Two Weeks Old

Zoe! You are growing up way too fast! This week has gone by fast! Everyone left and your Dad and I got to enjoy you for a few days this week! We did great! I'm still recovering, but Kent is really helping with all of the responsibilities! He even helps with you at night! Mimi came up to help this week and let your Dad and I get some sleep! Church is also bringing us meals twice a week which is a blessing! We have enough food so we don't have to cook and it is wonderful! It has been fun spending this week with Kent and you. The nights are long and you typically only sleep for about 3 hours at a time, but we have all day home together to catch up on sleep :) Here are your two week old pictures...

One Week Old

What a crazy week Zoe! I am finally feeling better and we are all happy to be home! Kent and I are really doing great and are so happy to be parents! We also have tons of help, Aunt Jaclyn and Mimi are over to help with you and to help me recover. It's really hard not being able to get to you, but I have tons of help to get you over to me! I wish I was recovering faster, but it won't be long and we'll be going for walks and playing all summer long!

Here are some of the pictures from our one week photo shoot! You are getting big so fast! We are going to use the monkey that your Dad gave me each week to compare how big you are :)

Sisters :)

Petoskey came home today to see us after getting home from the hospital. She had been staying with Kari and Jeff while we were at the hospital. She was so excited and wound up to be back home! We also had Kent's parents over and Kelly and the girls over, so Petoskey was really wound up. She kept sniffing you and looking at you. Once everyone left we got a few shots of the two of you meeting for the first time! Petoskey did a great job, and Zoe didn't mind the first (I'm sure of many) puppy kisses!

Zoe is Here!

Well, after 32 hours of labor, you are finally here! Boy did you give your mom and dad a few scares! The fun began on Thursday at 10pm. I got horribly sick. I had something like a stomach flu for 24 hours and was absolutely miserable. Plus I was having contractions... Mimi came up to help because I was so sick on Friday, and I even called Dad home because I really wasn't feeling well. After being sick all day I was really nervous you were coming that night. Luckily, you let mom get some sleep on Friday night and I recovered a little from the bug. Saturday morning I woke up and the show started at 8 am :) I was excited to see we were starting things off after a good nights rest. Of course I hadn't eaten anything since Thursday dinner. Contractions were not bad all morning but by 10 they were getting closer together and lasting longer so we called the birth center. We made a plan to be there around noon and would update if anything changed. By noon, my contractions were about 5 minutes apart lasting a good 45-55 seconds! This was it, you were certainly on your way. You were coming fast too! I couldn't be happier! I was feeling great! 

We got to the birth center at 12:30 and set up everything there. Mimi, Dad, and I were relaxing and getting excited for you to come! Contractions continued all afternoon and continued to get stronger. It did seem to slow down a little once we were at the birth center. I enjoyed walking around and even got to spend some time relaxing in the tub, which really helped with the stronger contractions. Everyone came to visit. We saw grandma and grandpa, Aunt Jaclyn, Uncle Dan, Uncle Joe, and Papa too. By 7 pm my water broke a little and we were really excited because contractions were getting stronger and much more intense. This continued until about 11 pm when things were still intense but I was exhausted and things seemed to slow down. At 11:30 pm, Shelly (our midwife) came to check and see how things were going. We were only at 4 cm and there was a lot of meconium. Shelly wasn't sure if you were breech or if you were just lodged in there strange when she felt you because my placenta was in the front. We were a little scared with the meconium and I was exhausted. We all thought it would be best for you and me to go to the hospital. Certainly not what we had planned. 

The ride to the hospital was scary. It felt like it took forever. All of our family followed us to the hospital too. We got there and Dad and I checked into the emergency room. As soon as I sat in the wheel chair to go up to labor and delivery my water fully broke. It was exciting and very gross! The poor guy that wheeled us up to delivery was really freaking out, he thought you'd be born in the elevator :) We checked in and got to our room. It was a great room and Mitsy joined us (a doula). We decided to do an epidural so that I could sleep and be ready for the next day. I felt like a failure, but I was so tired it was just what we needed. We woke up at 6 am and were 8 cm dilated and 90% effaced. It was wonderful! We were back on track. We fell back to sleep and at 8 am we were 100% effaced and 10 cm dilated! It was finally here, time for you to come! Only one problem, I didn't have any notion to push yet. The doctors and nurses all decided it was best to wait for the urge to push. So we waited. In the mean time, I had the worst pain in my right hip and back. They tried to adjust the epidural, but it didn't help. You were twisted up in there and causing lots of back labor. Around 11 am we decided to try pushing and see if we could make some progress. After pushing for about an hour, we hadn't made any progress. You were still at +1 station. We decided to wait a little longer.

Our family was all getting worried, they stayed the night in the hospital to wait for you and everyone was exhausted. We decided to try to push again around 2 pm because I was having a little urge to push. We pushed again for an hour and tried all kinds of positions - which was very difficult because I couldn't feel my legs! After pushing, the doctor came back in and said she was worried about you because your heart was slowing way down when we tried pushing and you were still at the +1 station. You just couldn't make your way down. She said the best thing would be for a c-section. I was crushed, but all I could think of was your safety. It was all that mattered. Dad and I decided to go with the c-section and get you out safe and sound. They got us prepped and took us down. You were out within 10 minutes. The NICU team was there because of the meconium. They rushed you over to the table and took care of everything right away. It took about 10 minutes, but they finally brought you over to me! You were the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Nothing else in the world mattered. 

We were in surgery for another 45 minutes while they finished up. I got to hold you so the time really flew by. Then we got to go to recovery and I held you in my arms all the way down the hall. Once in recovery all of our family was excited to come and see you! They had been waiting with us at the birthing center and at the hospital the entire time! Grandma and Mimi got to be the first visitors. Then Grandpa and Papa. They were so proud and so happy to hold you and to finally see you! Aunt Jaclyn and Uncle Dan came in with Uncle Joseph and it was wonderful! Aunt Jaclyn broke down and was just so happy that you and I were safe and healthy! It was wonderful to show you off and to be such a proud parent already. After breast feeding for the first time we were off to our room for the next few days in mother and baby. You were a pro right away and your first feed lasted a half hour! 

The hospital stay was long and rough on Mommy and Daddy. I got very sick from the pain medicine but you did awesome! You only lost about 3 ounces in the hospital and then started to gain weight again. You also had no signs of jaundice. From the very beginning you have been a very happy baby, always content and never crying. It made the transition for Dad and I so much easier because my recovery was so hard. Aunt Jaclyn and Mimi stayed with us for the few days in the hospital to help with me and Dad too. It was wonderful to have their help so Daddy could go home during the day and get some sleep. 

Finally on Wednesday night we got to go home from the hospital. I was still so sick, but the thought of going home was relief enough to get me feeling better :) We took you home and Grandma and Grandpa came back to visit with Aunt Kelly and Grace and Libby. The girls were so excited to hold you and see you for the first time! It was truly wonderful to have you home with Dad and I. Even Petoskey was excited to meet you! 

Easter Sunday and Due Dates

Well baby girl. It is officially your due date, and no little girl. Today is Easter Sunday. Your Aunt Jaclyn and Uncle Dan came up to visit last night. We had tons of fun, and you made Aunt Jaclyn cry a million times moving and dancing like you do. She felt a really big kick and couldn't believe how big you are getting. She kept begging you to come out, but you are just like your momma, very stubborn :) Today, Dad and I went to church. I cried for almost every song because it was all about new life and I'm really an emotional wreck today because it's your due date! You should be joining us anytime and I just can't wait. I want to hold you and kiss you and tell you how much I love you. 

After church, we spent the day with family. Mimi and Papa came up to visit with Uncle Joe too. We all had a wonderful Easter dinner that Mimi packed and made for us all, because it was too far to travel for your Dad and I. It was delicious. After dinner, Mimi, Aunt Jaclyn, and I went for a walk. They were really hoping that you were going to arrive today too. It was so great to spend that time with family! Now if only you would get here so we can all celebrate! 

It was hard not having you come today. Especially with our original due date being March 28... I know you are taking your time and getting big and strong, but I'm ready now. Your Dad and I both understand, we were both 3 weeks late. So I guess it's only fair that you are late too. You are definitely our daughter! I hope that you are coming soon, we can't wait to have you here with us. Until then, I will enjoy another week off. Last week was spring break, and this week I am taking off personal time (mostly because no one would want me in the office right now!). It feels nice to have some time, but it also makes it even harder waiting for you to come :)