Birth Day - Part 2!

So, this is kind of long...you might want to have a snack or a drink if you really care to read to the end! Haha. This is the story of the arrival of Miss Reese Caroline and the days immediately following...

Once we were settled in a room, my nurse for the night came in and started getting my room and me ready for labor. The contractions weren't coming too strong, so Kyle and I were actually able to get a little rest. We still could not believe that Reese decided to come on her own the morning of our scheduled induction! It could not have worked out more perfectly because our families were in town AND all the action happened in the middle of the night, so it wasn't until everyone woke up that they heard that Reese was much closer to being born than they thought would be the case when they woke up (except for mom who had a hard time going back to sleep after we scurried out of the house.) My nurse informed me that they wouldn't be giving me any Pitocin until around 5 AM since the doctors don't get in the office until around 7. At that point, I figured Reese would be born by lunch time. I don't really remember too many details from the middle of the night and the exact timing of it all. It was pretty uneventful for the most part! 

Before we knew it, it was 5 AM and time to start the Pitocin. For some reason, Reese kept falling off the monitors and the nurses rushed in to readjust them. They were not staying put very well and any little movement on my part seemed to mess things up. I tried to stay as still as possible. I kept waking Kyle up to ask him what he thought was going to happen because I was REALLY nervous about how fast the Pitocin would speed up my labor and when exactly I would get my epidural. I was so lucky with Jacks because I got it pretty early. 

The contractions eventually began to get really uncomfortable, and I became more and more nervous. I kept thinking there was NO way I could go much further. I told Kyle I had NO idea how anyone went all the way without an epidural. It wasn't long before the nurse came in and checked me and said I could go ahead and get my epidural if I wanted. I said, "YES! Now!" For some reason, I then became really anxious about getting "the shot" and the delivery process. I had such a wonderful labor and delivery experience with Jackson that I felt there was NO way I'd have it that easy again. The anesthesiologist would not allow Kyle to stay in the room, and I told the nurse I was really freaking out. She was SO wonderful at reassuring me and comforting me throughout the entire process. The anesthesiologist was amazing, too. He explained every single thing he was doing and what was about to happen, etc. You would have thought I had never done this before if you saw how nervous I was. Anyway, it all worked out just fine and the epidural was magical. I do remember being nervous because my left leg was not as numb as my right. I was so scared that this would be a BAD thing as I progressed further and during delivery, but my nurse assured me it would be fine. And it was!

Everything kept moving along, and I was much more relaxed after the epidural. At that point, I do remember Kyle and I both trying to go back to sleep. Our family members and friends were starting to wake up and check in on us to see what was going on. We didn't want to bother anyone during the middle of the night, so of course most of them were shocked to know we had already come so far in the process.  

I went from a 4 to a 9 reallllly fast. Since I had gone into labor on my own over night, I never ended up having time to put makeup on since I was trying to lay so still in the hospital bed. I kept saying, "I can't believe I'm about to have a baby with no makeup on!" Haha. When the nurse told me that I was at a 9, I frantically called Mom and told her that they needed to really hustle and get to the hospital because she and my sister were going to be in the room for the delivery. They were still piddling around getting ready because we had told everyone to expect a mid-morning to lunch time delivery. I was SO worried they weren't going to make it because Laura Beth had jumped through so many hoops (taken tests early, had tests moved) in order to even be in TOWN and she was dying to be in the room when Reese was born. (Laura Beth was the one I was most excited to tell I was having a girl when we found out because I KNEW this news would make her go through the roof. She was DYING for it to be a girl.) I really regretted not having Mom in the delivery room with BB and Laura Beth last time, so I was also really wanting her to make it. 

The nurse came in around 8 AM (not long after we had made the call for everyone to hurry) and said... "OK, you're complete." I said "I'm...what?" She said, "Complete! Time to push. I'm going to call Dr. White so he can head over." I started freaking out and asked her if we could hold off. She told me that we could hold off about 30 minutes but no more. Kyle was texting everyone and telling them that things were going to be going down way sooner than expected. He was STARVING and felt like he would pass out during the delivery if he didn't have some breakfast. He asked his parents if they could swing through Chick-Fil-A on their way to the hospital. They arrived shortly with the breakfast, and Kyle ran downstairs to eat. About 2 minutes after he scurried out, Dr. White casually walked in. He said, "Alright, are we ready to have a baby? Where's hubby?" I started laughing and told him he ran downstairs to eat breakfast. I felt SO bad because I could only think of the patients Dr. White had to leave sitting in rooms to rush over to do my delivery and Kyle was downstairs eating breakfast and our families were still arriving. In that moment, I came to terms with the fact that Mom and LB were going to miss the delivery. But I REALLY didn't want Kyle to miss it, haha! I asked Dr. White if we could wait a few minutes to get started and he said, "Sure." He laughed and joked about not wanting Dad to pass out. A few minutes later, KYLE showed back up in the room. He informed me that mom and LB were turning into the hospital's parking lot. I was kind of stressed out about that and just said, "Oh well, they'll have to miss it." I wasn't frustrated with them; it just snuck up SO much faster than any of us thought it would, and by that point we had already delayed things a good bit. Well, of course--in true Hollywood fashion, they ran in the room JUST in the nick of time. Like I was already in the stirrups and had pushed a time or two. I was SO relieved that they made it. 

Delivery happened VERY fast. Reese's heart rate was dropping with every contraction, and I kept hearing the nurses pointing to things on the monitor and telling Dr. White how low her heart rate was dropping. They decided we needed to get her out FAST. They made me push three times REALLY hard and really fast on each contraction (instead of one long, hard push.) It was super intense compared to last time, but they did let me rest on a couple of the contractions. I think I pushed for about eight minutes and she was OUT.

When they handed her to me,  I could not BELIEVE how much she looked like Jackson. I was kind of freaked out because I felt like I was staring at the girl version of Jackson. She had the wimpiest little cry and she never actually got going too loud. We were shocked because we were expecting it to be a loud, dramatic GIRL cry. She was just so sweet about it. After a few minutes, I asked Dr.White...."Wait...Did we make sure she's a girl?" He laughed, and said..."Yes, she's really a girl." I had such a hard time believing it because I always pictured myself having all boys. I will admit, I was really nervous about having a girl at first, but man - it has been such a JOY. I am loving having one of each and seeing the differences between the two. Little miss Reese is SUCH a sweetie. (Not that Jackson is not - haha!)

So, it was 9:22 A.M. on November 14, 2011.
Little miss Reese Caroline Silvio was born.

She was 8 lbs, 3 oz. and 20 inches long. 

Healthy and beautiful!

When they told me her weight, I could not BELIEVE she was an ounce bigger than Jackson and half an inch shorter. She was a chunky little thing. Due to her weight and gestational age (39 weeks), she was considered "Large for Gestational Age", and they had to prick her heel to check her sugar levels after each feeding for 24 hours. Poor boo boo. She had so many heel pricks by the time it was over with because she was a little bit jaundiced, too. 

But more on that later...First things first. We had to introduce our little girl to her BIG BROTHER! Jacks was the first one besides Mom and LB (and Kyle and me of course) to meet Reese. He was kind of shy but REALLY excited. We asked him what he thought of her, and he said, "I think she's great." :) So sweet. We took a few pictures as a family of FOUR, and then Jacks wanted to take a few with his special camera we had gotten him for that day. He didn't want to sit on the bed with me or get too close to Reese that day. He really was very low key. He didn't seem upset that I was in the hospital or that something BIG had happened. I guess there was enough to occupy him, and he was just taking it all in.

The nurses told me that we had about thirty more minutes with Reese before they took her to get her cleaned up, etc., so we went ahead and had our families come in (all together!) to meet her. Everyone took turns passing her around. We all couldn't get over how much she looked like Jackson. It was a really sweet moment to have THREE of her great-grandparents and THREE of her grandparents there to meet her. Pappy had stayed behind since Granny was going to stay the week with us and he wasn't able to, plus we were heading up to North LA for Thanksgiving just ten days later. Dad had plans to head over the next day. He did get some special time with her later once he arrived. It was just so neat to have everyone there. Not too many kiddos are blessed to have two sets of grandparents AND great-grandparents. Such a special blessing! 

Poor Kyle was actually the LAST one to get to hold her. Everyone had taken a turn, and he quietly asked if he could hold her. Poor Daddy!! :( He was so excited to finally get to hold his sweet baby girl. Having a girl has always been a dream of his, and it was so fun to watch it come true! He is such a sweet daddy to both our boy AND our girl.

After everyone got to love on Reese a little, they cleared out and then the nurses took her off to do their thing. We wrapped up things in our room and headed to the room where we would end up spending the night. Those who could stick around were able to watch Reese have her first bath. The Silvios headed out after that and my side of the family went home as well. First thing on the order of business for me was breakfast (although I think I ended up ordering lunch since it was lunch time)! Luckily I didn't have to miss too many meals during labor and delivery since she came earlier than expected.

Big Brother Jacks watching in the window with Granny and Grammy

This sweet nurse is actually the mom of a little girl I had in my Sunday School class last year. I didn't know she was working with Reese until she wheeled her cart into my room after she was all cleaned up. I'm so happy my baby girl was in such good hands. She had a baby a couple of weeks after this, too!

Her very first bottle! I was told she gulped it down. :)

They brought her in the room with this sweet cap. I LOVED the bow. What a precious little angel God gave us!

Our hospital stay was wonderful and filled with so many great memories! It was such a laid back experience this time. We mostly just hung out with my siblings and our friends who came by to see Reese. It was also a very QUICK stay. We started plotting to get out of there as soon as we were settled into a room. We were ready to get back home and see Jacks and enjoy our true HELP while they were there. The nurses told us that as long as Reese's sugars checked out OK and the docs cleared us to go, we would only have to spend one night. We set our sights on that. In the mean time, we enjoyed hanging out in the room. Kyle ran to grab lunch with Mitchell and Dustin while Laura Beth kept me company. It was such a sweet time with just my sis. We kept talking about how exciting the whole experience was and how quickly and smoothly it had gone. It was pretty relaxing. Reese was so easy going from Day one! Such a sweet heart. I kept trying to tell myself not to get excited about how well she was sleeping and eating, but it truly continued in the days and weeks following. After Jacks napped and was rested, he got to come back up to the hospital to hang out with us some more. This time he actually did sit and hold Reese for a few minutes. He sat with Aunt Dustin and examined her tiny feet and hands. It was such a sweet sight to see.

First time to hold her!!! He finally was not scared to get too close. :)

It like seriously HURTS my heart to look at this sweetness.

 Later that night, Dustin and Mitchell went to grab a bite to eat for dinner. Some friends came by to visit us. Our friends, the Lees, came by and brought some yummy treats. Later, Amy and Amanda came by almost at the same time. Their visits overlapped and I was able to get a pic with BOTH birthday girls! (Amy and Amanda were both born on Reese's birthday, 11/14. They happen to both be really good friends of mine, so it was really special.)

Matt and Ashley :)

The 11/14 girls and me! 

Both girls were so sweet to visit on their OWN birthdays! AJ even came after a long day at work. So thankful for such amazing friends.  

More pics of Reesie girl...

Later on, we settled in for the night. It was a GREAT first night! Reese did a great job sleeping and we were able to actually get some rest. Kyle had to go to Starbucks around 5:30 that morning to send a quick email for work, so he took Reese to the nursery on his way out. I was able to sleep until I woke up on my own,  which was super nice. Kyle called when he was done and I told him Reese still wasn't back yet. He went on home to take a shower and change clothes so he could feel clean. Poor guy. I always feel sorry for the dads. I ordered my breakfast and told him to take his time. I was able to eat my breakfast, drink some coffee and talk to Katie AND BB on their way to work. Katie was due to have Macie not too long after I had Reese, so I was trying to fill her in on all the details.  Kyle came back up to the hospital with Mitchell and Dustin. They brought me some Starbucks, yum! That was one thing I decided before I went into the hospital. None of this everybody going out to eat and forgetting about Lindz. And somebody better bring me some GOOD coffee! And by good, I mean better than the hospital. Obviously we have no CC's in Houston, so Starbucks has to do! And it did as it always does until I get my hands on some CC's. :) 

While Kyle was gone, I straightened up the room and started getting our stuff ready to GO. When Reese came back in and Kyle and the sibs got back, we started getting anxious about leaving. We got Reese dressed and took some pictures of her. I got myself dressed and we were pretty much just hanging out waiting on the docs to release us. The pediatrician said that Reese was free to be released as long as we followed up with her pediatrician the next day since she was a little jaundiced. We were just waiting on Dr. White. He kind of laughed at me (as usual) and my anxiousness to go home. I asked him if he was going to prescribe me any pain medicine and he joked that if I was in pain I could just stick around one more night. I love him. I know he thinks I'm crazy, and I guess I kind of am. I just HATE hospitals and was ready to get home with my baby girl! Kyle was totally on board, of course. If I was feeling fine and she was doing great, why delay things?! We were all set to go and just waiting on the final paperwork to be released when the power went out in the hospital. When this happens, it's a code "pink" and no one can leave the area where the infants are due to security. So, we were stuck there a little longer but just hung out and took some more pics of Reesie Roo all dressed up to go home. One of my favorite memories from that day is Kyle and I lying in my hospital bed watching "Christmas Vacation" while LB held Reese on the "couch." The nurse who came in to give us some discharge instructions was cracking up at us. I guess we were a sight. Kyle said had he known how much comfortable the bed was than the couch, he would've slept there during the night with me. Um...ok.

Ready to go home!

And just for fun...This was us having movie time. Lol. It's so much more relaxing the second time around. I don't even think we were really paying attention to Reese. Haha.

Oh, there she is! Haha.

We left the hospital around 3:15. It was overcast and kind of sprinkling and a little cool. Reesie's first ride in the car was great. She slept the whole way home. It was sooooo great to be heading home with our baby girl to start life as a family of 4! Finally! :)

Jacks wanted to cut my hospital bracelet off for me

Mitch and Dustin took one last pic with the kids before they headed out

LB was with us the WHOLE time in the hospital, and we never really got any pics together. She was such a blessing to us with all her nursing expertise. She was such an encourager to me, and it wouldn't have been the same experience had she not been there. Not to mention the fact that she came in and did my makeup for me AND painted my toenails for me after I was settled in my recovery room. That's what sisters are for! I will treasure the time we had together during those days FOREVER. She loves our kiddos sooo much and is such an amazing Aunt!

Sweet KK :)

Granny and Poppy kept Jacks entertained with some games

When we got home, after everything settled down I took a GREAT nap. Brad, Brody and Archer came by to meet Reese while I was asleep. I hated to miss them but it was GOOD to sleep in my own bed and sleep WELL for the first time in months. It was insane how quickly I recovered this time. Not that it was too bad with Jacks, but I just remember being sore for much longer. This time I had to make myself not overdo it so that I wouldn't hurt later. I did end up having some neck pain and other side effects of having to push so hard during the delivery. It wasn't anything too intolerable, though. I think starting out formula feeding this time instead of going through all I went through last time trying to nurse made a HUGE difference. I was able to have help and be rested and not experience all the difficulty we did last time. Who knows if it would have worked better this time, but I didn't want to chance it. 

Mom and Granny were there to help us get through the next few days. They played with Jacks, kept the house clean, cooked food, helped fix bottles, fed Reese while we slept, and did any little thing we needed. It was wonderful and such a blessing! I truly am so thankful for them and do NOT take it for granted. They were such a huge part of why we never experienced any jealousy/resentment from Jacks. It was nice to be able to focus on just loving on both kids while they did all the "work." Jacks did ignore Reese some for the first week or so, but he always seemed happy that she was around. He just didn't talk to her much that first week. I think he was just soaking up all the attention he was getting. It was good for him (and us!) 

The next day we took Reese to the pediatrician to have her Biliruben levels checked, and everything was just fine. She was eating and sleeping really well, and life with a new baby in the mix was not quite as chaotic as we thought it would be! We kept thinking any moment the "monster" would awake, but fortunately Reese has continued to be such a sweet and easy baby. She has always just gone with the flow. Our friends Chad, Brenden and Graham came by to meet Reese that night, and it was fun to visit with them. Granny went home Friday morning after helping us out SO very much, and Mom left Saturday afternoon. She ran into some REALLY bad traffic on her way back to Baton Rouge, and she almost turned around and came back. We kept wishing she would! I cannot thank God enough for giving me the Mom and Granny that He did. Sometimes I don't know where I would be without them!

Later that evening, Aunt Jan called to say that a friend was driving down to Houston and she could hitch a ride and come meet Reese/help us out for a couple of days if we were interested. We were so excited. Aunt Jan is always fun to have in town! Jacks and I went to pick her up and headed to a little dinner out at Valley Ranch. It was nice to get out of the house with just my boy, and Daddy enjoyed the time at home with Reese. Aunt Jan showed up with fun gifts for all of us and some hand-me-down clothes for me (hand-me-down clothes from Aunt Jan and her girls are the BEST!) She spoiled us rotten. The next night our new little fam of 4 went out to dinner at Mia Bella with Aunt Jan, and that was Reese's very first outing (besides the doctor's office) and the end of her first week. I will always remember Reese's birth and the time after as one of the HAPPIEST in my life. My heart was so incredibly FULL. I am so thankful to God for the wonderful husband and two precious gifts he has given us. We are beyond blessed, and there are no words to describe our gratitude.

Some more pics from Reese's first week...

We found it so funny that Reese started sleeping like this with her arms thrown up, just like Jacks did as a newborn :)

This whole swaddling stuff didn't last long! Neither one of our kids preferred to be swaddled. In fact, they rebelled against it. The kicked out of the swaddle during the first few days. Determined little things. It makes for an interesting situation trying to keep them warm when you're not supposed to have extra blankets in the crib.

She looks SO much like Jacks as a newborn here

Jacks watching The Polar Express...he was scared.

Headed to the pediatrician.

Introducing Old Bear to Reese

Helping Sissy with her paci

Granny keeping Jacks company at his sand box

Getting the Polar Express train ready!

Checking to make sure R's bottle is not too hot!

Comparing Reese to a baby pic of Jacks. I'd say you can tell they're siblings. :)

First little sponge bath at home

All clean after that first bath at home!

Daddy rocking both babies

Reese spent (and still spends) a lot of time in this contraption! Best thing we bought. Love it.

Both kiddos snoozing after KK left.

Watching a construction DVD with big brother!

I walked by the back door one afternoon and saw this. Such a good Daddy!

Dinner at Valley Ranch with Aunt Jan...Jacks was a fan! He said, "Yummm! This is the best dinner I ever saw!" Love my sweet, enthusiastic boy!

Being silly in Reese's room! More pics of her nursery soon to come.

Well, that's all about the first week. If you made it to the end, I'm impressed! Hopefully now that I've taken care of the Blogs about Reese's arrival, I can continue blogging about events AFTER her arrival! :) Thanks for all the love and support you as our family and friends have given us during this happy, happy time! We are blessed beyond what we thought imaginable!