Reese Lyn Blackwell- The Birth Story

* This is a journaling kind of post so if you actually are able to endure and read all the details, you get a gold star! Otherwise enjoy the many pictures ;)

 We were scheduled for a 8pm c-section at Utah Valley, so we had to be at the hospital by 6pm to check in. My wonderful sister-in-law Brianna came over to our house to spend the night with Irey. Before we left we got one last family picture with just the three of us. Irey was really anxious for us to be on our way so she could move on to all the fun things she had planned for her sleep over with her Aunt, so she didn't mind at all that we were leaving.

We got to the hospital and checked in and they took us back to our room. Brandon and I were feeling like we were living in luxury because with Irey's c-section we had the over-flow room (tiny tiny little room) because they were so busy, so it was nice to feel like we could spread out in the normal rooms they have. My mom, dad, and mother-in-law waited with Brandon and I while the prepared me for my c-section (my father-in-law graciously hung out in the waiting room the whole time). Our good family friend, Leslie, works for Labor and Delivery at Utah Valley and even though she didn't work that night she came in anyways just to be with me during my c-section! She is a doll.

Earlier that day, while I was debating on moving the c-section up or keeping it scheduled on Friday, my mom was very anxious for me to move it up. I was having a hard time deciding and she was doing anything she could to talk me into moving it up to that night. She said, "Kylie I will pay you $100 and take you shopping to buy new clothes with it!" I had basically made up my mind by that point but I thought her desperate plea was funny so jokingly I said, "ok, if I get $100 out of it then why not?!" To make it even funnier she really did go to the bank before she came down to the hospital and gave me the $100 she promised! I didn't accept it but I will be more then willing to let her buy me a shirt... or two ;)

Every time I have had a c-section so far I have a HUGE panic attack right after they hook me up to the meds. I don't know if the meds and anxiety are connected but it is THE WORST 15 min. of my life! My blood pressure goes through the roof and I get so hot I feel like I can't breath! My mind is in a frenzy, thinking the worst possible things. This time when it happened Brandon wasn't in the room, I told my mom what was up and she remembered when I did this the last time. She was great, she pulled the sheets off me and fanned me until I am sure her arm was numb but it really helped me get a grip! I will have to remember with all my c-section that I do this.
To complete the nights drama, the lady who was scheduled for the c-section before me, had some tragic  complications which pushed my c-section back. Her situation was crazy and really scary but she ended up ok, but because of what happened with her they had to find me another anesthesiologist. For this I was grateful because I was going to be stuck with the same anesthesiologist as last time and the epidural was by far the worst part! I ended up with Dr. Lynd and he was AMAZING! I didn't feel the needle at all this time and I stayed numb through my whole c-section, unlike last time (ouch). He even stayed by my side through out the whole c-section and told me everything that was going on, so I didn't feel like I was missing out! I also must say that Dr. Woodmansee (the doc I went to who is also my family doc) was amazing. He made sure I was happy and comfortable the whole time. He even hung out in my room with my family until it was time to scrub down for the surgery! Love that man.

The c-section felt like it took a lot longer this time but once they got to little Reese they had no trouble at all pulling her right out, unlike Irey who caused the Doctors a LOT of stress. When little Reese came into the world she gave two small cries and that was all. My first words were,"That's all you got?" as the room laughed, I was dead serious. I cant see anything because of the drape they put in front of me,  and I can't feel anything because I was so numb, so the only thing I have to know my baby is here and healthy is that cry. It's just not real until they cry, it's their first cry that lets you know, I am here and I am safe... your a mommy again! So when all I got was two little peeps I wanted more! I was itching to hold her and kiss her!

Little Reese came into the world at 8:53

Weighing 6 pounds 10 ounces

and was 19 inches long

She came out looking like a clone of her daddy's baby pictures, like a cute little froggy. This of course made her dad's heart over flow with pride! I only got to see her a few seconds and tried to kiss her as much as those few seconds would allow, this is the part I hate most about c-sections. Every part of me is overwhelmed with love for this little girl and my arms are aching to hold her and look at her but all I get is a few moments to look in awe at her and then she is gone. 

Brandon took Reese down to the nursery while I went back to my room to recover. He said the whole time she was in the nursery she was sucked vigorously on her fists and was rooting like crazy! She wanted her mama as much as her mama wanted her! She only cried during her bath and was other wise completely quiet. After her bath the nurse went to get a hat to put on her and Brandon told her she didn't need that hat, and out of his pocket he pulled out the bow he picked our for her to wear (he is a STUD of a girl dad). The nurse just laughed and said ok and all the family on the other side of the glass laughed because they know how Brandon is about fussing over his girls!

I finally got to go to my room on the Mother/Baby floor and only had to wait a few minuets until I got to see my little Reese! It's hard to find all the right words explaining how you feel holding your baby for the first time, but I will try. It just feels like a piece of the puzzle is fitting together. She is my daughter and I am her mommy and I just feel every bit of that role the second I get to hold her in my arms. I just stare at her in awe and am so overwhelmed knowing she just came from heaven leaving so many people behind that we love and will get the opportunity to love in the future. I feel like I know her and we are just meeting up again instead of meeting for the first time. It's a experience that is just heavenly, and I try to absorb as much as I can. 

Of course the next most amazing thing about the whole experience is seeing Brandon with her. Just when you think you can't love some one more, your heart grows and is overwhelmed with more love. I am crazy about that man for a lot of reasons but in this instance, it's because he is such a dang cute daddy! He starts pulling clothes out of the diaper bag and picks out a outfit to dress her in, he is just itching to adore her tiny little features and dress her and snuggle her! He had to wait to dress her until I nursed her because this little girl wanted to eat and would not be put off a second longer. 

I don't think she was in the room for 10 minuets before getting her first go at nursing. I told my mom I was feeling pretty loopy still from the drugs so she would have to help me get her latched on, but to my surprise I didn't need to do anything at all because Reese knew just what to do. I tell you some babies are just born knowing (Irey wasn't one of those babies) and Reese has been a natural from the start, making nursing a much easier task then last time. I just love to nurse. I love the bond that I feel and knowing that I am giving her the best of what she can have. I also love how much Reese loves it and it makes me feel loved by her. I am grateful that I can nurse because I feel like it allows me to bond with her and sometimes with a c-section you feel like your missing out on a part of bonding, but for me being able to nurse for that first time makes up for it!

Our three day stay at the hospital was GREAT! I was ready to get home and have my family back together again but while I was at the hospital I made the best of it. The food, oh my goodness the food, it was SO dang good! All my nurses were great. I even got two that were better then great and I wish I could hang out with them at home they were so awesome! We also had LOTS and LOTS of visitors. We feels so blessed to have so many friends and family to help us and share in our excitement with us!

Every day in the hospital we made the nurses laugh because Reese had a new outfit and bow to match. I hate the hospital blankets and little shirt they give them, that's hardly comfy, so I always pack my own. And since I have girls, might as well go all out and have fun playing dress up!

Irey got to meet Reese the morning after she was born. By the time I got back to my room that night and finally got to see Reese, it was like 11:00 pm so Irey had long since been asleep. Brianna woke up the next morning and brought Irey down to the hospital. I didn't know what to expect from Irey's reaction but the first thing she said when she walked in the rooms is, "Hey, get some clothes on my baby sister!" She was only in a diaper because we were nursing skin to skin and she had just finished. Irey has been the adoring and protective big sister from the start. She really just loves to have someone to look after and fuss over.

I had a lady make some bracelets that match for Irey and Reese. Each girls bracelet had their first initial on it but other then that they are the same. I had it wrapped and gave it to Irey and told her it was from baby Reese. She was thrilled to get matching "pretties" with her sister. I told her they are their "best friend bracelets" she kept thanking baby Reese and telling her how much she loved it...so precious!

I can express enough of how blessed I feel to be the mom of these two beautiful little girls. Brandon and I feel so lucky and yes, at times overwhelmed with the thought that someday they will be beautiful teenagers.

Reese was a absolute perfect angel at the hospital. She never went to sleep in the nursery because she did so good sleeping in my room. Sometimes I had to wake her up to feed her because after a while I would almost start to get worried that she was going to long with out eating.

She was a sucker since the second she was born. She will suck on her fist, thumb, finger, me, or anything she can except a Binky. We have yet to find a Binky that she just loves to suck on... the search continues. 

When it came time to go home I was more then ready. I love the hospital but I love being with my family more and Brandon and I were anxious to get our family together and not be apart any more.

Coming home was a funny adventure and I will go into that more later. Reese is a week old today and I can't say enough about what a sweet little baby she is. She is almost too good to be true! 

Our welcome home signs that Irey made for us!