Abby's photo session

Abby had professional photos taken while we were still at the hospital. It's a great service since they capture the brand new baby photos without ever leaving the room. So no need to expose her to all sorts of germs at photo shoot somewhere else! Here are a few of them....!

Abigail’s Birth Story

We knew we were going to be induced on November 13 at 7:00am – Friday the 13^th! We arrived at the hospital a little after 6:30am to register and complete our paperwork. The process at the hospital was quick, easy and efficient.

We were then taken to our Labor and Deliver room – which was lucky #7. I was asked a million questions then immediately hooked up to an IV machine and the induction drug, Pitocin, was started. It was at this point we realized this was really happening. Matt and I were going to be parents today!

Matt and I could see the contractions on the monitor, but I couldn’t feel anything until around 1:00pm. That’s when things started getting a little harder to handle. By this point I was at 7cm and really starting to re-think my decision to go without pain medicine or an epidural. I had Matt call in the nurse, then changed my mind and sent her away, only to call her in again and we had a long talk about what to do. In the end I opted for an epidural. I just couldn’t take it anymore. The pain was nothing like anything I’ve ever experienced. So the epidural was put in and relief was almost immediate. We also realized I had jumped from 7cm to 9cm in a matter of minutes. My biggest fear with the epidural was being numb from the waist down. However, it affects everyone differently, and somehow I could still move and feel my feet and legs for the most part, but my entire stomach was numb. It was a perfect epidural if there is such a thing.

The nurse checked me again a few minutes later and we were told it was time to start pushing. Both Matt and I were thrown off guard…we weren’t expecting it so quickly!! So we began pushing and did so from 5:30pm until around 7:00pm. The doctor came in and checked the baby’s position and that was when we got the bad news. Abby was turned “transverse” which is off to the side and her little head was swollen from trying to get down through the pelvis. She just wasn’t lined up right. She also felt the baby was a bit to big for my body. It was at this point that the doctor told us we need to do a c-section. She said we could try to do a few tricks to get her to turn – but that in her honest opinion, it wasn’t going to work. So, c-section it was.

It’s amazing how with that one little decision all the sudden my hospital room became a crazy ER like show. I had more nurses and doctors in the room then I’d seen the entire day. Everyone had their job to do and within 30 minutes I had been numbed from the waist down, given multiple types of meds in my IV, given a drink of some sort of “shot” for my stomach acids…and then wheeled to the Operating Room. It was a scary and surreal experience.

15 minutes later Matt got to come in the room, and about 10 minutes after that Abby was born. Just like that.

Turns out having the c-section was the best decision we could have made. Once the doctors got to Abby, they realized she was crammed so hard into one side of my pelvis that a nurse actually had to go in and manually push her out to dislodge her head. She also had her cord wrapped around her neck. But she was a little trooper and let out the most perfect scream.

Matt went with Abby to the nursery and I was in the OR for another 45 or so minutes as the doctors sewed me back up. Then I was taken to Recovery for a couple hours before being moved over into the Postpartum room.

And then it was all over. I’ve never been so excited, nervous and completely scared all at the same time.

1st Pediatrician Appointment

Today was Abby's first big outing since coming home. She got to go to her 1st Pediatrician visit! She weighed in at 7lbs 14oz which means she's eating like a champ and putting back on the weight she initially lost right after she was born.

Matt was also able to get the H1N1 vaccine while there to. We laughed because he ends up somehow becoming a patient today, even though it's the Pediatrician! For anyone out there that watched the TV show Friends, do you remember the episode where Ross continues to go to his Pediatrician as his Primary Care Doctor. That is what we felt like. :)

A new day in the life of the Guggenheims...

Shelby is still trying to figure out this whole baby thing. She's not quite sure why she's still here, why she gets really loud sometimes, and why there is so much "stuff" around the house (swings, bassinet, blankets, etc.).

It's funny to watch her "stalk" around the bassinet or swing when Abby starts to make little noises. Shelby just isn't so sure of what she is!

Nap time for everyone!

That Moment...

Pictures speak 1,000 words.

This one was taken minutes after she was born.

Squeaky Clean

Abby got her first bath today! We had a little talk with her and she knew we were all a little nervous and unsure of how to really do it. And she couldn't have been more perfect the whole time. In fact, I think she really liked it. She was alert and content with Matt holding her, and she was "smiling" when we were washing/rinsing her hair. So I'm hoping this is a sign of good things to come...that just like her Mommy, she loves bath time!

My Daddy is so strong, so I'm not scared.

Mmmm, this is nice. I smell good too.

All done.

I'm so pretty...

It's amazing how much she has changed in just 48 hours. She dropped some birth weight so she's a little smaller now, and her skin is starting to smooth out and her coloring is looking really good. And Matt swears her hair is already longer. HA HA But her sweet personality is already coming out and we are starting to pick up on her cute little traits. Like her innocent little girly squeal she does right before she gets really upset about something. I love it! And how she loves to sleep with her hands up by her head. And her obsession with sucking her hand - she even has a small blistered area on the front side where the doctors think she was sucking on it so much in the womb!

Sleepy Mommy on my birthday

Proud Daddy!

Baby beanie!

Abigail Elizabeth Guggenheim

Abby came screaming into the world on November 13, 2009 at 7:49pm - weighing in at 8 lbs exactly and 20 inches long! She has a FULL head of dark brown hair, and as of now her eyes are blue.

We had a little unexpected twist on her birthday in that even though we were induced that morning, we found out almost exactly 12 hours later that she would have to be delivered via c-section. Unfortunately she was just a little too big for my body and she was sitting in a type of "transverse" position - so she was a bit turned to the side and couldn't get her little head down where it was supposed to be. So a quick decision was made at around 7:00pm or so and after being prepped and rolled to an OR, she was born not long after. It's amazing how quickly everything moved and how everyone just went to work.

I won't lie and say it was easy...the c-section really freaked me out. I have never had major surgery like that before - and to be awake the whole time was a very surreal feeling. The doctors and nurses are so amazing though - so I wasn't worried about our health at least. But I'm so very glad it's all over. Now the healing part starts, but seeing Abby makes it all OK. She's so healthy and alert and trying so hard to figure out this world already. Matt and I are already so in love with her!!!

And did I mention how pretty she is. :) The night nurse last night said even one of the little boy newborns in the nursery stared at her when she was there. That's my girl.

Today is the day!

We are here at the hospital and are in waiting mode. I'm all hooked up to machines and we are slowly inducing, but not much happening just yet. It's going to be a long day. :) But the weather is beautiful and I think it's a great day to have a baby!!

We just can't wait to meet her!

Man Shower!

Matt's coworkers surprised him yesterday with a "Baby Man Shower"! I was so happy they did this! He finally got to experience what it's like to have all eyes on you and be the center of attention for once. :)

And these pictures are hysterical.

Baby toy!

Baby onesies! Not sure why the crazy face... :)

He looks like he's all alone in this room...!