It's a Girl! Welcome Chloë Karner Hulser 9/13 - 9/19

Wahoo! She is finally here! Announcing the birth of our baby girl! 

Chloë Karner Hulser

Sunday, September 13th 2015

7:02 am

7.72 lbs 

21" long

Los Gatos, CA

We apologize for not getting photos out sooner, but we've been trying to soak in every  moment to the last drop with her. Being that that this morning at 7:02am is her first week's birthday, it's time we get you some photos and the story of how it all began! (VIDEOS AT BOTTOM.)

Here we go...

Originally due on the 9th, Chloë let us know she was ready to join the world when Ashley started showing signs of early labor at 2a on Saturday the 12th.  We spent almost all of Saturday at home (football and labor anyone?) and left for the hospital at 11:30pm that night, arriving when Ash was 6cm dilated.  The next seven plus hours were the most amazing, surreal, and intense experiences of our lives.  At 7:02a on Sunday the 13th, Ashley was able to naturally deliver us the sweetest gift from God we could have ever imagined.  Because she made it through the night to be born on the 13th, Chloë now shares the same birthday with her maternal great-grandmother, Gloria Bachman, who would have been ninety years old that day.  

Right after birth, Chloë showed some signs of shallow, rapid breathing and had to be taken off to the NICU for further tests and observations.  I went with her there so that I could watch and give her skin to skin cuddle time (needles never looked so scary before), while Suzanne (Ashley's mom was with us through the whole delivery for much needed help and support!) stayed with Ash.  While delivering the placenta, Ash experienced postnatal hemorrhaging, but was able to be treated well and quickly by our midwife and nurses.  My parents, Fred & Shay, were on a red-eye flight through the night  (that Shay had somehow intuitively purchased just hours before labor started at home, knowing they needed to be here on the 13th) and so joined us that morning just hours after Chloë's birth.

The first 48 hours were both the most amazing and stressful of our lives because we finally had Chloë with us, but because the doctor's had to keep her in the NICU for monitoring. They did release her to us about 4 hours after the birth but had to take her back to the NICU that night after she continued to show signs that all the fluid had not been expelled from her lungs at birth.  We roomed right across from the NICU, and Ash spent every moment she could holding and nursing her there. 

But that is all behind us now!  I am extremely happy to report that we had Chloë back in our arms and all to ourselves by Monday 9/14 at 7pm and that she is now well and thriving (and nursing like a champ!). Even better, were discharged and able to take her back home with us by Tuesdayafternoon! 

Now a week into the world, both she and Ashley are healthy and recovering very well.  We have already gone our first stroll, returned to her town of birth, Los Gatos, CA, for her first pediatric appointment, enjoyed nursing lunch alfresco and attended her first curb-side cocktail hosted on our block every Friday.  (Don't worry, she stayed very covered and protected in Ash's arms).  Although we are loving introducing her to life outside the womb, more importantly we are trying our hardest to make time go as slow as possible, savoring every moment to the last drop with out tiny little snuggly package of love. Our most favorite time with her is waking up together in our room and just cuddling and staring at her. (We haven't been leaving our bedroom till nearly noon pretty much everyday because of that.)

We love our little bundle of joy more than we could have ever imagined, and we can't wait to introduce her to you.  She is amazing!

Thank you all or your continued thoughts, prayers, and well wishes!

And now the part you have been waiting for..... photos!!!

Click here to take a look at pictures from Chloë's first week of life. (All 200+ of them!) And check out my videos below. 

Love, 

Daddy Eric, Mommy Ashley & Chloë Baby. 

P.S. Both Chloe and Chloë with an umlaut work fine for her spelling her name.  We will be using both. 






Milk Coma baby, 3 & 4 days old. from Ashley Abercrombie Hulser on Vimeo.
Chloe in milk comas after nursing

5 days old. Third Morning home from the hospital. from Ashley Abercrombie Hulser on Vimeo.