As with Kiersten, my labor lasted for days before actually getting far enough to go into the hospital. It was about 3 days that I had contractions, and every time it was getting worse and I thought this was going to be the time I head into the hospital… my contractions would stop. February 11th, wasn’t really any different. My day started out with contractions… they came for a few hours would get stronger, 5-8 min apart and just when I was about ready to go in they would stop. My family, in laws and parents, kept telling me I should go in and get checked at the hospital…however if you know me I’m a little stubborn and didn’t want to go in to the hospital. Finally at 2 in the afternoon my husband convinced me that we should go in. I guess he was right cause my contractions were bringing me to my knees, however they were still only about 8 min apart. I dreaded every 8 min!!! It was a great thing that he convinced me because we got in the car and about half way to Coeur d’Alene they hit, stronger and more than ever. They were every 3 minutes by the time we got off the freeway and we still had to drop Kiersten off at Bryan and Erin’s house. (Thank you so much Bryan and Erin, you guys are amazing friends and we couldn’t have done it without you guys). Got to the hospital and up to the labor and delivery unit and I was sadly disappointed that I was only dilated to a 3. These pains were MUCH worse than I ever felt with Kiersten and with Kiersten I was a 4 when I first arrived at the hospital and my contractions hadn’t even hit their high with her yet. Anyhow even through the disappointment, the nurse knew I wasn’t going home. My contractions still remained every 2-3 min and I was breathing through them but the nausea was kicking in. Once I started getting sick the nurse said, “It’s time for you to get your epidural, your breathing to hard and that’s what was causing the nausea.” So anesthesia came and got my epidural in. Directly after my epidural the nurse checked me again and I was at a 7. No wonder I was hurting and hyperventilating. Once the epidural was on board, life was good again! From this point it was just a matter of waiting. By this time our families had gotten the news and were headed up to see us. My parents were predicted to be here at 8pm and Den and Kate were to be here around 945-10pm. I have to say, I saw Stephanie Harrison NP through out my whole pregnancy and really wanted her to deliver Katelyn. However it was the weekend, and although Stephanie had said I could have the nurses call her anytime regardless if she was on-call and she would try to come in. I knew I shouldn’t have them do that. She had just worked the weekend before, I knew this because I worked also. So I felt we shouldn’t call her in on her weekend off. And I was okay with that because Dr. Cutting was on-call and he had delivered Kiersten, So I knew what to expect with him. So while we were waiting the nurse had kept Dr. Cutting in the loop and then… at 730pm he decided to tell us that he was going to a bowling tournament and he was turning his call over to Dr. Helal until the tournament was over. REALLY… I was so disappointed! Then the nurse came in and asked if I wanted to speed up the process and start pitocin. I said, ‘NO, I’m holding this baby in until Dr. Cutting is back on.” She agreed we could hold off and not do the pit. And at 8:50 she checked me again… I was complete, and Dr Cutting hadn’t called to tell us he was back on yet!! The nurse went out and called Dr. Helal but explained to him that I really wanted Cutting, so he said he would call him and see how much longer he was going to be. In the mean time… I was nauseated and throwing up again. After heaving, the nurse checked me again, and informed me she wasn’t waiting for Dr. Cutting, that she was sorry but Dr Helal needed to get here because with every heave….the baby was getting lower and in her words, “I have never delivered a baby on my own, and don’t plan to tonight!” Just when she went out to the desk… Dr. Cutting called and said he was on his way!! AWWW THANKYOU. He got there at 9:25pm and was dressed and ready for me to push a few minutes later. I pushed three time and Katelyn Laine Drake was born at 9:37pm. Dr. Cutting did and amazing job and our baby had no complications. My parents had made it to the delivery… Grandma Kate and Grandpa Den… they were 10 minutes to late! But they were there for all the great things like first bath and shots and such. It was like a paparazzi photo session during the first couple hours of Katelyn’s life.
The Paparazzi:
Since Katelyn was born at 937pm, we decided it would be best to leave Kiersten at Bryan and Erin’s for the night and let her meet her sister in the morning. She was really excited to meet her however was bit nervous. She absolutely did NOT want Katelyn to cry. If anyone was doing anything to Katelyn she would quiz them and tell them that they needed to stop because she was going to cry. She wouldn’t hold her for a very long time but she did love to look at her. Here is The Sister Meeting:
Katelyn was born on Saturday February 11th at 937pm and at 730pm Sunday we got to go home. Less than 24 hours in the hospital and our lives were changed forever!! Welcome home baby Katelyn!!!
