Welcome Baby Kate...

**This is for me, it is long-winded, emotional and mine to remember with.  Feel free to skip to the adorable pictures!**

This was an incredible day.  No matter what I write it won't even come close to describing how amazing and wonderful this day was.  My heart and life has forever changed with the first breath of a sweet baby girl. The entire day was surreal, something I always dreamed of and even though it was real, it still felt like a dream.  Even now, weeks later, we cannot believe this sweet baby is ours and that she will be forever. 

Raymond and I didn't sleep quite as sound as we would have hoped.  We were so anxious and excited.  We had joked that having an induction didn't leave have any rushed excitement such as when you go into labor unexpectedly so I set my alarm a few minutes before Raymond's.  When my alarm went off I rolled over and shook Raymond awake saying "It's time!  We have to go! We are having a baby!" It gave us a pretty good laugh!  We snuggled in bed for a few minutes, trying to mentally prepare ourselves for the days events before we stepped foot out of bed.  We got up, got ready for the day, Raymond grabbed us some breakfast from McDonald's (which was delicious) while I finished getting ready. We enjoyed breakfast together and made sure everything was closed up at the house since we wouldn't return for a couple days.  Raymond was a wonderful husband and example as he gave me a priesthood blessing before we headed to the hospital.

Raymond had also joked that to make the morning feel more like a spontaneous labor we needed to forget our bags or something, without even trying we added a few mishaps to our morning.  Raymond must have been a bit rushed and maybe nervous as he got ready for the day.  As we were walking out the door he noticed he had put on his work boots.  Not the kind of shoes you want to wear outside of work since they are big and clunky.  It was funny and caused him a little panic as he ran to change his shoes.

We were so happy to wake up and find lots of snow!  We both love snow and couldn't have picked better welcoming weather for our December Baby.  The morning was so peaceful with fresh white snow all around us, the sun was rising and lit up the sky to a crisp bright blue morning.  We enjoyed the drive and the peacefulness so much that we nearly missed our exit!

We got to the hospital at 7:55.  We checked in at the ER and were sent to the 2nd floor.  We were greeted by several RN's trying to pick the best version of the song "Baby it's cold outside"--which is easily the version from Elf by Zoey Deschanel.  We were then sent to Delivery Room 9 where I gowned up and we tried to get comfortable. 

8:45 am-- My IV was started with some NS, an antibiotic and pitocin at 4 ml/hr. The nurse hooked me up to the monitors and we got a good listen to the baby's heartbeat.

9:15 am--My pitocin was turned up to 8 ml/hr and the antibiotic was completed.  The nurse told us to get prepared for a very LONG day since this was an induction and my first time laboring.  

9:45 am--I text my parents and told them they were free to come by anytime, we were set up and prepared for a long boring day. My pitocin was turned up to 12 ml/hr.

10:06 am--My doctor, Julia Johansen came by to break my water.  (Having your water break is a very odd and uncomfortable feeling.  I officially feel as though I have pee'd the bed and continued to feel that way for the next couple of hours.  It was super awesome as I walked to/from the bathroom. So thankful for Raymond and all his help! It was not easy taking all my equipment to the bathroom each time!) She was telling us to plan on a long day and she explained what pain medications were available if I chose to use them. She checked me and discovered I was already dilated to a 4 and 80-85% effaced which she said meant I would have most likely gone into labor within the next couple of days by myself.  She also said I have a "Great cervix", whatever that means! Haha! My contractions at this point were nothing to worry about and around 5-6 minutes apart.

10:17 am--The pitocin was turned up to 16 ml/hr. Baby's heart rate was still doing great and holding strong. I have had back problems my whole life and then being pregnant made it extra painful and then being stuck in bed made it worse.  I did not like being hooked up to all the monitors and trapped in my bed.

11:25 am-- The pitocin was turned up to 20 ml/hr.  The contractions were around 3-4 minutes apart and getting more painful. Raymond and I had discussed prior to this day things he could do to distract my mind.  I had joked with him that he should do "guided imagery" with me but laughed knowing that wasn't his thing.  So I had asked him to just talk to me about things we have done/ places we have gone and he was ok with that.  Come time to distract my mind he was hilarious.  He attempted to soothe me with guided imagery with the following story..."your walking through a field with lots of flowers...and OH NO! THERE'S A SNAKE!...but you got away and came to a beautiful pond with a tire swing...BUT WAIT!  THE ROPE BROKE!"  Soothing, no.  Hilarious and mind distracting, yes!  I loved it and it did make me laugh despite the pain.  He was incredible and rubbed my back, held my hand through contractions and fanned me (since I swear it was 100' in there!)!  He kept talking to me and encouraging me.  He was wonderful.

12:00 pm-- Dilated to an 8 and fully effaced, baby position was +1.  Contractions were exponentially more painful at this point, I was beginning to panic.  The nurse continued to tell me it would be many more hours of labor and "either pull it together or get the epidural because you still have a long day ahead of you!" Although I have spent a chunk of time in labor & delivery professionally, it is very different to be the patient.  In that moment I was not in a state of mind in which I could stand up to the nurse nor really pay attention to what was happening, the pain was beginning to take over my mind and I was in a panic. I felt as though the baby was dropping and I needed to push (I really needed to poop, which is a big sign of the baby dropping) but the RN just told me to go into the bathroom and try to poop.  It would still be a "long while before the baby would come".  I went to the bathroom, nope didn't need to poop.  The nurse told me if I wanted the epidural I had to decide now otherwise I would have to wait a minimum of an hour while the anesthesiologist went into a c-section.  I believe Raymond was nearing a panic because he had never seen me in so much pain. I remember saying his name over and over again and just asking him to "do something".  I had so desperately wanted to go without an epidural, for years that had been my goal but I knew that with this severe of back pain and contractions every 30 seconds-1 minute I couldn't hold on for the several more hours that the RN was promising I would have.  Raymond told me I had done a great job and that by getting the epidural I wasn't a failure (no matter if that is exactly how I felt) and called for the RN to get the doctor.

--I will say this once and be over it.  I was not happy with my nurse nor the care she gave me.  She did not offer any support or assistance (with labor, delivery or with nursing).  I was incredibly disappointed in myself that I got the epidural.  I felt like a complete failure for losing control of my mind and my pain.  I was frustrated with the nurse. I was frustrated with myself.  I am however grateful that I got the epidural because it gave me the moment I needed to regain control so that I could fully enjoy the birth of my daughter. And hey, I can say I made it to a 10 on my own!--

12:20 pm--The anesthesiologist came in and began to set up his equipment.  I had to sit on the side of the bed, bent over and leaning into Raymond.  I felt like I was seriously going to die of heat stroke, it was SO hot! The contractions were so close together I begged for the pitocin to be turned down just a bit but nope they just wanted to get it in me real quick and be done. Holding still for several minutes seemed like an impossible feat, I kept leaning to the left so the doctor didn't feel comfortable with the placement so he had to try several times.  I felt like I really needed to push but kept being reassured that it was too early for that. I was so thankful I had Raymond to support me, I needed him so badly to be right next to me and he was. The entire time.

12:35 pm--I was given the first dose of medication into the epidural, I was instantly relaxed and they laid me down.  The nurse then checked me and I was dilated to a 10 and fully effaced and ready to push. My mom and dad had gotten to the hospital sometime in the middle of this and only had a few minutes to see me before everyone was ushered out and the equipment was set up.

The doctor had stopped by to check on me before going into her c-section and began conversing as she checked me on how she was going to bring her family by the hospital later that night--she would deliver our baby and have dinner with her family in Layton--then she stopped mid-sentence and said "I think my c-section will have to wait, we are going to have a baby now!"

She was in awe.  The RN was in awe.  Ray and I were not ready, in our minds it was happening way to fast!  My parents went out to wait in the hall. Raymond and I watched as several nursing staff and the doctor frantically began to set up all the necessary supplies.  The doctor was holding the baby's head in as the RN assisted her in putting a gown on.  The doctor told me to go ahead and push once for a practice run.  I pushed once and she said "STOP! I don't think you need to practice at all!"

12:45 pm--I officially started pushing.  I couldn't believe this was really happening.  I was in shock!  For years I told Raymond he would have to do his Bill Cosby impression of "push, push" when I was in labor.  He did it. It was hilarious.  He told me he felt a little out of place doing comedian impressions as I sat in labor surrounded by medical staff but I loved it. Raymond said I pushed for 4 contractions-3 pushes each.  I don't have a clue.  I kept asking him, "Am I doing anything, I feel like I am just holding my breath!" He assured me that I was in fact doing something and the doctor told me I was a "great pusher". 

12:59 pm--This moment changed our lives forever.  I can't really describe my initial thoughts except for shock and awe!  I couldn't believe she was here, she was mine.  A perfect beautiful healthy baby girl.  They suctioned her just a bit and then placed her on my belly.  It was incredible. I couldn't believe this baby was mine. My heart definitely grew 3x in this very moment, and she occupied it all. She had quite the set of lungs on her and had an angry scowl to match the scream!  She was wide awake and looking around.  The doctor asked Ray if he wanted to cut the cord, which he never ever thought he would do in a million years, he hesitated only for a moment and then said yes.  He said it was much different than what he had expected!  They only let me hold her for a moment before they whisked her over to the warmer.  I couldn't take my eyes off of her. I couldn't believe she was really here.  Raymond followed close behind her and kept watch over her.  I think he also felt instantly protective and had an overwhelming desire to be near her.  She pee'd on the nurse just moments before getting a diaper on-which has happened to us many times since!

Everything after her birth happened so quickly, within 15 minutes the placenta had been delivered, I was stitched up after tearing, the room was cleaned up and equipment removed and we were left to enjoy our first moments together as a family.  I remember the nurse leaving the room and it was just me, Ray and Katelyn.  The happiness was just emanating from us.  We were overwhelmed with joy.  We looked at each other and joked "what now?", we couldn't believe we were finally sitting in a hospital room looking down at our daughter!

Soon after my mom and dad came in to meet their newest grand-daughter.  They were just as smitten by her as we are.  Jessica also arrived shortly after and got to love on her.  We were able to count fingers and toes, stare into her big beautiful grayish blue eyes, kiss her chubby cheeks, try to guess the color of her hair which we decided is a light red-ish brown and I was able to nurse her before we got moved to our recovery room. Raymond told me he did ok with the whole delivery up until he saw the after-birth, he said it looked like someone had been massacred (I told him someone did...my lady parts!).

The nurses came to move us to recovery and thankfully I was able to move myself pretty easily with the help of Raymond controlling my left leg which was completely numb.  I was able to use my right leg and arms to move the rest of me.  The nurses joked that with the ease of my labor/delivery and now recovery I should have 10 babies!  I would gladly if only the getting pregnant part were as simple.  Shortly after getting to recovery they took Katelyn to the nursery to be checked over.  They called a short time later and said her blood sugar was 41 which was borderline needing medical interventions--40 is their cut off for intervening. She also wasn't able to keep her body temperature up even with being under the warmer. They brought her back to my room and I attempted to nurse again and provided skin to skin.  Her blood sugar went up to 56 and they were able to get her warmed up.  Once she was warm they let Ray go help give her first bath.  He said she screamed and screamed until they washed her hair, then she calmed right down and enjoyed it.

She continued to get her blood sugars checked and they continued to be unstable which they said is common with larger babies.  She was also not eating well which made matters worse.  She was so sleepy  we couldn't get her to wake up to even attempt to eat.  A few frustrating nurses who assured me it was normal came and went and then we got a great nurse.  She came in and instantly noticed that Katelyn was looking jaundiced (which we didn't notice, thank goodness for a fresh set of eyes).  She checked her bilirubin topically and it was elevated at 7.8 and Katelyn's blood sugar continued to be low.  We discussed the options and "wait and see" was not working for me so we supplemented her with 20 ml of formula.  That was just enough to perk her up and boost her blood sugar.  She then was able to nurse better throughout the night.

We had a wonderfully relaxing stay at the hospital.  The nurses often came to our room and nearly begged us to ask for something (we were told we were great patients!).  They came often and tried to give me pain medications.  I was feeling great and only took tylenol twice while in the hospital due to back pain.  (I was grateful to come home to my own bed!)  My first meal after delivery was a giant cheeseburger, fries and cheesecake...and I ate it all!  I was starving even after breakfast and a short labor! We had lots of visitors but also lots of alone time! My parents visited often as well as my siblings and several of Raymond's siblings and his mother. We got lots of sweet gifts, snacks and treats.

The first movie we watched with Katelyn was The Avengers.  She loved it...or at least slept throughout it.  We listened to lots of Christmas music, nearly every moment of the day/night.  I loved watching Raymond dance with Katelyn and singing along with the radio. She got a wee bit grumpy one night and Raymond just sat and talked to her.  He was telling her how he was going to buy her a jeep someday and she stopped crying.  It was just coincidence (I'm sure, but we REALLY love jeeps!) but every time he said "Jeep" she would calm down again.  He jokingly said he wouldn't buy one and she started crying again. It was hilarious. I could barely sleep because I was so excited. I couldn't stand for her to be in her crib so I just kept her in my arms!  Raymond unfortunately was exhausted after weeks of overtime and so that put a damper on him, he could barely keep his eyes open. I loved that the world seemed to stop for the time we were in the hospital and the couple of weeks after.  We just enjoyed our time as a family, relaxed, did as we pleased and loved our baby.

We debated on going home Sunday afternoon since we wouldn't send Katelyn to the nursery (we couldn't stand to be away from her) and I was doing great but we decided to just stay and hang out since the doctors hadn't written orders and I didn't want to make things difficult for the nurses.  I was glad we stayed because Katelyn's eating/bilirubin/blood sugar problems peaked Sunday night and it was so helpful to have a great nurse there to help us. I was feeling incredibly stressed and worried so Raymond gave Katelyn a Father's Blessing.  It was enough to comfort both of us and let us know we were doing what we needed to and that Katelyn would be ok. Monday morning the pediatrician came in and discussed the potential problem we were going to have.  Katelyn and I have different blood types which means her jaundice has the potential to become severe within a short period of time.  He did a serum bilirubin which was elevated at 10.8.  It was high enough he wanted us to follow up with a doctor the next day but not high enough that we needed to go home with bili-lights. We were grateful we were able to pack up and prepare to bring our baby home!

It was so fun to get Katelyn dressed in an outfit that had been picked out for months. She was so tiny! Driving home was so weird, not only did we have a baby but we got to take her home with us as well!  We still feel so incredibly blessed and shocked that she is ours.  We joke that we feel like babysitters and someone will be by to get her.  I am so grateful to Raymond and all the support he gave me, he is truly wonderful.  I can't ever thank him enough for being my partner and for giving me a daughter.

Introducing: 

Katelyn Grace Whipple

8 lbs 2 oz

21 inches

My parents just before we got set up to push.  My lovely puffy feet-thanks Ray for the picture. The awesome December weather. My last pregnancy pictures--at the hospital and just before leaving our home that morning.

Raymond was a great supporter and motivator.  He was reading the monitors and telling me when things were happening--or at least guessing when.  I am so lucky to have him.

Our sweet girl with a mean scream and scowl. Her cry is one of my favorite things int he world. She is so calm that we rarely hear it but it is adorable.

Our first moments with our baby!  Priceless!

Katelyn meeting her family. Her right hand is incredibly blue in this picture and continues to go blue whenever she is the tiniest bit chilled.

We spent lots of time looking her over. She got a sweet Christmas hat and bow from the nursery.

She loves to have her legs straight out and her hands up, Raymond was impersonating her. 

I couldn't wait to put a cute headband on her!  She loves to have her hands on her face! My not so swollen foot!

We just love this girl, can't get enough of her!  She has a very nice round head which Ray is very grateful for!

Pictures of her with her birthstone ring from my mothers necklace (as well as those from her "heavenly siblings").

Raymond changed his first of many diapers and survived!

I got to go help with a bath!  Katelyn met her great-grandparents in the hall on our way back.  Her poor heals had battle wounds from all the pokes she got.  She did so well with it though, just cried for a second and then went back to sleep!

Some of our visitors!

Our family. I love it! She has quite the scowl which she got from her dad as you can see!

Our "sweetheart" lunch provided by the hospital.  It was kind of fun to be cheesy for a minute!

It felt so good to bring her home!  She got a tour of the house and then a nice long snuggle with her mom and dad!