The Beer Sisters Meet (Ella’s Birth Story, Part Two)

(If you missed part 1, you can catch up here)

I was thankful to be in our family care room that first night. With Abbie, I was on a magnesium drip that meant I had to spend the night in the birthing suite, and I was so thankful to have a better experience this time. Ella spent that first night sleeping and nursing – and it was such a better experience to have her in the room with me (Abbie wasn’t able to spend the night with us when she was born due to my magnesium drip). In the morning, I took a quick shower, and Chris headed home to shower and change. He then headed over to pick Abbie up from daycare shortly after lunch. Chris and I both wanted Abbie to be the first to meet her new sister.

I heard them in the hallway before I saw them – Abbie’s voice calling out, “Mommy?” as she entered the room. Chris was recording everything on his phone as they came in, and I’m so glad he did – I can now relive that moment over and over again.

Abbie came in, looked at Ella, and climbed into bed with me. I realized in that moment just how much I had missed her as I introduced her to her baby sister and explained Ella wasn’t in my tummy anymore, that she was out now. She stared at Ella and said hi and was so gentle with her, and I was so thankful for all the times we talked about Ella coming out and what would happen. I really think Abbie understood exactly what was happening and that Ella was part of our family now.

After that, Abbie opened her big sister present – a big sister bag, new baby furniture and a big sister figure for her dollhouse, a set of her favorite crayons in a case, and coloring books. She spent time playing with her new toys while we waited for my in-laws to come meet Ella and pick Abbie up.

After their quick visit, they took Abbie home while we waited to (hopefully) be discharged. Normally, we would have stayed in the hospital one more night and gone home Saturday morning, but we both desperately wanted to get home. Since Ella was born at 6pm, they had to run tests right at 6pm to make sure she was clear to go home. Thankfully, she passed everything, and after signing all the paperwork and making sure our discharge papers were all in order, we left the hospital at about 8:30 pm, ready to head home and start our lives as a family of four.

It’s been a busy whirlwind ever since. One fun fact – see the outfit Ella is wearing? It’s the same one Abbie wore home from the hospital… and the same one my parents brought me home in. I love that my mom kept it and I was able to use it for both my girls – it’s such a sweet memento that all of us have worn it.