Hattie Josephine has Arrived!

On Saturday, September 6, I woke up with a migraine.  I haven't had one since February, so I was really bummed.  I was scheduled to have my C section on Tuesday morning, but on Sunday, when my headache still hadn't gone away and my blood pressure was kind of high, we decided to call in.  The doctor told me to go ahead and go in just to make sure everything was okay.  My blood pressure went down, but since I was contracting quite a bit, the nurse came back in and asked how we felt about having a baby that night.  And so the fun began!

Around 9:00PM, they brought me into the OR.  They gave me a spinal and told me that I'd start to feel like I was sitting in a hot tub.....or not!  It felt warm and tingly, but also kind of claustrophobic.  I asked them to take off my oxygen mask, but they said that I had to keep it on.  Before I knew it, the anesthesia was getting to me and I was getting sick.  They promised me that I wouldn't feel pain, but that I'd feel a lot of pressure during the surgery.  It was a very strange sensation to have them pushing the baby out of me!  It was a totally different experience than last time when I was completely under.

Hattie was born at 9:50PM and weighed 9lbs., 2 oz.  She wasn't breathing as well as they wanted her to be at first, so she was taken to the nursery for a nasal canula.  After they finished my surgery, I went to recovery.  Unfortunately, I was still getting sick, so it took longer than they had anticipated.  Paul stayed with Hattie and got to watch her get her first "bath."  Everyone kept talking about how big she was!  The surgeon said, "You didn't buy any newborn diapers, did you!?!"

 Meeting Hattie for the first time and her eyes were wide open

We finally made it to our room at about 2:30AM.  Paul got up early and took Owen to school, then came back to be with Hattie and me.  On their rounds, her pediatrician noticed a heart murmur, so she took her to see the cardiologist.  We don't know a whole lot yet other than that she has a heart defect called ASD, which is a hole in the upper ventricles of her heart that allows blood to flow through where it shouldn't.  We see the cardiologist on Monday to find out more and to get our plan of attack in place.  It is our understanding that she will probably need surgery within a year to close up the hole, but it isn't so serious that she couldn't come home with us.  So, please keep her in your prayers as we determine the best route to take to heal her heart.

Paul picked Owen up early from school on Monday so he could come to the hospital and meet his new sister!  At first he said, "Awwww, I wanted a brother."  But he is smitten with her.  He wants to kiss her, hold her, talk to her and show her his toys.  It's pretty cute.  He was very impressed that she brought him a present! 

Owen and Paul went to the nursery to bring Hattie to our room

 Owen got a special wristband and stickers from the nursery saying he's a big brother

 All ready!

 My two little loves!

I got my staples out on Wednesday morning and then they let us go home.  Owen was excited to come home to baby Hattie!  Our first night was rough, but last night, she woke up every 3 hours to eat and then went right back to sleep in the comfy bassinet that Papa made for Owen when he was a baby.

We were getting Hattie dressed in her little going home outfit and I caught this moment.  Ironically enough, her outfit says, "Daddy Adores Me."

 I think she's happy to be going home!

 Snug as a bug in a rug

 Paul spotted this one and says we are in trouble if she's already this sassy!

Pretty girl!

 

We are in love and blessed beyond measure. 

August with the Mordorskis!

Again I find myself way behind on our blog.  Part of that is because I have been taking it easy and the other part of it is that when I'm taking it easy, Paul and Owen have been busy having fun (but daddy just doesn't take pictures like I do!).  We've played at the splash park, visited the Washington County Fair, gone to Woodbury Days and more.  We also celebrated our big boy's graduation from the St. Paul Children's NICU program - with flying colors!  On Friday, we said good-bye to Heidi, our wonderful daycare provider.  On Tuesday, Owen begins full time preschool and is feeling some fear about it.  We are hoping that he'll do well and end up loving it.  We know it will be hard at first though.

As we get Owen prepared for school, Paul and I are also getting prepared for the arrival of Baby M!  We are scheduled to have a C-section at 9:30 on September 9.  I've been joking with my OB that this whole third trimester thing is over-rated.  I didn't experience it with Owen, so its all new to me.  The pressure, the stretch marks, the carpal tunnel, the swelling, peeing 5-6 times in the night, not sleeping...it takes its toll!  I am very ready to meet this baby and to have my body back to myself! 

One of his favorites - bumper cars at Como Town

Owen was invited to sleep over at his friend Sully's house.  At first he thought he might be too scared, so he just went to play and brought jammies along just in case.  He was having so much fun that he decided to try it - and he did great!

NICU program graduate!  So proud of our little man.  It seems like just yesterday they were telling us that they'd follow him from birth until he was ready for school and thinking about that felt like eons away.  And here we are.

Friday was Owen's last day at Heidi's.  We went early to say our good-byes and to give her a little gift we made for her.  There were some tears - mostly from me!  She made the day so special for him.  When I went to pick him up, he had a cap, diploma, a stuffed animal and motorcycle toy that she gave to him, a book to keep him reading, a box of his favorite oatmeal to give him nourishment for preschool, a bag of special candies- each one went along with a special poem she wrote to him and a special poem with a photo for Paul and me.  She gave him lots of hugs and made him promise to call her and tell her about the baby when it is born.

I have a feeling that the next time I post, there will be another member of our family to write about!  It's a lot easier to post on FB than to blog from my phone, and I won't be bringing a laptop to the hospital, so keep an eye out on FB for baby news!

Water Play at Ronda's

Ronda bought a bunch of fun new pools and water toys this summer and regularly calls to invite the boys to come play.  A week or two ago, we spent a Friday evening enjoying pizza and play time in the water and with silly string...no wonder Owen never wants to come home!!  I don't buy silly string!

Liam and Aja

 Justin, Sully and Owen spraying each other

 Ganging up on Justin!

 Weeeee!

Friends are an Amazing Blessing!

A few weeks ago, I got a surprise invitation in the mail.  It said that a few of my closest girlfriends were taking me to dinner at my favorite restaurant, Pier 500, to help me celebrate Baby M!  What an amazing blessing!  They thought of all the details. The table coverings, the flowers, the food, the company and the amazing desserts!  They know me well! :)

 Jen, Lisa, me, Jackie and Pammy

As if all of this wasn't enough, they spoiled us with gifts galore and coupons for lots of fun things like help with the nursery, meal prep and clean up, and play dates with Owen for after the baby is born.  This particular group is pretty dead set that Baby M is a girl, so I went home with an abundance of PINK! ;0)  Love these ladies so much.  It warms my heart that they love me and our family enough to think to do this for us.

July Fun at Heidi's!

Owen always has so much fun at Heidi's.  Even though we are super excited for him to start preschool on September 2, we will be so sad to leave Heidi's Little Star daycare.  She is so great!

 Nicky, Owen, Drew, Cody the dog and Lily

 Owen and Baby Maggie

 Owen and Collin "painting" their toast

Jump tent day!  Heidi rented a jump tent and then invited all of us to come for a BBQ that night.

 Can you tell he had fun?

 Always so helpful and kind to the little ones.  Here, he's helping Sophie buckle up.

 Enjoying our BBQ

 ...so much that he didn't want to go home. :(`````

 Loving the teeter-totter with his friend Seth

 The big excitement in July was watching a nest-full of birdies hatch.

 Thursdays are puppet wagon days.  They walk to the park and enjoy the show!

 Bike day!

 Owen, Kaden and Madison

 Water day!

 Owen and Kaden in their matching swim trunks

 Now that is determination!

 Sophie and Owen enjoying a freezie

 They even got to eat lunch outside on water day.