The West Coast Reynolds: April 2013

As I am sitting watching Ruth swing away in her swing I can hardly believe she is 3 weeks old. I doesn't seem like she should be that old already! As many parents have told me don't blink. I guess I blinked! Our little girl is growing so fast!

Friday April 5th was my last day of work. I was pretty tired and knew that even though Baby Reynolds had not arrived yet my body told me it was time to slow down. Carlena volunteered to go on a walk with me that afternoon to see if we could get labor going while Steve was a work. Our 3 hour walk took us all over Novato, Costco, and through a few clothing stores. I came home exhausted but with no noticeable changes in how I felt.

Steve encouraged me to take a nap (which I am so thankful he did!) I woke up several hours later just in time for Jeopardy. Sitting on the couch I sneezed. To my surprise I felt like I peed a little. I told Steve either I peed or my water broke! After calling the doctor he told us to watch and see if contractions started... which low and behold they did about an hour later!

Since I had slept through the time we would have made dinner we decided to go out and eat. We ended up at Phyllis's Giant Burgers eating yummy burgers and garlic fries. The contractions started to pick up so we ate quickly and left. On the way home we made a quick pit stop to the CVS for some snacks to bring to the hospital.

Once we got home I decided to take a minute and change into my purple dress for one last picture before the baby arrived. Looking back at it I can't believe I was that big!

We spent the evening watching TV as Steve tracked the contractions. Around 3 AM we decided it was time to leave for the hospital. I remember two things from the drive: 1 wanting to get there quickly so I could stand up again and 2 why are there so many people on the road at 3 AM???

Once we checked in they put us in a room to labor until 8 AM when I would be checked for the first time. After all night we had progressed nicely and they gave me the thumbs up for an epidural.

Around 11 they moved us into the labor and delivery room. for the epidural. The Anesthesiologist set me up and thanks to many prayers was able to get it in on her first try. As I said "praise God" she told me she was glad I called on whatever higher power I had because she had stuck me blindly not knowing if it would work! Thank goodness we do have a good God who even allowed me to show his power in the midst of our delivery day.

Enjoying my epidural

Around 3 in the afternoon it was time to push. Unfortunately Baby Reynolds was not facing the right direction. Even with help the baby could not be rotated. We continued to push anyways hoping that eventually something would change. The longer we went the less my epidural was working. The baby's heart rate also began to be affected. At that point we had to make the difficult decision to have a C-section. As much as I was disappointed I was ready to meet this baby and make sure they were healthy!

They wheeled me into the operating room and I was nearly half asleep. They had given me a stronger form of an epidural so that I would not feel the surgery. They asked if I could feel anything and I said no and then asked where is Steve??? They then said "oh I guess he can come in now." Several minutes after he came in the baby was delivered!!! (I'm glad I said something, Steve might have missed the whole thing!)

Steve was asked to announce the baby's sex and with some encouragement he peaked over the sheet to tell the room "It's a boy!" a few seconds later laughing from the staff erupted and they said "no she's not! It's a Girl." Poor Steve he really wasn't looking too good as he wasn't interested in seeing the blood and guts. We could not be more excited for a daughter!

They whisked her away before I could get a look to check and make sure she was ok. I wasn't worried as she came out making a few crying sounds. Steve cut the cord, which was the one thing I was disapointed I didn't get to see or get a picture of. After I started yelling for Steve to take some pictures he realized the camera had been left outside the OR. They let him run and get it and we were still able to capture the moment.

Once she had been weighed (7 lbs 8 oz) they put her on my chest to meet! It was love at first sight. I am still amazed at how instant it was! All I could think was how blessed I was to be her mother.

Our first family picture

She right away started showing off her moves by sticking out her tongue and blowing some bubbles. Her tongue hasn't stopped since :)

Our Beautiful Ruth Elizabeth Reynolds

We named our daughter Ruth Elizabeth. There is a lot of meaning behind why we chose that name which will have to be saved for another blog for times sake.

Ruth one day old

Ruth and Daddy

Meeting Gammy for the first time

Ruth's first bath

After 3 nights we had the sad news given to us that Ruth was Jaundice. This meant that she had to spend all her time in an incubator except when she was feeding. We were so sad but, thankful that they had discovered it while they could still take care of it. Our hearts went out to all the other families and babies that were in the NICU. Most were much smaller and sicker. It put everything into perspective and made us really thankful Ruth wouldn't be there long.