*** This post has been in the making since Tuesday May 31. I am no longer in the hospital with Lana like it says below, we are home al7amdulillah!***
Yousef is a big brother as of Monday May 30, 2011!
This post will be short as I am updating from my mom's iPad at the hospital (yes, still).
Lana was born at 9:35 pm on Monday night. She came rather quickly, really. My contractions started around 8 am that day, but were sporadic until about 1 pm. My husband and I left my parents' house in Sugar Land (Yousef was enjoying the pool with nana and his cousins). On our way to his parents' house for lunch (my family was coming over later) we stopped by Baby's First store to pick up our new double stroller (yay!)
In the car, my contractions started becoming regular, so we went home to pick up the hospital bag just in case. At lunch at my in-laws house, the contractions became more intense and closer together. We inhaled some food (yummyyyy stuffed grape leaves) and left for the hospital. I was admitted at around 4 pm at 5 cm dilated (halfway!). It wasn't long before both grandmas came to keep me company at the hospital with my husband. I soon got the epidural and the rest was smooth sailing al7amdulillah. About five hours after I got to the hospital, Lana Mohamed Elkadi was born.
I was overwhelmed with emotions as they laid her on my chest. The weight of your newborn child on your chest after labor and delivery is beyond any feeling I can describe. But I'll try. You feel like you've been brought to life again. Like this weight on your chest is the biggest blessing you may ever have from God. Like nothing that just happened that day mattered but that very instant. At this moment you are comforted, like she is telling you "I'm here mom, it's ok." I'll never forget that feeling for as long as I live. Because it was at that moment I felt a new (and renewed) purpose in life-to be a mother to this amazing gift and miracle from God.
Yousef came to visit her about an hour after she was born. His grandpa brought him to the hospital dressed in a button down shirt, linen pants, and brown leather sandals. And there it was before my very own eyes, my baby is all grown up! Well, for the most part. We made the mistake of forgetting to hide the baby's gift to him (Hokey Pokey Elmo). So naturally, he was drawn to the furry red creature that seems to be the center of his world these days. And immediately, without even looking at me, he ran to Elmo and with delight called out to him "Elmo!"
It took us some time to get him to refocus on me and the baby. We changed his shirt to a new one I bought him that says "BIG BRO." Dad picked him up to see the baby and I, but he wouldn't look at either one of us. He was too concerned with Elmo. But the moment he laid eyes on Lana, he seemed as though in a trance. He looked at her with great curiosity as if to say "what is this little thing my mom is holding?" It didn't last long, and he was soon back on the floor playing with Elmo. Then, dad took Lana to him. He finally acknowledged her and stared blankly before giving her a small, gentle kiss on the head. But again, it was back to Elmo. :)
Lana was born rather large mashaAllah, so during the delivery, her left collar bone broke. Apparently it is very common with big babies, but it's hard knowing your baby might be in pain and there's nothing you can do about it. I was very upset about this, but have come to realize that it was a blessing in disguise. Had her shoulders gotten stuck, there was a risk of more devastating nerve damage. So for this I say al7amdulillah, everything happens for a reason.
We ended up staying extra nights in the hospital, as Lana had jaundice and they wanted to keep her under the Bili-light. The first night, he levels went up rather than down, so we spent another night. The hospital allowed me to stay in another smaller room to "nest." This means I was not officially a patient and was free to come and go as I pleased, but that I was allowed to spend the nights (and even eat!). LOL. Eat. I remember the hospital food being better when I was there with Yousef. But it wasn't so bad this time, it was bearable. Let's just say I'm glad to be home for SURE!
Around 5 pm on Friday June 3, we finally left after getting the final results of her last blood test. Yousef and his daddy came to pick us up. We gathered our belongings, took our first family pictures in real clothes, and headed on our way! It is a such a relief to be home with my babies, my mom to help (God bless her), and my supportive husband al7amdulillah!
Keep counting your blessings, because we really have so many:)
A few pics of our first days together:
Here we go, the adventure begins! Wish us luck:)
Yousef is a big brother as of Monday May 30, 2011!
This post will be short as I am updating from my mom's iPad at the hospital (yes, still).
Lana was born at 9:35 pm on Monday night. She came rather quickly, really. My contractions started around 8 am that day, but were sporadic until about 1 pm. My husband and I left my parents' house in Sugar Land (Yousef was enjoying the pool with nana and his cousins). On our way to his parents' house for lunch (my family was coming over later) we stopped by Baby's First store to pick up our new double stroller (yay!)
In the car, my contractions started becoming regular, so we went home to pick up the hospital bag just in case. At lunch at my in-laws house, the contractions became more intense and closer together. We inhaled some food (yummyyyy stuffed grape leaves) and left for the hospital. I was admitted at around 4 pm at 5 cm dilated (halfway!). It wasn't long before both grandmas came to keep me company at the hospital with my husband. I soon got the epidural and the rest was smooth sailing al7amdulillah. About five hours after I got to the hospital, Lana Mohamed Elkadi was born.
I was overwhelmed with emotions as they laid her on my chest. The weight of your newborn child on your chest after labor and delivery is beyond any feeling I can describe. But I'll try. You feel like you've been brought to life again. Like this weight on your chest is the biggest blessing you may ever have from God. Like nothing that just happened that day mattered but that very instant. At this moment you are comforted, like she is telling you "I'm here mom, it's ok." I'll never forget that feeling for as long as I live. Because it was at that moment I felt a new (and renewed) purpose in life-to be a mother to this amazing gift and miracle from God.
Yousef came to visit her about an hour after she was born. His grandpa brought him to the hospital dressed in a button down shirt, linen pants, and brown leather sandals. And there it was before my very own eyes, my baby is all grown up! Well, for the most part. We made the mistake of forgetting to hide the baby's gift to him (Hokey Pokey Elmo). So naturally, he was drawn to the furry red creature that seems to be the center of his world these days. And immediately, without even looking at me, he ran to Elmo and with delight called out to him "Elmo!"
It took us some time to get him to refocus on me and the baby. We changed his shirt to a new one I bought him that says "BIG BRO." Dad picked him up to see the baby and I, but he wouldn't look at either one of us. He was too concerned with Elmo. But the moment he laid eyes on Lana, he seemed as though in a trance. He looked at her with great curiosity as if to say "what is this little thing my mom is holding?" It didn't last long, and he was soon back on the floor playing with Elmo. Then, dad took Lana to him. He finally acknowledged her and stared blankly before giving her a small, gentle kiss on the head. But again, it was back to Elmo. :)
Lana was born rather large mashaAllah, so during the delivery, her left collar bone broke. Apparently it is very common with big babies, but it's hard knowing your baby might be in pain and there's nothing you can do about it. I was very upset about this, but have come to realize that it was a blessing in disguise. Had her shoulders gotten stuck, there was a risk of more devastating nerve damage. So for this I say al7amdulillah, everything happens for a reason.
We ended up staying extra nights in the hospital, as Lana had jaundice and they wanted to keep her under the Bili-light. The first night, he levels went up rather than down, so we spent another night. The hospital allowed me to stay in another smaller room to "nest." This means I was not officially a patient and was free to come and go as I pleased, but that I was allowed to spend the nights (and even eat!). LOL. Eat. I remember the hospital food being better when I was there with Yousef. But it wasn't so bad this time, it was bearable. Let's just say I'm glad to be home for SURE!
Around 5 pm on Friday June 3, we finally left after getting the final results of her last blood test. Yousef and his daddy came to pick us up. We gathered our belongings, took our first family pictures in real clothes, and headed on our way! It is a such a relief to be home with my babies, my mom to help (God bless her), and my supportive husband al7amdulillah!
Keep counting your blessings, because we really have so many:)
A few pics of our first days together:
Lana all comfy and cozy! MashaAllah
Yousef's First Look at Baby Lana!
Our First Family Photo
Smiling because she is happy to go home finally!
Proud Big Brother!
First Family Photo in real clothes!
Yousef watching over his little sister:)
