I said that I was not going to do a long detailed birth story post but I lied. This is the only place that I record anything and I want to remember some of the birth story stuff so that later on when she asks me about it I won't have to say, sorry I really don't remember, like I have had to say a lot to my other kids lately. So here we go. After days and weeks of doing everything I could to go into labor on my own unsuccessfully we woke up early on Monday morning of August 27th, after very little sleep, and headed to Sky Ridge hospital. We checked in around 6 am and got settled in our room. By 7:30 I was hooked up to monitors and an IV and waiting for my epidural. I was dilated to between 4 and 5 cm. I think by 9ish I had the epidural and that lovely warm tingling feeling that comes with it. I had the same issue with my blood pressure dropping that I had when McKay was born, but this time we were prepared and got it under control quickly. I'll have to ask Sam because I have already forgotten, but I think that is the first time I through up that day. First of many. Then it was time to wait and rest, not sleep but rest. At some point Heather came to hang out. I'm not sure what time that was, I've already forgotten so much, but it's not important. I got checked again and I was dilated to a 6. Then around noon I started feeling pressure. We called for the nurse and she checked me again. Still a 6. Lame. So we waited and I puked a few more times and we waited some more. Then I started feeling a lot of pressure, but I was afraid it was another false alarm so we waited a bit and then I really wish that I had not waited. We call the nurse in around 1:20ish and it was definitely go time. She called for Dr. Zart and we got the party started. Heather was still there and asked if she should go. I've always been a pretty private person and never thought I would be okay with anyone other than Sam and the medical professionals being present at one of my deliverers but I really didn't mind and I knew she wanted to stay so I told her to stay. Anyway, after the Dr. was all set up and ready to go I pushed through one contraction and boom I had a baby! I only held her for a second then they took her to the warmer and got her all cleaned up. I felt a little left out, stuck on the other side of the room without my baby.
While all of this was going on Grandma Marillyn was with the other kidos. She took them to school that morning then checked them all out of school before lunch and took them to KFC then they went to target then she took brought them to the hospital right after Leah was born. They were able to come into the delivery room and see her in the warmer then hold her while I did some more puking. They were all very sweet with her and very excited that she was here. Bryce even skipped his cross country meet to be there with her.
That night we had lots of visitors. Becky and her kids came, then Karen and her kids, then Heather and her kids. I sent Sam home around mid-night to get some sleep and I just sat up with my sweet baby until about 1:00am. She was so alert and sweet and cute and I couldn't take my eyes off of her. She went to sleep around 1 and slept for about 6 hours, like the rock star she is. Then on Tuesday we watched Tangled together. Our first mother-daughter movie. Some time around 3, I think we left the hospital and came home. My parents were here to greet us along with Marillyn and the kids.
As I posted before Leah was 8lbs 0.5 oz and 19 1/2 in long at birth
At 4 days she was 7 lbs 12 oz (55%) and 20 1/4 in long (70%) and her head was 14 3/8 (65-70%)
At 14 days she was 7 lbs 12 oz and 21 1/4 in long Head 14 3/4
At one month she was 8 lbs 12 oz and 21 1/2 in long
She was very jaundice for the first month. Not enough to need to be under lights but enough that they needed to keep pricking her poor little heel to check, and enough that the whites of her eyes were very yellow. To need light therapy her lever had to be 21. At 14 days she was at 19.5 then at 16 days 18.5 then at one month 17.5. Now at 7 weeks I don't know her number but her eyes and skin are much less yellow.
I don't know the exact date but we got her first real smile that seemed intentional at around 5 weeks and then another one just a few days later. Both were for me by the way. She doesn't smile much when she's awake but does a lot in her sleep. So, so sweet!
She still sleeps really good at night, any were from 4 to 7 hours (usually closer to 4) then she eats and goes back to sleep. In the morning she is usually pretty happy but she obviously has some issues with a gassy tummy that makes her pretty unhappy. She has not been the easiest baby but she is still supper sweet. I was spoiled by my last two babies. Gracie and McKay were perfect babies. So easy. So I may have had some unrealistic expectations. We are adjusting and accepting this new normal with a baby in our home again. It has not easy but truly worth every second. I love watching her and snuggling her and of course dressing her. All of her brothers and sisters can't keep their hands off of her. We are all very much in love.
Well, this post has taken me 2 days to write so I'm going to call it good for now and go eat before Leah wakes up, but coming soon will be "Blessing Day", "Mitt Romney Rally", and maybe some TMI.
