Addy's First Days

I would have typed more in the previous post, but Addy wanted to eat (which is pretty much what our days our filled with).

I was scheduled to have a C-Section on Monday morning, so my mom flew in from Ohio on Saturday night around 7pm. She, Alex and I went to dinner, got groceries, and came home where we chatted until we went to bed at 11pm. Around 12:45am, I was awakened by a strange feeling, which I quickly realized was my water breaking. We called the hospital and the doctor to find out if we should come in and were told that we should. After finishing packing my bag and figuring out how to get out of the house after my water had broken, we arrived at the hospital around 2am. I thought that since my water had broken, perhaps the doctors would let me labor rather than immediately just going in for C-Section, but my hopes were quickly dashed by news that I was still only 1cm dilated. After discussing the options with the doctor and after saying a quick prayer after discussion with Alex, we decided to go ahead with the C-Section. Here we are prepped for surgery:



















By 4am, we had been prepped for surgery and were being led back to the operating room. I was given a spinal block, and having no feeling below my chest was a really strange sensation! After I was prepped, they led Alex into the room. We had asked the doctor if Alex could watch the surgery and if he could take pictures, and the doctor said of course. Unfortunately, Alex forgot the camera! He was able to watch though, and thought it was pretty interesting. As soon as they pulled Addy out, they dropped the drape and let me see her. She was crying, and I immediately started to as well. They brought Alex over and let him be with the baby while the doctor cleaned me up. After she was cleaned up, they brought her over and laid her on my chest where we chatted and the doctors sewed me up. When we got back to the recovery room, they let my mom come up. Here are some of Addy's first pictures:













































The next few days we spent in the hospital. Addy and I were visited by many doctors and nurses, at all hours of the day, but taken very good care of. Alex's Mom, Dad, sisters Rebekah and Rachel, Aunt Shannon and Uncle Gene, and several nieces and nephews came to visit Addy in the hospital. She is definitely very loved already. Here are some shots from those first days in the hospital:

She's here!

Addison Jane Berger was born on January 17, 2010 at 4:28 AM. She weighed 8lbs 9oz and was 20 3/4 inches long. She is absolutely precious.

The Full Effect

Over Christmas weekend, various members of Alex's family would just look at me and start laughing because of how big I look. Alex took this picture to show me why they find my shape/size so funny.




This shot shows you the point at which I can see my toes.

Look at those chubby cheeks!

I had an ultrasound this week, because last week I was measuring 1 1/2-2 weeks ahead, so the OB wanted to see if the baby was too big for me to go 40 weeks. The guestimation from the ultrasound is that Baby Berger is about 8 lbs. 10 oz. already. Now, I realize that this measurement is not 100% accurate, and that Baby Berger could weigh more or less at this point.

The concern when babies are bigger is shoulder distortia (shoulders getting stuck or just not fitting through the pelvis), which Alex and I are pretty sure happened to him when he was born, and which we also are pretty sure attributed to his shoulder and back problems. Given what we know about Alex, there is an obvious concern about Baby Berger coming out the way God intended, but we'll take it one day at a time and see what happens.

While doing the ultrasound, the tech turned on the 3d/4d camera, and gave me a view of Baby Berger's cute face. From the picture, I sort of think she looks more like me, and I am pretty sure she did not get Alex's cro-magnon man browline. She has big chubby cheeks and lots of hair. I have to say I'm pretty excited to see her in person, no matter how she has to come out!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from sunny Florida! This year was pretty special for the Bergers because everyone, including all of the original Bergers, their spouses, and their children were together for the first time in 4 years. I know what this is like coming from a big family (who haven't all been together for a long, long time, though we have gotten close), so it was good to be around for the festivities.

The day after Christmas we made plans to document the wonderous event and got everyone to cooperate for a whirlwind photo session. Alex was even on his best behavior to get a few good shots. Here is one of the entire group:



This is one of all the grandkids, including soon-to-be #15.



Finally, here is a picture of Alex with his niece, Hazel, who is very precious. I show you this to give you a preview of what most pictures of Alex and our child will be like.

Celebrating my girth!

On November 14, my wonderful in-laws and friends threw me my first baby shower. Alex will tell you that I was excited about the shower because I love being the center of attention, and I love getting gifts. While there is some truth to his beliefs, I was really more excited about (a) my mom and sister coming to town (b) having them come to town for a girls weekend after a rough few months and (c) getting to actually enjoy the baby stuff and oohing and ahhing over the cuteness of it all with other people who agree. Alex has been totally unimpressed with most things baby-related, which I find entirely baffling. I mean, I came home from Japan with the cutest little Japanese pajamas for the baby, and he barely looked at them! I think he's just jealous that the baby already has more clothes than he does. Anyway, back to the point of this post.

We had the shower at my mother-in-law's house the weekend after we moved into our new house in the Tampa area and after my first week at my new job. I definitely needed to have a weekend to destress after the last couple of months and all of the changes that had occurred within a two-weeks span.

Here is me with my mom and sister.

Here I am with, from left, my good friend, Stephanie, who grew up with Alex (sorry, Stephanie, that you are sort of cut out...my sister was still learning to use my camera...I know one of you got a better one of this shot), niece Lexi, my mother-in-law, Kathy, niece Andrea, sister-in-law, Valerie, and good friend and Stephanie's sister, Heather. My sister-in-law, Rebekah, who did not pose for this picture, made the cute sign behind us and organized the shower.

Here I am in all my girth and glory. Of course we played the game where everyone had to guess how big my belly was, and its huge! But we got some really sweet gifts for the baby, and I was super excited to spend the time with family and friends.

Happy Belated Halloween

Here I am on Halloween, 29 weeks pregnant.