Nick and I were just kind of laughing about this past week, and everything that has happened. It has gone by very fast, luckily, because it has been one of the craziest and most difficult we've had together. This is a very long post, but it is documenting part of our lives, so here you go, if you are interested in reading.
Starting with the birth of little Teslyn Becca Miller. Nick and I decided to be scheduled to have my water broken to get things going, and the baby here before his midterms the next week. And my very helpful sister and her fiance had fall break that week, so they came to hang out with Owen. There are a lot of fun details, but I will try to make it brief here. I was scheduled to deliver at one hospital, but was sent to another when we found out they didn't accept our type of insurance. Bummer for me. Luckily I wasn't in real labor, or that could have been crazy. So, upon being admitted at the hospital, I was having mild irregular contractions and I was dilated to a 4-5. I had the nurse break my water, and was then at a 6. They knew I was attempting this birth natural, like I had with Owen's. They told me I had 2 hours to progress on my own, then they would have to hook me up to pitocin. I was trying to avoid that. After 2 hours, not much progress. The nurse said she'd give me 15 more minutes, and allowed me to get off the bed to stand and walk, like I had been hoping to. That brought the contractions on pretty quick. After doing that for a while, they got so intense, I didn't think I could handle it any more. They were coming on stronger and harder than I had remembered with Owen. I climbed into the bed and begged for an epidural. The nurse informed me that the anesthesiologist had just left, thinking I was doing it natural, but he could be back in 20 minutes. The nurse then quickly started to prep the room and start a fluid iv for the epidural. At that point, the contractions were on top of each other, no break in between to relax, and I could feel the baby coming. I paniked, called for the nurse, the doctor, anyone to just come quick! Nick almost sacrificed his right hand and the pocket of his shorts, I was gripping so tight. The anesthesiologist showed up at that point and asked if I wanted the epidural. I said, "it's too late, the baby is coming!" The nurse checked me and sure enough, I was at a 10 and the head was crowning. She told me to not push because the doctor wasn't there yet. I didn't push. The baby just practically fell out at that point. That's how strong those contractions were! My doctor walked in about then. She was bugged that she wasn't called sooner, but in the nurses' defense, I progressed much faster than anyone expected. But all that mattered was that little Teslyn Becca was here, safe and healthy. She weighed in at 6 lbs. 14 oz. and 19 1/4 in. The nurse told me that from the time she broke my water to when the baby came out, was just 3 hours and 37 minutes. I was amazed. The doctor told me my next one might come in the parking lot!
I forgot to mention that I went in to have that baby while I had a sore throat. The day after I got home, that cold hit me pretty hard. I was feverish and had chills, which made me a little nervous with the flu going around. Being pregnant, giving birth and nursing is pretty demanding on your body, and trying to fight a cold doesn't help. But luckily Nick's mom flew in to take care of us. And it's a dang good thing she did! Monday Nick came home from school early with abdominal pains. We all thought it was his ulcer for the longest time. He is a stress case and gets hearburn kinda frequently, so it wouldn't surprise us. By evening it didn't get better, so we called his brother-in-law who is the bishop in his ward, and also the elders quorum president of our ward. They both so willingly showed up so quickly to give Nick a blessing. It was an amazing one. But Nick was in so much pain, I asked his mom to take him to the hospital. I sat at home with the two kiddos, worried sick. A few hours and uncomfortable tests later, he went in to surgery to get his appendix removed. Later, Nick's mom told me the scariest part. When he got there and he was in so much pain, they gave him morphine to help. That wasn't enough to help. They had to dose him up so much, that when he was comfortable enough to sleep, he would stop breathing. She paniked and woke him up, and he would start breathing again. That lasted a little while. I told her it was a good thing I wasn't there, I would have completely lost it if I saw my husband like that! Nick was released the next afternoon. That was a very long and miserable day for me as well. The poor guy was back in school the next day. He had to, there were midterm tests, quizes and practicals to take! He even studied in the hospital while he was waiting to be released. He is such a trooper. His mom extended her flight home a day later, to help keep this little family in one piece.
We have since felt so much love and support from our ward and friends here. They have all been so amazing and helpful. Owen loves his baby sister, and that baby sister has been an angel. Seriously. She sleeps through the night. All night. I almost feel guilty not waking her to feed or change her. Last night she went to sleep at 11 pm and I woke her up to feed her when she starting stirring at 6:30 am. I really hope that lasts.
In all the trauma, illness and trial, I have felt very blessed. I guess that is a gift I have, to feel like things could always be worse. I am grateful Nick wasn't getting his appendix out the same time I was delivering a baby. I am grateful that my sister came to stay with Owen, and I didn't have to worry about him spending the night away from home his first time. I am eternally grateful to Nick's mom, who decided last minute to fly out and help. I am grateful that my little family is on the mend, and that there are lots of fun things for the 4 of us to look forward to doing together. As soon as I am brave enough to take this tiny baby out. I still can't believe she is so small. At her 4 day check up, she had lost a few ounces (which is normal) and she was exactly a pound less than Owen weighed at birth. Owen chunked up pretty quick, and I hope she does as well because she seems so small and fragile! Don't worry though, she is a great eater. It's just a matter of time. Honestly though, I can't wait to have Nick back to full daddy capability. That will be nice. He's getting there.

And here is one I just took today. Owen had been taking way too long of a nap so Teslyn and I went in to wake him up, unsuccessfully. He didn't even move, and then slept for almost another hour. I guess this past week has worn him out as well!