Wednesday, June 22, 2011

June 15th Part 1: Labor

I woke up at 3 AM, as usual, and went to the bathroom.
A few minutes after I crawled back into bed, I noticed I had to pee again.
So, I got up, went to the bathroom again and thought to myself
"This is weird...."
There was fluid that wouldn't stop.
"Have I finally lost the ability to control my bladder?
Or has my water broke??"

I waddled quickly back to my room, turned on the light, grabbed my lap top and attempted to sit down on my bed.
Cue gush of fluid.
Grabbed my phone, continued to Google "how to tell if your water has broke", and waddled back to the bathroom.
It was now 3:30 AM
Yes, dear readers. I Googled.
And then texted my mom,
"Don't mean to scare you, but how can you tell if your water broke?"
A few short seconds later and a click on a link found on Google, my phone rang.
It was confirmed.
My water had broken.

I went to wake up my dad, and found that he was up and getting dressed.
He told me later that he just "knew".
I grabbed a few last minute items, and the contractions started. We rushed out the door.

The light had turned red in front of us, and my dad turned into the Circle K.
Dad- "I'm going to grab some ice okay?"
Me-"Nope. Keep going.*cue contractions*"
Turned out the other side of the parking lot and made the green light.
Typical dad.

Driving to the hospital and having contractions was not fun.
I did my best to breathe through them and focus on something else.
But all I could think about was
"dang this hurts." and "are we there yet?"
Thankfully my dad grabbed a ziplock bag on our way out.
I needed it.
I only threw up once, but I had a contraction while throwing up.
Awkward feeling.

We pulled up to the hospital and I waddled as quickly as I could into registration.
It was 4:20 AM.
My mother met us while I was filing out paperwork and helped me into Triage where they would determine if my water had actually broke and I was in labor.
As soon as my mother helped me into the room, I went straight for the bathroom and threw up again.
Now, I am a violent barfer. Everyone in Triage could hear me. It was not fun.

My mother was still clocked in at work, so she couldn't stay long with me.
That was the worst part.
Knowing my mother was there, and couldn't be with me.
It made everything so much more stressful.
After a few minutes she couldn't take it anymore and was able to clock out and come be with me.
She held my hand as the contractions increased and grew more painful.
It was around this time that my hands started to shake. Not too forcefully, but it was noticeable.

My cervix was checked and I was 2 cm.
My water had definitely broken, and the fluid kept on coming.
I was admitted to the hospital, and taken to my room where I would deliver.
I then called The Couple, and it was 5 AM.
Luckily they had just been getting up to start their day!
We had plans to go to lunch and get pedicures that day....
but instead I went into labor!
Great fun.

In my room my contractions kept coming and it hurt really freaking bad.
I held my mothers hand, and I waited for that blessed epidural.
My mother suggested a walking epidural, which would numb me up, but still allow me to be up and walking around.
Best. Idea. Ever.
I hate needles, but I will take that single needle over contractions any day.
The contraction pain disappeared.
I was back to my normal self when The Couple showed up.
We were all excited, in shock, and smiling.

The shakes continued, and increased dramatically. It was the only reaction from my body that reminded me that I was in labor. Those meds were dang good.

6 AM my cervix was checked again.
I was 4 cm.
30 mins later, the walking epidural was starting to wear off.
7 am, I was 6 cm.
Bring on the real epidural!!
My legs went completely numb.
I mean they were GONE.
I could still move them, but needed a little help.
The shakes were pretty bad by this time. But it didn't bother me. They were pretty much constant by this time.
I mostly just laughed about it and compared myself to my Grandma Cole.
Plus shakes are a natural response and signals that your body is transitioning to have the baby.

I got a cool tip around this time from my nurse, Beth.
When the shakes get bad and start to bug you, Look Upwards.
Sounds crazy, right?
Well, IT WORKS.


Still happy and not feeling any pain at all, I tried to get some rest.
Unfortunately, I couldn't sleep.
Time passed, and The Couple went and grabbed some breakfast while my mother and I relaxed in the room.
I wanted to eat something by this time, but wasn't allowed. So I stuck with the gourmet ice chips.
Love those. I must have had at least 8 cups of just those ice chips.
It much have been entertaining to watch me with my shakes trying to eat those ice chips.


9:30 AM rolls around, and I am checked one last time.
9 3/4 cm!
A few more minutes and I can start pushing.
I'm nervous, but excited.
I text The Couple and they rushed back into my room.

10:15 AM time to start pushing.
The couple sat by my head, and my mother and my nurse were at my waist helping me.
I couldn't tell when I was having a contraction, so my nurse and my mother would look at the monitor, tell me I was having a contraction, help me pull up my legs, and tell me to push.

Push.
One, two, three, four, five.
Breathe, push.
Repeat 4 times. Sometimes five.

I couldn't tell if I was making any process, but my mother and nurse both said I was doing great and I could hear the joy in their voices as they were counting.
So I went with it.

Honestly....I felt like I was just pooping. Hahahha
Madden's head was in my pelvis, and there was just a lot of pressure down there.
I feel no shame in telling you guys that it felt like I was pooping. I think it's funny.

Doctor Beck comes in around 10:30, I think.
I'm not completely sure..but hey, I was kinda occupied.

10:44 AM
30 minutes after I started pushing, little Madden made her entrance into this world.
I will forever remember and love this time of the day.
Madden Rae was born and everyone was crying.
Except her.
She cried very little.
I was sorta worried!
But when she was put on my chest I was so over come with love for this beautiful little girl.
My mother rubbed her back forcefully and she cried a little bit more.
But not much.
She was very relaxed and awake. She was looking around and everything.

She was then taken to get her weight and all that stuff.


Justin went with them and got to put on her first diaper.

Stacy held my hand we both cried a little.
It was such a happy moment in all of our lives.

This little girl was completely perfect and we all loved her right away.

My mother gave Madden her first bath. She whined a little, but still no major crying!
We referred to her as our "Chill Baby".

So, 6 hours of labor.
30 minutes of pushing.
No complications.
I expect some people are envious of me right about now.

I can't look back at this experience without crying.
Words cannot express my feelings for this little girl.
She is absolutely perfect in every way.


What to expect for my future posts (since I already started writing them, it just takes time.)

*"June 15th Part 2:Postpartum"
Should be up soon, I just need to write some more and add the pictures of some visitors.
*Leaving The Hospital/First Night
*Friday, June 17th
*Saturday, June 18th: Adoption
*Father's Day

Monday, June 20, 2011

June 14th

Before we get to the amazing day where Madden was born, we need to discuss the day prior. June 14th....

While driving to my Doctors appointment with my mother (On Tuesday) we began talking about possibly inducing me on Thursday in order to make sure that my Doctor would be there since he was going out of town Friday afternoon and would be gone until Wednesday. Since I was due on Monday, you can see the problem and why we were discussing having me induced.

I was a nervous wreck inside.
I didn't want to go into labor just yet.
But mostly, I just wanted to have more time with my little girl...

At my appointment my Doctor checked my cervix and told me I was dilated "a finger tip"
We then talked a little about when my doctor would be gone.
He checked me again (a little more forcefully I think) and told me I was dilated 1 cm.
I was asked if I wanted my membranes stripped.
For those of you who don't know, that just loosens up everything and usually starts labor within 24 hours.
I declined and said I wasn't worried about going into labor without him there.
In my mind, I still had plenty of time.
I could see the worry on my mom's face, but she just went with it.

After that we went to Walmart to get a few things.
While walking around the store I finally started feeling pregnant.
My back was sore, I was cramping, my ankles hurt..
It was the oddest thing!

My cramps would not go away, so when I got home my mother gave me some tylenol and told me that if what I was experiencing was cramps that they would go away.
And if the cramping didn't go away....well then I was in labor.
She then walked out the door and went to work.
Yikes, right?

The cramping went down, but not by much.
I then got up off the couch where I was curled up in a ball and made dinner.
Homemade spaghetti, sauce with hamburger meat, and garlic bread with oregano.
(Yes, I cooked dinner all by myself while my body was preparing for labor.)

After dinner was cooked I collapsed on the couch very sore and tender.
I texted my mother, and decided it was time to pack my hospital bag since my due date was a few days away.
Thank goodness I did that.


I then crawled into bed, and passed out.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

MADDEN RAE IS HERE!

Madden Rae

Born June, 15th, 2011
10:44 AM
7 lbs 5 oz
20.5"



I'll post the labor story in a few days.
I'm pretty exhausted.
Today, the adoption papers were all signed.
I cried while signing them and during the little "sacrament meeting" type thing we had after where everyone said a few words.
But other than that I was so happy!



The Family! Justin was making a face at Rachel taking the picture...hahaha
 Justin & Stacy are such an amazing couple and I love them so incredibly much.
Words cannot express how much they mean to me.

Little Madden Rae is so adorable and simply perfect.
I am overwhelmed with emotion when it comes to her.

Anyways, I'm tired but up and walking and just a little sore.
But healing nicely :)
Ibuprofin and Cabbage Leaves have become my best friends.

Thanks to all for your love and support.

PROMISE I will post more pictures and details about everything as time goes on.
But, If you can't wait you can call me or look at her pictures on facebook!

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Just A Quick Update

I am now 38 1/2 weeks.
I am slowly getting more and more uncomfortable and the bathroom has become the room I spend most of my time in.
Helloooooo small bladder with a baby pushing on it constantly.
I wake up like 5 or 6 times during the night.
It's not too bad, actually.
I can live with this for a little bit longer.

Monday was my mom's birthday :)
She told my Dad to not throw her a party.
Too bad she didn't tell me that!!

I called up the family and had them meet us at her favorite place for dinner
Chevy's :)

She was so surprised! It was awesome.

I didn't get any pictures from the party, but I snapped a shot of me after we got home.


I look pretty dang good for 38 weeks, if I do say so myself!!


I can't believe Baby Girl is going to be here soon.
It's so weird.

I went shopping with Stacy (adoptive mommy) yesterday and we had a blast looking at clothes and getting some stuff.
It was both of ours first time looking at baby stuff and shopping.
We literally wanted to get everything we saw.
It was so much fun and I love spending time with her!
I can't wait to go shopping with her more after Baby is born.
We have decided to become shopping buddies, and I simply cannot WAIT to go shopping for more things :)

We've talked a little more with my mother about the Hospital, and although Stacy and I are nervous we both know everything will be alright.
We are just so anxious!
But, I am doing my best to not go into labor this weekend, since The Couple will be out of town Thursday and Friday.


So, I shall lay on the couch and be spoiled rotten by my family.
Sounds like a good plan, huh?