Shh…My house is almost totally quiet right now. Both babies are sleeping and I wanted to check in with you guys before the peace is interrupted and the whirlwind begins, again.

I loooooooove having a newborn in the house. She is sweet, content and overall a quiet baby. Okay, okay, she’s only been around for 8 days, but these are things I’ve noticed so far.

Jackson is warming up to her. He tries to hug her and shows his affection by throwing plastic blocks across the room. Yeah, hmm. We’re working on that.

Having my husband here to love on our children (and me!) has been nothing short of a miracle. He is so great with both children and anticipating my needs, that I am beginning to feel a little spoiled. We are ignoring the reality that he’s leaving in a few days and enjoying the time we have now.

Although Hannah is very happy and healthy, she has not made it back to her birth weight yet. At a visit over the weekend, the doctor was very concerned about it and said we might have to start supplementing with formula. Little does she know, I did that with Jackson and have ZERO desire to begin supplementing this early. I want to nurse for 8-12 months, not 8-12 days.

So this time around, I am listening to my instincts. I am not going from one doctor to the next, then midwives and consultants–treating everyone’s advice like it’s the Gospel.

That means for now, I am her expert.

These are the times to savor, not squander with worry.

© 2010, Amy. All rights reserved.

Miss Hannah Katherine!!

Yes! She arrived (early)! Since I am holding the most perfect little girl, I will condense the details into a list (i.e. I am so very tired!!).

1. I casually went in for one of my twice-weekly non-stress tests when the doctors discovered she didn’t have enough amniotic fluid. Recommendation from the high-risk doctor: go upstairs now to Labor and Delivery for induction.

2. I didn’t have family in town, so I coordinated Jackson’s care for the next couple of days as I went out to my car to get my “to go” bags.

3. Once upstairs I texted my husband that we were, in fact, going to have a baby that day.

4. My doula met me at the hospital, and before midnight I had a new child.

**Skipping very painful and INTENSE memories from my drug-free labor.**

5. She weighed 5 pounds, 13 ounces and was 19 inches long. Perfectly healthy. Perfectly healthy!!

6. Juno (our yellow lab) was very curious about our new family member…

7. But Jackson could not have been LESS interested (in Hannah or me) because he was loving on Mandy.

8. The night after we returned from the hospital, my husband returned from deployment to be with us for several days.

9. The night after we returned from the hospital, my husband returned from deployment to be with us for several days!!!!!!!!

10. Aside from exhaustion, this is as good as it gets!

© 2010, Amy. All rights reserved.

A couple days ago I had an ultrasound with a high-risk doctor to see what we could determine about Hannah’s growth. Just to bring you up to speed–they have been monitoring her growth A LOT over the past couple months to make sure that she is developing properly.

I was so nervous about this appointment. When they took my blood pressure, it was higher than normal, and I explained to the nurse that I was very anxious about this visit. Before meeting with the doctor, tears welled up several times because my emotions really couldn’t be contained any longer. This was the appointment that had been in red on my calendar for two and a half weeks.

The doctor met with me and performed an ultrasound (even though the tech had done one 10 minutes prior), so I was even more concerned. The images revealed that her head and belly are still very small. Her head measurements were in the 2nd and 5th percentile, and her belly is in the 2nd. But get this–her legs are in the 80th??! As my friend Debbi says, “Well, maybe she’ll be a Rockette!!”

The doctor said they couldn’t get an accurate image because her head was so low. He insisted that he did not see any warning signs that something is wrong. Even though he didn’t expect a problem, he wants to induce next week. It is really exciting to know that we won’t have a new member of our family next week!!

No one has explained to me why her head and belly images are so tiny, or what it could mean if they are wrong and she really is that small. This is where I give up my attempt at controlling the situation and ask for God’s help. There really isn’t anything else I can do at this point. Please keep sweet Hannah in your prayers over the next week.

Since I would like for it to be a natural birth, I am faced with trying to get my body ready for labor without actually putting myself into labor. My midwife and doula both suggested Evening Primrose Oil, but I would love to hear your suggestions for preparing the body for labor (i.e. I don’t want to go from 0-10 in one day).

So how about sending some prayers and free child-birthing advice:)

© 2010, Amy. All rights reserved.