Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy Birthday to Me!

I'm here!  My birthday is December 27th, 2012.  I came into the world at 8lbs 3 oz and 21 inches long at 2:40pm.  I didn't quite come the way I was supposed to but I came healthy and Mom is healthy too, so that's good enough!  I promise future posts won't be this long, but I just wanted to share my birthday story with everyone!  

 Our first family picture (where you can actually see me!)

Mom and Dad checked into the hospital Wednesday night and they started a procedure to get Mom dilated for the morning.  From the loud noises, it sounded like Dad slept pretty good that night, even though he only had a padded bench.  Mom and I didn't sleep so well - lots of contracting in her belly going on.  

On Thursday morning, Mom was 3-4 cm dilated so it seemed I would be there shortly.  They started giving Mom medicine to get the contractions going even more.  Then the doctor came in and took away all of the nice, cushy water I had been living in.  No more swimming for me!  The pain started increasing and Mom was ready to be more comfortable so she had an epidural.  Maybe she felt better but I was still getting squeezed with those contractions.

Mom and Dad just waiting for things to progress

Around lunchtime (but not really since Mom couldn't eat since the previous night), the doctor started seeing some stress signs from me.  I mean, who wouldn't be stressed?  Getting squeezed, no swimming water, no food?  During the contractions my heartbeat would slow down just a bit.  So they gave Mom some oxygen to help me out and then gave her some medicine that made its way to me as well.  That helped calm me down a bit.  When the doctor checked again, she saw that Mom wasn't dilated anymore and my head still hadn't dropped to where it should be.  At that point the doctor told Mom and Dad that the only safe way to bring me into the world would be through a c-section.  My head was just too darn big and with my stress level where it was, it would be potentially unsafe for us.  It sounded like Mom and Dad were pretty disappointed (and scared) since that really wasn't the original plan and everything that had been done to this point was to avoid a c-section.  But who can plan for a too big head?

It was a whirlwind from that point for everyone!  Doctors and nurses poking and prodding, more epidural, lots of paperwork...  We were wheeled into the operating room and then Dad joined us.  There was a nice lady that told us exactly what would be happening - this helped calm us all down.  The doctor started the operation at 2:28 and I was born at 2:40!  Then Mom was all stitched up by 2:58.  The nurses were very impressed with how efficient the doctor was and what a nice job he did on Mom's stitches.  Maybe I won't leave her with too big of a scar after all!

Dad ready to go into the operating room with Mom

When they pulled me out, it was so cold and bright - I started crying right away!  That seemed to bring smiles to everyone's faces and tears to Mom and Dad's eyes.  Glad I was able to make such an impression right away!  I also opened my eyes right away to check everyone out.  The nurses tried to keep me warm but it was so cold while they weighed me and got all of my vitals.  I really was screaming then!  Dad was snapping pictures of me the whole time.  Then Dad got to hold me and sit next to Mom for a minute.  That was much more comfortable for me!

I tried to smile for Dad while he took my picture but it was cold!

I hadn't yet warmed up when Dad held me for the first time so I was still a little mad

Dad came with me to the recovery room and then Mom joined us shortly after.  Finally I got to curl up in Mom's arms.  I thought Mom's belly was comfortable, but it couldn't compare to being held by Mom or Dad!  My blood sugar was a little low so I needed to eat something - I was able to show off my sucking skills when Mom offered me some food.  

Here I am getting to curl up in Mom's arms for the first time!

After a while, Dad came with me when they took me to the nursery.  On the way, I got to see all of my grandparents and Uncle Skylar.  I heard they had been sitting in some pretty uncomfortable chairs for hours waiting for me!  But with the way they were smiling, it didn't seem that they minded much.  Apparently I share my birthday with quite a few other people so it took a while to get assigned to a room, but finally we did and it was perfect!  No more cold or uncomfortable beds for me - I just got to hang out in everyone's arms!

I must be pretty good looking because everyone wants to take my picture all the time.  I try to stay awake for all the pictures but there are just so many, I can't help falling asleep sometimes!

I love my Daddy!

Here I am with Grandma Young

Uncle Skylar had to change his flight home in order to meet me since I stayed in Mom's belly for so long.  Sorry about that!  But I'm glad he did!

Here I am with Grandma and Grandpa Hermansen

Here I am with Grandpa Young and Mom

We all spent three nights in the hospital - lots of good care for Mom and I during this time!  I had people visiting me everyday so I wasn't lacking for attention.  Mom even managed to get a little sleep when she wasn't feeding me.  Mom and Dad started figuring out the diaper change thing. Still takes them 4 hands on some of the really fun diapers though!  They learned pretty quick that I don't like my clothes changed - yet they keep on doing it to me!  On Sunday Dec 30th, we all decided it was time to go home.  Yay!  Even more snuggling time for me with my grandparents and Mom and Dad.

 Snuggled up in my car seat and ready to go home!