Beautiful Bella

Bella is changing everyday. She is the most wonderful gift that I have been given. The love I feel for her is amazing. It is the same love I feel for Luke and Grace, but the love happened differently. It is crazy to think I carried her for 9 months, and loved her for 9 months and took her with me everywhere for 9 months...I still can hardly manage to part with her. She is a gift and I am so thankful for the miracle that is Isabella...I was told she wouldn't happen...that she couldn't happen without "medical intervention". But here she is...perfect..beautiful...and healthy.

She had her 2 week check up yesterday. She has gained a pound since leaving the hospital!!! She also grew an inch (20 inches). The doctor is happy with her progress and said she is a wonderful, healthy little love. We think so too!

This is Bella just hours old when I finally made it to the recovery room after the c-section.

Bella and I getting to know one another....

The new and complete Dahl family on Easter. Just the 5 of us.....

Welcome To The World...Isabella Mary-Ann

Isabella Mary-Ann arrived Wednesday, March 24, 2010 @ 8:13am. She weighed 6 pounds 7 ounces and was 19 inches long. We are at home and doing well adjusting to life. We are beyond thrilled with her. She was born via c-section due to my high blood pressure. Everything went well and the recovery has been pretty easy. We are all in love.

This Time Next Week....

So...we are going to have our baby girl on Wednesday, March 24th. We are very excited. My c section got moved up due to my high blood pressure. I have had more tests and blood taken and even a 24 hour urine collection (which let me tell how much fun that was). Monday is my pre-op with the doctor and the hospital. I am very excited, yet nervous at the same time. It is nice to plan everything out and weird to know when it is going to happen. I am really ready to move on to the next phase of this journey...I can't believe it is almost here.

Here are a few pictures as promised from my baby shower at church last Sunday.

Me and my huge baby!

My sweet son who had to come to the baby shower because his sister had pink eye and dad had to stay home with her.

A closer look at my huge belly :)

Me and Mom

36 weeks

My blood pressure continues to rise slowly. The doctor is now taking additional steps to ensure my safety and the baby's. I started non-stress tests bi-weekly at the hospital. This is where they hook me up to all the monitors and I push a button when I feel her move. Tomorrow I have another test and then an ultrasound to check the level of fluid in there. I see the doctor on Tuesday and maybe we might have some more answers, but it might be that we are just waiting. I have a c-section scheduled for April 9th but neither the doctor nor anyone else believes I am going to make it that far. I am swelling a lot in my hands and feet. I am pretty uncomfortable and it takes forever to fall asleep. I started maternity leave on Friday, so it is really starting to feel real.

My church gave me a baby shower today and my work gave me one last Wednesday. I am overwhelmed by the generosity of friends that they would think of us and spoil us with all this wonderful stuff. My heart is full.

I just wanted to give a quick update. I will post pictures and update after tomorrow's appointment.

35 weeks

I am 35 weeks pregnant. My blood pressure is high. I am now seeing the doctor on a weekly basis and monitoring my blood pressure 2 times per day. Baby Dahl will be delivered by C-Section. That is what I know. I do not know when. My blood pressure will decide that. Currently, my doctor has not hit the panic button yet, but I am monitored closely. He told me "we have to make sure we keep her in the best nursery for her, yours or ours". Right now "my" nursery is the better choice, but for how long....I don't know. I am not nervous for the c-section. I know it is the right decision for us and her. With my history and now blood pressure, we don't want her going to into distress and then ending up with an emergency c-section.

I am very uncomfortable. I am not sleeping well. I am nauseous again at night (fun). At least this time there is an end in sight. I am still working but for how long...only time will tell. I am tired and emotional and I really can't wait to meet her.

The kids are going to celebrate their birthday's at Chuck E Cheese on Saturday. They are so excited and I will make sure to post pictures. I am excited not to have to clean for the party, clean up from the party and be creative and plan the whole thing. I just have to show up and watch the kids have a great time.

33 Weeks

7 weeks left! I can hardly wait to meet her. I can't believe that I am 33 weeks pregnant. Well...I feel 33 weeks pregnant :) I had another doctor's appointment on Tuesday and all is well. My blood pressure is normal, baby is growing on target and sounds good. So, I will return in another 2 weeks for another appointment. The baby turned head down so I am getting a lot of movement and kicks very high up near my ribs (fun). Also, the baby is having the hiccups a lot which is very interesting.

I am not sleeping well these days. Between getting up and going to the bathroom and not being able to sleep on my stomach, I am pretty miserable. I am still working my short shift at school. The doctor sees no reason to take me off work at this point, so I am waddling around the school. I am pretty big and have gotten all the "fun" comments that go with it. If I hadn't suffered from infertility for 7 years I might have taken offense to some of the comments, but I don't mind.

I am starting to look forward to not being pregnant and getting back into the swing of things with my kids. I miss not being the mom on the floor and playing with the kids. This has been one of the most difficult things of this pregnancy is how much it has affected my body and how I have been unable to function like my normal self. I will however miss feeling her move around. I hope I can remember that feeling forever.

Baby Shower

On February 6th, my mother-in-law had a baby shower for me. It was a lot of fun and I had a really nice time. Grace was a big helper and Luke enjoyed taking photographs. The baby got some really fun clothes and lots of other things too.

My mom, Audra and Audra's Mom.

Me with a beautiful quilt my cousin Cathy had made for me.

Grace and I getting ready to play baby bingo.

Thank you to everyone who made the day special.