First Visitor

Ellie had her first visitor this week, Yoona Eemo!

Eemo made us 미역국, so Omma can get her proper nutrients.

Matilda was really excited about the visit. We went and got boba, and the lady gave her free purple (taro) boba.

Matilda has been very excited about her sister. Now, she wants to hold Ellie all the time. It's a bit scary, but she does a good job.

We're still working on the sleeping at night thing, but other than that, Ellie has been pretty low maintenance so far. She sleeps through all of Matilda's poking and prodding and yelling and jumping and singing and screaming...during the day. Maybe if we got Matilda to do all these things at night, Ellie would sleep better.

It's OK though. Ellie stares at me with these eyes, and it's all good.

Anyway, she's been a wonderful holiday gift.

Sisters

The first night at the hospital was a bit trying with both of us pretty wiped out after a day that started at 2:30 a.m. Eloise went to sleep nicely in the bassinet, and we were both gently drifting off to sleep, when the nurse came in the room with sounds of beeping and phones ringing and woke everybody up. So sleep was not in the cards. Luckily, because Ellie was doing so well, we got permission to leave the hospital Sunday night instead of Monday morning and avoid another night of poking and prodding.

Before we left, Mina's cousin Lisa and her son Jason came for a visit. It was Jason's first time holding a baby, but he didn't think it would help his social status at school. As I am so hip, I suggested we post the picture to SnapChat, which is what all the kids are doing these days. I think he may now refer to me as ajosshi.

Ellie had a pretty uneventful day otherwise. Lots of tests to try to get her out of the hospital. Mainly, she spent the day with Omma, as I was watching Matilda at home most of the afternoon.

Finally, around 8 p.m., we got the final clearance to go and Matilda got to meet her new sister! She seemed really nervous about it as we waited in the hospital lobby, but when she saw Ellie, she was so excited (and the excitement has not dissipated).

Eloise is home now and has started transitioning to normal life. Unfortunately, she appears to have started life in the Korea Time Zone. Hopefully, she'll adjust soon. For now, she's sleeping the days away.

Eloise Sunhee

Saturday morning at 2:30 a.m., Omma woke up with contractions, and pretty soon they were going full force and regular. We had been warned things would progress quicker this time but this ended up being really quick. Like last time, we labored at home with the doula until she gave the "I think it's time" at 6 a.m. By that point, the contractions were coming fast and furious. We got to the hospital a few minutes later and I parked in the emergency area and we went up to the maternity ward. The midwife met us there and checked the progress. I asked if I should go move the car and she said if I did, I'd probably miss the birth. 45 minutes later, Eloise (Ellie) Sunhee made her appearance. She weighed in at 7 lbs 2 oz and was 21 inches long.

Unfortunately, the good camera was still in the car so all I have are cell phone pictures.

I cut the umbilical cord. They kept asking all these questions like "Do you want to touch her head (before she was out)? Do you want to see the placenta? Do you want to cut the umbilical cord?" I said yes.

Then it was off to the maternity ward room. (not to complain, but the room at the hospital this time sucks. The clock doesn't even work). Time to try and remember all those skills like swaddling.

For comparison, here's Matilda on her birthday. Same nose, that's for sure.

Matilda has had a cold, so the only meeting they've had so far is via Facetime. The pediatrician said we should be able to take her home tonight, so we can get out of that hospital soon and the girls can meet each other. More fun times to come.