Parent's Log: Thursday started SUPER early for Amber and I as we awoke at 5:30 in the AM and got our things ready to head to the hospital. We are lucky that the hospital where we delivered was relatively close to our house. My mother came over to stay with Tristan and take him to school. She gave us both a hug and we got in the car for the short trek, ready to add to the family.
We arrived at the South Austin Medical Center around 6:00 in the morning and made the rather twisty turny walk to the semi-secure second floor women's center. White phone, check-in, we're here, let's have a baby!
We had a short bit of paperwork to do and then Amber got "Hooked-Up" and we started letting modern science go into effect. Now, Amber and I just assumed that since we were letting the doctors take the driver seat on this one, it would be quick and easy and the labor would get jump started . . . but that is not the case, at least our "case". We were not holding our new baby in our arms by lunchtime like we imagined we would be.
We arrived at the South Austin Medical Center around 6:00 in the morning and made the rather twisty turny walk to the semi-secure second floor women's center. White phone, check-in, we're here, let's have a baby!
We had a short bit of paperwork to do and then Amber got "Hooked-Up" and we started letting modern science go into effect. Now, Amber and I just assumed that since we were letting the doctors take the driver seat on this one, it would be quick and easy and the labor would get jump started . . . but that is not the case, at least our "case". We were not holding our new baby in our arms by lunchtime like we imagined we would be.
The pitocin drip started around 9:00 in the morning and we, (meaning Amber) labored until 9:28 pm when Genevieve was finally born. When Amber gave birth to Tristan we secured the services of the Austin Birthing Center where mommies go to have natural births. But this time Amber wanted to enjoy the effects of modern medicine, which in hind site was much easier on her and made the experience very different for her. The last time she was having strong contractions, I was doing my best to help her through the pain but this time she rested peacefully and I watched OverHauling on TLC.
Some of you may or may not have known that Amber was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. This is something that happens sometimes to pregnant mothers where they have to be very conscious of their sugar and carb intake. This also puts a little stress on Mommy because she has to check her sugars on a regular basis and can't always appease her cravings unless the carb levels are within spec. During the last pregnancy, this was controlled solely by diet, but this time Amber was also on medication which raised the risk level. This was one of our reasoning’s behind the induction along with wanting a little bit lower birth weight, which for a 5' 1" Mommy can be appreciated.
Around 9:00 pm Dr. Schmitz checked Amber's dilation and it was GO TIME. Two years ago, almost to the day, we started this process with Tristan about an hour before he was born but this time Amber's body and baby Genevieve said, "Let's get this life going!” I was standing by Amber holding her hand and paying most of my attention to her and trying to stay out of everyone's way and then I noticed that our nice calm room turned into a semi-surgical medical facility. Lights dropped from the ceiling, carts were pulled out of closets, people that I hadn't seen all day were suddenly present . . .I just remember looking up and thinking, "when did all this stuff get here and where did all these people come from?"
I think that Amber pushed about 5 times and then Genevieve was born. This time our child was kind enough to make the quarter turn prior to her arrival unlike her older brother Tristan. Amber did such a great job. I think that she was really able to enjoy the delivery process much more than last time given that her pain level was MUCH lower than the previous birth.
Genevieve presented herself with a good cry and let everyone in the room know that she had arrived. A quick wipe down and she went straight to Mommy. Dr. Schmitz got the umbilical cord all prepared for separation and I did the honors as my eyes began to water. A new baby girl, another child for the family, responsibility, late nights, new personalities . . . quick grab the camera (it was the only thing that I was really thinking about).
After some good Mommy time, the nurses moved Genevieve to the food prep heat lamp thing deal that had been sitting in the room all day. Genevieve did really well while they applied the ink for her footprints. All the necessary bands were applied along with her own miniature low jack for security. The whole thing was a very smooth process and I felt like all the nurses that were helping out were very good about making space for me and keeping me informed about what was going on and making sure that I got a good look at all the number bracelets to insure that Genevieve would be marked correctly for the duration of our visit.
After things calmed down a little and all the trays and lights had been returned to their previous resting place, I got out the cell phone and started sending out the text messages that we were parents once again. Genevieve was born May 1, 2008 at 9:28 pm at 7 pounds 12 ounces.
Genevieve and I went with the nurse to the nursery for some quick vitals and a sponge bath. Because of Amber's "sugar levels" Genevieve was tested also. We started out a little on the low side, but since Genevieve came into this world a champion nurser, she was able to get her blood sugars up in no time. She wasn't too crazy about the sponge bath, but she really enjoyed the warm water over her hair. It was the most peaceful she had been since her grand entrance.
We returned to the labor and delivery room to find Amber in a wheel chair and items in tow to be moved just down the hall and around the corner to the post-partum room, 204, where we stayed for two days. By this time it was about 2:00 in the morning. Amber was exhausted, the baby was sleeping peacefully and it was time to open the mini bottles of wine that my mother had brought me to celebrate. WAY TO GO MOM! I was actually still buzzing from all the activity from the last few hours and needed some wine and a little cinematic release to chill out before I was ever going to go to sleep. We got lucky and had a large room with two beds so I didn't have to sleep on some type of chair that some engineer built that turned into a bed but is really a chair that becomes a bed and was never designed to be a bed at all (they had a rather archaic version in the labor and delivery room).
So for the next two days Amber and I settled into our temporary home with our new baby and realized quickly that you can only watch so many home improvement shows. My mother and sister and niece Ashley came to the hospital the night that Genevieve was born. Our good friend and fellow mother, Wendy, was the first to arrive to see the new baby the next day. Later in the day Amber’s mother came by with presents and a large singing balloon. My father arrived with flowers from his garden and then later my sister came with her family, my mother and the new big brother Tristan.
It was great to see Tristan again since he had been staying with my parents. When he came into the room, he seemed so much bigger than the last time that we saw him. He wasn't our "baby" anymore, but had become this little boy at some point. He seemed so grown up. He was introduced to his sister and he gave her a nice hug and a kiss on the cheek and then immediately shifted his attention to every available button in the room (which is many when you have two hospital beds in the room). We did get a chance to put the two together and get some nice pictures. My mother took the opportunity to run out and get us some real food, while the Franco's chatted with us and took pictures of the new baby.
Later in the evening, Nicole, Amber's little sister, came up with the whole crew and we got some nice pictures with Genevieve and Nicole and Jeremy's crew. Then all the pictures had been taken, all the kisses had been given and hugs all around. Our guests had come and gone and it was back to quiet time and some rest for baby and parents.
The second night in the hospital was a long one for Amber since Genevieve wanted to eat most of the night. Amber was kind enough to let me get some good rest to awake to nurse Susan going over the exit strategy for the Downing family. Kudos to nurse Susan, as she was very instrumental in expediting our removal from the hospital! Nurse Susan made a priority call for Amber's breakfast and helped move our paperwork through and direct Dr. Schmitz's partner to come see Amber first so that we could get back home and start living comfortably. By 11:30 we were in the car and headed home. After a short drive on a beautiful Saturday morning we made it back to the house and settled in for our first day at home with our new baby girl.
It's off to see our pediatrician for Genevieve's first outing. Tristan managed to attend a few weddings in his first few weeks, but Genevieve will attend Tristan's friend Cash's 2nd birthday at "Going Bananas" . . . much better than a wedding!
