Christmas Day 2011

So this Christmas post is not like any Christmas post of the past. Instead of being filled with the family memories of our time with both our families it is filled with pictures from in the hospital. I would recommend to anyone having a baby, make sure you are not due near the holidays. We felt so thankful and blessed to have welcomed a beautiful healthy daughter into our family but being in the hospital over the holidays STINKS!!

Here are some reasons why being in the hospital over the holidays STINKS:

1. MSI isn't open over the holidays so you can't get baby's health card number to fill our forms

2. The hearing test people are not in, so you have to bring baby back for testing later

3. Not as many visitors because people are busy with their own families over the holidays

4. You miss Christmas Eve family celebrations: movie and Thai food, I'm still bummed about it!

5. You miss seeing family open gifts, and you miss the best meals: Christmas Breakfast & Dinner

Now that I've had my Bah Humbug moments, I did have A LOT to be thankful for this holiday season, and that was the beautiful baby that I spent all of Christmas with.

As I mentioned in my last post, we were in a semi private room which sucked, but my nurse Joelle was amazing that first night. She had to come check me every hour for the first three hours, so I saw her lots. She was so helpful with nursing and just explaining any questions that I had. She was a life saver too, turns out Olivia had some mucus still stuck in her, and Joelle noticed the sound a baby makes when they have it in them, she took Olivia, turned up almost upside down and patted her back to get the mucus out. She then took her down to the nurses station to suction her out a bit. We were a tad nervous, but she called down and told us everything was fine. It made me a bit nervous the rest of the night, but they came quickly any time I called about it. She said most babies will work it out of their systems before they leave the hospital.

After you have your baby for those who don't know, you still have an IV in with fluids, before you can have it removed you have to have two good pea's. Since Kaitlyn had used the catheter on me before I came up to my room, I didn't have to go for hours, and it took forever to have two good pee's that the nurses would accept, so I had to lug the dumb IV pole around with me which was hard in such a small space. I would get up to go the washroom, start walking and then realize, Oh wait the pole isn't with me! Luckily I didn't ver get far enough for it to pull out and hurt me at all. I was thankful Christmas Day afternoon to have it removed finally.

My replacement nurse on Christmas Day was amazing, her name was Rachel and mom knew her. Turned out mom had taught her daughter in elementary school, I always love finding out connections like that. She was such a great nurse too, so understanding and caring. She continued to answer my questions, and she felt that every pregnant mom should have their own room, which was nice to hear because I was still pushing to get into my own room. I guess they hadn't expected as many deliveries over the holidays, so they had closed down half the floors rooms. Well they were wrong, when I was delivering Olivia, Christa had said they had 11 nurses on and 10 women in labour and the numbers didn't stop coming! Rachel had told me that I was on the list for my own room, but I was on the bottom of the list. She said at least I was on the list. She also told me that in the afternoon she took over as like the head nurse or something like that, and that she would work her magic, and she did. In the afternoon another nurse came down and moved Olivia and I to our own private room, but let's not jump ahead. I also found out after the fact that Rachel is my friend Natalie's aunt, but she wasn't allowed to say anything, I wish I had of known at the time she was my nurse.

Since I didn't get any sleep that first night, I spent the time on Facebook and texting Laura out west, man was I thankful for the time difference. I was able to feed and cuddle Olivia lots and it was so wonderful to just have some partially quiet time with her. Christmas morning brought us a few visitors which was so appreciated. Being stuck in the hospital when you know your family is all together is HARD, so the visitors in the morning were so wonderful.

Mom was the first to arrive, she brought us a few Christmas presents to open and she brought Brandon Christmas breakfast since he could order from my menu. She also came to get some more baby snuggles, who wouldn't want those. It was nice to have that little taste of Christmas first thing in the day.

Uncle Jaccob and Auntie Sarah came next. They were on their way to church in Cole Harbour and Bing family festivities before heading to the valley to be with Sarah's family. It was so sweet of them to come on such a busy day first thing in the morning just to meet our girl. I didn't expect anything less from them though, we are blessed to have such a sweet family! They brought us a few little gifts too, which again made it feel a bit more like Christmas.

Sonja was the next to arrive, which meant so much because she had snuck away from her kiddies to visit on Christmas morning. They had been up early and finished all the festivities, so she was able to sneak out without missing too much. She brought Olivia a cute little pink snowman outfit that had ruffles... I LOVE ruffles. She waited so patiently to hold her, and then stayed for a nice visit/chat which I really appreciated on Christmas morning- thanks friend!

Dad had driven over early to pick up my Nanny to bring her in for a visit. He figured it would be the best time to do it before it got too busy in the hospital and at home with family coming over. It was so wonderful to have Olivia meet her great grandmother, I love my Nanny so much and love that dad brought her over so quickly. Dad also got some snuggles in too, because as I mentioned before he loves babies!!

Nanny Jackie getting some Olivia snuggles in

Auntie Sarah, Uncle Jaccob meeting their second niece

Olivia with her great grandmother, my nanny Logan

Olivia with her poppy... he has a soft spot for babies

Miss Olivia enjoying the visits... she still had her bloody little curls at this point of the day

Auntie Sonja getting some snuggles... it was so strange to be in the reverse... I am so used to being at the hospital to meet her babies, so it was strange that she was there to meet my baby! It was a great and exciting feeling!

After that stream of visitors, things quieted down a lot. Brandon had headed home to get some sleep. Since he hadn't gotten much and thought he had to work that night, he needed some rest. So he left, leaving Olivia and I flying solo. It was during the morning and afternoon while I was still in the semi private room that I got kinda blue. I was lonely, which is a hard feeling to have when it's Christmas. I was over tired, and couldn't sleep because I didn't want to leave Olivia unattended, plus I needed to feed her and change her, which was all on me right now. I got teary a few times during that period, but Rachel was wonderful to be understanding. She came whenever I called, and would watch Olivia while I went to the washroom, which was needed and nice of her. I didn't know that TV was included in the room, so I sat just watching Olivia for hours, it wasn't until I got to the private room that I realized that I could have been watching TV the whole time, I was kinda mad about that. My neighbours were sweet though, they had realized Brandon had to leave and offered me any help if I needed it.

During that morning Olivia had a few things done to her. A doctor came in and checked her out, it was then that we learned that she was 22 inches long, which is a pretty good length for a baby, such a long girl. That doctor also changed Olivia for me, since she had a poop while Olivia was in her care, she said it was the only freebie I would be getting from her, she was funny. She would be coming back the next day too because she didn't get to check Olivia's eyes.

Olivia also finally go her FIRST BATH, which I was thrilled about because her hair was all bloody still. She did okay with her bath, but there was some crying involved. The nurse that bathed her was great to show me what to do when we bath her. Then she bundled her all up and put a special little Christmas hat on her, all babies on the floor were getting them that day which I thought was sweet. She looked so cute in her little Santa type hat. She bundled her up in warm heated blankets, which Olivia LOVED! We were interested to see what her hair would be like after it was washed, it was so curly before, but with the hat on after the bath the curls were gone, and they haven't quite come back the same as when she was born. Maybe someday the curls will return. I just loved touching her soft blonde hair after it was all cleaned.

Some first bath tears...

Finally getting her hair washed

My cute baby girl on her first Christmas

I think she looked so funny in this one... just this little head in the bath tub. She is laying next to me as I am typing this and she looks so much bigger now... she needs to stop growing!!

Wide awake after her first bath, muting on her big hands and wearing her cute Santa hat!!

All bundled up in warm blankets after her first bath, she looks like a little burrito.

I could of sat and snapped pictures of her all day, I am just so in love with this little girl!

As I mentioned above in the afternoon Rachel had me moved to my own room, I have never been soooooooooo happy to have my own room. The nurse who moved me down the hall came in and packed me all up, and got all my stuff (and I had a lot) down to my new room! I had to push Olivia down in her little bassinet, which I thought would be easy, but proved to be more challenging, we eventually made it and it was HEAVEN!! It was so nice to be in a quiet room. I was able to organize out stuff, I got a cot for Brandon brought in, and I figured out that TV was free and I began to enjoy the Big Bang Theory marathon that was on Dec 25-26, it was wonderful. It was in my private room that I was able to have my first nap in over 24 hours and it was heavenly. Olivia slept in my arms and I snoozed for about 45 minutes, and I felt 100% better after my nap which was great because we had visitors in the evening.

I was a little bummed that because she was born on a holiday we wouldn't have as many visitors as we would, I was so looking forward to visitors and I'm sure there may have been more if it wasn't a holiday. The ones that came made us feel so special and loved that it didn't even matter. It meant so much that they took the time out of their holiday celebrations to be with us.

The Lantz family were the first ones to visit us in our new private room. Mark, Laura and baby Noah came from celebrations with their family to visit us, and they looked so great. Noah was one adorable Santa, it was his first Christmas as well. Laura and I have been friends since grade primary, I treasure her friendship so much, so it meant a lot to have her family visit. She snuggled my girl, and I hope Olivia will have friends like Laura as she grows up. I wanted to get a picture of all of them with Olivia and when I took the picture I said to them, this is what it would look like if you had two babies, that got a good laugh out of them... they would be cute as a family of four!! Thanks Lantz family for coming to see us!

Then we had a great visit from almost all of the Bing aunties and uncles. Brandon had just returned to us, turned out when he got to work, he didn't have to be there because the place was closed. We were happy to have daddy back with us so much sooner. I was able to get a shower which was amazing and needed Christmas treat. Back to the visit, Brandon's sisters came to meet our girl and brought her older cousin Alexis to meet Olivia. It was so wonderful, aunties Chelsey, Brittany and Meaghan all cuddled and loved our girl so much. Uncles Jason and Ryan also got a quick snuggle in, although it was hard with all those loving aunties there. It was great to just chat with them since I'd been missing everyone so much this morning. It was nice to hear about Christmas and share how we'd been doing. They brought Miss Olivia some very thoughtful gifts, we especially love the blanket she got with her name and a caterpillar on it. Alexis was very cute with Olivia and just wanted to keep giving the baby kisses, it melted my heart. She wasn't 100% sure about her mother holding the baby, but she'll get better with that, it was just a new situation for her. I think Brandon was a very proud daddy showing off his little girl to his sisters!

Auntie Chelsey & uncle Ryan with Baby O... all Chelsey's nurse friends had been amazing to us

I think uncle Ryan was pretty happy to have a turn for a cuddle

auntie brittany with her second niece Olivia Mary

Cousin Alexis giving baby o kisses, it was so cute!

auntie Meaghan holding her first niece on her side of the family

Olivia being loved by the Bing ladies... I love that she has so many amazing aunties and cousins in her life to be examples of what a great girl should be.

Below... uncle Jason getting a quick cuddle!

During the evening we kept getting texts from my loving sister, showing me the delicious meal that I was going to be missing out on. I was pretty jealous, it looked delicious and I could only imagine how it was tasting fresh. It made me so sad to be missing out on the Christmas dinner especially since it was going to be the last one at the Nelson home, since they will have moved next Christmas. It was a full house at their place and it looked like a lot of fun, I wanted the kids to show me all their goodies and just to get hugs from them, I was bummed. Luckily though they made up plates for Brandon and I of dinner and dessert and it was delivered by two more visitors, Mike and Keah. They swapped the twins for the food and headed our way. It was so wonderful to see them and introduce them to Olivia. They both got some snuggles in with the little girl, and again it was just great to chat with them about the holidays so far!

Auntie kiki and Uncle Mike both smiling and happy to meet baby Olivia!

Below, Daddy was happy to be back to snuggle his little girl, he'd missed he while he was at home getting some sleep... we were so thankful to have him back, we missed him just as much!

Our last visitors of the day were Nanny and Grandpa Bing, they were not only welcome visitors, but life savers. When Christmas dinner was brought over to us, there were no eating utensils. Brandon searched the floor, but there was nothing to use, and our nurse couldn't find anything either. So we caught Brandon's family and they saved us, we were starving by the time they arrived!! They also brought us some beautiful flowers and a present for miss Olivia. They got some longer cuddles in with Olivia tonight, which I think both them and Olivia equally loved. The below picture is a Christmas favourite, Olivia and her grandpa in matching Santa hats. Grandpa Bing is like Poppy O'Hearon, they both have HUGE soft spots for their grandchildren. It's quite adorable to see!

We had a quiet night after all our visitors left, as our first full day with baby Olivia came to an end, we were both tired but so happy and filled with so much love for our new daughter. We spent the rest of the night just enjoying watching our daughter, changing her bum and feeding her. She has been a great little baby so far, she just loves to snuggle and be held. She barely makes a peep, and can be so alert sometimes, with her big dark blue eyes open. That night Brandon and I took turns with the baby. We would do shifts of a couple hours so that we both could get some sleep, the other would take care of the baby and watch Big Bang, it was a great system and we both woke up feeling so much better the next day. My first full day as a mommy was a day mixed with emotions, the strongest one being happiness, I love my little girl and am so looking forward to watching her grow.

Hope everyone had an amazing Christmas, I know that this is one that we will never ever forget for the rest of our lives. We were given the best gift any parents could ask for, a beautiful and healthy baby girl. We love you so, so much Olivia Mary!