TWO Months Old

Boy how time flies! We have had Ellie in our lives for two amazing months. That last month of pregnancy seemed to never end then all of a sudden time flies! A lot has happened so I tell a few stories starting from the beginning: (Warning it is a long one!)

What waited at home to welcome us.

(from Grandma, Aunt Jenny and Alex)

We laid her in her crib for the first time! Something I had been waiting to do for a VERY long time!

Ellie had jaundice and needed to be under lights when we got home. It was the bili paddle the first night. (notice the glow under the blanket)

But the levels were higher yet again the next day and the bili lights were brought in.

For the next 4 days or so she lay here. We could only get her out to feed her and change her diaper. It was torture to watch and not be able to hold her.

We would lay her in the middle on her back. She would then roll to her side, and scoot herself up so her head was touching the top. Every time. Then she would do the cute little things like holding the edge with her hand or with her little feet.

My plan was to wait 3 weeks before giving her a binky to lessen the chance of nipple confusion. But she would get a little whinny when we first put her in and the binky helped her fall asleep. As you can see she would even hold it in her mouth! After she had fallen asleep, it would fall out and she would not need it again. But after she was out of the lights she didn't get it again until just before she was three weeks old. We never had any confusion.

Ellie got her first bath at home. So cute and little. Momma gave her her first bath in the tub when the the last of the umbilical cord fell off around 3-4 weeks old. Ellie loves the water! She makes the best faces when we give her a bath. I have come up with a routine that works for us and we make it through bath time with no accidents and no crying till the very end when it is all over. I also have a blue rubber ducky (Ducky) that takes a bath with her now.

At first she didn't not like her swing. She screamed shortly after being put in it.

But she finally grew into it!

Ellie met her cousins

Mabel (6 months) Chloe (4 months) Ellie (1 month)

Dad gave her her first bottle.

She wasn't sure of it at first. But it didn't take her long to get the hang of it.

And pumping... turns out I am a pro! I can get 3 oz out in 15 minutes!

As for breastfeeding, Ellie and I are one of the lucky ones. We knew what we were doing right from the beginning and it never has hurt, like everyone had told me it would. The only down side is how long it takes! And Every two hours?!! (that is Ellie's schedule... STILL!) Breastfeeding in public is still a struggle for me, but I think I am getting better and learning different ways to hold her and get "situated".

Ellie is so strong! Even from birth she was holding her head up! It is so exciting to watching her grow every day! (Ellie holds her head up good when on her belly at one month.)

Ellie has smiled from the beginning. Here she is 4 days old. Smiling as Dad gives her kisses.

Around Mother's Day Ellie started BIG smiles!

And they just kept coming!

So far I have been able to eat anything I want. Nothing gives Ellie an upset stomach, any gas she has been able to pass. That has been great! I really didn't want to give up my chocolate!

At 7 weeks and we just had our first early morning crying episode. A giant gas bubble, and she was happy again.

(Give a little Toot-toot it's okay!)

The many faces of our BEAUTIFUL BEAN!

Ellie's first car ride home from the hospital.

A trip to the Doctor (jaundice)

And again...

And again...

And again...

By the end of it she slept through the heel prick. Everyone said we had such a good baby!

Sporting a very cute outfit!

Trying to eat her hat

Just staring off...

What a poser! Always with her hand by/under her chin!

And again

Hanging out with mom.

Taking pictures...

Talking in her bouncer

Wearing a pretty dress

Blowing spit bubbles

A look of... concern?!

Sleeping... Always sleeping.

Ellie naps with momma

She naps with daddy

She naps with her binks (binky)

Ellie naps with momma, daddy and her binks!

We love this kid! These past two months have been completely crazy! Full of changes, hardships, loves, kisses, laughs, and tears. We are on an adventure and we are loving it!

Labor and Deliverary

Three Days Before We Were Parents

This whole pregnancy Josh and I were looking forward to experiencing some traditional milestones of labor. 1- Trying everything under the sun to start labor, 2- Be able to say "I think my water just broke" and 3- To be able to call everyone with the news that she would be coming soon. I am very happy to say that we got all that we asked for!

Tuesday, March 30, 2010.

7:45 AM

I woke up, still tired and sore. I had been having sporadic contractions since the Thursday before. All my energy was gone now. Our nightly walks seemed like such a work out now. My belly was uncomfortably too low. As Josh was leaving for work he leaned over and kissed my forehead and exclaimed, "I think you have a fever!" I indeed had a low grade temperature. I went back to sleep.

9:00 AM

Josh called for me to check my temperature again. Still having a fever, I called my sister at work and told her of the fever and asked if it was anything to worry about. She asked the doctor and he thought I should come in just in case.

I jumped into the shower and went into town. Everything looked fine and I was to take Tylenol for the fever and my achy body. Since I had an appoint for later in the day to be checked, it was done then. Still a 3.5, really thin and a low, low baby. I went home and fell back asleep.

2:00 PM

I had been going in and out of sleep since I had been home from the morning trip to the doctor. The contractions a bit more noticable then they had ever been before, but still nothing that rang "go to the hospital". When Josh got home I told him about the contractions. So for the fun of it we decided that we would keep track of them. If they stayed constant enough we would try to go into the hospital and get labor started. After an hour of them coming between 4-7 minutes apart. (This really meant nothing because there was many nights that they were that close for hours, then by morning the contractions were gone.) We decided to go on a walk to see if the contractions would intensify. They did continued and I even had a little back pain. We got home and waited another half hour. I was just sure when we got to the hospital and hooked up to the NST that there would be no contractions on the monitor.

5:30 PM

We put our bags into the living room "just in case". We would send someone to get them later if this was indeed the time. (We didn't want Grandma to see us take our stuff out to the car and get her hopes up. It was enough for us to be let down. We got to the hospital and told them I thought I was laboring and I would like to be checked out. They the hooked me up and... I had a contraction, and another contraction. Then another! The contractions kept coming. After a while the nurse came back into the room and said "Your doctor is here and he and I agree, you are going to be admitted!"

I cried. This was the time I had been waiting for, now that it was here, I was scared out of my mind. The doctor came and said that they would hook me up to the antibiotic for Group Strep B first. It had to be in me for 4 hours then we could start the pitocin. Josh and I both called our mothers, neither answered! Finally we got threw to them. We told everyone, "We are at the hospital and we are getting admitted!"

The nurse checked me and I was a 5.

We walked to our birthing room and I used the restroom right away. Afterwards, I sat on the bed, and it felt a little trickel like I wasn't done with the restroom yet. I apologized to the nurse who was going to put in the IV and got back out of bed. I look at where I was sitting and there was a big puddle there. Holy cow!! "Um... I think my water just broke!!"

We called our parents again to tell them to come a little faster. The contractions started to get harder.

7:00 PM

The antibiotic was given to me. My hand and shoulder throbbed from the medicine. But soon the contractions hurt more and I never felt the pain from the antibiotic again. My sister Amber and Josh's sister Amy was there with us now. I blew a sigh of relief when my mom and dad got there. I got up to use the rest room and the contractions were really starting up. They didn't know, but I did cry a little bit. Then I put on my strong face and came back out. Stopping while I had a contraction.

Now I don't know what time what happen from here on out. Things went really fast. I started getting nauseous and I had a bag by my face the whole time. Josh was having a hard time watching me go threw the contractions. His sister was great at getting him to take a break and getting some fresh air. I encouraged him to leave any time he needed. I would rather have him taking breaks then being pasted out on the floor. Going outside didn't help too much because the lady next to us was in labor with her sixth child without and epidural and screaming loudly.

I myself finally asked for an epidural. It was hard to sit up, slouch over my big belly and not move while I was in the middle of a contraction and I had a needle in my back. But I did it and laid back down ready for some relief from the pain. My feet went numb, my knees when numb. The pain in my thighs went away too. But that is where it seemed to end. The contractions started out about two minutes apart and now almost as soon as one ended another would start right afterwards. I didn't know I could keep pushing the button for more medicine on the epidural, so once I knew that I was pressing it as much as I could, hoping it would help.

My mom stayed at my side talking me threw each contraction. Amber and Josh were amazed at how big the contractions were. When we were first admitted they were just over the 40, sometimes coming just under the 60. They kept telling me, "Ashley you would be so proud of yourself, it is hitting the 100 and probably would go past if the screen would let it!" I could never look. I was solely concentrating on resting between contractions and breathing threw the contractions. Thanks to my mom, she kept me calm and kept telling me to relax. She stayed by me and let me squeeze her hand off.

At some point, I was checked again and at a 7. I thew up three times. Once in the middle of a contraction. I got the shakes really bad during while I "Transitioned". As some of the contractions peeked they were too much and I would cry out just for a second. The nurse asked if I was feeling more then I would like. "YES, this is more then I would like to feel." They brought back the anesthesiologist and he gave me some more... drugs. I don't know what he did. It still didn't take away the pain. Maybe just took off the edge of it... maybe.

I began to feel like it was getting time to push. Our doctor was in the next room delivering the screaming lady's baby. Josh leaned over my belly and to Ellie, "I know I told you to come out fast, but JK! JK! stay in there a little longer!" The contractions were getting so strong, my stomach was starting push her out. It was something that just couldn't be helped. I could feel the urge to push getting stronger and stronger. Josh went out and told the nurses that I was feeling like I needed to push. The nurse told him that she didn't want to hear it and she wasn't going to do anything about it. Josh wasn't too happy about that. After a few more contractions the nurses finally came in and put my legs up on the stirrups. Everyone left but Josh and my mom. The nurses told Josh to lay down on the couch if he started to get dizzy, which he did and it helped him out a lot. As soon as my legs were up the nurse exclaimed, "Well there is the top of your baby's head!" Josh jumped up wanted to see and he yelled "Oh my gosh!" in his cute "Josh" way. He was no longer feeling sick, he was totally into this part of getting Ellie here. I could finally start pushing with the contractions. It was a real relief. Josh kept telling how good I was doing and that Ellie had hair and how amazing this was. I loved listening to him even though I was still in pain.

The nurses left the foot of the bed and I got a contraction. I kept saying "Can I push? Can I push? I don't want to waste this contraction!!" Finally, the doctor was there. It took a total of 7-8 contractions (15 minutes) from the time my legs were in the stirrups to get her here! (Luckily the doctor was quick to react and was able to unwrap the cord from Ellie's neck as she came flying out!)

11:03 PM

Exactly four hours from the time the administered the first dose of antibiotic. I hear "Ashley, open your eyes and look down at your baby!" The pain was gone and the sight was amazing. Josh was in heaven. They put her on me and I was amazed how heavy she felt, she didn't seem heavy while she was inside my belly. They cleaned her off and took her across the room for her after birth care and what not and I still had my after birth care to be done. That included being stiched up. I was feeling way too much and I was given a shot to numb the pain.

Josh had taken Ellie to the doorway to show our family waiting in the hall. I couldn't wait to hold her... and to get my legs back and a more comfortable position! Josh brought Ellie close, once, and I called out to her, Ellie turned her eyes and opened her mouth at me! It took 45 minutes to get me stitched up, then I could finally put my legs down in a more comfortable position.

Proud Daddy

First Family Photo

Everyone was let back into the room. 15 minutes later Josh's parents, brother and sister-in-law came from Lehi.

The Next Morning

It was a blur of events, full of chaos, for me any ways. I can't believe Josh and I are parents of a beautiful little girl. Everything happened the way I hoped it would. The crazy part is that I would do it all over again. The long 9 months, the morning sickness, the complications, the medicines, the aching body, the sleepless nights, labor. Everything. It is so worth it. I think we will have another one someday!

We Have A BABY!!

Ellie Hesch

March 30, 2010

@ 11:03 PM

7 lbs. 7 oz.

18 1/2 in.

She is EVERYTHING we hoped for... AND MORE!

We love our little bean!

39 1/2 Weeks

Still Pregnant!! The 18th we had our LAST ultrasound with the specialist. Ellie is still right on for coming April 2. They had her weighing at a little over 7 pounds (give or take a pound)!

Ellie at 38 Weeks

Friday the 19th I got checked again, stretched to a 3 and 80% effaced. Only tight contractions at night is all we had happened over that weekend. Josh and I even upped our nightly walks, by A LOT! I believe over that weekend we walked about 8 miles! Yep, we are just CrAzY like that. The Saturday was a awesome day! We spent that with Jason, Katie, Amy, the kids and their pups. We went up to Snow Canyon National Park for a picnic and a hike. Beautiful weather. Sunday came with a call for the Doctor. He was just wanted to check up on our progress, and was surprised that we still weren't in labor yet. Also, he was over at the hospital delivering a baby and he wanted me to know that there was lots of room for me there, and today was a "beautiful spring day". I told him I would love to go in, I would just need him to induce me! He turned me down. After the renewed confidence that it still could be the weekend for Ellie to come, Josh and I walked the 4 miles from Grandma's house to Amy's house in Bloomington. It was a very nice walk, again very nice weather. It wasn't a hard walk at all, but we still asked Amy to bring us home!

38 Weeks Pregnant

Appointments for this week: Roomy 3.5 on Tuesday, NST on Wednesday where we had our FIRST TWO REAL CONTRACTIONS show on the monitor. (I have been having contractions, but never at the time of an NST, so we never saw the beautiful arch it makes on the monitor!) Josh and I were really excited about that. And Thursday's Doctor's appointment was the same. All the energy I had over the last weekend is mostly gone. Our walks have become much more difficult. I believe it has something to do with how low my belly has dropped over the week, and my waddle walk seems to have much more sway to it! Amy gave us some Clary Sage essential oil to try out. I have been having the tightening contractions since Thursday.

39 Weeks Pregnant

We will see our doctor again tomorrow (Tuesday) and do a NST Wednesday, Ellie's due date is on Friday, April 2! It is here! If she doesn't come, we will be induced on April 9.

38 Weeks... almost

Here we are, 38 pregnant. A few things have happened in the last few weeks. First off, Ellie has rolled to have her little back pressed up against my belly. She moved right at the right time, I was about to have a break down. Her back had always been to one side and her feed to the other (head down). She was SO active at night and she was making it so hard to sleep.

Next, we went in for our check up with the Doc at 35 week mark. He checked me, and I was "softening". Week 36 he didn't check. Then at last Friday (week 37) I was dilated to a 1.5 and could be stretched to a 2+ and 70% effaced. It was quite uncomfortable and I didn't know what to expect. I even told him to get out! He stripped my membranes and sent us on our marry little way. Josh was VERY excited that I had progressed. The doctor was even excited and told us "see you in a week unless we see you in the hospital".

My shower was on Saturday and I was very excited. I couldn't believe how many people came, and the gifts!! Oh, my. My sister was a doll and let us use her house for the event and all my family and Josh's family came. It was basically the best day ever. After the shower I washed Ellie's bedding so when we got home we could make her bed. I have been waiting SO long for this time to come. When we got home, after dinner, Josh's brother come over to hang out and he helped Josh bring in all the gifts from the car. I was beat! Josh, the cute guy he is, was like a kid on Christmas morning reopening all those gifts. After putting the bedding in and putting some of the presents away we stayed up talking with Josh's mom, who had stayed the week end with us. We didn't get in bed till late, and to tell you how tired I was, Josh got on the computer for five minutes, and I was asleep before he was done!

The next morning we put up the swing and the play yard. Spent time with Josh's mom, Josh's brother and his family. And again, I ended up falling asleep!

Monday, Josh went back to work, and he and I both worried all day about me going into labor and Josh being gone. So Tuesday I went back into talk to the doctor to see what we can do about this new stressor. He said he couldn't induce, but he assured me that he could slow down labor and give Josh time to get to me. That and he said that there would be signs that would let us know with plenty of time to call him in. I REALLY hope he is right. And he checked me again, and I was dilated to a 3! The doctor said joked that we might be calling Josh in sooner then later!

Today, Wednesday, we went in for our weekly NST, (and a quick story update on that subject, the time after we got the 7 the specialist read a 13. When we tried to say we were nervous about the levels dropping and wanting closer attentions, the tech read back our numbers and rounded them all to a 9 and then claimed that they were never a worry. EVEN THOUGH, she was the same tech who freaked out the week before the levels being low that that we should probably come in twice a week but the specialist said no. So we were made to look like the stupid ones. So we decided that we would no longer listen to anything they said there at the specialist office. We would ask our doctor to read the report they send over to him after every visit if we had a question.) SO today we went in, the levels were still up, at a 10. The tech showed us that Ellie had a full stomach of fluid and we even saw her practicing her breathing! It was amazing. The tech was saying that it must just be a coincidence that we caught her doing that because they don't do it very much, but Ellie breathed in 5-8 times then stopped. I laughed and she started to breath in and out again! What can I say, our little girl is an over achiever!

Tomorrow we have our last ultrasound and we go back in to see the doctor on Friday for a check up. Hopefully we are still progressing and hopefully we can have a baby soon!