This post may not be especially interesting, it's more for my own documentation.
Posting this today since I haven't had a chance to upload all
of the pictures from Olivia's birthday party yet.
If you didn't read Part 1 check it out now.
I shared the sentimental part of our birth story in Part 1 and now I'm going to share the moments in between. There are details that I want to remember forever, whether they're silly, embarrassing, special, stressful etc. So here goes...
After being in the hospital for 2 days and having been bumped from the labor and delivery list twice because of emergencies, Joe and I were feeling a bit restless. We walked, talked, watched TV, posted crazy pictures on facebook and most of all, just willed our little lady to make!some!progress!already! Needless to say, it didn't happen.
When we finally made it to the labor and delivery floor, we had a room with (dun dun dun) a broken TV. Being a first timer, Joe and I weren't sure how long this labor was going to take and obviously my husband needed some entertainment so he called maintenance. The maintenance guys must have been busy since Joe called at 7:30 AM but they didn't show til about 11:45 AM. After receiving Pitocin earlier that morning and being in labor now for almost 5 hours, I was in no mood to have the TV repair men at the foot of my bed trying to fix the TV. In between 8cm contractions (note: I didn't know I was already 8cm since I had no idea what labor should feel like) I had 2 young maintenance men trying to make conversation with me. Joe was completely oblivious to the fact that I was in agony (no epidural) and was chit chatting away. Once my amazing nurse came back into the room, she kicked those guys out in no time.
We had no use for the TV, I was about to have this baby!
In the moment, I was so frustrated about these guys being in the room while I'm trying to
breathe and focus and labor, but now, I'm glad to say that at almost 2 years later,
I can look back and smile.
Not laugh, just smile.
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Immediately after Olivia was born and her little pink body was placed into my arms I had fleeting thoughts of every emotion possible! I distinctly remembering her crying and crying (all newborns cry, duh!) but I remember thinking "Oh my gosh, what have I just done?" Obviously that was just nerves talking, because I was in love!
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After labor and being transferred to our room for the next few days, I was getting situated trying to walk and get comfortable moving around. If you've had children before, you know the ultimate "nurse test" is going to the bathroom. The nurse came into the room, told me I needed to pee and then the IV could be taken out. I agreed, went into the bathroom and much to my surprise, mid-stream in walks the nurse who kneels down in front of me to make sure everything is in working order.... let's just call that one embarrassing!
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If the nurse walking in on me in the bathroom wasn't enough, let's just say that when you're newly post-partum and breastfeeding, everyone sees more of your body than you'd like. Newspaper delivery men, hospital photographers, visitors, nurses, doctors, maintenance.... by day 3 you're used to it!
Bottom line, amidst the crazy moments, we're moments of absolute bliss. Our daughter was finally here, we were no longer a couple but now a family of 3. We wouldn't change any part of our story one bit.
I never did write Olivia's birth story and as she's quickly
approaching the 2 year old mark, I think it's about time.
Olivia's stubborn streak was made known even before she graced the earth with her presence.
On my due date of September 29, 2010 I had shown absolutely zero signs of labor.
September 29th came and went completely uneventful. I should have known that babies come when they're ready but being a first time Mom, this was the day I had looked forward to my entire pregnancy. The day when I could finally lay my eyes on this perfect being that God had given us and hold her in my arms.
I longed for this day since January 19th when I saw that positive pregnancy test.
Turns out Olivia had no plans of coming on her own at all because 8 days later, I still had zero signs of labor and was induced. Pitocin was started at 7:05am and my daughter was born at 1:21pm.
Those first few seconds after Olivia was born will be burned in my mind forever.
It was the most amazing feeling. She was here! I was holding our baby.
This was the moment I had been waiting for. 7lbs13oz of newborn baby girl, in my arms!
She was perfect in every way. A good set of loud working lungs! A head full of jet black hair.
Pouty lips and pink skin. 10 fingers and 10 toes with feet just like her Mama.
After spending a little while in the delivery room finishing up, we were moved to the postpartum floor and were able to spend the rest of the time getting to know our little Olivia.
Visitors came and held our sweet girl. She met her Mum and Papa, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
October 7, 2010 was absolutely the best day of our entire life.
