Ariana Yvette

Warning: this will be a long post with TMI and lots of pictures. Enjoy. :)

This past Monday, October 4th, I was all set to be induced at 6 AM at Ogden Regional. I just have to add that the night before, Kaden threw up ALL OVER and had a fever of 102 degrees. Awesome timing, right? So, because of that, I got three hours of sleep that night. Luckily, Shane's mom was still okay watching the kids the next day (she's had 6 kids-that woman can face anything-especially a little stomach flu). Karen (Shane's mom) showed up at 5:30 AM and we left for the hospital (after profusely apologizing for our sick son). We got there and got checked in. Right around 6:00 they took us to our room (525) and by the time everything was set up and paperwork all signed and questions all asked (they ask you a million questions), it was 7:00 AM before they actually got the antibiotic drip started. I was checked and was still at a 3, but about 70% effaced (previously 50%). However, I was starting to have pretty regular contractions and Nurse Shirley (my favorite nurse in the universe) said that I would have gone into labor on my own later that day or the next morning anyway. :) Sweet! At 9:00 AM, they started the pitocin drip on it's lowest setting since I was already contracting on my own. I asked if I could get the epidural yet.....and I was serious. I told Shirley that I prefer to not feel any pain whatsoever. :) I'm a total wuss and I don't care.
I got the epidural around 10:45ish and it was a woman named Jenny who did it. My past two epidurals have been done by men, and I LOVED Jenny. She was so much more nurturing about it and would drop in periodically to check on me (she even came back after Ari was born just so she could see her). :) SO, by 11:00, I was in heaven.

(After the epidural...)

Shane, by the way, hadn't gotten much sleep that night, either. He spent his morning sleeping on the couch and was really surprised when he would wake up and I had new tubes coming out of me. "When did that happen?!" Yeah. He sleeps like a rock.
I got a second dose of the antibiotics around 11:30 and that was what my midwife, Kathy, was waiting for before breaking my water. She came at 12:15 and broke my water (I was only at a 4 and 80%). By 1:00 I was at a 6 and 100% effaced.
I have to take a second and tell you about Shirley. She is the nicest nurse I have ever had and she knows EVERYTHING. She has been a nurse since 1977 and in L&D at Ogden Regional since 1993. I asked if her job ever got "old" and she said, "No! Why would it? Every day you get to see miracles being born." :) I love her. If you are ever in labor at Ogden Regional, request Shirley.
Back to my labor, at 1:00 Shane asked Shirley what her guess was as to when I would deliver Ari. Shirley looked at the clock, looked at me, and said, "Between 2:30 and 3:30."
Ari was born at 2:39.
Around 1:45, I was checked again and was at an 8. By 2:00 I was a 9. Calls were being made and the room prepared for delivery. Right about then, Shirley noticed that Ari's heart rate plummeted and put an oxygen mask on me immediately.

(With my oxygen mask)

They said that probably because of the two vessel cord, Ari was having a really hard time getting the oxygen she needed. NICU nurses were brought in along with the regular baby nurses. They were prepared for the worst because Ari was already struggling before she even came out. Kathy got there and everything was set up. Kathy knew I wouldn't take long to push and warned the nurses. Even with her warning, I still heard, "Oh my gosh! Look at her go!" while I was pushing. It was funny. :) Kathy actually stopped me mid-push (on my first one) and had to move the cord around because Ari was trapped in it and I wouldn't have been able to push her out without hurting her. Ari's head was already out, so Kathy said, "Ok, go ahead and finish pushing." Another push later and Ari was here! :)
(Shane says this counts as two pushes, but Kathy said one because she stopped me and I could have easily kept going....what do you think?)


Thankfully, the NICU staff wasn't even needed. Ari did beautifully once she was out and had a 7.9 on her first APGAR. None of the problems they were sure would happen (because of the two vessel cord) happened. The nurses all took a turn looking at the cord, though. Ew.
Ari was cleaned up and the only time she cried was when they were suctioning stuff out of her mouth/throat. After that, she just looked around and was SO alert. The nurses kept saying she just had this concerned and confused look on her face. "What the heck just happened?!" :)

You see the concern on her face? :) Poor thing.

This is Shirley holding Ari up so I could see her all cleaned up. Every nurse in the room said how beautiful Ari was and that she really just looked like a little doll. Kathy told me if I decided I didn't want Ari, she'll take her home. ;) I think we'll keep her for now. haha

Sad face! 7 lbs 1 oz (they rounded up) and 18 1/2 inches long.
(For those of you wondering....Kaden was 6 lbs 9 oz and 19 inches....Lexi was 6 lbs 5 oz and 19 1/2 inches)

Loving my new baby. Ari looks almost exactly like Lexi did when she was born. The only difference is that Lexi had about an inch of dark hair and Ari is a total baldy. :)

The newest member of the family. :D

Happy momma

Do you see Ari's tongue sticking out? She kept doing that-it was hilarious. :)

Shane held her for a couple of hours before he left. He made all the phone calls and texted everyone while I ate. We were worried about how his mom was doing with sick Kaden, so he didn't get to spend too much time with us before he took off. I'm just glad he got to hold Ari as long as he did. He is so adorable with her. You could see the instant love and adoration in his eyes. (and I am only allowed to write this because I know he won't see this and be embarrassed...) ;) He is such a good dad.

Anyway, I had visitors constantly the rest of the night until about 9:00. Shane called me around 9:10 and updated me on the kiddos (Kaden was fine-no more fever and he was eating normally again), then I went to bed. Since I'm not nursing this time, I got 7 straight hours of heavenly sleep. I woke up at 4:30 and just couldn't sleep anymore. My body isn't used to that much sleep all in one night. :) So, I got up and showered and did my hair and make up. A guy came in at 6:00 to draw some blood and I was sitting up in bed, hair and makeup done, and was just shocked. It was funny.
Day two was great and relaxing. More visitors and I even got to take a nap! :) We went home on Wednesday and everything has been great. My milk came in (major ouch), but we're dealing with that and it's not too bad (although that could be because I took a Percocet this morning....).

Ari is a great baby and loves all the hugs and kisses she gets from her older siblings. Lexi just wants to hold her 24/7 and gets SO mad when someone else gets to hold Ari. :D Ari fits in perfectly and (never thought I'd say this) I'm so glad I had her and that she's here, healthy and a part of our family.

Thank you to everyone for all of your love and support!! Thanks for the gifts and meals! It has helped a TON. :D