HAPPY 1 MONTHDAY!

I cannot get over how much one little girl can grow in 4 weeks. You have changed so much! Your whole body is sturdy now - solid and full. There is no more yellow to your skin - you are white and pink and sweet all over :) You are VERY alert. You have started watching the 3 of us walk by your swing and will grin for just a second when you are in the mood. I cannot wait to see that smile all of the time. Just a small smile makes my day. Your first smile was earlier this week, at your daddy, and when he looked at me to tell me what you had done I coulse see the pride in his face. You have him wrapped around your finger already!

Your cry is more of a squeaky yell, really. I think its a more of a bird call. It starts off as a small cry but then it ends in a very very high pitched scream. Your cry when you are hungry is a repetitive low cry. It remonds me of you nursing - the repetitive sucking - if that makes sense. When you need to burp you let out one BIG squaky cry, then a pause, and then another cry. It is amazing how much I have learned about you and I sense you figuring me out as well. You know how to throw yourself to the side, you guide yourself to my breat when you are hungry, and you know how to snuggle into the soft part of neck. I love it and I love you!

3 1/2 weeks and your first big outing!

So last week we spent a lot of time with friends and had a blast. This weekend we decided we needed some family time :) Daddy took us to the Harlem Globetrotter's game. I can't believe we made it through the entire game!!! I needed to nurse you twice, of course, but it was easy. I wrapped you up in my Miby and then zipped up my big coact - we were both warm even though it was only 9 degrees outside...brrrrr...

Auntie Amanda goes back to work tomorrow after her maternity leave with Charlie (you two will be great friends!) and it seems like she was JUST in labor. I know it will be much too soon before I have to leave you but I guess I cant think about that yet. Though it seems incredible that you are almost 1 month old already - I have to remind myself that I have only known you for less than 30 days. What an amzing time we are having - daddy calls you my "bff" because we are together ALL of the time. You spend very little time in a swing or bouncer...you seem to like my arms best!

I love you, Molly Bird. I cannot wait for more fun times ahead!

Mom xoxox

Friends

We have a lot of girl friends popping up in the world. You are going to have so much fun with them :) Guiliana, Charlie, Jolie, Strom baby girl are just the newest girls! You have your 4th girl cousin arriving in April as well. I just cant wait for the tea parties and spa days and shopping trips!

I have amazing friends, Molly. Real. True. Awesome. I-Have-Your-Back-No-Matter-What-Happens-Or-What-Stupid-Things-You-May-Do friends :)

I didnt have MANY good friends in high school but the few true friends I had rocked. And they still rock at (gulp!) almost 30! ANd my college friends and my post college friends are my foundation, my mirror, my truth. Your Johnson grandparents are always in awe of the support we get from our friends and I am proud of them :)

I wish you the same foundation of friends. GOOD friends. Friends that make you dream bigger and tell you when you are acting stupid and need to get over yourself. Friends that laugh with you and cry with you and say sorry even when they didnt do anything.

Blessed. So SO SOOOOO blessed.

love, mom

2 weeks

HAPPY 2 WEEK BIRTHDAY! The last 2 weeks have gone by so incredibly fast. We had to go to the Children's hospital after your dr. appt because your billirubin level went from an 8 to a 22.5. I was so scared for you. I hated going to the hospital. I hated seeing your name already on the door of the room. I just couldn't stop crying. As a mother, you feel like you need to protect your child from everything. I felt like I had let you down. Maybe I didn't nurse you enough, but you were always sleeping. Maybe your liver wasnt functioning properly. Perhaps it was because my milk took 6 days to come in. Maybe, maybe, perhaps, what if... ugh. Being a mom is SO hard. Your dad stayed for hours with us, but he needed to go home to get Owen to bed and get some rest because he had to go to work. I didnt want to be alone, so when your Auntie Amanda offered to keep me company - I took it. I'm normally the person that just sucks it up and deals with things alone but I couldnt do it this time. i couldnt sit in that room staring at my yellow baby in an incubator under bright lights. As soon as she walked in I started BAWLING. Probably in a way she hadnt seen since college. She brought food, drinks, movies, and even a trashy gossip magazine ;p Her support was wonderful. I stayed up almost that entire night - even when the nurses urged me to get some rest. But I wanted to nurse and pump as much as possible to help you push that junk out of your system. I worked so hard to make you better. By the next day we could go home. At your two week check up you gained all of your weight back!!! You are in the 75th precentile for weight and 50th for height. Keep growing strong, my love.

Thank you for an interesting week. You reminded me to take nothing for granted. I love you so so so much.

Mom

1 week old

One week ago I did not know how soft your skin was. One week ago I hadn't yet kissed your head, held your hand, tickled your feet, or nursed you to sleep. One week ago I was excited for your arrival but I had no idea how sweet it would be - to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOLLY. I LOVE YOU. I couldnt imagine the love I would feel for your dad, as he stood over you repeating through your cries, ITS OKAY, DADDY'S HERE.

How sweet it is to love you. Everyone loves you, Molly Genevieve. The world is a better place now that you are here.

love you

MOM

ps Dont worry - I have MUCH more to write about but first I need some sleep!

Here is your birth timelime :) Our doula, Jody, was so helpful! She put this together for us.

12/28/10

9:20 am Jennifer called Jody: contractions have been coming every 10 min.
for 3 hours this morning!

9:27 Jennifer calls Jody back: WATER JUST BROKE! :0)

12:30pm Jody calls Jennifer to check in...no real change

3:25 Joe calls Jody...they are ready for her to join them

4:25 Jody arrives at Sadler home...Jenn is resting in bedroom...
ctx. described as "intense", but still 8-10 min. apart...
Owen busy playing with Grandpartents

5:00 Jenn eats 1/2 sandwich
5:30 - 7?30 Jenn and Joe decide it would be good idea to pack up, go to mall for
some walking!! Ctx. pick up and come every 4-6 min.

8:00 Arrive at Butterworth Hospital and nurse greets us in triage:o)
Jenn rates pain as a "7" and nurse finds she is 4cm dilated!

9:25 Still in triage...Jenn stays focused & calm through ctx.
Jenn receives IV for GBS+

9:25 Arrive at Room #2410, Nurse Dawn

9:30 - 12:20 Ctx. every 4 min. lasting 1:15sec. Great job Jennifer!!

12/29
12:30am Cervix check...no change...nurse suggests side-laying position
1:00 Change sides...Jenn remains so focused and calm!!
1:20 Jenn tries a little "hands & Knees"...
1:35 Ctx. now every 3 min. and lasting 1:15sec.
1:45 Lunges & leaning over bed...Joe catches quick nap!
3:30 Jenn changes position to try birthball...ctx. have slowed a bit
3:55 Resident arrives to check cervix...no change...back to side-laying
with alternating legs in stirrups.
4:00-4:20 Joe sleeps a bit...Jenn rests...what endurance she has!!
4:20 - 6:00 Ctx. remain quite spread out...Jenn is getting some rest...
changing positions every 15 min.
6:05 Jenn lets us know she's feeling lots of pressure...moves around room and
makes trip to bathroom...
6:40 Ctx. pick up a bit and Jenn feels low back pain.
6:55 Jenn now lets us know..."I want to be anywhere except the BED!"
7:25 Nurse change...we say "good-bye" to Dawn and meet Mary.
Joe steps out for a couple cups of coffee! Good morning!:o)
7:45 Doctor arrives and checks cervix...no change...4cm
Doctor recommends internal monitoring & pitocin.
8:45 Ctx. every 3 min. lasting 40sec. for last hour
9:00 Joe updates Jenn's parents & checks on Owen!
9:15 WOW! Jenn has a 7 MINUTE CTX!!! Obviously, the nurse turned
the pitocin off while Joe comforts her and tells her "it will end!!"

9:20 Jenn seriously discusses pain relief with Joe...he reminds her of what she wanted and tells her what a great job she is doing!!
WHAT A TEAM THEY ARE!! :0)

9:20-9:40 Lots of standing, swaying, leaning on Joe

9:45 Ctx space out again without pitocin...time for a back rub from Jody & Joe

10:00 cervix check...no change...doctor discusses epidural as an option to help

10: 10 Epidural decided on & pitocin slowly started again.
10:30 Jenn is feeling "no pain"...resting
11:00 Doctor checks cervix...no change and tells Jenn and Joe that baby seems to be looking "sideways"....recommends rest/quiet for a few hours

11:00-11:40 Joe and Jody rest and take lunch breaks

11:50 Nurse moves Jenn back to side-laying position and we encourage pelvis change again by placing legs in stirrups...alternating sides regularly

12:50pm Jenn gets more rest...ctx. 4 min. apart
1:10 Joe and Jenn begin a game of "Farkle"....Jody steps out for a break

1:55 Joe calls Jody with update: "another LONG ctx. came and baby's heart rate did not tolerate this...room filled with nurses...etc. and a c-section was decided on for the safety of the baby!

1:55-2:55 Jenn and Joe prepare themselves...Jody hands them camera to wait for the BIRTH DAY!

3:19pm Molly Genevieve Arrives!! 9 lbs. CONGTRATULATIONS TO ALL!!!!!