It's been nearly a whole week as I type this. A whole week has flown by and baby girl is only eight hours and thirty-five minutes away from being an entire week old.
(okay, now almost 2 weeks - what I can
I say, my schedule has been interrupted a bit. smile. But I promise I
started this last week...)
I'll start where I left off with my last post. It was go time. I made it all the way to the 27th of February - nearly a week after my due date, so we headed to the hospital to check in on Wednesday night at 7PM. We knew all day Wednesday day that we would be ending our day at the hospital. Even with that, wouldn't you know, we were running late as that photo was snapped by my sweet neighbor, Darla.
Two weeks before, our shower in our master bath started to act up on us. Adam had been so busy with his jobs that finding time to work on it, and our kitchen floors was hard. But we really wanted the shower fixed before we returned home because we knew we would have Adam's parents visiting when we got home from the hospital and two working showers was a must! So Tuesday, our plumber, Tom, was called. Tom said he could be there Wednesday, but it would be five o'clock by the time he could make it. Five o'clock?! Sure! That would still give us 2 hours to get to the hospital. Plenty of time, right?!
Ah, Trump-time.
So by 6:45PM our shower was nearly finished and Adam informed Tom that we just had to make our way to the hospital. Tom quickly wrapped things up, made arrangements with Adam to come back the next day to finish. We grabbed the camera and Henry and walked next door to have Darla snap a few pics of the three of us.
She gladly did and wished us well, we kissed and loved on Henry and let him know we would see him a few days - rolling down the window as we drove out of the drive to tell him we loved him and would see him later. I got teary - and am right now as I recall that detail.
The doctor had told me to eat on the way to the hospital, as it could be an entire 24 hours before I ate again. So we headed for the Sonic drive in. At 6:55PM, as we waited for my Wacky Pack to be delivered to our car, I sent my mom and sister this text.
7:20PM we were walking through the automatic doors with luggage in hand
By 7:34PM I sent this text to them to let them know we had made it and checked in.
The nurses were immediately kind and very helpful. Not because of the thank you boxes, but genuinely kind and helpful. I think they could sense our anxiety and were more than wonderful at making the whole process painless. They immediately put us in our Labor and delivery room, had me put on a gown, and came in to start the registration paper work. I had seen on a "what to pack for the hospital" list that it's always nice to bring "thank you" gifts for the nursing staff when in Labor and delivery. I took little boxes filled with chocolates and Jolly Ranchers and pink and white suckers that said "thank you" on them. We had used these boxes for my shower and had several left over so I decided to dress them up a bit and add the candy and sucker.
Around 8PM, we were checked in, my mom, sister, dad, and best friend had arrived. The night shift nurse, Carla, came in and introduced herself to me. She informed me of what the night was going to look like - she would check me, they would come draw blood work, and then they would administer the drugs that would begin thinning my cervix.
By 10PM all the procedures were done - among my family and I chatting and just hanging out - my sister knowing that I would definitely want photos, took over my usual roll of documenting with my camera and her camera. I love that I didn't even have to ask her to do so, she just did - and I am SO very thankful for that.
11PM came around and Carla came in and asked if I would like to have some Ambien to help me get some good sleep before 6AM rolled around. Um, "YES, please!" My family made there way home for the night, Carla brought in a cot with sheets and blankets for Adam, and she shut our door so that we could get some rest.
5:30AM rolled around and we were woke up by Carla who checked my blood pressure, and let us know my mom and her boyfriend were there. My mom later told me she and he could barely sleep.
6AM Our doctor came in and said good morning and informed us of what the plans were for the day. He would check me again, break my water, and then they would come in and start the Pitocin drip at a slow level. He check me, and I was still at a 1 - where I had been for two weeks. Water was broken, and Pitocin was administered.
An hour or so passed and I began feeling mild cramps. Nothing painful, just cramps. Carla came in and informed me that the shift change was about to happen and she would be back that night and she hoped to see a baby! She asked if I needed anything, and I informed her immediately, that I would like an epidural as soon as possible. I had been told by friends that it would be wise to ask for the epidural as soon as possible just in case it might take a while for it to arrive. She laughed a bit and joked, "well, no honey, we want you feel what labor feels like!" Then she smiled reassuringly and said that she would call for an anesthesiologist on her way out. She did, and within a few minutes, Bill, the CNRA came in with our new day nurse, Ashley. Both were super nice and introduced themselves and let me know what was going to happen. Bill had two students following him around observing, so as he administered the epidural, he verbalized exactly what he was doing. I was so glad at that moment that I had signed off on having students come in to observe. There was just something so nice and easing knowing exactly what procedures he was doing as he did them.
Ashley had me roll on my side and upped the Pitocin.
The epidural began working immediately. On the monitor I could see my heart rate, baby's heart rate, and the contractions as they happened, but I didn't feel them at all.
The whole morning and early afternoon went like this: Ashley would come in, check our stats, up the Pitocin, and roll me from one side to the other, and also check me from time to time to see where I was at. I would drift off to nap and wake up and chat with Adam and family and friends that would stop by to say hello and check on our progress.
At 3PM, Ashley came in with our doctor. The doctor checked me and informed us that I was at a 6, but also that they were not too happy with baby girl's heart beat. That it was dipping too low, most likely because I had been in labor for nine hours. Their plan was this: they would stop the Pitocin, wait a bit and see if baby girl’s heartbeat would pick back up - if so, they would let her rest a bit and then start pushing the Pitocin again. And so they did. Baby girl’s heartbeat picked right up and an hour later, they continued with the Pitocin. Baby girl’s heartbeat stayed strong from there on out, and my contractions continued - though again, I didn’t feel a thing.
Around 6PM the doctor came in to check me again. Even after the Pitocin had been turned back on, I was still at a six. No progression. The doctor then informed us that he would give me one more hour of pitocin, and check me again. If I progressed, we would battle on. If I did not progress, we would go ahead with a c-section. Adam immediately, said, “what?!” I think it stunned him more than it did me. He was concerned. I always knew it was a possibility with being induced. But that didn’t stop me from being a tiny bit unhappy about the situation. Dr. Stewart assured us that it would be ok, but also that he was not too surprised that I had not progressed because when they turned off the Pitocin, they pretty much stopped my labor and there was a good chance too, that I might still progress.
I began sending out text messages. Prayer requests. Lots of them. My sister did too. I said lots of prayer during the next hour. I don’t remember doing much but praying. Praying that I would progress. Praying that baby girl would stay strong so that I could at least have the chance to push her out. Praying that the last twelve hours would not be for nothing. Prayer and more prayer - the whole time, watching the monitor to make sure that baby girl’s heart beat was staying steady and strong.
During that hour, my cousin Leslie sent me a text message saying that she and her women’s prayer group were praying for me and she left me with this scripture: Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
The longest shortest hour passed and Dr. Stewart and Ashley came back in to check me. I think I held my breath and prayed some more. I’m pretty sure Adam was holding his breath too. Prayer worked.
I had progressed to an 8.5 - almost a 9 when a contraction came.
Dr. Stewart let me know that he was off to do another c-section and would be back in a hour or so to check me again. Ashley let me know that her shift was almost over, and Carla would soon be back in. We had officially been in the hospital for two full shift changes.
Adam and my family and friends who were there at the hospital were all informed and all breathed a sigh of relief and we were back to waiting for the next hour and a half.
We decided that baby girl might need some music to keep progressing, so I turned on my “Run” playlist. A selection of songs that I listened to throughout my pregnancy to get me through my runs. I remember the room was mostly quiet. My grandparents were there along with Adam, my mom, Ron, and Rachel. My very nervous and excited dad, and brother-in-law, and best friend, Tammy were out in the waiting room. We just listened to the music. Rachel caught this snippet on her iphone while Florence and the Machines sang, Shake it Out. I will cherish this video for as long as I live.
8:30 came around and Carla came back. She joked that she thought she had told me to have that baby before she started her shift - I laughed and told her that I did have good intentions, but that baby girl had already picked favorites and wanted her to be her nurse. She laughed and said that she was going to check me because Dr. Stewart was still in surgery. She did and the moment came with utter shock and surprise. Carla calmly and collectively informed me that I was there. I was ready to push. Adam and I looked at each other like, “did she really just say it’s time?!” We had been there all day, yet when the moment hit, it was still a shock.
Carla told us that she was going to begin getting the tray and tables ready and prepare for me to start. She was still so calm about everything. I told her I wanted my mom and sister to also be present during the delivery, so she went out to the waiting room, corralled my family, updated them, and gathered my mom and sister to come into the room. While she was gone, I got nauseous. Carla came back in, calmly handed me a clear plastic container and said that it was going to be okay, and assured me that it happens all the time from nerves. I only got sick a bit, after all, I hadn’t eaten or had anything to drink since 7PM the day before.
After that spell, I looked at Adam, my mom, and sister and told them, “Okay, I’m okay and I’m ready.” The scripture verse Leslie had sent me immediately came into the forefront of my mind. I said it out loud and began pushing.
Carla looked at me and said, “Okay, lets get this baby all the way there, and Dr. Stewart will come in just in time to catch her!” And we began. Carla calmly explained to me where and how I needed to push. A contraction came, the scripture verse Leslie had sent me immediately came into the forefront of my mind. I said it out loud and began pushing at 9PM. I think I pushed several times and then Dr. Stewart walked in. He calmly took over for Carla and she assisted my sister and Adam at how to hold my legs.
The nursery nurse, Courtney (a friend of mine who I had just gotten to know this year) came in and planted herself by the warmer. She was ready to care for baby girl as soon as she made her appearance. I remember thinking how cool it was that I had a familiar and wonderful friend there to care for our girl. Her being there put me even more at ease.
The next few contractions came and I worked. Philippians 4:13 in my mind each push. In between contractions, I remember the room getting so quiet. Dr. Stewart and Carla would watch the contraction monitor. Adam would say how good I was doing. And I would just breath. I made one crack during one of those quiet moments about the fact that anytime my classroom at school gets that quiet, it never fails, that one student will always say, “awkward silence!” It did break the silence and we all laughed, and then it was time to push again. Philippians 4:13.
I remember thinking that my eyes were going to pop out of my sockets. I almost asked Dr. Stewart if it was a possibility, but I decided to just close my eyes when I pushed and hope for the best. Philippians 4:13. I was on a mission.
A few pushes later, and Dr. Stewart said that I was so close - she was crowing, and from there, I knew what I was doing, and was ready to meet our baby girl.
With that and a few pushes later, baby girl was born at 9:35PM. She was immediately placed on my chest and I remember looking at her then Adam on my left, and saying “Ellie, she’s an Ellis.” A strong name for such a strong baby girl who had made it through 18+ hours of labor. He smiled and tears streamed down our faces and he said “Hello, baby girl Ellis.” That moment was so joyous and yet so surreal - I remember saying out loud “She’s here. She’s really here.” I closed my eyes and tears of joy streamed down my face. Courtney, the nursery nurse, joyously said out loud, “Oh my gosh, you are making me cry - I witness births all the time and don’t cry, but you are making me cry.”
I
know the room must have been noisy, but to me it was as if time stood
still and the whole world got really quiet. It was the first moment I
held my baby girl and she was perfect. Ellis Chandler Rose Trump.
Seven pounds, ten ounces, and twenty inches of pure beautiful perfection.
Hello, Baby Ellis. How very wonderful to meet you, sweet girl.
Thanks for dropping by :)
