Good Morning Everyone! It has been too LONG since I wrote, but you'll be happy to read there have been plenty of blog-worthy events to tell you about. Grab a cup of coffee and settle in for a long post of updates. I'm writing in between cuddle time, feeding time and diaper change time so it might not be as easily read, but at least you can get the story.
The first blog-worthy event would be my mom arriving in Colorado for her stay. We had been awaiting the status update at our 37 week appointment to decide when she should make the trip. We were disappointed to find out the NP that we saw that day did not do the exam until 38 weeks. Again we hurry up and wait. Our next appointment came and they told us it did not appear that I had dilated, but we were 50% effaced. While it was not huge progress, it was some and enough to get mom on her way. By this time I was seriously ready for baby girl to come out. I loved being pregnant and overall had a great experience; however, in the end I was uncomfortable and very impatient.
My mom is amazing! Throughout all of this I have seen and felt her love, dedication, and what it truly means to be a mom. We moved from Georgia to Colorado because it is what we felt was best for our lives. The decision to do so has presented many challenges for this time that we did not realize at the time. We still feel it is best for our family, but we have had to prepare for doing more without our families near. We have to do more traveling and our families do as well. In order for mom to make it to the delivery and to help me transition into motherhood, she had to coordinate care for my little brother Joey and her household there in Georgia. Her trip to be with me is for a little over a month and it is not easy for a mom to leave for that period of time. Now I fully understand what a big deal it was for her. I do not think I can ever express how much it has meant to me to have her by my side, but Lana and I will continue to try.
Now for less mushy and more excitement. Mom arrived and we decided the following night would be our eggplant dining adventure to try to induce labor. Since we did not have access to the famous Scalini's restaurant back home, we opted for Olive Garden. I love their eggplant parmigiana so this was a treat for me regardless. Dinner was a lot of fun. We laughed and ate our meals with great anticipation of things to come. Nothing did that night. Days went by with lots of walks, steps, and little attempts to get our baby girl here. Nothing seemed to work until we took a ride to the high country. We were having a great day riding through the mountains and when we started our trip back home, we hit some traffic and the contractions began. It was AMAZING! I had been wondering all along what they felt like and if I had been having any that I possibly had not realized. Now I knew. We were ecstatic. They came about 6-7 min apart very consistently for about 50 minutes. We arrived home to grab our bag and call the hospital when I took a bathroom break and they STOPPED. So crazy to have them go that way and then just completely stop. Poor Daniel had been so excited that when he found out they stopped it was like a little glow worm that lost the glow. I felt terrible. We all became a little somber and just sort of sat around kind of bummed.
Not to fear though because about 3:20AM the following morning they started again. This time they were very irregular, averaging about 12 minutes apart. Daniel and mom were both sleeping and I did not want to wake them to have them disappointed again. I kept it to myself and my little contraction tracker app on the phone. When I realized they were sticking around for about an hour, I text Bronda to let her know that might be the day. Daniel woke up and I told him they were back, but nothing like the day before in terms of time and consistency so he waited and waited. Finally we decided he should go on to work and mom and I would watch it and keep him updated. So that is what we did...ALL DAY! I had breakfast and they stopped for about an hour, snow started falling and we just waited. They finally picked up again and just kept coming with more regularity and intensity. When they were coming about every six minutes, Daniel came home to get us since the snow was falling pretty good and he had the Subaru. We were on our way to the hospital. AAAAHHH!! Finally!! By the time we arrived at the hospital my contractions were coming every 3-4 min and they were seriously strong. The labor and delivery nurse came to get me in the wheelchair and after one look told them to get me a room because I was definitely in labor. YAY I did not go and get sent home. That was of big importance to me. The nurse checked and I was already dilated to FIVE.
All of the excitement came with a bonus of a lot more discomfort...pain. Since it was really go time we had to get Bronda here. Some people may think that it was odd to have both moms and the hubby in the delivery room, but they were my birth team and they were perfect. Daniel was a given and I could not have imagined not sharing the time without him and his loving support. My mom provided the reassurance and love that only a mom can give her daughter. Bronda also provided the love, encouragement, and strength I needed to pull through the labor to see the happiest moment of our lives. Now speaking of strength, I was slightly delusional in assessing my superhero like abilities and had made a goal not to get the epidural. Thankfully the doctor appeared, another key member of the birth team, and kindly explained to me that there was not a medal for going through labor without the pain relief. He also explained that typically a first time mom dilates at a rate of one centimeter an hour and that was before the hours of pushing. This valuable information combined with the intensifying pain convinced me that the epidural was a very wise decision. It was fabulous. I could still feel my legs and a small bit of pain during contractions, but it was all so much more bearable. The experience was a lot more enjoyable with that little jewel.
Long story short Bronda arrived in plenty of time amazingly enough. We all enjoyed a few hours of laughs and anticipation before the nurses came in to "see how I pushed." Before I knew it the doctor was in and dressed and we were really pushing. After only 20 minutes our baby girl was here at 11:25PM on March 4th weighing seven pounds and measuring 19 inches long. I cannot begin to describe fully all the emotions and thankfulness that I felt. She is perfect and it was love well before first sight. We kept her close and began learning about one another right away. Thankfully Kaiser patients get to go home early if they want to schedule a home visit within the first day or two. We were happy to accept that option and before we knew it we were headed home with a baby and well wishes.
