It's a Boy!

On Wednesday, November 24 we welcomed the newest member of our family

Emmett Allan Hoffe

12:32 pm

7lbs 10 oz
20 inches

We arrived at the hospital around 7:30 am, got checked in, was brought to our birthing suite, and was ready to start things by 8:00. At 8:45 am we started pitosin and then waited. (I will spare you the details of the progression, but let's just say I progressed VERY QUICKLY all morning). Dr. D broke my water at 9:40 and that is when the contractions really began. I was having them one on top of another, but was trying to hold off on the epidural (not knowing how "far" along I was and not wanting it to wear off). At 10:15am after painful contractions one after another, I gave in and said "let's do it" to the epidural. Fortunately the anethesiologist was in my room within 15 minutes (it took much longer with Brooklyn). I would say that getting the epidural was one of the most painful parts of the morning. Ryan did a great job holding me still, but then got a little woozy and had to ask the nurse to take over. I think I was squeezing his hand too much and my painful moaning wasn't helping. I was feeling really good by 10:45am. At 12:00 pm, I started to feel little pains as if something was pushing down on me. Sure enough I was ready to go!!!!! Heavy contractions began (which I didn't feel) and I started pushing. I pushed for about 30 minutes and Emmett arrived at 12:32pm. It was a very quick and "easy" delivery.



I feel very fortunate that things went so smoothly. I was very hesitant on being induced, but after seeing how easy things went, I feel it was the right decision. By 3:00 that afternoon, I had showered, changed into my clothes, and felt really good. The next morning, Thursday, November 25th (Thanksgiving) I was visited by the on call doctor and she told me that I could go home. Really???? How exciting!!!! I sent Ryan, Brooklyn, my mom and dad to Jason and Holly's for a fabulous Thanksgiving feast (which they already planned on doing) and then Ryan came to the hospital to get Emmett and me. We were home by 8:00pm that night! A quick hospital experience, but a great one!


Emmett, who was named after Ryan's Grandpa, is a good baby so far, but it has only been 2 weeks. He had a tied tongue (just like Brooklyn) when he was born, which made latching on a little difficult. He was 7 lbs 8 oz when he left the hospital, but the next day he was 7 lbs, which was a little red flag for Dr. Franck. We had to supplement with formula for the first few days until my milk came in. We also got his tongue "taken care of" on Tuesday, November 30th, in the ENT doctor's office. Supposedly it is not painful for the babies. Emmett barely cried. It took a little for him to relearn how to latch on. After a few days of frustration (for him and myself) and a meeting with the hospital lactation consultant, I am thrilled to say that he is eating like a champ!


Brooklyn is taking her role as a big sister pretty seriously! She loves her big sister shirt, the big sister books she is getting, and all the little big sister gifts she is recieving. I can't believe how generous everyone is to Brooklyn. What a special little girl! So far she LOVES "baby". She can say Emmett very well, but still calls him baby. We continue to work on that. She LOVES to give him kisses and hold his hand. She likes to look at him and watch us change his diaper, change his clothes, feed him, etc... She is very curious about everything, which we feel is a great learning experience for her. She continues to be in her independent stage. Everything is "self", as she says. She wants to do EVERYTHING all by herself without help. If we try to help her she will say "nope, self". We continue to try to give Brooklyn some uninterrupted Brooklyn time, which she needs and deserves.


My parents came Tuesday, November 23rd and watched Brooklyn on Wednesday while we were at the hospital. They stayed until Sunday, November 28th. It was SO wonderful to have them here to help out and spend some quality with us. That night after they left...everything hit the fan....Ryan and Brooklyn were hit with the FLU! It was a real test of my new mommy of 2 role! Ryan didn't feel well after dinner all of a sudden and was on the couch by 9:00 that night. At 10:30 pm, we heard Brooklyn moaning....as soon as I walked in her room, I knew it was going to be a long night. After numerous loads of laundry, watching Happy Feet and The Polar Express twice, helping Ryan and Brooklyn throw up, rubbing backs, checking on Emmett (who was kept isolated in our room for 2 days), and cleaning everything twice, and much, much more, I was able to get 2 hours of sleep (while everyone else slept). Monday was a little better for Ryan, but Brooklyn was still throwing up, and I was hit with a 101.5 fever and chills (but no throwing up for me). After a few days of feeling icky, the Hoffes were back in action.

Ryan has one more day off and we are going to do all that we can to enjoy this time together as a family of 4. Brooklyn will head back to Miss Annes on Thursday and Friday. Emmett and I plan to get caught up on thank you notes, organizing his closet, wrapping presents, paying bills, and organizing our thoughts and to do lists for the rest of the month. I may even sneak in a nap or two.


It has been a wonderful first two weeks. They have gone by really fast, as expected, but I look forward to the next few weeks.


More to come later....