Monday, June 13, 2011

welcome!

I didn't post anything the last few days because I was busy.  Busy having a baby!

Evelyn Mae Dahl joined us at 7:59 AM on Friday, June 10th, 2011.  She was 7 pounds, 10 ounces, and 19 3/4 inches long.

I had a c-section because she was breech.  The epidural and c-section part wasn't difficult for me.  What was difficult was that I barely got to see my daughter during the first couple hours of her life.  In the delivery room, I heard a little cry (which made me start weeping - unfortunate since my arms were strapped down and I couldn't wipe my eyes).  The doctor raised the baby up so that Kevin and I could see her over the curtain.  Then they whisked her over to get worked on and cleaned up.  I made Kevin go too, since I couldn't.  He brought her back over to me after about 15 minutes, and I was struck by how beautiful she was.  I've never seen a pretty newborn, but Evelyn was pretty darn close.  Then they had to leave to go to the nursery while I got sewed up, and then spent an hour in recovery, coming out of the shock of the epidural.
First Family Photo

When I finally got up to my room, my grandparents, parents, sister and nephews were waiting for me.  They all left when Kevin brought Evelyn in though, so that I could finally have some bonding time with my baby and get to know her.

We spent all day Friday in the hospital.  My big accomplishment was walking to the bathroom with Kevin's help.  Evelyn's big accomplishment was being born, so she wins.

Baby Evie and I did not seem to be compatible when it came to breastfeeding, though not for lack of trying.  She didn't eat until Saturday afternoon, more than 24 hours after being born.  After meeting with the lactation specialist, we found out why.  She likes her tongue too much and is content to suck on it; she won't move her tongue down so that my breast can go to the roof of her mouth.  And my boob isn't strong enough to move it - this may even be a symptom of my PCOS.  So Kevin went home to get our pump while I stayed in the hospital and felt like a failure.

Pumping seems to be going well.  I'm able to pump a full ounce now, and we supplement that with a little bit of formula until my milk comes in.  Evelyn has no problems with the bottle, which is strong and rigid enough to move her tongue out of the way.  She eats like a champ now.  And I've even been able to get her to nurse twice.

So now we are home.  Evelyn is such a good baby and rarely cries.  I have to wake her a few times each night to feed.  And she will let us know when she has a poopy diaper, but other than that, we can sleep in decent chunks throughout the night.

What is she like?  A knockout who already has her parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents madly in love with her.  She has a bunch of dark hair on her head, which I wasn't expecting.  Her head is a funny little round one.  She has super dark gray-blue eyes that often look black.  We call her our Dirty Pirate because she is the master of giving these amazing ARGH pirate glares - so funny.  Her complexion is darker than mine or Kevin's, although she does not have any jaundice.  Her lips are the perfect little "o."  She doesn't really look anything like me or Kevin, so it will be interesting to see if that changes as she gets bigger.  She's already really strong and can move her head around.  The nurses were all wowed by how calm and quiet Evelyn was in the hospital.  Basically, she perfect.  :)  Not that I'm biased at all.

3 comments:

  1. Kel, she's BEAUTIFUL!!!! And, I don't know what you're talking about, because she looks just like Kevin! At least in that first picture! So many congratulations to you guys! It is soooo fun to see you being a mommy. I will start praying about the nursing issue. We're already praying about that for our little guy.

    I love you, friend! So happy for you! :-)

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  2. Haha, I agree with other Mandy... I can totally see Kevin in her! :) And it sounds like everything is going really well- so happy for you guys (and a little jealous that you're done! :) We'll keep praying for a speedy recovery for you.

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  3. Mandy & Mandy,

    You're right, I can see a bit of Kevin in her. The shape of her eyes and nose, mostly. And that first photo does look more like him, I agree. But her coloring has changed since that first photo, which was taken like 10 minutes after birth. She has dark skin and hair that's as dark as mine, so I guess her coloring is throwing me off. Although looks-wise, her hair color is about all I can claim to have given her.

    Thank you both for all your prayers, I can feel them. And as you're both pregnant during this hot summer, you're in my prayers as well.

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