The Dish From the Dubya's Digs: Introducing Kendall Maya

Kendall Maya, our little baby girl, made a fast and furious arrival on December 12, 2012. Yes! 12/12/12! I still cannot believe she ended up coming on such a cool date when I joked about it for months. Even when we cancelled her induction date she still decided to made her appearance. Births and weddings is all the news could talk about that day so it is if for her that she can have such a remarkable date.

I worked all day Tuesday when I had planned to leave at 2pm. I decided to stay because it wasn't like I was scheduled to have a baby the next day anymore so I might as well help out. All day I felt a little weird, not bad per se, but just off. I was also nauseous at one point which is highly unlike me. I actually felt a few contractions which were only slightly noticeable and nothing I could time. I was just hoping they would dilate me a little more. I was looking forward to a nice long weekend to see a movie and clean the house, no more work.

I picked up Owen at his Gigis and came home. We ate dinner and I gave Owen a bath. Around 7pm I had a few more intense contractions that indeed feel just like a period cramp. I noticed for the first time that day that the cramping was not just in my back but all over. I had maybe 4-5 contractions while getting Owen ready for bed. Before I went upstairs I looked over at Brian and said "B, I have been having contraction for the past hour, just letting you know..." He asked me if he still had time to eat dinner and I laughed and said of course! I went upstairs to Owen's room and was setting up a new humidifier and I was kneeling on the floor. Suddenly I felt a "pop" and a little gush. I gasped and ran to the bathroom very excited thinking that my water broke. I sat on the toilet and saw more than an alarming amount of blood instead of water. I was so scared and did not think a bloody show would be so much and for lack of a better word, chunky. Also, no sign of my water breaking at all. I called for Brian and called the doctor. She asked me how long it would take to get to the hospital. That was enough for me to kick my butt in gear and get in there. Brian got Owen next door and his mom to come a get him for the night. Me and the very nervous daddy drove to the hospital and got checked in. On the way I was calmed only by the fact that I had stopped bleeding and I could still feel her moving. It was strange to be in labor as last time I was casually walked down to labor and delivery. In fact, no one was at the desk and I was like " where the F is everybody??!!" as I was doubled over the desk. On our way to the hospital contractions kicked up to every 4-5 minutes.

When we got in the hospital room by 8:30pm, my contractions were a little irregular sometimes every 2 minutes, sometimes 5. They checked my cervix and said I was only 3 cm but 80% effaced. They were not sure at the time what all the blood was about but it had stopped. She was actually not even engaged in the pelvis yet!

I got an IV and all the monitors hooked up and contractions got to the point where I was unable to speak during them. They were still every 5 minutes but the nurses said that was still far apart! HA! for them! I called for the epidural and got it in place by 11pm-ish. Thats when Brian left the room and it got a little scary. The epidural was so not fun. Last time I was drugged out and don't really remember it all that well. This time he had to stick me a few times to get the right spot. He finally did get it. After he left I had to lie on my back to spread the medicine. I DO NOT like being on my back 9 month preggo. She started to put my catheter in when my blood pressure dropped to 60/40 and I lost my hearing and felt like I was about to drop out. I went ahead and turned on my side because I knew being on my back was part of the problem. She also said this is a side effect of the epidural and next thing I knew there were 5 people in my room putting oxygen on my face, turning me, monitoring the baby, getting salt and epinephrine ready in case I did drop out, and one nurse put my catheter in without being numb yet. Also not fun. To top it all off I was trying to stop a panic attack that was pending and I was shaking uncontrollably from the epidural and form nerves. I remember this from last time. They covered me with blankets and kept asking me questions about her name and my sons name and where I work blah blah. I knew it was to keep me there and distract me. I asked them to go find where the hell my husband was! They went and got him from the waiting room non the wiser. For the next few hours we had to watch my blood pressure and hope that it stayed above 90/60. I finally made it to about 109/60 and felt better. The side not here is this was all very scary but hey...I forgot all about the contractions :)

At 1AM....POP and gush! My water broke! I called the nurse and she said yes water broke and head was down and engaged. I was still only about 5-6 cm. I tried to sleep but was stuck on my one side and it was uncomfortable with all the equipment on me. I don't know how you are supposed to rest with a mask on and a blood pressure cuff going off every 5 minutes. Either way, it was all quite fast. Every time someone came in the room, Brian had to cover his ears and eyes. He was getting squeamish and never did eat anything. At 3AM I felt pressure to push and called the nurse in. She checked me and said "whoa..I think I just made you 10 cm" haha, what? She told me we would try to push and see what would happen but her head was still not all the way down yet. Brian watching from the couch, I pushed through a contraction. She was shocked that I had moved her head all the way down and had her crowning already! I tried another contraction and she told me to stop, she called the nurses station and said that the Doctor better make haste if she wanted to make it to deliver this baby! Brian hopped up and then got light headed and had to sit back down. I think he rallied and made it to the bed just in time. I had to not push through about 3 contractions which was pretty hard to do, so that Dr. Mrava could don her gear. She sat down and next push Kendall was here! Whew! I know, a lot of detail, but I want to remember this and also scare all the pregnant women reading this :) But as soon as you see your baby you have amnesia and all you see and hear is your baby.

They placed her right on my belly and I heard her beautiful cry! Her little squirmy legs and all that hair!!! She was 8 lbs 1 oz and 20.5 inches long and very heathy lungs and heart, 10 fingers and toes. Recovery in the hospital was easier and shorter than with Owen and I suppose that a 7 hour labor is a lot easier than a 19 hour labor. We were able to go home a day early so that we could all be together, and big brother could join us. He was needing some mommy time and I really missed him!

The first 5 days so far have been really great and also really challenging. Kendall is a stop and go nurser, and I have to wake her to get her to keep eating but she is going through diapers so no doubt getting bigger. She was up at 11, 1:30 then 4am this morning then did not get up until 8am! I was able to get Owen ready for Krissy's before sitting down to feed her. She does stay up for about an hour at a time but I know this will get better. We are both getting to know each other better and nursing is hard but we are getting into the groove. We are looking forward to Christmas this weekend and next week and being with family. Owen is so proud of his sister and he is helping the best he can (and at other times whining more and listening less!) When he wakes up he wants to know where his baby sister is and he likes to make funny noises with her. He likes the way she "squeaks" and wanted to see her food, and her poop. hahaha! The other day he said "hey Kendy Kens!" I love it! A new nickname!

We made a quick visit to the pediatrician already and she was 7 lbs 10 oz on Thursday, then at the doctor she was 7 lbs 11 oz. She is right on track for gaining about an ounce a day for now. So today she should be 7 lbs 14 oz. We will head back for a 2 week visit right after Christmas.