Three Weeks Old - The Beginnings of Smiles

Sarah then, Sarah now. What a difference 3 weeks makes. She is really filling out and putting on the weight.

Last post I said that we didn't snap any pics the second week but I was wrong. Daddy snuck this shot of Mom and baby napping.
Uncle shots.
Below Left: Uncle Brad (Brian's twin brother)
Below Right: Uncle Scott (Deborah's brother)



















The third week was the first week of just mommy and daddy taking care of baby. I was so spoiled having help the first two weeks. I could pass her off to someone and go take a nap. That has been so hard this week since there is only me during the day. I am so tired at night. Brian is being so wonderful. After working all day, he usually comes home and gets something cooked or atleast heated and then gets handed a baby while I try to rest some to gear up for the night. I am sure he is tired to but never he never complains. He just enjoys being with his little girl. I do try not to wake him too often in the night so he can rest up for work. You'll have to ask him if that's working. Now that the gradmas are gone, our Sunday School class will be blessing us with meals for the next couple of weeks which will help a lot with having time to unwind and trade off naps. The Lord knows just what we need when we need it.

To the left you will see the beginnings of smiles. These are the moments that melt your heart and make it all seem worthwhile. She has definitely put on a better smile than this picture shows. We will try to get a better picture sometime. This week especially the nights have been a source of real temptation for me. Not only am I exhausted but also having frustrations with feeding, I have been so angry at times and crying at others, and these burst of emotions are usually taken out on Brian. That is not fair to him or Sarah, and he has forgiven me. I am so glad he know the Lord. God has also, throught friends and family, been reminding me of certain truths this week.

1. Sarah is a gift from God, just as life is. She is not mine but His. His creation, the work of His hands only. My life should not be mine, I am His creation.
2. He has entrusted her into our care. Therefore, out of love and reverence for Him I should always seek His ways and do my best in caring for her. I am cared for by God through Christ, I should always seek His counsel.
3. Even my best is not enough for Sarah or for myself. And, I will never always do my best (that would be sin nature).
4. He has forgiven me for my failures and knows each and every failure I will make with her and in life.
5. He also knows I will succeed because He will provide the grace and strength for that to happen. He will handle what I can't.
6. Everything I go through will be filtered by His grace. There is nothing He will allow to happen that will be for loss, but everything for the good of those who love Him.

When we bend our hearts to God he sees the beginnings of smiles and rejoices with us knowing there will bigger, brighter smiles to come.

Second Week

Sorry there are no pictures on this post. I am not even sure we took any the second week. Things are going as well as can be expected. In the middle of the first week I had some "activity" happening at the ankle on the leg that is affected by the Linear Morphea (Scleroderma). We had several doctor's appointments for me the rest of that week and during the second week. The doctor doesn't necessarily think the disease itself is active again but that there was definitely inflammation due to swelling in combination with the condition of the skin itself on that leg. He did some more blood work and put me on a zpak of Cortisone. It was quite exhausting and hard to catch a nap with all the running around and still trying to figure out breastfeeding and our daughters erratic schedule. Monica, Brian's mom, was staying with us so we were able to run to the appointments and leave Sarah at home. Sarah had her 1-2 week check up too. She is doing great and had already gained a whole pound from when she left the hospital. Nights were going better at this point but the help was still invaluable. I have so much still to learn! Brian is doing well. He went into work Monday but his boss sent him home with work for the rest of the week. He has been a tremendous help, a compassionate husband, and a loving father.

Today is the second day of my first week with just me and Sarah at home. So far, So good. I am under strict orders by my doctor, husband, and many others to just rest and take care of the baby. I am trying my best to obey. Well, more on this week later.

First Week

Our first week was challenging but fun in so many ways. Sleepless nights, learning to nurse, changing diapers were quite exhausting. Nothing new to seasoned parents but all a learning curve for us. As much as I have been around babies, nothing prepares you for having your own. Daddy and Sarah found a favorite past time together - napping. This usually happens while Daddy is trying to give Mommy time to nap too. I am glad he loves her so much. Sarah's other favorite place is in her rocker chair. She spent a couple of nights in it because it was the only place she would sleep. She had a bit of night and day confusion but we are slowly getting straight. My mom and Brian were so good at taking the night shifts so I could sleep.

Besides eating and sleeping, we took our first sponge bath. Mom and Dad thought it was fun but I don't think it's Sarah's favorite thing yet.










We also loaded her up in her stroller for a short walk. She is so cute. Her hat was way too big but it kept the sun out of her eyes. She really seemed to enjoy the fresh air. We will have many more walks in the future I am sure.

This is me, my friend Kristin, and Sarah. We all have birthdays in August so we celebrated with Baskin Robins ice cream cake. This has always been a tradition for me and it was fun to find out the ice cream cakes were a tradition for Kristin too.

Going Home

Mom and Sarah are ready to head home. We are waiting for our check out papers. We are grateful everyone is still healthy and recovering nicely.










Sarah is really proud of her Uncle Will currently serving in Iraq. We will see you soon, Will. We picked up this T-shirt on base in Texas. Guess it will be a while before she can actually wear it.



It was pretty scary leaving the hospital
with her all to ourselves. I felt really
unprepared to be soley responsible for her care.

We made it home. I am exhilarated and exhausted at the same time.
I am glad I will have help for the next couple of weeks.

At the Hospital

Sorry it has taken so long to update the blog. Here are a couple of pics from the hospital. We are still figuring out how to add some more pictures like in a slideshow. This is Sarah at one day old enjoying some skin to skin with her mom. Below are the happy grandparents.

She's Here!

Sarah Elise Nelson was born at 7:33 PM on Thursday, August 7th. She and Mom are doing great! Sarah weighed 7lbs 7oz and was 20.75 inches long.

Definitely by Thursday

The doctors appointment went very well today. The baby and I are both healthy and in good shape. I am now 2cm dilated and ready to go. We have set up an appointment to induce for Thursday, August 7, 2008 but the doctor is very optimistic that I will go into labor on my own before then. He just wanted to set the induction up as a precaution because he doesn't want the baby to become so big that it would be a difficult delivery. We will see what happens. We are very excited and anxious about the way our lives will be changed in just 4 days.