Hypothetical

Hello Friends!! I've got a question for you but first here's a quick update on life with a baby.

So we've made it almost two full weeks...at home!! YAY!! We are learning to get into the swing of things. Some days I'm a bit tired and frustrated because I can't get things that I want to get done done. But other than that not too bad. The diapers aren't as bad as I thought they would be. (For those of you who don't know, I don't do diapers. I used to pay my sister a dollar a diaper when she came with me to babysit my brother's kids. That's saying something when you only got paid $3.00 for the entire evening. cheep labor. )

Okay, so we've been getting our insurance explanation of benefits for our hospital bills...which first, I must say thank heavens for insurance, but I noticed that before insurance an epidural cost nearly a thousand dollars! I started wondering to myself, because I can be too practical sometimes, if I didn't have insurance would I pay $1,000 for an epidural. Then I started to be curious what others would do in this hypothetical situation, would you pay $1,000 for an epidural?

I think that I probably would. Even if I had convinced myself to try without, I would inevitably give in and get one...I'm afraid I can't tolerate pain.

Hope you are all doing well!!

We're Home!

I was more excited about bringing her home than I am about actually being home with her. Wow! How do moms do this? I've always known that my mom was amazing but really how did she do it?? 12 kids??!! I'm getting worn out with one in only one day. I'm hoping it will get better. :)

In the NICU she was pretty much good. She seemed to be on a nice schedule and fairly predictable but now that she's home she's thrown that out the window.  Yesterday morning she would only eat a little bit at a time and maybe sleep for a few minutes and then she'd eat and sleep. I couldn't tell how long she would sleep or how long it would be until she would eat again. She finally slept long enough for me to shower around 2:00. We headed to Grandma's house and she slept the whole time! Good grief.  Right now I'm at my mom's house and she's asleep. I'm about ready to move into Grandma's!

I really can't complain too much however because she has done well at night. She's only waken up around 4:00 each morning to eat and has gone back to sleep. I just need to get her to stick to it and maybe figure out how to deal with her fickle morning schedule.

Little girl and I just came from her first Doctor's visit. I can see the office from my apartment building and yet I couldn't make it there on time. MAN! I'm still standing in amazement of moms.  How do they make it anywhere on time when kids have their own schedules?

Anyway, here are a few more pictures...we just can't seem to get enough pictures. :)

Grandpa and Little Girl just having a nice little chat.

In her going home outfit...a little snug but we had to at least wear it once!

Ready to Go!!

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!!