Welcome Alyssa Rose!

I went to work on Friday feeling fine. Throughout the morning I was having contractions here and there. They started to pick up around lunchtime. My water partially broke while I was using the restroom....I thought it would be more obvious so I was unsure if it was the real deal. I called my doctor, Justin, and our mom's and went to the hospital. By the time I got there, the contractions were every 3 minutes and were painful. I was having back labor and it was much harder this time than it was with Gabe. I wasn't dialated, but they checked me and my water did break. I went ahead and opted for the repeat csection since I had a section with Gabe. Why risk it...especially since I wasn't dialated at all was laboring pretty intensly. Everything moved pretty fast from there. Alyssa was born at 2:58pm on 11/4/11. She weighed 6lbs 2oz and is 19 1/4 inches long. She's a petite thing. She was 3 weeks and 3 days early, so she was considered preterm. I thought she would be coming early the whole pregnancy. Gabe was 3 weeks early and I just felt the cues coming on that she would be early. Luckily she is perfectly healthy. She had a great cry as soon as she was born and her color was really good. They monitored her for jaundice. Jaundice can happen when you are born early and can be more severe when the baby's blood type differs from the mother (I am O+ and Alyssa is Justin's blood type A+). Luckily her bilirubin levels were fine. Her weight didn't drop too much. Nursing is going a little slow. Sometimes she latches on great and other times she falls asleep or gets impatient and cries which is typical of preterm infants. They encouraged me to stay with it and give her a week or two and she'll catch up. It was nice to have the weekend at the hospital to recover. Justin was running around back and forth to take care of Gabe and finalize things at home for her early arrival. Gabe came to the hospital on Saturday to visit. He is very cute with her. He says baby and pats her when we tell him to be gentle. He'll give here a kiss and then he's off to play with something else. We came home today. It was nice to get settled in when Gabe was at school. This evening went well. I tried to give him some attention and he ate well and was talking well like everything was normal. He does have a little bit of a runny nose, so I'm hoping he doesn't get a cold. It would be really bad timing. I am doing well....a little tired of course, but in a good way. It was so nice this time around to be able to come home from the hospital as a family. While I know it will be difficult and sleep deprived I don't have the worry I did with Gabe. The first 2 weeks will be difficult since I can't lift Gabe after having my csection, but we'll make it. Luckily we have lots of help. I am happy, tired, but very happy.

If there's something strange in the neighborhood...who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters!

It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!

Picking out my pumpkin

The ducks at the petting zoo were my favorite

I fed the animals

Kinman Farm's Pumpkin Patch

some of Gabe's favorite things to play with

Books
Blocks
Tupperware

Piano
Such a great rainy, lazy day today with my buddy.

Less than 6 weeks left!

I'm very excited about pink and purple. Gabe's new room is below. It's plain, but we'll paint the walls and give it a theme once he is in a big boy bed.
My c-section (repeat section) is scheduled the day before Thanksgiving....if I make it that long. Everything is coming along nicely and I'm beginning to feel as if we are as ready as we can be. I would still like to go through some closets and get rid of some clutter, but the major nesting duties are taken care of.

Look Mom...I'm a fish!

Gabe loves swim class! He splashes and kicks his feet. He floats on his back and glides through the water on his belly. He even likes to jump in and (briefly) put his head under. The only thing he won't do....blow bubbles.

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month

Many mothers of children with Down Syndrome who Blog, post everyday in October to help raise awareness regarding Trisomy 21 (aka Down Syndrome). I know it would be unrealistic with me being very pregnant and working 32 hours/week to post every single day, but I do promise to post more. This month I will post some info on Down Syndrome, Gabe's therapy, and all the things in life Gabe loves.
Gabe does have significant delays with his motor skills. He is very stubborn when it comes to movement. This is somewhat related to his hospitilization as an infant and lack of tummy time, his heart surgery, and most of all, his lower muscle tone. He has made great strides this summer though. We are currently focusing on getting his ab muscles stronger to help with the upright balancing that is required with standing and walking. Gabe is definitely a two year old and cannot know he is working, or else he will refuse to cooperate. Our physical therapist, Justin, and myself have the challenging task of strengthening Gabe's abs and getting him moving without realizing the effort he is putting forth. We have been able to do this in a couple of ways...check out the pics.