Chloe's Birth Story

So, sweet Chloe turns 6 weeks old tomorrow.  My memory is such that if I don’t write things down pretty soon I have very little recollection of the event, so I’ve decided to write out Chloe’s birth story.  Be warned, if you are male, you will have absolutely no desire whatsoever to know these details…

Blake and Kate both came before their due date (Blake 4 days, Kate 8 days) so I was prepared, even expecting, for Chloe to come early.  Her official due date was January 7^th, but we were not so secretly hoping she would come before the New Year (Sorry, but I’m way too practical to deny a tax deduction and insurance deductible that was already met!) 

My Mom, step-dad, sister in law and her kids had come the week before in hopes that Chloe would be born while they were here….no pressure at all right?  On Monday the 30^th my doctor did what she could to stimulate labor, I’ll spare you the details. At that point I was already dilated to a 3.  So I went home feeling fine to spend time with my family. 

I woke up about 7:00 Tuesday morning and could tell my contractions (I had had some tightening before but nothing to cause excitement) were becoming more serious.  My contractions always seem to be in my back and these were no different.  What was different with this labor was that my contractions were only on the left side of my body.  They were consistent, but 10-15 minutes apart, then gradually became more like 7 minutes apart.  I called the nurse to ask her if I should go on to the hospital.  She said yes, but it was no rush.  So I called Nick, he came home around noon and we went to the hospital around 1:30.  At the hospital I was still a 3 but my contractions on the monitor were coming every 3-5 minutes.  “Sweet!” I thought, “we’ll be admitted and have a baby!”….but no….they monitored me for an hour, had me drink water, talked me into taking Vicodin (I should’ve known better) and sent me home. 

At home, my brother in law had brought the girls Christmas gifts from his Mom  and my Mom had made taco salad at my request…so we watched the girls play and had dinner…I think I remember some New Years Eve festivities but to be honest I couldn’t have cared less about New Years eve at that point.  By 8:00 I was really in pain, I would have to stop and really concentrate to get through the contractions that were coming every 3-5 minutes. Perfect!  Back to the hospital we go, ready to have a baby!!

Nope.  They checked me , still a 3. My doctor was on call downtown so she called to tell me she was sending me back home.  Again.  Then came my tears.  I just didn’t understand.  With Blake and Kate I was admitted when I was a 3, given an epidural and enjoyed labor bliss completely pain free. I never claimed to want to be without an epidural for my labors.  I know myself well enough to know it just wouldn’t happen.  I was always so scared to be sent home that I made sure I was in labor before heading to the hospital.  I look back on my labor experience with them as a sweet time of excitement.  So my doctor tells me to take more Vicodin, and believe it or not tells me to take a sleeping pill and sends me home to drug induced craziness.  I cried all the way home. 

When we get home it takes Nick massaging my back and me finding new positions to get through the pain of each contraction.  My Mom and sister in law were with me the whole time.  By now the medications had kicked in and things become a little (a lot) fuzzy.  I remember getting sick to my stomach.  Around 1:00 they had had enough of watching me hurt.  They loaded me up and drove me back to the hospital (I don’t remember that part at all.)

I got into a room, like hell were they sending me back home.  I would’ve camped in the waiting room begging for an epidural at that point!   I was now dilated to a 5 and could not keep up with the pain of my contractions.  The nurse gave me an injection of stadol, why oh why did they keep medicating me when all I needed was a freaking epidural!!! ??  I remember my doctor  coming in and breaking my water.  Looking back I totally don’t understand why she did that.  I was in so much pain, I thought it couldn’t get any worse…but who knew, it could!  Just break that water  and watch the pain triple in effect.  So at 4:00 a.m. the anesthesiologist finally comes.  10 minutes later I have approximately 10 minutes of relief before the doctor declares me a 10 and tells me to push.  A few pushes later little Chloe Ryan reminded me why it was all worth it when she was born at 4:48 a.m. on New Years Day.  We were able to have skin to skin time right away and she latched right on like a pro.  7 lb 2 oz 20 ¾ “ long. 

We stayed that night in the hospital then went home the next morning.  Usually I enjoy my time in the hospital but all I wanted was to get home.

Chloe's last few hours before she made her arrival.

Hanging out at home on New Years Eve.

                                                 

My contractions the first time they sent me home.

Our first moments together.

Daddy and Chloe

Healthy baby girl

All clean after her first bath.

Sleepy Daddy and Chloe

                                     

Kate and Chloe

Meeting her biggest sister

                                               

Chloe and Grandma

Cousins!!

Daddy kisses

sweet baby love

Stephen and Chloe

Aunt Nancy and Chloe

Jennie meeting Chloe

Caitlyn and Chloe

Getting hugs from Kate

Blake's 6 year letter

January 22, 2014

Dear Blake,

Yes, you turned six back in November.  I really had hoped to write you a letter then, but it’s probably good I waited because now I can include your newest little sister in this letter! 

But first, let’s talk about you as a six year old!  You get up and go to school like a champ.  Our first few months you really didn’t want to get up and go in the mornings, but then Daddy gave you an ipod where you can set an alarm for yourself, so now you come down dressed and ready for the day each morning. 

You are responsible and independent.  This summer we did a summer challenge where you could earn points with different activities.  You earned enough to get the hamster you so badly wanted.  And truth be told I put it off a few months actually getting you that hamster…but you didn’t give me a hard time about it.  So now we have “Angel Mia Hammy Hambone” , that’s just one hamster, but we can’t ever decide on a name so any of those will suffice.  You are able to clean her cage with just a little help.  Though you rarely want to clean it, you will if reminded.  This summer we also went to Sea World and you rode the biggest roller coaster they had!!  I wish I could’ve rode it with you, but I was pregnant with Chloe and you can’t ride roller coasters pregnant. 

Your favorite shows right now are Teen Beach movie (sigh) and Wild Kratts.  You’ll often tell me random animal facts because you learned them from Wild Kratts. 

You and Kate sleep in the same room, you have two twin beds next to each other.   Every single night you talk Daddy into laying with you guys until you fall asleep, and truth be told Daddy often falls asleep too. 

You can read!!!  I love to read, so seeing you read is awesome.  We are reading through your kids story bible right now.  Last night you said you want to finish because you think if we read the whole bible Jesus will come back.  You pray with an ease that shows me you really do believe in God and know he loves us.  You ask him to be Daddy’s friend, and thank him for everything he’s done for us. 

January 1^st we welcomed your little sister, Chloe Ryan.  I was scared to tell you I was pregnant because you had always said you didn’t want me to have any more babies.  I know you said that because you were scared for me to be in the hospital away from you when I gave birth.  You actually cried (in sadness) when we told you I was pregnant.  But you quickly became excited.  You are an amazing big sister, just like I knew you would be.  You love to hold Chloe. Each afternoon after school you snuggle up in the chair and watch TV with her.  You love to “hold her standing up” and you can even change diapers! 

You really enjoy having kid neighbors.  Caitlyn stayed with us this summer and you had the best time.  We have Zach, Ben, Kinsley, Ainsley, Carter, Chase, Caleb and Summer as neighbors.  You love to ride your bike (no training wheels for you!), and skate outside.  We got you a motorized scooter for Christmas and ride it like a champ! 

You have an amazing kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Trautman.  I hope you remember her well.  She is so kind and patient and just the perfect fit for your first teacher.  It’s a highlight of my day picking you up from school and hearing about what your day has been like. 

I wish I could put into words exactly how much I love you and what I would sacrifice and do for your wellbeing.  You are pure joy to me and I absolutely love spending time with you.  Thank you for being the amazing kid you are. Thank you for not being jealous of little sisters that need my attention. 

I pray you would keep your soft heart that loves the Lord. 

Love you more than you can imagine,

Mommy