I never had a sister. But if I had, I hope we would've been best friends. That's what i hope for my sweethearts here. Ava is pretty sweet with bella, and bella is too young to reciprocate but I pray that they will be confidants some day, best friends, secret keepers for each other, shoulders to cry on and midnight gigglers. I hope they do hair and make up and nails and dress up together. And I hope that they love each other.
That's not too much to ask, right??...
Background: due date was Fri 7.29.11
First induction date: Wed 7.20.11
Second induction date: thur 7.21.11
Third and final induction date: Fri 7.22.11
God's timing is perfect in everything. Even tho my hopes were up then down by the delayed date, even tho my Dr wasn't the one to deliver, we feel truly blessed how everything went. The Dr did a phenomenal job. And sometimes people come into your life and make a special impact -- that's how it was with my main nurse Linda. Linda and us (me and Sam) bonded almost like family. I will admit that each night I have a spout of 'baby blues tears', but partly last night was due to missing Linda. As dumb as it sounds, I love Linda and am so thankful she is part of our delivery experience.
So on to the story...
Thursday night i couldn't fall asleep until 1am. My alarm was set for 330am, planned to leave by 4, get ava to my moms by 430 and at st lukes east hospital by 5am. So, needless to say, I was tired but excited.
They didn't waste much time at the hospital, got me checked in, hooked up, and ready for delivery in no time flat. I was discouraged because they said I had to wait until I was dialated to a 3 before giving the epidural. I was discouraged because previously at the Dr they said i could get it immediately, but, again it worked out perfectly.
Dialated Progress report:
1 at 530am
3 at 1130am
Epidural at 1145am
5 at 1230pm
10 at 130pm
Had to wait to push for her head to come down...
Pushing at 230pm
Delivery at 321pm
Bella was a trooper. Once born she had to get a little oxygen, and during delivery I was given oxygen because her heart rate kept dropping during contractions. I heard her making noises but didn't hear her really cry until they gave her the wash cloth bath around 545pm.
The rest of the hospital stay was great. I love that hospital.
We've been home all week recovering. Sam has been incredible, making me breakfast, lunch and dinners, making grocery store runs, doing dishes and laundry. I feel so blessed, and God speed for those single moms because I don't know how its done without a helpmate. I love you husband.
Ava is such a great big sister. She helps with the Paci, and she reminds me that she's not hitting her sister. (Previously she received good instruction from her cousin Julia on how to be a good big sister, and one thing is to never, ever, ever, ever hit your sister.) I love you ava.
Bella and I are working to be a good team at breastfeeding. We've had a couple struggles, but (knock on wood) I think we are about over the hurdles. Praise God!
I love you family.
Can't make any promises that we're going to do this again...but that's not to say we aren't...in this kind if pain I don't feel comfortable making that decision. I just know that one look at her and its all worth it.
She said she wants to give nemo to her sister. She said she would share her pink bag with her sister. And she says that her sister can come to Disney some day with her.
In a 2 year old's mind, I wonder what she thinks her sister will be like. But does it really matter, when she already loves her without even having met her? How precious she is.
It was Thursday night, after work, after dinner at chipotle, and I thought 'this could be it. This could be the real deal! And, this sucks.'
With ava I was induced so I never experienced the quick, grab the bag, my water broke, thundercats a goooooo! Moment. But the other night I was definitely mentally preparing myself for a possible hospital trip.
I called my own Dr and I called my brother/dr. Turns out, I was dehydrated. I sat on the couch for about 2 hours, dozing in and out of sleep and drinking lots of water. Sure enough, next morning I felt like a million bucks and Bella was right where she should be, still inside. Plus, I didn't have to get hooked up to monitors just to be told it was a false alarm. At least not yet.
My actual due date is Friday 7/29. At my last ultrasound (with 4 wks to go) they confirmed she is already appx 8lbs. My Dr has decided it acceptable/appropriate to do an early induction due to her size and not wanting to risk her getting TOO big to deliver naturally.
Induction date: Wednesday 7/20
So although she may be a good 9-10lbs still, hopefully we can still have a successful natural delivery. (And by natural I do NOT mean without drugs...).
