Tuesday, 30 December 2008

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  It all began with a gingerbread house.....

  Yes, it's true I feel like it wouldn't be a complete story if I didn't begin there. It was Sunday December 21st -Charlotte's due date, and what we hoped would be the day our little girl came into the world. Well, that day came, and then really, went. Brad and I went to church, Target, BB&Beyond, and Trader Joe's getting all of the essentials for our family ( the Parisians ) arrival the next day. Came home, and both of us crashed out, missing our friends EggNog Roca party - but feeling like we needed sleep nonetheless. I woke up, and immediately started cleaning like a crazy woman. Brad, being the fantastic husband that he is, sat me down and told me " Megan, chill. Let me just take care of things" ( yes, seriously he said that ) He put me into our bedroom, turned on the tv and told me to not come out. Next thing I know I walk into the living room to find him vaccuuming the curtains. WHAT?? Who is this guy? I didn't even recognize him!  We joked that Charlottes' arrival must be coming soon because he ( the husband ) was starting to nest......

  So, since he wouldn't let me clean, I decided to put my "nesting" to use in another way - making a gingerbread house. I had never done it, and always had wanted to. Plus, I thought it would be something that Charlotte and I could do together in the future. I started the gingerbread house around 9 PM, obsessing over every detail, making sure the frosting was smooth in the right places, and thick in others, that the colors were coordinated, and evenly distributed, and basically that it was perfect. I finished it up ( once again, Brad told me multiple times - "Quit that thing, and go to bed already" ) right around 12:30 - took some pictures to post online, as I was quite proud of it, and went to bed.

  

  Here is my little gingerbread house

  

  From the side...........

  

  And the back..............See what I mean about obsessing!!! LOL

  So, headed to bed around 1 AM, laid down, and that's when the contractions started And man, did they start.

  I woke Brad up around 2, telling him that I thought that this was it, that I was definitely in labor. We got out his iPhone ( he downloaded a contraction monitoring application  ) and started timing the contractions. We knew that when they were 5 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute, for an hour we were supposed to go to the hospital. Well, that hour from 2-3 AM they pretty much were just that, and things started getting progressively more  and more painful when I was contracting. We threw on the movie Love Actually, and I maybe actually watched about 1/2 of it, as the other I was on the chaise lounge, or swaying against the kitchen chairs, in PAIN! I kept thinking, gosh I must be a wimp to be in this much pain this early on - and got into the bath -  hoping I could stay home a little longer, and thinking I should maybe call our doula ( although I didn't want to wake her, with this labor JUST STARTING ) By 5 I thought I was dying, and was crawling down the hallway like an animal ( and sounding like one too ). I got dressed, Brad called the hospital to let them know we were coming, and I rocked back and forth through a contraction while Brad massaged my back. Well, that was the contraction that did it -  at 5:40 AM my water broke, and the pain became even more intense. We got into the car, and Brad drove like a maniac to the hospital. That car ride was SO not fun!! (LOL). There was one point where I thought I was going to have Charlotte in the car on the way there.

  We got to the hospital, they put me in a wheelchair and pushed me up to labor/delivery. The nurse came in, I told her what was going on, and she said well it still is early, let me check you. Checked me, and said "My gosh honey your are fully effaced, and dilated to an 8"  Told another nurse to call our doctor STAT, cause this baby was coming soon. We checked into the hospital just after 6 AM, they offered me an epidural ( I really, really wanted to try to do it without ) but at that time  I strongly considered it, and told them I would let them know if things didn't progress quickly. Well, as favor had it they did. I continued to contract, continued to scream, and they had me wait to push for our doctor. I went from an 8 to a 10 in about an hour and a half. Doctor Joyce came in,.checked me and told them to get everyone in here, as I was going to have a baby. The nurse had me start pushing around 7:50, our doctor came back in ( and please moms don't hate me for this one ) I pushed through 4 contractions, and our little miracle came into this world at 8:15 AM on Monday December 22nd -weighing 6 lbs. 3 oz, and 19" long -  just hours after her due date.

  It also wouldn't be right if I didn't share the reason why I was able to get through all of this and how I was able to have what I would consider ( for me ) my ideal birth - and that is my amazingly loving and supportive husband who encouraged me the whole way through. I knew that I could do it, (even when I thought I couldn't) because he was right there telling me that I could, and letting me know how strong he thought I was, and how proud of me he was. Just looking into his eyes gave me the strength I needed to push through the pain. I truly ( and now I'm crying ) couldn't be more blessed! He is just the BEST! And I am just the luckiest! He also had thought the whole time that he would be a "north daddy" - helping and encouraging, but not watching the actual birth. Well, it all just kind of happened so quickly that he ended up watching his daughter come into this world - amazing!!

  They immediately put her on my chest, and she was just PERFECT! Beautiful in every way, and so very alert. We immediately made eye contact, and I immediatetly knew she was the spitting image of her dad ( something I could tell just by looking at the ultrasounds ) I was instantly in love with her, as was her dad. Brad said "Hello, baby doll,. hello my sweet girl" and she looked up to hear where his voice was coming from. She recognized him as her dad. It was an unforgetable moment!!

  They had to take her from us ( after Brad cut the cord ) because, and I didn't realize at the time, but her cord was wrapped ( 3 times!!! ) around her neck, and they were worried that she was having trouble breathing. They brought her to the warming table, and had to put a little oxygen mask on her so that they could get her lungs cleared out and get her going a little bit. Brad stood there right by her side the whole time, and I couldn't stop staring at her, and at him - and of course bawling! I'm pretty sure I bawled for the entire first day ( happy tears of course )

  They showed him how to change her diaper, bathe her, and take care of her umbilical cord, while Dr Joyce finished things with me ( I won't go into detail, but my umbilcal cord broke, and the rest of the delivery was excruciating, to say the least ) At least I had my little girl out, and could focus on her.

  They brought her back to me, and Brad and I just stared, hugged, snuggled, kissed, and cuddled her for the rest of the day. It was honestly the best moment of my life. I had the man who I loved more than anyone else on this earth next to me, and the baby that we created together in my arms. Pure bliss!!

  I could seriously go on and on and on for hours, but instead I'll share a good amount of pictures that we took while in the hospital......

  Enjoy!!!

  

  The very first picture that daddy took of her. Getting warmed up on the warmer.

  

  Bright eyed little honey.

  

  Little legs, and toes up against the glass

  

  And she's exhausted! Time for her first nap! ( doesn't she look buff!! =) )

  

  Checking out momma. Is that a little bit of a smile I see?

  

  I couldn't be more in love. She's perfect in every way!

  

  Natalie was the first one to come visit our little honey.

  

  As was Missy, and little Luke ( Natalie's little guy ) in the background.

  

  What a little sweetie....look at all that hair.

  

  Grandma, and Grandpa Parisian getting their first look at their first grandbaby. They too were in LOVE!!

  

  Daddy, and baby Scrunch-scrunch ( as we've affectionately dubbed her ) snuggled up in the middle of the night.

  

  And a close up....Awwwwwww!!!!!

  

  Day Two, some elves show up with an early Christmas present for our little honey.

  

  And my girlfriend Teresa ( who herself is due any day ) came to visit us as well.

  

  Mommy was like the papparazzi! I'm sure she'll start posing any day now. =)

  

  More visitors.....Sean and Brad and little honey!

  

  As well as Edna, and Dana ( Sean's wife ) Too much fun!!

  

  Momma and little girl later that day. Snuggly snuggly!!

  

  The board with her stats!!!

  

  Day 3 - going home day! Erin just got in late the night before, and is getting a look at her little niece.

  

  The Parisian girls!! Ready to bring Charlotte home............

  

  Had to throw this one in...Check out the view from our room! NICE!

  

  In her carseat ( tiny as can be ) headed home!!!

  That's our story! We're home now ( I'll update on all of that later ) and doing fantastic! We honestly have an AMAZING baby - sleeps well, eats well, and poops and pees WAY too well (HAH!!!) I sometimes look at her, and with her demeanor think what did we do to deserve this amazing little treasure, but I know that God brought her into our lives, and gave her her temperment because that's how he made her. Thank you Jesus for this amazing gift! The best present we could possibly get!

  All of our love family and friends!

  And THANK-YOU ALL for your love, support, and prayers. It really means a lot to us.

  XOXOO Megan, and Brad

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