Alice Margaret Wenzler

Alice arrived on Friday, April 26th via scheduled cesarean section at 7:55 in the morning. One of the reasons we chose to schedule the c-section for that date was because it was my Papa's birthday (mom's dad) and we thought it would be a nice way to honor/remember him. Alice weighed 6 pounds and 12 ounces and was 19 inches long. Her APGAR scores 9 (one minute) and 9 (five minute). She started crying before the doctor had finished pulling her out of my belly. She was born with a full, thick head of dark hair that looks like it has highlights in it already. She has a subconjunctival hemorrhage (burst blood vessel) in her left eye (the pediatrician said it should clear up in a couple weeks). She has a little red "stork bite" on her right eyelid and a small red mark between her eyes, above her nose (I have this red mark and so does my sister, Deanne). Alice passed her hearing screen and her critical congenital heart defect screen. Her bilirubin (jaundice) was borderline both times they checked it, but her pediatrician didn't think she needed to check it again when we went for the in-office follow-up on Wednesday.

We stayed in the hospital for three nights and were released on Monday, April 29th. Alice weighed 6 pounds 3 ounces when we discharged from the hospital.

While we were in the hospital, Alice had a few visitors. Her Nana V and Grandmomma Mel were at the hospital the morning she was born and her "aunt" Lauren came for a visit later that night. Her big sister, Etta, and her big brother, Daniel came to visit on Saturday and Sunday for a little while along with her Grandfather. Grandmomma came back up later Saturday morning, bringing Granddaddy with her. Also, our friend Erin came to visit on Sunday, which was HER due date (she had her baby boy, Brady, in the same hospital two days later).

Alice is proving to be a very laid back baby. She enjoys sleeping all. the. time. I literally have to wake her up to feed her. Typically, babies eat every 2-3 hours. Alice will go 5 hours if you let her! I have to set my alarm at night so I can feed her (she is still tiny and we're a *little* worried about weight gain.). She has some "silent reflux", which means she doesn't spit-up too much because she swallows it back down. We're giving it a little time, but we may need to switch formulas or start her on an antacid.

Etta has been indifferent about Alice's arrival. She doesn't want to have anything to do with her (doesn't want to tell her "hi" or "nite nite"), but she isn't upset with her presence or anything. She hasn't really seemed to regress or push boundaries. She's just sort of 'allowing' Alice to live in the same space as she does. The face she made when she saw Alice get out of the car at our house was priceless! She looked like she was thinking, "You guys have GOT to be kidding me! You brought home another effing baby?!?" LOL.

Daniel, on the other hand, is VERY interested in his little sister. He wants to know where she is and shows concern when she cries and he pats on her head and pokes her in the eyes (haha.) and tries to hold her and he tells her "nite nite" with their signature sibling head bump. (side story: when Daniel was a baby, I use to gently touch his head to Etta's when it was time for one or the other of them to go "nite nite". To this day, they- on their own- bump heads when one or the other is going to bed.)

Alice is now 9 days old. My mom is still in town helping out with the older kids as I *try* to adhere to the post-surgical restrictions that were placed on me. I had a terrible amount of gas pains in the couple days following the surgery. The air in my belly and air up in my shoulder caused much more pain than the actual incision site. I'm actually feeling pretty good now and have stopped taking the narcotic that was prescribed. I'm still taking the prescription-strength Naproxen (It's an anti-inflamitory. Aleve is naproxen). I still require a nap during the day, but that's more about being up at night with Alice than it is about recovering from surgery. Dealing with Daniel is the most difficult since I am not allowed to lift him (I can't put him in or take him out of highchair/crib/car seat...). Adjusting will take some time and we're slowly finding our groove.

We're so smitten with our little pixie. Our family is complete. 

Ok. Prepare for photo/video overload!!  Seriously. Sorry! (If you get my blog posts sent to your email, be sure to visit the actual blog website to view videos.)

(I gained exactly 30 pounds this pregnancy)

~APRIL 26th~

one of my FAVORITE photos! (taken by the anesthesiologist)

Keith and my OB, Dr. Ellington (who FINALLY got to deliver one of my babies!)

6lbs 12oz

~APRIL 27th~

~APRIL 28th~

Etta's teacher works as an audiologist in the hospital on the weekends. It was neat that she came in to do Alice's newborn hearing screening.

I really enjoyed getting to share this pregnancy with my friend Erin! Love you!

~APRIL 29th~

Alice wore the same dress home from the hospital as Etta did. So sweet!

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