In the Hospital

After 2 hours in the labor and delivery room, I was wheelchaired into the recovery wing of the Women's Center. Michael left to go watch them bath the baby, and I was alone for a bit. I talked to my friend Tamiel, and she came right over to keep me company. She and I had due dates just one day apart, so we've had fun throughout our pregnancies talking about the babies. I was put on bedrest the day before and had to miss her shower, so she brought me a plate of goodies from the shower, that she planned to bring to me on bedrest, but she brought it to the hospital instead. She is also having her 4th, but first boy.
Michael came halfway through our chat and snapped a few of us. I am holding a heat pack on my neck to try to sooth the pains therein. We must have been laughing about something pretty funny here.
This is what Michael took of Cali and her bath.
Tamiel was there when Michael came back with the kids to meet Cali for the first time. She was going to slip out, but I asked her to stay and snap some shots of all of us. I'm so glad she did. She took a bunch, these are my favorites. Look at Matthew's outstretched arms....





I love flowers in the hospital.
Alyssa was so excited to give me this present from my friend Becca. She spent the day at her home, and watched her make it (cute blanket seen below). I think this is just a really cute picture of Alyssa.

The boys were really excited to hold Cali, and they are very careful with her.

They were also excited about cable cartoons on the TV in my room. I had to emphasize the rule: "If you are holding the baby, you need to be staring and adoring her."

My friend Michael came and brought some flowers and a cute little balloon. I love balloons. She didn't get to stay too long, as it was a bit chaotic with the kids. I think all my other visitors came when I was alone, so it allowed for more conversation time.

Blanket Becca made below. I just thought it was so beautiful and nice to have our own blanky in the hospital. The nurses all "oohed" over it, too.

Friday night, Michael left with the kids to go home around 7pm. I was hanging out with the baby...surfing channels...and writing in my journal. Around 8:30pm I got a knock on the door and a visit from my friends Trish and Michelle. They brought a plate of warm cookies and delightful conversation. They are friends I don't get to see very often, but when I do, I love to chat with them. I was happy to have them there because I knew it was going to be a long night. They snuck in just before visitors time was over, and stayed til 10pm. They each held my baby adoringly (not wanting to her up for the other to hold) and even gave me an impromptu massage. Trish at my feet (we rummaged and found a mini baby lotion in the bassinet) and Michelle at my shoulders/neck. Hey, if they aren't squeemish about it, I'm not going to argue. And it wasn't just a 5 minute massage, it lasted a good 20-25 minutes, it was SO nice! I was worried the nurse would come in and kick them out because it was after visitor hours, but she just came in and smiled, gave me my meds, and left.

I went to bed around midnight and sent the baby to the nursury so I could sleep and not worry. I didn't have my fan for white noise, and could hear the clock tick tick tick tick. Luckily, I had my ipod, but it only has fast pace dance type music. Fortunately, I was still able to sleep through that, but not well. I woke up sometime after 2am and asked the nurse to bring her to me so I could feed her. Just after the nurse came in, my mom walked through the door. She lives in Houston, but had flown to Utah on Thursday (the 16th). When I told her Friday we had the baby, she decided she needed to come see her right away. So she bought a last minute flight at noon on Friday ($226, not bad) and flew out of Utah at 5pm to arrive in Austin around 11:30pm. She got a rental car and came to the hospital at 1am, and waited for me to wake up in the lobby. She had to go to the hospital main entrance and be escorted to the Women's Center by a security guard. I didn't know she was coming, but I had a hunch she would try to. We chatted while I fed the baby, she held the baby, then at 4am, I needed to sleep more. She left and came back around 7am.
Saturday, my mom went to my house to be with the kids so Michael could be with me. She took them to a Primary activity, then came to join us at the hospital. Michael got the kids at noon, and shortly thereafter, my friend Emily came to visit. She brought me a swaddle blanket that she swears by, and a box of nursing necessities. One included the nipple butter that she has told me about the past few months (it is good stuff if anyone wants to know more). It was fun to chat with her for a bit.
My mom left around 1pm to catch her plane back to Utah. She just stayed a few hours. Our kids went to play at my friend Debra's house for the afternoon so Michael and I could have some more alone time with the baby. I loved that time. Michael brought me all my home necessities including my blanky, my pillow, a fan to drown out the noise of the ticking clock and the crying baby next door. I felt silly having those things, but it made all the difference the second night of slumber. After the kids played, they spent the evening at the hospital with us. I wanted them there. I liked the company--though chaotic at times.

We had my brothers old laptop and the boys played some games.
Alyssa took some pictures of us.

I wanted to go home Saturday afternoon, but my blood pressure was slightly elevated again and they wanted to keep me one more night. I had the nurses try to track down the doctors to check us out first thing in the morning. The nurses were the greatest. So kind and helpful. Saturday evening, my friend Jessica stopped by with some bright colored daisies. I heard she was planning a small surprise gathering for me, that was to be that very night she came to visit. She is a good friend to me. She stayed for a while to chat, then Trish stopped by again (didn't get a 2nd picture of her). They were there until my brother arrived.
Russ and Kim drove in from San Antonio. He had been studying all day Saturday for a Med. School final on Monday. Since he chooses not to study on Sunday, they were able to freely come hang out with us the rest of the weekend. They got to the hospital around 8pm and left at 10pm. Once again, I was surprised they didn't get kicked out by nurses, as visiting hours were over. Nice to have late night visitors. They are expecting their first, a little boy, in September. I'm so happy for them.
Kim wore these shoes in Cali's honor. She and Michael hale from the great state of California.
Sunday morning, Russ and Kim took our kids to church so Michael could be with me to prepare to check out of the hospital. That was really nice. My friend Becca came to visit. She wanted to come the night before, but I didn't think they'd let her in, as they lock the doors. I guess if you get in before hours are over you can stay, just can't enter after. She helped me so much with watching Alyssa several days for me. Her daughter Ashlee is Alyssa's favorite friend. She is the one who made the blanket.
We were able to check out around noon, which is right when the kids got out of church. Each time they left us at the hospital, they didn't understand why we couldn't go home with them yet. They were so excited to have Cali come home. My next post will be dedicated to that event.