On October 28th, our precious little girl made her appearance into the world. We were not expecting her until November 11th, but she apparently had other plans. I started to experience consistent labor contractions on Friday, October 25th and Ian and I arranged to have MiMi come stay with the boys so we could head to the hospital.
However, after the nurses monitored my contractions for a few hours I was sent home with instructions to stay in bed (which is virtually impossible for a mother of a four and five year old) and to drink lots of water. Thinking that delivery of this little girl was still a long way off, Ian and I and the boys went back to our regular daily lives.
It wasn't until I called my doctor on Monday to inform her about what happened on Friday (she was off on Friday and the doctor on call was the one that put me on bed rest and sent me home). My doctor was concerned about my constant contractions (still blasting me about every 4 minutes for the past 4 days straight) and told me to come to see her.
Upon my arrival at the doctor, she told me these were definately labor contractions and my body had been preparing for the delivery of this little girl. I was now at 4 centimeters and she directed me over to the hospital at once.
Of course I had told my mother I was fine the day before and sent her home, assuming we still had a couple weeks till this baby would be born, but boy was I wrong. Ian moved into 'taking care of business mode' and picked up the boys from school and while my mother drove the hour back over to our house to watch Elijah and Joaquin so Ian could meet me at the hospital.
During my few hours waiting for Ian to arrive at the hospital and the doctor to get everything lined up for the c-section I got checked into my hospital room. Ironically it was the same room Ian and I were in on the previous Friday night.
The nurses remembered me and helped get my belly hooked up to monitor my continued and increasing contractions and my IV was quickly put in place so I would be able to be ready as soon as my doctor, Dr. Michel, was ready. I was holding out on any pain medications, so I was anxious for Ian to get to the hospital and be by my side.
The nurses came in every hour to monitor my progress and by the time I dialated to 6 cm they called in Dr. Michel and said we needed to get this C-section on the road if we were going to get it done before this baby made her own apperance. (We knew we were going to have a scheduled C-section because this was my fourth cesarian.)
The timing was perfect as Ian showed up, got suited up in his operating room garb and Dr. Michel came in for a final check up before heading into the OR. Dr. Michel has been with Ian and I for all our children's deliveries, so we were grateful to have her again and figured that was the reason Talia didn't arrive on the previous Friday when the doctor on call was not our actual doctor.
Here Ian is about to head into the operating room, just waiting for the okay that they had the spinal block in and I was ready for him to come in.
Once the spinal block was cleared and I was draped, they let Ian come in and he began capturing all the moments with the camera. I'm grateful for the tarp. Even though I had been through it three times before, I don't think I could handle seeing all that they do during the surgery.
This is a picture of Dr. Michel at work.
Talia grasped for the light as she was pulled out.
One of the sweet nurses caught this picture of Ian and I while they were washing Talia off and getting her ready to hand back over to us.
Daddy's first time holding his little girl's hand.
Such a precious moment.
A daddy's joy
Footprints
All the measurements taken. She weighed in at 6 pounds, 8.2 ounces, 18.5 inches long and was perfectly healthy in every way, even though they thought she was only 36 weeks. We never exactly knew her exact due date and how big she was because she kept changing things up. :)
This was the first time I got to hold Talia, my precious baby girl.
She was so perfect and content.
First time to open her eyes and look directly at her daddy.
After the tubal, we moved back into our room and MiMi was our first guest. Talia nursed like a champion and continued to amaze us.
Skin to skin time after she was born. I was elated, to say the least.
Talia's first bath.
I couldn't believe her little chubby cheeks and she has one dimple on her right side when she smiles!
My baby girl, Talia Sage.
Ian put a fade effect on this picture, but I love how she is holding my thumb while she sleeps. Those first few hours getting to meet her will forever be etched in my memory. We love you sweet girl and welcome you to this world. May you always be surrounded by Love!
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