Life with Two Sweet Girls

And what a week it has been! This past week I was supposed to a) finish out a nice Spring Break with Audrey b) get all the last minute baby and school stuff done and c) work a couple days before going in for my induction. Instead I have a one week old baby girl! WOW.

Where to start...my hospital stay was amazing. Family came to visit us later in the afternoon on Thursday. Chris stayed with me overnight even though we sent Abby to the nursery. They kept her from 11:30-6:00 am...it was awesome to get a full night's rest. I began pumping that morning. Chris went home to take care of things and then brought Audrey back for some family time, just the four of us.










Chris took her back home in time for her nap. We figured it would be nice for he and Audrey to get home and settled before Abby and I came home. He got a bunch of things done around the house and I relaxed with Abby at the hospital. I had more visitors that evening and again I sent Abby to the nursery overnight. This time they kept her from about 10:30 until much later the next morning. Chris came with Audrey to take us home on Saturday. I got the TDAP shot (for prevention of Whooping Cough) and we were discharged!








Saturday was our first day home. It was a gorgeous day and even though I was excited to get home, I was a little sad about leaving the hospital. It was a little too real, seeing two little girls in our back seat. Once we were home Chris fed Abigail and I fed Audrey before putting her down for a nap. Abby pretty much stayed on a 2 hour feeding schedule. We'd give her colostrum first, then formula. The first night was rough because I kept her in the living room while I tried to sleep on the couch. She had spit up a lot over the past couple days and I had been advised to keep her upright as much as possible. So she went back and forth between the bouncer and the swing...but between pumping and feeding I didn't get much sleep!

The past few days and nights have been much better. Our wonderful friends sent us their co-sleeper and I started using it on night 2. What a difference! Just sleeping in my own bed, even for short periods of time felt amazing. Abby will go about 3 hours between feedings and I'm pumping every 2-3 hours...milk is fully in and I have a nice stockpile in the fridge already.

She is VERY sleepy during the day. I keep her in the living room where it’s bright and noisy but she sleeps through it all! It does make caring for Audrey easier (and getting things done around the house, and pumping every 2 hours, etc.) I’m already looking forward to the day she is sleep trained like her big sister ☺



First trip to the doctor 5/3/11 (weighed 7lb 5 oz and got her Hep B shot)

Audrey gets more and more interested in her each day. We usually have to prod her to come see the baby or give the baby a kiss. She’s her usual happy self and has been so good! Still sticking to her routine and just as fun as always. She seems so big to us now! She helps me out a lot during the day. I ask her to get me things or put things away. I try to involve her as much as possible in whatever I’m doing. So far, so good!





This time around definitely seems easier. We’re just taking it one day at a time and every day has been good. I feel fine, not overly exhausted (and so far no baby blues!) Chris does so much…he comes home from work and cooks wonderful dinners, cleans up, and is completely hands-on with both girls. That goes a long way!

I love being home and lucky for me summer is right around the corner!

Birth Story Part IV (Final!)

The BIG Moment!

Finally Dr K arrived and my bed was set up. He took a look at me and said he could see a bit of the baby’s head! He told me that he or she has dark hair and had Chris take a look. He told me to push the next time I had a contraction…but I hadn’t been feeling any contractions! So Sandra told me when I started to have one, and I pushed about twice through it. Everyone was so great cheering me on but Chris was awesome! I mostly focused on his voice. He was just so encouraging and he himself sounded SO in awe and SO excited!

We waited and then another contraction came…I gave two very hard pushes and the baby was out! I can’t even describe the feelings I was having…all the waiting and speculating were finally over! I anxiously looked at the baby’s lower parts (but I couldn’t help notice the dark, dark hair!!) Immediately I saw…”It’s a girl!” we all said together. It was such an incredible moment…we had another daughter! Abigail Mae born at 9:35 am weighing only 7 lbs and 11 oz. She was making very little noise and all I could do was revel in the fact that we had ANOTHER GIRL! Best surprise EVER ☺


Chris finally brought her to me...he was immediately in love with her!

I was shocked to see a tiny, dark haired, not-swollen baby!


Chris started snapping pictures and going back and forth between Abby and me. The nurses were doing their thing, checking her out and tapping her all over trying to get her to cry more. She received an 8 and then a 9 on Apgars because she was so quiet. They gave her to me and I just stared at her…she was incredibly tiny and so cute! She latched on right away and nursed for nearly 45 minutes.



My mom had been at the hospital since 5 am and now more family had arrived; my SIL and niece, and then my IL’s with Audrey. I could not wait to see her! Chris brought her in first. She was so happy to see me but a little taken aback by the tiny baby I was nursing. After a few minutes everyone else came in to meet our sweet girl. I was still nursing so they didn’t get to hold her…she was taken to the nursery and I was ordered to eat ☺


Our first picture as a family of four...Audrey didn't know what was going on, lol.

My mom stuck around and got to see Abby get her first bath. Meanwhile I had pancakes and bacon- but I must’ve eaten too fast because I immediately felt sick and was very close to losing it all. I rested for a bit and the nurse who came to transport me came in. My epidural had been so strong that I could not put any weight on my left leg, I could barely even feel it. So I spent a little more time in L&D. Chris left to take care of the dogs, shower, and rest a bit.

Once I was able to get up (I was still super wobbly) the nurse helped me wash up and roll me to the Mother & Baby unit. I got settled into room 3108 and got some rest. I felt so peaceful and relaxed. I drifted off to sleep thinking about our sweet new daughter and Audrey Cate. How very lucky we were!