Headed Home!

I can't believe we're taking this lil sweetheart home now. It's seems like we've been here forever.

I've decided to dress her in the same outfit that we took her big sister home in!

but first, our car seat oxygen test


CPR (scare us before we go home) for infants lessons


...and our final goodbye to the NICU!

We won't miss you at all

Adios NICU

Just like with Baby Sanders #1, it has been two weeks since her birth and Baby Sanders #2 is being discharged from the NICU!

Surely it's because they think I could be contagious and a hazard to the other preemies, but whatever—I'm happy, well more than happy to escort the homecoming princess out the door!

They say she's ready and I won't argue. Especially since they're not even requiring us to room in tonight!

Next—CPR class, carseat—Oxygen test, and then adios NICU.

OMG, I'm nervous!

I'm Dying or SOMETHING!

Oo, oo, oo, OUCH!

Honey OUCH! Som sa som th th thing is not right...

HELP me!

Those are the only words I could say and they didn't even come out clear.

Sitting on the edge of the guest bed I was pumping my milk and getting prepared to go to the NICU for the 9PM feeding.

It's 7PM and I'm cramping so bad in my uterus and then the side cramps occured. I was doubled over, I then slid off the bed to the floor, and I was paralized with pain. I could not move—at all—and I was in tears.

I was scared, hubby was scared, our 3 year old was scared, and my only request was,

"Call 9-1-1 honey! Pleeeease call 911."

Well, hubs did well. He called my doctor, except he was out of town, so hubs explained the medical history to the doctor on call, who immediatedly said it sounded like a uterine infection.

A uterine infection, I just knew it!

(all of those days in the hospital, all of the cervical checks, AND the rupturing of my membranes)

He sent a prescription to the pharmacy for antibiotics and said I should feel better in two days. Meanwhile, hubs gave me 800MG of Motrin and a percocet. Unfortunately, it takes time to kick in and I needed those antibiotics right away.

Well, just to give you an idea of how scary this was for me, I BEGGED hubby not to leave me alone to get the medication. Although I needed it bad, I was very afraid of being left alone during that time. I was REALLY hurting and extremely unsure of the future.

Daddy to the rescue!

Ryan called my dad who went to our pharmacy and brought the prescription over to us. Immediately upon arrival, he looked down at me and said, "Is that the position you want to be in?!"

"It's the ONLY position I can get into!" is what I replied (and I was NOT exagerrating)

Fortunately, not too long after taking the percocet, it kicked in and I was able to get off the floor.

My dad stayed until I was well enough to stand up, and then took our 3 year old to his place while hubs took me to see our precious preemie.

I was so scared I wasn't going to make it tonight, after all that I have been through.

For more on uterine infections after delivery, click here.

Sisterly Love

Today, we took Isabella into the NICU to spend some quality time her new baby sister, Gabriella.

This is the first time since Gabby was born that Bella could come in and visit, due to the NICU policy.

Bella really got a kick out of it, and she adores our new baby!

A mother's WISH!

NO more...

(headed to visit baby in the NICU)

• NO more bed rest!

• NO more hypersalivation!

• NO more hyperemesis!
  

This is Nurse Jocelyn

OMG, thank You God!

Here we are again. Same song, same verse, and I know the chorus all to well!

For the second time I have a baby going into the NICU, but...tonight I found out that Nurse Jocelyn is going to be caring for Gabby, which is all I can ask for!!!

I know Nurse Jocelyn because she was Bella's first nurse in the NICU too!

A good night's rest is what I'll get from this.

Jocelyn is so good at what she does and so caring. This is a hard time for moms, leaving your precious baby to spend the night alone with another caretaker and nothing feels better than knowing this person is going to do everything that you would request and with a good heart, just because!

I will sleep good tonight!

I am thankful and relieved.

Welcome Baby Gabriella Lynne Sanders!

She's HERE!

5 lbs 7 ounces, 9:21 p.m., September 11, 2009

You TWEETED the Baby's Birth?

I sure DID!



and I enjoyed every moment of her perfect delivery!


See, while most women flaunted their sweet maternity clothes and took awesome belly shots, I was on bed rest, vomiting non-stop, or in the hospital hooked up to machines, and feeling like a pin cushion.

I never got to feel excited, plan ahead, nest, or brag about anything!

So forgive me for ceasing this final opportunity!

My mom, watching the delivery, nicknamed her "Tweetie!"

Baby's First Tutu

As I prepare to have our sweet little baby today, I dedicate my time to finishing her first tutu. I am so excited to be making it by hand for her.

Pretty and pink for my "Tiniest Dancer"...

Gabriella Lynne

And the Winner Gets—The Love Dare

Okay, so we have decided to do a contest based on the time of Baby Sanders' big reveal!

Whoever guesses the correct time or comes the closest wins

The Love Dare book
by Alex and Stephen Kendrick!

Why The Love Dare you ask?

#1 Because I loooooove the movie Fireproof, and

#2 Because throughout my pregnancy (which was like hell on earth) I found out that some of the amazing things my husband was doing for me were motivated by the Love Dare tool on his iPhone.

It took a lot of effort and love to be there for me and take care of me the way that he did, and I believe that it is impossible to do it by the strength or will of man alone at times.

Life is HARD!

I can't say that everyday was perfect and that we didn't get angry or upset throughout the pregnancy. That would be misleading.

My husband was exhausted mentally, physically, and emotionally, as much as I was.

The thing is, he chose to love me and treat me with love despite the difficult time we were living in.

The Love Dare was great for me, because on days when he didn't want to do for me, he still did!

I am thankful for that.

To see more on this awesome marriage resource by Alex and Stephen Kendrick click here.

By the way, I now have The Love Dare on my iPhone 3Gs too!

OMG, I'm having a #TwitterBirth!

#twitterbirth
#twitterbirth
#twitterbirth

Wow this is fun!

If I'm having the baby today, Hubs, let's do this!

That's all I had to say.


My pregnancy this far has sucked, I've been in the bed for seven months, suffering in and out of the hospital and preventing preterm labor for the past 2 months, and I want to enjoy some part of all of this.

So if today is the day, I'm looking forward to it!

I am having a #twitterbirth, and I think we'll even do a contest!!!

I am progressing well!