When life gives you lemons...

you're supposed to make lemonade.  Right now, Andy and I can't keep up with the lemons pouring in.  On top of an already challenging life: moving to a new house and wrapping things up with the old one, a stubborn toddler who is fighting change which includes sleeping in her big girl bed, and running on an average of 5 collective hours of sleep a night, this week has brought even bigger challenges.  On Sunday, Andy twisted his knee at work - MRI will tell us for sure still, but doctor is certain he tore his ACL and will need surgery.  This will be a 6 month recovery process and our strong, helpful Daddy will be needing help of his own.  And before my 6 week c-section recovery is over.

Today, we had a follow up ultrasound for Malin's cyst as well as an ultrasound to check her hips: routine procedure for all breech babies.  Unfortunately both scans turned us down.  The cyst that was originally found in utero and thought to be on her ovary, then scanned after birth and thought be on her intestines, is still present and now thought to be back on her ovary which hopefully will go away on it's own.  The other scan determined that our poor little baby has DDH, or hip dysplasia, in both hips, which is seen in breech babies and is also genetic.  My Mom had hip dyspasia and was in a full body cast as an infant.  Little Malin will be in a harness keeping her legs up 24/7 for a good 6 weeks starting tomorrow.  It breaks my heart to watch my sweet innocent baby be at the mercy of doctors. 

We try to count our many blessings every day, and we could sure use any other prayers coming our way.  Please keep Andy and Malin in your prayers for speedy recoveries!

Here's our sweet little "froggie" in her new harness.  She'll be in this for the next 6 weeks or so...

Say Cheese Malin!

Now that I have 2 cuties to photograph, we have the camera out all the time!  Here are my favorite pictures from my 1st and 2nd photoshoots with Malin (and her big sister). 

Photoshoot #1, at 2 weeks old.

 

I love this, sister love.

My sweet angel.


Photoshoot #2, at 3 weeks old.

Hermans Monkey toes!

I love these two little cuties and are so thankful to have them both in my life.

Bringing Malin Home



Sunday afternoon (1/27), we finally got to check out of the hospital and bring our new little angel home!  Nana, Opa and Avery were waiting for us.  (Opa built us a new storage area in our garage while we were in the hospital and Avery spent the weekend with them). 

 

The first week home involved lots of resting, cuddling, and relaxing.  I'm so thankful that I had my supportive and loving husband and Mom all week to help me out with these two cuties.  C-section is a way harder recovery than normal delivery.  The first day home was really rough.  It was so nice that we were able to spend some time as a family with our new budle of joy.

 

Avery has been the best big sister.  I'm so proud of her, she loves her little sister and has been very gentle and attentive with her.

 

Malin did lots of sleeping.

And got her first bath at home.

She was a trooper at her first doctor visit.

I'm such a lucky Mom to have these 2 cuties to cuddle with every day!

Thank you SO much to my Mom for all the amazing help she provided during the week she was here!  You/re the best Mommy!

And Baby Makes 4!

On Friday, January 25th, 2013 at 7:58am, Andy and I heard the sweet sounds of our 2nd baby girl taking her first breaths of air.  Malin Rae Hunt came into our lives weighing in at 7lbs 11oz, 20" long.  As she was breech, and spent her whole time in the womb with her head popping out just below Mom's ribs, she was delivered via scheduled c-section at 7:30am.  The surgery route was alot more scary for us than Avery's 32 hours and 4 hours of pushing labor, so when we heard her first cries we were overjoyed!  We think she is absolutely perfect, and we are so happy to welcome this little angel into our family. 

Where did Malin Rae come from?  Andy came up with Malin because he liked it and it's of Scandanavian descent.  I got sold on it when I could tie it to 3 grandmas: Andy's grandma - Lena Mae, My Mom - Jonalyn and Andy's Mom - Susan Rae.  So there you have it, Malin (pronounced MaeLyn) Rae Hunt. 

Here are some of the pictures from our time at Overlake Hospital.


Andy's surgery outfit.  Kissing Malin for the first time.

Sweet Malin Rae is here!

Malin's first bath.  One of our favorite pictures of Avery right after birth was her first bath.  It was just as cute for Malin's first bath.

Malin got her big sister a gift - a bracelet with a charm that says "Big Sis."  Avery thought it was pretty cool.

Daddy & Avery holding Malin.

Avery calls her new sister "Baby Maleh" and it kinda sounds like May-May.  She's a pretty proud big sister. 

Our new family of 4!

We got visits from the Hermans family, even Oma!


Opie, Oma, Auntie Nan and Nana.

And Grandma & Papa Hunt.

And the Ruhls made a special trip up from Olympia to come see Malin.


Aunt Jess, Uncle Mike, Braden & Nolan.

 And Cara & Tim.

My sweet baby.

My two girls.

Malin and Daddy.

Sister love.

Surprisingly, Malin has about 1/3 the amount of hair that Avery did at birth, and is more blonde.

Malin had to get another ultrasound on her cyst.  We have now confirmed that her cyst is attached to her intestines, not the ovaries like first thought.  At this point we have to just monitor it and see if it goes away on it's own.  Malin dropped in weight from 7lbs 11oz, down to 7lbs 2oz when we left.  But she is a GREAT eater! 

More visits before we head home.

Getting ready to go home, yay!  Malin and Avery wore the same outfit home.

We are so excited that this sweet little girl has joined our family. Andy and I can't get enough of her and are mesmerized by her every little coo and move.  I forgot how incredible newborns are.

Waiting for Baby M

I'm so fortunate this time around to be able to exercise my full maternity benefits, and take 2 weeks off prior to delivery.  (With Avery I was in labor my last day of work and only had 4 weeks off).  These last 2 weeks off have been great.  Not only have I been able to get baby's room in order and get a little more prepared, but I've also been able to spend quality time with my first munchkin before she has to share Mommy with a new baby.  Here's what we've been up to:

Taking relaxing baths with Mommy.

Got to hang out with Oma.  She got us our new very cool stroller that accomodates both kiddos.  Avery thinks it's pretty cool and Opie and I had way too much fun playing with all the features.

Walks with Daddy around the Ridge.  They are serious walkers, regardless of temperature.

 We got pedicures with Nana. Avery thought this was sooo cool and keeps complimenting Mommy on her "pretty toes" and showing people the flowers on her toes.

We baked cookies. 

I decided to try the 3 day potty training method as a last minute attempt for 1 kid in diapers.  And the results, after 3 days of a pantless Avery and messes all over the floor, my munchkin peed in the potty!!!  We are SOOO proud of her. 

Playing dollhouse with Daddy.  (pantless)

We did an art project.  She has decorated our whole frige with her paintings. 

 Morning cuddles with Mommy and baby sister, who kept kicking her in the ear.

 Playdough! 

To my sweet Avery: thank you so much for being such an amazing, loving, funny, smart, spunky addition to my life.  You have consumed my whole heart.  I can only imagine having enough love left to share with your little sister too.  I know you're going to be the best big sister, for you truly care about others and have been pretend playing with Baby for months.  I'm so blessed to have gotten to spend the last couple weeks giving you 100% of me.  I love you Stinker, I can't wait to see you as a big sister!