Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Time Out Woes
With kids in the other room, Isaiah's hand over his mouth, and Maria making noise on my shoulder, you're probably wondering: what exactly are we saying? After all, the funny part happened a few seconds ago and now I'm trying to catch him repeating it. A little prompting was necessary.
::
Me: Who do you need?
Isaiah: Grandma P--------
Me: Why are you in time out?
Isaiah: cause
Me: Because you hit your brother with a big old stick? And what are you sitting here crying about that you need? (I love my sleep-deprived version of English)
Isaiah: Grandma D------ and Grandma P--------
Me: Oh, okay.
::
What happened before my attempted recreation? Isaiah sat in his seat wailing. After a minute of wailing, the random cries turned to more pointed statements, "I need Grandma D------. I'm in time out. Waaaaaaaaah. I need Grandma P--------. I need Grandma D------. I'm in time out. Waaaaah." That's when I grabbed the camera.
::
Recorded March 18
Monday, March 29, 2010
The Simple Woman's Daybook Volume 40
FOR TODAY ... March 29, 2010Outside my window ... It's in the high 60s and sunny!
I am thinking ... about sleep.
I am thankful for ... a healthy baby.
I am wearing ... jeans and a T-shirt. No, not regular jeans. Maternity jeans. *sigh*
I am remembering ... what it felt like to sleep.
I am going ... to return the component AV cable that I got for my iPod and buy a composite AV cable for the iPod. Of course, of course.
I am currently reading ... the UPS status of my LUSH order. It'll be here tomorrow.
I am hoping ... to get some sleep tonight.
On my mind ... I think I left my mind at the hospital ... when I delivered Morgan 8 years ago.
Noticing that ... the kids are adjusting really well to Maria.
From the kitchen ... after five weeks of meals delivered to my door (more on that later), it's finally time to cook. Jeremy said I can order but I think I can manage spaghetti for Pete's sake.
Around the house ... Baby car seat, nursing cover, burp cloth, baby blanket, jacket on the floor, couch covers in the wash, baby gym turned upside down, french fries on the floor, and a sleeping baby in her swing.
One of my favorite things ... Jeremy
From my picture journal ... this picture of my sister Valley and me was taken about 11 days ago after she delivered her daughter Amaya. Maria and Amaya are four weeks apart in age.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Cosleeping?
I've never fancied myself a granola mom who nurses every 30 minutes during the day or sleeps with her kids. But Maria has aroused something new in me. At night, I approach our bed carrying a sleeping baby, a tiny little person whose stomach moves rhythmically against me with her breathing. Usually I have to bring her to bed with me to nurse her to sleep but even when she's already asleep or has fallen asleep, I can't bring myself to put her into the bassinet! She comes to bed with me. It's good that my husband enjoys having her in bed, too, with all of her little squeaks, growls, and noises.
It's not that I oppose the family bed or ecological breastfeeding, I just never felt that they were for me. If my child was in bed with us, I couldn't sleep. And since I couldn't sleep with a child in bed with me, I couldn't participate in the part of ecological breastfeeding which calls for nursing all night (basically). For the record, I don't feel strongly one way or the other. If you sleep with your kids, good for you! If you put your kids in their own beds, good for you! If you do a combination of the two, good for you ... as long as you're getting some rest!
So with a crook in my neck, I've got a month old baby who still sleeps with me more than in her bassinet. I wake every couple of hours and offer to nurse her. I enjoy the rise and fall of her tummy pressed against my tummy. I rearrange myself slowly--roll onto my back or onto my side--without smothering her. She sleeps so much better when she sleeps with me.
The best part? I get to smell her all night long. Oh, her wonderful smell makes me weak in the knees.
How do you do it?
*And no one should get their panties all in a bunch because I said granola mom. It's not an insult. It's a compliment. You know who you are (even though I might not)!
It's not that I oppose the family bed or ecological breastfeeding, I just never felt that they were for me. If my child was in bed with us, I couldn't sleep. And since I couldn't sleep with a child in bed with me, I couldn't participate in the part of ecological breastfeeding which calls for nursing all night (basically). For the record, I don't feel strongly one way or the other. If you sleep with your kids, good for you! If you put your kids in their own beds, good for you! If you do a combination of the two, good for you ... as long as you're getting some rest!
So with a crook in my neck, I've got a month old baby who still sleeps with me more than in her bassinet. I wake every couple of hours and offer to nurse her. I enjoy the rise and fall of her tummy pressed against my tummy. I rearrange myself slowly--roll onto my back or onto my side--without smothering her. She sleeps so much better when she sleeps with me.
The best part? I get to smell her all night long. Oh, her wonderful smell makes me weak in the knees.
How do you do it?
*And no one should get their panties all in a bunch because I said granola mom. It's not an insult. It's a compliment. You know who you are (even though I might not)!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Random March Pictures
Grandpa and Grandma (Jeremy's parents) picked the three older kids up the Saturday after Maria was born to give them a fun time in another city at a special event. Jeremy's mom pointed out that each of my kids eats their corn dog differently.
Noah nibbles and takes bites here and there, picking and biting and exhibiting the manners of a five year old boy.
Madeleine eats the breading first, then the whole thing, but she'd probably rather have carrots. Morgan eats the breading and would skip the hot dog if I let her. Isaiah picks the breading off and eats the hot dog. 
Here, the kids eat ice cream (?) with Grandma at the show. 
Grandpa holds Maria while Noah attempts to entertain from behind. 
I love baby eyes. 
Morgan takes Isaiah's vital signs in the playroom/office at Grandma's house.
Noah nibbles and takes bites here and there, picking and biting and exhibiting the manners of a five year old boy.
Madeleine eats the breading first, then the whole thing, but she'd probably rather have carrots. Morgan eats the breading and would skip the hot dog if I let her. Isaiah picks the breading off and eats the hot dog. 
Here, the kids eat ice cream (?) with Grandma at the show. 
Grandpa holds Maria while Noah attempts to entertain from behind. 
I love baby eyes. 
Morgan takes Isaiah's vital signs in the playroom/office at Grandma's house.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Maria's Baptism
Kevin and Laurie are Maria's Godparents (also Morgan's and Isaiah's). 
Monsignor anoints Maria's chest.
Maria is baptized!
Laurie, Me and Maria, Monsignor, Jeremy, and Kevin. Laurie is Jeremy's sister.
Morgan, Me and Maria, Noah, Jeremy and Isaiah, and Madeleine
This is Jeremy and his sister Carrie.
Isaiah brought his sock to Monsignor (at our home afterward) and said, "My sock is off. Can you put it back on?" No job is too small for Monsignor!
He loves kids!
Isaiah knows just where to get lots of love--from someone who has been a grandma for 32 years! (That's my grandma, for those of you who don't already know.)
My mother made Maria's dress (and those of the other children).
Monsignor held Maria at our home after the baptism ... before heading to two confirmation receptions! He's a marathon runner, he is.
You can see the chrism shining in her hair. All picture credits to Jeremy's mother!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Christening
"Maria Catherine, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," said Monsignor.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Recovery
I've decided not to post many details about this cesarean recovery. Madeleine's cesarean (#2) still wins the award for quickest, best recovery. This one is down there on the list. Initially, I thought it would go well, as I didn't cry for Morphine after Day 2. Even with air trapped in my abdomen and the incision's trouble knitting, I felt pretty good. But I went into this cesarean with a cold with a deep cough and that's hard on a fresh incision. That cold went away and then I got another cold. Then pinched nerves and vertigo with cookie tossing (related to the way I sit when nursing, not having a cesarean). So you see, the story of this recovery would read more like a pity party with painkillers than a positive tale.
Just know, if you are looking toward a cesarean or looking to hear that a repeat cesarean won't kill you, it won't. You will come through it alive and you will still be alive three weeks later even though sleep is scarce and the Percocet is gone.
And I'd be happy to do it again!
Just know, if you are looking toward a cesarean or looking to hear that a repeat cesarean won't kill you, it won't. You will come through it alive and you will still be alive three weeks later even though sleep is scarce and the Percocet is gone.
And I'd be happy to do it again!
Snow!
We're having snow again! This time, we're allowed to enjoy it, appreciate it, and call it beautiful because this time, it will not sit on the ground for three months. It will inevitably melt within a couple of days. I love spring snow!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
By the Handful
Dear Jillian,
Thank you so much for the banana bread that was so delicious that Isaiah couldn't help but eat it by the handful!
Love,
The Laughing Family
Thank you so much for the banana bread that was so delicious that Isaiah couldn't help but eat it by the handful!
Love,
The Laughing Family
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Maria's Birth
Maria's story: this is birth as I know it!
Anticipating Maria's birth was both scary and exciting. Maria is my fifth child, my fifth cesarean. There were many things to be eager for: the first sight of our beloved child, first cries and cuddles. There were also many things to be frightened of: post-op pain, a complication in surgery or after, overall recovery, and the safety of future pregnancies.
Our family doctor--Dr. M--provides OB care and then the maternal-fetal specialist in our city--Dr. K--performs the actual cesarean (Dr. M is present at delivery, multi-tasking as my doctor and Baby's doctor). The combination of these two men is very comforting for me. Both are practicing Catholics with large families. I mention this because they understand and support our use of Natural Family Planning (no birth control, no sterilization) and they see each baby as a person with the right to life from the moment of its conception. We are blessed to have many pro-life doctors in our city and many doctors who have an NFP only practice.
::
We arrive at the hospital at 5:30, 2 hours before surgery is scheduled. We check in and are taken to a labor and delivery room. The nurse comes in, introduces herself, and hooks me up to fetal monitors and the lovely sound of our baby's heartbeat fills the room. The phlebotomist comes in for blood draws. The nurse prepares my body for surgery--an IV, shaving, etc. I sign waivers and releases and other papers. Jeremy signs a paper promising that he will sit quietly in the Operating Room, do what he is told, and won't try to help with nor interfere with surgery. It is quiet and we watch dawn gradually overtake night outside. Snow is falling! What a pretty morning to have a baby.
The anesthesiologist comes in to visit with me and talk about what to do. I asked Dr. M to come to our room early, just to humor me and to help my nerves. He is a comfort to me, so it is good when he arrives and sits down to visit with us about 1/2 hour before surgery. When he has been there for a few minutes, the nurse comes in and says, "Let's go have a baby!"
It's 7:15 a.m. I make one last trip to the bathroom and gather up my IV cords and pole and the nurse drapes a blanket over my back so I don't have to close my gown. We walk across the hall to the operating room. There are already four people in the room. The addition of Jeremy, me, and the nurse makes seven. An intern arrives and introduces himself. The anesthesiologist comes in (we're up to 9 now, including a couple of students) and begins setting up. The nursery nurse comes to introduce herself and says, "You look familiar. Have I delivered with you before?" She has a mask on, so I don't recognize her. Then I glance at her name badge and realize that she's a member of our parish and the mother-in-law of a good friend. I tell her this and am glad she's there.
My nurse's phone rings. It is Dr. K (the surgeon) calling to say that he is in house, which means that the anesthesiologist can begin working his magic. I'm a little nervous and I shed a few tears. Jeremy is across the room and the won't let him come over to me yet. The nurse supports me and I can feel the anesthesiologist's fingers along my spine, finding the right place to begin the spinal. He begins and it's not too bad, the poking, but then he hits a nerve and fire shoots down my left side and through my leg. I jump and exclaim, but it is gone as quickly as it came. He explains what happened and continues to work. We talk about what I think the baby will look like. I say that as long as she comes out with hair, I'll be happy.
Before I know it, there are 3 more people in the operating room, my gown has been removed, my feet are going numb, I feel warm all over, and the nurses are working on putting a catheter in. I feel a little humiliated, as there are now at least 12 people in the room and I'm the only one without clothing. My arms are stretched out in a T and there's a lot of motion in the room. Jeremy is allowed to come over and sit behind me holding my hand. It feels good to have him nearby and although I'd really like to have him closer, an arms length is better than nothing.
It's 7:30 a.m. Dr. K comes in and Dr. M is there. Everyone is cheerful and Dr. K says he's ready for a birthday party. I call him over to me and remind him that the previous cesareans have left me with pain on my inner left side which took months to become bearable. He nods and says that he'll watch carefully. The curtain goes up at my chest. The surgeons are standing at my hips but it feels like they're down at the other end of the room. The anesthesiologist tells me that I'm numb and that they're ready to get started. I say that I can feel Dr. K poking me but that it doesn't hurt. Is that normal? The doctors say it is and they begin working. I can feel--without pain--the first several steps of the surgery and I lay there thinking how weird it is. Soon I hear suction (that's the amniotic fluid) then they're tugging and pushing and tugging and then Dr. M pokes his head around the curtain, smiles, and says that Baby has a lot of hair. All of a sudden, I feel a great pulling sensation and then I feel very empty and I hear Maria cry. Jeremy and I are laughing and smiling and I squeeze his hand and tell him to go to her. It's 7:45 a.m.
Dr. M holds Maria up for me as he moves from the operating table to the warming table. He puts Maria down and begins to check her over. He and the nurses wipe her down. Someone moves the curtain so that I can see her and he holds her up again for me, then continues to work. I watch him tickle her to get her to cry. Although she's pink and had been crying, she calmed quickly and will squawk and then lay quietly, moving only a little. A nurse asks Dr. M what he guesses her weight to be. He says 7-3 and when she weighs in at 7 lbs, 2 oz, they applaud. Everyone laughs. When they are sure she's doing well, they wrap her up and hand her to Jeremy. He brings her to me and I kiss her warm face, smell her skin, and admire the full head of hair that she worked so hard on.
Dr. K leans around the curtain to tell me that he can see nothing on my left side that he thinks would cause the long-lasting discomfort and says that he's closing and will be done soon. Before I know it, the curtain comes down and the nurses are moving me from the table to a cart and into recovery. Dr. M says that he's going to take off and that he'll be back later or tomorrow morning. I nod and thank him. Dr. K says that everything looks good and that he'll check on me tomorrow.
Jeremy is holding Maria and follows me to the recovery room. She's crying, so Jeremy unwraps her and lays her on my chest. The nurses offer me water and I take oral Percocet. They push my abdomen (thank heaven that I'm still numb) and monitor my heart rate and blood pressure. As I get a little more comfortable, I tell Jeremy to go ahead and take Maria to the nursery for her bath and meet me in our room, as I should have only 10 more minutes in recovery. After he goes, the nurses call Dr. K back because my incision is bleeding on one side--not an emergency, but not a good thing, either. He puts 3 or 4 more staples in, tells them to ice it, and explains to me why this is happening. This keeps me in the recovery room for another half hour. Finally, they decide that I'm okay and wheel my cart to my room where Jeremy is anxiously waiting with the baby, wondering what took so long and a little worried.
It's 9:45 now. They move me to my bed and my new nurse comes to introduce herself, help me into a nursing bra and T-shirt, asks about my pain (I'm still numb) and is in and out watching me closely for the next couple of hours. I begin to nurse Maria, the champ who latches right away and knows just what to do. When we are settled, we pick up the phone to share our good news.
::
More later, for those moms who are wondering how recovery has progressed.
Anticipating Maria's birth was both scary and exciting. Maria is my fifth child, my fifth cesarean. There were many things to be eager for: the first sight of our beloved child, first cries and cuddles. There were also many things to be frightened of: post-op pain, a complication in surgery or after, overall recovery, and the safety of future pregnancies.
Our family doctor--Dr. M--provides OB care and then the maternal-fetal specialist in our city--Dr. K--performs the actual cesarean (Dr. M is present at delivery, multi-tasking as my doctor and Baby's doctor). The combination of these two men is very comforting for me. Both are practicing Catholics with large families. I mention this because they understand and support our use of Natural Family Planning (no birth control, no sterilization) and they see each baby as a person with the right to life from the moment of its conception. We are blessed to have many pro-life doctors in our city and many doctors who have an NFP only practice.
::
We arrive at the hospital at 5:30, 2 hours before surgery is scheduled. We check in and are taken to a labor and delivery room. The nurse comes in, introduces herself, and hooks me up to fetal monitors and the lovely sound of our baby's heartbeat fills the room. The phlebotomist comes in for blood draws. The nurse prepares my body for surgery--an IV, shaving, etc. I sign waivers and releases and other papers. Jeremy signs a paper promising that he will sit quietly in the Operating Room, do what he is told, and won't try to help with nor interfere with surgery. It is quiet and we watch dawn gradually overtake night outside. Snow is falling! What a pretty morning to have a baby.
The anesthesiologist comes in to visit with me and talk about what to do. I asked Dr. M to come to our room early, just to humor me and to help my nerves. He is a comfort to me, so it is good when he arrives and sits down to visit with us about 1/2 hour before surgery. When he has been there for a few minutes, the nurse comes in and says, "Let's go have a baby!"
It's 7:15 a.m. I make one last trip to the bathroom and gather up my IV cords and pole and the nurse drapes a blanket over my back so I don't have to close my gown. We walk across the hall to the operating room. There are already four people in the room. The addition of Jeremy, me, and the nurse makes seven. An intern arrives and introduces himself. The anesthesiologist comes in (we're up to 9 now, including a couple of students) and begins setting up. The nursery nurse comes to introduce herself and says, "You look familiar. Have I delivered with you before?" She has a mask on, so I don't recognize her. Then I glance at her name badge and realize that she's a member of our parish and the mother-in-law of a good friend. I tell her this and am glad she's there.
My nurse's phone rings. It is Dr. K (the surgeon) calling to say that he is in house, which means that the anesthesiologist can begin working his magic. I'm a little nervous and I shed a few tears. Jeremy is across the room and the won't let him come over to me yet. The nurse supports me and I can feel the anesthesiologist's fingers along my spine, finding the right place to begin the spinal. He begins and it's not too bad, the poking, but then he hits a nerve and fire shoots down my left side and through my leg. I jump and exclaim, but it is gone as quickly as it came. He explains what happened and continues to work. We talk about what I think the baby will look like. I say that as long as she comes out with hair, I'll be happy.
Before I know it, there are 3 more people in the operating room, my gown has been removed, my feet are going numb, I feel warm all over, and the nurses are working on putting a catheter in. I feel a little humiliated, as there are now at least 12 people in the room and I'm the only one without clothing. My arms are stretched out in a T and there's a lot of motion in the room. Jeremy is allowed to come over and sit behind me holding my hand. It feels good to have him nearby and although I'd really like to have him closer, an arms length is better than nothing.
It's 7:30 a.m. Dr. K comes in and Dr. M is there. Everyone is cheerful and Dr. K says he's ready for a birthday party. I call him over to me and remind him that the previous cesareans have left me with pain on my inner left side which took months to become bearable. He nods and says that he'll watch carefully. The curtain goes up at my chest. The surgeons are standing at my hips but it feels like they're down at the other end of the room. The anesthesiologist tells me that I'm numb and that they're ready to get started. I say that I can feel Dr. K poking me but that it doesn't hurt. Is that normal? The doctors say it is and they begin working. I can feel--without pain--the first several steps of the surgery and I lay there thinking how weird it is. Soon I hear suction (that's the amniotic fluid) then they're tugging and pushing and tugging and then Dr. M pokes his head around the curtain, smiles, and says that Baby has a lot of hair. All of a sudden, I feel a great pulling sensation and then I feel very empty and I hear Maria cry. Jeremy and I are laughing and smiling and I squeeze his hand and tell him to go to her. It's 7:45 a.m.
Dr. M holds Maria up for me as he moves from the operating table to the warming table. He puts Maria down and begins to check her over. He and the nurses wipe her down. Someone moves the curtain so that I can see her and he holds her up again for me, then continues to work. I watch him tickle her to get her to cry. Although she's pink and had been crying, she calmed quickly and will squawk and then lay quietly, moving only a little. A nurse asks Dr. M what he guesses her weight to be. He says 7-3 and when she weighs in at 7 lbs, 2 oz, they applaud. Everyone laughs. When they are sure she's doing well, they wrap her up and hand her to Jeremy. He brings her to me and I kiss her warm face, smell her skin, and admire the full head of hair that she worked so hard on.
Dr. K leans around the curtain to tell me that he can see nothing on my left side that he thinks would cause the long-lasting discomfort and says that he's closing and will be done soon. Before I know it, the curtain comes down and the nurses are moving me from the table to a cart and into recovery. Dr. M says that he's going to take off and that he'll be back later or tomorrow morning. I nod and thank him. Dr. K says that everything looks good and that he'll check on me tomorrow.
Jeremy is holding Maria and follows me to the recovery room. She's crying, so Jeremy unwraps her and lays her on my chest. The nurses offer me water and I take oral Percocet. They push my abdomen (thank heaven that I'm still numb) and monitor my heart rate and blood pressure. As I get a little more comfortable, I tell Jeremy to go ahead and take Maria to the nursery for her bath and meet me in our room, as I should have only 10 more minutes in recovery. After he goes, the nurses call Dr. K back because my incision is bleeding on one side--not an emergency, but not a good thing, either. He puts 3 or 4 more staples in, tells them to ice it, and explains to me why this is happening. This keeps me in the recovery room for another half hour. Finally, they decide that I'm okay and wheel my cart to my room where Jeremy is anxiously waiting with the baby, wondering what took so long and a little worried.
It's 9:45 now. They move me to my bed and my new nurse comes to introduce herself, help me into a nursing bra and T-shirt, asks about my pain (I'm still numb) and is in and out watching me closely for the next couple of hours. I begin to nurse Maria, the champ who latches right away and knows just what to do. When we are settled, we pick up the phone to share our good news.
::
More later, for those moms who are wondering how recovery has progressed.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Sacraments!
Morgan will receive her first Holy Communion in April. But first, she received the Sacrament of Penance at the end of February. I was so proud to watch her dart into the confessional and of how relieved she looked when she came out. One of her classmates asked Sister Mary Maximilian eagerly before the service began, "Sister, can we start early?"
Maria's First Five Days
These pictures are somewhat out of order. I've found that I do not have the time to arrange them properly--someone always needs something (read: baby likes to be held all the time)! So with captions below, here are the pictures of Maria's first five days of life! 
Here is the princess just a few minutes old. 
Jeremy brought her to me in the delivery room and stayed with me while I held her. 
When I was in the recovery room, we found that it was going to take quite a bit longer than in the past, so I told Jeremy it would be okay to take Maria to the nursery for her bath. 
Jeremy's parents kept the other children while we were in the hospital. They came up first, to meet their little sister. They are so proud! 
This is how Isaiah waits to hold his baby sister, or as he would say, "My Maria."
Noah is proud!
Grandpa holds Maria while Noah admires her.
Jeremy, Maria, and I pose for our first picture together. 
Jeremy's mom snapped this picture of the children on the way home from the hospital! 
Clare, Aunt Laurie--Maria's godmother--and Anderson hold Maria. 
Uncle Kevin, Maria's godfather, holds her. 
Aunt Sophie holds Maria ... 
... and Aunt Valley, who will have a new baby in a week and a half. 
Aunt Mandy came up with her daughters Delphina and Claudia, making for a room full of girls since Jeremy's mom returned with our girls at the same time. Jeremy was pretty outnumbered. 
Aunt Brianna came up with Aunt Valley. 
Grandma came up with Grandpa and Uncle Eli, but we didn't snap a picture of Grandpa, for some reason. Sorry, Dad! 
Jeremy loves it when the nursery puts a little bow on his girls. He's waited almost seven years to get bows on a baby! 
Nana came up to meet Maria. 
Grandma gives Maria a once-over with Morgan's help.
Great-great Aunt Marilue came up with Uncle Gaylord to visit. 
The kids came up again on Saturday. 
This is our first shot of the 3 girls together! We did not choose M names for all of the girls deliberately; it just turned out that way. 
My friends Staci and Sarah came up to visit. They were undaunted by the chaos of five children in the room and stayed to visit for a while! This is the beauty of having friends who have lots of kids. :) 
Ice cream kept Isaiah in one place for a little while ... mostly. 
It's a darn good thing that my grandma isn't claustrophobic because she was swarmed with kids!
:: At home ::
Morgan cuddles Maria. I can't wait until I can get the scanner/printer back online because we have a picture of Morgan as an infant doing just this--wide eyed looking over a shoulder. It looks just like Maria. 
Here is the world's best doctor, who has delivered all of our children. He's family practice, so he also cares for Jeremy and me and the children in addition to OB care. 
When you bring home a baby at the tail end of a Nebraska winter, the announcement gets posted in a 3-foot pile of snow because there's still NO GRASS SHOWING IN THE YARD.
Here is the princess just a few minutes old. 
Jeremy brought her to me in the delivery room and stayed with me while I held her. 
When I was in the recovery room, we found that it was going to take quite a bit longer than in the past, so I told Jeremy it would be okay to take Maria to the nursery for her bath. 
Jeremy's parents kept the other children while we were in the hospital. They came up first, to meet their little sister. They are so proud! 
This is how Isaiah waits to hold his baby sister, or as he would say, "My Maria."
Noah is proud!
Grandpa holds Maria while Noah admires her.
Jeremy, Maria, and I pose for our first picture together. 
Jeremy's mom snapped this picture of the children on the way home from the hospital! 
Clare, Aunt Laurie--Maria's godmother--and Anderson hold Maria. 
Uncle Kevin, Maria's godfather, holds her. 
Aunt Sophie holds Maria ... 
... and Aunt Valley, who will have a new baby in a week and a half. 
Aunt Mandy came up with her daughters Delphina and Claudia, making for a room full of girls since Jeremy's mom returned with our girls at the same time. Jeremy was pretty outnumbered. 
Aunt Brianna came up with Aunt Valley. 
Grandma came up with Grandpa and Uncle Eli, but we didn't snap a picture of Grandpa, for some reason. Sorry, Dad! 
Jeremy loves it when the nursery puts a little bow on his girls. He's waited almost seven years to get bows on a baby! 
Nana came up to meet Maria. 
Grandma gives Maria a once-over with Morgan's help.
Great-great Aunt Marilue came up with Uncle Gaylord to visit. 
The kids came up again on Saturday. 
This is our first shot of the 3 girls together! We did not choose M names for all of the girls deliberately; it just turned out that way. 
My friends Staci and Sarah came up to visit. They were undaunted by the chaos of five children in the room and stayed to visit for a while! This is the beauty of having friends who have lots of kids. :) 
Ice cream kept Isaiah in one place for a little while ... mostly. 
It's a darn good thing that my grandma isn't claustrophobic because she was swarmed with kids!
:: At home ::
Morgan cuddles Maria. I can't wait until I can get the scanner/printer back online because we have a picture of Morgan as an infant doing just this--wide eyed looking over a shoulder. It looks just like Maria. 
Here is the world's best doctor, who has delivered all of our children. He's family practice, so he also cares for Jeremy and me and the children in addition to OB care. 
When you bring home a baby at the tail end of a Nebraska winter, the announcement gets posted in a 3-foot pile of snow because there's still NO GRASS SHOWING IN THE YARD.
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