Giuliana Payton is Here!

Giuliana wanted to come into the world on her own terms! I was scheduled to have a c-section on Monday March 22nd. At about 5:30 a.m. on Sunday March 21st, I started to have contractions. After about 3 hours, I told Joe it was time to go to the hospital. By the time we got there, my contractions were about a minute and a half apart. It went pretty quickly. Giuliana Payton was born via c-section at 12:10 p.m. She was 8 lbs 14 oz and 19 1/2 inches long! Joe was able to see her and take a few pictures, but the neonatologist said he was concerned because Giuliana has an enlarged tongue and she was having trouble breathing. He came and told me he did not feel comfortable with her going to the nursery, and he was sending her down to the NICU. I got to kiss her and she was whisked away.

With everything going on, I really didn't process what that meant. I thought she was just going to the NICU to get checked out and would be in my room with us. It really hit me when I was in recovery, and I could hear the other woman's baby crying in her arms, and ours was in intensive care. Nobody would really tell us anything, and if they did, they were very vague.

Finally after 3-4 hours, Joe and my parents were able to see her. Only the parents and grandparents were allowed in the NICU. I physically was unable to get out of bed, so I couldn't go down. It was the hardest thing in my life to lay there unable to move and not know what is happening to our little girl. Joe and my parents were able to hold Giuliana, but she was connected to monitors, she had an IV, and a feeding tube. Finally, the next day I was able to go down to the NICU and hold her.

The entire week is pretty much a blur. Slowly she came off the wires and tubes and she was strong enough for us to bring her home. We still do not know what, if there is anything wrong with her. They have been running a bunch of tests, but it will be 2-3 weeks before we get any kind of answers about her future. We know we have to take her to specialists, but hopefully we will find out more after we visit her pediatrician. I was discharged on Thursday, and we were blessed to be able to bring Giuliana home on Friday afternoon.

I can't wait for you all to meet her. She is such an angel. I hope you enjoy the pictures, and if you are the praying type, please keep our little Giuliana in your prayers.

Joe holding Giuliana for the first time

Giuliana in the NICU

When she came off the feeding tube, we were able to feed her.
I was burping her here.

This was right before I was being discharged

Giovanna and Giuliana in their matching outfits

sitting on daddy's lap at home!

I really like this picture. Giovanna has one just like it!

They really look alot alike.

Giovanna loves being a BIG sister and is full of kisses

for her baby sister.

In The Spirit Of The Olympics

In the spirit of the Olympics, today we decided to participate in a winter sport. . .SLEDDING! I don't think we have any future Olympians on our hands, but we had a blast! Gunnar got plenty of air time, and Giovanna really enjoyed her first sledding experience. She was at the top of the hill whoo hooing Gunnar, awing at his and other kid's wipeouts, and just laughing up a storm having a good ole time. Joe and Giovanna did wipeout once, but that didn't stop them. After sledding we went to Superdog for Giovanna's first drive-in hotdog! She LOVED eating out of that little box. She got really mad when I tried to take it away from her! Also a Baby Lee #2 update: I recently had a doctor appointment with an ultrasound. Unfortunately, Baby Lee #2 was not cooperating, he/she is head down facing my back, so the ultrasound technician was not able to get any good pictures to share. However, we did learn that he/she is measuring at the 59th percentile weighing in at 4lbs 12 oz.

Dancing Queen

We are getting a lot of use out of our iPods lately. Giovanna really likes to dance to all kinds of music. Below are a couple of videos of her "dancing." One of her favorite songs is Soulja Boy! Sorry that video is kind of long, but I couldn't believe she kept going and going! Then towards the end she "Oh's" with the song. There's also a video of her in my wedge heels. A mismatched pair of course, but my baby is already interested in heels!

Soulja Boy!

Hey Baby! I couldn't grab the camera fast enough, so this
is just a taste of Giovanna's moves!

Walking in Wedge Heels!

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

Giovanna got snow boots from Santa, and she's been practicing wearing them around the house. She LOVES these boots. It's hilarious to watch her stomp and march up and down the hallway. Well now, she was able to wear her boots and snow suit in the snow! I think she enjoyed the snow, but definitely needs some more practice walking in the deep sections. Enjoy the pictures and video!

Giovanna and Daddy snowblowing

Snow bunny!

I just thought this picture looks cool with the snow coming down!

Oops! My boot came off!

New Year = New Bed!

In preparation for the arrival of Baby Lee #2, Joe and I decided to start the New Year off with Giovanna's new bed that she got for Christmas from Grandma and Grandpa Rizzo, and her princess bedding from Auntie Loda! I watched my Supernanny episodes, and we were all prepared for a long night of walking Giovanna back into bed. We were pleasantly surprised that she adjusted very well to her new bed! Giovanna has been sleeping through the night like an angel in her big girl bed. Let's hope things continue this way!

1st Haircut

Sniff! Sniff! Our baby girl is growing up! Giovanna had her first haircut on Saturday. She did not like being in the chair alone, but she was fine once she sat on mommy's lap. Thank you Auntie Laura for a beautiful first haircut and the teddy bear.

Ho! Ho! NO!

We braved the frigid temperatures for our annual trip downtown to do Christmas shopping and for Giovanna to sit on Santa's lap. Giovanna still does not like Santa. Maybe next year! Enjoy the pictures. They are just some fun cute pictures we've taken over the past couple of weeks.

Giovanna sitting on Santa's lap 12/11/09

Giovanna and Gunnar wearing Yo Gabba Gabba! glasses

Giovanna loves to wear Gunnar's Blackhawks ear warmer

Giovanna crawled onto the recliner with Bruce and fell asleep

Happy Turkey Day!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Lees!

Yesterday I had a Baby Lee #2 doctor appointment with an ultrasound. We did not find out if we're having a boy or a girl. The baby is measuring about 2 weeks larger, but they are not changing my due date. They checked my blood sugar and everything is fine, so they are not concerned with gestational diabetes, it looks like we just have a big baby! I am feeling the baby move around all the time. This baby is just as active as Giovanna was. We used to tease that Giovanna was running a nightclub because she was partying in my tummy and it was late at night! Looks like Giovanna will have a business partner!

This is a profile view

Baby Lee #2 is waving hello to everybody out there!

"Hello out there from in here!"

I Do

Oh the joys of talking! We have noticed that Giovanna started saying "I do" when we ask her certain questions. Below is a video of a few of the cute things she does. She knows who Donald Duck is, and whenever she sees him, or someone talks about him, or if Joe sings the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse song, she talks like Donald. You can't really hear her too well in the video, but it is too cute. Enjoy!

Zing Zang Zoom!

On Friday night we went to see the Barnum and Bailey's Circus, Zing Zang Zoom, at the Allstate Arena. We arrived early to see the "preshow" where you got to meet clowns and other performers, and also see a variety of mini-shows. Joe was chosen to be and audience participant for one of the Ringmaster's magic tricks. It was pretty funny to see him in the spotlight! Giovanna seemed to like the elephants, and those are my favorite too!