Hospital

Chip stayed with me the first night since I still had my epidural in and couldn't really get up to tend to the baby. But the poor guy was SO tired that I had to call in the nurses anyway for help since he was dead asleep. :) So I let him go home to rest Thursday and Friday night in our own bed. He stayed with me until late and tried to come back early before work, so Lily stayed at my parent's house all week which was fine with her since that is where Aunt Linda was and Lily is obsessed with Aunt Linda and Jeremy! But Lily came by everyday to visit and so did my Mom. Linda wasn't feeling well, so her and Jeremy stayed at home. We also got visits from Rhiannon, Patti and Jenn (but I forgot to take pictures).

I managed to shower on Thursday morning (and everyday since birth) and get my regular pajamas on. It was a lot easier than after Lily was born, but still extremely painful.

Photo by Lily

Lily's facial expressions crack me up.

Lily is such a sweetheart. She saw that other people brought flowers, so she made Chip take her to the gift shop so she could give us flowers. She bought us this small rose bouquet and Danielle a teddy bear. I just love how thoughtful and unselfish she can be.

Our last night there we got a steak and lobster dinner (or a chicken dinner if you are me and don't like steak or lobster). The food was good, but the triple chocolate cake was beyond delicious and that is saying A LOT since I do not like chocolate cake!

Chip and Lily bought us this door decoration to announce Danielle's arrival.

I forgot to get a photo of him on delivery day wearing his scrubs with her footprints -- so we took a quick picture as we were packing up and getting ready to go home.

Flowers from Rhiannon and Jenn.

From Colton, Garret and Jenna (aka Eric & Kristi)

My lovely flowers from Lily

From my Mom!

Also from Rhiannon and Jenn.

My view from my bed. There was a nice HDTV with movies on demand -- although I never used them. There was also a video camera to do web chats. I failed at doing those too, although in retrospect it would have been great to try when Lily was at my mom's and Linda couldn't come visit. Oh well. I was a little preoccupied while I was there.
We had a suite type room with the daddy couch/bed in the other room -- he even had his own TV out there. Although, he never really used it.

It was a nice room and a great hospital!

All ready to go home on Saturday afternoon. I wasn't quite ready, but they told me it was time.

Danielle James

Finally the big day was here! I still can't believe that after everything I made it to my scheduled c-section date. I almost wish she came early on her own since the anticipation of knowing exactly when you are going to have a baby is weird and nerve wracking. Neither Chip nor I slept very well on Tuesday night -- I mean, how could you knowing you had to get up at 4:30am to arrive at the hospital by 5:30, for a baby at 7:30?!? Lily stayed at my parent's house and we tried to relax and enjoy the last peace and quiet for awhile. . . .

All ready to go at 5am! Believe it or not, I am really going to miss being pregnant.

Arriving at the hospital!
I forgot to take a picture when we left in the daylight, but this is better than nothing.

Getting admitted. I *thought* I was surprisingly relaxed considering how nervous and scared I'd been the past few weeks -- I am not really a huge fan of surgeries or any medical procedure for that matter. I was calmly answering all the questions and handing it fairly well -- until I puked. :) I warned the nurses that I was a puker with anxiety issues, so at least they knew it was coming. After that I felt much better and didn't puke again until I was on the table in the OR. Just like with Lily. :) But the anesthesiologist did a great job of controlling my nausea and blood pressure, and the surgery I was dreading for 9 months wasn't all that bad at all! It was a lot different that when I had the c-section with Lily. That was a total blur and I barely remember any of it. This time I took it all in and was ok. Chip was a different person too -- last time he tried to hide behind the curtain and not see anything and this time (after a few anatomy and pre-med classes), he was hanging over the curtain asking questions and the doctor and nurses were quizzing him on my various body parts and organs! I just remember rolling my eyes during all this thinking, "you can't be serious". :)

More than ready to go! I even got Chip to bring the camera this time -- he refused with Lily.

8:41 am on August 17, 2011 baby Danielle James was born weighing 8lbs 1oz and measuring 19 inches long.

My baby girl!

Weighing in at 8lbs 1 oz. Pretty small for us!

Chip was in charge of deciding on the name. We had it narrowed down to either Lorelai James or Danielle James. Since Lily's middle name is "Emily", after my grandma, it was important to Chip to have his grandfather, who he was very close to, represented in someway. Thus, the middle name James.

Once he saw her, he felt Danielle was the right choice, and I totally agreed.

The surgery went very smoothly and everything was great. So I only had to stay in the recovery area for the normal 1-2 hours before being moved to a regular room. My Mom was at the hospital during the surgery, but went to get the rest of the family while I was in recovery.

Danielle's first bath.

Not a huge fan. :)

Introducing Lily to her new baby sister!

Grandma and her girls.

Lily got big sister presents. A crayola art set that she wanted . . .

. . . and a "Fresh Beat Band" activity book. The "Fresh Beat Band" is her latest obsession! She was beyond excited!

Lily had picked out a stuffed lamb for both her and Danielle, so they could each have a matching "sister toy" a few weeks back. Here she is giving Danielle hers.

Aunt Linda happened to be in town at this week -- so it worked out perfectly and her and Jeremy got to meet Danielle the day she was born.

She was born with what most described as "strawberry blond" hair. I hope it stays that way!

Love this picture!

Lily is SO sweet and genuinely LOVES her little sister SO much!

Skin to skin time with my baby.

My doctor lets you eat after surgery, which is pretty rare. Julie, my favorite nurse there, said the normal dinner may be too much for my stomach, but I could have something lighter like a grilled cheese with fries, cake and ice tea if that was okay with me. Is she freaking kidding me??? Of course that is ok! That is my most favorite meal in the world! I was beyond excited. Julie was so great that she special ordered me another grilled cheese and fries for the next day instead of the lame chicken dinner meal. It was perfection!

YUM! I love being waited on -- even in hospitals. :)

It was a long day and another long night ahead as I stayed up with Danielle, but I felt amazing great. I think it was the adrenaline and love that kept (and keeps) me going. I am beyond lucky to have such amazing daughters.

Bedrest is Almost Officially Over!

Tomorrow is the big day -- the baby will finally be here! I have been a big ball of crazy all day. The emotions and hormones are taking a toll on me. I am excited, scared, nervous, overwhelmed, and nearly every other emotion! I can't believe that I made it all the way to 39 weeks and the scheduled c-section. I am a little sad to not be pregnant anymore (believe it or not) and since this is likely our last baby it is weird to think my baby days are almost over -- that means I am OLD! :) See what I mean, about the crazy emotions taking over me?? :)

I dropped Lily off at my Mom's tonight for a sleep over since we have to leave for the hospital at 5:30am!!! I was sad to leave my baby for the night, but she was super happy to be back with Aunt Linda and Jeremy. :)

Mommy and Me Day

Today, after Grandma took Lily to swim I made her come home to me instead of heading back to my Mom's to play. First of all she was at my Mom's ALL day yesterday -- nearly 12 hours straight, so I felt they may need a tiny break, especially considering that she will be there all the rest of the week while I am in the hospital. Plus, I was being selfish and wanted to spend the last day with my baby while she was my only baby!

We played Candy Land!

All was great until I won. The she said, "It's isn't any fun when we play fair" and wouldn't play anymore.

Being silly for the camera.

I love my dramatic, silly girl!

Then we played Mickey Mouse-Ke-Tag

And colored!

It was a fun and lazy day -- like all the rest this summer. But I was glad I made her stay home and play with me. Life is about to get crazy!

Baby Bumps

My sister is due in January 2012, so we took the one (and likely only opportunity like this ever) to get a photo of our pregnant bellies together. I am sure these two girls will grow up to be even closer than Lily and Jeremy.