Claira Jane
by Kym on November 11, 2009
Well, I thought about phoning Eowyn and having her transcribe all the gory details here for you, but all my careful planning lacked in the phone card department. Our cell phone bill is going to be astronomical. But it was totally worth it to share the news of sweet Claira. Isn’t she purdy?
Advantage of c-section #11: No cone head or weird bruises on baby’s wee face.
Disadvantage of c-section #26: Ouch!
I’m going to be absolutely insufferable this next month or so. Not only am I going to be writing about the awkward and many staged journey of putting our family back together and trying to be at home in my own home again (which is where I’m going on Friday! Wheee!), but I’m also going to be going on at length about how cute Claira is. And while I’m normally a very tolerant person, in this one case disagreement will NOT be permitted.
So there.
I’ll also write a horribly detailed birth story which may or may not induce nausea, but you have permission to skip that. In the meantime, a quick sum up because my tummy HURTS.
Claira Jane VanderHorst
Born Monday November 9th at 7:40pm
Six Pounds 3 Ounces
No complications despite being born a month early!
Unless you count the fact that the poor girl is STARVING hungry all the time.
Guess she knows she has some catching up to do.
The doctor’s office called Monday afternoon at 4:30pm to tell us the Amnio results were good and to come on in. Right then. That very minute.
It happened so fast and so slow. We were at the hospital a good couple hours before they took me to the operating room but it felt like twenty minutes.
Getting the spinal? That felt more like hours…
Apparently I have a minor case of scoliosis.
I may send thank you cards to the doctors and nurses involved.
The anathesiologist? Not so much.
Having 2/3 of your body go numb is a very surreal experience that I’m going to have FUN trying to put into words.
It’s been crazy.
It’s been wonderful.
I feel like I could sleep for days.
When I’m holding her I (sometimes) don’t care if I ever sleep again.
In fact, I’m going to go do that right now. Just because I can.
And because Emma is totally hogging her.
No fair.
Thanks for all the love. More details and pictures after the weekend. Promise.
39 comments
She’s darling. I won’t disagree at all!
Get home and get rested. You need it!
Love you to pieces!
by Eowyn on November 11, 2009 at 5:08 pm. #
She is BEAUTIFUL! Congratulations again!
by Heffalump on November 11, 2009 at 5:29 pm. #
k…tears!! how can I have tears already!!…happy ones of course….happy with just a touch of sad cause I can’t come and kiss you over and over on the cheek and tell you how ridiculously proud of you I am…or how beautiful and beaming your eyes are..or how I can just feel the energy around this birth shifting something in you and that I feel like Claira is a gift bigger then her little body leads on. I miss you, and I love you and I think you are just so darned super amazing! I am soooo happy for you Kim…for all of you of course.
So much LOVE!!!
by Jenn on November 11, 2009 at 5:32 pm. #
Oh, she’s beautiful!
by Kristina P. on November 11, 2009 at 5:36 pm. #
So happy that your sweet third daughter has arrived safe and sound! love to you 5! :) *HUGS*
by Kate on November 11, 2009 at 5:48 pm. #
Yay yay yay! She is breathtaking! I look forward to hearing more of the story.
by Erin on November 11, 2009 at 6:16 pm. #
Congratulations, Kim and Neil and daughters! And please also tell your mom and dad congratulations for me–on the new grandbaby AND for being such terrific parents to you during this difficult pregnancy! You have a fabulous family–but you know that! :o)
by Myrna on November 11, 2009 at 6:25 pm. #
Oh my word, she’s simply beautiful to behold. Congratulations on her safe arrival and on getting to head back home and settle in.
by Mrs. Organic on November 11, 2009 at 6:29 pm. #
She is beautiful. I am soooo sorry not to have been able to visit. Being sick or having a sick kiddo is no fun at all…..especially when there is something so pink and cute sitting in my house with Claira’s name on it. I guess it will have to be mailed, and the incredibly slow, aged polar bears at Canada Post will have to deliver it. Oy. But someday, when we are all well and you are nearby again, I simply must meet this precious little one in person. I cannot wait to hear more about her. Oh my. Don’t you just stare at her for hours?!
by Sara on November 11, 2009 at 6:37 pm. #
Darling!
by Karlene on November 11, 2009 at 7:13 pm. #
Welcome, welcome baby Claira! She’s GORGEOUS, Kim! Just gorgeous! I’m glad to see you’re both happy and healthy and though the c-section is owie, I’m glad you’re getting to go home. I’m very, very happy for you! Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations!!!!
by L.T. Elliot on November 11, 2009 at 7:14 pm. #
She is gorgeous! Good LUCK on the recovery process!
;)
by Alexes on November 11, 2009 at 7:53 pm. #
She is absolutely gorgeous. Heal up! (And from my sister’s C-section experience–try not to laugh too soon. Ouch!)
by Annette on November 11, 2009 at 8:13 pm. #
No argument here, either. What a total doll!
by Melanie J on November 11, 2009 at 8:40 pm. #
she’s gorgeous! congrats on her safe arrival!
by Thalia's Child on November 11, 2009 at 8:42 pm. #
Congratulations! She’s lovely!
by gaelikaa on November 11, 2009 at 9:38 pm. #
What a beautiful girl! Congratulations!
by Stephanie on November 11, 2009 at 9:44 pm. #
Beautiful sweet baby. You are one lucky mama. And Claira Jane is one lucky girl.
Rest up and enjoy!!
by Terresa Wellborn on November 11, 2009 at 10:23 pm. #
Now THAT doesn NOT look like an undercooked little baby. What a SWEET round little face. Oh, she’s beautiful.
I can’t wait to hear every detail. It sounds like you’re doing well (minus the pain!) and I’m so glad to hear that!
by LisAway on November 12, 2009 at 1:47 am. #
I was thinking of disagreeing with you, but then I would be lying! She is absolutely cute and gorgeous and beautiful and pretty and all the other names that describe what I just did.
Congratulations!
by Mara on November 12, 2009 at 2:32 am. #
She’s beautiful!
by Nancy on November 12, 2009 at 4:57 am. #
Yea for you, and welcome Precious Claira. Bring on the nausea-inducing birth stories! And Friday? It’s coming soon. Yea for family reunion.
by Becca on November 12, 2009 at 5:14 am. #
So lovely. May God bless you and Claira with as many naps as possible. congratulations.
by Stephanie on November 12, 2009 at 5:31 am. #
Yeah! She’s soooo cute. I had to laugh at her all bundled up, here in Georgia she would suffocate – it’s still in the high 70′s. Glad to hear the c-section went well…I always feared having to go through one of those. I had natural child birth with both kids because I HATE needles, I can’t imagine one shoved in my back as they cut me open while I am awake and aware of what was going on. Glad you were able to handle it. Hope you heal fast and get feeling back to normal soon. I’m sure the girls and Neil will be glad to have you home, even if you won’t be up to normal activity for awhile. Congrats!
by Nicole H. on November 12, 2009 at 5:58 am. #
She is so adorable!!! I hope you recover fast. C/S recoveries suck, but it doesn’t last forever. :) Enjoy your sweet little girl!
by Kara on November 12, 2009 at 7:10 am. #
She is perfect! Awww, now I want one. cough cough
That full numbed feeling is so weird, huh? My husband always asked the anesthesiologist why I wouldn’t be paralyzed when everything was over and done. It always freaked him out.
So glad you are all well.
by Kazzy on November 12, 2009 at 8:09 am. #
I will agree with you whole heartedly! She is beautiful!!
Recovery after a c-section isn’t always fun, but if you take care of yourself, you’ll heal up A LOT faster!! Just trust me on this one, m’kay? :)
by Melissa on November 12, 2009 at 8:57 am. #
She is perfect! I can’t wait to hear all the details!!!
by Ambrosia on November 12, 2009 at 9:39 am. #
She’s absolutely precious!! Congratulations.
by Beth on November 12, 2009 at 11:04 am. #
Oh Kim, I am so, so, so happy for you! The sacrifice of motherhood is different for many but I am so proud of your attitude going through all of this. Claira is a very lucky girl to have such willing arms to rest in. Good job!
by Josi on November 13, 2009 at 7:29 am. #
She is in every way awesome!!!! Beautiful, perfect, awesome! Congratulations!
by julie wright on November 13, 2009 at 7:39 am. #
She is an absolute doll! I can not wait to meet her and hold her in person. I hope the little outfit I got her fits :) !!
Love to all of you and good luck with all the transitions you need to make. You are one strong person and I know you can do it with the Lord’s help.
by An Ordinary Mom on November 13, 2009 at 4:49 pm. #
I missed everything!!!
But I’m here now, congratulating you and giving you full permission to constantly brag about her cuteness!!!
SO SO happy for you! (and feeling your c-section pain…it’s so hard!)
xoxoxo! Been thinking of you so much!!!
by Heather of the EO on November 14, 2009 at 10:33 am. #
Congrats Kim!!!! I’m so excited that you have reached this point. Claira is SO beautiful (just like her mommy) Can’t wait to hear all of the details. :)
by Jaina on November 16, 2009 at 10:39 am. #
What is better than what’s in that photo? Nothing, nada, zip, zilch, zero! yay for the Vanderhorst’s!
by Heidi Ashworth on November 16, 2009 at 3:31 pm. #
She is soooooooooooooo beautiful. Those cheeks just won’t quit. So thrilled for you!
by Amber on November 16, 2009 at 8:38 pm. #
Congratulations! The long wait is finally over! Oh, and our babies were born on the same day! My Cruz Ezekiah was born at 11:57 a.m. on the 9th. We’re completely in love with him, as I know you are with yours. I feel you on the sleep thing. Totally.
by Nichole on November 16, 2009 at 10:31 pm. #
Congratulations! She is fabulously beautiful. Three of my four children were C-section beauties; poor greta was the single cone head, bruised baby (but she’s made up for that in spades now!).
by leendaluu on November 17, 2009 at 6:33 am. #
Sorry I’ve been absent! She’s gorgeous. Congratulations! I hope you are healing well. The C-section is a different experience, no?
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
by Luisa Perkins on November 18, 2009 at 2:21 am. #