The Mills Family: Happy Birthday to Elizabeth Rose!

Well, today is September 2nd, the day we have been waiting for. Today was the day we finally got to meet Elizabeth Rose, our daughter!

Our day started out at 5:00 AM with the alarm going off. I could have slept longer since it doesn't take me as long to get ready, but what the heck. Sleeplessness is something everyone keeps telling me I need to get used to.

We headed out to the minivan at 6:40 to head to the hospital for our 7:00 check in (Mills, room for two, eventually 3)! Well, we hop in the van and go to start it and NOTHING!!!! Dead battery. So it was throw everything into the Neon and head into Alexandria in that. I can't remember the last time Denise rode in the Neon. It was probably one of the hockey trips to Bemidji and she got what we thought was car sick. We later found out she was pregnant!

Once we finally got to Douglas County Hospital, Denise had to have some blood drawn and then it was off to our closet, I mean, room. The room is tiny, so much, that when Denise, myself and Libby are in there and a nurse walks in, we have to do a nice waltz to get everyone to move where they need to be. Denise was a troublesome patient right from the start as they had a heck of a time finding a vein to put her IV in. They tried one arm, went to the other one, then went back to the first as one of the veins reappeared. It was a quick stab, nurse Michelle (there will be a theme here) nailed it and it was done.

9:30 came and went, and we eventually found out that they were running behind in the OR rooms. Denise was eventually wheeled off to get her spinal in the preop area and I was left waiting outside the OR area. What seemed like an eternity passed and I was finally escorted back to OR 2 to be with Denise and watch the procedure. I found out that they had a very hard time getting the spinal in and that they were close to putting Denise under for the procedure.

The C-Section was AWESOME, from what I could see. Dr. Michelle Mirau (yes, another Michelle) explained everything she was doing very nicely so Denise and I knew what was going on. I was able to stand at the head of the bed holding Denise's hand and watch the procedure. I got some nice pictures that I will get posted after all of this.

After Libby was out, I was escorted to the other side of the room to be with our daughter while they stitched Denise back together. I was able to witness all the tests and even Libby's first poo! Once she was cleaned up and the tests were run, it was time to see mom. We had our first family picture taken and then it was off to the nursery for Libby and myself while Denise went to Recovery.

At the nursery, I was able to spend the whole time with Elizabeth until Denise arrived back at the room. Everything went well with Libby's APGAR scores being a 9 both times they ran it. She weighed in at 9 pounds, 6 ounces and was 21 inches long. Once mom was back to the room, Libby and myself were off to our home for the next couple of days.

Grampa Curtis and Grandma Rosemary, along with Grandma Vicky were on hand to meet Libby this morning. Tonight, Grampa Curtis and Grandma Rosemary, along with Grampa Wayne and Grandma Vicky will visit again and bond with their newest grand daughter.

Denise is doing very well! The spinal took hold a little better than they had hoped, so it took a little longer to wear off. She now is getting feeling back and moving her legs around. She just finished her supper of chicken broth, jello, black tea and grape juice. Tomorrow, they will get her up and walking and start her on a more solid diet.

Dad is doing very well also. I am a little sleepy, catching five minutes of nap here and there when I can. It has been awesome holding little Elizabeth most of the afternoon and just taking everything in.

Elizabeth has been the biggest surprise out of all of this. She has hardly cried and is very alert, moving her eyes around already and trying to move her head around while in the bassinet or being held. She follows our voices around very well also. She took to breast feeding like a trooper and once her stomach is full, she is off to sleep again. Right now, she is back at the nursery, getting her first bath and sitting under the warmer for a spell since her temp dropped a little. We have chosen a pediatrician, and her name is Michelle also.

Here are some pictures from the day. Some are a little graphic, but I was just in awe of everything and snapping away when I could!

Mom and Dad, pre-procedure!