Bella's new blog.

It's official although I do not plan to migrate this blog to that one, this one isn't going anywhere. It's an archive, if you will, of my pregnancy with Isabella and the new blog takes over from birth. We hope you'll join us there.

http://isabellamichele.com


We hope you'll join us there.

inability to blog is driving me nuts!

so, i plan to find a blog site i can get to while at childrens and use that for the time being.

Free WiFi stinks!

At Abbott, where I was on bedrest and gave birth to little Bella, I could blog. At Children's, where I am staying with Bella until she is released to home, I cannot blog. It drives me nuts how some sites are blocked and others aren't, simply depending on where you are. Oi!

So, we're a bit behind on the blogging and so much has happened in the past 7 days since Isabella was born. I've done my best to update at least a bit using facebook and fertility friend, but it just isn't the same.

Here are some pictures that I snagged from my mom's camera that she took on and since Bella was born... to make up for my lack of blogging until I have a reliable connection in order to catch up? Or just something to look at.

A few minutes after they rushed me back to the OR.

Bella still wearing her hat from Abbott.

Finally got over to NICU to see her again.

Such a sweet little thing.

Blake meets Bella. 

Today also marks The beginning of Isabella's second week with us and I can't let that go unacknowledged. I am going to have a lot of pics and posting to make up for I know, it's just hard to do in a hospital with silly WiFi policies.

Bella's first day.

She came into the world at 1:17 am after a fairly simple labor and an even easier delivery. Although when you hold back pushing when you *really* need to for 8 minutes waiting on the NICU team to get there, it shouldn't take much pushing. I've never tried to cross my legs in labor before. (OMG)

She tried to breath on her own right away, but being so small and early she still had the plugs in her nose and throat. Once they got her all suctioned though, she took her first breath and has been breathing great since then. She's staying at Childen's in the NICU until we know for sure what she'll need in terms of surgery and so on. As far as the cardiologists are concerned, Bella calls the shots and the steps they take are based on how she's doing with daily life. Both the cardiac and NICU doctors are pleased with how well she's doing so far. So are we.

Today has been a HUGE day for all of us. Having and greeting Bella, trying to keep ourselves from crashing but at the same time trying to make sure we're meeting with doctors, I'm pumping to feed her and we're eating and resting enough. Believe it or not, that is NOT a simple task. Oi! So far, I believe we've done okay and I hope we're able to continue to do okay or better.

Isabella got to meet her most of her siblings today and she got to hold her grandma as well. I think they all enjoyed the time spent whether our faces reflect it or not. :p

As for Bella's heart, she still has HRHS, Tricuspid Atresia and VSD. However she shouldn't require surgery in the very near future. It sounds like surgery is a good month or so off, which for the stage 1 surgery is good. The cardiologist told me that they're happy with how she's doing and if anything her heart working too well cycling too much blood back to the lungs for oxygenation.

Overall, she will still need surgeries and she is 7 weeks premature, but I think we have a little fighter on our hands and for that, I am thankful.

As for me, I had a 2 hour nap this morning, met with my doc and her docs pumped for her, took a 4 hour nap and then introduced siblings. I am still feeling exhausted, but I am giving myself a break on that since I just gave birth today. I think aside from waking up to pump I am going to try for a full night of sleep. Once we discharge from Abbott it's to Children's we go until Bella is also discharged. I have *no* idea when that will be, but I am okay with that until we know exactly what she will or wont need.

Welcome to the world Isabella baby!

Isabella Michele Anderson born at 33 weeks gestation on May, 23rd 2011 at 1:17 am. She weighs 4 lbs 7 oz and is 17.5 inches long. 

I will post her birth story after some much needed rest, but to tide you over, here are some pictures of our precious new baby girl. 

How can it go from a sure thing, to nothing?

When  you're at a hospital good enough to stop your labor *every* time. Uhg.

I am still pregnant and not even contracting anymore. 26 days here. I am still looking forward to 34 weeks and I still don't think that I will make it that far... but, yeah, sorry about the false alarm.

sounds like delivery today

i will post more when i can

Busy morning already!

I woke up with a lot of the symptoms from yesterday back in my face after only 3 hours of sleep. This time they were concerned enough to call the Peri in, apparently she's reviewing my info and Bella's info before she talks to me?

I don't know, but I know the nurse used c and section together in succession and in a sentence.. I'm hoping she was referring to another patient though. >.<

Okay, so we've got an IV, we've got a CBC drawn, I've now seen the Peri... they think it might be today. They said there is definitely "something" going on. They're starting IV antibiotics as well and I've been on the monitor for two hours straight now. They weren't liking what they were seeing with Bella's heart rate.

I will update when I know more.