Sunday, December 30, 2012

Picture Post

We took a trip to the mall and ended up getting pictures taken at Sears. We were able to get all three girls as well as some pictures with my nephew Cael and my cousin Evie.  For an impromptu photo shoot, it really worked out nicely!
















Saturday, December 29, 2012

Full birth story - Olivia Alice

Monday, 12/17/12 I had a drs appointment at 2pm. The ultrasound (BPP) showed baby was doing excellent and was measuring 7 lbs 4 oz. When the doctor checked me, I was 4 cm dialated and 80% effaced. I asked her to strip my membranes and she did.  With Christina, I went into labor the night after my doctor stripped my membranes, so I was hoping this time it would work as well, since I was already passed my due date (December 16th).  All of that worrying that Olivia would come early, it was crazy that she decided she didn't want to come out at all!  By that point, although I was still pretty comfortable being pregnant, I was ready for her to come out already and meet the outside world.  Christmas was fast approaching and I didn't want to end up in the hospital while I had a house full of holiday guests.

The rest of the day wasn't very eventful.  I had some contractions, but nothing consistent and not any different from what I had experienced the previous week or two. After the kids were in bed, Nik headed straight to bed since he was sick with a cold. I relaxed for awhile and eventually followed him to bed at 9:30pm.

At midnight, my water broke.  It was just a trickle here and there at first, but it was obvious that it was my water.  I called the doctor and she told me to head to the hospital. We called my cousin John to come stay with the kids.

When we arrived at the hospital, it was 2am.  By 4am I was still only 4cm dilated and not having regular contractions.  At 6am I was not quite at 5cm, so they started pitocin to move things along. My contractions were still irregular and the pitocin would help with that.

Only an hour later, my contractions were getting painful and close together. I asked to have the fluids started so I could get the epidural.  At 8:15am contractions were unbearable.  I gritted my teeth through the epidural and thank goodness it worked right away.  Turns out I was already 8cm dilated and 90% effaced at station -1.

At 9:15am I was complete aka 10cm dilated and 100% effaced but Olivia was at station 0 and still needed to come down a little. I couldn't feel anything at all from the epidural (waist down) but was still able to push moments later when it was time. Just a handful of pushes and she was out!  Olivia Alice was born at 9:32am on 12/18/12. We had some wonderful skin to skin contact immediately. Olivia was alert, looking around and lifting her head up at me when I spoke to her.  She nursed soon after like a champ and scored a 9/9 on the Apgar.  It took a few minutes before they checked her size, but when they finally did, we were excited to find out that she weighed in at 7 lbs 7 ounces and measured 19 3/4".  She is our biggest baby yet!

Olivia is not tongue-tied (like Christina was) and she doesn't have a hearing loss (like Gwen), so it seems that she passed all of her tests with flying colors.  Based on her first appointment at the pediatrician, it seems like she is going to be the biggest kid overall (height and weight).  Her hair is dark brown just like both of her sisters were when they were born and I expect that it will turn blonde just like Christina and Gwen.  Oddly, we can't seem to figure out her eye color.  They are dark, but I'm not sure what color.  At times I think they are maybe dark blue like mine but other times they seem hazel.  Nik thinks they will be hazel and I'm leaning towards that as well, but we will see.

We are so happy to add Olivia to our family and our "big girls" are crazy about her as well. We are all adjusting to our new life now, which has been pretty easy considering we have had so many wonderful house guests helping out. It will be interesting trying to figure out the morning and bedtime routines with an infant once the holiday's are over, but I'm sure we will get it all worked out.

Friday, December 28, 2012

Princess Olivia has arrived!

Olivia Alice arrived on December 18th, 2012 at 9:32am after an extremely easy labor and delivery.  She weighed in at 7 lbs 7 ounces and measured 19 3/4".  She is beautiful, healthy, and a perfect addition to our little family.  The full birth story will be forthcoming.  In the meantime, take a look at this little angel (pictures taken in the hospital at one day old).