Anna Kate's Birth Story - Part 4

On Friday morning, 5.24, my doctor came to see me and immediately I asked him if I could go home and surprisingly he said yes. I was so overjoyed and could not wait to get back home to my big girls! And the pediatrician came and said the same, Anna was perfectly fine to go home with us. All was good. Praise Jesus!

My dad stopped by on his lunch break to finally get to hold Anna, since he didn't get to on the day of her birth.

All ready to go! Get me out of this hospital! Tim and I joked about having a summer baby this time and not having to go outside when it was freezing with our little baby but this day, the start of Memorial Day Weekend, it was freezing! Tim had to put the heat on in the car before we went down to get in. I didn't bring anything but shorts and one long sleeve shirt for myself, thank goodness.

Because of Friday afternoon, holiday weekend traffic, it took us much longer to get home then we thought. Anna didn't make a peep and I slept most of the way.

When we got home, the girls were asleep but when they woke up, I was so happy to see them and they were so happy to see me! 

I didn't get photos of them meeting Anna for the first time but the next day we took some photos of them holding her. Melted my heart. It was a few moments I will never forget. All my girls together. All five. FIVE! They each gave Anna kisses and took turns hold her. Even Emily loved it. She had a fit when her turn was over. Each of the girls did so good. I loved seeing them react to Anna and it's been so cute so see them as the days have gone on with a new baby in the house.

Precious kisses from Natalee to Anna!

As of the recovery this time around, it's been much easier than with the triplets. I can breath so much easier. I'm not falling over fainting walking up the stairs. I can sleep, when Anna allows me to! My scar seems much longer this time, but maybe that is just the bandages, so we'll see when that starts to come off. The pain has been very manageable. I took vicoden and motrin 600's for about a week, and that was it. I've just been taking tylenol or advil now, mostly just for nursing pain still.

Our scale is messed up right now, but I go to the doctor next week and I can't wait to see how much weight I have lost. My tummy is shrinking more as each day passes, but that tummy tuck is still in the back of my mind for one day! When I'm able, I will be starting to exercise to get back into shape from these five babies in 2.5 years!

And nursing, it's going great. I'm breastfeeding her and pumping. I already have quite the supply built up in the freezer and each time I pump I'm getting about 8-10 ounces in about 12-16 minutes. Yeah...crazy, I am a milk maid for sure! I'm sure as Anna eats more on her own, I won't be getting as much pumped milk so I am glad that I have the supply built up. Anna is eating great. She's already looking bigger to me. 

Next up: How it's been with 5 Under 2.5: The first Week, How much the girls Look Alike and My first day alone with all Five (which was TODAY!).

Anna Kate's Birth Story - Part 3!

Part 1

Part 2

Finally late Wednesday night, we were able to go down to the NICU and see her, hold her and talk to her nurse. Sitting there talking with her nurse, someone I didn't know from before, I was so emotional. Why me again? Why my baby again? I started getting scared and feeling like I just didn't deserve this again. My little baby struggling in the first few hours of life and she is considered a full-term baby! I blew it off when my OB said she might end up in the NICU. How could I have been so naive? Not like me at all and yet here I am at 11pm looking at another one of my innocent children struggling with life and yet I can't be there at every second to cuddle and love on her. It just wasn't fair. I didn't understand.

But I've always tried to look at it as a blessing. A blessing that we have technology and medical advances that are wonderful. I was surrounded by amazing and knowledgeable doctors and nurses who came to lend a hand, offer a hug, just say hello and how beautiful our little Anna-Kate is. Nurses and doctors who remembered us. Remembered our girls. Those smiling faces and sweet hellos are what made my heart smile. I knew my little girls were in great hands before and I know once again that Anna-Kate couldn't be in better care. I relished in that peace. It's all I could do. God would handle the rest.

We learned a lot more about why she was in the NICU in the first place and what needed to be done for her to be able to leave. I'll try to make this as short as possible. The nurse said that they expected the fluid in her lungs to absorb, hopefully. She had been on the c-pap without oxygen and then they tried her without it. She didn't even last an hour off of the machine before having to be put back on it with oxygen. She looked so uncomfortable and I hated watching her struggle to breath. No mother wants to see their child struggle to do anything, especially breath. Heartbreaking. She had an IV for fluids and to keep her blood sugar up. She had a feeding tube put in too, which I hated to see.

Finally holding her, fighting back the tears.

They said they would try to take her off of the c-pap sometime over night. So we said our good-nights and headed back to our room, baby-less. It sucked. There's no other way to say it. It's not right to deliver your baby and go back to an empty room. 

I didn't sleep. I couldn't sleep. I heard the babies around me in other rooms and wondered if my little girl was crying for her Momma too? The itching was horrible. The pain was pretty bad. My IV hurt, my catheter hurt, the sweating, the itching....oh the itching! I did not sleep one minute. Just kept starring at the clock and waiting for 6am when I knew the nurse said she would be back in to take out my catheter and take off the clotting pressure things on my legs. And I was starving and wanted to see my baby!!!!

By the way, it was our 4th Anniversary, May 23rd. I've spent Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, New Years Day, Valentine's Day (all with the girls in the NICU) and now one of our Anniversaries (AK) in the hospital.

Finally after I ate and got some morphine, instead of what I was on for pain (because I didn't know what the heck was causing so much itching...if it was the antibiotics, the narcotics, the spinal, or a combo of it all) we ventured down to the NICU, after shift change and before rounds.

I was so happy to see Anna-Kate not on c-pap and breathing on her own! She looked so different and her face was so bright and healthy looking. She really looked so much better than the night before. They also took out her feeding tube and so she was able to nurse very well. My heart was mending seeing my little girl doing so much better. 

During rounds Dr. S and all the nurses were impressed to see how well she was doing. Dr. S said they would back down on her IV and hopefully she would be back with us by this afternoon/evening. That made my heart very happy. She also had another one of our nurses that we had from before, which was nice. 

We went back to our room for lunch and my best friend came back down to stay with me while Tim went home for a little bit to help with the girls. I also had some other wonderful visitors that kept my spirits up and brought some sweet gifts for Anna! When Tim got back, we were just about to get ready and go down to the NICU when the NICU nurse knocked at our door and had Anna with her. I couldn't stop smiling! My baby girl was back with her Momma and Daddy!

A few minutes later my mom arrived and finally got to hold her. I was able to take a shower and that helped my itching so much. It felt so good to get clean.

Our good friends, Nathan and Emily came to see us and brought me the best chocolate cake I have ever had! Oh my it was so darn good!

Happy Daddy!

Anna had a great night that first night with us. Of course I just couldn't stop holding her and starring at her. She was so sweet. I wanted to see all of her and take her all in.

Part 4: Go-Home Day and Meeting my Big Sisters...coming!

Anna-Kate's Birth Story - Part 2

Part 1 Here

Before I knew it, it was time to go to the OR. I asked if I was going to walk and they said, yes. I was glad because as silly as it may be, I wanted to walk one more time with my big belly and take in the last few minutes of being pregnant. I sat on the table getting ready for my spinal and just took the last few seconds in. I started to get nervous but the general surgeon was so sweet. The spinal was fine. A little painful but really I never think they are too painful. It's so quick and over with before you can think about it, I really don't mind it. By the time I said, ouch, it was done. It did go in waayyy faster than I remember with the girls or with Emily. By the time they helped me to lay back, I was getting more and more numb by the seconds. I really couldn't believe that. I remember with the girls that it took forever for it to kick in.

The moment I laid down, it was like I was a hurt hyena being swarmed by hungry lions. Every part of my body had something or someone doing something to it. It overwhelmed me, made me nervous and scared and I started to get really faint and anxious. For about two minutes I was freaking out, couldn't think or focus on anything and then I felt my blood pressure cuff tighten, just in time. The anesthesiologist said, "oh your blood pressure is really dropping" and I said, "yeah I can really tell, I feel very, very weird". He gave me something immediately and within a minute or two I was much more relaxed and barely able to keep my eyes open. And I stayed like that the whole time but those few minutes of panic were horrible. Something new that I hadn't had with the girls was an awesome warming blanket that puffs up on your chest and arms and blows hot air the whole time so you don't get the shakes and feel freezing. Man was it wonderful!!!! All I remember last time was the horrible shaking, being frozen and not being able to get warm, so this blanket was AWESOME! I had just a few moments where the shaking was there but not an issue. Nothing like last time that's for sure. Tim even agreed that the blanket was wonderful because he could feel all the warm air too and since the OR is always freezing, it was great for him also.

The thing I am going to remember while waiting this time for her actual moment of birth is feeling so tired and impatient. I was like, what is taking soooo long!? Finally when they said to expect some pressure, I wasn't thinking it would be much since I didn't remember that with the girls. I was wrong.  Holy moly! I felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest! It was so crazy. My shoulder was being pushed down and it just seemed like forever for her to actually be born. That was definitely a new experience and not one that was so nice. I like it lasted forever.

Finally after all that pressure, I heard Anna's little feisty cry! Music to my ears! My sweet, sweet daughter. My fifth daughter! I am now a mother to FIVE daughters! I could barely believe it. I told Tim to get up and start taking photos immediately because with Emily or the girls I never got those "first breath" moments on camera and I wanted it this time.

It seemed like forever that I didn't get to see her. They kept working on her and I was like, where is my baby! I wanted to see her so bad. Finally Dr. S, the neonatalogist came over and said she was doing well but having some trouble breathing so they were working on her. Working on her? Like what? I kept asking Tim what was going on but he just kept saying everything was fine, she looks great. He kept asking me every five seconds if I was okay, which of course made me nervous even more. 

A few more minutes passed and they finally showed her to me. All wrapped up, perfect as can be. I was so happy to see her little face, but it didn't last long, they took her right back, and away from me.

Before I knew it, the neonatologist came back and said that they were in fact going to take her to the NICU. I was really surprised. The nurses started asking for a transport bed and what area she would be going to. I was so nervous but they assured me she was okay, she just needed a little help to breath. Yeah, I've been down this path before. It's not fun. I prepared for it last time, this time it struck me like a ton of bricks. Why is another one of my children going to the NICU struggling to breath? She is supposed to be full-term! I know even full-term babies have their troubles, but I was just so sad to once again be separated from my baby! AGAIN!

They let me kiss her goodbye and off she went to the NICU. I said a few prayers and literally couldn't believe it was happening again. My baby was struggling to breath!

It took forever for them to sew me up. Again, I kept thinking, what is taking so long. I guess when I had the girls, I was just so incredibly out of it, that I didn't have a grasp on the time, like I did this time. I know it all didn't take that long, but it seemed like every minute was an hour. Plus, my mind was on my baby and what was happening to her.

After awhile, they moved me from the OR bed to a recovery bed and off I went to post-op.  A few minuted before I was moved to post-op, I started itching. It started with my face, neck, head and worked it's way down the more the spinal wore off. And let's just say that was the beginning of a horrible reaction to something. The nurses said it was normal, but let me assure you, I don't think it was. I was going nuts, and I mean NUTS over how itchy I was. In the post-op I had the maximum dose of Benadryl which did nothing to ease the itching. I was going insane. It was so bad. It lasted for almost 48 hours before I was completely itch free. I googled the antibiotics they had me on and the pain meds to make sure nothing had sulfa in it, which I am very allergic to. I almost thought they must have left a latex glove inside my belly (I'm allergic to latex too) because something was just not right and nothing would ease it. I don't know what it was, but it was not fun!

I begged Tim to go over to the NICU and find out what was going on with Anna and so finally he was given the go to do so by the nurses. He went over and was gone awhile but sent me some photos from his phone. I was so shocked to see that they had put Anna on c-pap which is a respiratory machine that forces air into the lungs. I knew immediately when I saw the photo and it of course again brought so many fears over me. I've been down this road before. The tube down her throat, c-pap, IV for fluids...ugh, it was a sight I was trying to forget and here I was again. I ached to hold her in those moments. My body ached for her. To be taken from me and once again not to be with my baby. It just wasn't fair.

While he was gone, I had a few scary moments where I started to bleed a little heavier, which of course scared the crap out of me. I thought, oh my goodness, here we go again! But luckily just after 20 minutes or so it slowed to normal. Oh, and the nurse I had for the second part of my delivery/post-op was a nurse that helped in the delivery room with the triplets, so she has been at 4 out of 5 of my deliveries. Pretty neat!

After two long hours in recovery, the nurses said they could wheel me by to see her in the NICU. Thank goodness. I needed to see her. I wanted to ask a million questions about what was going on. Finally, I laid my eyes on my little beauty once again. I hated seeing her in distress and it broke my heart. I only got to visit with her for a few minutes and touch her foot. I said a few prayers and talked with her nurse, Cheryl, which was one of our favorite nurses from before. She was so sweet and assured me Anna was doing well. I had to quickly say goodbye and once again left my daughter to be cared for by others. It was so emotional.

The nurses wheeled me to my room and finally my dad and my best friend could come back. They had been waiting all day to see me and Anna. They got to go in and see Anna way before I did, so I knew she was getting lots of love. A few minutes later my mom was there and she also go to go see Anna. 

Part 3, coming soon!

Anna Kate's Birth Story: Morning of Delivery and 37 Week Photos!

On the morning of Anna's birth, I was barely nervous at all. I was more anxious to get to the hospital and get things going! Before leaving we took some photos. I thought I would be a lot more of a mess leaving the girls but really I wasn't. I was a little sad, but what could I do, I had to go!

Last photo of our family of six!

Here are my last belly pictures EVER....at 37 weeks! Really I think I look pretty good, considering how exhausted I was. I only gained 25-27 lbs this pregnancy.

We left for the hospital at 9:10AM. Arrived at the hospital at a little before 10:00AM. Came in and waited, waited and waited. I was really started to get nervous and just a little emotional but finally around 11:00AM, we got to go back to pre-op. The nurse looked really familiar and she thought the same when we met. We realized right away that we had met at our mutual friend's house for a fall party with all of our kids. SO crazy, and I remembered talking to her the whole time! How awesome it was to see a familiar face and know I would be taken care of! She was so sweet.

Got changed. Had my IV put in. Met with Dr. R. Met with anesthesiologist. Met with the general surgeon. Dr. R and I talked about the hysterectomy and things surrounding that, I reminded him that I do not want percocet due to it making me so sick last time with the girls. I also asked about leaving on Friday evening and immediately was shut down on that. So, as of then it was Saturday for a discharge. :( We also talked about he fact that Anna might have to go to the NICU because she is only 37 weeks. He said a neonatalogist would be in the room (ironically the same one we had with the girls, Dr. S) to watch her breathing and make sure all was okay. Honestly I didn't think much of it. Every birth I've had a neonatologist  there and I honestly just figured he was telling us this because he had to. Really I brushed it off. How naive of me. I should have known better.

Please excuse the blurriness and stretch marks, but a part of me will always remember that big belly!

And just like that, the clock struck 12 and we were off to the OR....

Happy Birthday Anna Katherine!

Today, Wednesday, May 22, 2013, Tim and I welcomed our fifth daughter into our family!

Anna Katherine Gaydos

7 lbs.

18 3/4 inches
12:48 PM

Born via c-section at 37 weeks

Anna is in the NICU due to some heavy/fast breathing and fluid in her lungs. She was placed on the c-pap machine also to help with her breathing. She had an xray to make sure the fluid wasn't more than they thought. Also had blood work done and is on an IV.

She is very feisty, vocal and wanting to eat. Thank goodness on my first pumping session I got a good amount of colostrum, and even more on my second session. I am getting WAY more than the first few days of my last two pregnancies already!

Please keep our little girl in your prayers. She is expected to be in the NICU all night and into tomorrow. Hopefully she will be back with me as soon as they feel she can. I hate beyond belief that once again I don't have my baby to cuddle and bond with.

I have only been able to see her for two minutes and touch her foot; they wheeled me in on the bed to the NICU on my way to my room. Haven't even held her yet. Tim got to hold her for about a minute in the OR, but that was it.

Luckily we have our wonderful NICU nurses and doctors keeping her safe and healthy while she can't be with her Momma and Daddy. Breaks my heart though. Trying not to think about it to be honest, it just makes me sad.

Some notes: On first look, she looks like Emily, but I also see Maddie in her too. No hair at all. Don't know eye color yet.

Update on Momma: C-section went well, I thought it took a long time. I will write another post on it all with details galore. I have been having so much itching from the spinal and it's literally be driving me NUTS all day, but hopefully the more the spinal leaves my system, it will subside! I have been getting meds for it, thank goodness, but boy if it isn't something it's another. And the sweating, that has been horrible again too!  I haven't been able to get up yet (sometime tomorrow morning), and frankly I don't want to. I am not looking forward to that burning pain! Looks like I will have to stay until Saturday. Not happy about that too, but I know doctors orders are doctors orders. No matter what I just pray that I don't have to go home without my baby girl!

Thank you for all the texts, emails, thoughts and prayers...it is so appreciated! I will post more photos soon!

UPDATE on Anna-Kate's arrival TOMORROW!

I'm so excited to announce that our sweet Anna-Kate will be born tomorrow, Wednesday, May 22, 2013, via c-section sometime before or around 12:30pm.

I know I have been in shock since last week when we found out and I had every intention of posting this post before the weekend but honestly, we have been in preparation mode ever since. There have been so much to do, clean, cook, ect. My brain has been spinning, and even today 24 hours before I need to leave, I still have so much to do and get done!

First her due date was June 12th. Then they said I could be induced June 5th. After finding out about the high bile acids (see below), they moved it to no later than May 28th. After the OB and peri discussed everything  on Friday am they decided not to wait any longer past 37 weeks, which is tomorrow! 

Also, I will post my final baby bump photos tomorrow morning before we leave and hopefully I will post about her birth by tomorrow evening.

Here's how we came to this: PLEASE NOTE, it was written on FRIDAY!

On May 16th, I went in for my 36w1d OB appointment. I was suppose to have a sonogram but when I got there they said since I was having on at the perinatalogists. I was really bummed but I understood. I asked the nurse to make sure she paid attention to my urine sample for blood since blood was in my urine last time. There was no blood this time. Weight was 158lbs. Blood pressure was great.

I met with Dr. A and he checked my cervix. All was just the same. A little effaced, not dilated. He also tested me for the Strep B. I asked if he got Dr. R's notes from when I went to Labor and Delivery and he said yes. I asked if he had seen the bile acid levels and he said he hadn't and would check them and come right back.

Well after another 10 minutes, and hearing him on the phone, I was told I was going to have a sonogram after all. I waited for another few minutes and Dr. A came in and told me the levels are in fact very elevated and things just changed. I got a little nervous. He said, no question I will deliver before 38 weeks, which is May 28th, or sooner, definitely no later.

So they did the sonogram for over 45 minutes. Amniotic fluid was high. She wasn't moving very much at all. She wasn't practicing her breathing. They tried everything to get her to move. Her heartbeat was perfect though. The sonographer just couldn't give me a passing score so off to Labor and Delivery I went. 

I must say her movement had definitely slowed in the last 24 hours and the weirdest part of all is that I wasn't, for once, having any contractions. That was the weirdest thing.

So I went over to Labor and Delivery around 5pm (my OB was at 2:30pm!) and got hooked up to the monitors to listen to her heartbeat and see if I was contracting, which I wasn't.

So I stayed about an hour and I got to go home. I had an appointment at the perinatologist for Monday, but after calling on Friday morning, they decided that I needed to come right in.

So I went in. Waited some more. Had the sonogram finally. Her stomach looked enlarged for some reason. She was weighing in at 7lbs 5oz. Limbs are still about two weeks behind but she looked really healthy, per doctors comments. She was breathing, moving and opening and closing her mouth. The amniotic fluid was in the normal range also. I also was able to get some photos of her, which make me really happy too!

So basically Dr. H got on the phone with my OB, Dr. A, and they both agreed that Wednesday, May 22, 2013 (37 weeks) will be delivery day at 12:30pm, via c-section. I was so bummed to hear it has to be a c-section but after reviewing the risks and talking with both doctors and friends, I agree that it is best for Anna and I. Really, I wasn't going to get a choice, it was already mandatory that I was having a c-section regardless, just too much risk for anything else. And if at anytime I feel less movement, I was told go straight to Labor and Delivery and they will delivery asap.

Of course I am thrilled beyond belief that in five short days I will be holding my fifth daughter in my arms. But I am also in shock that it's only five days away, I can't believe it. I have so much to do and so much to get done. I wanted her to be born early (safely), but I thought I would have had at least another week or so. With the high bile acids though, the doctors do not like a patient or baby to go over 37 weeks because of the still-born risks.

So this weekend it's prepare for baby Anna-Kate's arrival! Freezer meals, getting the house cleaned, putting all her stuff away and just overall getting ready for chaos in the next two weeks. I have to line up people who can hopefully help us out with the girls. Luckily my parents will be back from Hawaii on Sunday evening, but since they've been off for almost two weeks, they are going to be busy with getting back to work, so my help is limited to very few. We will make it work though! EKK!

Emily's Birth Story and Hospital Stay!

I'm guessing it all started around Tuesday when I started getting headaches that wouldn't go away. Wednesday I had a headache but still with the girls in tow, Tim and I ventured out to purchase some new paint for our new house and run some other errands. We met Tammy at Golden Corral for dinner (Tim's choice). 


Around 12:30am I woke up to Madelynn screaming at the top of her lungs, which is very different than normal. I opened the door to the room and the smell of vomit hit me in the face. I knew it was bad immediately. Very bad. Madelynn was covered in vomit from head to tow and it was on EVERY morsel of her crib. I didn't even know where to begin other than to start the bath water and put her in the tub. My heart instantly hurt for my poor baby that was suffering. Immediately I thought she must have food poisoning because every bit of her dinner came up and since we ate ate Golden Corral, I thought for sure, plus with the mess in her diaper, I could have bet money. Poor girl. But she was smiling once she got in the tubby and was her happy self to have a bath and Daddy playing with her in the middle of the night.


I cleaned up her crib, which took about 45 minutes (untying those darn bumpers are hard!) and wore me out. Changing the sheets, scrubbing the rails of the crib, moving the crib practically around the room with the lights on (the other two never even opened their eyes...how...who knows, but I was so thankful!) was a workout. By the time she was cleaned up and her bed was ready, I was starting not to feel well, which made my assumption of food poisoning even more likely. Great, I thought. I was so nauseous all night and barely was able to sleep. 


Finally around 6:30am, I just couldn't toss and turn anymore and finally decided to get up. The minute I got up, the bathroom trips started. From then until about 7:45am, I thought I was going to die. So weak, my heart racing, I felt like I had an elephant on my chest and so I finally called Tim at 8:00am and told him to get home right away because their was no way I could even make it up the stairs to get the girls, let alone do anything they may have needed. I could not leave the bathroom or put down the trashcan. Lovely, right, especially at almost 40 weeks pregnant!


And then the contractions started. Immediately after my first bathroom trip, I started chugging the water, which obviously wasn't staying down at all, but I knew I could not get dehydrated. I called the emergency number to my OB but they didn't call me back until right at 9:00am. By that time, Tim was home and Tammy was ready to come down if the OB wanted to see me, which I was pretty sure the case would be, considering I was 39w5d's. I also knew I had a fever. The contractions were about 2-5 minutes apart and when I told the on-call OB, they told me to come in right away. Since Tammy is about 30 minutes away, I called her, and she got ready to come down and I layed down, thinking I was about to die. I felt so bad, I couldn't go more than 5 minutes from the bathroom. I had no idea if I was even going to make it to the OB, or pass out before getting there. It was lovely. I did grab my two hospital bags and my camera on our way out the door, just in case.


Luckily I made it the 30 minute drive to the OB, in the office and they called me right back. Dr. Apgar (yes that is his real name) checked me and said I was almost 3cm. Since I had a fever and was having such strong contractions, he hooked me up to the monitor right then and there and when he came back, he didn't even have to say a word, because I knew the contractions were hard and strong. His exact words were, "you're banging these out, you're going next door (to the hospital) and I'm pretty sure you aren't leaving without a baby."


I still didn't believe it. Not in the least bit. I just thought I would be going to the Labor and Delivery triage area, going to be given fluids, zofran and my contractions would slow down and I would go home. I never thought anything different. I signed in and sat down. By this time, I was actually feeling a little, tiney-tiny bit better. The nurse came out and called my name. It was one of the same nurses I had when I was in with the girls, her name was Carrie. Sweet girl. As we walked back, she said, "so, Dr. Apgar says you're 4 cms..." and I said, "really, he told me I was just 3." When we passed the Labor and Delivery triage, I was confused and said, "am I going to a real room" and she said "yes." Surprise number one.


I got in the room, got undressed into my lovely hospital gown, and she called Dr. Apgar to get more orders for what he wanted. And then that's when it all hit me. I heard him say that I was indeed 4cm's, start monitoring my contractions because in the office they were every two minutes, to give me some zofran and fluids, and he would be over in just a few minutes to break my water. Surprise number two. My mouth literally flew open. I looked at Tim in complete disbelief, and I looked at Carrie and I said, "he lied to me, he didn't say anything about 4 cm, I'm having this baby today?!?!" I couldn't even think. It was almost 12pm. I just called my mom and Tammy and started texting everyone who needed to know what was up.

And within a few minutes my sister arrived and Dr. Apgar was in the room and I was freaking out, yelling at him (in a nice manner...he's an awesome guy) about lying to me!! I just was in such disbelief. I asked when he was going to break my water and he said, "like now, in five minutes!" My sister who works across the street arrived and a few minutes later he broke my water. It didn't hurt or anything. Wait, let me rephrase that, breaking the water does not hurt, it was neat actually, just a warm sensation of water, not like peeing yourself, just like all of the sudden you're sitting in a warm bath. But, what does hurt like pure hell, are those lovely cervical checks. So that was at about 1pm.

And within about 15 minutes the contractions changed. Almost instantly. My contractions from then on were no farther apart than 2 minutes, sometimes just a few seconds apart, lasting about 1-2 minutes. Stronger and stronger. Harder and harder. Off the charts. Holding my breath, had to focus, ouch! Just kept thinking of sitting on the beach in Aruba!

My best friend Kim then arrived, since she works over an hour away, she was not going to miss anything, so I had texted her first to give her a heads up of her newest niece coming sooner than we thought. My mom also finally arrived.

I was told I could have the epidural at any time but I wanted to experience labor some. Carrie and Dr. Apgar thought I was crazy. By 3:30PM, when my temperature was about 101, I decided to get the epidural. I felt like I was letting myself down and wanting this VBAC so bad and here I was already giving in to having an epidural. Not that I EVER wanted to go natural, but I did want some control. It was bittersweet, but I ultimately decided to go for it. I didn't know how long I would be in labor and so I wanted to save my energy for pushing and since I was so sick and had no energy anyway, I thought it was my best chance for a VBAC. I was checked right before the epidural and I was 5cm, close to 6cm and the new nurse, Lauren, promised me I did much better than a lot of women do. Whether it was true or not, I believed her at the time, so it made me feel good.


The epidural was easy. No problem, it didn't bother me when I had the spinal with the girls, so I wasn't scared for this one. What was horrible, was when the anesthesiologist finished my whole right side wasn't numb. The pain was horrible and they could not get it to become numb. After awhile they said they would probably have to re-do it. Of course I sat there, thinking why did I have to be the one it fails on?! But instead, he gave me another full dose of the medication and it really helped. My right side never felt as completely numb as my left but it was well enough that I couldn't feel the contractions. But after a little while, it made me sick. So of course that was no fun, once again. 


Enter then a catheter and a suposistory of Tylenol for my high fever. Neither was bad because I couldn't feel a thing, amen. All I kept hearing was how hot I was, but yet I felt like I couldn't get warm and kept asking for more blankets.


Everyone thought it was great to watch how big my contractions were going, off the charts and yet I wasn't feeling anything. In fact, I was trying to sleep. I was so beat. Constantly getting sick all morning, having a high fever and my body preparing for labor, I couldn't believe how well my body was doing, but I was beat physically. I dosed off a few times between everyone talking and laughing.


Around 4PM, I was checked again and was 6.5cm, but it was so much nicer not being about to feel anything. A little there after E's heart rate started to rise and I was put on oxygen and some antibiotics in case what my body was fighting was get crossed to E.


At 5PM, Dr. Apgar had to leave and his colleague, Dr. Renzi was on-call. I was really happy he was the doctor on-call because I really liked him too. He delivered two of the Sofelkanik kiddos and I was in the room with one of my friends who had him deliver her daughter four years ago. So, he is not a stranger and one very well known doctor.


Things still weren't getting any better for E with every position, so Dr. Renzi was called and the nurse explained to me that if I wasn't fully dilated and E's heart rate wasn't going to stabilize, I would most likely need a c-section right away. At that moment I thought there was no way I would get a VBAC, but I didn't care. I just wanted E to be safe and I would do anything for that.


Dr. Renzi was there within five minutes and checked me and quickly said I was fully dilated, her head was right there and that I better be a good pusher. (He later said that sometimes when a baby drops so quickly and the mother becomes fully dilated so quickly, the heart rate of the baby will speed up some, telling the doctor she is ready!) He said he was going to change his clothes and we can get started. At this point it was 6pm. Kim and Tim were there with me, my sister and my mom had gone downstairs to the cafeteria to get something to eat. They were quickly called and told to get back asap. When I started pushing, I maybe pushed twice and the head could already be seen, along with some dark hair. I asked if it would be like an hour of pushing, and  Dr. Renzi said, "oh no way, who ever is here, is here, this baby is coming now." 


With every contraction I pushed and pushed and my mom and my sister were taking their sweet time, because it literally took them 20 minutes to get back into the room from 3 floors below. I was so afraid they would miss it, and I kept asking where they were because things were moving so incredibly fast. I was still in complete shock but felt great. Compared to how horrible I felt all day, I was feeling great! I honestly couldn't believe I was about to have our baby! I was so excited but it was honestly so surreal!


Finally my mom and my sister arrived and I maybe pushed another 5-10 minutes and looked down and I could see Emily's head coming out. Totally crazy! Dr. Renzi turned her head to rotate her body and she came right out with a few small, slight pushes. I could not believe it!!! I felt nothing and enjoyed the whole process of watching my little girl come into the world and take her first breath at 6:58PM! She was immediately placed on my chest and the tears started to roll. I was glad the nurses let her lay on me for a few minutes before taking her. I soaked in all I could in those first few minutes. Tim was speechless and it was so perfect.


After the nurses took her to clean her off and my sister finally grabbed the camera (in our hospital, they don't let you take photos of the actual birth, and since I had a fever and the Neonatalogist was present, they were being pretty strict about the photo taking because they wanted no one in the way if they needed to assist Emily right away) to start taking photos, I had a moment to reflect on what I just did! I was so proud of myself and really was in total shock that I just had a vaginal birth, something I always dreamed of! I just couldn't stop crying, it was wonderful, really, there are no words to describe it.


They weighed her, checked her all over and made sure she was perfect. They kept trying to get her to cry, but she barely would. She was breathing fine, just wouldn't cry super loud. Secretly, I was hoping it is her laid-back personality showing through already.

Emily was born with a fever of 101.1, but it quickly went down within an hour of her birth. The Neonatalogist was aware of the whole situation and there was no need for anything further and the conclusion was because I had a high fever. Thank goodness she was fine!


I then got to hold her for awhile, just skin on skin, so a bunch of those pictures are not blog-friendly, but here are the ones that are!

And then snuggle time meeting her Daddy....

Getting ready to go to our new room!

We were then transferred over to our new room, which was right down the hall from where I was when recovering from the girls, only this time, I had a baby IN MY ROOM! I was so happy!


Tammy came down when we got over there and it was so wonderful for her to meet her newest grand-daughter. Before we knew it, it was almost 11pm and I was totally exhausted and still couldn't feel much of my left leg. Because of the second dose of the epidural that I got, my left leg was numb for HOURS that night. I took some pain meds and even though I was so tired, I couldn't sleep at all because I was so excited. I kept praying and thanking God all night for the most wonderful experience I could have ever imagined. I swear, I kept looking at Emily and then just thinking that I just had a VBAC, she was fine, I was fine, no complications. All my fears were gone and it was a great feeling. Too good of a feeling to sleep. I just couldn't stop thanking the Lord for what He has given me!


The rest of night was great and I just held Emily and relaxed. Of course around 5am of Friday, people start bombarding your room for everything. Blood work, vitals, food, room-cleaning, bathing the baby...it never ended. Plus, the room we were in...yea...the TV was broken! So, then just when I decided to take a shower, the repair men came! Nice! But I was so thankful to have the TV working again! The day was very lazy and quite boring! I was so ready to go home and see my "big girl" babies! We just watched TV and napped a few times, but it was an easy day. I still couldn't believe how great I felt!


Christine came by at lunch and then her and Nathan came by after work. 

Then I dressed her up in one of my favorite preemie outfits that I had from the girls, and it barely fit! But it was too cute, so I just kept it on her, but needless to say it will be the only day she wore it, or fit into anything preemie!

My dad finally arrived after work also and I was so excited to show him Emily! He missed her birth by just a few minutes when he left the hospital to take over for Tammy watching the girls, so she could come down.

Saturday morning we were up at 7:30am and were ready to get going! I wanted to get home so bad!!


Finally we were released at 1pm, after waiting all freakin' morning for her PKU test to come back and make sure she wasn't jaundice.  While waiting, I caught Tim trying to convert her to an Eagle's fan already....

Waiting oh-so-patiently to leave!

Finally we were given the OK to leave!!!

So excited to take my baby girl home with us when I get discharged! I just kept smiling so I wouldn't start crying! Such a wonderful feeling...so normal!

And finally were going home with Little Miss Emily June!!!! Stay tuned for when she met her sisters!