Thursday, June 6, 2013

Birthday Countdown (Part 3)

The final part of the story...(a day late! We were a little busy with the birthday girl yesterday) You may may want to read at least part 2 and maybe part 1 before you read this one!

I am guessing the time was a little after midnight, June 5!! The labor pain had definitely intensified and I was apparently having contractions about every minute. I wasn't having a break in between and the spiking pain was getting worse. The nurse came back in and my water had broken...it was at this time that I knew I was in labor. I feel really dumb now that I didn't realize it until this point...but in my defense I'd never been in labor before, and I kept being told no its not labor its just cramping. Well once my water broke I realized why I was in such horrible pain...I was 7cm dilated when she checked and then 8cm in the middle of her checking me!  This part was a little foggy to me.  I began to freak out, and I believe Josh did too!  He told her to do anything she could to get the epidural.  One second she’s telling me it’s going to take 45 minutes and they are going to rush as fast as they can to get the anesthesiologist to come.  The next second they tell me it is too late and they are putting up the stirrups and telling me I’m about to push! It didn't take very long or very many pushes...I didn't actually count, but very soon I heard that sweet, wonderful cry and I knew my baby was here!  No words can actually describe that feeling I felt as soon as I heard her and they put her on my chest. We stared into each other's eyes, and I was absolutely in love. 

So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my beautiful baby girl!! I didn't think it was possible, but I love you even more than that day I first met you. You are such a wonderful gift and such a blessing from God. I love getting to be your mommy and am truly blessed to have you as a daughter!












Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Birthday Countdown (part 2)

This time last year I was in active labor and didn't realize it...who knew?!? I can't believe my baby is a year old tomorrow!!! My mom used to always tell me on my birthday "this time ?? years ago I was..." So, since I didn't have a blog then...this time 1 year ago...

(WARNING...birth story!! I'll keep it pretty clean, but just a head up!)

Josh and I had everything packed up. I'd been making a list for weeks and I had crossed off everything that needed to be packed and done before we left. I checked the mail one last time and made sure all of the bills were paid. I'd been cleaning everything for weeks to prepare, but I had to do a little extra sanitizing because Josh had been sick with a stomach virus...terrible timing!! Thankfully he was feeling a little better the actual day we were supposed to go to the hospital. We packed up the car and made sure the car seat was in there and headed to Auburn. We ate dinner at Jersey Mike's. I didn't eat very much because I was so nervous. I was honestly nervous about the IV...I know that is stupid, but it had hurt the last time and I had a huge bruise from where the lady hadn't done a great job so I was not looking forward to that happening again...HA! That should have been the least of my worries:) We checked into the hospital at 6, which was such a surreal thing to do...walking into the hospital in regular clothing and not in any pain saying "I'm here to have my baby now!". This time I was put into an actual labor and delivery room. That was when I remember everything hitting me and thinking holy cow, I'll be leaving here with my baby! I had an amazing nurse who was so sweet through the whole process!! Once we'd met the nurse and I was hooked up to a fetal monitor my doctor came in to give me the Cervadil that was supposed to help me dilate so I would be ready to start the Pitosin the next morning.  I was give that around 7 and then had to lay down for two hours to let it work.  While we were waiting Matt and Rebecca came to hang out with us for a little to help pass the time. While they were there I had Rebecca watch the monitor that showed if I was having contractions because I'd started to feel a little pain.  It would spike a little bit and then go down for a while. I was told I could have a little bit of cramping from the medicine, but it would most like be a very uneventful night so I didn't think anything of it. Once they left about 9 I was able to get up, but it was a little difficult because I'd been hooked up to all kinds of things through my IV, so every time I'd get up, I had to drag a machine along with me.  I got up twice between 9 and having Aubrey. Each time I noticed an intensity of pain just growing. The nurse would ask my pain level and I would tell her a low number because I was told so many time this wasn't labor. I remember just thinking to myself, if this wasn't labor then I am dreading tomorrow to find out what it really is like!! It was such intense pain that I was texting and had to stop because I couldn't do anything but lay there. I was clinging to the railing and yet was still thinking, these are the worst cramps I've ever had, how am I going to handle this the rest of the night, let alone real labor all day tomorrow!! My nurse kept coming in and asking if I wanted anything for the pain and I kept telling her no I was fine. However, after I started shaking uncontrollably, felt like I was going to pass out and throw up, Josh stepped in and told her I needed something for the pain. These crazy "non-contractions" I was having kept coming very close together, and even with the pain medication she gave me through an IV, I was still feeling the sharp pains, just not the dull pain in between that I had been feeling. Eventually that wore off (very quickly I might add!) and I was back to the dull pain, sharp stabbing pain pattern. At this point the nurse decided to check to see if I was making any progress and I had only dilated 1cm at this point.

Now, I'm a little foggy on the time that everything happened, however, I'm getting toward the end of the story so it must be midnight by then which means...the best part of the whole story. New post tomorrow on the WONDERFUL happy ending:) Plus I want to post this on the actual day, June 4th. Here's a few pictures...

On the way into the hospital! The last baby bump picture.

When I realized this is for real!!

Before things got "real, real"

Good thing we didn't actually have to sleep in Labor and Delivery:)