Thank you to everyone who left comments to welcome Ellie! I will answer each one personally as soon as I get brave enough to check my email – I have a fear of over filled in-boxes. Did you know that baby books don’t include special pages for blog comments? Luckily, I’ve got a book that has three rings so I can add all the scrap book pages I want. That is what we call Displaying Adaptability.
The cats have displayed a remarkable amount of adaptability of their own.
Cats love babies. It’s a fact.
Several people have asked for more details about Ellie’s arrival. Below is the short version of the events from Sunday, February 17 through Wednesday, February 20. If you aren’t interested (doesn’t hurt my feelings at all – there is hardly any knitting), just scroll right on through and look at the pictures. Before you go, I have one small piece of advice: a casual approach to preparedness is what the Universe calls a Gotcha Opportunity.
I fully expected to be sent home when we showed up at the hospital (as a precautionary measure), but it turns out that I was leaking amniotic fluid (ewewewewew) so I had to stay. Luckily, I had brought my intended hospital knitting with me (Michael had to go home for everything else – but we live right across the street so that isn’t as big of a deal as it sounds). The nurse was very understanding about running my IV way high up on my arm so that I could knit.
Socks for my doctor (this amuses me greatly).
Then came 18 hours of sitting around. More than half of those hours included pitocin and none of it included painkillers (don’t worry, I didn’t need them) with absolutely 0 progress and some weird baby heartbeat things that interfered with the knitting (oxygen and side-lying were called for at that point). The doctor came in to assess the situation and said to the nurse, “How long has Baby’s heart rate been tachy?” And that was that: abdominal surgery for me and a tee-tiny IV to fill Ellie with antibiotics.
Ellie resents being tethered to equipment as much as I do.
What followed that was a seemingly miraculous recovery on my part (according to every nurse there). The next morning I was functioning like an ordinary person (a person without a hole in her stomach) and the morning after that Ellie’s blood tests came back clean and we all got to go home.
We were both really happy to go.
That was Wednesday. Today is Saturday. Except for the obnoxiousness of a glued up incision, I feel better than I have in weeks and weeks.
I also seem to be suffering from some kind of Post-Partum Nesting Instinct. I feel compelled to finish up everything that I had planned for Monday and didn’t get to do. Not the least of which is finishing at least one of three blog posts (I’ve got to do the other two tomorrow) – I’ve been writing this one since yesterday morning. Turns out, babies are an enormous time-suck. Who knew?
PS She is named for my great grandfather’s sister. Aunt Eleanor was (and really still is) one of my most favorite people of all time. “Airey” is a very old family name that my mother and I also share. The Ivey is self-explanatory.
You hit the nail on the head with the “time-suck” thang, sweetie, but you’ll be surprised how much fun you’ll have. I graduated from cats to kid, too, and it’s at least twice as much fun. You both look great. Best advice: sleep when she sleeps. Rest and heal and enjoy your little family, the new arrival and the furry ones and the big gweezlebur, too!
I’m a lurking reader of your blog. Congratulations! Ellie is a beauty. The picture of your cat peeking into the cradle is priceless.
Enjoy every minute!
Mazel tov! Another lurker de-lurking. May you get nothing but joy from her! And, take it easy. It is far to easy to say “hey I feel just fine” and over do it. You are entitled to just sit and gaze in awe at your little miracle. Gaze away, far too soon she will be running into her room and closing the door to talk to her friends on the phone. *grin*
I really hate to add to your overstuffed inbox but I have to tell you i LOVE those pictures!! The kitty peaking in all curious is adorable, the one of you knitting made me laugh (it was the nurse being understanding about the IV), and that last picture of you and Ellie just smiling and happy is soooo heartwarming…
I can’t get over how much hair Ellie has! And, she’s smiling in her pictures!
They are a time-suck, but in less than 3 years, she’ll be sitting next to you begging to “yarn” like you!
Oh I LOVE the smiling faces going home picture. Glad all is well.
Here are my tips to mom’s. Take em or leave em!
*You don’t have to drink milk to make milk. Cows don’t drink milk. Many babies actually fuss if their mom’s drink too much milk.”
*The sixth post partum week can be a real meltdown. It’s okay if this happens to you. Seems all the wishes and dinners and help is gone and you are more tired than ever!” So freeze some of those dinners and take all the help someone you trust offers. You need help more as time goes on!”
and
Babies cry at least 2 hours a day for the first 2 months. It isn’t anyting personal. They dont’ have any other way to release their stress. Once they smile socially, things start to improve a bit.
OH you can Call me anytime. Im a good listener. Do you want me to email you my number?
LOVE THIS! Sorry about my overly paranoid previous email – Bloglines was telling lies and saying you hadn’t POSTED! Silly me.
Of course I knew she had a family name! XOXOXOX
PS Isn’t it amazing how you think you just want to clean the house top to bottom the minute you get home from the hospital and you have all that energy and more?? Don’t worry – reality will strike.
She is so very precious. A huge congratulations to you and your family! 🙂
Congratulations! What a beautiful baby.
The picture with the kitty is so precious. I’m glad you are safe and home. Congrats on the new baby she is gorgeous!!
What beautiful pictures and of course the model! Loved the story you shared…very similar to my daughters delivery experience.(minus the knitting) The post partum nesting thing is common as well…so just go with it cause if she starts keeping you up at night you’ll have no energy soon enough to do those things! (smile) Enjoy her, and i love the name! (my grandmother is Eleanor, my mom is Ellen and my daughters middle name is Ellene)
Thank you for sharing your story, Emily. I love those photos!
They become less of a timesuck as they go along.
So glad she arrived safely.
She is so beautiful! I love the picture of the cat peeking in the crib. 🙂
What a GREAT post and thank you for sharing the details of Ellie’s arrival!!!! I’m so glad that all is well with everyone….kitties included!! LOL!!!
All the pictures posted on flickr are AWESOME!!!
Thank you again for sharing so much with us!!!!
Oh my goodness you look so happy. I have a HUGE smile on my face looking at how happy you are.
congrats. And don’t worry about responding to my well wishes – you have much more important things to do now.
I had two c-sections (breech). No problem. I’m so glad you did so great with your recovery! (I didn’t like the glue, either. Or the leaking fluid, which I did with Addie. Yuck.) So are the socks finished? =0)
She is lovely. Congratulations to all of you! Oh, and that cat picture is so cute. 🙂
Congratulations again –she is so beautiful!
You always get great pics – the first pic with the cat is just so precious!
I should remember that IV up high on the arm thing, in case I need that too…. =) Great story – with great results.
Oh Ellie is such a sweetie! Love that fuzzy baby hair! Congratulations!
heh heh… ‘time suck’ eh?/// just hold onto your hat my friend. The Mr Toad’s wild ride has just begun (and I mean that in a good way – grin)
I LOVE the photo of you and Ellie being excited to go home. It’s so perfect. Glad to hear that you are both doing well.
She’s beautiful, just beautiful! Look at all that hair. Congratulations. I’m impressed that you were able to knit. I wasn’t with my deliveries.
Beautiful! Congrats! Ellie is so beautiful, check out all of that hair!
Emily – I found your blog through Sheri…Ellie is just precious and I love her name! I’m so glad she is here safe and sound and you are doing well. Ethan, my son, has a February birthday too (19th), so I have a special place in my heart for February babies! All of your knitting is gorgeous!!! Take care and I look forward to keeping up with you guys through this blog!
Congrats on your new arrival! She is absolutely precious! I especially love the kitty picture with W.H. (or I think that’s him) as baby defender! Too freakin’ cute!
Another lurker 🙂 I love that you took your knitting to the hospital! I had full intentions of doing so (my OB Dr had seen me knitting all through my pregnancy), but it came a little too quickly for me, and I’m not sure that I could have knit through those contractions! Best wishes for you & your beautiful baby!
Sorry for the late congratulations to you and your husband and extended family on the blessed arrival of baby Ellie! She is so beautiful! I know you’re going to have so much fun knitting for your bundle of joy!