Friday, July 11, 2008

Baby Grace's Epic (well, it doesn't rhyme)


I decided to keep a baby journal. This is only the first entry, if you would like to read more I will send you the rest, or you can find me on facebook.


July 1st 2008

Today you will be one day old. You gave us all a scare when you decided you were ready to come on the 22nd of June (Aunt Sheila’s birthday)instead of the 1st of September. Around 7:00am that Sunday we rushed to the Logan hospital, bringing your poor Uncle Mitch (who was half asleep and had just come to stay with us the day before), and Grandma (Karen) Mayne with us. After the doctor checked me and gave me some medicine, we got to leave (six hours later). It was a very hot summer, mid to high 90s every day. We only had air conditioner in one room, so we had to use a fan to keep cool. Needless to say, you got very hot an wanted to get out. Our second anniversary came on the 24th, and we almost forgot about it. That night you got ready, and we rushed to the hospital again, this time at 5:30am. The doctor said you were anxious to get out and sent us to Mckay Dee Hospital in Ogden (three hours later). We got to ride in an ambulance, while dad took Uncle Mitch home to Brigham and got Grandma and Grandpa (Phil)Mayne. Grandma picked us some really pretty roses from their yard, which Great Grandma (Glenda) Mayne had planted four years earlier. Dad was getting impatient, but they made it in good time. By that time everyone in the whole family and neighborhood were worried about you, because I had dilated to 3cm. You and I were stuck in the hospital until one of two things happened 1: you were born or 2: you waited until you were 34 weeks along and they‘d send us to Logan hospital(you were only 31 when we got there). We did pretty good. Dad had to leave us on Thursday, but my good friend Laura Sheffield helped make things more comfortable for me. She brought me movies, food, and a Game Cube. What a life saver! It’s boring in the hospital. She put up your ultra sound pictures, and the nurses all said you were the cutest baby there. We didn’t have a lot of visitors, but Grandpa Mayne came to see us almost everyday, he liked the break from home and work. He brought us lots of snacks. My good friend Emily Schumann came to visit us too. She bought us some bear claw ice cream. A lot of people wanted to visit, but there wasn’t much time. Julie and Sam Kidd came to see us, and the brought their niece Andee (she sure grew up fast!) By Sunday night you were ready to try again. At 5:30 in the morning (on June 30th, Julie‘s birthday), I notified the nurse. They hooked me up to a machine (again, for the third day) to make sure your heart was beating and to see how hard my stomach was trying to push you out. For some reason they couldn’t see how hard it was pushing. They got the doctor, and he said I had dilated to 8cm. They gave me an IV in my wrist, and an epidural in my back. Dad called Grandma and Grandpa Mayne at 7:00 am, and they came as soon as they could. They called everyone they knew while we waited. By noon it was about time to go, but someone else was in the delivery room so we had to wait. Dad said once we got in there, it only took half an hour for you to come out. They took you away as soon as you came, and put you in a room to be checked out. On the APGAR test you got a 6 at one minute and 8 at five. The doctors were impressed. You weighed roughly 4lbs 7oz, and were 17.5 inches long, a lot bigger that anyone expected. While we waited to see you, dad and your grandparents called everyone again to tell them how good you did. I was tired, and my legs were asleep, but I was happy that I could eat again and that you were safe. Dad was a nervous wreck. He couldn’t stop crying, he was so happy to be a dad and overwhelmed with the thought of taking care of you. I was not, because Sunday night he and grandpa gave us a blessing that everything would be good and told us that our Heavenly father loves us. We finally got to see you again for a minute, just dad and I. You looked so sad. You had wires coming out of you, and a big tube in your throat to help you breathe. You cried when they stuck a big needle in your leg, but no sound came out because of the tube. I cried a little too. Then they sent us away again. We ate breakfast and watched a little TV while we waited for them to tell us it was ok to see you again (around 5:00 pm). It seemed like you were on the other side of the hospital (so far away), we went through a maze of hallways just to find you. We finally found you, and dad started crying a little. Such a beautiful baby girl! You looked much better than you did before, you were sleeping peacefully. You were a little annoyed with us at first for waking you up, but then you were happy to have us there. I talked to you while dad wiped away his tears of joy. The doctors were really nice and answered all the questions dad had for them. After we got a couple of pictures with dad’s cell phone and sent them out, Grandma and Grandpa came back to the hospital to see you. Grandpa took a lot of pictures, you didn’t seem to mind the flash too much. Then the doctor said I could hold you. That was the happiest moment of my life. You are so precious to me. I wanted to hold you so much. You were very happy to have me hold you. You even opened your eyes to see me for the first time. You were so tired, and went right to sleep. I got to hold you for a long time, while dad and Grandpa took more pictures. Grandma just looked at you with admiration and didn’t say much, you are our little princess. Grandma Kulick wanted to be there with us so badly, but was in Long Island, New York. She bought you lots of clothes (I am sure are just adorable). After a while they told us we had to go, so that you wouldn’t get too stressed out. It was a long agonizing night. I wanted to hold you, but I couldn’t. We got to see you from 10:00am to noon, dad changed your diaper and got to hold you for the first time. The doctors were very impressed with you, you didn’t need the oxygen tubes anymore and they took out the annoying tube from your belly. You were your old self again, kicking an squirming non stop. The doctor said you tried to take out your IV today, so they wrapped your hand up in tape with a big cotton ball (which you liked to stick in your mouth). You looked like a little frog stretching your legs out and snapping them back in. Everyone agrees that you are the prettiest baby they have every seen. Grandpa came to see us again. He said you are “amazing“. Grandma is coming to visit you too, and to help me get through this hard time. They say I have to leave tomorrow. I am very sad, haven‘t stopped crying since they told me. I won’t get to see you so much. But Grandpa said I could go with him before he goes to work (or after)so I can at least see you everyday. I will be staying just down the road, but it feels so far away. Now I know how your dad feels, you are so hard to stay away from, we miss you too much. We are so lucky to have you, and you are lucky to be so healthy. The nurse put a little red bow on your head, because she thought such a beautiful princess needed a bow. You didn't like it when I changed your diaper, but you fell asleep so quickly in my arms. You got your first taste of breast milk today. It was a from a donor, and it went in through a tube in your nose. You didn't like the tube, but I think you liked the milk. That's all the excitement I have for today, but I am sure there will be more to report tomorrow. I am very tired, I didn’t get to sleep yet, and it’s 9:30pm. I didn’t get to eat much either, but Grandma went to find something for dinner. She is very good to us.

6 comments:

Brandi said...

I loved reading this! I am impressed with your ability to write so expressively. My dad wrote me a letter when I was first born, and it was so neat to read it when I got older. Grace is really going to love this. And your love for her is so apparent in every word you've written. Thank you for sharing this with us :)

Christina said...

That is way cute! It is still strange but cool to think of you two as parents. I also had no idea that they could feed babies through their nose! Anyway, I hope things are going well. You can call anytime you get bored or lonely. I hope Grace gets to go home soon.

Blen said...

Very nice Deanna, where are you and your baby exactly? Me and Lindsay need to come see you very soon. Let me know if you need help posting some pictures on the blog

Pete and Nae said...

I agree- we'd love to see some pictures:

Christina said...

I heard that you are both back in Logan. That is good. How are you all doing? Are you having fun getting the house ready for her?

Deanna said...

yup, we're in Logan. She's still in the hospital, but they're thinking only maybe a week more.the house is still a bit of a wreck, but getting there.