Not in the Books

4 weeks old!

Look how big Charlotte is getting already! I think if you sit and listen real carefully, you can hear her growing!! She's staying awake for longer periods of time, tracking people and objects, sleeping in 3-hour chunks at night, and growing out of all of her adorable newborn clothes! Believe it or not, I did not pose her at all for that photo! 

Charlotte meets 2nd cousin Evan

Ben's Aunt Peggy and cousins Jenn and Megan came to visit today. Charlotte's second cousins Bronwyn, Drayson, and Evan gave her some of their toys and clothes that they no longer use. A big THANK YOU for sharing!! :o) 

Charlotte napping with Grandma Val

While Ben was playing a gig in Springfield, Charlotte and I went to hang out at Grandma & Grandpa's house. She got to hang out with Grandma Val & Grandpa Jim & Uncle Joey. 

Before Charlotte was born, I read several baby books - books about pregnancy, delivery, and caring for a newborn. None of those books prepared me for this week... 

I came home Monday evening to cook supper before Ben got home from work. Just 5 minutes or so after getting home, I started bleeding very heavily. I called Ben's mom (a nurse) and asked her to come over - I didn't know how bad it would be and was afraid I'd pass out while home alone with the baby. His dad ended up driving me to the ER to get checked out. After several hours, blood tests, and ultrasounds, they sent me home saying "sometimes this happens." No answer. I called my doctor the next morning and she basically said, "Sometimes this happens. Call me if it happens again." Later that day, I was quietly sitting in my recliner with Charlotte when I felt another gush... I set the baby down in her rocker, grabbed my phone, and proceeded to panic my way to the bathroom. This time was worse...

I called Ben's dad - luckily he was home. He came right over, grabbed the baby, and called 911. Knowing there could be any number of high school classmates on the volunteer emergency team, I was worried about who might show up. Lucky for me, it was my good friend Teri (and her mom)! Teri did a great job calming me down and helping me out of the bathroom. I was terrified! I had never been a patient in an ambulance and there were about 20 people in my living room. Jim came with me & called my parents and Ben's grandma and brother Joey stayed with Charlotte. Everyone was trying to get ahold of Ben, but his phone had died. Jim actually called ISU PD to ask them to hunt him down on campus! 

I was taken to St. Francis in Peoria - a different ER. Again... tests & exams. Only to be told "sometimes this happens. Call your doctor in the morning." Ugh I was so frustrated!! Wednesday morning, I made an appointment to see my doctor. Val stayed with me all day in case I had another 'episode.' After another ultrasound, my doctor deemed it necessary for me to have a dilation & evacuation procedure done that night to remove a piece of retained placenta - and anything else in there that might be causing trouble. We immediately went to the hospital for same-day surgery. It was fast and relatively painless... my throat hurt for a couple of days from the breathing tube and my body ached from the general anesthesia. My mom spent Thursday helping me with the baby, and my dad hung out with me Friday evening. I'm soooo happy we're here in IL - close to family. I don't know what we would have done without them this week! 

On the bright side, having different people over at the house taking care of Charlotte has really improved the cats' tolerance levels of other people! Donny even let Jim pick him up to brush him one night! 

I'm feeling much better now! We're very thankful that this complication wasn't anything more severe. More importantly, we're so thankful that sweet Charlotte is happy and healthy and surrounded by people who love her!