Introducing...

Nora Rose Wehling born March 12 at 1:22 p.m. weighing 7 lbs. 8 oz. and measuring 20 inches. As of last Friday she is now six weeks old. Every mother says this, but time is passing by very quickly and Nora has already changed and grown a lot.

C-section number two was a much smoother experience. It is nice to know ahead of time that a C-section is in order rather than a sinking feeling it is likely to happen once you are in labor. A C-section is still painful, though, even though you are given anesthesia to numb you from the top of your belly to your toes. Here in Lincoln the doctors do things differently than my doctor in the Quad Cities did. At the hospital here they want to give you an epidural and leave it in for 24 hours and all doctors want you on lots of pain medicine while you are in the hospital. Previous experience with a C-section let me know there were other options than being tied to a bed for over 24 hours and not being able to think straight or stay awake to take care of the new little bundle. So, I requested that I have spinal anesthesia that wears off after five or six hours. The first day I let them give me pain medicine through the IV, but after that I took only ibuprofen. This did mean that I experienced pain, but I wasn't drowsy and I felt that my brain was functioning; things that I think are more valuable when caring for a newborn. The C-section was on Friday and the doctor let us go home on Sunday afternoon. The coolest thing for Brian was certainly not the diaper changing duty for the first 24 hours while I couldn't move much, but rather that the doctor gave him a special tool to take the staples out of my incision a day after we were home. She said there was no reason for us to drive all the way across town for a nurse to do what Brian could do at home. I was a little worried, but it turned out that it wasn't that bad. Clara laid next to me and told me she would help me feel better. Overall, after the first week and a half, recovery has been pretty smooth.

Clara stayed with Brian's parents while we were at the hospital and she had great fun at the farm. She got to help bottle feed a calf and help Grandma and Grandpa with other projects. Brian's sister, Michelle, was here for an extended weekend and my mom came for her Spring Break when Nora was a week old. My mom completely spoiled us while she was here. The dishes were done after every meal, the laundry was caught up, the groceries got completely put away as soon as they came in the door, and she even washed the windows at Brian's practice. And, Clara had Grammy to play with her while I was busy with Nora. She did get to snuggle with her new granddaughter as well. We were very thankful that she could come. My dad was happy to have her return, though. He said it was too quiet without her.

Clara is getting used to her role of big sister. She wasn't too sure about all of the attention Nora got at first when people wanted to hold the baby and talk about the baby. After a couple of weeks she told me that the doctors could put Nora back in my tummy. I told her I didn't think Nora would fit anymore. Overall, Clara is a good helper...she brings diapers, pours water on Nora during baths, and tells Nora "it's all right" when she fusses. Last week she found a pacifier and suggested that we give it to Nora. It turned out that Nora liked it and that made Clara happy. Tonight she was telling me about how someday Nora would be able to walk and that she wanted to snuggle with Nora in her big girl bed. I hope that they will be happy sisters as they grow up.

Nora is a very pleasant baby and easy to take care of...feed her, keep her diaper changed, hold her for awhile, and she is happy. Clara was not so easy, so I appreciate this aspect very much. Nora is very good sleeper, but she is staying awake more to smile and interact. We're looking forward to seeing her little personality develop. See more pictures here.