Happy Halloween

Love, Elsie the Flower

Elsie Mae: A Birth Story

I went into early labor about a week and a half before Elsie was due. The contractions started in the middle of the night, but I didn't realize they were actually contractions till 5am. I told Chase that "today might be the day!" I quickly jumped in the shower, mind racing about what the day would bring. After showering I got back into bed to try and get some sleep before my contractions got any harder or closer together. At about 1pm we started timing my contractions. They were 5-6 minutes apart but they weren't that painful so I felt silly thinking we had to rush to the hospital. We ate lunch and hung around the house until about 3:30. That's when they started to hurt. The contractions were deep and powerful. So to the hospital we went! Once in triage they checked me, 90% effaced and dilated 1.5. They left me on the monitors about 20 minutes and checked me again. No progress. So they sent me walking...

An hour of walking around the hospital and 20 painful contractions less than 3 minutes apart later, they checked me again and I still hadn't progressed. Knowing how much pain I was already in and with sadness in her eyes the nurse said we needed to go home and to come back when they get more painful. When I heard those words I wanted to cry. I couldn't imagine more pain, it was take your breath away painful. But we went home, ate dinner and Chase put on 30 Rock to try and distract me from the pain. It was worse that I ever thought it could be. I tried to lay down and relax, but holding still while my body tightened and changed was the worse kind of torture. I had to keep moving around. So I paced our room and eventually the whole house. At midnight I decided that we might as well go back to the hospital. The worse they could do was send me home, and either way I would be hurting... Thank heavens I was dilated to a 4. That meant progress and that meant I was staying.

After I got my epidural I was able to relax. I could still feel the contractions but wasn't over come by the pain. So for the next few hours I slept. Nurses came into the room and checked me regularly but I wasn't making any progress. Eventually the doctor came in and broke my water. But I still wasn't progressing, the doctor started pitocin and not an hour later I was a 7. Suddenly a bunch of nurses came in and had me roll to one side, then the other. Then more nurses came in and helped me get onto my hands and knees. Every time I had a contraction, the baby's heart rate would drop and they had to reposition me to find a position that wouldn't put so much stress on the babe. All the nurses were very calm and just kept saying, "oh baby doesn't like those contractions" so I had no idea that it was a big deal. The doctor came in and gave me a shot in my arm to stop the contractions. They then let me flip over onto my back. I knew something was wrong but I didn't know the magnitude of it. After checking me again, the doctor told me that I would need to have a c-section. She was incredibly calm about it and very matter of fact. The baby's little heart couldn't handle the stress of the contractions. I started to cry. This was not part of the plan. My heart ached thinking how much would change. It wouldn't be everything I imagined. I wouldn't get to hold her right away, I would be drugged and not fully aware and involved. But something inside me kept telling me this was what needed to happen, this was the best thing. We asked the nurses to leave so we could have a minute alone. Chase then gave me a blessing. It was short and sweet. He asked that I would be calm and accept what was happening and that everything would go well. Nurses came back in and began rushing around getting everything ready to head to the operating room.

The next hour was a blur. They gave me a medicine though the epidural that made my entire body numb. I couldn't move my body well and even my head felt fuzzy. It was sort of an out of body experience. Next thing I knew they had put a blue tarp up right under my chin and the pressure started. I could feel the doctors working on me. Waiting to hear the cry of my little girl felt like forever! I heard the doctor say, "there she is" and her cries filled the air. I couldn't hold back the tears. They brought her over to me and I reached out and her little hand wrapped around my finger. I was immediately in love. Ohh the perfection! She was taken away too soon to be washed and weighed while the doctors sewed me back up. When I saw them bringing her back to me, she was all wrapped up with a little hat on her head. The couple minutes with her laying on my chest felt like forever. It was her! She was the one that was growing and moving inside me for the past nine months. And now she was here in my arms. Mine forever.

 

I was sent to recovery while Elsie was in the nursery. Chase was able to be with her the whole time and our family was able to go in one at a time to see her. Not long after we were all in our own little room and I was able to hold my baby girl for the first time. It was the most amazing experience. The love I felt for this little person was overwhelming and consuming. It was surreal and amazing and everything I ever wanted.

 

My birth did not go according to plan, but having a happy, healthy baby girl made it all worth it. Chase could not have been a better support to me throughout the entire pregnancy, labor and birth. He is already an amazing dad and I cannot believe the love I see in his eyes when he is holding our little girl. Elsie has seriously exceeded our expectations in every way possible. She is more beautiful, more fun, and more amazing than I ever thought an infant could be. She is strong and determined. Already holding up her little head and trying to scoot around and push herself with her tiny but strong legs. She is wonderful and I cannot believe she is ours forever.

a babe and a name

 

Allow me to introduce our little

Elsie Mae

Born October 24th 2012 at 9:41 am

7 pounds 15 ounces 21 inches long

She is the most perfect little thing. We are so in love.

Birth story coming soon.

Almost.

I am due in a week and a half but was up all night with contractions. I always had a feeling this babe would be early. It's now 7:15 am and I have already showered and eaten a bowl of cereal. Pretty sure its gonna be today. My contractions are pretty random at this point, and I can still function through them so I think I have a while. Yesterday at my doctors appointment I was dilated 1.5 and 80% effaced. The past few days I have been noticing that my body is changing and preparing to deliver this baby. How amazing is it that we get to bring a brand new little lives into this world? Its probably the best, scariest, most awesome thing ever! I cannot wait to hold this little girl and cuddle up with her dad and enjoy this precious little life we have created. Its true that you realize how much you love your husband when you see how sweet he is with your kids. Shoot my kiddo isn't even here yet and Chase is already the best dad in the world. Im spoiled and am so excited to see him in full dad mode once beeb arrives. Now we just need to agree on a name.......

Its now 8:15pm. We went to the hospital at about 3 after having contractions less than five minutes apart for two hours. They checked me, 90% effaced and dilated 1.5. So they sent me a walking. After an hour they checked again and with no progress made they sent me home. So here I sit, contractions three minutes apart with no end in sight. Thank heavens for New Girl and Pretty Little Liar, but even with those distractions I still really want to punch myself in the uterus. Here's to a lovely night and hoping for a babe by morning.

5 fun things to remember

Being almost 9 months pregnant comes with many awkward, embarrassing and uncomfortable moments. Just in case anyone was wondering...

1. If you sneeze, you will pee your pants. every single time.
2. Eating anything will give you heartburn, but spicy foods will destroy you.
3. Do not go to last chance when you have a basketball belly, squeezing past the throngs of people all fighting into the aisle of recently stocked shoes is not just awkward, its straight dangerous.
4. Leaning over the bathroom sink in Target to fix your makeup and your belly rests on the counter that is soaked from the 4 year old that smiled so sweetly at you before moving over to make room. Now, you're not only huge, but soaking wet too.
5. The further along in your pregnancy the more random people want to talk to you and tell you about their pregnancy horror stories. Sorry about your 72 hour labor, but seriously lady!?

Anything I am forgetting?

Capturing the Belly

Im not a huge fan of maternity pictures, but I knew I would regret not taking any... 

Chase hates taking pictures but we managed to get a few of him actually smiling.

Here are some of my favorites:

 He is such a goof...

Full Term

I cannot even believe that I am 37 weeks pregnant. That means baby can come any day now. But I am excited to say that we are ready! Car seat ready, hospital bags packed... this is getting real. We are going to have a baby girl any day now! A little person that, in one day, becomes the center of our lives. We are anxious and so excited to start this new chapter in our lives. Folding little clothes and making miniature headbands are the best. Almost everyday I show Chase my favorite newborn onsie and we just admire how little it is and how tiny she is going to be. We are already picking out christmas gifts for her and planning our first family trip to Disneyland. Being parents is going to be such an adventure and I couldnt be more thrilled to share this new and exciting time with my best friend. He is going to be the best dad ever...

California Lovin

A lovely week.

The only ride I could go on...