This week has truly been great. Brent has been off the entire week and it has been so great to have him home as we discover what a family of 4 looks like and how it will work. We have been out and about a lot this week, partly because I can't drive for 2 weeks and Brent is home this week and not next week, so we needed to get a few things done. So it will just be me, Cole and Claire staying home all week next week. I don't like to stay home all day, every day. I go stir crazy and Cole likes to go too. We like our just hang at home days don't get me wrong, but a whole week. Yikes. I am going to have to be good and follow doctors orders. But it will be good to just take it easy too. I must take advantage of this time.
The Birth Story:
Thursday, November 4th, we drove to the hospital at 5:30 in the morning. We were scheduled to be induced. My doctor was going to be out of town that weekend and didn't want me to go past my due date and since my body was showing signs of being ready, we decided to have Claire on the 4th if not before.
At around 7:15am, my doctor came in to see me, break my water and get the medicine going for the induction. I was at 3.5cm at this point. I waited until about 10am to request my epidural. I kept going back and forth when to get it but finally Brent just said "it's time" and went and got my nurse. Sadly, 3 hours later from the first check, I was still at a 3.5cm. I was so disappointed and nervous because the epidural was in and I was afraid it would make the progression even slower. I did not want a c-section if that could be avoided.
There was a point between 10 and noon that Claire's heart rate kept going up and down so I was put on oxygen to help regulate it and that worked perfectly to keep it steady, so I was on that for the duration of the labor, which made it a great excuse to nap since I couldn't exactly carry a conversation on that easily.
At noon, my doctor came back and I was given a bit of good news. Claire was face up. Not that that is good news, she definitely needed to flip over, but it was her fault I was not progressing and not my body refusing to. Yes! The nurse and doctor agreed that once she flipped that she might be ready to come, so they flipped me on my side and we waited. At this point, I was a 5.5cm, so there had been some progression.
Around 2pm, I started feeling pressure. When Cole flipped, I felt a bit pain in my back. This was not the same. I told Brent to please find my nurse because this baby is coming out or flipping. My nurse came in at 2:09pm to see what was going on and sure enough Claire flipped and I was at a 10cm! Wow! Fast!
At 2:15pm, my doctor had made it downstairs. When Cole was born she was only in the room a couple minutes before he was born because I did all my pushing with the nurse. I had not pushed once. My nurse told me not to move while the doctor was called and she got the room ready. I told my doctor, "wow, you will be here longer with this baby." She said probably not. She was right. At 2:19pm, only 4 minutes after she arrived and 4 pushes later, Claire made her entrance into the world! It was incredible. I was so much more present and aware of what was going on this time around. With Cole, I did not feel well and very out of it. It was amazing to hold her right away, watch her get cleaned up and just remember the moment. Her cord was tightly wrapped around her neck so the doctor did have to cut it off, probably the reason her heart rate kept going up and down. She was perfectly fine though.
Claire weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. Perfect.
**Thank you to all those who prayed for us during the labor and delivery and days after. Your prayers were heard and answered. We are all doing so great. I feel great and healing quickly which is super great with a 2 year old to chase around and want to keep up with. Claire is healthy and growing and sleeping great as well. We appreciate and love you all!**
Today, Claire had her first doctor's appointment. It went great. She looks great and is gaining her weight back nicely. We left the hospital at 7lbs, 5oz and was 7lbs, 9oz today. The doctor said that was about an ounce a day since we left and they typically gain about a half to 1oz per day, so she is eating well and on track.
Stats:
Weight - 7lbs, 9oz - 38%
Height - 20.5 inches - 74%
Head - 13.5 inches - 25%
Wow. The head percentile makes me laugh. Cole has always been in the 90th+! haha. Her head is perfect to me. It fits her tiny body just right. :)
Outings:
Sunday Night (3 days old): Spring Creek BBQ
Monday (4 days): Target, HEB, and Double Dave's
Tuesday (5 days): SWAT (women's ministry) Meeting and Home Group
Wednesday (6 days): La Madeline, Staples, Academy, 3 Salsas, Bear Creek Park
Big Brother Cole:
Cole LOVES his sister Claire. He loves to hold her, kiss her and talk to her. The hardest thing for him is me not being able to pick him up and hold him right now, so we are having to get our snuggle time in other ways. We did have a few rough days in the potty training area, but now that we are back home, on his regular routine, things are back on track. I have a slide show below with pictures from the week, but I have to highlight this one of Cole and the first thing he said to his sister:
Brent brought Cole in the room first to meet Claire so we could have some family time and his moment. He sat on the end of my bed and I introduce her to him. She didn't start to cry but just made a little squawk, and Cole immediately pointed his little finger at her and said "don't cry!" So so funny. He has truly been hilarious with her. So sweet. And so helpful. He loves his big brother role. Love you, Cole! You are doing a great job!!
I will leave you with this slide show of pictures to enjoy if you haven't already seen it.
