Announcing the arrival of our little miracle!

I've been home for 2 days now, but haven't blogged yet about our sweet little Grace. Mostly because I was trying to piece everything together, as I didn't want to miss or forget a single part of this momentous event. So, I kept putting it off. But then my wise sister told me a couple of things that really made sense...I'm going to quote her and then I'll get down to all the facts...

First, she said that, "I don't think you ever forget those moments. Just remember some of the things that happened are insignificant. You don't forget what's really important."

And second, "Most important is how you feel when you meet your little one for the first time."

So, with that being said (and said so well), I'm going to try and just remember the important stuff. Remember though, that my blog is like my journal...so this could get long (you've been warned)!

After a sleepless night (I was too excited to sleep), Trent and I arrived at Mountain West Medical Center on Monday July 19, 2010 at 6 am and got checked in for my scheduled induction. Because I was only 37 weeks, my body wasn't quite ready to have a baby. So, they started me on "Cervidil", a prostaglandin that helps get the body ready to induce labor. This is a 12 hour "treatment" (for my lack of a better word). Once it had been in for 12 hours, I had finally started to dilate and Dr. Archer was able to break my water and start me on pitocin. Also, shortly thereafter, I was able to get my epidural! Yay for epidurals!...and Yay! for Matt Smith the CRNA at MWMC who placed it...he is a pro and as I told him, "one of my new best friends!" I didn't feel a thing...really...and that's coming from me...a wimp!

3 hours later, the nurse (Stephanie) came in to check me. While doing so, she discovered that our little Miss Grace had decided that she wanted her hand on top of her head. When Stephanie first told me this, I giggled and said, "aww how cute." She told me that she was going to go call Dr. Archer. At this point, as I looked at her face and watched her leave the room, I looked over at Mindy and said, "that's not good, is it?" Mindy told me that everything would be fine and that I needed to calm down. (Thankfully my sister has a cool head in these situations and can hide her true feelings! (You'd think that as close as we are, I'd be able to read her better...must be part of her RN training). I then started crying and told her that I was going to have to have a C-section, wasn't I? Again, she said to be calm ..and Trent was also telling me that everything would be ok. A few minutes later, Dr. Archer arrived and checked me. He confirmed what Stephanie had told him and he then told me that he would try and push her hand back down where it should be. When he couldn't do that, he apologized to me and told me that a C-section was the only option for a safe delivery for both Grace and I. At this point, nothing mattered to me except getting Grace here safely...so I didn't care that I had to have a C-section...I just wanted her to be ok! I told the doctor this...as he really felt bad that we had to go this route. (Just a note about him...I've said it before, he is just a fabulous Doctor and person...I mean who else out there has a Doctor that apologizes for a c-section?). I also told him that I wanted Mindy to be there also...and would that be ok. He didn't even pause before agreeing! I am so grateful that he let both Trent and her be in the operating room with me...as usually it's just the father! Thank goodness Mindy works at that hospital...I think that helped.

So, they started getting us ready, Mindy into scrubs, Trent into a sterile suit and me...who knows what they did with me...it's all a blur! I can say that from the time he said I needed a C-section, until they pulled Grace out was 30 minutes (maybe less). I was so impressed with the hospital staff and how well they all worked together to get everything prepped! At one point, I was in the OR and the room was being prepped by the nurses and staff...Trent and Mindy were told to wait just outside so as not to be in the way, Dr. Archer came up to me and took my hand and gave it a squeeze...just what Trent would have done if he were standing next to me. I'm sure Dr. Archer could see my fear and worry! (See that's one of those "important moments" that my sister was talking about...because that is just one of those gestures that I will never forget. It truly did bring me some comfort).

Once they had the OR prepped, they rolled me onto the operating table and brought Trent and Mindy in. They both sat up next to my head...Trent closest to me. Trent held my hand and they got started. A few minutes into it, Trent got up and moved across the room to take pictures (as I had told him beforehand that I wanted pics), and my sister scooted over next to me and took his place holding my hand. I didn't feel a thing and was able to talk to my sister, Trent, the doctor and nurses and also Matt (the CRNA...who was up at my head the entire time making sure that all was well with my meds and vitals). Mindy said that Matt had added a tube into my oxygen mask that had gas...I'm guessing it was happy gas, as I remember some things I talked about, but not all...LOL!

And then I saw movement in the corner of my eye and turned my head to see Dr. Archer had come around the sheet and was holding my beautiful baby girl up for me to see. He had just pulled her out of me and cut the cord...she was all scrunched up and covered in goop...but she was here and she was mine! He then handed her off to the nurse who took over her care while Dr. Archer took care of me. Soon they were able to give me her info...

Grace Helen Ladle
Born July 19, 2010
11:37 P.M.
4 pounds 11 ounces
19 inches long

I was worried when I heard how small she was, but Mindy kept telling me, "she's pink...she's ok...she's perfect."

Once they had her weighed and respiratory had done their thing with her, they wrapped her up to whisk her off to the nursery for more measurements, a bath, etc. But before doing so, the nurse brought her over to me and placed her next to my head. Cheek to cheek. Matt un-strapped my right arm so that I could touch her. And this was that "moment"...that first moment when you meet your child, straight from Heaven! I can't even begin to describe it...it just was! Even though it was different than I had imagined (as I thought I'd be sitting up in bed, just having had a normal delivery and holding her), it didn't matter. It's the "moment" that matters and the feelings that I felt in that moment. And what I felt at that moment was pure love for my little angel, awe at her perfect-ness, gratitude to Heavenly Father for entrusting her to us! Like I said, it really can't be described. All I can say is that I LOVED her immediately with everything in me!

Trent then followed her to the nursery while Mindy stayed with me. It took about an hour, maybe longer, for Dr. Archer to stitch me up. But, Mindy did say that she has never seen so much care taken and such intricate stitches, as he stitched me layer by layer. At one point the nurse assisting him told me that he was "giving me a head start on getting my abs back." How great is that?...I had told him when he first said I would have to have a C-section, "well, there goes my abs."

About an hour and a half later, I was in recovery and my beautiful little angel was brought to me, all clean, dressed, and with a pink bow in her hair.

Ok...now for the pics:

My last belly pic before Grace's debut:

Getting ready to head to the Operating Room:

Trent in his sterile suit...the funny man, as always:Grace being weighed...4 pounds 11 ounces:And...my "moment"...cheek to cheek with my little miracle! And yes, that's a tear coming out of the corner of my eye!Grace gettin her first bath:Too cute...and yes, perfect!Finally...my Grace is in my arms!Meeting Karlee and Carson:Meeting Tyson and Bayleigh (she'd already met Aunt Mindy!):My sweet little angel:Yep, these clothes drown her :)...but she sure is adorable!Daddy's girl!Karlee's in love!Dr. Cullen Archer, Me, Grace and Trent:Bright eyes!I'm going home! Again, I am overcome with love and gratitude to so many! This little miracle has been a long time in the making and I couldn't have done it without the love and support of family, friends, neighbors,my Doctor and his staff, the hospital staff...and so many more! Thank you all for helping us through this crazy time! Thank you for loving us and taking such great care of us!

I'm still in awe each time I look at her...as she truly is perfect...and miraculous! We truly are blessed!

Stay tuned...I'm sure there are LOTS more pictures to come!!

Hugs!

Tracy