Marlo was born April 14th, 2010 at 10:43 in the evening. This story began about 9 months before that day. Christopher and I had been talking about trying to start a family, and figured we'd better get started since we thought for sure it may take some time. This was not the case, however! We quickly discovered that I was, in fact, pregnant. Our first reaction was probably disbelief, "we actually did it?!" The second feeling was elation, we were so excited at the thought of adding on to our little family. Which, at the time, included Chris and I, a dog and a cat.
I went to the doctor a little late in the game, around November. Marlo was almost ready to tell us she was a girl! I was healthy, and so was she...everything was progressing just fine. We went to a few more appointments and finally the day came when we found out the sex. They told us she was a girl (even though we thought for sure it was a boy). This was the first thing in a long line of things that we have been wrong on so far, but we're learning!
At 4 months pregnant, I embarked on an amazing journey with some wonderful friends. We had been training hard since April for the 2009 Breast Cancer 3 Day. This is 3 days, 90 miles of walking (and goofing around, and eating, and camping out, and meeting amazing people). We each raised over $2300 for breast cancer research. This was Marlo's first adventure with mom, a 90 mile walk through the Metroplex! It was an amazing, emotional, life-changing experience.
Fast forward slightly, to the baby showers! A few friends here in TX threw me a wonderful baby shower January 16th, great friends, great food and amazing gifts for our baby girl.
In early February, Texas saw a snowstorm like we've never seen before! A record 9.5" fell in the DFW area in late January. Christopher, Kyla and I made the best of it (while I was 7.5 months pregnant!) and made snowmen!
In early February, my big sister, Karen threw me an amazing baby shower! Unfortunately, the snow followed me from TX to NJ! The day of my baby shower, there was a blizzard! This storm dumped more than 2 feet of snow in some places! Needless to say, some folks did not make it to the shower. But, the few and the brave (my best friend, Adelle, my mom, my Aunt Elise, and cousins Aidan and Kailen made it out! I was sad not to see my grandmother and other family, but obviously didn't want anyone to risk life to come to a baby shower!
After the baby shower in NJ, I came back to TX and we started on the Nursery. Or, should I say...we finished it. While I was away, Christopher textured and painted the entire room!
Marlo, at 35.5 weeks!
This is about the time my blood pressure started to rise and I was placed on modified bed rest. I worked from home and rested in between. Making sure our little girl was safe. The week before my due date, the doctor said we had a choice, we could wait until she was ready, or induce labor and let her make her entrance into the world. By this time, I was incredibly uncomfortable and ready to see this girl, already! We decided to induce and were scheduled to arrive at the hospital the morning of Wednesday, April 14th, 2010.
We arrived bright and early, and I was admitted to my room to start the process.
Luckily, my doctor knew I wanted to have as natural a birth as possible in a hospital, so she requested some amazing natural birthing nurses who made the experience wonderful.
They induced me in the morning with pitocin, and shortly after, the contractions began.
Christopher did many things to keep me entertained during this time, cartwheels where
among my favorites. He was an amazing partner, and kept me laughing when I needed it
and focused when I needed it.
Things seemed to be progressing enough but my water had not broken yet so the doctor
came in and got things rolling further. Soon after she broke my water, the real fun began.
I mean, pain! These are probably the last pictures of me smiling...for a WHILE!
After a while, it was finally time to push. Up to this point, I had no pain medication (and it
had been about 10 hours). I was about to give up right before my doctor told me it was time to start pushing. Again, Christopher was there the whole time, helping me. I pushed for 3 hours, and the doctor tried to use suction (OUCH) to help Marlo out. She was head down, but turned to the side and to wide to go through the birth canal.
At that point, we all decided a c-section would be the only way to get her out safely. I have to
admit, at that point I was ready...tired, in pain and ready for that epidural. When they wheeled me into the OR, I was shaking from being so utterly exhausted. I was cold and tired and I just
remember my doctor holding me with warm blankets to keep me warm. The anesthesiologist
came in and got things started, once I could no longer feel the contractions I turned to him and told him I loved him. I really do think at that point, I loved him...he removed all of the pain!
I passed out from all of the work I'd been doing and before I knew it, Christopher was by my
side holding this tiny, gorgeous baby. At first, I thought she looked nothing like us, granted
she was stuck in the birth canal for 3 hours, wet and had slits for eyes. Here are the first
pictures of her:
0 comments:
Post a Comment