Smiles

I can not really post much because you are in my arms sleeping, but you are so cute, I had to add this photo, with a note that you are beginning to smile.  I wonder how long until your first laugh.

Easter Bunny

Jacqueline and the Easter Bunny (Aunt Kate)

And her pretending she is the Easter Bunny

Fun with the camera

While at the hospital Adam struggled to use my new fancy camera.  Sure he could use all the preset options, but he wanted to know how to really get the best photos possible of you.  So last night when you were awake and happy for a little bit we had to play around with the camera, and what can I say he is getting pretty good.  But it probably helps to have a model as cute as you.

2 Week Dr's Apt

Yeah!  You not only gained back you hospital weight you blew it out of the water! 
Weight 7lbs 4ozs
Height 21.5 inches
It is crazy to think how much you have grown in only 2 1/2 weeks.  I am so thrilled, but I can not help but wish you would stay little too.  Oh well I guess I can not keep you from growing, and growing is a good thing.  The doctor was thrilled with your progress and surprised how strong you were when she put you on your tummy and you scooted accost the table (so much fun to watch.)   Anyway it was such a relief today to know you are growing well, and healthy.  Now on to the next task: Teaching you the difference between day and night so that hopefully I can get a little more sleep.

Birthdays

Yesterday was your Great-Grandma Jackie's Birthday.  I would have wrote this then but I just never had the quiet time during the day to write it and I knew I could not write about your Grandma Jackie without crying.  I miss her, She would have loved you to pieces.  I still struggle with the fact that she never got to meet you, or your cousin Austin.  Grandpa Don and Grandma Jackie would adored both of you. They were such special wonderful people.  I was blessed to have such great Grandparents, they were devoted to God, Family and FUN!  I am sure they are somewhere in heaven watching over you. 

April is a tough and wonderful month for our family.  This month is you Uncle Jim's Birthday, Aunt Sharron's birthday, you share a birthday with Great-Great Aunt Mina then is Grandma Jackie's Birthday then Mine, the anniversary of Papa Don passing away, Grandpa Dann and Grandma Carol's Wedding anniversary and Jarred's Birthday.  I always used to joke I never got my own cake because there were too many family events in April, but the truth is it is a wonderful thing to be a part of a family that is that close that we get together and celebrate these events.  I hope that that doesn't change as the family grows and gets older and it's harder to stay close knit. 

Baptism

You were too cute not to add a photo of you in your hat today.  But really this post is just for those of you who read this blog to know that her Baptism is Sunday May 1 at Community Reformed Church.  She gets baptized at the second service, there will be a small get-to-gather in the Fireside room for family after church.

Bath Time Fun

I wish I could say you loved bath time, but the truth is you hate it.  Being unwrapped and cold both just make you unhappy.  But maybe sometime soon you will find it more fun.  At least your cord is gone so real baths can happen.

The really cute bunny towel was made by your Aunt Cheryl.  So talented she is!

11 days old

Only 11 days old and yet you have changed everything.  I can hardly remember what it was like to go to school every day and not have you here.  You are my whole world and I love you more then I even thought possible.  Your dad and I are in awe of how beautiful and wonderful you are. It has been a busy week of visitors, your first doctors apt and getting your pictures professionally taken.  There is so much I could write but inorder to type I need to not be holding you and that seems so much more important at the moment.  So I will keep this short.  I should have a link to your professional pictures in a week.  You are doing great, up an ounce at your two day doctors visit hopefully you will be up past birth weight when we go in a week.  I hope you grow up strong and healthy but I am a little sad to see you grow I just want to keep you my little peanut forever. 

Home and Happy

 

We have made it through our first night at home.  

I still cannot believe you are really here or how absolutely beautiful you are.

Arrival

You have finally arrived. And nothing will be the same again. That is both a wonderful and scary thought.


Here is your birth story.
Sunday after a long day, I went to bed and when I rolled over I thought I felt my water break.  I got up and sure enough a small gush.  So I woke up Adam and we were so giddy the whole way to the hospital.  We we brought up to Triage and the nurse checked me out although we told her what happened because I was no longer leaking she had decided that I did not break my water, but instead had an infection.  Super disappointed and very confused we headed home. 

But.. I was still having contractions.  All day Monday  the contractions were about a half hour apart until about 3 and then they were 15 mins then by 4pm we were 10 mins apart and they had gone from annoying to painful to so bad I was in tears when I called Adam at 4:30 and told him he should be on his way home from work.  We called the doctor but they said come on in, but after being sent home the night before I just did not want to go into the hospital until we were sure. By 7 there was no denying we were in labor, so back to the hospital we went.  A quick check in Triage showed we were fully effaced and 5cm dilated so we were almost instantly brought up to labor and delivery.  Thankfully an epidural soon followed.  But it also slowed down our progress so it was 4:30am Tuesday before we started to push. (At 3am in an attempt to speed up the process they decided they would break my water, which is when they discovered it really had broke the day before, it was just not a complete break.)

Pushing began great! Better then I thought it would be, and it seemed like delivery would be a piece of cake but then the minutes turned to hours.  Little Jacqueline was stuck  by a band that they thought would tear on it's own, but it didn't.  So after two and a half hours of pushing we decided to have an Episiotemy it took a few cuts with both scissors and blade to finally allow little Jacqueline to be pushed out.  After the next push her head appeared (facing up, a part of why she would not come out on her own) but the cord was wrapped around her neck.  I was told to quickly push her the rest of the way and that is when they saw the cord looped around her body too. 

The next few moments are a blur of panic in my mind, one minute she was squirming in the doctors hand then she was still and rushed to the warming lamp where they started to provide air for her with the bag.  It seemed like a very long time before we finally heard her cry.  (Adam and the nurses said the truth is she only was bagged for a minute.)  Finally my little girl was in my arms.

And now we are home.  Jacqueline Ray Meeuwsen arrived on her original due date April 5, 2011 she was 6lbs 13.3ozs at delivery and 20.5 inches long. She is the most beautiful and wonderful little baby ever.

I'll add more pictures another day.  Right now Jackie is sleeping so I am going to lie down too.