How appropriate that my 100th post is about the arrival of our little girl! I am trying my hardest to remember all the details, but may not get them all right.
Last Wednesday (how was it been over a week) we went out to a nice dinner and waited not-so-paitently for 8:00pm to arrive so we could head to the hospital. We got checked in and settled in our room. The IV was started and I had a foley bulb catheter inserted to help me dilate. Then we pretty much just settled in for the night and tried to sleep. Sometime in the morning (I think around 8am) I was dilated enough where the catheter could be removed. And then the pitocin was started. We lucked out and got the one telemtry unit so that we could walk the halls all day- although there wasn't very far to go. So, we walked and walked and walked. I started to have strong contractions around 4:00. I finally gave in and got an epidural around 6:30. I didn't think I was going to survive past that point! haha! The epidural experience was interesting. During the middle of it - the power went out (they were doing generator checks) and our room got dark for a few seconds. Not fun when you are told to hold perfectly still!! And then they got a wet tap - which is where some of my spinal fluid leaked out. I got the wonderful news after the fact that I was not at a higher risk for a spinal headache - which is the worst headache of your life. The epidural was heaven though, and we were able to settle in for a while. Unfortunately, it started to wear off around midnight (I think) and I was ready to just have them wheel me back into the OR and get her out. The poor nurse and Matt - they had to put up with a lot during that time. But the anesthesiologist came and upped the dose and gave me something else too. Unfortunately, they should have checked me first because the reason I was in so much pain was because I went from 5cm (pretty much how I was alllll day) to 10 in the matter of a few hours! But at that point, I was so numb that they needed the epidural to wear off a little before I could push. So, we waited. It was then time to do some practice pushes and the nurses got the bed ready and we were making some progress. There was a lovely lady next door to us screaming her head off (they said that she was only at the pain level that I was at when the foley fell out - which to me was mild cramping. But to each their own). It made for a nice distraction though! haha! Well, at this point it was about 2am and the doctor popped his head in and asked for the nurse. Apparently the screamer couldn't take it and was needing a c-section ASAP, so we had to STOP pushing! And they put the bed back together. It was so disappointing. They also stopped my pitocin. About 2 hours later the docs came back and they were ready to get our little girl out. At this point though, her heartrate was dropping some and they were getting concerned.. so they were threatening vacuum or forceps. Since they had stopped my pitocin, my contractions were few and very far between. So, they upped that and got me started again... And finally we were ready to go! It only took about 7 or 8 pushes and I got that little one out - but it took forever because we just had to chill in between each contraction. Haha! Akward!
She arrived on 2/4/11 at 5:53 am. She weighed 7 lbs 4 oz and 19.9 inches long. And she is perfect!! She got a 10 on her second apgar, and has no jaundice what so ever.
The rest of the weekend was a whirlwind of visitors, doctors, nurses, tests, etc. I also got an awful headache and had to see every anesthesiologist in the hospital to figure out if it was a spinal headache. We were discharged on Sunday and came home.... now what?! :) It was a great night though and we loved having her all to ourselves. My mom came on Monday and is staying till Sunday to help out. It has been great. On Tuesday, I finally couldn't take the headache anymore and went to the ER. They found that I had an infection and was severely dehydrated. I am just today starting to feel better. And I am so happy that it wasn't a spinal headache!
Otherwise - we are just busy feeding, changing, loving, and snuggling. There is really nothing better in life. I find myself just smiling. Even when it is 3am and we are awake - there is nothing better. I have never been so happy in my life. Or more in love with such a tiny little thing. She is just precious and such a good little baby. She is eating like a champ and a pretty darn good sleeper. Oh I just love her so much!! And I love watching Matt with her. That was such a great part after labor when they were doing their thing on me and getting her all cleaned up. I was in awe of how in love Matt is with her - his face was priceless. And I know I will cherish that memory for the rest of my life. Daddy seeing his daughter for the first time and falling head over heels.
She's stirring, so I will post pictures later... :)
My dear friend here in Ohio, Natalie, meets baby Natalie and brings her a ton of super cute head bands!
One of my very BFFs, Stacy falls head over heals in love!
Uncle Michael - slightly afraid of how tiny she was at first! So cute!
Grandma Gigi comes to stay for a few days.
Jessica - my other great Ohio friend with Abbie. Jessica, Natalie and I were all pregnant when we moved here! And our babies were born on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th - easy to remember those monthly milestones!
Grandma, Grandpa, and Molly came for a visit (Grandma stayed for a week and was a huge help!!)! I am surprised baby girl didn't end up in the car with them when they left.
All of Matt's fantastic siblings and niece came to visit while we were in the hospital. Matt's step mom came too (she is the one taking this picture!).
Jessica visited us in the hospital too (so did lots of others but apparently we were too tired to take pics of everyone).
Aunt Lisa and Big Cousin Emily!
Papa and Granddaughter! Papa and Gigi drove over 3 hours each way just to meet her on the day she was born. What a lucky little girl!
Grandma Gigi meets Granddaughter
