Welcome Home Elliott

Hello All,

Well, the wait is over! Elliott is here and is healthy. She was born on November 13th at 10:37 AM. She weighed 8.5 pounds and is 21 and 1/2 inches in length.

I started having contractions Friday morning around 3 AM and we went to our regularly scheduled doctor appointment that Friday. She sent me to labor at home as long as possible. That Friday night we went to the hospital around 9 PM and the fun began. All night Friday I was in labor and Friday morning we tried to push for almost 3 hours. It was discovered that Elliott was head down but was face up and pushing was causing her heart rate to drop. So, we were rushed to do a c-section. I lost a lot of blood and required a transfusion of 3 bags of blood. That was done on Sunday and by Monday I felt better. Elliott was born with myconium and had to be in the nursery for most of the day on Saturday. Her sugar levels were unstable, so they were working on that as well. She was fine by Saturday night.

We left the hospital on Tuesday afternoon and have been at home trying to get a routine and keep up with the feedings, diapers, laundry, etc. Elliott really is a sweet baby and is doing great! We are supplementing with formula because she has such a big appetite. Like father like daughter, right? She of course sleeps most of the day and night. Shaun is a great daddy and king of the swaddle. I am in charge of feeding and diaper duty.Our church family has been great to respect our boundaries and privacy. They are also bringing us meals and have been such a blessing.

I will be posting pictures soon, but until then, just know that we are all okay and working very hard to get settled.

Thanks for your prayer and support. We need it!

Waiting Game

Hello Friends and Family!

Well, I am sorry to say that there is no news to report as far as Elliott watch is concerned. We are going to the Dr. in the next few days to check in and see if there have been any changes. Other than that, it is just a matter of waiting..... and waiting!

I think that I worked my last weekend service this past Sunday. Shaun is planning on continuing to work on Sundays until she comes. Sundays are just too hard on me at this point. I still work throughout the week and have meetings and appointments, but I plan to not be there this Sunday and hopefully Elliott will come next week or the next!

I've have gotten all my Christmas decorations out and plan to have the house decorated by the end of the week. Usually I set everything up the day after Thanksgiving and Shaun does all the outside lights that day. But, we are hoping that we will be learning to care for a newborn by that time this year, so we are preparing everything now.

I am also cooking and freezing side dishes for Thanksgiving dinner day and have ordered a smoked turkey this year so I think that Thanksgiving dinner will be covered. We are excited to have a couple of friends staying with us over the holiday so that we don't have to spend it alone and we can spend the time at home instead of trying to get out. They also get to help us with Elliott!

It finally feels like fall here on the Coast. High temps are in the 60-70's and lows are in the 50's. So, it is beautiful! We have been walking the pups a lot and keeping the windows and doors open to allow the cool air into the house. I love it when we get to this season. This is about as cold as we will get throughout the entire winter. It is still humid, but much more bearable than August!

I'll keep everyone informed if we have any news to share! Thank you for your prayers and support!

Jessica

Photos

Hello All!

Our friend Heather sent me some of our photos from our maternity shoot. Her hard drive crashed, so there is a chance that the rest of the photos may not be redeemed. The photos came at a really good time. I have been so tired and tired of being preggo. I LOVE her work and her. She is going to be taking Elliott's first photos as well, whenever that day comes!

People are so weird when it comes to being around pregnant women! Note to complete strangers: it is NEVER appropriate to tell a very pregnant woman that she is huge, big, and/ or ready to pop. Neither is it appropriate to try to touch a pregnant woman's belly, especially if you do not know her! Additionally, dear well meaning complete stranger, do not begin to tell a very pregnant woman on how she can induce labor by having sex and then describing how that method worked for you and your partner!

We went to the Dr. today and still there are no changes. The Dr. will not even talk about induction steps until after November the 14th, so until then...... we wait. And.......we wait!

Elliott could be quite the large baby if she decides to stay cooking until 14th or later. She should be about 8 pounds on Sunday, so she could be 9 pounds by delivery! Yikes!!! But, we are grateful that she is healthy and are ready to meet her.

Thanks for the encouragement and support!

Jessica, Shaun, and Elliott!