Oh Alice!

Try as I might Alice was NOT interested in a soother when she was a baby.  Fiona doesn't seem particularly interested in the soother either - I tried it out the night before last.  But of course since it's baby Fiona's soother...

Fiona is Two Weeks Old

I find myself wondering what Miss Fiona will be like.  Who is she?  Right now she is a sweet little newborn.  I am so enjoying lots of snuggle time with her.

Baby Photos

Emily came today and took some photos of Fiona.  Here's a sneak peak.

Father's Day

There was no card (I suppose Kate made one at preschool), no breakfast in bed, no special dinner.  This does not mean that Ken is not held in the highest regard.  This year, father's day was about a newborn and snuggles and hugs.

I am so thankful to be married to Ken.  He is such a wonderful father and husband.  Ken is loved dearly by all his ladies!

Sister Time

My Bili Baby

When we had Kate, Ken roomed in with us every night and we put Kate in the little bassinet here and there when she wasn't latched.  She didn't seem to think much of it.  After we left the hospital Kate slept right beside me and I discovered that this was where I loved my babies to be, right beside me.  When we had Alice, there was Kate, so Ken didn't stay with us in the hospital and Alice slept beside me or on me the entire time we were there.  When they first brought in the lights and the isolete I was sad because Fiona was supposed to be right beside me. Putting her under the lights turned out to be easy because she was so calm and peaceful.  There were a few times that she wasn't so we took her out, but for the most part she was completely content. 

I must admit, that even though I knew that jaundice was a very real outcome, given my anti-bodies during pregnancy, I just didn't really think it would be a factor.  The anti-body levels remained so low my entire pregnancy and in my head it just wasn't an issue.  When Fiona's bilirubin levels were increasing and increasing the first few days I wasn't scared, I knew she'd be fine, I felt very calm and assured that she would be fine.  What I wasn't prepared for was how hard it would be on me and Alice.  I didn't count on spending almost an entire week in the hospital.  I just wanted to go home and I did have a bit of a pity party for me here and there, but staying in the pediatric ward changed that. 

On Sunday afternoon we were released.  We had to come back to the hospital Monday morning, but we were released.  I was so happy to be going home.  They did a bili test on Fiona just before we left, but I didn't think anything of it.  That night we got a call from the hospital telling us we needed to come back in that night.  I was beyond exhausted and we'd only just got home.  Alice was nuts because she hadn't napped, our life felt like absolute chaos and I just wanted to cry.  I packed my bag because I might be staying and we drove to the hospital.  I got to the elevator a little before a couple came in with a little guy, maybe four or five that was clearly a cancer patient.  When we got to the pediatric floor there was a small child in one of the rooms that was crying and crying and crying.  I'm not sure what the child was going through, but I began to get a grip and realize what a small thing this was and how blessed we've been with healthy children.  I felt ridiculous for feeling sad. 

I can't say that at that moment I stopped being sad forever, there were still tears but tears with perspective.  We ended up being able to take Fiona home with us that Sunday night, but we were re-admitted the next morning and didn't get released until Wednesday.  We were back again on Thursday and back again today.  Today was great.  I had my bag packed just in case, but as of today we are done.  Fiona is in the clear. 

I am so thankful to the doctors and nurses that took such good care of us.  I am thankful to my Mom and Dad, to Antoinette and her beautiful daughters Makenna and Abigail, Ken's sister Laura, her husband Joaquin and her son William, for all their help looking after Kate and Alice.  Kate and Alice felt very loved and entertained!  I am so thankful to Ken for doing whatever I needed, for being such an amazing husband and father.  And I am thankful to my Father in Heaven.  I have had the energy and strength to do things I didn't think I would be able to do and I have had the peace of mind that I needed to know it would all be okay.

Looking at her in the shades still kills me, too cute!  (Even if they were an absolute pain in the bum to put on her head!)

Fiona is One Week Old

Elmvale Zoo - Preschool Trip

Today Ken took Kate and Alice to the Elmvale Zoo with Kate's Preschool.  They had a fun day!  I've never been and would like to go someday.  Ken said that the animals were all really close.  And you can see that they are from the pictures.  There's also a petting area and you can feed some of the animals.  I think the girls enjoyed their outing with their Dad.

Oh and take two... Fiona was released from the hospital a second time today.  Let's hope no more being re-admitted.  And thank you Mom for coming to get us so Ken could go to the zoo with the girls.