Ainsleigh's birth story

Dearest Ainsleigh,
Your birth could not have been more perfect. I was so worried because your pregnancy was really tough on me. It seemed like every appointment there was concern for something that could turn into something bigger. From 20 weeks on I have contractions and the dr thought I was in preterm labor. Then they thought your fluid was low so I was again put on bed rest. (That was hard! But mumma and papa came to help with Mae) I was in a ton of pain by the end and you did not want to come out! I did the pressure point massage, I ate spicy foods, I walked and basically did EVERYTHING possible to get you out!!
On September 25th I started to have sharp pains... Down there.... And got worried so daddy and I headed to the hospital. All they told me was you were on a nerve and there was nothing they could do. I was dilated to a 3 - 3.5 and 50% effaced but that was it... They sent us home. I cried, I was soooo ready for you to be here. The next day (26th) "I said no matter what I'm going to the hospital on the 27th" (your due date) That night daddy and I went to bed and figured tomorrow I was going to go to the Drs and beg them to get you out. Around midnight I woke up to some strong stomach pains but quickly fell back asleep not thinking it was labor because this had been going on since 20 weeks. Then about 3am they got bad enough that I couldn't sleep anymore. I was moaning in my sleep and woke myself up haha. Daddy had just gotten to bed, he couldn't fall asleep so he had gone downstairs to watch TV. I took a shower, straightened my hair and put on some makeup because the pain was bad enough to keep me up by not bad enough to go the dr and I was bored. By 5am they had gotten bad enough and were 3-4 minutes apart. I was doing really good with the pain but they were really close so I thought we should go. I woke daddy up and said I think we need to go to the hospital. He said ok and rolled over and WENT BACK TO SLEEP!! Lol I woke him up and said "umm I mean like NOW!" He jumped up and took a quick shower. I went to Mae's room and told mumma and papa it was time. Big sister was still sleeping and I started crying thinking I couldn't say goodbye to her (I don't leave her often so it was very hard to leave without saying goodbye)
Daddy and I jumped in the car, nervous, excited, scared! It was a 3 minute car ride so we were there in a flash. Daddy dropped me off in the front and parked the car. I SLOWLY walked in and by the time I told they front desk what was going on daddy was by my side again.
I was wheeled up to triage where they checked me and I was 5.5 centimeters dilated and 70% effaced. Woo! They checked me in! YAY!! And it was your due date too! Both you and Mae were born on your due date! Crazy!

We called and texted people that it was baby time. Grandma headed our way and Nana and Mumma got ready to come too. Nana sent me a video of Mae saying good morning and I cried. I so wished she could have come but I know it would have scared her.
They asked me if I was ready for pain Meds but I wasn't quite ready. I wanted to walk around and get the jitters out before I was tied down to the bed. Daddy and I had about 2 hours to ourselves. I got changed into my pretty pushers gown and we walked the halls of the labor ward laughing in between contractions. After about an hour of walking around I was ready for some pain meds. I was starting to get tired (not much sleep the night before) and I was losing focus with breathing.

Daddy held me and we talked about meeting you while they put it in. It didn't hurt but just felt weird! She said I had a strong back so it took a little bit. I almost threw up when she was describing the needle going in so I told her to talk about life and NOT about the giant needle in my back haha.
Right after I laid down and got comfy they checked me and I was a 6.5!
Then Mumma, Nana and grandma got there.

It was a great time. We chatted, napped a little and before I knew it I felt like I needed to push. So we got ready and Dr Aguilar came in and said start pushing! I pushed for about 10 minutes and not much was happening. I was getting frustrated because I knew I wasn't pushing right but I couldn't figure it out so I asked everyone what time they thought you would come (it was 11: 40 am at this point. Everyone said they thought around noon and Nana said she thought you would come at 12:25 pm. Now I know nana was being realistic because I wasn't pushing right. That gave me the motivation to step it up! I knew I wouldn't last until 12:25 and I has to get you out now. I let go and pushed my heart out. 2 more pushes you were crowning!! One more and your little head was out! It was so round and tiny. Then Dr. Aguilar said one more tiny push (which this is the only part I screamed a little) and you were on my belly!
I had dreamed of this moment every since I knew I wanted a baby. Your first few breaths on my belly, you cried with your deep raspy voice and all I kept saying was you looked like daddy!! They rubbed the yucky stuff off and daddy and I just looked at everything. Your tiny hands and 10 fingers, your 10 toes, your FULL head of hair and dark eyebrows. You were PERFECT. We couldn't believe that we were blessed with another gorgeous healthy baby girl. They wanted to clean you off and weight you so daddy went with you and I was cleaned up. You weighted 8 lbs 3 oz 20.5 inches long. Your apgar was a 9!!!
Daddy brought you to me after you were all cleaned up. I kissed your little face and unwrapped you and started to do some skin to skin. I thought we should try breast feeding and you got the hang of it right away! I was in awe of how perfect your entrance into the world.
We love you so much Ainsleigh Jo-Elizabet. You have blessed our life beyond words. You have completed our little family.

Meeting Our Maelynne

This is a LONG over due post (2.5 years to be exact)
I have wanted to share our Mae's birth story but its scary and honestly I cry every time I tell it. But with our new little miss quickly approaching I wanted to make sure I have all the details saved for the future.
So here we go..
Dearest Maelynne,
I want to tell you about the day Daddy and I met you. It was one of the best days of our lives. Your sitting here next to my now, 2 and a half years old, and I cant believe how fast the years went. You are such a light in our lives and I cant wait to see what God has in store for you, you will moves mountains, I know it. Okay enough mushy stuff ya? lets get on with your story :)

Tuesday Morning (12/8/09) I wasn’t feeling too good. My stomach ached and I was exhausted. Auntie Nana (Shalayna) called and pointed out that my stomach aches were coming a 10-15 minutes or so. So we figured labor had started. It was so minor, I still could do things I just felt sick. Mumma was driving out so I started to pick up the house since I knew I would be gone for a few days. The contractions started getting harder but it still didn’t hurt. It felt like the cramps when you have to go to the bathroom. I made dinner and by 630 pm Mumma was there! The contractions were harder and were stopping me from talking about 7 minutes apart. Now they stopped me from talking but it wasn’t really painful. It just was really really uncomfortable and I felt like I REALLY had to go to the bathroom. So we went to the hospital and of course right when we got there they stopped! I was dilated to a 3 and was about 70% effaced so they sent me home. I didn’t get much sleep that night because I was so uncomfortable.

Wednesday (12/9/09) morning around 6 am they were starting to hurt. I sat on an exercise ball and that really helped I could roll my hips around and it really eased the pain for me. I had a Doctors appointment at 11:30 so we decided not to go to the hospital and just wait. When we got to the doctors office, She stripped my membranes… Now honestly this was painful!!! I was screaming on the bed….. almost breaking Daddys hand HAHA Of course I wanted her to do it but OMG it hurt… From there it got rough. Contractions were coming every 5-7 min and they were hard. I really had to breathe through them and hold on to something and squeeze. At about 3:30pm Mumma thought I had a bit of a fever which IS NOT GOOD so we went straight to the hospital. I had a slight temperature but they weren’t too concerned and I was only dilated to a 4. (they won’t admit you unless you are a 5 or your water breaks) So I had to walk around the hospital to try and get my body to get moving. I was in a ton of pain so it was like walk a few steps stop breathe through a contraction walk a bit more breathe. Finally around 4:30 pm I was dilated enough to be admitted. I literally got into the room and they said the anesthesiologist was going in a surgery so I could have the epidural now or wait and possible miss the window. I'm pretty sure everyone in the room said DO IT NOW!!!! We had quite a party in the room. It was Daddy, Mumma, Auntie Nana, Uncle Jon, and Auntie Rikki! Papa was driving out from Simi Valley!

Then really the worst part.. the IV… they had to stick me 7 times before they got it. 7 TIMES! The nurses were soooo nice and were apologizing over and over. It hurt and I was all bruised.

Then the Epidural was easy! I sat on the bed with my legs hanging over and I hunched over the tray table  Daddy sat facing me with his arms around my shoulders and we just kept saying we get to see and hold our baby girl today and Bam it was over! It didn’t hurt at all.. just felt a bit of pressure I thought it was from him holding me still honestly. After the doctor finished Daddy lets out a huge gasp and says "Oh my God that was the biggest needle I have ever seen!!" Every one started laughing, I was grateful Daddy didnt say that BEFORE he stuck me! A little after Dr. Van Eekan broke my water. 

Then the waiting game, they started Pitocin(SP?) and we waited… and waited and waited.. NO PAIN I napped a bit, Auntie Brittany came and visited for a bit. It was really relaxing. 

 Now the scary part.

Then about 11:30 PM things started to go bad. I started feeling pain again so I told the nurse. They came and put some more epidural in and You didnt like it at all Miss. Your heart rate would jump really high then fall REALLY LOW. I was put on oxygen and they started prepping me for emergency c-section. (which honestly I was more terrified of that than actual birth) They checked me and I was Dilated to a 10 and fully effaced so they gave me the option to push but kept telling me that a c-section was pretty much the end result.  (at this point Uncle Jon ran out of the room haha) So around midnight I started pushing.Then they saw that there was meconium (sp?) in the fluid and that I needed to get you out asap. I didn't want to be behind a drape when you came out, I wanted to see your first few seconds of life. I pushed, Nana and Auntie Rikki looked terrified, and Mumma started to cry when she saw your little head start to come out. I yelled at her saying she couldn't cry! I needed her to be strong! Nana called Grandma and Grandpa in Iowa so they could listen to you being born. 

At 12.41 am you came out. This was the scary part, you came out purple. The cord was around her neck and the stress of labor was really hard on you. They didn’t lay you on my belly, something I had dreamt about, you were rushed over to the incubator in the room (I'm crying as I'm writing this. It truly was the scariest moments of my life) You didn’t breathe or move for over a minute. It was horrible. I remember praying harder than I ever had in my entire life. Finally after, what seemed like hours, Nana said "She's okay! She's moving and breathing"  You apgar at birth was a 2 out of 10. It was horrible. But they got you breathing good and pink and at your 2 minute apgar you were an 8 of 10.Nana asked what your name was, nobody knew except Daddy and I. So we official announced your name Maelynne Isabella. Now something crazy, Dr. Van Eekan's name is Mia-lynne! So close to you and she delivered you! So cool!

Then Daddy got to bring you to me, and I got to see your perfect face. There really is no words I can describe how amazing that moment was. You are our perfection, your are our light, you are our life. We truly loved you from the second we saw  you.

 

So this is your story sweet girl. It's scary and wonderful at the same time. You have made our life fun and exciting and eventful since day 1! We are so honored to be your parents. We love you so much