Tessa Jo

Tessa was born on July 7th, coming in at 8 pounds 10 ounces and 21 1/2 inches long. We love our new addition but she picked the worst week to come into this world! Thank goodness my mother had gotten in town the day before. Forgive the essay I am about to write I hope I am not complaining too much. That morning (the 7th) we went into my doctors, now when you are past your due date they hook you up to a monitor in addition to the normal exam. So we get going and basically all is fine but nothing is happening labor wise (we were trying to do a VBAC) so we discussed specifics for our scheduled c-section on the 12th (a date we liked b/c Dustin wasn't on call). As he is walking out the door he says wait gotta check your fluid level. As he is checking I can tell he isn't liking what he sees. Next thing he says... well scratch that you are having this baby today! The fluid level was too low and while all was well it wouldn't remain so. Now Dustin started orientation for his residency on June 8th, however this was his first week of his first actual rotation and he was on call for podiatry AND ortho. As a result he got off the afternoon for the c-section and that was it. And with his ortho call he was there from 7-12 on sat and from 7-3 on sunday, off just in time to come pick me up from the hospital! Poor guy was run ragged from working 10-12 hour days and then driving the hour to the hospital to see me and the baby. A vastly different experience then with Mya instead of being alone both Dustin and Nana were around and Dustin just went on summer break (yes I know things can't always be that easy!) But I guess those of you who have more than one kid this is probably familiar as some one has to stay with the kiddos! Thank goodness Mya is such an angel and Nana was here to spend time with her.

The first night after surgery it is awkward to move and you can't walk so when they found out I was alone Tessa had to go in the nursery for safety. In addition to that Tessa's bili levels were high at just 25 hours old so she had to go under the lamp for roughly the next 36 hours. Thank goodness I was breast feeding, because I only really saw her when they brought her for me to feed. Nana and Mya came the night she was born and the next day for a while which in hind sight wasn't the best idea...I was hurting the worst that day. But seeing them was really good for me and Mya just loves her baby sister. When they left Mya was seriously sad and wanted to take us with her, thanks goodness for a kind nurse who came and gave her the, lets call it, the "big sister" gift package on the way out. The nurse came back and said Mya was the sweetest thing and you could tell we were great friends (she has the been the one and only for 3 years!) because on the way out with all these treats she said she still wanted her mommy!

Tessa is now home and things are going well. Mya is adjusting and loves to talk about and help with her baby sister. Thanks to some play dates (thank you Krista and Aimie), outings with Nana, and special time with Mommy while Nana watches the baby she isn't feeling too left out. And of course when Daddy gets home she can't wait to tell him about her day and how baby sister is doing. Despite the less than ideal circumstances we are so grateful for how well things are going and that Tessa is a healthy little angel....all in all it was well worth it!

Tessa Jo Lloyd

Nana, Mya and Tessa getting ready to leave the hospital YEAH!

Mya peeking over the bed to see Tessa.. She always had a wide eyed expression when coming into the room to see us

More kisses..When Mya first came to see Tessa the night she was born

Still in surgery, they quickly show me the baby before Daddy whisks her off to the nursery

Mya and Tessa the night she was born

Our first family photo, Tessa just a few hours old and Mya with the doll Tessa got for her! Tessa is still a little young to play with the stuffed animal Mya brought her.

First morning home, Tornado sirens go off, just what we need, here is everyone curling up after it was over...still in our jammies. Luckily Mya didn't get too scared at the storm and Tessa slept through it....we did have one a few weeks ago so she knew the drill. However this time the power went out until later that night!