not happy, and so happy

There was a rare time at about 4 weeks when just Ethan and I were at home. Hallee was getting fussy, but he wanted so much to hold his sister. So I let him. She was not happy, and yet he was so, so happy!

kids.

Pictures of the kids before Hallee’s first time to church. She’s three weeks old and a very sweet baby. She will sleep 4 hour stretches at night. That is AMAZING as our babies have been a little bit older before being able to do that. As with all the kids she does have the nightly fussiness and it took a few weeks to grow out of thinking 4 am was the time to be awake. Mostly she is calm and happy (as long as Mommy is close by).

Jaundice…….

Well, when we left the hospital Hallee’s jaundice level was higher than wanted so we took home a bili blanket. Every day I got up showered, took Hallee to the hospital to have her blood drawn. Was home a few hours then took her to the doctor to have her looked at and us given the results. After her levels keep going up, we ended up on Wednesday having to admit her back to the hospital. I was so exhausted from the delivery, the constant appointments I just broke down in tears. My Dad was comforting as he told me, “you know sweetie, she is not going to die”. I just wanted to be home with my baby. After 24 hours in the hospital we were released and after being sent home Hallee’s bilirubin number began going up again. They suspected breastmilk jaundice. Yes, its rare but does exist. Back on the bili blanket, feeding formula and pumping breast milk for the next 20 hours and then back on the breast again. FINALLY, after 6 more days of testing and her numbers began consistently going down. It was traumatic for me. But realistically it wasn’t a scary situation for Hallee as she was monitored so closely. After months of debate I am so glad we had switched our insurance to Kaiser. The doctors and facility were wonderful.

Ethan kept saying “Hold it!” This is his first time holding her and although it lasted only seconds he loved “it”.

Hallee……meet your family!

My Mom and Dad came to the hospital to be there when Hallee was born. I really wanted my Mom to be in the room as she hasn’t been able to see a Grandchild born yet. She faints with blood. She just about made it, and just as I was about to start pushing she felt queasy and she and Dad decided to take a walk. Just minutes after Hallee was born Mom and Dad came in to see their newest Granddaughter and Mom’s namesake. I only wish I had a picture of them with her. After moving to the recovery room Jared’s parents, who had the kids, brought them to see their new sister. To say Hope was excited is an understatement. She was thrilled, overjoyed, in heaven to meet her beloved sister. For weeks she had prayed that Hallee would know and like her when she was born and to please come out of Mommy’s tummy soon.

Ethan came, too, but didn’t hold Hallee. It was getting close to their bedtime and they wanted to only stay a few minutes so I could rest. On the way to Grandma and Grandpa’s house afterwards Linda said Hope began crying in the back seat of the car. Linda asked her if she missed her Mommy and Daddy. She said, “No, Hallee is so cute it just makes me start crying.” Open arms and love from a sister and brothers!

The arrival of Hallee Jean Forman

I was due to have our sweet girl January 9th. That day came and went with no sign of labor. I was dilated to a 4, but nothing seemed to be happening. I told the Doctor I was worried about the size of the baby as I had always been induced around my due date. He agreed to induce that Friday if I didn’t start labor on my own. He asked if it was a problem to have a baby on Friday the 13th? I assured him that did not bother me! Early Friday morning Jared and I went to the hospital. With all the prior babies we went to the Sutter Hospital and had the same Doctor. This time around we switched our insurance to Kaiser when I was 8 months pregnant and although I was nervous and anxious about a new doctor we felt impressed that everything would be ok. We were blessed with a fabulous nurse and a good delivery. Just like the others….pitocin, epidural, quick pushing, and sweet Hallee entered the world at a whopping 9 lbs. 4oz. My biggest yet, and boy did it feel like it! I am not a person to feel bonded to the baby during pregnancy, but once they place that baby in my arms instant love, affection, and attachment fill me. Sweet Hallee, how grateful we are to have you!

Christensen Family Pictures

We took these pictures in November 2011 with my side of the family. I can’t believe how long Hope’s hair was! Since then both Hallee Jean Forman and Bridger Taggard DeVilbiss have joined the family. It is so funny how each year the family picture becomes out of date because new members have joined the family. It’s a good thing. My favorite is the picture of the whole family on the boat…..although you can’t see much of the boat. It just was relaxed and felt very much like the Christensen personality to me. 

Merry Christmas!

Little Bryce was first to be up Christmas morning. Surprise, surprise. After such a fun Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa Forman’s house Hope and Ethan slept in. The kids had left cookies for Santa the night before and the first thing Bryce said when he bounded into our room was, “Hey, Santa ate the cookies!!!” Then he informed us that he saw the presents by the Christmas tree but didn’t touch them. He says these things very dramatically. We snuggled in bed while Bryce told us stories and after we realized that the other kids were not going to wake up we got up to eat something and do our best to hold off Bryce. We didn’t have a gourmet breakfast this year. At 38 weeks pregnant and knowing that we had a busy day ahead of us we opted for a casual bowl of cereal and chit chat. Hope soon joined us, grinning from ear to ear upon viewing the presents under the tree in the front room. And after she had a little something to eat we decided to just wake Ethan up and start the festivities. We turned on the fire and let the kids open the presents.

This year the boys enjoyed opening up toy trucks and cars, in addition to Daddy’s stocking stuffers of whoopee cushions and pop guns. Hope delighted in a Barbie motorhome and the two oldest got IXL computers, which they love! After opening presents we dashed to get ready for Church and enjoyed a lovely Christmas Sacrament meeting. It was so nice to take the Sacrament on Christmas, sing the songs, and enjoy listening to others speak of the birth and life of our Savior Jesus Christ. It is so easy to get caught up in the presents, the holiday lights, visiting Santa, that I can already see we will need to be diligent every year in focusing on our Savior.

After church we hit the ground running to make a nice family lunch. Daddy’s family came over to enjoy some delicious BBQ Steak and open the Christmas presents from Grandma and Grandpa. Then after their visit we packed in the car and headed to Grandma and Grandpa Christensen’s house for Christmas dinner and again, presents. The kids were so spoiled. And they loved it. Of course at the end of it all we felt so grateful to have such dear and wonderful family to live close to. It was a happy and fun time. We never grow tired of being with our wonderful family.