Almost 2 weeks old!!

It is hard to believe Hallie is almost 2 weeks old already! The above picture was from the first night we came home from the hospital. I was lucky once again that she came early like Abby and Bailey did (she came 1 week early).

I'll post her labor story at the bottom of this post so you don't have to read it if it is too long :) It is mostly for me to remember her birth story.

Anyway, we are so thankful for all the visitors and helpers over the past week and a half! Thank you especially to our Moms :)

Here are some pictures over the last week:


Abby couldn't be happier, she is SO happy to be a big sister again to a little baby sister! She asks to hold her all the time and does a great job. Side note, Abby is pretty much completely potty trained, only took a few days! She was completely ready and surprised us at how fast she caught on to it!


This picture says it all, we are TIRED, but couldn't love our girls more

Grandma Collier and Hallie at the hospital! Thanks for also coming to help us out for a few days!!


Grandma Ryan and the girlies at home, thanks Mom for all your help!



Okay, here is Hallie's story:

I had been having strong contractions off and on for about a week prior to her delivery. Two days before she was born, they were getting closer (about 2-3 minutes apart), and she we packed up our family and went to the hospital for a few hours. The girls were patient while we waited to see my progression. The contractions were close, and then died off after a few hours, so we were sent home. Did I mention I hate being sent home, it makes you feel depressed!!! Anyway, we headed home that night around 2:00 a.m., our poor girls!

Two days later (Saturday morning), I woke up around 3:00 a.m. with some painful contractions and again they were regular and close, so Gavin and I headed back to the hospital. I was only dilated to a 1+ still and didn't progress as much as they wanted, so again we were sent home. We walked around the halls for an hour and were going crazy! I was given a morphine shot to go home with because the contractions were pretty strong. We got home and I literally slept for 4 or 5 hours, haha!!!!! I could NOT wake up, Gavin tried to wake me up a few times, but I kept falling asleep. That morphine shot was so strong! I woke up around 5:00 or so that evening and the contractions were getting really strong and painful and close, so we went back to the hospital. By this point, I was to a 4 and they still wanted to see if I changed any within another hour (I was going to kill somebody). So, they had me walk around for an hour, but I could only stand to walk around for about 20 minutes because the pain was terrible. I had bad lower back pain and I was contracting every few minutes, we would walk and then I would have to stop to breathe and I just started crying because it hurt SO bad! So we headed back to the delivery room and the nurse came back to check. I was at a 5 by this point (20 minutes after coming to the hospital), and so they finally agreed to keep me! I was so happy to be able to stay and I asked for the epidural right away because I was dying. The nurses we had were so sweet and helped me through the pain before the epidural was injected. The epidural was so hard to hold still for because I was having such painful contractions, but it got in just in time. I was finally able to relax and I think I fell asleep for a little while ( I don't remember). Around 10:30 or so, a nurse came in to check me, and before she did I felt my water break! She checked me right after and I was a 10 already! The doctor was delivering a baby right next door, so I had to wait about 10-15 minutes to start pushing. Hallie had had a bowel movement, so that was all over the bed with the fluid, and they were all saying it looked like pea soup, not funny :) I felt so much better once my water broke though. The doctor finally came in to deliver Hallie and it all went so smoothly. She was out in a few pushes and he actually had to tell me stop pushing on the last one. A few NICU nurses came in to clean her out because of the concern over her passing stool inside me, but she was breathing fine and was such a sweetie! She was so good during the stay at the hospital and has been since. I hope she stays this way :)

My stay was not restful at all because they come in to check on you so frequently, but it was nice to just spend time with Hallie. Gavin had to leave for school, so I was alone for part of the time, but I was able to rest some. I had a bad cold when I had her, so I was feeling pretty congested and tired from that as well. The nurses were great though and I always love the hospital meals (even though they feed you way too much!!!)

Coming home was very interesting because Abby got the stomach flu the night we came home. Bailey had had it a few days earlier, but Abby didn't start throwing up until that night. I was so lucky that my Mom was there to help Abby get better while I tried to keep Hallie away and get some rest. Abby got over it within 24 hours, but that made me so nervous! I didn't want a sick newborn. The girls were so excited to see her when she came home and have been really good to be soft with her. They can't get enough of her!

I'm still exhausted due to the lack of sleep, but I am so thankful to have Hallie in our little family! She has been such a sweet baby so far and I am lucky to have three healthy girls. Gavin has been a good support and loves all his girlies. He has been busy with school this semester, but has tried to help out here and there as he has time.

We love our Hallie!!!