Bella Mae McCarty

As I sit here and write, my 6-day old, perfect little daughter is sitting under Billi lights. If you are shocked by any statement in that sentence, don't worry - I'll backtrack for you!

A week ago, Jeff and I went to my OB/Gyn for a routine appointment. We were in the home stretch - 4 weeks to go with appointments coming weekly! I had spent the previous Thursday evening in the triage unit on the Labor and Delivery floor of Suburban due to high blood pressure and swelling. They sent me home with a large jug to do a 24 hour urine test in order to make I wasn't losing protein, which would indicate that my kidneys weren't properly doing their job and they would need to go ahead and induce. The next evening, we dropped the jug off at the lab. So, on Monday (one week ago...) we went to the appointment expecting find out the results of that test and what the plan of action would be over the next few weeks. The doctor came in and asked me how I was feeling, and told me what to expect when I started feeling contractions and when I should head to the hospital. None of these symptoms sounded familiar so she went on with her assessment. She and I were both surprised to discover that I was already 5 cm dilated! If you don't already know, 10 cm means baby is coming! She sat on her stool, put her head in her hands and basically said she didn't know what to do. If I hadn't felt any contractions so far, she was afraid that by the time I did, I would be very close to delivering little Bella Mae. To make a long story short, they did some tests to make sure her lungs were developed, put me on fetal monitor in triage and decided later that evening to admit me and induce in the morning. WOW.

Before I tell you all about my beautiful new baby, I have to tell you about my wonderful husband. When we went to the hospital last Monday, we had no idea that I wouldn't be leaving for four days. We had NOTHING. I had no bags packed, I had a few items in Bella's diaper bag, but other than that, we were not prepared to leave the hospital with a baby. Nor was I prepared to birth one! Jeff spent the next four days running around like a mad person, making sure that Bella and I had everything that we needed. I can only image how stressed out he must have been. He never once complained. He slept on some of the most uncomfortable (and dirty) couches, spent countless hours driving to get me whatever I wanted or needed, went to Wal-Mart to buy Bella some clothes that we could take her home in (since she arrived MUCH smaller than we would have EVER expected), and put up with quite a bit of drama from me. I don't think he actually slept until Thursday night when we got home from the hospital. He put up with A LOT last week. Okay, he's put up with a lot for the last 9 months! Mood swings, weird cravings at odd hours, my scatterbrainedness (if that's even a word!), my messiness, etc. He continues to put up with my forgetfulness, my crumbs on the couch, my sloppiness and many, many other things. I love him very much and I don't know what I would have done without him this last week, or for the last 2 years. I am very thankful to have such a wonderful father for my daughter. I couldn't have done any of this without his support and encouragement.

Now.... meet Ms. Bella Mae McCarty

Bella arrived on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 3:26 p.m. She was 6lbs. (5 lbs. 15.6 oz. to be exact) and 19.5 inches long. Other than being a little jaundice (which is the reason for the Billi lights) she is perfect and quite possibly the most beautiful thing I've ever seen! She is already a a daddy's girl, and she loves her big brother and sister.