We are Alive

Well, I promise that we are alive...just enjoying parenthood and getting into the swing of routines and such.

Josh and I welcomed our beautiful baby girl Addelynn Reese Shurtz into this world on Monday, September 22nd at 8:17pm. She weighed 7lbs and 2 oz and was a whopping 20 inches long!

Josh completed his two week defensive tactics training on Friday the 19th and then we had the go ahead to be in labor (he told me that I had to get him through this training before Addey came!). We started going on nightly walks and on Sunday night around 11pm I started noticing steady contractions. I didn't start timing them until around 11:30 and realized they were 3-5 minutes apart. I let this go on for an hour like they tell you to and then woke Josh up and told him that I should probably call my doctor and get their opinion on what to do. Josh in a daze from already being asleep for several hours just said "okay, babe let me know what they say," and rolled over and went back to sleep. Love ya babe! The nurse on call said we definitely needed to head in.

I was hesitant because the contractions were just like heavy menstrual cramps and I had a Dr's appt. that afternoon. Well, since my bags were packed we got the dogs situated and then headed out the door. We arrived at Banner Gateway a little after 1am. To my excitement Triage was empty which meant that we would be seen right away. Like always, I had to pee before they checked me so I quickly went to the bathroom (where they told me to go ahead and leave a sample of urine) and then headed back to my room. I was 3cm and 80% effaced and the nurse told me she would talk with the Dr. on call and get back to me as to what would be our plan of action. She came back a few minutes later and told me that they had found some protein in my urine so wanted to do a quick blood draw to make sure everything was looking good.

Fifteen minutes or so passed and she came back and said that she had talked with the Dr. and normally they would have me walk for an hour to see if I progressed and then decide whether to admit me, but my bloodwork showed that I developed preeclampsia (high blood pressure that can cause strokes). She then said that because of the preeclampsia that she would have to admit me and that we would definitely be having a baby that day.

At around 3am they started pitocen to induce labor and it took me until about 8am to reach 4cm. They then pushed me to 5cm to get things rolling. I originally did not want an epidural because I wanted and had in my head all these wonderful thoughts about natural labor, but due to the preeclampsia I was bedridden. There would be no hot showers, labor balls, walking through the pain, or even sitting up and laying back down. About 30 minutes into active labor I was begging for an epidural!

The nurses originally guesstimated that I would deliver around noon. It took me until around 5pm to reach 10cm and become fully effaced. The doctor said I was at a station 3, that they could see Addelynn's head and that it would be about 15 to 20 more minutes. Well, needless to say two and a half hours later I was still pushing, when the doctor finally came back in and evaluated me and informed me that my hips did not separate enough during labor to have a natural birth. So for two and a half hours Addelynn would slide down the birth canal when I pushed and right back up because she was not big enough to pass a certain section of my pelvic region. By this time, I had been in every labor position imaginable, was needing oxygen, hadn't slept in over 36 hours...and was an emotional wreck! A part of me felt like a failure because I am a goal oriented person...the nurse would tell me 15 more minutes and I would persevere...to in the end still end up with a c-section.

Addelynn was born at 8:17pm after a longer than normal c-section because she was so lodged in the birth canal. To top it off an epidural does not completely block out the nerves like a spinal would and since I already had an epidural, a spinal was not an option. I could feel every rip and tear as they took my little angel out of me. I can't really explain the feeling of ripping flesh other than it makes you want to be sick ten times over. I felt like it took hours to get her out and the doctors kept commenting on how lodged in there she was. It was quite the experience...but in the end I was able to hold my beautiful baby girl and exhausted and defeated or not, I was the happiest person in that moment in time.

I had to stay in the hospital for 5 days. Addelynn ended up dropping down to 6lbs and 7oz and developed jaundice that had to be treated under a light for 24 hours. They were also still monitoring my outrageously high blood pressure, which finally decided to go down that Saturday afternoon. As of last Monday Addey weighed 7lbs 10oz and looks wonderful. I can't believe that she will be three weeks old tomorrow. I literally cried when she was 3 days old because I felt like she was growing up too fast already and I needed to savor every moment (I know, post-pardom hormones!). She is such a blessing in our lives and I am continually thankful for both our trials and our miracle because it has made us cherish and appreciate life in a much fuller way. I never thought after four miscarriages that I would have a little one to rock to sleep, to caress her soft face features, and to sing lullaby's too, but Heavenly Father is truly faithful and knows our hearts, and he does answer prayers!