She's Here!

 December 20, 2012 

2:00 am - contractions start

3:00 am - call Jake's mom to start driving the 4 hours to our house

4:00 am - Parker wakes up due to all the commotion we're making downstairs; call my friend Kylie to see about dropping Parker off while waiting for Grandma to get there

5:00 am - drop off Parker at Kylie's house and we leave for the hospital

5:30 am - check in at hospital and they confirm I'm in labor (only 3 cm dilated)

still smiling between contractions for Baby 2...

 9:00 am (approx?) - got epidural; Jake almost passes during the process

10:00 am - checked again (only 5 cm);  they break my water; 

I begin having extreme contractions that I can feel especially on my right side and back so I tell the nurse.  She lays me on my right side to see if gravity will help the epidural reach that side of my body while she calls the anesthesiologist to "fix" the epidural.  

11:00 am - while waiting for the anesthesiologist the nurse can tell I'm in extreme pain and she decides to check me just in case...  Looks at me and says cancel the anesthesiologist - you're at 10 and ready to push.  I started bawling my eyes out because I was so scared.  This pain was not what I was expecting and I did not think I could push this baby out through all the pain.  What can I say? I'm a wimp!  I asked for an epidural at 3 cm.  I make no apologies; I don't understand people who choose to do it all natural... modern medicine has provided us with epidurals and I appreciate that.  Why have pain when you don't have to?  Well, modern medicine failed me and I had to feel this birth.  I was in shear panic when the nurse turned the anesthesiologist away at the door.  I was crying hysterically and during every push I was a maniac.  Screaming, crying, yelling... I was the crazy woman you see on tv or in the movies, but I couldn't help it.  There is video that exists of the first 20 minutes, but I remember screaming at Jake to put the camera away.  I haven't watched the video yet, but I doubt it will ever be seen by anyone.  I'm sure every nurse, receptionist, other patient on the floor heard me, and I'm embarrassed anout that.  Even more embarrassed that she was delivered after approximately 40 minutes of pushing and weighing only 6 pounds, 11 ounces.  So, yeah, I'm kind of a wimp compared to my mother (and countless other women) who are in labor for days, pushing for hours.  Or, compared to my friends who have delivered nearly 10 pounds babies.  Oh well, it was a painful experience for me and that's how I dealt with it.  Get over it.... but, yeah, I'm embarrassed.  

Now for the good stuff:

HOLLY MICHELE HILTON

born December 20, 2012 at 11:38 am

6 pounds 11 ounces

19.5 inches long

Me... right after she is born getting over the extreme terror I just went through... thinking, "I used to want a lot of kids!"

 Holly's first few minutes.  She went through a lot, too!  Apparently her little head was not in a good position and needed to turn before she could come out.

 "OK, maybe you were worth it..."

 

 It's been about 20 minutes and I'm still wiping tears away... traumatized... seriously, videotapes of this birth could be shown in high schools for birth control... haha, well that's what I was thinking

 Ok, she's worth it...

 Aw, a good sleeper... she really was worth it...

 Has Parker's lips

 Trying to burp this little peanut... really hard to hold with all those damn bracelets

 Jake looks more graceful

 Love her...  but, still thinking, "you're my last one..."

 Getting dressed to go home!!  (24 hours after she was born... we didn't want to wait a second longer)

 We got home a little later than we were hoping.  Left the hospital at 2:00 pm on December 21st.  We got to our house and Parker was still napping.  We even thought about waking him up because we missed him so much.  When he finally did wake up, Jake and I went in to get him. Our usually grouchy boy was excited to see us and we started telling him his baby sister was downstairs.  Knowing my son, I prepared by having a dinosaur book and piece of candy as a present from his sister.  He was so excited by this gesture of kindness from Holly he was instantly her biggest fan.... also it kept his hands busy and he wasn't trying to climb in the car seat because he had to keep that candy safe. 

 Pointing to Holly and all her facial features

 Seeing her little hands... he was so sweet and gentle

 Pointing to mama's belly where baby used to be.  Then, he would say, "baby right here," and point to Holly.  Such a smartie.... also very happy he didn't think a baby was still in there... I have some working out to do before my Key West vacation in May. 

 Thinks his sister is awesome for giving her candy.

 He was SO excited when I said he could hold the baby.

 Huge smiles and lots of kisses

I don't think the homecoming could have been better!  And all of the preparation for getting to the hospital could not have gone smoother - HUGE thanks to my mother-in-law and friend, Kylie, for watching Parker that morning.  I never had to worry about him the whole time we were away.  This entire pregnancy and labor was completely different than my experience with Parker.  I'm so grateful that even though the journeys were different, the end results were the same: healthy, beautiful babies.  I feel so much love right now I think my heart could explode!  

(PS ... really love that she's a good sleeper and Jake is here to entertain Parker or else this post would have never happened.... although halfway through typing Parker did need some mama time and I typed with one hand.  Holly has been sleeping the whole time...  happy mama)

Waiting....

I haven't really posted much about this pregnancy, but I guess now is as good of a time as any.  I'm currently 40 weeks and 2 days pregnant... yup... past my official due date.  What a bummer.  Those due dates really mess with your head.  Not to mention that Parker was a week early and my doctor guessed that Holly might be early (if not earlier) as well.  For the most part, this pregnancy has gone by fairly well.  Other than the first trimester nausea and extreme migraines, I have felt pretty good.  Towards the end (around 37-38 weeks) I started feeling uncomfortable, but definitely not as bad as when I was at the end with Parker.  Now I think I've finally hit that level of real discomfort.  This baby is constantly kicking on organs and has left me with bruised ribs on my right side.  She likes to be in the most awkward position that leaves me with a weird shaped stomach.  I can't describe it other than to say I have two large tumor looking bumps always sticking out - one on my right side and one sticking right up front.  To make things more uncomfortable, Parker has wanted to be held constantly and it puts a lot of pressure on my back and stomach. 

Last week (at 39+ weeks pregnant) I was at a routine appointment with my doctor and we discussed the possibility of this baby being on the small side.  Parker was only 6 pounds 6 ounces and we wanted to make sure this baby was going to be a healthy size and if everything looked okay to continue with pregnancy past 40 weeks.  She measured me slightly on the lower side and I had lost a few pounds over the past two weeks, so just to be on the safe side (and put my mind at ease), she scheduled me for an ultrasound to check on baby's size that day.  Well, baby looked very healthy and even on the chunky side!  I was shocked.  The ultrasound tech kept asking me if she looked like my son and I had no response for her.  Parker was a skinny baby and I really didn't recognize the little girl I was looking at.  It was a pretty amazing experience.  At almost 40 weeks pregnant, Holly looked like a real newborn baby.  I watched her grab at her own feet and play with the umbilical cord.  I couldn't get over how different she looked compared to all of the 20 week ultrasound photos I have of her and Parker.  To conclude the ultrasound, the tech put together measurements of the skull, abdomen, and leg bone to come up with an estimate of 7 pounds 3 ounces... but she said it can be off by 10-15% either way.  So at least we know she's a healthy weight and can come whenever she wants... I would prefer she come soon.  If not, I have a scheduled induction for December 23.  

This photo was taken with my phone... not the best quality, but I'm too lazy to do anything else.  Who do you think she looks like?  Definitely not my skinny lips!  It's surreal when you are watching your unborn baby move and squirm on a big monitor in front of you.  I remember feeling the same way as when they handed me Parker for the first time: A feeling of "who is this?!?" mixed with an immediate and indescribable love.  I didn't recognize her little face.  I was almost expecting to see Parker on the screen, but I didn't and I just stared in awe.  I love her already and can't wait to hold her and study her face for hours. 

 

OK, I'm off to enjoy the last bit of Parker's nap and then have some quality family time before the chaos begins.  Hopefully the next time I post it's about the newest member of our family...

Halloween Pictures

 Halloween was so much fun this year!  Parker loved every minute of it.  He wasn't quite sure about the whole ringing the doorbell thing at first, but after the first house gave him candy he figured it out right away.  Then, he was almost running and saying, "Next house!  More candy!"  Ha, a sweet tooth just like his mom. 

 Here he is as a train conductor.

 Before the sunset all the neighbors met at the park for a potluck and let the kids run around.

 Parker was so excited just to see all the kids he wouldn't stand still for a second!

 First house!  A little nervous...

 Trying to smile on command...

 One house gave him a glow stick - that was his favorite thing (until we got home and he could eat the candy!)

 Doesn't need to hold dad's hand anymore.

 Cutest part of the night... Suddenly stopped after one house and said, "Momma, bye-bye."  He wanted to be picked up and taken home.  The entire walk back to our house he kept giving me kisses... almost like he thought I orchestrated the best night of his life.  Ha, I'll take credit for it. 

 Candy!

 His first pick: Hershey bar... good mom doesn't like those...

Pumpkin Carving

This video just makes me laugh.  I love his easy going personality and how he'll brush off most things.  He has been so sweet lately and such a fun little guy to be around.  Even on the toughest days, when he won't let me rest or get anything done, I can't help but smile at the kid.  As I'm trying to lay down (hello, 38 weeks pregnant!) he comes up and says, "Wake up Momma, Parker's a dino!  Roar!!!"  How can I not smile at that?  He is obsessed with dinosaurs and loves to roar like a dino - even at other customers in the grocery store.  He stills loves his "choo-choos" and wants me down on my hands and knees playing with his trains.  He won't let me stop for a minute.... it's exhausting... but very cute.