Trackcat: Another Star Is Born

Monday, December 29, 2014

Another Star Is Born

Much to nobody's surprise, baby Vivien arrived a month early, a couple of weeks shy of Christmas. Starting at about 32 weeks, I was very nervous, but Ryder's birth day of 34 weeks 5 days came and went without incident. After that, I just kept hoping to make it to the next Friday. Two more Fridays and we would just about make it to vacation. The next week I oriented my long-term sub and made it to Friday! Another small victory!

I was, however, super huge by then, which everyone noticed! Yet again we were saying, "How can that belly get another month bigger?!" I wanted to take a photo, but since with Ryder's birth we took a picture of that big belly and he was born that night, I was a little superstitious and refrained. That Friday night I made chocolate covered Christmas Oreos and got some small coworker gifts together and then stayed up late to do the dishes- nothing worse than a sink full of dishes on Saturday morning.

At 3am I got up to go to the bathroom and it was total deja vu. Just like with Ryder, my water broke out of the blue, but at least this time I knew what it was. My mom came over to watch Ryder and Janda and I headed to the hospital. Since we were at 35 weeks 6 days, we were nervous, but we figured since Ryder was OK, this little girl would be too. Babies who are born before 36 weeks have to go to the Special Care Nursery for 48 hours, so we were trying to avoid that since we wouldn't be able to stay with her if she went there. We talked to the midwife and doctor and we all agreed that we would try to make it to the next day- so if I needed another C-section we would do it after midnight. At 8am that almost seemed like an impossible dream. Little did we know...

Not only did we make it until midnight, we made it past noon the next day. At 1:36pm, baby Vivien was born at 36 weeks exactly- no Special Care Nursery for her! She was 19 inches long and 7lbs. It would seem that Janda and I are two for two with producing early yet huge babies! Because it was officially 36 weeks, she got to stay in my hospital room the entire time I was there, which was a dream come true after Ryder being whisked away to the Special Care Nursery and then Children's.

All wrapped up at the hospital

Ryder was fascinated when he came to visit

On Tuesday we came home while our new wood-burning fireplace was being installed. Not ideal! But, a few hours later all four of us were enjoying a nice fire.

Home at last

Still puffy!

Admiring the new addition

The fireplace has made it so warm and cozy

The next day Vivien had her first doctor's appointment, as a check on her jaundice. Just like me and Ryder, Vivien was a bit yellow. The doctor had her go for a blood test the next day. At 4 o'clock on Thursday we go the results of the test... and had to rush her back to the hospital. She went under the lights immediately and was admitted into a pediatric room that evening.

She and I stayed there for 2 days. Luckily we had a double room to ourselves, so she had her incubator and I had the bed to sleep in right next to her. It was terrible to be away from Ryder and Janda again, but being in that bed forced me to keep my feet up a lot, so it actually helped with my swelling and recovery. When we left on Saturday, her jaundice was down to a reasonable level and my legs were back to their normal size.