Not feeling so good!!!

Nellie had her 2 week well check that morning and everything seemed okay. They weighed her and she was 7 lbs 9 oz. She was 20 inches and her head was 34 cm. She wasn't still back up to her birth weight so the doctor wanted to see her again on Tuesday to re-weigh her to make sure she as gaining weight appropriately. Everything seemed pretty normal until a bit later in the day. On the way home from her appointment she threw up bright yellow fluid all over her cute new outfit. I didn't think much of it until later on when she did it again. My milk isn't that bright yellow so I was a little perplexed. Then within about an hour or so she started having messy diapers more regularly and much more fluid than normal. I don't know what it is about motherhood that makes us second guess ourselves 8 or 9 times before we listen to our own intuition! Sterling and I had gone on a date (to see my niece Brittany in her play which was really great!) and during the play I started to really worry about Nellie. I told Sterling I was worried so after the play we took her to instacare (which happened to be closed!). Then we took her to the ER just to be sure. When they weighed her she was 7 lbs 5 oz. She had lost 4 oz in half of the day. They told us that she was dehydrated and needed an IV. While we were waiting to get an IV for her her oxygen level tanked while I was feeding her. They decided right then that she would be staying the night and would be admitted to the hospital for observation. I had never had to bring my newborn baby back to the hospital before. I was pretty nervous and really didn't like them poking and hurting my brand new baby. I knew she was in good hands but still didn't like it much!

Before they admitted Nellie, while we were in the ER waiting for a doctor, Emma, our babysitter called to tell us that Sophia had thrown up. She asked if we could come home and I told her we couldn't because we were in the ER with Nellie. She called her mom (my sister, Shelli) to help her deal with Sophia and the mess she had just made. By the time Sterling got home, at 3:00 am, James had also joined the crowd and was throwing up. What a fun weekend of sick kids!

Jan 27-28, 2012

Baby Nellie in the hospital with all the cords and IV.

Meeting Grandpa Sheffield

January 21, 2012

Nellie and I took a little field trip and went to visit Grandpa Sheffield. He was pretty taken with her. She was so little and just layed on his lap for a while.

Something about both ends of mortality in the same picture that captures my heart!


Grandpa was so cute with her. Baby Nellie stole his heart!

Nellie is Great - Grandchild number 21 for Grandpa.

Nellie's first Sunday Dinner at Papa's

We wanted to keep life as 'routine' as possible, so we went home, but not for long. We had a nap and then went to Papa's house for Sunday Dinner. All the kids wanted a turn to hold Nellie. I was a little apprehensive, but gave in.

Lily and Nellie

Shiloh and Nellie

Josh and Nellie

Sophia had to have another turn!

All the girls stuck around to see if they could squeak in one more turn. They all were so good with baby Nellie.

Brittany was able to steal the baby away from the other little girls.

Even Jimmy was brave enough to jump in to hold the baby, Kate was sure to watch him closely to make sure he did everything as he should.

Everyone is so excited for baby Nellie to be here!

Going Home

Sterling brought the kids to 'help' get the baby ready to come home. Sophia was so excited to help dress the baby. She is such a good helper!

Nellie was so small and the newborn size outfit was so big. Sophia loved helping button all the buttons and get her ready to bring home.

I didn't get a picture of all of us leaving the hospital, but it is a photo that is burned into my mind. It was such an exciting day.