Life has a funny way of keeping you on your toes. We all know that I love to plan, so to be told that my baby could be coming two weeks before my scheduled c-section was just not what I had in mind. After my routine non-stress test a week ago today, Dr. Roth wanted me to stick around for another hour so she could compare notes with a high risk doc at the hospital. It didn’t dawn on me that the ball had started rolling until she told me not to eat anything. Period. She thought it could be as early as Tuesday.

I took the train home that night in a total blur. The gist was that it appeared Ella wasn’t getting all she needed from me, and they were trying to determine whether she’d do better inside of me or outside of me. So Monday night, Auntie Em came over and we ordered sushi and had a “last supper” of sorts.

The next morning, about five seconds after Vann walked out the door to go to work, Dr. Roth called and said it was go time. We had to be there by noon.

NOON???? We had no childcare for Charlie (who was still sick, by the way, so I couldn’t obviously drop her off at a friend’s house), I had no bag packed, and our apartment looked like a garage sale had exploded in it. Nothing was done to prepare! Turns out procrastination bit me in the, well, you know.

The good news is that God showed up in a big way. We paid a co-pay through Pepsi to have a caregiver sent to the house to watch Charlie. We had just enough time in the AM (after all the phone calls, facebook-updating, etc.) to pack up and throw everything we’d need in the car, and when we found out that we’d gotten there a little early, walked down Michigan Avenue to hunt down the locket I had finally decided on. It was so fun to be doted on by my sweet hubby and the locket is BEAUTIFUL and just what I wanted.

Fast forward hours later and I’m strapped to the table, lower body numbed from the spinal tap they gave me, and trying really hard to just remain calm even though my whole body wanted to crawl outside of itself. The anesthesiologist said, “Ok, Amanda, you’re going to feel some pressure, like an elephant is sitting on your chest…” and I also heard Dr. Roth say, “Come here, you little squirt!” and all of a sudden, the pressure lifted and I heard the sweet, sweet sounds of my little girl’s cry. Tears rolled down my cheeks and I closed my eyes and took deep breaths…in and out.

Now, almost a week later, Baby Ella is here and I can’t imagine our lives without her. She’s like a mini-Charlie, even makes the same face when she cries. She has a bit more hair on top than Charlie did (C had a bit of a mullet) and has the sweetest little nose and lips you’ve ever seen. The name: we’d always known we wanted to use Monroe, a family name (and my Dad and older brother’s middle name), and Ella I just loved. I think it’s sweet and girly and she has settled quite nicely into it.

Breastfeeding is going well…I have had some pain and it’s super tedious at times, especially in the middle of the night. I keep telling myself it’s only like this at the beginning, if I can just get through these first few weeks…I’ll be golden. I look forward to the pain going away and truly getting to experience that bonding I’ve heard so much about. Already it’s going so much better the second time around. Charlie is in Tennessee living the high life with her Nana, JJ, and Aunt Janet, and we look forward to seeing her in another week.

Until then, I’m nestled into this sweet spot of hibernation. If you call or email and I don’t respond right away, it’s only because both Vann and I are existing in a state of delirium/bliss right now and breastfeeding takes up a lot of hours in the day. I know I will get more efficient with it as time goes on. I have a DVR loaded up with shows I’ve been needing to watch, a stack of mags to go through, and a little girl to dress up and take pictures of. We’ve had some visits at home so far and have already received some amazingly thoughtful gifts, of which I’ll share with you all soon.

Thank you for your prayers and support throughout this crazy turn of events. We are so thrilled and happy we were able to take Ella home with us last week…I know a lot of parents have to wait it out in the NICU, so we appreciate fully the fact that Ella is gaining weight and thriving, given her peanut size. God is good!!!!

Here are her very first pictures: her entrance to the world. Welcome, Baby Girl.