Wow. Has it really been since January since I've thought about writing? How could I go so long without even managing a peep to my favorite readers? I guess it can be safe to say that life? Happened. I got caught up in my pregnancy, raising my girls, and caring for my home all while the husband was away in Afghanistan.
The seven months he was gone was one of the hardest things that I've ever had to do in my life. I won't lie. It? Sucked at times. Just the amount of exhaustion and worrying and sometimes thinking that his seven months would
never end was enough to make my curl up and make me feel sorry for myself. I'm usually not the type to wallow in self pity. But it was hard. Super hard.
The good news? He's home! He came home at the very end of March. It has been amazing having my best friend back at home where he belongs...and the girls have been great at getting readjusted with their Daddy. I truly am blessed to have such a wonderful husband.
We also were blessed with the birth of our baby girl, Brynlie Nicole, on May 21st @ 1:19 am. She is the sweetest baby
ever. She nurses like a champ, takes a bottle like a champ AND puts up with her sisters' shenanigans--what a little trooper!
Her birth story is a short one: went to my regular OB appointment on May 20th to find out my blood pressure was really high. I had been having a headache, but didn't think much of it--I assumed it was from being so tired. I got sent up to L&D for some monitoring and after an hour or so the OB doc came in and told me that my bp was still too high for him to feel comfortable. I was over 39 weeks at this point and he suggested that we come back at 4:00 pm to be admitted, get the foley balloon and then be induced Saturday morning bright and early.
I immediately said yes! Leo and I went out to lunch and then went home to start getting things in the car and get any last minute things completed. His mom had been staying with us to stay with the girls so that was a huge relief that I didn't need to scramble and find someone to watch Isabella and Madelyn.
Get to the hospital, get the foley and right away I start noticing pretty strong contractions. I didn't think a lot of it because for weeks I had been having contractions that were pretty intense. A couple of hours later the foley fell out. The nurses were all giddy and told us that they had a feeling this would happen (basically it means I was dialating and at that point just having the foley in jump started my labor). I was pretty hungry so Leo went to get me something to eat before it was too late.
By the time he arrived back my contractions were
really picking up. I picked at my food and then asked the nurse if there was something that I could take that would help me sleep. I was still in denial that I was in labor. She gave me an Ambien and I still thought I would be able to sleep. Ha! She came back and hooked me up to the monitors to see my contractions and she checked me to discover I was 6 cm dialated! Yeah!!
She asked me what I wanted for pain management and I told her nothing...Madelyn was natural (not on purpose...) and Isabella's epidural failed, so I told her I really wanted to try this naturally.
Everything was going great until I told them I had to push. Transition was really hard on me. I had coped really well up until that point. They checked me and I couldn't push because Brynlie was turned the wrong way and they really wanted her head to turn around before pushing. After what seemed like forever she turned! Show time...
After a few successful pushes I had to stop so they could untangle the cord that was wrapped around her neck two times. That was untangled and a couple of pushes later she was on my chest. It was love at first sight when I laid my eyes on her. No matter if it's your first or your tenth baby, there is
nothing like holding that tiny bundle in your arms for the first time.
They immediately took her from me, though. She wasn't breathing. They had to resuscitate her twice and they sucked a ton of fluid from her. What had happened was she took a huge gulp during the birth process. I repeatedly asked if she was okay which they assured me she was fine. I was so scared...those few minutes seemed like eternity, but the staff was so calm and never let on how serious it was/could have been which I thank them for that.
So that, in a nutshell, was the birth of Brynlie Nicole. She did endure some bruising on her face from being in the wrong position for so long, but that disappeared within a day. She is perfect in every way. I love her snuggles, her baby smell, the sound of her just being so happy and I can tell that she knows she is so loved by us all.
Brynlie Nicole
7 lbs 4 oz
18 1/2" long
Born into our lives May 21, 2011 @ 1:19 a.m.
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