Santa Baby - Welcome Morgan Emily Rausch!

My mom arrived in Germany on Friday, December 19th along with her fiancee Keith. We spent Friday afternoon/evening walking through the Frankfurt Christmas market and then grabbed a bite to eat at one of favorite German restaurants. Saturday we woke up and headed to two different Christmas Markets - Mainz and Wiesbaden. It was great to see some different markets this year. I had an ulterior motive for taking mom and Keith to the markets - walking! We walked a TON on Friday and Saturday and I was secretly hoping it would bring on the baby. All day Saturday I had been having contractions..although I attributed them to Braxton-Hicks. I supposed if I had bothered timing them I would have realized that they were the real deal! By the time we arrived home on Saturday evening I was exhausted and went to lie down while Shaun and mom watched a movie (Christmas with the Kranks). Halfway through their movie, at around 8:15pm, I roused myself from bed and joined them on the couch. I couldn't get comfortable on the couch so I started to walk back to our bedroom and that is when my water broke!

I was in such shock. I pulled Shaun away from the movie and told him that my water had broken and we decided it was time to go to the hospital. Well actually we weren't sure what to do at first..ha. I was convinced they were going to send me back home after I arrived at the hospital as I wasn't in any pain. YET. On the way to the hospital and in the waiting room the contractions kicked into high gear and by the time I was admitted and in one of the hospital rooms the contractions were right on top of each other and they had to give me some medication to slow them down. I had planned to try and have her naturally...but along came 5cm and I threw up the white flag. I had an epidural and it was actually great. I could still feel my legs and walk around, but I felt no pain!

At 6:20am on Sunday, December 21st, Morgan Emily Rausch graced us with her presence 8 days early. Weighing in at 3,260 grams (7.2 lbs) and 52cm (20.5 in.). We were in absolute awe after she arrived. Ten fingers, ten toes, a full head of hair and a rosy complexion. We could not have asked for a healthier, more beautiful baby or a more perfect Christmas present. The midwives allowed me to hold her for the next 3-4 hours while we waited to be transferred to my hospital room. In the meantime they brought breakfast..and I was STARVING. However, they had the nerve to bring me 2 rolls, a slice of cheese, and a container of plain yogurt. Healthy as it may have been it wasn't the french toast I'd been envisioning..but I still inhaled it! German hospitals leave a lot to be desired. No TV, no private room, shared bathroom with your roommate and the room next door, and a definite desire to wear shower shoes.

Sunday afternoon Shaun went back to our apartment to pick up my mom and Keith and bring them back to the hospital for a visit. I was so glad my mom was in town to meet Morgan...I had been stressed that the timing of her trip would mean she'd miss her birthday. Mom, Keith, and Shaun visited for several hours and then around 6pm they headed home while Morgan and I spent the night in the hospital. Anytime she needed a diaper change I would just wheel her over to the nurses station and they would change her diaper for me and check her temperature. They also showed me how to change her and dress her (something I definitely needed a refresher on!). Monday at around 11:00am Shaun came back to the hospital and helped to spring us from the joint and by 3:00pm we were on our way back home. We arrived home to homemade chicken noodle soup and a homemade apple pie courtesy of mom and Keith - it was perfect! Needless to say I was exhausted by Monday night...seeing as I hadn't really slept since Friday night and we settled in for the evening.

We can't tell everyone enough how appreciative we are of your well wishes and messages! Our network of family and friends in Germany and at home has been amazing. Morgan is such a sweet baby and we can't get enough of holding her. It really is such a little miracle to think she was inside of me just over a week ago and now here she is! We are very excited about the adventures ahead!
Me holding Morgan minutes after she was born. Weighing in at 3,260 grams!Proud and exhausted Dad!


Morgan in her bassinet in the Recovery room. The German hospitals use little down comforters for all of the babies.

Grandma JaneMorgan and I snuggling in the recovery roomMorgan in her going home outfit..and her bear snowsuitOur little bear