Day One through Three

Wednesday morning was just like any other morning. Jamie had fixed me breakfast and packed my lunch and so forth while I waddled out of bed and fumbled around slowly getting ready for work. Nothing out of the ordinary. Jamie left for work and I left shortly after him. It was a cold morning and when I went to start my car, it wouldn't start. So I did what every girl does--I called my mom. We chatted for a bit, she told me not to rev it because I have a fuel-injection engine (how does she know these things?); I told her my stomach was hurting down low in my abdomen but it comes and goes. She told me to pay attention and keep track if it keeps up. I thought nothing of it and as the car continued to not start she said she'd be on her way to pick me up. I though, oh geez, I can't afford to be late to work. Well, as soon as I hung up, the car started and I called Mom back to tell her no need to rush out the door. Later she would tell me that she was thinking, This is a sign. I bet she's going to have the baby today. I should just go pick her up and take her to work so her car doesn't have to sit in the parking lot.

I got to work just fine, but was a little uncomfortable with my stomach pains. As I passed everyone in the halls and said my morning hellos, people asked for updates and I said, Oh, my stomach is hurting--I think I might be having contractions. That'll get a preschool teacher excited! When I went into Laurie's classroom (where I was working for the day), I let them know that I might be having contractions. They got so excited and asked if I was keeping track of them--No, not really. I didn't think much of it; it wasn't hurting that bad. Well, Claudia got out a piece of paper and a pencil and insisted that I start keeping track. Even if you're not sure if it is one, go ahead and write it down, she said. I was so unsure and didn't want to make a big deal of things, but she would see me wince and ask if I was having one, then would write it down on the paper for me.

After a while, the Brown Bears went to library and I sat on an exercise ball that I had borrowed from the therapy room. Mr. Neal got a little nervous when he heard word that I might be in labor. I don't know nothin' about birthin' no babies, he said. Well, I had started keeping track of the contractions around nine. I had also been noticing a little bloody tinge when I went to the bathroom (hope you don't mind the details). So I, yes, you're right, texted my mom and asked her what to do. She said to call the Dr.'s office and talk to the nurse. The nurse said that it was not a problem but probably a sign that I was getting ready to go into labor. So, when the contractions had become 2-3 minutes apart within the hour, Claudia had me call the nurse back. The nurse asked me questions like, Does it feel like cramping? Where are you experiencing the pain? How far apart are they? etc, etc. After I answered all of her questions she said, "Well, Kali, you might just be one of those women that was born to have children! Looks like your baby is going to come fast!" Yea! I thought. This is the day!

Amidst all of that chaos I had called Jamie a few times--at his job that he had just started nonetheless--and was filling him in on what was going on. After I spoke with the nurse, Claudia proceeded to clock out and gather her things to take me to the hospital. She had told Jamie to head there too. When we got there, Jamie was already there. Claudia said goodbye and Jamie and I checked in.

They took us to the triage room first to check how far I was dilated and to assess whether or not they wanted to admit me. A nurse Cindy checked me and I was dilated to five, so they admitted me! She was my labor nurse--the best I could have hoped for!

After they took me to my room, Dr. Vandenboom came in to break my water . . . and the rest is history! I labored until around 4:15 I think, and then I started pushing, and Judah Kaleb Carollo was placed in my arms at 6:01 PM (or a little thereafter). It was the most amazing experience ever!! When Dr. Amsterdam came in and scrubbed up, I knew it was almost time to meet my son!!! It was so amazing to see him for the first time, and to hold him on my chest while he cried with his strong lungs. He had a full head of hair, weighed 9lbs even, and measured 19.5 in long. He was beautiful! I got to hold him for about an hour after they cleaned him up and checked everything to make sure he was good and healthy. The rest is a blur--everyone that had been waiting in the waiting room came in to meet him and the stream of visitors didn't stop for the rest of the night.

I love the feeling of a hospital when everything settles down, and the lights turn off, and it was just me and my baby and Jamie. He started nursing right away without any troubles (and with a little help from the Medela nipple shield), and we nursed and slept the night away. He was pretty content the first night, and of course when he made any noise I picked him up out of his bed and held him close. It was a little difficult to move and change his diaper and such . . . but the nurses were a great help. The next night he was a little more fussy, but I was able to move around a little more to take care of him.

Friday morning I was feeling pretty good and we started the process of going home. Judah got visited by lots of people over the last two days--especially the last. The pediatrician visited him, the hearing specialist, another pediatrician came in on the last day to check him and circumsize him. The lactation nurse visited me the last day and gave me some nursing lessons and pointers. We had a few last visitors, Jamie came back to the hospital after work, then we signed the discharge papers around 2:45. It was a weird feeling leaving the hospital--it had been a comfort zone. We were leaving room service, nurses who check on you and manage my meds and care, and that little button I can push if I have any question about a weird rash or how to swaddle my new baby or any other new mother worry I might have. We went down the elevator and a beautiful sunshiney day greeted us. Cindy our nurse watched us hook in the carseat and we said our last goodbyes. It was official: my new life as a mom had really begun.