Day 15 (2 weeks old)

Day 14

Day 13

Day 12

Day 11

Day 10

Day 9

Charlotte's "room"

We only have a 2 bedroom apartment, so I had to be creative making a little baby girl area for Charlotte in our bedroom. She will probably be staying in our room with us for the next year, or once Jude moves into a toddler bed. Don't think that's going to happen anytime soon.

Anyways, The cribette (it's bigger than a bassinet and smaller that a crib) is from my mom. It's like forty years old. Henry and Jude both slept in it. I put a fresh coat of paint and tightened att the screws and such.

I had to make her sheets because they don't make sheets that size. I also made her bumper pad.

The dresser is from my mom also, that was in tough shape. I threw a couple coats of paint on it and bought new drawer pulls. The mirror is from a church yard sale that I got for $1.50, again threw a fresh coat of paint and looks like new.

I made the basket liners and changing pad cover to match her sheets. Easy enough that I can make new ones to change out whenever I get board of that pattern. It's very summery. Already thinking about what colors I might use for the fall. It's so much cheaper than buying them at the store, plus it's one of a kind.

We have absolutely no closet space and I wanted to hang up Charlotte's dresses so I came up with the idea of using a coat rack that I got from our old church. I painted it and added more hooks so I had enough space to hang her clothes. It actually came out cute and it looks a little boutique like out on display. Man, girls are so much fun.

But I also like to make things nice for my boys. I am looking forward to decorate the boys room when we get their bunk beds.

I still have some things and ideas I want to do for Charlotte's "room". I'll post when something new is added to the space.

That's that.

Day 8 (1 week old)

It's hard to believe a week has gone by since we've been blessed with this sweet baby girl. Today was actually the day I was scheduled to have my c-section.

Charlotte slept for 6 hours last night. Man, this girl is amazing. Hopefully tonight she will continue with her sleep cycle. I will try to enjoy it while it lasts. Let's hope I get some sleep tonight.

Day 7

Day 7 was a good day. Not too eventful. Charlotte did have another sponge bath, seemed to like it a little better. She did lots of staring at different objects. She really likes to stare at her winnie the pooh she got from her future God parents. I love the glare she gives in the picture above. She seems very suspicious of that big yellow bear.

She also likes to feel the elephant blanket toy thingy that my friend Sonya gave her.

A couple from our church who is also a part of our "small group" (kind of like a bible study group) brought us a delicious meal tonight. We are lucky, for the next 4 nights different couples are providing us with meals. It is so nice. I never had that when I had my other babies.

I went to my doctor's appointment today and I am just waiting to hear the results on my blood tests. They think it could be a couple different things that might be going on with me. I am still in a lot of pain, but I'll tell ya it's worth it and I'll do it again to be blessed to have such amazing babies.

That's about all I have for today.

Day 6

Day 6 was very eventful for miss Charlotte. She had a couple firsts, first bath and first outing to Walmart. Charlotte hated her bath. She screamed the whole time. As you can see in the picture above the smile on her face when we took her out.

Walmart was kind of crazy. She was actually awake the whole time and wanted to be held. Jude was his crazy self and there were lots of nasty people there. We survived. I just know now that I will not be able to go shopping during the day without Jason for a while.

In the evening from about 5-10pm she had a couple cat naps. No four hours at a time anymore. Around 9pm Charlotte screamed for about an hour. Nothing was helping her. I fed her 2 hours earlier so she shouldn't have been hungry. It's funny how much you forget to increase their formula and such especially after having two kids. I feel like a new mom again.

Anyways, I looked online about how much I should be feeing her, come to find out I pretty much have been starving my daughter. So I gave her a bottle while I sent Jason to the store to get some gasx because I felt like she was having gas problems. I also switched her bottle from the ones the hospital gave me to the ones I use. I think the combination of more food, gasx and a better slower flow bottle helped. She was burping much better and pooped up a storm.

Not to mention that she slept for 7 hours!!!!!!! I couldn't believe it. She fell asleep around 10pm and woke at 5:15. Good for her bad for me. I was awake all night in so much pain. The healing process is not going so well. I actually just called my doctor's office to be seen today. I just can't take it anymore. By now I should be getting better not worse. I'll keep you posted how it goes.

Day 7 should be interesting. You never know what the day will bring.

Day 5

We survived the first night at home. Charlotte was amazing. She eats every 4 hours which is perfect. Jason does her midnight feeding and I do her 4am feeding. One of the perks of not breastfeeding is that I get help. She falls right back to sleep so we are only up for 20 minutes max.

Charlotte had her first doctor's appointment on monday. Jason took her. They actually had to send her back to the hospital for more tests for her jaundice. It went up a couple points but hopefully in a couple days she will get better as long as she eats and poops.

All she does is sleep. I try to keep her up for a while to play but she falls right back to sleep. I guess I should enjoy the sleep while it lasts because I know it won't in a couple weeks.

We are very excited about her Michigan grandparents coming to visit this weekend. It's perfect timing, I will be feeling much better by then (hopefully) that way I can enjoy maybe a couple day trips and such.

I forgot how painful the recovery stage is after a c-section. They told me that the more c-sections you get the harder it is to recover. Jason has been so amazing (as usual). It's really nice having him home. I will be so sad when he goes back to work.

Day 4

Day four was a big day for Charlotte. She finally left the hospital to be home with her brothers (whom by the way love their sister).

I was happy to get out of the hospital. Although the pain meds are much better there.

Charlotte lost some weight she left the hospital weighing 6lbs 9 oz. She is a bit jaundice so I had her out in the sun for a bit. She seemed to like it.

All she does is sleep. It's funny how much I forget everything. It's like being a mom for the first time again and I only did this a year and a half ago. She is drinking more formula so hopefully she will gain some weight.

She definitely has blue eyes and her hair is getting much lighter. I think in the end she'll be a strawberry blonde. Her doctor thinks she'll be blonde. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

No matter what color her hair will be in future, I'm sure she will be gorgeous. Even with blue hair. (I secretly wish she will end up with brown like her mommy.

Charlotte had many visitors her first day home. Her future God parents, Uncle Michael and Aunty Susan, her Aunty Kristen and Uncle David, her Uncle Michael, and of course her Grandma and my friend Laurene. Several people greeted us when we drove into the driveway.

We are so lucky that my brother Anthony his wife Lisa and Martina made us dinner that night. It was actually the first full meal that I've eaten since I had Charlotte.

Henry and Jude just love Charlotte. Henry is of course loving and gentle with her and Jude just laughs at her. Jude loves that she has a binky. He actually stole one from her and won't give it back. It's funny to see him with such a small binky in his mouth.

The pink dress she has on is her going home from the hospital outfit. She looked so precious in it. I loved the bonnet that goes with it. It was so huge on her that it was so funny when I put it on her.

We are glad to be home sweet home.