Ellis Mae

   

    Well that pregnancy flew. It was by far my easiest and most enjoyed of the 4 pregnancies. I wanted it to slow down, I wanted to enjoy every movement I felt, and actually loved my round belly. With all of the others I was concerned over weight gain, stretch marks, and lack of mobility. With Ellis I appreciated my body and the miracle that was being created within me. This was bitter sweet pregnancy, knowing that this was my last.  It is hard to put into words my emotions.  Closing the chapter of our life where we are creating our family is a little surreal since we have been in baby making mode for 10 years (crazy,), but at the same time feeling complete and ready for new adventures in raising our family.
    We had the hardest time naming this sweet girl. Maybe because we didn't know we were having a girl until i was 32 weeks pregnant. She even frustrated the 3D ultra sound tech :) Knox was bummed but the day we found out for sure we said " its not a brother, but here is a new bike" and he was good with that. She has won him over though. She has such a gentle spirit. That doesn't mean she didn't move a ton, because she was super active, but with each child even in utero their distinct personalities were manifest. So think of this gentle girl we had several names that we liked but none that seemed to be right. Hadley, Finley, and Noa, we tried for weeks to call her by name but they didn't feel right. It wasn't until she was born that we named her Ellis Mae.

Birth Story

ugh! I didnt think I looked so swollen, but wow ! last pic pregnant :)

Surgery was set for 7:30 a.m. September 5, 2013. Bryan and I had to be at the hospital by 5:30. It went so smoothly. We showed up they were waiting for us, I went to my room put on my gown and they hooked up monitors and put in my IV. Bryan went to get himself breakfast so he wouldn't be so queasy while watching the surgery. Dr. Shull came in at 7:10 and was ready to rock and roll.  This is the first time I have had a Dr run ahead of schedule. It was fine with me we were ready to meet this sweet pea. Bryan had to stay in the hall while I received my spinal. This was the most uncomfortable spinal I have gotten. I'm blaming it on the fact that the anesthesiologist had students involved in its placement :/. Surgery started and I knew something wasn't right, in previous csections I know that I should feel a lot of pressure but no pain, in this one I felt the pressure and pain. Not super sharp pain, but pain that got worse as surgery progressed. 2 different times before Ellis was delivered they added pain meds to my IV. I heard her cry and Bry and I were in love with her. Then the Dr. Says she had two knots in her umbilical cord. One of which they call a true knot because it was tight. Then the rest is pretty blurry since the pain was so intense I started crying and my heart rate elevated they went ahead and knocked me out for the remainder of the surgery. Recovery went smoothly. We spent 4 days in the hospital. Ellis is perfect. Her pediatrician said we are so fortunate that she was a csection , ,with  the knot in the cord a vaginal birth could have killed her. I'm so very grateful she is with us and healthy. I guess only 1/800 births has a knot in the umbilical cord and it is even more rare for the cord to have 2 knots. It has been more than 10 years since my ob delivered a baby with 2 knots.
    Ellis was tongue tied and had to have her tongue clipped , not a big deal. It had hindered her nursing ability so her weight gain to get back to birth weight has been slow but steady in the right direction.  Her siblings love her! They love holding her and giving her kisses.  They are very protective and don't want others to hold her or touch her but I'm sure that will change :)

sweet Ellis

The true knot in her cord :/

Happy momma

Proud big bubba

Maryn was scared to hold her at first 

Pres was super excited and she was trying to hide her smile

Proud daddy with 4 bumble bees