Here is the second part of Life of The Bullocks. To read earlier posts, check out shaybullockfamily.blogspot.com.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Solee's Birth

Solee Laree Bullock
My baby girl is here! She was born July 2, 2012 at 1:59 p.m. She weighed 8 pounds 10 ounces and was 21 inches long. She was my biggest baby! She's beautiful and absolutely perfect. I love her!

Anyway, I just love to remember birth stories so here goes...

The morning of July 2nd seemed like every other day. By this point I had nearly given up on the idea that I would actually have a baby.

Let's back track a bit... My other two kiddos were both born 13 days early. My millions of nieces and nephews were almost all born early. My mom had her children early. I was convinced that the due date (July 8) set by my doctor was a week and a half later than my real due date. It was reasonable for me to expect to have a June baby.

My parents came to stay with me on June 19th, expecting me to pop any moment. By this point I had been having lots of contractions. A couple of times they had been so consistent that I was about to head to the hospital. Then they would just stop. Anyway, my parents came and we all just waited and waited. Any women who has experienced the last few weeks of pregnancy knows just how slowly time can go.

Back to July 2nd... The morning of July 2nd seemed like every other day. By this point I had nearly given up on the idea that I would actually have a baby. I woke. We had family council and a budget meeting. The kids, Shay and I headed to the gym. We got to the gym at about 11:15 a.m.. I was on the treadmill about 45 minutes into my workout when I felt a gush of fluid. My water broke! (I have read that sometimes women are unsure if there water broke or if they peed themselves. Peeing my pants has never felt like that.) Anyway, I jumped off the treadmill, told the kids to hurry and clean up the play area, wrapped Shay's jacket around my waste, and waddled to the weight room to get Shay. At this point it was about 12:15 p.m.

I think everyone sensed the urgency because Cayben cleaned super fast and didn't even argue about turning off the movie. He just kept saying, "You're going to have you're baby!" And I think I only had to look at Shay for him to know it was time to go.

We got home. Luckily my parents were there. Shay asked if he had time to jump in the shower. I said, "Sure." I still wasn't having any contractions. I ate some food because I know how long labor can take. I kissed the kids goodbye then got in the car.

THE CONTRACTIONS HIT!

I honestly wasn't sure if I would make it to the hospital. I did. We went to reception to check in. It seemed to take forever. Do you really need my name and everything people? They put me in a wheelchair and wheeled me to Labor & Delivery. Dr. Huss was there charting, luckily. They wheeled me by him and I smiled and waived.

They hooked me to the monitor around 1:20 p.m. They checked my progress and I was dialated to 4cm. With my other two labors I progressed really quickly after hitting 4cm. I told the nurse that I have always had my babies within an hour of being dialated to a 4 and "things were about to get crazy." She believed me and I loved her for it. Shay was advocating for me to get an epidural from the get go and I love him for it.

From there things did get crazy. The nurse got my IV in but never even got it hooked up to fluids. I felt like I needed to push. They called in Dr. Huss. (He later told me he didn't believe the nurses that I was ready because they had just wheeled me by and I was smiling.) Dr. Huss gloved up and told me I wouldn't be having an epidural or an intratheical. It was heart breaking.

The pushing began. I hated it. I hated it even more when Doctor Huss told me I needed to push harder and that this baby is "bigger than your other babies." Finally she was out.

At 1:59 my baby girl was born. She was blue like her sister was. The nurses took her to clean her up and get her breathing well. They weighed and measured her and all of those things and then said they wanted to take her to be observed for an hour because she inhaled fluids. I asked if I could hold her first. They placed her in my arms. There are no words that can describe the feeling of holding your baby for the first time. There is something amazing that happens when you feel your babies skin on your own. The love I already felt for her just seemed to burst.

They took Solee and Shay followed. I'm slightly paranoid so I always send Shay with my babies. I relaxed and tried to recover.

They finally brought Solee back to me.  Shortly after my parents brought the kids up to see there new little sister. They were so excited to meet her. Cayben was super sweet with her and still is. He's proud to be a "big, big brother." Embrie was excited and a little jealous. I made sure to hold her tight and let her know how much I love her.
 
Grandma Elyse & Solee
Proud Big Bro
I stayed in the hospital for two days and I actually loved it. The nurses were wonderful and I felt pampered.
3 July 2012
 
4 July 2012
Shay & Cayben

Solee and I got to go home on July 4th. My parents welcomed us home and then headed home themselves. It was sure nice to have them help with my kids and everything else. And it's sure nice to have my family of five!
Grandma Elyse & Solee
Solee & Embrie
Cayben, Grandma Elyse &Solee
Solee & Grandpa Jim
Grandma Elyse, Solee & Cayben