Introducing Emma

Hello world, Ken here.  I’m taking over the author duties for this post at Julie’s request.

So when Julie was pregnant with Isaac, she suffered through psoriasis, and it was miserable.  This time – only the tiniest trouble with the skin affliction.  Instead, the medical folks kept “tisking” their disapproval every time they checked her blood pressure.  It culminated on Monday, January 6 when we went for a regular 39-week visit.  The first reading was unusually high.  Visions of lawsuits immediately began dancing in the heads of the medical staff, and they wanted to send us to the hospital immediately for tests and probable induction.  Never mind the fact that about 45 seconds later the blood pressure had dropped to an almost-normal level.  We compromised and went to the lab for some blood work which came back – you guessed it – completely normal.  The doctors were a little stressed out; the only thing we were stressed about was the doctors!

So, no baby on the 6th.  Or the 7th, because Julie really wanted to go see Mark’s play (see last post for that story.)  But on the 8th, we were scheduled for an induction and ready to go.  We woke up early, my Mom came to watch the kids, and we headed off to drive through this:

It’s a good thing she wasn’t really in labor!  It took a little longer than normal to get to the hospital, and we passed three or four cars that had slid off the road.  We were grateful not to be one of them!

After six kids, we finally remembered to get a profile picture of a pregnant Julie.  Ta-da!

A few hours later – presto!  The doctor and nurses were so excited to find out what we were having and there was a chorus of “it’s a girl” when she arrived at 12:39 pm.  She was 7 lbs. 4 oz. and 20 inches long.   Isn’t she beautiful? The kids loved watching her get her first bath.

They also picked out the color for her hair bow.  It was unanimous.  (No question where sports loyalties lie in this house!)

We had three names picked out: Elizabeth, Emma, and Lily and by day two she had her name official name of Emma, and her nickname of Emmalily.

We had lots of visitors, and it was just delightful to have friends and family come to celebrate Emma’s arrival.

 

Neil was especially careful not to spread any germs.

And sometimes a hospital room is a little … boring.  Fortunately these were big enough to provide opportunity for adventure!

Neil and I came to the hospital to bring Emma home.  She looks so tiny in her car seat.  Neil was so excited to show her the little toy. And it hardly took any time to get settled in at home and back to “normal.”