Stella Is Here!!!

Stella Corinne Rutledge
October 25, 2012
9:30 PM
7lbs 3oz and 20 inches

One week early and Stella is finally here! Although it has been a long few days, Jeff, Stella and I are all doing well. Late Wednesday evening, I started feeling contractions. I waited until about 4:00 AM to wake Jeff up and we headed to the hospital. When we arrived at the hospital at 5:30 AM, I was about 2-3cm and then by the time I was admitted and receiving the epidural, I was 6cm. The nurses told us that this was a good sign that things were moving quickly and the baby may be born by noon. Well, after the epidural, things slowed down quite significantly. Finally, around 8:30 PM things started moving along and by 9:30 PM Stella had arrived!

Stella has had an exciting first few days. Late Thursday night we realized that she was having a little trouble breathing and there were a few instances where she choked on some of the mucous in her stomach. On Friday morning, her pediatrician recommended that she go to the NICU for additional monitoring. Four days later and unfortunately she is still there. She is doing much much better, but the doctors were nervous to send her home during the storm, in case there were issues during here first few days at home. The doctors and nurses in the NICU have been wonderful, letting us come in and out several times a day. Hopefully, if the storm calms down by tomorrow, Stella will be coming home!!!

Below are a few pictures from her first few days:

Stella getting here stats and cleaned up.  Her favorite cousin Lynn was there to help!

Proud Mom and Dad

  

 

  

   

Peacefully sleeping

Visiting with Stella in the NICU

Stella's bassinet in the NICU. One of the nice nurses made her  a sign with her name and a volunteer  gave her a blanket

Zach patiently waiting with the baby blankets for his little sister to get home!