Catching Up

Boy it's been a week and a half! But don't worry - I'm still here. And still committed to everything this blog is about. But today is about catching you all up on the story of HOW Elizabeth was born.

At midnight on October 17, Amber told me she thought she was having bladder problems. We were 37 weeks along, and what they call "nearterm". Not premature, but not full term either. After discussing it a bit, we headed to the hospital. Sure enough - it was her water having broken. A slow leak. But no labor. No contractions. Had to get baby out within 24ish hours. They started a pitocin drip to induce labor.

She labored for hours and only dilated 2cm. They did an epidural. After 23 hours of labor, she'd advanced to 8-9cm. But was spiking a fever. When the doctor came in to talk to her about the fever, she was complete at 10cm. One good push. Amber's heart rate and the baby's jumped sky high. We stopped the pushing and discussed our options. The safest thing for everyone at this point was to go in and get Elizabeth with a C-Section.

I was in the room during it. Sitting with Amber. And when Elizabeth came out - holy cow! I cried for HOURS thereafter.

However - we weren't done. Because Amber had the fever, Elizabeth had to stay in the special care nursery to rule out an infection and receive antibiotics. We couldn't stay with her and hold her all the time. We had access, but it wasn't the same as having her in our room. And she slept. ALL the time. This is because, as we would find out, she had a bit of jaundice.

So once they ruled out infection - she STAYED in the nursery....

...under the lights. We were discharged, but she wasn't. We DESPERATELY wanted her to come home with us. So much so that we even tried bribing the nursing staff.

But alas, it didn't work. They kept her a few more days to get rid of the jaundice, and give her some extra nutrition. See - the jaundice made her sleepy which made her a poor eater which made her output low. One of those circle of life....things.

Friday the 23rd though - a MAGIC afternoon.

Time to go home, little one.
She's been at home ever since. Loving her blankets and swings and FEEDING like crazy. Oh yeah - and keeping us up at night. ;) But we ADORE her. I can't even begin to describe what a feeling I have for her in my heart. It's just incredible.

So there you go. Our baby girl is home and safe.

THANK YOU ALL for following me on Twitter, Facebook, AATM, and where-ever you did. It really made a difference. And now that we're home! We'll get pics that are CUTER and CUTER! :)

MAIN STREET AWAITS!