Time to go home...

We had wonderful staff to take care of us at the hospital, but there really is no place like home. The pediatrician cleared Ariana to go home, and so we opted to head home after a 24 hour stay following our delivery. We enjoyed a quiet morning in our hospital room on Sunday, May 15th & then we packed up and took home our new baby.

Ariana Rose - 1 day old

Taking home beautiful flowers along with our little Rosebud

Ready to go home

Waiting for our ride

Buckled in and ready

After an afternoon nap, my parents brought dinner over for the evening and Curt & Robbe stopped in to see Ariana. Now it's time to adjust to a new family of 4! John will take the next 2 weeks off to stay home. Even though we had to wait for this little girl to arrive, the timing really worked out great. My parents got home from their visit to MN to help with Elise; we got to take part in all the special activities at Elise's preschool; and we were in the hospital over the weekend so that my parents & John didn't have to use extra time off as well. God is good. Our hearts are full. Welcome to our home, Ariana - you are a gift we have prayed for & now rejoice at your arrival.

Introducing Ariana Rose Brandenburg

Once we got settled in our room at the hospital, we called Elise to see if she wanted to come and meet her new baby sister. She was eager to come to the hospital - and my parents said that she was just giddy on the ride to see us. On Friday night as they were awaiting news, Elise found an extra chocolate Easter bunny and asked if she could have it - and my mom said that once the baby was born, she could eat the bunny. When she woke up Saturday, she got the news that her new baby sister was born and her first response was, "Can I eat the chocolate bunny?" The chocolate bunny got to come along to the hospital, and she enjoyed it with us there.

Elise meets her new sister for the first time

Delighted to hold her little sister

First kiss

Meeting Grandpa Ron

Grandma June & her granddaughters

A Birth Day cake to celebrate Ariana's arrival

Enjoying her chocolate bunny

Holding uncle Curt's hand

The waiting is finally over...

On Friday, May 13th I had an 8:30am appointment at my doctor's office, and when she came in to see me she said, "What are you doing here? Why aren't you being induced today? Who saw you last?" I explained that I had just been in on Wednesday and had an ultrasound and my amniotic fluid was good, the placenta was still working properly and the baby's heartbeat was strong, and that I preferred to wait as long as there was no risk to myself or the baby. So - she promptly said, I will make you an appointment to come in Monday morning and we'll break your water and get your labor started.
Elise came with me, and we got home and decided to go for a walk to the duck pond and playground. It was a hot and sticky day already, and so on our way home we decided to pull out the pool and I would let Elise cool off with a litle dip in the pool.

Enjoying the tire swing

I made us some sandwiches for lunch and we sat out on the patio to enjoy. I got up to check on Elise in the pool and noticed that my skirt was wet...and I thought, I am sitting on the patio chair and I'm nowhere near the water, why is my skirt wet? Then, I looked under my chair and there was a huge wet spot, and I quickly concluded "OK, my water just broke." It was 1pm.  I called John and he said he was on his way home; next I called my mom at work & she said she was on her way to help with Elise. Then, I called the hospital to let them know & they said to come on in. I sent out a text, "my water just broke...and so it begins." It was finally time to have a baby.

Cooling off in the pool

Getting settled in our delivery room

We checked in to the hospital around 2:30pm, and got settled into our delivery room in the newly remodeled maternity ward. My L&D nurse at check-in was just delightful & she was so accommodating and good at making me feel comfortable. My contractions didn't really start getting regular until around 6pm. They also checked and I had no idea this happens sometimes, but I had a second membrane of water that they broke in the hospital. I was afraid that things would start getting really painful really quickly, so by 9pm I had my epidural & a pitocin drip and was feeling great. We dozed from 9:30pm - 2:30am, and labor was progressing, but slowly. At 2:30am, I was at 8cm, and had been laying on my side so the epidural can sometimes drain to one side with gravity, and I was feeling a lot more than I should have. I pumped on my epidural cord & by 3pm I was once again very numb and happy. Around 4am, we called my CNM, Jan Smith & got ready to meet our little girl. I pushed through 3 contractions and our second daughter, Ariana Rose arrived at 4:33am on Saturday, May 14th, 2011. She was 7lbs 11oz & 20.25" long. The waiting was finally over and our little girl was here! We are so grateful to God for a safe delivery and a healthy little girl.

Arrived on May 14th at 4:33am - 7 lbs 11 oz & 20.25"

New baby minutes old and very alert.

Adoring our sweet Ariana

First bath

Jan Smith, CNM - she delivered Ariana & is a gem!

Darling girl - she looks just like her big sister, Elise

Special Week at Preschool

In many ways, God has orchestrated our days. With my due date here and gone - I have felt like a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. Elise had several special days planned for the week of May 11-12th; her Spring recital for dance class and a special day of music with moms in her classroom, and a year end picnic as a class. I prayed about these events all week & asked God to let me be there for Elise so that she wouldn't feel left out. God is good - we were able to attend all three!

The recital was very cute, however, our little ballerina just wasn't feeling "it". She didn't want to wear her tutu or her pretty pink veil...so we just went without. These are the days that come and go with a 3 (almost 4) year old. Her dance teacher was so sweet and just wanted the girls to have fun. Of course later that afternoon after the recital Elise was happy to do all her dances for us here at home - go figure!

Spring Ballerina

All the moms got to visit the classroom and make a butterfly project as well as enjoy some angel food cake, fresh strawberries and vanilla pudding. They have been studying the ocean and animals that live there & the video attached is a little dance they did for us - darling. Elise has loved her teachers this year and we are amazed at how much she knows.

Music with Mom - we made a pretty butterfly

Here we are enjoying our picnic indoors....

Year End Preschool picnic (indoors because of a wet playground)

Mother's Day Weekend 2011

I had high expectations that I would be holding a newborn in my arms this weekend, but she and God have different plans. I am now 1 week past my due date and we are still waiting for this little one to arrive. Even so, it has been a wonderful weekend. On Friday Elise and I went to a birthday party for her friend, Kate, and in the evening John brought home yummy Donato's pizza and a movie for us to enjoy.

On Saturday we spent the whole day outside with absolutely beautiful warm, sunny weather. Elise and I watered our garden & flowers, and then spent several hours detailing our Jeep. I even shampooed all the carpets and floor mats - it is a joy to drive and it shines! We grilled out in the backyard & John and Elise put together beautiful flower bouquets to place all over the house for me to enjoy for Mother's Day. They are stunning - and from our knock-out rose bushes. I got to relax and read a good book before falling asleep.

Beautiful roses!

Today (Sunday) I woke up and had a wonderful cinnamon coffee cake breakfast with my dear John and sweet Elise, and then we got ready and went to church. After the service, we came home and again I was blessed with a delicious grilled steak, Dean & Deluca's house salad & delicious dessert. I am very blessed & it has been such a relaxing, wonderful day with my little family. Thank you, Lord, for all these good things from your hand.

Smelling the roses

41 weeks...how much longer before she arrives?

Chocolate dome cake...yum.

My fun Mother's Day gift from Elise...a ring!

Playing with the settings on our camera...enjoying the back patio

Happy John

Well, I must sign off - my Mother's Day is not yet complete & we are now heading out for an evening walk. Our outdoor temp in the heat of the day read 91.6 - but I'm sure that must have been in direct sunlight...it is now a beautiful evening with a great breeze.

This past week was a little different as I would wake up each day wondering if it was going to be "the day." Mom and Dad left late Thursday night for MN to spend a week there attending my cousin, Cari's wedding & see Josh, Debi & baby Jesper & get some things done in Mt. Lake at the farm. They return this next Wednesday...we'll see if the baby will wait for them to return? I feel a bit like I've become a professional text messanger. Family and friends have been checking in all week for a baby status...I feel very loved and excited that everyone is sharing in this waiting adventure with us. I keep assuring them that we will be sure to let them know when something is happening.

So...we continue our waiting game. I have an appointment scheduled for Tuesday afternoon where they will do an ultrasound and stress test to check the baby and determine next steps. As of my last appointment, my blood pressure is great, baby's heart rate is strong and I feel lots of good movement for the baby, too. So no medical concerns at this point, and we will let her come when she's ready. Until then...

Lots of walking

Monday was a fun day. We visited with our friends/neighbors Heather & Emma Grace & went over to the pond in the next neighborhood to feed the turtles and ducks & play on their playground a bit. Then, when John got home from work, we had dinner on the patio & went for another walk in the evening. These are such gorgeous days...and we're trying to stay active as we wait for our little baby to arrive.

Perfect Rock for sitting

Feeding the turtles

silly

Elise was bathed and it really was past her bedtime...but we took her on an evening stroll & let her watch a DVD on the laptop as a "wind-down"

Only in pregnancy...sporting a sundress with walking shoes.

May 1st

40 Weeks

Well, my due date has come and gone...

I keep telling my friends that I feel like an alarm clock waiting to go off. We are excited to meet this little one, and see what she looks like. I had 3 pretty strong contractions between 3:30-4:00am on Sunday morning (May 1st) and I thought for sure this was the start - so I woke John up, and told him. Then, I got up and did my nails & was ready to do my hair and everything - but I didn't have anymore activity, so I went back to bed and we went to church & had a relaxing afternoon. Again, early Monday morning around 2am (May 2nd) I felt another contraction, but nothing consistent...so we continue to wait!