Home Again!

Yeah! Rebekah and I came home on Friday night. We weren't sure if they were going to let us both come home, just like Rachel, close to discharge Rebekah's bilirubin levels were high. Fortunately, the fact that I'm a nurse and my pediatrician's office is open on Satudays and Sundays, convinced the hospital neonatologist to let me manage the jaundice from home with Rebekah's pediatrican.

Friday night we overdid it, my eyes are usually bigger than my stomach and I think I'm invincible. 4 kids and a fresh c-section incision don't make for easy living! Regardless, we're doing well, short of sleep and still sore from surgery, we are on our road to recovery.

Rebekah has a bili-blanket at home to help chase the jaundice away. Her levels are coming down and I think we've turned the corner (very quickly compared to Rachel). My incision is feeling better and I don't think I've even had to take any pain medication today.

We're diligently working on breastfeeding, doing much better this pregnancy than Rachel as well. I'm looking forward however in a few months to getting a full nights sleep, I think last night I got 4 hours total (divided between midnight and 9 am) and the night before about the same. The things we do for our children.....

Anyway, despite all of that, we are grateful for a big family that loves each other, grateful that I have hours at night to give up to bond with my baby, a job that pays me for maternity leave and most of all, a husband who works very hard to make it all turn out!

Babies are a miracle and Rebekah, just like the previous 3 have strengthened my testimony. To know that Billy and I are loved enough to be entrusted with another sweet spirit is awesome.

We will take some pictures tonight and post them of the newest addition. Emma, Liam and Rachel are eager to get their hands on her. Liam and Rachel are both sick, so they haven't been able to spend much time with her. We'll post more pictures later with the kids when they're healthier and not risking making Rebekah sick.

Much love to all of you who sent good wishes and prayers our way....time to get back to the baby, it's feedin' time!

3 Days Left.....and Counting

Three days from this moment, I will no longer be pregnant and will have one more little girl to chase after (or should I say, Billy will have one more girl to chase after). Rebekah Ashton Martin will arrive on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at approximately 8:00 am. Although looking back, it seems this pregnancy flew by, from day-to-day, it seemed like an eternity. For anyone reading this blog, it's really hard being old and pregnant! It's hard to believe that our family will be one larger in but a few days.

Friday was my last day at work and I can hardly believe that I won't be working for another 42 days.....I've never taken that much time off in my entire life.

To prepare for Rebekah's arrival, the whole family is nesting (because I'm making them). We are dusting, vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms and getting things ready so that I can bring our new arrival to a clean home! Billy asked me this morning if I had taken crystal meth, I guess the adrenaline is flowing and the energy is abundant, despite limited sleep. A clear sign that the pregnancy is coming to a close. Despite the energy and nesting instinct, I'm trying to take it easy today, my doctor is out of town on Saturday and I wouldn't be a happy girl if some stranger did my c-section.

It's a dreary, wet day in Las Vegas, I hope that it goes by quickly so that I am just one day closer. I am looking forward to bonding with my new little girl, having my body back and beginning the road to recovery from fat, pregnant girl to skinny woman. I have no excuses to stall this time since there will be no further pregnancies in our future (tubes are being tied!!!).

To anyone reading this, love and prayers are appreciated. We are hoping that there are no complications and that Baby Rebekah doesn't follow her older sister's example (Rachel) and end up in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for a short time while in the hospital.

Posted by Shelly