Ashlinn Update!

Ashlinn had her 2 week check up last Friday on her 3 week birthday. Our doctor's office is really busy right now, so they couldn't get us in for an appointment until a week late. Friday was actually her due date since we had her at 37 weeks due to my health problems.

The good news is that she is doing really well. She still has a bit of jaundice, but it's nothing to worry about anymore. The bad news is that she was just barely back at her birth weight at 3 weeks instead of 2 like the doctors prefer. The two of us had a bit of a rough start with nursing. You'd think after this many kids, nursing would be a breeze, but not this time. Between Ashlinn being a little early and having jaundice ( not quite bad enough for treatment, but close) and me having the c-section and my blood pressure getting worse after her birth instead of better, we had some difficulties. I think we're over the worst of it now, but she might be going in for another weight check this week just to make sure.

Miss Ashlinn already tracks objects, rolls from her back or stomach to her sides and vice versa, and holds her head up. We've tried convincing her that it's okay to just be a baby, but she doesn't seem convinced.

Her siblings are quite thrilled with her! She is a bit apprehensive around the little ones, but still seems to enjoy the attention as long as a bigger person is nearby. I can't believe she's almost a month old already!

Eighteen!

Today was Devon's eighteenth birthday! That's right, eighteen! It doesn't really seem possible.

Devon's big present is a passport. That way she can be ready to travel out of the country as soon as she saves up enough money to go. I know, if we were really good parents, we would have given her the trip out of the country too, but that's an expensive precedent to set when we have 7 more kids to follow.

Brenna was so excited about Devon's new hair straightener that she opened it herself before Devon had a chance.

She also got a new hair dryer, that way I get mine back.

And a pair of headphones, so she doesn't have to listen to the little kids when she's on the computer.

Then we all went out to our favorite restaurant, New Peking, for dinner.

Baby Carlitos and his parents were able to join us! Owen loves his nephew so much and the affection seems to be mutual. Carlitos was kissing Owen too.

Devon has one class left to finish her Pastry Certification. Then she will only be going to school to practice for the big cooking competition in May since she has a spot on the competition team. She finished up her internship at the Co-op last month and just started working at Lynden Dutch Bakery. It is so amazing to see all of her hard work paying off and to watch as she follows her dreams.

Happy Birth Day Ashlinn!

You might be the 8th (10th) child if it takes your parents over a week to download your birth pictures off the digital camera. Unlike the first child, where we'd gotten actual prints developed before we even left the hospital.

We had a c-section planned for Monday the 26th, but at my appointment on Thursday, things weren't going so well. Baby wasn't reacting the way the doctors wanted to the non-stress test and her fluid levels were right on the borderline of being too low. Add in the fact that my blood pressure had taken a huge jump upward again and the doctor decided to put us in the hospital overnight for fluids and monitoring and move the c-section up to Friday the 23rd.

The c-section itself went much better than last time. The only complications were trying to get functional lines into my apparently non-functional veins and arteries. Once they gave up on the arterial line (after 3 failed tries) and finally got one working and one partially working I.V. into me the rest of the surgery went off without a hitch. The standby trauma nurse never even had to come into the O.R.

Baby Ashlinn Sophia weighed 8lbs. 5.9 oz. and was 20 inches long, so not quite as big as the doctors were expecting although plenty big enough for being barely 37 weeks.

long skinny feet, just like all the other kids

Can you believe those cheeks?

Unfortunately, the younger kids all got sick and weren't able to come to the hospital for a visit. The older kids managed to kick their colds in time though.

Carlitos wasn't allowed to visit with his Mommy. Nieces and nephews have to be at least 12 even if they are the baby's nieces and nephews, not the Mommy's nieces and nephews.

Grandma's service dog, Barkley, was allowed to visit. He found the baby to be quite fascinating.

Ashlinn wasn't too excited about her carseat at first. She was much happier once the car started moving.

Her siblings were sure excited about her coming home! Even Owen who really wanted a brother, not a sister. It took him about an hour before he was telling us how much he loved THIS baby even if she was a girl.