Comcast is disconnecting my lifeblood tomorrow. Yes, our internet – maybe the hardest goodbye?? Due to simply running out of time, here’s a consolidated post for #2 of my Top Ten. I bet you can guess what two hospitals equals…

On September 1st, 2007, Miss Charlotte Faye Bischoff made her appearance into the world. You can see her first stats here (keeping in mind the blog was in the early stages at the time). My pregnancy with Charlie wasn’t easy – I was nannying for four kids under the age of four at the time and I had gestational diabetes, which is no walk in the park. She was breech – around 20 weeks she got comfy and wasn’t moving for anybody. Stubbornness, anyone? The good news about this was a scheduled c-section – and yes, to me, it was good news. I’ve had only positive experiences with c’s and I’ve never had a yearning to experience labor, so there ya go.

Even at birth we knew that Charlie was going to be special. She was an easy baby and an amazing sleeper – slept through the night at 8 weeks and never looked back. It wasn’t until 18 months later that her inner pill came out, but even in her frustrating moments she is a delightful child, full of life and energy and quirkiness. Like I’ve said before, I am amazed that God gave me such an amazing little person to parent.

Prentice Women’s Hospital is where both of my girls were born, but Charlie’s birth was unique in that Prentice was still in the “old” hospital – in October of ’07 they opened a brand new facility with flat-screen’s and a tricked out menu – and it felt good at the time to be there. No new “kinks” to work out, it was tried and true, even if there wasn’t an Argo Tea in the lobby.

I attempted breastfeeding with C for exactly one week before I threw up my hands. And no matter what anyone else will tell you about breastfeeding vs. formula feeding, she was a purely formula fed baby and didn’t have an ear infection until she was over 2. She has been perfectly healthy from the beginning.

Fast forward two years and little Miss Ella Monroe was born on November 10th, 2009. You can see her first stats here. Miss E’s birth was also a scheduled c (like I said, no desire to experience labor and waaaay more afraid of an episiotomy than anything else) but her entrance into the world was a bit more dramatic. My doc was afraid that she wasn’t gaining properly (like maybe the umbilical cord wasn’t running at full capacity) and I was being monitored every week as to her growth, etc. I think they must have thought that she was going to be a lot smaller than she was. Almost three weeks ahead of schedule, Dr. Roth felt there was no reason to wait (in fact, she felt like she needed to come out quickly) and I literally went home one night after a routine visit with the instructions, “Don’t eat or drink ANYTHING after midnight!”

The next morning we scrambled to make arrangements for C as the grandparents weren’t due for another three weeks. Once we got to labor and delivery, it was like a race to the finish. Baby girl was coming OUT.

I don’t think I need to tell you (as you all know what a struggle it’s been) what those first few months were like, but I should say that having Ella was an enormous blessing and seeing the two of them together has been something I never imagined. Having only brothers, watching the sister relationship unfold has been truly special. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Now, all of this talk is making me miss these two terribly. Luckily, we will be reunited a week from today. No matter what frustrations occur, they are my heart and there is nothing like looking into your children’s eyes and seeing yourself in them. It truly is a miracle.