Liela Michal Sherf

Liela is here! Here are a few pics from the last couple of days. It has been crazy and I know some of you want to hear all about it and some of you just want the pics so I will understand if you scroll right past the story. She is doing really well and I am feeling better than I thought I would. By the way...I know the name has been hard for some of you. It's Lie-luh, not lay-luh or lee-luh. We have spelled it with an 'e' on purpose, so don't think it's a typo.

SO>>>

Monday morning at 8:30 am I dropped Ava off for what would be a very long separation. I had an NST (non-stress test) at 9:00 so Ava was hangin' with Aunt Chrissy and Connor. The baby was not reactive so they were going to send me for an ultrasound to make sure her liquids and everything were good. I had to do that last time I had an NST so the doctor said, "well, you will probably be fine and get to go home, but since you are 40 weeks today, and you have had two non-reactive tests in a row, I will just keep you and induce if you want." I said YES!!! I know I say I hate being pregnant, and I do....but a big part of that is not knowing if the baby is ok. To get her out and see her is the best thing I could be offered.

I called mike and he got there asap. Christina had everything under control for me and eventually got Ava over to my mom for her sleepover.

At 12:00 noon they gave me a medication that makes me dilate. It takes 12 hours and then you kindof see where you are at...that makes it midnight when that was over. At 8 they gave me pain meds to help b/c I was having contractions the whole 12 hours really close together...I wasn't dilating very quickly though. Anyway...that medicine made me crazy. I was cracking up and saying everything that came to my mind...I had NO filter on what I was saying. Pretty funny.

At midnight I was dilated to a 4 and they called my Dr. to see how they would go on. She said to give me more pain meds and a sleeping pill. The plan was to let me sleep until 6am and then give me a petosin, however you spell that. At 12:30 the nurse was leaving from giving me pain meds and going to get me a sleeping pill. I was already delusional again but this time I was really sleepy. I started to fall asleep and then BAM, something felt like Liela was trying to jump out. It turned out to be my water breaking. The nurse called the anesthesiologist right away to get the epidural. He got there about an hour later, which would normally be plenty of time. 1:45 am and I am sitting on the edge of the bed in more pain than I could've imagined. I was trying so hard to sit still and then I felt her head starting to come out. I told the nurse that and she was like, if you feel that way you need to lay back so we can check you, but its probably not that far along quite yet. He had just finished the epidural so as soon as my next contraction stopped I laid down. The doctor that was in the hospital to help until my dr. arrived was in there and when I laid down she said, "she needs to push." I WAS feeling the baby's head. I delivered her at 2:08 am so that tells you how long it took. I went from 12:30 am -dilated to 4 and not moving to quickly- to 1:45am -dilated to 10- to 2:08 am -baby is born-

AMAZING!!!

The doctor that was in the hospital was standing there when Liela came out and so was my doctor, just in time to take over. That other doctor was HORRIBLE. I have a few stories that I might type about later but for now I will leave you with that lovely story of labor!!!

Liela was 7 lbs. 8 oz. (opposite of Ava 8 lbs. 7 oz.)

Kickin' up her feet and relaxing after a tough night.

Gotta get that hair looking good for her pictures.

Little feet but long toes. I thought her fingers and toes were so long. Without fail she has her daddy's feet. That's three copies of the same feet in our family of four!

Her little card in the plastic tub.

Mike was awesome. He was with me the whole time and stayed two nights on this pullout chair. He really is a great husband...not just on our anniversary. (my uncle paul is sickened right now =) )

Ava with her sister!!! This is her first time seeing/holding Liela. She was so gentle and sweet...I loved watching this interaction. Ava is such a good helper too. Today when it was nap time Ava wanted to help me get Liela ready for a nap. We changed her diaper and laid her down. Ava went over and turned on some music and the spinning mobile above Liela's bed. It was precious.

Ava conversation!!!

Ava: Sister Liela.

Me: Do you love her?

Ava: yeah!

Me: do you want to take her home?

Ava: yeah!

Me: what are you thinkin' sweetheart?

Ava: I wanna watch some tv's.

My parents got to see Liela after we had some time with just us four. (Mike's family is on vacation for those who are wondering where her other grandparents, aunts and uncles are.) Christina had Ava so when she brought her to visit sister, connor got to sneak in too. He was pretty occupied by his Bible story book and my bed so...it wasn't to stressful. We also got a nice pic with my parents and all their grandkids.

Aunt Chrissy loves liela...and is relieved to have the freedom to say the name and post pictures of her.

Liela looks a little scared but she will get used to it...Ava kisses her a ton.

Great-Great-Grandma Sanders!!! She deserves two great's in front of her name. She has been grandma to four grandkids, eleven great-grandkids, and now THREE great-great's. I only hope She can one day send Ava and Liela home with red thighs like she did to me and chris. Never from a spanking...she would bounce us on her leg and slap our thighs and say it was 'just a little love tap.' Well grandma...it hurt.

She smelled good! Just like a new baby should. Those hats are cute but my girls have both been blessed with black beautiful hair at birth. I don't know what I would've thought if she had come out bald!

Stretching out with quite a face. I don't know what it is...no one else has confirmed it or mentioned it first to me...but something about both my girls reminds me of my cousin derek. I remember when Ava was born thinking...there's something dereky about her and now Liela gave me that same feeling. I can't point out a feature or a movement that it is specifically but it's there whether you all see it or not.

Can you believe this pretty lady is a great-grandma? She is!!! falling in one generation behind grandma Sanders with eleven grandkids and three great's. She is a wonderful grandma. I believe I put to much stock in her prayer life. I know it's probably not right but there are times when I know I have neglected praying for one of my girls (especially while pregnant when my worries get the best of me)...and I think to myself...it's ok, grandma tally has been praying for her. It does encourage me to pattern after her though...I am so thankful that God gave us another healthy baby.

Proud Papa!!! Papa Tally called me at about 9:30 pm last night to see where I was. I told him where and he told me how he went to oakwood main and asked to see me. They said I wasn't there and he said, "uh, she just had a baby, where is she?" They checked around for him and found out that I was at southshore. Pretty funny, but papa finally got to see me. He was calling from the parking lot, mike went down to get him and we had a good time talking and praying for our new little Liela.

Her first bottle!!! I was all ready to get out of the hospital and she started to fuss a little, probably for the second time in her little life. So I told mike to tide her over b/c I was not waiting to feed her when I could be leaving to go home. She wasn't really hungry but it's a good picture to have.

Outta there!!! I was so glad to get out of there. When I had Ava I could've stayed a week but I missed Ava so much the last two nights. She is kindof my best friend, we have conversations and she really likes me...I missed her.

"here is my old man face...how do I look?"

Ava was jumping on the couch at my parents house screaming "my sister's here, my sister's here."

She was so gentle and sweet. I love it!!!

Sometimes, especially when she was a baby baby, Ava didn't like people in the back with her, not today...she couldn't wait to have liela ride home with us.