The Condensed Scoop

Last weekend half way on our walk to play on the slide my water broke. Maelee would have been heart broken if we didn't slide a few so we finished our walk, she played on the slide and made it to the hospital by 8pm. Charles was born a little after midnight. Approximately 4 hours of labor with 6 minutes of pushing compared with Maelee's 18 hours of labor and 1 hour of pushing.

I had tested positive for Strep B so they wanted to "keep me pregnant" for as long as possible to run the penicillin through the IV for the baby. It all happened so fast I had gotten a rising fever throughout delivery and Charles came out with one himself. That added with the positive Strep B test and him breathing too fast they swooped him away to the observation nursery 10 minutes after he was born. We knew Charles needed a priesthood blessing and despite it being 12:30am in the morning my sweet brother in law came to the hospital dressed in a white shirt and tie to help Frank give Charles a blessing. His breathing slowed and his fever along with mine went away. Later we found out that the placenta was infected with Strep B on both mine and the babies side of it but both of our blood cultures came back clean of any infection. Truly a miracle and Heavenly Father's hand in our lives. We are thankful to all be home together and figuring out how to be a family of 4.

Maelee came to visit us in the hospital for the first time opened the door and started telling me how much she missed me and loved me - all the while keeping her eyes dead locked on the bundled Charles in the hospital baby bed. She walked right over pointed to Charles and matter of factly said "that's baby Charlie." She spent the rest of that visit and her next couple of the stay at the hospital yelling at Charles to "WAKE UP" and "OPEN YOUR EYES." Still a week later whenever she sees his eyes are open she squeals with joy "eyes are open, hi Charlie!"

So to sum up our shortened week after coming home from the hospital: Maelee is busy building houses, beds, chairs, and swimming pools for her "peoples," "Sesame's" and dinosaurs, Charles is busy sleeping and eating, my perfume of choice is spoiled milk, and Frank is doing a great job at keeping us all happy and helping lots when he is home from work.

{This pictures shows what camera angles can do, he looks huge for a 7 pound baby. Poor guy got an IV and circumcised in the same day}

{Frank, Maelee, and Charles. Frank only looks a little tired right?}

{One of our first family pictures}

{The mama M&M, dinosaurs, and Sesame's taking a nap in their house}

PS - Charles is perfect, handsome, and looks just like his Dad if you ask me. Maelee is very sweet to her little brother. Frank and I both have amazing families who provide lots of love and support to us. Our friends are pretty great too. Thanks to all our hospital visitors, dinner bringers, offerers of help, etc. We feel very blessed.