My Real Life Baby Doll

Okay, I realized that Ellie is pretty much my real life baby doll.  I feel like a little girl again every time I get her dressed for the day because it is so fun to dress and accessorize her.  My dad told me the other day that when my mom had my older sister, Marie, (her first girl) he walked in to their room one day and found her trying on a whole bunch of outfits on her like she was a doll.  My mom looked at him with a "you caught me" look and confessed that she was like her little doll.  I think she is right.  Here are some pictures of her to show you why she is my little doll.

Finally Some More Pictures

I no longer have a computer at my house so I have not been able to update my blog as much as I would like.  Thanks to my sister, Marie, I finally have a whole bunch of random pictures for you all.  Sorry, but this is going to be a long post.

Okay, let me explain.  This picture was taken the day after Ellie was born.  It was my first time out of my bed after my C-section.  I looked down at my feet to see this beautiful sight.  I thought they were going to explode any second!  Doesn't it look like I weigh 600 pounds??  Apparently, I had way too many fluids pumped into my body.   I'm glad to say that after a couple weeks of waking up in full out sweats my feet are now back to normal.

I had to show you Greg's get-up for the C-section.  We called him "Marshmallow Man."

Ellie has gotten so much bigger!  It makes me a little sad because I love how innocent and cute she is right now.  She is the sweetest baby.  She hardly cries and when she does it is for a reason.  I love her!

 

Notice how Ellie is giving the "hang loose" sign.  The bouncer is the only thing she will sleep in.  Greg calls her "H.M." (high maintenance).

These are just some pictures of the funny faces she makes.  I love the one with the flower headband because the flower is as big as her head.  She hasn't quite grown into it yet.

 

Isn't she cute?  How can you not love her?

She Is Here!!!!!!

I thought I would fill you all in on the details of what happened. Well, I went into the hospital at midnight on the night of the 10th. I was having pretty intense contractions so they gave me an epidural pretty quickly. This slowed down the process so Greg and I waiting around for a LONG time. I swear I was at a 4 forever!

The doctor came in around 8:00 and checked me. I was at an 8 this time and so he broke my water. When he was there he told me that he didn't think there would be enough room for the baby to come through and so I might have to get a c-section. This totally scared me. I had never even thought about the idea of getting a c-section. I of course started crying and was determined that I could push the baby out naturally. My doctor still wanted me to try pushing to see if there could be any progress made.

Finally at 9:45 a.m. I was complete and ready to push. By this time my epidural was definately not doing it's job. They even gave me a higher dosage, but it still did not work. I was in pain, but they thought it might be a good thing so I could feel more of what I was doing. I ending up pushing for a little over 2 hours and thought I was going to die. I had not slept at all in over 24 hours. I cannot remember a time being more exhausted than I was then. I even started falling asleep between contractions for a few seconds because I seriously could not keep my eyes open. Greg was awesome the whole time. It was pretty much just me and him during the pushing because apparently the hospital had tons of deliveries that night. My nurse had to keep on going to another patient. Now that I look back I realize how ridiculous that was that they left Greg and I alone so much when it was my first baby and I had a high chance of getting a c-section.

Anyway, after about 2 1/2 hours of pushing the doctor decided that she was not descending enough so they were going to go ahead with the c-section. I wasn't too happy about it, but after such a long and hard labor I just really wanted her out. They drugged me up even more and sent me to the O.R. Greg said it was the coolest thing he has ever seen. I'm glad I couldn't see what they were doing because I think I would have freaked out. At this point I could not keep my eyes open because I was so tired. I was also shaking beyond control because I was FREEZING and my body had gone through so much and couldn't control itself anymore.

Ellie was finally here at 1:05 p.m. on Wedneday, June 11th. Greg got to bring her over to me so I could look at, but I couldn't hold her because I was still being all stiched up. She was perfect and absolutely gorgeous. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 4 oz. and is 19 inches long. I love her so much! Greg left with her and the nurses to the nursery while they finished with me. They finally wheeled me into my room at around 1:30 or so. It made me sad because I was completely exhausted and had tons of medications in me because of the C-section so I couldn't hold her as much as I would have liked to that first day. I got really sick after about an hour and threw up a couple of times. I also could not stop shaking all over. I thought it wasn't the best idea if I held her when I felt like I was going to faint any second.

Things got much better on Thursday. We had to stay in the hospital until Saturday because I had a c-section. I had so much fun being with Ellie there. I wouldn't let her out of my sight during the day, but I did send her to the nursery at night so I could get some sleep. :) Thanks to all of our visitors that came while we were there. It was pretty boring sitting in a hospital bed for 3 days.

Well, we are home now. It is really weird that I'm a mom and forever will be. Ellie is so cute and I love being with her. I won't lie, our first night was a nightmare. Let's say I didn't fall asleep until 5:30 a.m. and even then I was holding her on the couch. Luckily Greg watched her this morning while I took a nap. Greg has been so great through all of this. Hopefully things will only get better from here.

Baby Ellie Is Here!!

Michelle and Greg are stuck in the hospital so I (Michelle's sister, Marie) am posting some pictures of the adorable little babe.

Ellie Grace Andersen Born Wednesday, June 11 7lbs. 4 oz. 19 inches

Ellie has been so alert and very CALM! She is such a little angel.

Michelle was in labor for a very long time, and then pushed for 2 hours, and then had to have a c-section. It was brutal! She was feeling very out of it and sick yesterday from all the meds in her body, but I think she's doing much better today. She is at Orem Community Hospital and will be there until at least Saturday because of the c-section.

Update

First of all, no baby yet. I'm officially one week over my due date and hating life. I scheduled my induction today. I go in on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. to get labor started. I will probably have the baby on Thursday, but you never know. The rate I'm going I probably won't have her until Saturday. :) So, I now know that I only have TWO more days of being pregnant! I can't wait!!! I will post pictures as soon as she is here. I just feel really bad because my awesome sister-in-law, Amber, has been here since Wednesday to help me and is leaving on Wednesday morning. She won't even get to see her! She is amazing though and made some adorable curtains for Ellie's room. As soon as I take a picture of them I will post those too.

Finally Some Prego Pics

Okay, here are some of the pictures I've been promising.  Check out my swollen feet (f.y.i. the naked body in the background is my little niece, don't worry).  My favorite part is how you can't even see my ankle bone anymore.  Lovely, I know.  I thought I would throw in a picture of the gorgeous diaper cake my sister, Marie, made.  She seriously is so talented!  I had the hardest time taking it apart because it is so beautiful.  Last, but not least, the picture of me sitting on the couch is at my baby shower.  Notice how I'm wiping sweat off my forehead.  It was the first 90 degree day and I was dying!  I would never make it in Arizona!  You can see that I'm also swollen in my face too.  Well, I'm hoping it is swollen, not just you now what. :)  As one of my students told me the other day, "Mrs. Andersen, no offense, but your cheeks are getting puffier."  You got to love 6th graders.  If I ever get a better baby bump picture I will post it.  You can see the lump though in this beautiful picture.

Still Pregnant...

No baby yet.  I still have a little less than two weeks until my due date, but I'm SO ready to be done.  I went to the doctor on Monday morning and I wasn't dilated at all.  I guess she just really loves being cramped in there and isn't in any hurry to come out.  I asked my doctor if he would induce me because I'm VERY uncomfortable and don't think I can take much longer of this.  He told me that since this is my first pregnancy he can't induce me until I'm a week overdue because of hospital policy.  That means the I will be done by June 11th!  Saying that, she hopefully (and better) come before then, preferably before my due date (June 3rd).  Anyway, I'm going to get a picture of how swollen my feet are to show you all.  I can't even get my wedding ring over my knuckle these days and I haven't felt my fingertips for the past couple of weeks!  It makes washing my hair very interesting.  I keep telling myself that my face is swollen too, but lets be honest, it is just that I am a fatty.  I will post a picture of myself as long as everyone promises not to make too much fun of me.