My girl is here

My mother recently told me this story, about a 15-month old baby who squirmed out of his mother's arms and fell over the balcony in the Toronto airport. And she told me while she was sitting across from me holding my baby girl. The thought alone near killed me. And so begins the terrifying job of motherhood. 

So yes, she is here. My amazing little mini-me. 

I told you a week ago today about the night I thought I was in labor. The rest of Friday went by, then most of Saturday. A post went up on Monday, but it was one I scheduled in advance. 

I went to see the Lion King in 3D with my friend, Sarah, and at 9:38pm on Saturday, September 24th I started timing contractions. 15 minutes apart. And this time, they didn't stop. At 2am I sent my mother the text telling her to come to town. She was here by three. B's mother came over too. The waiting game began. Finally, the contractions got worse, and we got to the hospital sometime around 8am. I stripped, got strapped in, and we did a lot more waiting. I believe I was dilated 4-5cm. I got zero drugs until eventually they gave me the gas machine. I was told to suck it in with deep breaths during contractions. That was fine and dandy at first. When the contractions got bad, it wasn't so easy to suck my breaths through a tube. I felt a little lightheaded, but the pain didn't hurt any less. 

When they examined me, they weren't 100% sure that the baby was facing down or not. Two nurses plus my doctor all took their turn checking, but finally had to bring in the ultrasound machine. Sure enough, babygirl had NOT turned. I suspected this all along. The bump at the top of my belly (her head) always felt the same. So I was going into surgery. I was a little relieved, but annoyed at the same time that they didn't discover this sooner, so I could've had a schedule section, and not had to deal with the contractions that were yet to come. 

[ And here we wait to go into the OR ]

Someone else was priority, so I lay in that bed for forever, it felt like. My contractions felt horrible, and were coming ever 2 minutes or so. I squeezed B's hand in a death grip on my right, and the gas contraption in my left hand. Finally, at 7cm dilated, they threw me in a wheel chair, needled me up. Epidural = nothing compared to the pain of the contractions. And I would know - I was basically having a contraction the whole time they were doing it. 

[ Left: Being wheeled into the OR. Right: One last belly shot and just laying in bed ]

Finally, the worse was over. I was nice and drugged up. My feet were getting tingly. They lay me down on the table and I didn't have to move again for hours. Between the medication and my nerves, my arms were shaking like I was trying to take flight, and I was terrified I was going to bite my tongue off. It was great when they finally sent B in. I was fine, but feeling a little freaked out. It was nice to have a familiar face. 

They did their thing, quickly showed me my girl over the curtain then took her to clean her off. It was so nice just listening to her cry. 

[ Photos of those first few moments of life = priceless ]

I said mini-me above, because she is. It is amazing looking at this little person who shares some of my features. She weighed 5lbs 12oz when she was born. She went down to 5.7, but as of today is back to her birth weight. She is a tiny, adorable thing. 

Finally, they lay her on my chest and I could've stayed there and stared at her all day. But instead they took her away, and stuck me laying on a bed in recovery alone for over an hour. 

I only had a few thoughts, while all drugged up along in recovery. 

- I want to see my baby! 

- God I'm hungry

- I am so itchy

- Let me out of here! 

It seemed like forever, but they took me to my room, then they still had to fix me all up in bed. I just wanted the baby! And then I got her, and life was forever changed. 

So this is little miss Chloe. Born on September 25th, 2011 at 1:01pm. She weighed 5lbs 12oz and was 18 inches long. She's a great baby - content most of the time and sleeps great. We usually have to wake her up to eat, and she puts herself right back to sleep almost all the time. 

We came home from the hospital on September 29th, and we're doing great. 

All those things they say about motherhood? So true.