How to know your baby isn't jaundice anymore

David: "Hey Momma! Elisabeth is growing white skin like the rest of us."

Thanksgiving Thanks

During our Thanksgiving dinner, we went around the table and shared our thankful thoughts.

Daddy: I am thankful that I am not in the Army and deployed to Iraq. I am very thankful to be with my family this Thanksgiving.
Jonathan: I am thankful for my bike.
Gran: I am thankful for my husband and that he is alive. I am thankful for each of my NINE grandchildren! I am thankful to be with family.
Daddo: I am thankful for Gran and how she takes care of me. I am thankful for Jonathan, David, Thomas, Elisabeth, Anna Marie, Brianna, Boris Jr., Matt and Sarah and for all of their families.
David: I am thankful for my family.
Momma: I am thankful for Elisabeth and that her birth went well. I am extremely thankful for my family.
Thomas: I am thankful for movies. I am thankful for the sun.
Elisabeth: She was thankful for her bouncy seat, which she was sleeping in at the time!

She is here!

Elisabeth Jane Owen arrived at 1:52 AM Saturday morning. She weighed 7 lbs, 14 oz and was 20 3/4 inches long. Here are two pictures with more to come when we get home from the hospital on Monday!

If only it was that Easy

At lunch David and Thomas were talking to me about how big the baby is going to be. Then, David asked me when baby Elisabeth was going to be born.

(David) When is she going to be born?
(Momma) I don't know, David. Soon. Maybe tomorrow.
(David) Well, Momma, wwhhyyyy don't you look on my calendar and see when she is going to be born? THEN you can tell me.

Time Keeps on Ticking, Ticking, Ticking

From a man's point of view, this time is different! I know that I cannot speak with any authority of what JA (or any pregnant woman) goes through. But it seems (and she will attest to this) that this time really is different. Someone said that it seems that the baby is holding on and doesn't want to come out. JA would say that is true, except that she is literally hanging on to every nerve bundle there is. She rolls over- PAIN. She stands up- PAIN. She breaths- PAIN. She gets contractions and we think, "Oh this is it!" and then they stop. The doctor last Friday afternoon actually called the hospital and told them that we would be there in a few hours. And then the contractions stopped. But surely the baby would come through the weekend... and now its Monday night.

Things I think JA is tired of hearing: Is it today? How are you feeling? Are you having contractions?

Things she will never tire of hearing: Can I rub your shoulders? Want me to make a bath for you? Silence.