And we're back!

Ok, so it's been 13 weeks....I guess it's time to blog again. But oh how I've been so distracted. Wonderfully distracted..

I better give you the "birth story," since I've learned that it's a thing. The last post on this blog, I was doing a big hike in Santa Monica. That was on Saturday. I had been have non-consistent, non-killer contractions for about a week. There were a handful of times in that week that I thought it was going to happen, but no. So 4 days later, on Wednesday, August 29th, I didn't think twice about an unusually strong contraction I had while driving with a friend to Target. But then when they kept coming, and when I had to hold grip cart for dear life, and when shoppers started asking me if I was okay, and when I had to sit down on the ottoman in the home section...I thought I'd better get checked out.

Luckily, the hospital I was delivering at was just around the corner, so my dear friend Kayla dropped me off at the entrance and I walked my fat booty straight to the labor and delivery wing. They checked me out, I was at a 4 and was admitted. Phew. I had called Shane at Target just to give him a heads up that I was going to get checked out. I didn't know it, but he packed up and left immediately. He was in my room 10 minutes after I got there - awesome. They offered an epidural right away (I said heck yes) and by the time it was ready I was already at a 6! The juice kicked in and I relaxed. Shane and I settled in for what we thought would be a long night of labor. Soon, the doctor came in to break my water, which surprisingly hadn't broken on it's own. Shane and I were both shocked when she told me I was at a 9! Whoa. I was super surprised but stoked. We would get to meet our girl soon!! The doc left to get her supplies ready and I started have super strong contractions that were not painless. I wanted to start pushing. The nurse gave me the okay and so I started! I pushed with Shane and the nurse holding my feet for about 20 mins - I thought the baby was FOR SURE going to come before the doctor got there! I was asking the nurse where in the world she was and if she could deliver the baby if the doctor didn't make it in time. Shane even saw Goldie's head before the doctor arrived! Finally the doctor came and coached me for about 15 more minutes and out came baby Goldie! From the time I arrived at the hospital to her birth was less than 5 hours. Not bad!

Babies normally let out a big cry right when they're born, which Goldie did not do. She was blueish and I only got to hold her for about 3 seconds before the nurses took her. They told me she would be back in about an hour, which sounded like a year to me!! I was really sad and worried. Shane went with her. Her respiratory rate was around 86, and normal is in the 40's. We later found out that she had swallowed some amniotic fluid and that some had gotten into her lungs. They would have to monitor her and make sure her breathing slowed down. Meanwhile, it was 3 am and I was in my room not able to sleep, Shane was at home gathering supplies, and I finally marched over to the nursery. Goldie was in an incubator, hooked up to several monitors. I asked if I could hold her and they said "You haven't held her?" So there I was, 3am, bag of pee at my side (catheter), tears running down my cheeks as I held my baby for the first time! Shane came in a while later and we both sat there speechless. Can't really describe how awesome it was.

My mom arrived at 1pm the next day, and by that time I was pretty much a wreck. Still in my hospital gown, scooting around the halls with a crazy look in my eye. All I can say is, thank the Lord for my mother. She helped me so so so much to get through those first few days of uncertainty. Goldie's respiratory rate wasn't going down and they need to do more tests. I'm not going to pretend like we had any real, big trial or anything; we were so lucky she was as healthy as she was. But it was a tough few days. On Saturday morning the doctor gave us the good news that Goldie didn't have any infections and that we could take her home!! I cried.

Being able to hold her as long as I wanted was seriously amazing. Not getting to do the mom stuff right away made me that much more thankful to be able to do it when I could. That first 24 hours at home, I don't think I put her down for more than 5 minutes. It was the best ever.

There have been many people who are surprised at how much Shane and I have taken to this whole being parenting thing. Yes, we were worried about it, and we did wait a while...but I think we both knew when the time came, we would love it. On the other hand, we didn't know how much we would. We both get sick of ourselves oooing and ahhhing and talking baby talk constantly. It will take me half an hour to put her to sleep because I can't stop kissing her face! Not to mention the pictures. Oh the pictures. It's ridiculous. You parents already know what I'm talking about, you're probably laughing.

It's real. It happened to us and it can happen to you.

We love it!

Here are some previously unpublished photos from our cell phones. They are the real deal: 

During labor, a little nervous. 

 Dad is just plain excited. No nerves at all. 

Maybe because he doesn't have to give birth...

 Poor baby girl right after she came out.

 Fresh meat.

Getting her vitals monitored in the nursery

 (these pics are all taken by Shane while I was stuck in bed.)

This was at 3am when I marched in there and asked to hold my baby! Finally.

Our very first real family photo. 3am tears.