You're Here!

Dear Nora,

Today you are 5 days old! You and Luke are both asleep in your cribs at the same time for the first time. (You've been sleeping in a pack & play in our room the past few nights.) It's so cute to see the monitor rotate back and forth between the two of you. You look so tiny and he looks so big. I'm tired, so could be taking a nap right now, but before too much time passes, want to take the opportunity to reflect on the last several days. It's been a whirlwind! 

At my appointment on May 19, Dr. Schmidt told me I had progressed quite a bit and that labor was usually the next step! So, we excitedly finished up everything we could think to do to be most prepared for your arrival. Then Luke got a fever over the weekend and we prayed he would feel better before you hit the scene. Thankfully, the fever only lasted a couple days. Then on Monday, May 25, I went to an urgent care clinic because of a painful rash on my leg. I was so sorry to learn I had contracted shingles. Thankfully I could take the medication, but the goal became to keep you in longer because if I was contagious when you were born, you could have been exposed to chicken pox. To make matters worse, the urgent care facility told me it was urgent that I go straight to the hospital because of high blood pressure. Thankfully it returned to normal after I got there. I think I was just stressed about the shingles. 

Nana and Papa drove down on Monday to stay here for the week and take care of Luke. I put myself on a sort of bedrest to do my best to not go into labor too early! Then on Friday, May 29, your due date, I was concerned that I could be leaking amniotic fluid. So, Daddy and I took our second trip to labor and delivery. (3rd if you count the time after my car accident!) They checked me into a room right away, but found my waters intact. I thought Dr. Schmidt might want to induce since I was already there and it was my due date, but she recommended giving it the weekend to give me a chance to have contractions and let the shingles further heal. So, Daddy and I left and headed to La Madeleine for a special due date breakfast date, my request. :) 

Early on Sunday morning, around 2:30, I started having contractions. I had had a few braxton hicks contractions in the weeks prior, but nothing too significant, and these contractions actually hurt. They were nothing regular though. So, I went to church, then went to a bagel place with Nana and Luke after church. I tried to take a nap in the afternoon, because I hadn't slept well the night before, but was in too much pain from the contractions. I noticed through the afternoon that they started to become more regular, with about 2 contractions an hour. Before Daddy left for the start of summer small groups at the church, I asked him if his bag was as ready to go as could be. It took awhile to get ready to go to the hospital on Friday and I didn't want it to take that long when it was the real deal. I decided to go to small group anyway, since it didn't seem like it was time to go to the hospital yet. But while I was there, a few friends were telling me how they had waited too long to go to the hospital when they were in labor. I started to see a pattern with the contractions and texted Daddy to say we needed to go to the hospital. So, I left part way through small group to come home and head to the hospital with Daddy one more time!

We checked in at 7:30pm and they placed me in triage. I included below the text messages with Honey, Grandpa and Aunt Holly through the night so you can see the timing of how everything progressed. I was frustrated to be in triage for so long with such painful contractions, but the nurse was even asking if we lived close to the hospital and wanted to go home because I wasn't further along. No thanks!! It was hot and stuffy in there and Daddy was hungry for dinner, but he waited with me until I got settled into my room. As they checked me throughout the night, they kept appearing surprised at how I was progressing so quickly from one stage to the next. They had anticipated starting me on pitocin in the morning to help things along, but there was no need for that! I'm so very thankful to the Lord that my body did what it was supposed to do without needing any assistance or prodding along. Labor was much more difficult this time around than with Luke, but I think it was a much healthier labor, too, and has provided a significantly easier recovery. 

I slept a little bit once getting the epidural and had to force myself to get my makeup on in the morning. I was SO incredibly tired when it came time to push, I really didn't think I could do it. I kept saying over and over, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" and that's the only way I could do it. Daddy helped with holding one of my legs, holding on my oxygen mask, and encouraging me to push with all I had! You were born at exactly 8am. It was so surreal and special to see you and think, you're the one who has been in there all these long months. I got to hold you right away and you started eating immediately. Daddy sang "Jesus Loves Me" to you and we had a few minutes together while they worked to clean everything up. When they were weighing you, you were screaming and when Daddy went over to talk to you, you quickly quieted down. It's special how you already know our voices and feel connected to us. 

I was moved to another room within just a couple hours of delivery and was even able to get up and walk to the bathroom. We stayed at the hospital for just 2 nights after that, although they actually would have let us stay just 1 night. Honey and Grandpa came to meet you, then Nana and Papa, then Luke. We had a number of friends come see us, too, and enjoyed having you in our room for mostly the whole time we were there. I did get tired of all the interruptions from nurses, pediatricians, the hearing specialist, photographer, business office... So we were ready to come home once it was time. Honey had been here with Luke, so she was here for your first few days at home. You are such a precious girl and I am doing my best to savor the time with you. 

Throughout the last couple of months, I have prayed about so many things and wavered between faith and worry. On this side of it, I am overwhelmed with thankfulness at all the specific ways God answered these prayers and provided what we needed.

Prayed------------------------God's provision

About your position, knowing I might need a c-section - you turned on your own

About how to quickly coordinate Luke's care while I was in labor - Nana and Papa were already here

About how Luke would handle all the transitions with his care - he was just fine and adapted very easily

That Luke's nightmares would be under control when we were at the hospital and home with you -     he's had very few bad dreams recently and hasn't needed too much when he has woken up at night

That Luke's fever would be gone and we would all be healthy when you arrived - we were healthy

That my shingles would be cleared up for labor - they were healed and didn't need to be covered up

That I would know for sure that I was in labor - it was clear!

That I would get there in time for an epidural - there was plenty of time

That Dr. Schmidt would be there for delivery - she was there that morning

That I wouldn't have a postpartum hemorrhage - no hemorrhage

That you wouldn't need treatment for jaundice - I had to take you once after leaving the hospital to get your blood drawn and your level had decreased from high intermediate to low intermediate

That you wouldn't wake up Luke in the middle of the night - you screamed a lot the first night we were home, but Luke didn't wake up once

About Daddy's dissertation - he was able to complete all the revisions he could before you were born and will receive more feedback this coming week while on paternity leave. I have to believe God will enable him to get everything done while also equipping me for what needs to be done with our family

We love you so much, little Junebug and are so thankful you are in our family.

Love,

Mommy

Contractions

1:19p
1:32p
1:52p
2:32p
3:24p
3:52p
4:22p
4:35p
4:58p
5:32p
5:58p
6:11p
6:32p
6:52p
7:21p
7:28p
7:36p
7:44p
7:50p
8:14p
8:23p
8:30p
8:38p
8:47p
8:57p
9:08p
9:21p
9:33p
9:57p
10:05p
10:13p
10:26p
10:31p
10:45p
10:59p
11:06p
11:17p
11:30p
11:45p