So back in 2010 when we first moved here ... I became friends with a woman named Tammy. We were best friends. There was a lot of drama in our friendship, it got to the point where I had to cut her out of my life for awhile, but we were starting to talk again and patch things up when she unexpectedly died. First thing I said when I found out she died - was - that her current husband had a hand in it. The story was extremely fishy.
Regardless.... her daughter and Calahan dated for a bit (the girl was actually the one who introduced Cal and Alana!) ... and I met her son Kale, and Kale and I instantly had this special bond.
So when I found out they needed support last summer, we took them in - without hesitation.
In addition to taking Kale in, we took his girlfriend in too. (Fiancee now) ... and she previously had a daughter with another man. Clairah doesn't live with us, but she is such a sunny love in our lives. We found out earlier this year - that Shila was pregnant.
Actually - I had a dream or a feeling that she was pregnant - started doing the math in my head and was very much convinced she was. There was a slim chance her birth control was still messing with her though. She'd been having some birth control complications.
So yes, Elly is a birth control baby.
Anyway - she took a couple tests, and sure enough.
This is my favorite picture of her pregnant. She was 38+ Weeks.... almost 39. Just a couple days before Elly was born.
So we got to the hospital, and I asked her to stand by the doors to the hospital, Instead she had to hug a handicapped sign and be sassy. LOL. Kale took a picture of me - taking a picture of them. LOL...
So we got there about a half hour early. I had put up a status about how they made us wait in the waiting room... it went something like...
Got here early - usually that's encouraged - but we're told we're too early. The hospital elves slacking on getting the rooms ready? Like if she were to get back into a room, it wouldn't be the same room 30 minutes from now?
My mom said "It's not a hotel!" ..... truth ... give mom a point for that!
But there were two women who had come in huffing and puffing in labor right before Shila.
Getting ready to get this baby out!
He might look calm, but seriously - he is soooooooooo freaking out.
Last kiss before they meet Elly!!
Daddy getting ready to go see an Elly in his Monkey Doctor Suit ....
Selfies!!!
Monkey Suit Daddy
We're gonna have a a baby!!!
Kale took the pictures with my camera back in the operating room...
Kale got the nurses to POSE ... lol...
Little bit of a birth story - from what I saw and what I've heard from Mom and Dad.
So ...... to start things out, when Shila was getting her IV ... Kale was sitting on the side of the bed, looking at the door of the room. (I did't *hear* this - I witnessed it) ... Kale is not a fan of needles.... so he was looking at the door, with his hand to his side and behind him, where he didn't have to WATCH Shila get the IV but she had his hand as support. Only, when Shila yelled "Oh MY Gawd that's a HUGE NEEDLE" .... Kale was breaking HER hand instead of her squeezing his... and he was all .... "the room is spinning now" .... and Shila eventually said "stop trying to break my hand!"
No one really slept the night prior to Elly's birth. We were all too excited. Kale and Shi didn't fall asleep until around 5am or after from what I heard. We let them sleep until 8:30-9am. We had to be at the hospital at 10am.
So when Shila was taken back to the O.R. and she says that the spinal was hard on her, she kept moving, it was hard to sit still for her and lean into the needle like they need you to do ... she said Kale had to leave the room. He couldn't deal with the needle but I'm proud of him for trying. He said he did fine once the spinal was done.
Shila kept falling asleep during the operation. She said that she felt this HUGE pop and a jerk - it jerked her whole body.... and she said "what was that?" and was told it was probably her water breaking. But Kale over heard that Elly had a grasp on Shila's insides and wouldn't let go. And then Elly wouldn't cry - he says they "spanked" her twice and she just looked at them like ... "and you want me to do what?"
Shila said she didn't cry for a long time, too. She kept thinking something was wrong because she wouldn't cry.
So we were told that she would be back there for about an hour as long as there were no complications, and then she'd be brought back with the baby for an hour or two during "recovery" and everyone would have to leave but 1 person - we assumed this meant Dad, but found out it was one additional person. So anyway - they took her back at 11:50 AM.... her c-section was scheduled for Noon. So we figured 1 PM. By 1:05 PM I was pacing. Not even joking. I'd go stand in the door, walk to the closet, go to the door and stand there staring down everyone ... go back to the room... Oye. She FINALLY came in at about 1:30 PM and I instantly fell in love.
One of the first things I did was take her (Elly's) hat off to see if she had hair. The one thing that Shi kept saying she really really wanted was that Elly would have hair. And boy oh boy does she!! I told Shila "Honey, you got your wish!"
She was born at 12:39 PM ... 6 lbs 8 ounces, and 19 inches long. 33 cm head circumference and her APGARS were 8 & 9 I found out. We expected her to be a lot bigger than a 6 pounder! Kale kept talking about how huge Cookson babies are, and Clairah was almost 10 lbs at birth. We didn't expect this tiny little girl.
I looooooove tiny hands and fee. Love!
We put this hat on for her hospital photo but she ended up with something else. LOL.... Security didn't come in and didn't come in.....
Many faces of Elly .... She was hungry right away. She latched on the VERY FIRST try and has really had zero problems nursing. Shi had typical nursing issues of pain and soreness. But both of them are absolute CHAMPS at it. I kept asking her what her wishes were with nursing so I was absolutely straight on it - and could help her advocate what she wanted. She wanted to exclusively nurse, so that's what we did. And not ONCE did I hear her complain about not sleeping or being woken up. She was and is amazing! Both of them are.
Here is a comparison of Clairah (now 2 years old) and Elly ... side by side.
Momma nursing!
Here is the super proud and absolutely smittened Poppy!
Nonna (me) with my little Elly-belly!
Many faces of Ellyanne Rae... we got "birth day" smiles and eyes wide open at times....
I ended up leaving them alone that first night. Told them if they needed ANYTHING to let me know and I'd come back.
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