Anna's Birth Story...
It really all began early Friday morning on March 26th, when I started having very mild contractions around 12:30 a.m. They were pretty irregular until about 5 a.m. at which point I had regular contractions (still very mild) every 2-5 minutes for about 2 hours. After a phone call to my Dr. she told me to head to hospital to get checked out. However, as soon as Brian and I started towards the hospital the contractions just stopped, so we just continued past the hospital and headed home. I took the day off work (since I hadn't slept much) and simply relaxed the rest of the day.
On Saturday morning (around 5 a.m. again) March 27th, I had another 2-hour round of regular, mild contractions. Once they stopped, I headed into work to finish up grade cards and finalize plans for my sub. During this whole time, I was noticing lots of little changes including some pressure. Needless to say, I called the Dr. again and she pretty much demanded that I come in this time (since she had expected me the day before).
Brian and I finished packing (still not convinced I would deliver that day, but just in case), dropped AJ off at my parents, and headed for the hospital. Once there, I headed into the testing room, where I think the nurse thought I was nuts for being there (no current contractions, water still intact, etc.). However, she fully understood when she checked me and I was 4 cm dilated and the pressure I was feeling was my bag of water sitting low. After that, the Dr. informed us we would be having Anna that day. I needed to receive antibiotics (which takes 4 hours), and my Dr. was afraid that once my water broke I would deliver very quickly and not have time to get the full dose of anitbiotics.
Brian and I settled into our room about 3:00 p.m. and the nurse started my anitbiotics. It was pretty much a waiting game at that point. I had to receive two doses 4 hours apart. Once that was done, then the Dr. would break my water. At this point, my contractions actually started on their own again, but they were still pretty mild from what I remembered with AJ. The nurses kept telling me that now would be time to get an epidural, but I just couldn't justify it with the mild pain I was having and due to the fact that I really didn't like how numb I was with it when I had AJ. So, I didn't get one and was completely fine until about 7:45 when the Dr. broke my water. Talk about flipping a switch. When my nurse checked me next around 8:00 and told me I was 7 cm I thought there was no way I could make it 3 more cm without the epidural, so I wimped out and asked for one. However, there would NOT be time for that. Less than 10 minutes later I was dilated the full 10 cm and literally screaming to push. Anna then arrived after 2 more contractions and 4 pushes (THANK GOODNESS). Brian likes to say that she shot out like a rocket. The Dr. pretty much threw her up on me so they could suction her, since she didn't have time once her head popped out. I was just relieved the worst of the pain was over (and it was the worst pain I have ever felt, but completely worth it). I just couldn't believe I had done it naturally.
Our daughter, ANNA ELIZABETH SAUER, came into the world at 8:25 p.m. on March 27th, weighing 7 lbs 8 oz (although the hospital apparently recorded her at 7 lbs 7 oz), and measuring 20 inches long.
Anna being suctioned after she made a quick entrance into the outside world.
Since she was only 37 weeks, she came out covered in the cheesy stuff!
See the scale says 7 lbs 7.6 oz, and you always round up right?
Since Anna arrived so quickly, Grandma and Grandpa Glandon were able to stop by for a quick visit with AJ. AJ wasn't sure what to think at first and pretty much clung to Brian for the first 20 minutes. However, Grandma got him interested by asking him if Anna had hands, feet, teeth, a belly button, etc., and then they would look at each part. AJ has been quite fascinated by the umbilical cord. AJ always tells me that his has fallen off, and that he has teeth and Anna does not.
Proud Grandma
Proud Grandpa
One more proud Grandma
The Limbacher's with their new niece and cousin.
Papaw with his two little princesses.
One more proud Grandpa
Our first family photo (we couldn't get AJ to sit with us, he was still just taking it all in).
Our Little Girl
Too Precious
On our way home... she's too small to really fit well in her carrier.
Checking out her home!
Anna was just a little jaundiced, so I would lay her in the sunlight for a few minutes each day.
One of her wakeful moments... they are few and far between right now.
This was the best I could do at this point to get AJ in a picture with Anna. He seems to have adjusted to her since and has started giving her hugs and kisses, which melts my heart quicker than anything else.
This picture shows AJ sharing his cars with Anna (if you know my son and his cars, you know this was a HUGE step for him). He would bring two cars over, lay one on Anna's blanket, put the other one in his pile, and then go and get two more.
Out on our first walk together.
AJ loves pushing his own baby in Anna's new stroller. I knew that baby doll I got him at Christmas would make an appearance once Anna was born!
Anna and I playing "Kangaroo." The hospital is big on promoting this now. I love it of course!
Anna's first Dr. visit. The Dr. said everything looked good. She was down to 6lbs 13 oz, so we have to go back this week for a weight check, but she already feels heavier to me. She's a very good, efficient eater! She obviously didn't like being poked and prodded, which is pretty much true to her current nature.
WELCOME TO THE WORLD LITTLE DARLING! WE LOVE YOU!
AJ still loves his "swinging time" at Grandma Bonnie's house. His feet now touch the ground.
Anna enjoying the warm, evening breeze. Does it get any more peaceful?
Grandpa enjoying it too!
Anna with two of my best girfriends' new kiddos - Alex on the left and Gavin on the right. She's a lucky girl!
Alex was actually born two weeks AFTER Anna. Their difference in size is just too funny and cute!
Ah, such bliss.
AJ is really into "worker" men, so he finds random items around the house to use as his "tools." Here beside him is a tape measure (not unique, but one of his favorites), the lint roller, and Nuge's nail filer (this he can turn on to make a cool noise).
Just needed a picture of my baby girl in one of her many adorable outfits.
I took AJ to COSI when my 2nd graders went. Here he is in the ocean room using one of the big water sprayers..jpg)
As mentioned before... he likes pretending to be a worker man! He was quite possesive over COSI's tools..jpg)
Off to work....jpg)
One of his favorite activities was riding the little push bikes. We're still working on learning how to pedal on his big bike at home..jpg)
Sending balls down the ramp..jpg)
Learning about pulleys while lifting himself up in a chair..jpg)
AJ being a GREAT, big brother..jpg)
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For Christmas, AJ recieved a ladybug habitat that we used this spring. He had fun watching the larva turn to pupas and then to ladybugs. Here's AJ when we released the ladybugs into the wild backyard..jpg)
A rare moment... Anna in Uncle Eric's arms. TOO CUTE!.jpg)
Anna after she got her first shots. Boo Hoo. She was quite cranky despite the Tylenol. You can sort of see the bandaids on her legs.
AJ once again being a worker man. He's fixing Grandma's window with scotch tape.
The little mother... Heidi with Anna.
Papaw Sauer with his 2 little princesses.
What would a hot, May day be without a little time in the pool. These three stooges were hilarious. 
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