Mommy hasn't written on this blog in so long and so much has happened! Let me try to fill you in as best I can! Around 36 weeks, I started having nonstop itching on the bottoms of my hands and feet, but only at night. Being the paranoid person that I am, one night, in between itches, I googled "itchy hands and feet""pregnancy" and it came back with Cholestasis. This is a liver condition where your body blocks the bile from leaving the liver (or something like that). Anyway, it is very rare in pregnancy so I figured I probably was just worrying over nothing, but decided to let the doctor know in the morning. I talked to the nurse and she said to take an antihistamine and if it didnt go away to call back the next morning. Well I took the antihistamine but was still itching, so I called the nurse back. I was pretty sure she would tell me not to worry about it and just keep an eye on it but instead, she told me to come in just to be on the safe side. This was on Friday, January 27th, 2012. So, Mom went in and got on the fetal monitor which measures your heart rate and my contractions. To my surprise, I was contracting every 2-3 minutes. They also drew my blood to send off for testing. The doctor told me that they wanted to do a full ultrasound at that point, to be sure that you were doing ok. They scheduled the ultrasound for 1:30PM at the clinic across the street and told me to go home, eat lunch and come back at 1:30PM. So, Mom drove home and Daddy met me there. We packed our overnight bags just to be on the safe side and hopped in the car and drove back downtown to the ultrasound clinic. At 1:30PM they called us in and began the ultrasound. Everything looked great and they predicted you were a 7lb 11oz baby! Holy guacamole- I remember asking, "Will she gain more weight over the next 3 weeks?" They laughed at me and said, "Of course!" I was a little nervous because that seemed big to me already and I was worried if you got much bigger I wouldn't be able to push you out- Yikes!! Anyway, then Dad and I went back to the dr where they did a cervical exam, said everything looked fine and I could go home. Dr. Johansen could tell I was worried though and said she'd call me if anything looked odd on my labs. Dad and I went home and took a nap. At 3:45PM Dr. Johannsen called and said, "Let's have this baby!" Apparently my liver numbers were abnormal and they wanted to induce me right away, just to be sure.
We got to Swedish Hospital and checked into Labor and Delivery. At this point it was 5:20PM. I was so excited, Evy; I can't even begin to tell you! Dad and I were both so excited we could hardly contain ourselves. By 6:20PM I was in a really beautiful room with an IV in my arm, getting prepped for Pitocin, the medicine they would use to kick start my contractions into becoming more regular. The Pitocin started at 7:20PM by a nurse named Meghan who was very nice. Auntie Shannon, Auntie Brenna and Grandma Bonnie came to visit and stayed for a few hours. Everyone eventually went home because we knew it would be a long night. Daddy finally fell asleep around 2AM and he slept for about 3 hours. Mommy was up the whole night with contractions, but they weren't horrible and I thought maybe I had lucked out and wouldn't be in too much pain. My intention was to go natural and not use any medicine but when you are on Pitocin, the contractions are a lot more intense and sometimes that just isn't an option. By 10AM Mommy's contractions were horrible. I took several baths and walked around to try and make the pain better. In fact, I was walking so fast around the labor wing that your Daddy had to concentrate on keeping up with me (he was wheeling my IV for me). Everytime a contraction would come I would speed up, like I was a speed walker!! I got back to my room and decided I couldn't sit still so I put Pandora on and listened to dance music. I danced for about 45 minutes and everytime a contraction came I danced that much harder!! By 1PM though they were so bad that I couldnt stand anymore. I was in so much pain and Daddy was doing everything he could to comfort me. He was so great, Evy! Finally, at 3PM I decided that I needed an epidural because the pain was the strongest pain I had ever felt in my life. The anesthesiologist came and gave me the medicine and it made me feel much better! After about 45 minutes, I began to feel strange contractions so I asked the nurse (now it was the day nurse Anna) to please check and see how far dialated I was. A shock to both of us- I was 10CM!!! She told me to hang on another 20 minutes to give your head time to descend more and then I could start pushing- HOORAY! At 5:10PM I started pushing and at 5:41PM on Saturday, January 28th, you were born! You weighed 6lbs 11.4oz and were absolutely positively the most beautiful, perfect little person I had ever seen before. You were amazing!!! You didn't cry when you came out though so the nurses were really worried. They tried everything to get you to cry but nothing worked. Daddy was worried and stood by you the whole time, praying nothing was wrong. Mommy was trying to watch but I was still in bed finishing up with the doctor. Thankfully they decided you were just fine and that you were just a mellow, happy baby. Then I got to hold you and kiss you; it was amazing! I even got to breastfeed you for the first time. You latched right on; what a special moment!!!!
After that everyone came into see you! Grandma Bonnie, Grandpa Jeff, Auntie Shannon, Auntie Brenna, Auntie Crystal, Uncle David, Grandpa Greg, Nana Patti, Sophie, Auntie Jen & Uncle Tyson were all there to see you. Everyone thought you were the most beautiful thing ever!! After that, they took you me and Daddy down to a new room where we could rest and be together. We stayed in the hospital until Monday, January 30th when they finally decided that Mom's liver was healthy and we were safe to go home. Daddy and I were SO excited to bring you home!!! We dressed you in the cutest outfit ever and were the proudest parents in the world as we carried you out to the car. Mom sat in back with you so I could watch your every move and hold your hand as we drove home. It was a day, Evy, that I will never forget.
Being at home with you the past week has been the most wonderful thing ever. I could sit and stare at you all day and be completely content. The love I have for you is something out of this world, something truely from God because it is so strong and so powerful. I would do anything for you, my sweet Evelyn Rose, anything. Your Daddy feels the same way. We love to sing to you and talk to you- Daddy was telling you yesterday all about how he and I met at church and fell in love. We tell you about Jesus and all of the family who loves you and the things we're going to do as a family when you get a little older!
Today we took you on your first walk- to Discovery Park. Daddy pushed you in the stroller while Mommy held onto Maddie. I felt so proud walking with you and Daddy; I felt like our family was complete. When we finished with our walk you took a long, long nap. In fact, you didn't wake up until 4:30PM after a 4.5 hour nap! Then, of course, you hate for a good hour and a half before being awake with Auntie Brennie for another hour and a half; you were just so excited to be with her that you wouldn't sleep! Finally, Daddy came home from the gym and helped rock you to sleep with Auntie Brennie. In fact, it's 9:08PM and you're still asleep. You're laying in the basinette next to me and I can hear you coo-ing to yourself and making little gurgly noises. I know by now that those noises mean you are about to wake up. I can't wait to pick up your sweet little warm body and give you kisses while we go into your room for a diaper change.
Evy, having a baby changes everything...in the best way possible. You are a blessing from God and an answer to prayer. Mommy and Daddy love you with all of our hearts because Jesus loved us first and shows us unconditional love everyday. While we will never be able to love you the way Jesus loves you, our love for you will be also be new every morning. There is nothing in this world that you can do to make Mommy and Daddy love you any less. We will always be here for you, no matter what happens or what you're going through.
I love you, my sweet daughter!
Love,
Mom
