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Happy 4th Birthday Emma!!

Filed Under: Kids Posts, Married Life Tagged With: , , , ,

“Eyes that flirt,” giggles Emma teasing Kevin.  

As I began to sit down to compile this post about Emma turning 4 years old today, I am indeed listening to Emma tease and laugh her cute little girl laugh.

I seriously cannot believe it was 4 years ago that I was so very pregnant with Emma and waiting to give birth to her.

But on July 17th 2009, that is exactly what I did and our lives were never the same again.

Her birth story was anything but typical by the way.  It was my first pregnancy and I was so very excited to lay eyes on her for the first time.  I remember her whole nursery decorated and just waiting for he arrival.

Kevin was working that summer at a local camp teaching young boys sports and swimming.  I was home everyday all day waiting for the big moment to arrive.  The day before my last weekly checkup, I sat in the glider in her nursery and remember willing her to be born.  I was bored, tired and just too excited for words.

Me 9 Months Pregnant. Huge & Please Excuse The Naked Belly, But the Only Pictures I have of Me from This Late in My Pregnancy!!
Me 9 Months Pregnant. Huge & Please Excuse The Naked Belly, But the Only Pictures I have of Me from This Late in My Pregnancy!!

Thursday-July 16, 2009:

I went to my regular weekly checkup.  I was now 39 weeks and my doctor informed me in his own witty repertoire (to know my doctor is to love him–seriously he is the best) as he put it, “Pregnancy is over!”

I had no clue why, but then got the lowdown that my amniotic fluid was too low (dangerously low) and I would need to be induced.  I was to go home pack a bag and meet him at the hospital at 6 am the next morning.

I left that appointment feeling a mix of emotions.  Yes, I was the same person that wanted the pregnancy to be over, but now I was definitely scared at the prospect of labor and delivery.  I had never been through it and seriously after all my reading and knowledge (immersed myself in the weeks to come with pregnancy books about delivery, as well as having take a child-birthing class, too).

So, what did I do?  I went to get my nails done.  Don’t ask me why I did this, but thought it would keep my mind occupied and relax me a bit.  The rest of the day was a blur, except for the fact that I couldn’t sleep that night (was like a kid on Christmas Eve night).  So, we watched Ghostbusters and then I tossed and turned until it was time to get going to the hospital at 6 am.

Friday-July 17, 2009:

I was indeed admitted into the local hospital at 6 am.  Where I was weighed in, given a hospital gown, and asked all the pertinent questions, subsequently answering them and then getting the IV put in.

Around 8 am, my doctor finally began to induce me with the platocin.  Within less then 2 minutes, the baby’s heart-rate dropped dangerously low.  So, the platocin was immediately shut off.  Within a minute or two her heart-rate rebounded and was fine, but my doctor wanted to wait a bit before restarting it.  He also had to perform a DNC shortly on another patient (my doctor has hospital rounds on Fridays).  So told us to sit tight and would return to try again, but if the same thing happened, I was to be sent immediately for a c-section, because he wasn’t going to take any chances.

Seriously, this was the one thing I dreaded and I cried to the on call nurses that I didn’t want a c-section.  I had seen the video of one during the previous child birth class we took and remember how awful it looked and really just did not want to go through it if I didn’t have to.  I mea I had come this far and was not prepared to go down without a fight.

For one thing, I had never had major surgery and was not about to have it now if I could help it.  Yes, I was a big baby was this was concerned, but I was truly just scared.

Amazingly so, my delivery nurse confirmed I was indeed beginning to have regular times contractions on my own as I was waiting and the baby’s heart-rate was fine.  I remember her saying that I was having classic textbook contractions and the baby’s heart-rate was holding steady.

So around noon, they began slowly starting the platocin again and all went well this time.  By around 2 pm, I had the bags of water broken to try to speed things along, because I was still only 1 cm dilated, but 100% effaced (crazy, but true).

My labor was slow, painful and steady. By 6 pm, I was only 2 cm dilated, but the contractions were getting closer and worse.  I finally asked to get an epidural and it was administered successfully by a little after 7 pm.

I remember finally nodding off a bit while watching Everybody Loves Raymond on the hospital delivery room TV.  I was awoken at 8:30 or so for my doctor to check how I was fairing.  I was still only 2 cm and was told again that if I didn’t progress soon that I may need a c-section, because there was a fear of a possible umbilical cord compression.

Yup, still not wanting to hear that and remember getting a bit panicky again at this point.  

At around 9:30 pm, I began to think my epidural was wearing off and told my nurse that I was getting a lot of pressure and cramping low in my pelvis to please up my epidural.  She tells me to hang on and she will get the doctor.

The doctor comes in and take one look and tells me it is time.  That I need to push, because I literally went from 2 cm to 10 cm in an hours time and the baby’s head was pretty much right there. Yes, I was totally naive as to what the pain I was feeling, but hey it was my first baby!

The next thing I know I was pushing and pushing for a little over an hour, when at 10:31 pm, I gave birth to Emma Grace, who was only 5 lbs 15 ozs and 17 1/2 inches.

She was so tiny, but so perfect and very alert.  In fact, the doctor (who had delivered tons of babies before) told us she won the award for most alert after birth!  Little did I know that she had her days and nights mixed up and would be up most nights with colic at this point.  So that may explain this, but still she was perfect and all ours.  Kevin and I were totally in love with her and so on cloud nine at this point.

Emma Grace The Morning After I Gave Birth To Her!!
Emma Grace the Morning After I Gave Birth to Her!!

Wednesday-July 17, 2013:

Well, Emma is now indeed 4 years old today and still cannot believe that the above labor and delivery of her happened over 4 years ago.  Seriously, she starts her second year of pre-school in the fall.  She is still small and petite for her age, but can’t believe how far she has come and how much she really has grown.  We still love her so much and cannot believe how much happiness and joy one little person could bring into our lives!  

Emma Birthdays Collage

Happy 4th Birthday Emma Grace–Mommy and Daddy Love You So much!! 

To see more pictures from when Emma was first born on my Wordless Wednesday Post for this special celebration on The Mommy Blog Hoppers, Please click here.
  

Stay tuned for a recap tomorrow on Emma’s 4th Birthday Party.  And now please head over to J9 Designs here for a very special giveaway that is hosted by myself and Elena from Cropped Stories.

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About Janine

Janine is a published author of the books, The Mother of All Meltdowns and Only Trollops Shave Above the Knee. She has been featured on The Huffington Post, Mamapedia, Today Parenting Team and SheKnows. She also runs her own graphic design company at J9 Designs.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. Karen says

    *wipes tears* always love birth stories…. and that pic of you with Emma the next morning…so much love. SO LOVE that belly…I never got that big because Dino was early…really wanted a huge belly with the belly button popping out.

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMMA!!!!1 BEING FOUR IS AWESOME

    My recent post Blucy Book Review

    • Janine Huldie says

      Thanks Karen and I had the belly button popping twice here and remember when it actually happened the first time. I was at work teaching and my belly button was feeling weird and tender. By that night when I looked it had popped!! Crazy, but by the second I knew the drill and just expected it, but that first time I was kind of in shock that it had happened that easily and quickly!!

  5. Rosey says

    Aww, look at her, so precious and perfect!!

    And getting your nails done was a great choice, because they look fabulous. 😀 😀 😀

    I went from 2cm to 10 in less than an hour too. It was my 4th child, and I knew it was time, so we went to the hospital. They told me it wasn't time, but they'd keep me and monitor me anyway. Good thing they did cuz little man was born an hour later. 😉

    Happy Birthday to your big 4-yr. old. 🙂
    My recent post #Wordless Wednesday: Temporary (thank goodness) Tattoos

    • Janine Huldie says

      Rosey, I loved hearing it wasn't just me that jumped from 2 to 10 cm in record time. My doctor was definitely a bit in shock, but with Lily he was fully aware how quickly I dilate and made sure to let the nurses know this!! And thank you for your kind words, too!! 🙂

  6. Eddy says

    It is so nice to have a few moments to call by again and Happy Birthday to Emma. As always I loved this post and have a wonderful day.
    Lots of love from my little corner of wales.
    Eddy.

    • Janine Huldie says

      Thanks Sara and I actually was so happy when I finally gave birth, because my feet were so swollen and believe it or not itchy from how humid it was and from the lack of blood going to my feet. Crazy, but true!!

  14. The Shitastrophy says

    She looks a lot like your hubby! Her newborn pic is so sweet, I love me some babies. If they just stayed small forever I would totally be that crazy Duggar lady. Happy Birthday to your sweet little girl, I hope her party was wonderful 🙂
    My recent post Truck Nuts? WTF?

    • Janine Huldie says

      Thanks Alyson, I know she totally has his face and still does. I posted one picture of them recently together where not only do they look alike, but they were making the same exact face! The party was a huge success and will be posting up some pictures of that tomorrow, but had to share her birth story today!!

  19. NuggetOnABudget says

    Happy 4th Birthday Emma! I'm glad you shared your birth story–I always like reading about them. And you were too cute with your belly and just getting your nails done!! I think I need to remember that lol. Plus I think I'm about as big as you were in that pic now at 33 weeks! This makes me look forward to having a newborn again and meeting her. I hope today is everything Emma wants it to be!
    My recent post #flavorfy: how to drink more water.

  22. Kenya G. Johnson says

    Happy Birthday to Emma! My goodness you had a big belly for such a teeny girl and teeny baby. My belly button did that and I was so ashamed of it. I bought maternity clothes that didn't show my belly button. I'm always appalled at the maternity wear women/girls are wearing these days. Wow what a delivery story. I never heard of having a DNC before hand. LOL to you getting yours nails done. Love that last picture!
    My recent post Who's On First?

    • Janine Huldie says

      Thank you so very much Kenya. The DNC wasn't for me, but my doctor has hospital rounds on Fridays and believe another one of his patients was getting a DNC that very same morning. So, he was performing that DNC while I was to be laboring with Emma. And I am so with you on the maternity clothes. Absolutely insane. I bought a few classy pieces at a local maternity store and then just bought a few shirts in larger sizes, too. But just crazy the purchases some make and then wear!!

  24. Ruchira says

    Gosh…I got all mushy while reading this.

    Once a mom…always a mom huh!

    This was a beautiful recap. Wishing Emma the best and many years of happiness and joy!
    Congrats to you and Kevin. Enjoy this day, J9!

    Voted for ya!

  28. Lanaya says

    Oh I just love her! Happy Birthday Emma!! Rey can't wait to meet you and your sister!

    ¤´¨)
    ¸.•*´
    (¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo
    Raising-Reagan.com

    My recent post Old School Blogging – Five Things

  31. Chance of Wine says

    Happy 4th birthday, Emma! I remember when it was time for me to push (which took 2 hours and a vacuum), I was told not to self-administer any more of the epidural as it would make it harder to deliver. I knew that I would end up with a c-section if I couldn't feel the contractions, so I obliged, but man was I ever in pain! And then, after more than an hour of pushing, I was told I might break my tail bone. I'd been in labor over 36 hours by this point. Thankfully, it didn't break, but it was REALLY bruised for a long time. OUCH!

    The things we do, right?! 😉
    My recent post I got a tattoo

    • Janine Huldie says

      Ouch just reading that and I know what you mean about the things we do to have kids. I will admit though my second labor and delivery was so much easier. Not sure if it was because I had already done it before, but let me tell you I pushed for less then 15 minutes and Lily was out. And my healing also was so much less. Hope this gives you a bit of hope if you try for #2, because I will say if it were just about labor/delivery after I had Lily, I would have had 10 more, lol!!

  32. stephsprenger says

    I seriously ached when I saw the picture of your newborn Emma! As in, physical pain! So beautiful, Janine. And i just love belly photos and birth stories- seriously! I can never get enough! And I love that you went to get your nails done. Thanks for sharing that with us, and happy birthday to sweet Emma!
    My recent post Is Your Child In the Gifted Program?

    • Janine Huldie says

      Thanks so much Stephanie and I love looking at pictures of newborns myself. My pleasure in sharing and I know about my nails. For the record, I don't remember the last time I actually did have my nails done, lol!! 🙂

  34. catherine says

    I think I would do the same and get my nails done as well! By the way, you look so beautiful in the morning after picture! Naturally, gorgeously beautiful.

    • Janine Huldie says

      Oh thank you so much Catherine and waited many years to be a mom, so I will admit I was over the moon having Emma. I don't think I put her down for hours after and still remember just staring at here little face in amazement!! 🙂

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