Shelby's Arrival!

Hello Friends!!

So much to tell!!

I could break this up into multiple posts but I've decided that I'm going to try and mesh it into one because this blog is sort of a journal for me and I like to keep it current with what's going on.

First off, what an AMAZING experience!!!

I'm a Type A, control freak and things didn't roll out as I had planned but God has a plan for all of us in life including us and our little family.

As you all know our induction was set for the special date of 12/12/12.

We went in the night of the 11th to prepare.

My parents came in to take care of Buddy and be here for us.

My Mom snapped this picture as we were leaving.

When we got to the hospital, they told us that they were so backed up that they didn't have a room for us and to come back an hour and half later.

UGH!

I was so worked up about going in to begin with that this really made me mad.

Brad was a trooper though and talked me through it.

We made our way over to the lobby of the Levine's Children's Hospital where they had holiday entertainment AND a couch for me to rest my enlarged self.

 This group from Opera Carolina Chorus really made my night, no joke.

 The decorations weren't to shabby either.

 Fast forward to Wednesday morning.

My water broke when I got up at 5am without even being given Pitocin instead just Cervidil.

Things were like a roller coaster after that!

I was in labor WITHOUT an epidural for nearly an hour.

Whew!!!

Drugs are good is all I'm going to say!

Brad was the ABSOLUTE, most amazing coach and husband through all of the pain and labor.

Not that I ever doubted that he would be but he really went beyond what I ever imagined.

He gets the best husband award and I'm not just writing this because I know he reads this blog.

The birth was totally amazing!!

 I truly believe my time in the gym paid off.

I didn't tire and was able to pull off a vaginal birth which I didn't really think I had in me giving that I'm short in stature and small boned like my Mom who had 2 c-sections.

Shelby was born at 4:48pm just an hour and 10 minutes after I started pushing.

Granted, they did use the vacuum to get her out at the end.

Such a happy moment.

Brad and I were both over the moon.

 And, as to be expected, VERY emotional!!

Not a flattering picture of me but a special moment I want to share.

 But things didn't go as planned soon thereafter.

About an hour after birth we had a HUGE scare with Miss Shelby.

As I was nursing her she stopped breathing and turned blue.

Brad and I were alone in the room at the time and started screaming for doctors.

About 15 people were in the room about 2.5 seconds later and Shelby was revived but to us it felt like 2 hours.

SCARIEST.MOMENT.OF.OUR.LIVES

She was fine and they categorized it as a brief episode but the whole thing earned her a night in the NICU.

We were A-OKAY with that!

I could go on and on but to make it short, she was running a slight fever so they started her on antibiotics and therefore had to be monitored for 72 hours at the hospital even though she got out of the NICU after 24-hours.

 We were okay with that too, even though it involved us coming home a night without her with us.

 As hard as it was to leave her last night I told myself that I am a better Mom for making sure that she is fully checked out and not at risk for any sort of  other'episodes' when we come home.

Overall, they aren't sure what happened but she is fine and not sick or anything else.

In fact, she's SUPER healthy and by being in the nursery for 3-nights in a row, she's on a schedule now that we hope to maintain now that we're home.

 That's right, we went and got Shelby this morning and brought her home.

So awesome!!

We are one big, happy family now!

Including Buddy!

Brad brought one of Shelby's swaddle blankets home yesterday so he could be prepared.

 He took right to it.

 And today, when we brought her home....

 He fell in love just as we have!

 Today we've been enjoying our time together.

Sleeping, eating and changing diapers.

She's such a good baby and we are so lucky to have her in our lives.
BTW - I'm feeling fine.
Brad is such a good Dad that my Mom and I were even able to run to Target today without thinking twice about it.
Again, I feel like my time in the gym is to credit with being able to bounce back quickly, not to mention sending the baby to the nursery every night. :)

I'll write and share more later but for now that's what I have.

Thanks to all of you for your love, prayers, support, comments, friendship and everything else.

I could go on and on and on but that's all I have for tonight.

Tootles and happy Saturday.

The best Saturday of our lives!