Newborn pictures

We got Kendell's newborn pictures taken when she was three weeks old by Amber Allen. The same lady who took the girls pictures in October. I love them, just sad that it took so long for me to get them back. Kendell is now 8 weeks and 2 days old. I really do not know where the time has gone. She is doing really well at night. I usually get a 5-6 hour stretch of no eating and then another 4 hour after that. If I could only get myself to sleep during that same time I'd be set. As it is though, it's the only time I get a few things done. This fourth kid seems to be kicking my behind! I feel like I can not get or keep caught up on anything. Maybe some day I'll get a routine down and feel like I am a getting something accomplished! This may be a picture overload, but I couldn't decide on any favorites, so I am putting up all of them!!! The first ones she is wearing the hat my sister, Rebecca, made for her....she did not like it on, but I needed a few pics since she did such a good job making it and it looked so cute on!

Kendell-harness

Long story....at birth the doctor could dislocate her hips, so went to see an orthopedic guy....he couldn't do it and at her 2 week check the doctor couldn't either, so we thought we were good! but they wanted us to come in for a precautionary ultra sound at 6 weeks....so, her hips are not deep enough in the socket and she has to wear this harness for about 2 1/2 to 3 months....24 hours a day. I get to take it off three times a day for 15 minutes...she hates it and has turned from my best baby to a bit of a stinker!! I feel so bad for her that I usually let her keep it off for 30 minutes. The minute I take it off she stretches her legs straight and holds them there for a few seconds and then just keeps kicking them. I also have to go in for weekly appointments to make sure it's holding her hips in the right spot....once they look good she has to wear the harness for another 4-5 weeks...it's called hip dysplasia as a broad term...or for her specifically its bilateral hip subluxation....the prognosis looks good for the harness to work...it works in 90 percent of cases. I just feel so bad for her...not because it hurts her, but I think it makes her uncomfortable and she gets so frustrated right after we put her back in it!



We just went back to the doctor on Friday (2-11) and everything is looking great. Her hips are stabilizing already. She'll have to be in the harness for another 4 weeks full time and then 3ish weeks after that just at nap and bedtime. I think I might ask the doctor, however, if I can keep her in in during the day and be out of it at night! I think I might want to get some sleep at night too:) It really has been the pits because she is so happy when I take her out of it. I usually let her go 30-40 minutes out of it, especially if I need to get something done or if she is super smiley with me...

A few more pictures of Kendell...

A few more than a few and I'm sure they all look the same, but we just love our little Kendell...she has been a great baby so far! When she starts to cry at all one of the girls gets over there to rock her, touch her or sing to her....

Kendell Rebecca Niepraschk

Kendell was born on December 19th, 2010-a Sunday-at 12:59 pm. She weighed in at 8 lbs and 0.6 ounces and was 20 inches long. I went to the hospital to get induced that day. Murray and Melissa kept the girls over night Saturday, since we had to be at the hospital at 7 am. I got there and it took a while for them to get me checked in. Dr. Kelly Lennon, my OBGYN, was there and broke my water at about 8:40 and then the nurse started me on my pitocin around 9 am. I was already having a few contractions when I got to the hospital, so things moved pretty quickly. My first mistake was not getting my epidural soon enough. I asked for it around 11:30ish, but she has just started someone else, so it was closer to noon or a little after that I finally got mine. At that point, I was in more pain than I ever wanted to feel. I figure I have been through enough pain in my life with gymnastics that I don't need anymore from here on out! Regardless, they had to do the epidural three times!!! Most of the time I didn't feel them threading it in because I was having a contraction, which was way more painful than the epidural. They were making me shake and sweat! The epidural finally got in, but wasn't working very well on the left side, so she fiddled with tube a little and said she'd come back and check on me in about 15-20 min. At this point it was enough less pain that I was going to try and take a nap. Kurt did not want to leave, but I told him to go and grab some lunch so he didn't get sick...no big deal, I was going to sleep. About 15 minutes later, I was feeling some pressure and called my nurse. She came to check and me and as I suspected, I was ready to push Kendell out. I quickly called Kurt to tell him he was going to miss the delivery if he didn't hurry. He sprinted up from the cafeteria, told me he had to throw most of his lunch away, since he had just started eating! The doctor was there and 3-4 pushes later Kendell was out. Since I had only had my epidural for about 45 minutes, I wasn't all the way numbed up and felt the pushing....I now have an even bigger desire to NEVER go natural!! Kuddos to all those who do and think it's OK. Not for me!! She is my biggest baby yet and just as beautiful as the other three girls. She had a low blood sugar count after she came out, but that was resolved by the next afternoon, so no big deal. She has dark hair, despite the fact that Alyse was certain she'd have yellow hair:) She has super long toes and fingers - just like her mom! She really is just perfect...
The girls came that night to visit us in the hospital and they were so excited to meet her. They all wanted to hold her and then hold her again. I definitely have three very helpful holders, kissers, singers and huggers for Kendell.