Back Online

Sorry it's been so long since I posted! My computer has been down with a virus, but now it's cleaned up and ready to carry on. Molly has changed so much in the last couple weeks--I have lots of new pictures and I will try to get caught up on here:

Luke celebrated his first Father's Day with Molly:...and Kelly Jo was right there too:

Two Weeks Old

Molly turned 2 weeks old yesterday--already! She is really starting to grow and you can notice changes in her almost daily. She's really starting to look around and watch things. If she hears a voice or sound, she will look that way. She really loves music too--her mobile plays "Old MacDonald" and it calms her down every time! Here are some of the latest pictures:

She loves her bouncy seat that Ken & Kassi got her. It plays nature sounds and soothing music while it vibrates. So far she has her days and nights switched, so we are sleeping during the day and staying up most of the night. From what I've read this is because babies in-utero sleep while their mom is up and walking around and then they wake while the mom sleeps at night. They keep up this sleep/wake pattern for awhile after they are born...so we are living through this transition phase and hoping an adjustment comes soon.

More Molly

Hanging out with Grandma Leila.

Wide awake in crib

Baby loves Kelly Jo...Kelly Jo loves Baby

Molly is Here!

We have had Molly in our lives for 8 days now! Although for me, it has seemed like one long never-ending day. I think 3 hours is the longest stretch of time that I have slept since Saturday night (May 29th). So, its kind of hard to determine day from night and day from day. BUT--its been amazing!!

Here is how it all happened. Sunday, Luke & I went to Palmyra for Greg & Lesley's baby shower and BBQ and it was the best I had felt in several days. We didn't get home until after 10:00 that night and I started to feel some cramps on the way home. By the time we got home I told Luke I was pretty sure I was going to have the baby soon-but I don't think he took me too seriously. I woke up at 3:00 the next morning and didn't feel right. I laid on the couch with Kelly until about 4:30 when I could tell that I was starting to have contractions. I knew I needed to start timing them so I went and woke up Luke to see if he would help me. At that time, they were about 5 minutes apart and lasted about 45 seconds.

I think I was in denial because I kept telling myself that it was just false labor. Luke finally talked me into going to the hospital and we got there around 6:00 that morning (Memorial Day). The contractions had gotten much worse by the time we got to the hospital (45 minute drive) and I was really happy we left when we did.

They checked me into a birthing room and hooked me up to 2 monitors. One tells you the baby's heart rate and the other measures uterine tone (which increases with a contraction). The contractions were 3 minutes apart and lasting about 1 minute by this time and they told me I was going to be staying and having the baby. Before long, the contractions were getting so bad that I was crying through every one and anxiously awaiting the epidural. The anesthesiologist was in the OR so I had to wait about an hour--which was excruciating. BUT once I got it, it was so wonderful. I was able to relax and chill out for a couple hours before my doctor got there. I would HIGHLY recommend it.

The nurse that was taking care of me, Laura, was amazing and did such a great job. She noticed that the baby's heart rate started to drop after every contraction, meaning that the cord was being pinched by the intensity of the contractions. We were waiting and waiting for the Dr. and Laura had to just make the decisions on her own to do what needed to be done to keep the baby safe--like I said, she did awesome! After she got the baby's heart rate settled back down, the Dr. showed up and told me it was time to start pushing. The problem was the epidural had worked too good and I couldn't feel enough to push.

This is when it got really intense. They turned off the epidural so that I could feel more of the muscles I needed to push--but within 5 minutes I could feel everything--and it felt horrible!! I pushed for about 45 minutes and there are really no words to describe it...it was the most painful thing I have EVER felt.

When I thought there was no way I could possibly keep going, I gave a final push and Molly started crying. I was overwhelmed with relief, pain & happiness. They put Molly on my chest and I just couldn't believe that she had been inside me all that time. What a miracle!!

Molly was born at 1:24 PM on May 31st, 2010, weighed 7 lbs 1 oz. and measured 2o inches long.

Finally home after spending 2 days in the hospital. Kelly was so happy to see us and meet Molly: