Eli Clark Neslen

Here's our new little angel.

Eli Clark Neslen

August 11, 2008

7:32 am

8 pounds, 7 ounces

20 1/2 inches

So, we had a baby! Monday morning surgery, just like we scheduled! We actually thought we might be going early after I had contractions all evening and night on Saturday night. Also Sunday morning. I skipped church, hoping to keep this baby inside for another day, and it seemed to work. Contractions slowed way down Sunday afternoon. That night I woke up at about 2 am with HARD contractions 2-3 minutes apart, and decided it was time to go to the hospital. We got up and showered and packed and were checked into labor and delivery by 3:30 in the morning. Only two hours earlier than we were supposed to be there anyway. Contractions slowed down once we got all hooked up to monitors though. Doesn't that always happen? I swear they were real! It hurt so bad I threw up! Anyway, surgery by 7:00, baby by 7:32. Yay!

I have a tradition of writing a letter to my new baby soon after they are born. Here's an excerpt from my letter to Eli:

The surgery went very well. I was awake and alert for the whole c-section, and Cannon was there for the whole thing. Dr. Starr had estimated your weight to be 9 1/2 pounds, but had difficulty estimating because of the amount of extra amniotic fluid I was carrying. He was wrong by over a pound! during the surgery, Dr. Hess (the anaesthesiologist) said, "Wow, I haven't seen that many waters in -- years!" We made quite a mess in the OR. As soon as you were
out I heard you crying. Then they brought you to rest on my chest where I could hold before you even had a bath. You were the first of all my babies that I was able to hold immediately after delivery! I loved it!!

You are my fifth baby, and many things about my pregnancy and delivery were "old hat" to me. I knew what to expect almost every step of the way with you. But I was not considering nor expecting the feelings I had when I first heard your cries. My heart jumped when I heard you and I was so amazed and awed that I had just given birth to another human being! When they laid you on my chest I thought my heart would burst with joy and gratitude! In an instant all of the pain and difficulties of the last nine months had vanished, and I knew that one of the most incredible, amazing, miraculous, and life-changing moments had just
occurred to me.

I spent the next three days in the hospital recuperating. Oh, I hurt. But really, that time was spent just revelling in the newness and excitement that you brought. We had many visitors and a lot of help from the nurses, but it felt like it was just you, me, and your daddy just being together. It was heavenly.

Cannon still dressed in his scrubs. Eli still testing out his lungs!

My sister, Andrea stayed with the other kids while we were in the hospital. She brought the gang over for a peek at their new brother. Tanner refused the hospital gown, but I think they were adorable.

Me. With a NEW, adorable baby!

My NEW, adorable baby!

This is us leaving the hospital after three days and three (and a half) nights.