2 Weeks

The best news at a two week well-check for me is always that my babies have reached their birth weight.  This means they can sleep longer & that all things are going as they should!  Vivian passed with flying colors!

Birth

Weight: 8lb 9oz

Length: 21.5 in

Leaving Hospital

Weight: 7lb 14oz

2 Weeks

Weight: 9lb 6oz

Length 22 in

Dr. McCrory was very pleased with how well she's doing and even pleasantly surprised she settles a little easier than she did in the hospital.  Apparently during her initial evaluation she had made Vivian mad & couldn't get her settled for 20 minutes.  Guess we'll see if a fiery personality develops!

All ready to go

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How we spent the rest of the 40 degree rainy day!

Time to Go Home

We love our hospital time with just a sweet baby, but we were definitely ready to get home this time!  

Sweet gifts from Nana, Poppa & the big sisters

Vivian wore the same outfit to come home from the hospital as all her big sisters & me!  This outfit is 33 years old!

The girls were so excited to have us home.  They had decorated the house with balloons.  I am so sad I didn't get a picture - it was raining and in the 30s and I never made it out there! We had picked out "big sister" gifts to give the girls at the hospital, but since we didn't get a chance to give them there we brought them home to do when we got there. 

 They were all ready for their turn to get to hold their new sister again!  Such sweet sisters!

Meeting Their Sister

These three were SO EXCITED to have a new sister!  After picking Kate up from school Nana & Poppa brought them to meet "baby Vivian"!

 They were all super sweet with her & considering we had 4 kids in a hospital room, it wasn't as crazy as it could have been!  I loved having all my babies in one place & was even thankful to have one who really just wanted to hang with me instead of the baby ;-)

Vivian's Birth

This was my first time to deliver at Longview Regional. I had heard great things, but was still a little nervous about doing something "new".  My delivery was set for "somewhere around 8:30". My dr had to do a tubal before me & wasn't sure when the other surgeon would be there. We arrived at the hospital around 6:45.

Last few hours of being PREGNANT

We decided to let Kate skip a little school and be at the hospital for the birth.  I hope it's something she remembers!!  Around 8:30, they gave us the 30 minute warning!  We were getting close!

 My mom got to come in the OR for Natalie's birth & we were hoping it would work out for Vivian's. My Dr. had warned that Regional was a little more strict, but thanks to my wonder Anesthesiologist she got to come in!

 I really was thankful for my experience in the OR this time.  My CRNA was AMAZING.  I had told him that I usually spent most of the surgery nauseated and struggling because my blood pressure crashes with the spinal block. He was super aggressive & it was so much better!  There was some medicine he gave me to help stabilize my blood pressure.  He said the average person needs about half-3/4 of a bottle.  I took in between FOUR AND FIVE!  No wonder I've felt so bad the other times.

 We couldn't believe it when they called out that she was so little! 8lb 9oz!  Kate was 8.12, Hannah was 9.10, and Natalie 10.7.  So we fully expected a huge baby!  She was still one of the bigger babies in the nursery, but for us, it's tiny!!

this was one of the only times I was feeling nauseated the whole time.  I really did want to look at her!

One of my new favorite pictures ever!  So glad she was there!

Excuse my puffy face ;-)

And then it was off to school for this big girl!  It was spirit week at school for Throwback Thursday, Kate dressed for the 50s!

First Day of School for the Littles

My littles missed the actual first day of school while they were at my moms last week.  She was rescuing them from a very tired mommy!  So, their first day wasn't til Monday.  

Hard to believe Hannah is in the class Kate started in there.  We've been a little nervous this summer because it would be Hannah's first year at school without her beloved "Miss Brooke" as her teacher.  Anytime we brought it up this summer she would just say, "No, I'm going to go with Brooke".  Ha!  We prayed lots & talked lots and it was answered!  On the first day, we took Natalie to her class (she DOES have Ms. Brooke) where Brooke asked her for a hug.  Hannah's response... "I need to go to my class now".  Ha!  She did great & is loving Ms. Becky.

Natalie has been THRILLED with getting to have Ms. Brooke as her teacher, so much to my surprise she cried when I left!  Such a bummer!  Not very long later though I got a text of a happy girl who loved school.  She just loves her Momma.  :-)

So thankful for a place where my children are loved.

19 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 19 Weeks

Size of baby: 6 1/2 inches
Maternity Clothes: a lot of maternity except dresses

Gender: Next Week!

Movement: Little bumps :)

Food Cravings: Nothing out of the ordinary
What I miss: having energy

Sleep: sleeping better with a new foam topper on our bed!

Symptoms: not much

Best Moment this week: Kate started Kindergarten!What I am looking forward to: feeling more movement

17 & 18 Weeks

I got behind when we went to camp & started Kindergarten the last 2 weeks!!  Lots of exciting around here!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 17 Weeks

Size of baby: 5 inches
Maternity Clothes: Yes for shorts & some shirts.  Lots of dresses still normal

Gender: Who knows??

Movement: maybe some small flutters?

Food Cravings: none this weekWhat I miss:

Sleep: 

Symptoms: round ligament pain

Best Moment this week: maybe feeling movement?What I am looking forward to: really feeling the baby kick 

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 18 Weeks

Size of baby: 5 1/2 inches
Maternity Clothes: still a mix

Gender: I think we are just resolved to the fact that we all know it's going to be a girl.  Right?

Movement: Yes! Still just small, but finally!

Food Cravings: not food, but the ice craving has come back!
What I miss: not much this week - really love being pregnant!

Sleep: TERRIBLE!  Camp beds are not comfy & being pregnant made it much worse.  

Symptoms: just more easily worn out

Best Moment this week: definitely feeling the baby move!What I am looking forward to: Kate starting Kindergarten tomorrow!