My Little Girl

I know she's not so little but she's still Little Girl to me. (That's how I seemed to talk about her when she was still in the womb.) Right now, she and I are just hanging out in the NICU, well she's sleeping and I'm just hanging out. She is doing well.

We are basically just here until they give her the last dose of antibiotics tomorrow. They've taken her of oxygen and the glucose (I'm not exactly sure why they were giving it to her anyway.) So it feels like it is pointless to be here for them just to administer antibiotics but what can you do?

As nice as it would have been to have gone home Wednesday had all been normal, it's been a blessing to be here. It's given us a nice transition to parenthood. We've been able to learn from the nurses (although at times frustrating) how to take care of our baby. Its been nice to go home at night and sleep most of the night except for waking to pump. I'm still nervous about caring for her on our own but more confident about bringing her home. Here are some pictures of Little Girl during her first week. (They go most recent to when she was first born.)

Enjoy!

I love this scowl! It's so funny it makes me laugh almost everytime.

This is her one eyed look. She does this all the time. She gets this from me!

The NICU parent group had a Reunion Halloween Party. They made little costumes for the babies in the NICU. This is little girl as gumball machine. Cute huh? It's great they have a parents group for the babies in the NICU. Some of these babies have been here for months, they would need that extra support.

Grandma Sue and Little girl Haines. Not that I could ever keep Grandma away from a newborn baby let alone a grandchild, its been nice to have her come and visit everyday. I'm sure little girl enjoys the visit as much as I do!

Daddy and Baby Girl! You can just tell how much he loves her in his face! Mom said that when he went out to get her to come into the room after our girl was born, he looked like a boy that just got his first bike.

Announcing Our Little Girl Haines

Hello Friends! We are proud to announce that we are no longer just Victory and Alissa. We are now the Haines Family!

She measured in at 9lbs 9oz and 22 inches! We are both smitten with her and love her very much.

The sad news is that they think she has pneumonia and will need oxygen and antibiotics for seven days. Which means she will be in the NICU during that time. Otherwise she is doing really well.

Maternity Leave

So here I am on my second day of maternity leave and still no baby. I don't even feel uncomfortable right now. Its so weird. I feel like my body has forgotten that its pregnant and that it has a job to do to get her out of me. Sunday morning I woke up and I could see my ankles. My water weight has seemed to pretty much disappear...there's still a little bit but I feel like my body has gone back to normal minus this huge belly I have.

I went to Walmart and the check out lady said, "My you are carrying your baby high! It's a girl huh? You're going to be carrying her awhile longer!" All I have to say is thanks.

So I'm just kinda bumming around, trying to stay productive but what am I supposed to do all day? I'm not used to having this much free time. I pretty much have always gone to school or worked. People tell me I should enjoy this time because I will never have time like this again. So far I am enjoying it but just unsure on how use it all up. Yesterday I went shopping but I decided I shouldn't do that with my free time it will very quickly eat up our bank account. I bought a set of lamps for our living room, a decorative clock which I'm not sure where I'm going to put, new cookie sheets and a few other random items. We won't expose the grand total because I'm not necessarily proud of it.

Anyway, I'll keep you posted but according the walmart lady I'll be like this for awhile.

Take care friends!

39 Weeks

Beware: This isn't a happy, optimistic post, it is written by a hormonal, upset, and ready to go pregnant woman.

Well, as you remember from the last post, I wasn't supposed to make it to 39 weeks but here I am with baby girl still in my tummy at 39 weeks:I think I have a few words for doctors right now. Do they realize that they are dealing with pregnant women? Seriously. Don't say that I'm going to have this baby in 2 weeks with so much certainty....say it as more of a possibility. She did say after I gave her a concerned look, that she "had been wrong before but at least I'd be prepared." Well now I'm prepared (mostly) and very very impatient and onry.

I've been working very hard trying to get things ready for her. My apartment isn't perfectly organized or decorated yet but it is sufficent. I have most everything I think I need for her to come....so why isn't she coming???

I seriously thought I'd have this baby this last weekend....but nothing! All of the sudden I'm starting to realize the distinct possibility that I could go over my due date! That thought had never crossed my mind but now that I'm only one week away (and heard one too many stories at church yesterday) I guess I'd better settle in for another two weeks at least. OYE! Good luck to those who have to be around me! I'm not forseeing a happy Alissa.

Should I be worrying??

Okay so here is an update. This is me and baby girl at 36 weeks:

I went to the Doctor today and she said

I'm 70% effaced and have dilated 1 cm.

Okay, 1 cm, that doesn't sound like a big deal, right? She then said that I was going to have this baby in a couple of weeks. WHAT???!!! FREAK OUT!! I'm not ready. You all said that I was going to my due date or even later! I'm soo not ready for this! She said she hopes I'll go at least one more week but she thinks I'll have it within two. However, after seeing my concerned look on my face, followed-up by saying, "I've been wrong before and I could be wrong again...but at least you'll be prepared."

I didn't sleep very well last night. I felt a since of panic. I'm trying to relax myself but good grief I'm getting really anxious. I'm afraid of walking too much or exerting myself to much in getting ready for our move next week. I just don't want to trigger anything. I'M NOT READY!!

THE DUE DATE...too far and yet entirely too soon

Can I tell you I have completely mixed feelings about my due date? I want her out and the very same time I think she can pretty much live there for a long time.

I WANT HER OUT!

1. I'm tired of waiting and facing the unknown.
2. I want to know what she looks like.
3. I want to adorn her in cute shoes, clothes and bows.
4. I want to hold her and make her laugh.
5. I'm tired of her kicking my ribs and creating back pain.
6. I want my body back!! I want to run, eat and play. Roller skating is definitely on my list of things to do once I'm able. I want to go shopping again for cute, clothes and pair of sexy jeans. (oh my!) And cute shoes...I miss my shoes! I know my feet don't look it to those who don't know my feet because they were so skinny and skeleton like before but they are swollen and I swear are a size 10 now!

SHE CAN BE A PERMANENT RESIDENT

1. I'm terrified of having a baby. LABOR!! YIKES!! I know there's the epidural but things can go wrong. Someone that works in mydepartment had their baby last week, 30 hours!!!! two failed epidurals and a spinal tap. And episiotomies, oye! And will I be able to get a hold of Victory? He's so stinking busy right now I'm afraid he'll be away at a football game and I'll be delivering her all alone.
2. We are completely unprepared for her! We aren't moving to our two bedroom apartment until September 29th. So we've put off buying anything for because we have no where to put it right now (except a few clothes...and a crib and bedding being stored at my parents house). I'm hoping to go buy a car seat soon so if she does comes early we can at least take her home.
3. What am I going to do with her once she's out? What am I going to do when she cries all night long? How do I get her on a eating/sleeping schedule?
4. Not sure how to make things work financially with me working possibly only part time or not at all and the increase in insurance? how do people make it these days?
5. I'm going to miss the movement of my little girl in my tummy. It's kinda fun to feel her there.

Well, you're guess is as good as mine as when she'll come out but I thought it would be fun to get your input. Her due date is October 19th and my maternity leave starts October 14th.... when do you think she'll come?

Also, we've been keeping her name to ourselves because we were afraid of negative feedback, however I'm not so sure about that name anymore. And just so we don't go to the hospital without any back ups do you have any name suggestions? Hope you come up with some good names...by the way Victory likes common but not popular names. :)

Can't wait for your feedback!!

Mr. Haines

Today is Victory's first day of teaching so I made him pose for a first day of school picture. He wasn't too thrilled about it especially knowing it was going to end up here. :) But isn't he cute??
I'm kinda sad that school is starting. It's the realization that I won't see him much anymore. He won't be home during lunch time and he won't be home when I get home from work. He's going to be a very busy man. He'll leave before seven and won't get home until after seven. He'll have football games Monday and Friday night and film review Saturday mornings. Then he'll probably still have school stuff to do. :( It's a sad realization that we are growing up. I like being the young married couple with out too many responsibilities.