Catherine. It was so thoughtful of them to think of a newspaper. Great Aunt Linda and Ricky Strickland came to visit. Our preacher Bill Roberts came to visit and pray with us as a family. Uncle Jay Vinson (Ella and Mary Catherine's godfather) came by as soon as he got home from holding court in Charleston. He brought Mommy a bottle of Rodney Strong Chardonnay. Jennifer Stroup (JenJen) also came for a visit on Friday evening. She even got the honor of helping Daddy change Ella's first stinky diaper. JenJen is our hero! Aunt Sissy brought Ella a sweet little gown sleeper and burp cloth, Mary Catherine some playing cards, and Mommy some Berts Bees lip balm. Gaga brought Ella a gorgeous petal pink Vera Bradley diaper bag and a beautiful pink rose bud vase for Mommy. Sam and Jenny McLaughlin gave Ella a matching Vera Bradley bottle bag. Aunt Pam Marek brought Mary Catherine a Big Sister shirt and Ella a bib and several outfits. Meme and Mel brought Ella two little outfits, a bib and a baby frog toy. Meme also brought Mary Catherine a book, a squishy thing and a windup Santa toy. Aunt Miriam and Uncle Jess sent Ella a beautiful "Jesus Loves Me" blanket and Mary Catherine a gorgeous bank with a charm bracelet around its neck. We got beautiful flowers from Mr. Mark and Mrs. Julia Buyck and also from Aunt Miriam and Uncle Jess Stribling.

Mary Catherine is very taken with Ella. She thinks she should be the only person to hold her. She calls Ella "her baby". She has been trying to tell everyone how to handle Ella and what to do with her. She explained to Gaga and Sissy that Ella does not like her hands bundled up in that blanket. Thank you Gaga for letting Mary Catherine stay over for a few nights while Mommy is in the hospital. She is having a wonderful time with you.

I am feeling okay but definitely need the pain medications they are offering me. I have a lot of lower abdominal pain. This one has been different than the first. I think it has to do with them tying my tubes.

Eleanor Love Rawlinson "Ella"

Today at 12:51pm, Eleanor Love (Ella) arrived by C-section at Carolinas Hospital System Women's Center. She was delivered by Dr. Angela Lynn Clary and weighed 7lbs 7oz and was 19 1/4 inches long. She has a beautiful head with fuzzy light brown hair, blue eyes and olive skin. She also has a few spots on the back of her head that looks like she has a few patches of white hair. It is a great identification method. Ella looks alot like Mary Catherine. She is a quiet, happy, and healthy baby. On hand immediately after delivery were Mary Catherine, Daddy, Meme, Mel, Gaga, PopPop Rawlinson, Paw Paw Anderson, Aunt Pam, Aunt Sissy, Aunt Flo and Gram Polly Lester. When we first got back to the room, Daddy, Mary Catherine, Mommy and Ella got to spend some special time together. Mary Catherine was the first person right after Mommy and Daddy to hold you. She thinks you are just the GREATEST! Mommy and Daddy think you are so sweet. We are having lots of visitors and getting lots of beautiful presents. I will post about some of these special things and people in the next post.

The Storks Visit!

Let me tell you, I will never forget Ella's delivery. This last week Dr. Clary and I decided to try the epidural with this delivery. Might not have been the best idea we have had in a long time. Dr. Clary sent the anesthesiologist in to meet with me and talk about the options on Friday morning. I flat out told him I was scared to death to let anyone put something in my spine. He was such a nice man and reassured me that he could make it work and my experience would not be anything like last time. I agreed to try it. At 12:20pm they took us to the OR. I got on the OR table and this wonderful nurse named Tania Manos (Ella's Nurse) was actually there to get Ella but for some reason, I grabbed her arms and decided she was going to hold on to me while they put the epidural in. I told her "I am scared to death of this!" She stayed right there with me and talked me through it. Bless her heart. This time the epidural worked like BAMM! I didn't feel my feet with in seconds. Talk about a weird feeling. I wasn't sure how I felt about being out of control of a portion of my body. It was a humbling experience. They helped me get on the table correctly and put the sheet up. They then put my arms out and strapped them down. BAD THING! Once the surgery started my blood pressure started dropping and I started throwing up. It was awful. I could only turn my head to the side, throw up and gag. It was mostly the dry heaves. I had no control of my lower body and so my lower body wasn't helping with the throwing up. It was an awful experience. The first time, it happened they were able to give me something to ease the nausea and bring the blood pressure back up. However, it made me silly drunk. Dr. Clary said I asked her to give me a tummy tuck while she was down there. She laughed and told me she couldn't do that. When she came to check on me in recovery, I asked her what else I told her and she said, I really didn't want to know. There is no telling what I said!!! As the procedure continued, the sick feeling came back again. This second time it was much worse. Dr. Clary had Ella out, I heard her cry and then Kevin brought her for me to see. I was crying and throwing up at the same time. I kept saying "Oh she is beautiful. Now knock me out! I can't take this throwing up anymore." Someone in there kept saying "Do you want to hold her?" I said..."I am sick. Please just knock me out!" So they did! I don't remember a whole lot about that except they were talking about needing new lights in the OR and a TV somewhere. I don't remember anything else until I was in the recovery room. I am so thankful that the stork got here and it is over! I do know this...if another baby comes out of this body, we are going to name it Jesus because it is going to be a miracle!

4 Days and Counting!!!!

I am officially not going back to the hospital until my water breaks or it is time for the scheduled C-section on the 17th. Last monday night we spent the whole night in the hospital. I was having contractions every 3 minutes like clock work. The contractions were doing no good and we weren't getting anywhere in the labor process. Finally they gave me morphine and the contractions stopped at about 3 am. Kevin and Rebecca Howell (my nurse) said I kept telling them to get the bugs off of me. Undoubtedly, I don't do very well with Morphine. I was pretty much out of it so they kept me until 9am Tuesday. Kevin took me home Tuesday morning and I slept all day. When I woke up on Wednesday I felt GREAT. I was up early working on real estate deals. I meet with 3 doctors, met with the engineers and lawyers and returned calls from the last 2 days. I worked non-stop from 9am til 5:30pm. At approximately 6:30pm, I was in serious pain and was having contractions again every 3 minutes. Once again, Kevin and I headed back to the hospital. I wanted to wear a mask so the nurses wouldn't know it was me AGAIN! I kept telling everyone...I am not having a baby but honestly, I wasn't sure this time. I was hurting pretty seriously on Wednesday night. They got me in a room, hooked me up to the monitors, made me relax and after a few minutes the contractions just stopped. I was so embarrassed. We were home by 11pm Wednesday night. Dr. Chapman suggested that I might not need to be working full days at this point and that I might be getting a UTI. I had taken some test earlier in the day so the results were due back on Thursday.

There are advantages and disadvantages to your OB/GYN's being personal friends. On Thursday, I worked only half the day but that is because Dr. Lynn Clary called at approximately 3pm and said..."Stephanie, you do not have a UTI but you are 8 3/4 months pregnant and you need to go home and rest." She wanted to know where I was(as she was calling me on my cell phone). I explained that I was delivering plats to potential clients. She then asked if I knew what "semi-bed rest actually meant"? I was then told if I didn't go home and rest, then she would put me in the hospital and I would sit there and rest until the 17th. When Kevin heard about this conversation, he then threatened to take my cellphone which would be like cutting my arm off. I am not a sitter so, this semi-bed rest thing is one of the most difficult concepts I have had to grasp this pregnancy. I like to work, go and do. I would go completely insane sitting in the hospital until the 17th. So I have decided to stay at home and rest as much as possible. Friday and today, I had Chrystie Crowley (my secretary) come to the house and help me prep, fax and deliver contracts. However, I was very proud that I never got out of bed. I even let Chrystie pick up and delivered plats. I think I am probably driving her nuts but she is too nice to tell me so. I am blessed to have her help at this point.

Nausea is still here daily. This is something I will not miss about being PG. I also have indigestion at this point. I have been trying to notice what makes it worse. I think it is peanut butter. Today everything taste bland. I had the dry heaves this morning and I think the stomach acid has burned off my taste buds. I am still trying to eat and drink but it makes me feel so yucky and nothing taste good. My feet aren't swollen at all. My hips do hurt some when I lay on them for any period of time. Celia loaned me her snake body pillow and it really helps me sleep better. Thanks C-ya. I feel as big as a barn. It is difficult to bend, get up and down and putting on socks is a nightmare. Walking for any period of time starts the contractions again. I am watching way too much TV (for those who know me well, you know I used to hate to sit and watch TV). I told Kevin the other day about something I saw on TV and he agreed that I was watching way too much television. I am just thankful I have not resorted to Soap Opra viewing. I usually watch Fox News, MSNBC,the weather channel and The Travel Channel during the day. I am watching some shows in the evenings. My favorites right now are CSI, Criminal Minds, NCIS, Two and A half men, Christine, Twenty Good Years, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Survivor, Desperate House Wives, Brother's & Sisters, Greys Anatomy and Men in Trees. I can not believe I watch all these shows. I used to watch absolutely no TV...I don't know what has happened to me.

Four days and counting. We have to be at the hospital at 10:30am and the Section is scheduled for noon. I will try to get Kevin to post photos of Ella on here for everyone to see when she arrives.