The First Couple Days at Home...

I cannot begin to tell you how nice it's been to be at home instead of stuck in a little room at the hospital and so far we're not going back (we don't want a repeat of last time were I go back to the hospital). It feels like it's been a busy last couple of days though, I don't know maybe it's just the lack of sleep that makes it feel that way. ;) Abby had her very first bath... which she absolutely hated by the way, she's definitely not a water lover like Lizzie is. I also had my first post surgery check up on Friday... yeah no more itchy staples! My appointment went really well... no fever, no high blood pressure, no infections, and I'm apparently healing quite nicely. So far no issues and I'd like to keep it that way. I don't have another appointment until after the new year, but Abby has her first baby doctor visit this next Monday (Christmas Eve). She's doing extremely well so I can't imagine the appointment taking very long. She's such a quiet little baby. So content and mellow... completely polar opposite of Lizzie (it's a very nice contrast actually).

Speaking of Lizzie I think she's finally, slowly adjusting to having a new baby around all the time. That first night we brought Abby home was a complete and total mess. I had never seen Lizzie throw a tantrum to the likes of that before. Good thing that was the only one she's had. At least she doesn't get mad when you talk about Abby any more, but she's extremely possessive of her daddy. To the point were Ben can't even hold the baby if he's doing something with Lizzie. Lizzie's also a little confused when it comes to certain things like bedtime and why she has to go to bed when the baby gets to stay up with us (or so it seems to her) or why Abby gets to sleep in our room every night when she has to sleep in her own bed. Poor girl, I'm sure she'll mellow out over time... we'll just have to wait and see. Well it's time for another cup of coffee! ;)

Abby's Here...

Abigail Marie Van Dyken was born on Monday December 17th at 7:08pm, she weighed 7 lbs 13 oz. and was 18 1/2 inches long. Abby was originally supposed to be here on the 26th, but then was bumped up to the 19th and came even earlier, because when I went to my doctor's appointment that Monday everything was great (my blood pressure was even way down) except over the weekend her fluid level (or I guess the fluid in my belly) was significantly reduced. So we checked into the hospital that night expecting to have the baby the next morning at 10am, but I started going into labor fairly quickly and everything was placed into fast forward mode and we were in surgery only an hour after checking in. I guess Abby really wanted to come early.

Surgery went really well considering what little I remember of the last one, but all I know was it was really nice not having to be so drugged up and exhausted from a long day of labor and then surgery. I didn't even get sick this time in the recovery room... yeah! When I got back to our room after surgery Ben, Abby and Aunt Heidi were all settled in and I was actually able to enjoy their company and be with it enough to have a normal conversation. I felt pretty good for just having a baby.

Recovery is going really well. I feel a lot better than last time and we actually were discharged from the hospital a day early since I was doing so well. So last night, Wednesday, was our very first night at home (it was so nice to be home... we all missed it) and I already have a check up tomorrow afternoon to get my staples removed.

Lizzie was really funny with her new baby sister. For that first night (and most of the next day) Abby wouldn't open her eyes at all and Lizzie kept saying that the "baby won't work". I guess she thought she was like a baby doll that when you lift up the head the eyes open and when you lay it down the eyes close. So, Lizzie thought Abby was broken the first day she saw her sister. Tiny, baby won't work, finally opened her eyes and they're just as bright blue as Lizzie's. Lizzie did really well with the new baby she even helped daddy feed her. We'll have to wait and see how she does the next couple of days at home when Abby's with her all day.

Here's some pictures to enjoy. They're a little out of order, but I'm sure you won't mind! ;)

Abby getting ready to go home... it's been a long time since someone's been able to fit in that seat!

My favorite new picture... Our first night at home

Lizzie holding Abby for the first time

My two baby girls!

Lizzie feeding her baby sister for the first time

Daddy's arms are kind of full

She totally looks like daddy when he was a baby. Everything looks just like Ben even the nose with the dimple underneath... everything except for the bright blue eyes.

Right after surgery holding Abby for the first time

This is Ben's little area of our room. He even got his own bed this time instead of a chair.

Baby Update...

Well, I had my doctor's appointment this morning and things went okay. I don't have an exact date as of yet, but I do know that my OB wants to wait as long as possible which means the week of Christmas. And that is why I do not have a date since she has to double check the surgery calendar and see who's available to assist her. So as of now the earliest scheduled date could be Saturday the 22nd or after Christmas on the 27th. But that's only if the baby waits that long. I have to go in every Tuesday until the baby's here now and this Friday I have to go in and do a stress test... I had to do one today and poor Lizzie had to sit in her stroller for a whole 40 minutes (the test only takes 20 minutes but the first one didn't go so well I guess so after drinking some juice and trying again everything was fine) she did really, really well, just really bored by the end. I was pretty amazed. So when I go in on Friday I should know the date. I honestly don't known if the baby will make that long, but if I do go into full blown labor then we just go to the hospital and she gets to pick her birthday date! We'll just have to wait and see.

Baby Update...

This last Thursday I had my last ultrasound and everything went extremely well. Baby's doing great, she weighs 3&1/2lbs and everything is working like it should and in all the right places. Which is fantastic! And to my already joyous ears the due date was moved up a week (well 4 days) to the 26th. This coming Tuesaday I have a regular check up and hopefully I'll know more what the exact date will be, since we're having another c-section. I'll let you all know as soon as I do.

Our baby's a...

It's a GIRL! That's right another cute, adorable, big blue eyed (well that we don't know yet) little baby girl. Lizzie is going to have a sister (I always wanted a sister). ;) I'm really convince that no matter how many times we get pregnant it will always be a girl... I think that's all Ben has in him. Anyways, just thought I'd share the fun and exciting news. Hooray for little girls! ;) Good thing we kept all of Lizzie's clothes and stuff, because it will all come in very handy now.

And Baby Makes Four...

Just in case we missed you (for some strange and unknown reason) we're expecting another little bundle of joy! That's right our family will soon be four. The little ones estimated arrival day is 12-30-07... possibly even on New Years Eve since the 30th is a Sunday and I don't believe they schedule c-sections on Sundays. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. This month sometime (towards the end of the month) we'll find out if it's a boy or girl and we'll be sure to let you all know as soon as we find out.

Ben was really funny when I surprised him with the news. I bought the cute little pair of booties (in the picture above), wrapped them all up and Lizzie gave them to Ben while we were sitting at the fountain just outside the shopping center. At first he didn't get it all at... he thought they were for Lizzie. Lets just say he was more than a little confused (and really slow to figure things out) because he kept saying why did you get these for Lizzie they're way too small?! He even tried to give them to her to put on. ;) He eventually got it! He must have a had a very long day at work that day... we both got a really good laugh out of it.