Welcome Home, Baby Mouse!

We are happy and blessed to introduce the newest member of our family: Baby Mouse! She arrived at 3:52 on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 weighing in at 6 pounds, 15 ounces, measuring 19 inches long (our shortest one yet!). She has been an absolute doll so far - very patient, sweet, with a teeny, tiny, sad, little cry that breaks her Daddy's heart.

I had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday morning at 9:30 and found out that my blood pressure was getting pretty high for me (135/68 - not worrisome for most people, but mine runs usually around 100/55). Considering we were full-term and not making any progress in the past week, our doctor recommended we go to the hospital to use a gel that could just kick things into gear a little quicker so that my blood pressure didn't get any higher. After stopping home to check on Miss Mouse and get her settled in with Grammy for the day, we headed up to the hospital. We got the gel around 12:40 and met our new little one at 3:52 - indeed the gel did kick things into gear. Our doctor had left to go back to her clinic with instructions that she needed plenty of time to get back; the nurses thought they called her in plenty of time, but she didn't make it. They grabbed the doctor on call out of the hallway to come in and help at the last minute. Our doctor, who was driving as fast as she could, arrived 10 minutes later! It was a crazy day, but we are so happy to be able to get to know Baby Mouse on her own now!

Miss Mouse seems to be adjusting really well so far. She spent Tuesday evening with Grammy, Grandma Kathy, and Grandpa Dick. Grammy stayed at the hospital with me so that Daddy could be around for Miss Mouse's bedtime rituals. Wednesday, she played with Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Dick most of the day; she enjoyed many, many elevator rides at the hospital. Thursday, she hung out at home with Grammy and Grandpa Bob for the morning since we were just being discharged that day. I will admit she was pretty happy to see me (the feeling was mutual) when she got up from her nap yesterday. We cuddled for a good, solid five minutes straight. She's going to be pretty tired, but aren't we all. Just like the rest of us, her favorite activities with the baby are to kiss and hug her. So sweet.

Three pink carnations, three orange roses, three beautiful little dolls.....