Blake's Birth Story

This is Blake's birth story. While it isn't incredibly graphic, it is detailed, but I wanted to write it down and share because it is the greatest moment of my life.

Now this isn't your typical "I'm in labor!" birth story. Due to my thrombophelia I was scheduled to be induced May 31, which would be 38 weeks and 2 days along into my pregnancy. Leading up to my induction I was miserable. Back pain, constant mild contractions, the need to pee every 5 minutes, exhaustion doubled with the inability to sleep and irregular heartburn as well as no progress towards delivery made me a very unhappy person. All I wanted was for things to somewhat start on their own so the induction would be easy and quick and I could meet Blake as soon as possible.

Kelsey and my mom were in town so with their and Chris's help we tried many things to help me go into labor-- eating buckets of homemade pineapple sorbet, spicy food, eggplant parmesean (a special "labor" recipe from Scalini's in Atlanta), walking (a lot), and hours of bouncing on the birthing ball and yet nothing happened. Every night around 6 pm I would start to get contractions, they came every 3-4 minutes but they were never painful and after a final OB appointment on Wednesday were proven to be doing nothing. My cervix hadn't dilated at all and was only about 70% effaced, so I knew come Thursday night we had a long way to go, and with the less than optimistic OB I saw at that appointment I was a bit disheartened. But no matter what I would be meeting Blake in the next few days so I had plenty of reason to smile!

On Thursday, May 31 Chris went to work and my mom, Kels and I finished getting things together at the house. We cleaned the nursery, vacuumed every inch of the house, finished packing the bags and went on a LONG walk. After a relaxing dinner out (probably my last meal for awhile) Chris and I headed up to the hospital for our 9pm check in. Since I was delivering at the hospital where I work (Swedish Medical Center) I knew what to expect. We made it quickly through admitting and made our way upstairs to my room. We got settled into 5714, I had picked out my room in advance so that I had plenty of space and a good view, and looked over all the extra touches the amazing night nurses had left for us. Fuzzy slippers, a balloon, a cute card, stuffed animal and candy cigar for Chris. It was a crazy busy night up on L&D so my nurse Nicole got us situated quickly so that she could get back to more active patients, but I didn't mind! The sooner we got started the sooner I would get to meet our little girl.

Since I was a first time mom and had no cervical dilation I was scheduled for an overnight induction. For this I was given Cervidil to "ripen my cervix". Well it did the trick because the contractions started and sleep did not come. By 7am I was contracting every 3-4 minutes and had dilated to 1cm/70% effaced/-2 station. Chris and I then made our way in a contraction pain laden haze down to the cafeteria for a little breakfast, my last meal until Blake made her arrival. At 8am Dr. Granandillo broke my water and our nurse Katie started the pitocin. That combination very quickly made the experience real. Contractions were coming every 2 minutes and were getting more painful by the minute. Around 11am I was unable to breath through my contractions and I knew the more tense I was the less likely I would be to continue to dilate, so I asked Katie to check me and if I was over 2cm it was epidural time. After a check she called me 3cm/80%/-1 and a call was placed to anesthsia. Fortunately the anesthesia team knew me so I was first on their list and was able to get the relief I needed. The next few hours were a blur of half naps, talks about Blake and movie watching with Chris, Kels and my mom.

My delivery doctor, Dr. Lingle stopped by around noon, checked me, called me 3-4cm and let me know he would be back around 3pm and would stay available for my delivery until midnight. While I had 6-7cm to go I really hoped it would happen before he went off call. At 3pm Katie came in to adjust the monitor because if I was laying on my right side Blake wasn't staying on, which was unfortunate because my left leg was NUMB. After several attempts at adjusting the monitor and a few dips in her heartrate Katie decided she wouldn't wait for Dr. Lingle any longer but would go ahead and check me and insert internal monitors to keep track of my contractions and Blake's heartrate. Good news: 8cm/100%/0 station, bad news: Blake was having repetitive variable decelerations when I was on my right so I was stuck on my numb left side, but had high hopes of my baby coming soon.

Not 10 minutes after Katie left the room, did I call her back in because I knew I was complete and ready to push! True to my intuition I was right! 10cm/100%/+2. A quick call to Dr. Lingle for the go ahead and it was time to push. I started pushing around 3:45pm and soon realized it was hard work. Kelsey was a lifesaver with ice chips and a good playlist and Chris and my mom were perfect and oh so helpful leg holders.





After about 45 minutes of pushing Dr. Lingle came in and took over for Katie. At this point I could basically feel everything, except my left leg but didn't want to lose momentum by having my epidural redosed. At 5pm Blake was minutes away from making her arrival, I was working as hard as I could but with her heartrate in the 90's and minimal progress with subsequent pushes I agreed to let Dr. Lingle cut an episiotomy. With that and one more push Blake's little mohawked head entered the world at 5:05pm on June 1st, 2012.

Immediately after Blake was born I pulled her out of the doctors hands and onto my chest and cried. I cried from the deepest part of my body with pure joy and intense love. Chris and I had created a life and this amazing little being was mine.

She was beautiful and perfect. She had ten fingers and ten toes, she was tiny and she was long. She had  flat feet and big hands. She had a mop of dark brown hair and she looked just like me.

After taking her in I had the nurses come over to take a look at her as she sounded a little wet to me and was breathing a little too hard for my nursing taste. After a quick suction she was sounding better. She was weighed and measured and just as I guessed was 6 pounds and 20 inches long.

I then got her back so she could feed. She immediately latched on and for those who have nursed you know it is an incredible experience. This brand new baby, who was under an hour old, knew exactly what to do. The release I felt was amazing. All my worries went away because she was here and she was healthy and I had all she needed to live. She laid on my chest skin to skin, ate, looked around and took in life on the outside.

After her first meal everyone else took their turn welcoming Blake into the world.

Celebrating in Tallahassee

It was the most emotional moment of my life. I literally felt my heart fill and fell in love instantly with the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

While a wave of exhaustion rolled over me, a sense of calm also took hold. It was done and she was here.

While it might have been painful and hard I would do it over a thousand times to have my baby in my life. She is truly the most amazing thing.

Naps

I am a napper. Plain and simple I love to nap. I used to be able to nap anywhere and everywhere but this beautiful baby girl is cramping my style. 

Come 2pm most afternoons Blake is ready for a nap and so am I. So we go upstairs, we lay down in my bed, Blake falls asleep and I can do nothing but stare. I try to close my eyes and go to sleep, but all I want to do is watch my little girl rest so so peacefully. She curls up sometimes and sprawls out others. She smiles, she frowns and she dreams. Dreams that I would love to see because no matter that she frowns there really is no negative in her mind. No nightmares to be had. Just sweet dreams of eating and frowns of maybe not.

That little face is all I've ever wanted to see and naptime is not going to rob me of a second.

Grandad Comes to Denver

 July 18-21 my Granddad (my dad's dad) came to Denver to meet Blake. 

Grandad is 90 years old, has 5 children, 8 grandchildren with 2 more by marriage and Blake is his first great grandchild. Grandad was born and raised in Arizona, fought in World War II, was a prisoner of war, raised children in Orlando, Florida, worked for a company that early on integrated computers into everyday use, traveled the world, walks every day and is proud to tell you he weighs today what he weighed when he enlisted in the Air Force over 70 years ago. 

Grandad stood up for us at our wedding a said a prayer that included not one, not two but three to four references to great-grandbabies appearing in our lives soon so that he could be a part of it. 

With all that being said he was beyond thrilled that we were welcoming a baby girl into the world and planned a trip to come see her. He was only here for a few days but we made the most of it. Most of our time was spent inside, as it is hot here this summer, with Grandad holding Blake and watching her grow! We also went on several walks, enjoyed the Denver Botanical Gardens and got him some traditional southwestern cuisine like he grew up on. It was so nice having him here and we can't wait to see him again in Tampa next month.

Blake's first month

Dear Blake,

I can not believe that you have been with us for a month! 30 days has passed since you entered our lives and it has been amazing.

I spend hours just watching you. 

As far as babies go you are perfect. You haven't really cried yet, I mean a whimper here and there or a squeal to get our attention but we have never had an episode of crying. 

You love the water. Baths in your tub or baths with me are your favorite time of day, well aside from eating! When we sit in the tub together you lay your head back and sway from side to side beyond relaxed with your surroundings. 

You've had your fair share of visitors this month as well. Gigi and Aunt Kelsey were here for a week when you were born. Then Grammy and Captain came for four days to see you the second week of June and lastly Gigi came back to see you with Big H. 

You celebrated mommy's 27th birthday and daddy's first Fathers Day. 

You met several friends, went to the park and out to eat. You had your first photo shoot and were the perfect model. We've watched you grow from a tiny little peanut into a budding personality. 

You dream with such wonder and we watch your face change from a frown to a smile to a giggle to a pout and back to complete peace in a matter of seconds. 

You love sleeping on our chest and are a huge fan of your swing. You love looking at black and white graphic books and listening to us read. You love music of all kinds including my less than stellar voice.

While 30 days may be a short period of time to us it is the world and we soak up every minute we have with you. We can't wait to see where you go from here!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

Updates from month 1

How big are you?  

Throughout the month you grew, grew, grew! You started at 6lbs went down to 5lbs 8oz and by the end of week 1 were back up to 5lbs 12oz. Week 2 saw you back to your birth weight and moving right on through to 6lbs 6oz at your 2 week doctors appointment. As of July 1st you were up to a whooping 7lbs 5oz!!

Where did we go? 

Walks, lunches, dinners, parks, photo studio, stores, and doctors appointments

What did you do new?

First photo shoot, first bath in your tub, first bath in our tub, first story time, first nights of sleep at home, first time meeting your grandparents and Aunt, first time meeting your pups, first time dreaming and smiling and playing, first story time, first meal, first tanning booth and well basically everything this month was a first :)

Who did you see?

Gigi, Aunt Kels, Big H, Grammy, Captain, Erin Holman, Kaci Paetz, Jackie Sparks, Joe and Tammy Huckaby, and your neighbors

What did you eat?

Mama's milk....whenever and wherever you wanted it. You are currently eating every 1.5-2.5 hours

When did you sleep?

If you aren't eating your are pretty much sleeping. You eat every 1.5-2.5 hours around the clock. You are still in your co-sleeper but wake up in mommy's arms most mornings

Your favorite things?

Eating, story time, and the bath

Our favorite things?

Watching you dream and grow

Kisses for Blake

Bath time bunny

Your pups standing guard

Story time

Family love

Happy 1 Month!

Happy Birthday Mommy!

Sunday June 10, 2012 was my 27th birthday. Possibly the most uneventful birthday of my life but in my eyes the greatest. I spent the day with my wonderful husband and my beautiful baby. We went out for lunch and ordered in dinner. We relaxed and loved on this little girl. Happy Birthday to me! 

With the best birthday present ever!