Ellie Jane Hoge

She is a girl, of course. And she is absolutely beautiful.
I cannot believe that I actually went to my induction date. Especially after being in labor on March 16th. I had some really good contractions that went away after being in the hospital for a few hours. We called our friend at 3AM. She came to sit with the girls. We headed to the hospital got hooked up and everything. I was good to go, I thought. They checked me and I was still at a 3 almost a 4. Then I walked around for an hour and a half. They checked me again. I was at a 4, but my labor was stopping. This is not what I wanted to hear. How disappointing! They sent me home around 8AM. I felt like a complete failure. 'I don't know when I am in labor? But I have already had 2 kids. I should know exactly when I am in labor. But I was in labor. Why did my labor stop? What the heck???' I kept apologizing to Hans and our friend that came to help. My doctor told me to have a low threshold, but I was certain I was in labor.

Anyway, after walking around at a 4 and getting my membranes stripped with no success. I was induced! In the past I have always gone the day before my induction. That would have put me in labor on Arlee's birthday. That was a day not to have her. I was so glad history did not repeat itself. I had talked to Arlee about sharing a birthday with her sister and it would be okay. Arlee has always been so understanding. I know that is why she is my oldest. I need her to be my big helper and my test child.

I was getting really nervous with my last week of pregnancy. I asked my mom to come up and help me. Make sure I didn't have issues with the girls and trying to get to the hospital. She was happy to come up. She got here on the 19th. We hung out counted the days and played with the girls. Not to mention celebrated Arlee's birthday.

This was the day that I hit my due date. March 23rd, 2014. 

These are out of order for some reason. Maybe someone can tell me why?
I told the nurses that I have rolling veins, so good luck to them. Of course,
they didn't really believe me until about the 3rd poke. Then it kind of became
a challenge to see which nurse could get it in first. The 5th time is the charm
in my case. They kept apologizing to me and telling me I am handling it very
well. I just told them I wouldn't give them the satisfaction. The 3 nurses
chuckled and had a great time in our room. I was the one with the rolling veins
and the adorable/ well behaved children. Proud mommy moment right there.

I took this picture while I was up with Ellie. Hans was such a great support
during this whole thing. He even stayed up with Screaming Ellie so I could
get some sleep before the next nurse came in to check on me or Ellie. She
was hard to ignore though. The first two days together, we didn't get any
sleep! She was up all the time. I am happy that has changed a bit. :)

Ellie was born at 11:55AM
This is mere minutes after we met skin to skin. What a sweet little girl. My
doctor was completely shocked that she was a 8lbs 10.7oz baby. As soon as
she delivered her she was commenting how porky she was. She asked me
where I was hiding her. HAHA I am still shocked I didn't have my regular 6lbs
range baby. It was very comforting knowing that she was bigger and not as
frail feeling, like my other girls. Funny tidbit: After about 2 minutes of being
skin to skin, Ellie decided to go the bathroom all over me. Luckily it was only
number one. It got all over my gown, so I didn't wear that ugly thing very long.
Arlee came in and asked my why I was naked (I had my bedding covering me).
When I told her why she thought it was pretty funny.
Story: While I was laboring (walking around my room) our friend, who is a
resident stopped by to see how we were doing. We were talking and having
a great time. He left after about 10 minutes of visiting. The nurse came in and
asked me how I was doing? I said that I was just fine. She said that she knew
I wanted to do it natural (only because I had a lot of back pain with Arlee.
Lydia was practically natural.) so she said she wasn't going to ask me again
about having the epidural, because I would cave. I said that was fine and I
would let her know if I changed my mind. She left and I went into the
bathroom. While I was in the bathroom. I got this huge contraction and just
felt like I was about to buckle over. I yelled to Hans and told him to get the
nurse, because I wanted the drugs. She came in while I was still in the
bathroom. Hans told her what I wanted. The next thing I knew the guy was
there with the drugs. That was really quick. Thank goodness too. I couldn't
hold still. I got the shakes really bad. They said that was because I was
getting really close to pushing. They got my epidural in with one shot.
What a great guy! with Arlee it took 5 tries-- painful!
Anyway, I was finally calming down. The drugs were working and I stopped
shaking momentarily. Then WHAM!!!! The contractions really kicked in. I
felt so uncomfortable. I told Hans what I was feeling. He asked me if I wanted
to call the nurse. I told him I didn't know. He pushed the button. She came in
and checked me. Told me I was ready to push, but hold on while they called my
doctor. Luckily, she was just across the street at her office. She was there in a
flash. I pushed 4 times and she was out!
They put her on my stomach and I was thinking, SHE IS HUGE!
Hans and I were pretty emotional, but it wasn't that bad until Hans called and
talked to Arlee on the phone. She was eating lunch. Hans told her to finish
and then call him back and he would go get them. She ate so fast and was
pretty excited. Lydia had put herself down for a nap that day. (Something that
she is pretty good at; especially when she gets upset about something.) She
will go cool off in her bed.  

This is the night before I went into the hospital. 38 weeks
6 days. They sent me home. Arlee was completely bummed
when we came home empty handed. Honestly, so were we. I
just wanted to cry. 

Monster Faces with their new baby sister. Ellie Jane!!! This is how we
announced her name to everyone. I loved keeping the name to ourselves.
Arlee was a very good secret keeper too. People would even try to trick her
but she did not fall for it one bit. It made me very proud of her. 

This is the outfit that Arlee picked out for her. It has some ballet shoes on
the shirt. She wants Ellie to be a ballerina like her. (Arlee is taking Tap and
Ballet right now and she loves it!)

I am sure that you can tell. I am completely exhausted! Have not slept in a
couple of  days not to mention the horrible sleep I got just being pregnant
with Ellie.

First family photo. Oh yeah we are that awesome that we didn't even get
the traditional family photo in the hospital. Oops. Good thing we aren't super
sad about it... well kind of.

My mom doing what grandmas do best. It was great to have her here. She
is always a huge help. Thanks MOM!!!

I thought this was a tender moment in our somewhat crazy morning
getting ready for church. Lydia loves holding Ellie. "She cute, Momma! She
cute." She would say. Not to mention the countless kisses. Lydia is a
very loving BIG (Seems weird still) sister.

"Mom, take a picture of me holding Ellie. I have 2 little sisters now!" Arlee
has been so excited from day one. She said to me one day, "Mom you can't
spend as much time with me now, because you need to take care of Ellie.
And babies are a lot of work." I am glad that she understands that now I have
three little ones taking up my time. She has been a huge help. She already
has that motherly/sisterly instinct. I am so grateful for that.
All my girls are a huge blessing and I can't think of having it any other way.

Grandma's turn!!! Lydia was against having her picture taken. She wanted
to come cuddle with me instead. 

Oh yeah I changed the first diaper (Hans was getting the girls in bed at
home) and I got her dressed. My mom helped me get my clothes threaded
through the IV since they had not taken it out yet. I guess that is what
mothers do. Get their kids dressed. Hahaha.

The Daddy with 2 of his babies.

The nurse was so great with the older girls. She made sure they felt
included in getting Ellie all checked out. 

We had a great delivery. However, as you can imagine we are glad that it is
over and now we have Ellie here with us. She is a perfect addition into our
GIRL TEAM. Hans is a great sport at losing the overall vote. "GIRL TEAM
FOREVER," Arlee will say when we are ganging up on Hans...
well unless we add some boys down the road. Who knows right
now what Heavenly Father has in store. "You get what you get and you
don't throw a fit." Arlee's friend provided us with that motto and I love it.

I will try and blog again soon, but I am not promising anything. I wouldn't
be able to guarantee to keep it.