Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Violet's Birth Story

I think it is about time to update my poor blog. I need to document Violet's birth on here. So here we go...

Back in January, I started having really bad headaches at night. I didn't sleep at all. On January 29th, I woke up at 3am with a super bad headache and took a few tylenol. A couple of hours later, I still had a headache, so I tried caffeine. I tried to sleep it off some more. When I woke around 7, everything was blurry. I thought I just hadn't woke up yet, so I went to lie on the couch. I hunched over and held my head....it was so painful!

My puppies were worried about me, so they followed me and whined. I looked at Melbourne's face and could only make out half of his face! The other half was black. I really got worried at this point. I walked back into the bedroom and woke Greg up. I told him that we should probably call my doctor. While he looked up the number, I went into my bathroom. I looked in the mirror and freaked out when I couldn't see myself. I started crying that I couldn't see! Greg rushed in and tried to hold me, but I was freaking. After that, I don't remember anything. I had to be told what happened next.

I started my first of three seizures in my bathroom. Greg tried to catch me and make sure my head didn't hit the toilet. He called my parents (they live 3 doors down the street) first in a panic. My dad told him to call 911 and hung up. They both raced to my house. It took 45 minutes for the paramedics to get me into the ambulance. I was around 175lbs of dead weight. They were big men and couldn't navigate the stair chair around the corners of my doorways. My dad got frustrated and yanked me by the robe collar across the floor to the kitchen. They put me in the chair, but I slumped over. So dad dragged me again to the front door. I finally was on my way to the hospital.

Greg rode with my mom to the hospital. After a couple of hours, they gave me a C-section. They asked if he wanted to go in too, but he opted to stay with my family. Everyone was truly worried that they had lost me. I was completely unconscious during Violet's birth. My dad got a cell phone pic as Violet was wheeled to the NICU. My surgeon did a wonderful job with my surgery. I had no complications and healed well. She kept my family well informed during the process as well.

Being unconscious is a funny thing. Not only does it feel strange when you come to, but all the stories you hear are quite unbelievable! Apparently, I was very feisty! I didn't want Greg to touch me, I pulled things off my arms, and all I wanted was my mommy! I also thought that I was in trouble, because I was off schedule! LOL! That is all my mom's influence! I finally emerged back into the land of the living around two that afternoon. I briefly remember my preacher and his wife saying goodbye. My dad showed me the pic of the baby on his cell. I cried, "She's black!". Violet really looked dark in that pic, but I was still a bit hazy. I had to stay on an IV and magnesium in the recovery room, so it wasn't until the second day I was well enough to be moved to a regular room and visit the NICU. I met my baby that afternoon. She was so little!

The infamous cell pic.
Can you spot the mistake?
Right before I regained consciousness.

Violet was amazingly fine for the most part. The doctor had her on an IV and a small feeding tube. She only had these for a few days. She also had some oxygen briefly to be safe. Her main issue was that she was only 3lbs 8oz when she was born, so she needed to gain weight. She lived in her incubator for two and a half weeks. The last half week, she was moved to a regular newborn bed. She slept in my room the last day. I kind of view the NICU equally good and bad. I hated being in the hospital without my puppies and hated that Violet wasn't still inside of me. But I was grateful that I was eased into being a mommy. I changed just one meconium (sp?) diaper. I learned how to swaddle like a pro. I learned how to get my baby to burp. It also gave us time to have my baby shower and go buy the things I needed to bring her home. My family was so good to me. They bought all the "big" things and brought Violet preemie clothes to the hospital.

I was stuck in the hospital myself for a week. They had to get my blood pressure under control. I had so much water weight on me! I lost about 40 pounds in two weeks. I look back on Violet's newborn pictures and realize that I was still a bit puffy. I am now fine and healthy, even if I'd like to loose that last stubborn 10 pounds!

I think I've included everything I can remember of Violet's birth story. It was traumatic and sudden, but she is so beautiful!


Those eyes!
Not liking the burping process.
All stretched out!

My first time holding my daughter.
Greg's first time.
Our first family photo.

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