Thursday, March 28, 2013

Welcome home!

 


We got to take Lilah home from the hospital 2 days later.  My dad was slightly disappointed since he enjoyed eating at the hospital cafeteria (which was like a Kobe Steakhouse and served prime rib and other delicacies for $5 at lunch... I know, right?!).  The inpatient food was not on equal grounds.  Getting ready for our first drive with baby in the car, I thought we would both melt under the pressure of figuring out the car seat for the first time, but Ben thankfully read the directions.  I came to realize I had read zero directions on any of our "baby" appliances during my pregnancy and had to have Ben teach me how to strap a baby in a car seat and get diapers out of our diaper genie in the first few days at home.  Ouch.  Point for Ben.

My parents stayed with us for the first few days and made sure that Rooney got food and that Ben and I ate a lot of Eileen's cookies.  Yes, cookie eating is actually a priority for new parents.  Rooney met Lilah on the first night and wasn't totally convinced that we hadn't brought home a new pet (video above).  Rooney thought she was ok until she started crying and then he ran away with his tail between his legs.  Lilah has been totally indifferent to Rooney and other dogs, but they are all fascinated with her and the interesting smells she makes.

On night 1, after being home about 5 hours... Lilah poop blasted her new teddy bear from her Uncle Trev.  Trev, beware of what happens when you actually meet her in person... this is your only warning!  Otherwise the first night went as smoothly as we could've hoped for.  And yes, Aviator bear did get a bath the next day.
Breaking in the nursery, everyone looks a bit tired


Aviator bear after his "bath"


Ben's parents were able to make it to Indianapolis a few days later.  We had a great time celebrating Easter together as a big family and of course, Nana ( Grandma Taylor) might have dressed someone up as a bunny. My dad got to celebrate his (41st?! I think...) birthday with his 3 day old granddaughter... and was a baby snuggling hog :)  I only had one major meltdown in the first few days (not bad, right?!) and caused Ben to miss the endings to some prime time basketball games.  Luckily, our parents guided us through the first bath, first walk, first meltdown, etc.  We loved having them all there!  Grandpa Taylor taught Lilah how to burp by example, it has really paid off when you can hear our newborn belch across the room.
First walk :)

Nana meeting her baby granddaughter!

The whole family!

Papa and Miss Lilah

Yes, I know he's missing a "few" candles here...

First Easter

Sweetest Easter Bunny Ever


Lilah lost her "bacon" and now has a very adorable "innie".  And yes, this is the acutal size of our newborn.  She is not aware that there are limits on the growth curve. 

Bacon-less



Monday, March 25, 2013

Awaiting a Bitty Baby


39 weeks... 7 days to go!
My third trimester was a happy time for us.  I felt good for the most part, but residency took it's toll.  I thankfully had an easy rotation my last 2 weeks of pregnancy and enjoyed a few naps!  Despite the snow, we walked everyday to try to get this baby to come out.  I joked to my doctor that Rooney was one of the most well exercised dogs in my 3rd trimester.  The days ticked by, but I reached my due date and no baby!  Thankfully, there was the NCAA Basketball tournament going on to keep us occupied.  On our due date, Palm Sunday, Ben and I attended church and did our usual Sunday errands.  There was a blizzard rumored to be making it's way into town that day- but the forecasters in Indianapolis tend to be astronomically off most times.  No snow by 5pm, so we figured they were wrong... again!  Our friends wanted us to go downtown to a bar to watch the KU game, so I sent Ben (secretly hoping as soon as he leaves the house I would go into labor!).  My brother face-timed from Afghanistan and about 30 min later... here came the contractions!  And so did the snow!  

By the time Ben got home a few hours later after pushing their car up a hill to get home, we had a healthy amount of snow.  Ben walked in the door and I told him he may want to scoop the drive, since we'd be needing it to go to the hospital tonight!  I labored at home for the next 9 hours and we carefully drove through 11 inches of snow in the morning to the hospital.  

We got admitted, called our families and... waited!  Ben and I had a good laugh when the nurse was running through their standard, "Have you been exposed to ________ disease in the last 30 days?" questions after I had to say "yes" to 50%.  Sick kids are a dirty job.  

I seriously thought I was going to deliver this child without medications.  Little did I know, it hurts!  I made it to about 8 cm, then decided that natural births were for the birds and 30 minutes later, I was in anagelsic heaven with an epidural.  Ben was a great coach and kept me laughing.  He had a playlist ready of some odd tunes for pushing, which I appreciated.  I had requested Pitbull... but he had his own ideas.  When it came time to push, Dr. Pease invited Ben to help deliver me.  Brave man.  He jumped right in and after 45 minutes of pushing, our little baby girl was born!  The NICU team was present for the delivery and had to take Lilah back to the NICU for closer monitoring since she wasn't breathing well initially.  I hadn't had a chance to meet her yet and felt pretty heartbroken about not being able to see her sweet face after her arrival.  Ben stayed with her and I counted the seconds until I could be with them.  My parents after driving madly across the Midwest thru the snow got there just in time to meet her when she came back to our room!  We were able to look her over, kiss her and finally name her.  Ben and I were opposite name lists, but we both readily agreed that she looked like a Lilah. Welcome Lilah Rose Nelson!!


Lilah Rose Nelson
7 pounds, 11 ounces
March 25, 2013 at 7:09pm


Eileen's cookies came all the way from Nebraska, thank goodness!!

My two doctors :)
Some wet eyes!


A few hours in the NICU





Proud Grandma Otto



First Family Photo
Meeting Lilah
Proud Grandpa Otto