Welcome Home, Ashlyn!

Ashlyn and I came home from the hospital on Friday, July 16. We could have stayed an extra day but we were both doing well (and the bed and the food was the pits) so we decided to come home. Because we left a day early and thus made the room available for someone else, the hospital gave us a $50 gift certificate to the mall!!! (We got one with Carter too but they mailed it to us with no explaination why we were getting it!)

Meeting us at home were Grandma Harriett, Great Grandma Harp, Carter, Great Uncle Larry, and Great Aunt Brenda.

Time to go home!

Carter was glad to have his little sister home

Scariest Moment of My Life

....happened in the hospital on Thursday, July 15th. My mom was with me and Ashlyn as Brad was home taking Carter to preschool. It was time for Ashlyn to eat but she was sound asleep in her bassinet. I picked her up so I could try to wake her. As soon as I picked her up her eyes popped open and she had a paniced look in her eyes. Almost right away she started turning blue. I was so scared and could not think straight. I yelled to my mom "She's not breathing!!" Mom rushed over and turned her upside down with her head to the floor and started hitting her back. I picked up the bulb syringe and tried sucking out her mouth. Some yellow gunk came out of her nose and she started crying a little but then seemed to choke again. I just sat there in disbelief when mom pushed the nurse button. We yelled "The baby is choking and turning blue!" and a few seconds later my nurse burst through the door, grabbed Ashlyn and ran out. I sat there stunned not knowing what was going on or what to do.

It seemed like an eternity but just a few minutes later another nurse came in the room and told us that she was ok and had started to pink up again as the first nurse was running her to the NICU down the hall. They were going to keep her for a couple of hours and run tests (chest x-ray, blood tests, blood pressure, etc) to make sure there was nothing wrong.

A few more minutes passed and the first nurse came back in and appologized for scaring me like that. I told her not to worry about that, I was just glad she was there so fast! She thought everything would be ok and that it was probably just amniotic fluid that got caught in her throat. Since she was a c-section baby, she didn't get all the fluid pushed out of her lungs. She said we would be able to go back and see her but they were changing shifts and we had to wait until all the reports had been given.

I sat trying to clear my head, but it was impossible. I cried everytime I thought of her little face turning blue (I'm crying now thinking about it!)

We finally were able to go back and see her in the NICU. (it was probably only 30 mins later but it felt like forever!) She looked so little lying in the warmer in just her diapers with monitors attached. They let me hold her and try to feed her but she was too sleepy. She had a hectic afternoon so we let her sleep. After just 30 mins. or so the hospital pediatrician came and talked to us. She said all the tests came back normal and that she had just choked. We were then allowed to take her back to the room.

It was the scariest things I have ever gone through and never want to do it again. I have taken infant CPR a handful of times but had no clue what to do when my child was choking. I'm SO thankful my mom was with me and had the clarity of mind to know what to do (she actually said the same thing happened to me when I was a baby and that's what the nurse did to me)!

First Day of Preschool

Carter is starting preschool this year. He will go on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for 3 hours. It isn't much but it will help his socialization and give me a little break at the same time! We live in a school district that goes year round so his first day was on Thursday, July 15. Ashlyn and I were still in the hospital so I wasn't able to take him :o( Brad went home the night before so he would be able to take Carter and my mom came to stay with me in the hospital. Here are some pics of his first day (Daddy was given strict instructions to take lots of pictures!)

Ready for school!

He looks so little with his big backpack!

He didn't hesitate at all when he saw the toys!

All smiles when Daddy picked him up!

Ashlyn's Birth Story

So Ashlyn will be a week old tomorrow and I'm just now getting around to posting this. sorry. I've been busy. Anyways, here is her birth story.....

We had scheduled a c-section a couple of months or so ago for Tuesday, July 13. Since she didn't make any effort to come early, it looked like we were sticking to that date. Mom and Grandma Harp came Monday evening to stay at our house and watch Carter while Brad and I were in the hospital.

night before delivery - 39 weeks

Brad and I had to be at the hospital at 5:30 am on Tuesday. I got up at 3:30 am to shower and get last minute things packed. Surprisingly we were in the car and ready to go at 5:00. We got checked in at Labor & Delivery right at 5:30. They took us back to a room where I changed and then they started an IV filled with some sort of electrolites (they said it was kind of like Gatoraid). The prep stuff was done right around 7:30 am. They walked me back to the OR where they gave me a spinal (ouch). I got all good and numb and then they let Brad in. At 7:54 am we had our baby girl! I was starting to feel a little dopey from the meds by this point so all I remember is that she didn't cry as much as Carter and she was a lot smaller than him.

Here are her stats:

Ashlyn Grace Brown

July 13, 2010

7:54 am

8 lbs 10 oz

22" long

short light brown hair

looks just like her big brother when he was born

4th of July weekend

We had a laid back 4th of July weekend this year. We would usually go to my uncle's in southern Illinois but, being so close to Baby-Day, we thought we should stay close to home.

We had just put Carter to bed around 9:00 on Friday night when I heard the neighbors shooting off some big fireworks (they are legal here!). I went back up to his room and asked if he wanted to get up and watch them. Of course he was happy to get out of bed so we headed outside. We watched the display from the neighbors' driveway for about an hour. At 10:30 Carter said "Let's go to bed!" :o)

Saturday found us doing some last minute grocery shopping and chores around the house. The neighbors were still shooting off fireworks but we didn't venture outside for them.

Sunday was our regular routine of church and naps. After dinner we drove to the minor league baseball park in our city where the fireworks would be launched. We found a really good spot at the end of a road where we would be able to get out easily once they were finished. We set up or blanket and settled in. Another car pulled in after us and Carter immediately ran up to them to introduce himself. He latched on to a lady in her mid-50s and didn't leave her side the entire time. He either sat on her lap or held her hand through the whole show. (I have said for awhile now that he is a future Wal-Mart greeter!!) Daddy was a little bummed that he didn't get to cuddle up with his buddy :o( Carter did enjoy the show though but commented on how loud and bright they were.

Carter with his new buddy :o)