The Staff

I wish I had a picture and names of the entire staff that helped me while I stayed at the hospital.  I can't say enough about what a pleasant experience it was.  Sure, the discomfort of my abdomen being sliced open sort of sucked, but as far as being taken care of by others, I definitely was. 

My night nurse was the best!  She was so so so sweet.  She would leave me alone and let me rest if I needed that, or come in my room to help me with the slightest thing.  She would take Janie for a couple of hours if I requested some more sleep, then bring her back to me when it was time to nurse. There was another night nurse on shift that was great too.  She wasn't assigned to me but she would still come in and visit with me, encourage me when I slowly walked the halls, and made me feel like I was actually fun to be around, and not temporary cripple that I actually was.  I know all nurses are SUPPOSED to be kind and helpful, but mine really were.

Here is one of my nurses helping the girls listen to Janie's heartbeat.  She was very patient as the girls kept wanting to hear.

My doctor, Dr. Soheai.  She was great.  Some say she is overly cautious but I like overly cautious.  It is way better than being not cautious enough.  About half way through my pregnancy, I went to her with a long list of concerns.  Literally, a page long list of handwritten notes that I wanted to talk to her about.  I was ready to take my business else where if my questions weren't answered in a way that made me feel comfortable.  Of course, plenty of my concerns were due to my mad paranoia that I was experiencing at that time, but she really put my mind at ease. 

I am so glad that I stayed put.  I don't think I could have handpicked a better staff to have been a part of, and made my experience as good as it was.  From the receptionist at the front desk of my doctor visits, to the medical assistants that weighed me each time.  From the radiology technician that did my weekly ultrasounds that happens to be a close friend of ours from church, to the surgeon that assisted Dr. Soheai, who also happens to go to church with us (and is married to the radiology tech that I just mentioned). From the nurse anesthetist that was so careful and precise with my spinal block, to the O.R. techs that helped me relax before the operation.... I am so grateful. 

Living in such a small town and delivering in such a small hospital, there naturally were concerns.  However, having faith in the abilities of the professionals that took care of me proved to be the best decision this time around.

Date Night - Interrupted Already

February 11. 2012.

Our hospital has a nice little tradition for the new parents, providing a "Dinner for Two Date Night."

Corky and I got to choose from a special menu and were served dinner on a nicely decorated table.  Just as we were about to enjoy a nice (still hospital food) meal together, Janie started piping up.   

And so begins the trend already.  Taking turns holding the babe while the other hurry and scarfs down the food. Then trading so the other parent can eat. 

"Teach Me How to Dougie"

When I was about 4 months pregnant or so, and I was feeling Janie start to move, I would joke often with the older girls that she was doing a dance in there.  Corky heard the song "Teach Me How to Dougie" one day, and joked that she was in fact, doing the "dougie."  From that moment on, the baby that was in my belly (which we didn't know whether it was a boy or girl yet) was called Dougie.  Even after knowing full well, another daughter would be joining us, she was still "Dougie."

It is fitting since Corky has given Gracey and Emily each a boy nickname.

Gracey - Gary


Emily - Ernie

and now we have,

Janie - Dougie

Janie is nearly a month old, and to be honest, is rarely called by her given name.  For the most part, she is still called Dougie.

This picture is so fuzzy because, as you can only imagine, Corky, Gracey, and Emily started doing "The Dougie" while holding our own little Dougie.  I wish I had the picture from the other angle but I could only move so much (or not at all) in my hospital bed.

Don't know what I am talking about as I refer to "The Dougie"?  Watch this.  And forgive me if it is stuck in your head for the next 3 weeks!

Meeting their new sister

As expected, Gracey and Emily were so incredibly excited to be able to meet their new baby sister.  They came to the hospital around lunchtime and I could tell they had been trying to be patient all morning long. The image of them walking into my hospital room for the first time is burned in my brain in the happiest of ways.  Neither seemed nervous or afraid, and both did not hesitate when it was their turn to hold Janie.  Pictures speak much better than my words do in this case, so here are a bunch of pictures of those first precious moments.

This picture below might be my favorite of the day.  Gracey and Emily were in their own little world together and completely in awe of their new baby sis.

Before leaving the hospital that day, Gracey and Emily decorated the room with some hand drawn pictures for Janie.  They were sure to not forget her little crib.