--Aftyn Michelle--

The end of my pregnancy had a lot more excitement than I was ready for. About the end of August, I went in to my OB/GYN (Dr. Austin--whom I LOVE!) for a regular check up. I found out I had high blood pressure. I had that with Bennett but it came along with swelling, so I wasn't totally shocked to find this out again but I had no swelling. I was only 35 weeks so my little princess needed to bake a bit longer. Dr. Austin put me on unofficial bed rest. This was basically impossible with a 1 year old and a husband in medical school, but I did what I could. I did this for about 3 weeks. I had to check in with Dr. Austin at least once a week sometimes twice but to no avail, my blood pressure was always high. It made me always have a bad headache, kind of nauseous, but otherwise I was able to function. I was put on strict bed rest on September 18th after a visit to labor and delivery to get some STAT blood work done. That when I was told that I had pregnancy induced hypertension.  Four days later, 38 weeks along, I checked back in with Dr. Austin and to no surprise my blood pressure was still high. Dr. Austin decided it was time to give me what I was waiting for...my little girl. I had a planned C-Section scheduled for the next week, so we decided to just do the c-section a week early. Unfortunately I had crackers while waiting for my appointment earlier (Dang pregnancy snacking) so I had to wait 6 hours before they could do the C-Section. Lame!
Then FINALLY it was time to get ready for her arrival.

 

This time around it was a MILLION times better. Since they didn't think that I had preeclampsia I didn't have to have magnesium! It was like going through the whole c-section and having a baby for the very first time because I wasn't totally drugged and sick from the magnesium. I actually was able to have a conversation with Dr. Austin while she was cutting me open. We chatted about where we grew up, how many kids I wanted, Phil in medical school, yadda yadda. It was a regular girl chat fest. It was SO great!
At 8:44 pm on September 21st my beautiful daughter Aftyn Michelle Call was born. 8 lbs 3 oz. 19 1/4 inches long. The surprise is that she was born with red hair! I never thought I would have a red headed child but its a fun surprise. (It must come from the Call side of the family.) Right now her hair is a strawberry blonde-ish red. Its very pretty.

We had a lot of family support and help throughout my stay in the hospital. It was such a blessing and we really appreciate all of the love and extra help.

(Grandma Patti Bowler)

(Aunt Katelin, Bennett, Adopted in Aunt Andrea)

(Grandma Patti Bowler)

(Grandma Patti Bowler, Aunt Katelin)

(Grandpa Curt Bowler)

(Bennett, Aunt Andrea)

(Aunt Andrea)

My sister (Aunt Kacie), is up at BYU-Idaho right now and unfortunately wasn't able to be here for all of this fun and excitement but we did our best to make her feel and to make us feel like she was there. She actually was great for me even though she was far away because most days I was by myself with Aftyn in the hospital because Phil had school and Kacie would keep me company texting and calling and such. I love my sisters!

My mom and Katelin with Kacie on Skype, showing off Aftyn and everybody the day after she was born. Its fun when we Skype Kacie because Bennett loves it and blows her kisses and kisses the screen and just thinks its the best thing ever....which it is. :)

Bennett has been great with Aftyn! I worried about if he would be the jealous child and just be mad/sad/mean to her, but it turned out to be the exact opposite! I cannot get him to leave her alone! He constantly wants to hold her, kiss her, and tickle her toes. He can sometimes maul her but it is the cutest thing ever. I love it!

 (Bennett giving her kisses)

 

I stayed in the hospital from the Friday to the Monday. Phil was really good about coming by as much as he could (medical school doesn't really stop so that people can have babies.) And Bennett came to visit as often as people could bring him by which was great because I missed him! It was hard for me not to share the whole day long with him.

 

(Aftyn all set for the ride home from the hospital)

 Aftyn has been so fun and has brought something new to our family.  I love my family and how happy my life is. Having a newborn isn't easy but there are little things that I just couldn't live without.

 Sleeping is a thing of the past but when we do sleep its downstairs so that daddy can get as much as he needs to keep up with studying. Most nights (and some days) look something like this.

 But sleepless nights are totally worth it when you have a beautiful and adorable daughter like this, that's keeping you up.

Aftyn is adorable, and we love her to death!

Thank you to all of you that helped along the way while I was on bedrest, bringing me dinners and watching Bennett. Thank you to everyone that thought of our family and helped us out. We really appreciate it! I have to thank my mom for everything she did for me. I wasnt supposed to drive after I was put on bedrest and she took me to my appointments, she watched Bennett all day, she made me dinners, and cleaned my house. She was basically a super mom! Not to mention everything that she did after I had Aftyn. Having a C-seciton with a 1 year old is hard because I couldnt pick him up, but my mom was there, at my house, every day. THANK YOU MOM!!! I love you more than you know, and you are more than I deserve.

Life is great!