Alyssa Marie

Here she is! We just got home from the hospital and are adjusting to life with 2 kids!  If you don't want the full story then just scroll down.  Most of the pictures are at the end.
Birth Story:
On Tuesday I went for my routine weekly checkup.  She hooked me up to the monitor for a stress test.  That means they were monitoring the baby's movement to see how she was tolerating being in my uterus for such a long period of time.  Everything started out great with lots of movement, then she failed the test!  They were moving my stomach all around and feeding me cookies to try to get her to move around. I was sent to the other side of Cleveland for an ultrasound, the whole time FREAKING out.  I was immediately taken back for the ultrasound and Alyssa was moving all over the place perfectly fine.  Because I was almost overdue and the longer we wait, the weaker my uterus, we decided to schedule a csection for Wednesday.  I went back to work and worked the entire day (of course...why would I go home and rest?) and Nick picked up Nicky from school to give him some extra attention on his last day as an only child.  The next morning Nick and I headed to the hospital for our 5:30am appointment.  They hooked me up and got started on the process for the csection.  While I was on the monitor, the nurse told me I was having some contractions.  Of course!! This little lady is full of drama!  She asked if I still wanted to go back or stay and labor.  "Um let's do this!  I'm not waiting another 12 hours."

"Make sure I don't have 3 chins"

"Don't make me laugh, I'm having a contraction."

Pretending like I'm not nervous

 The actual delivery was pretty much just like it was with Nick.  I wasn't as shaky with the anesthesia because I warned them and they gave me an extra blanket.  It was also "training day" because there was a nursing student in every corner.  At one point I can hear my doctor say as my stomach is cut wide open, "look here is her uterus, bladder, oh and look a fibroid!"  Seriously everyone, help yourself. I clearly don't get a chance to be shy.

 Alyssa Marie Kelley 
February 15, 2012
8:02am
7lbs 9oz
19 3/4 inches

 She came out screaming and never stopped screaming the entire time we were in the OR.  She instantly started sticking out her tongue like she was hungry.  I could hear all the nurses saying, "Wow she's ready to eat".  Sorry ladies, I'm kinda busy here. We spent a couple hours in the recovery room.  It was so much easier to have a baby in the morning rather than the middle of the night.  With Nick I was so ready to be asleep, but with Alyssa the day had just started.  The Doctor informed me that we made the right decision to have a csection because my uterus was very thin near the previous incision and the cord was wrapped around her neck 2x!  Baby girl knew she had to wait in there until they took her out so she stayed safe. 

Meeting Mommy for the first time....still screaming

"I'm hungry"

Spending time with Grandma

Daddy's girl

She instantly stops crying and just stares into his eyes

Meeting Grandma

Daddy won the first diaper change

 The second day in the hospital, Alyssa got to meet her big brother.  We waited until I was able to move around a bit more before Nicky came to the hospital.  He came down the hall with Grandma and Grandpa and all the nurses said, "Oh big brother is here!"  Word got out that I was there pretty much exactly a year ago.

"I missed you Daddy-o!"

"Who's the big brother? Me"

"What is she unwrapping?"

"What the #@*k is that?"

"Hmmm, ok put it back."

"I don't know what a sissy is, but it's not really my thing."

"Hmm, where is the button that turns it on and off?"

Giving sissy her first doll baby

"What is going on?"

"Mom, let's go home and get things back to normal."

"Let me touch her."

"uggh there are so many rules! What do you mean nice touches?"

"I don't know if I should touch."

"Come on Daddy, I wasn't going to hurt her"

"Me and Daddy"

Meeting Auntie Jess

Grandpa

Enjoying some quiet time

Twirling my hair?

Headed home

Out like a light

 Alyssa slept the entire ride through the hotel and the whole way home.  Her big brother screamed the whole time.  She is generally perfectly content just having some time to herself. That is except for 10:30-4am last night when she screamed the whole time.
We are adjusting to life at home right now.  It is definitely impossible right now to have both kids without help.  I cannot lift Nicky and it's even painful to have him on my lap.  Very grateful to have Nick at home for a week and the grandma's helping as well.  Just this evening, Alyssa was sleeping the the playpen, Daddy was napping, Grandma went to get dinner and I was alone with Nicky.  He was so hungry and grumpy and just wanted picked up.  I got down to his level and that wasn't good enough either.  Finally I just sat down in the middle of the kitchen floor and fed him a banana.  That's were grandma found us when she returned.  Can't wait to be able to move safely again.  Earlier in the evening I was sitting on the floor to play with him and had Alyssa on my lap.  He wanted to push her off so he could sit there.  This is definitely going to be a learning process.