*note-this is a long one...take a seat and enjoy the story of our little miracle.*
It was Thursday July 14, 2011. That morning Garrett, Jill and Delaney came over and we hung out for a while. Your Dad and I decided to go to lunch with Jill and Garrett later in the day at Hometown Emporium in Exeter. (This didn’t sound very appetizing to me-I wasn’t very hungry the last couple days of being pregnant-and all I wanted was a Peanut Butter Moo’d Smoothie from Jamba Juice!) So your Dad and I had to run some errands, pick me up a smoothie, and then we met Jill and Garrett for lunch. All week I had been having mild contractions on and off-but nothing consistent or serious. We had a wonderful lunch with Jill and Garrett and walked a little around Exeter town-it was a lovely day. We then all went to Grandma and Grandpa Moore’s house to relax, hang out, and eat dinner. Your Dad and I took a nap on Grandma and Pop Pop’s couch (later we were VERY thankful for this small little nap). And then later that night we had some Me N Eds Pizza (Unlce Garre’s favorite).
Earlier in the week we had asked your cousin Delaney when you were going to arrive, and EVERY time we asked her she said “Friday Night”. It was so funny and we all laughed and thought “wouldn’t it be crazy if she were right?”
After dinner we got ingredients to make Brown Butter Cookies (a YUMMY recipe we will have to make together when you get older)-but we ended up leaving Grandma and Pop Pop Moore’s to go to Grandma and Grandpa Foley’s house. Your Great Grandma Paula Foley was here visiting from Kansas and your Daddy wanted to go and say Hi. By now I didn’t realize that I was having regular contractions-but I did know I was having some. When we sat down at Grandma and Grandpa Foley’s table I noticed that the contractions weren’t going away-so I began timing them. They started off being about 12-15 minutes apart-but as we sat there talking with your Daddy’s family the contractions went to about 10 minutes apart. When we were driving home I told your Dad that I was thinking tonight was the night that the contractions weren’t going away. We sat and watched a couple of shows on TV and I kept timing the contractions. About 8 minutes apart…getting a little stronger but not too uncomfortable. I took a shower and got all ready for your arrival-and then so did your Daddy. But I knew it wasn’t quite time to go to the hospital. I wanted to wait and be as comfortable as possible during the beginning phase of labor. We cleaned up the house a little-and then around 12:30 we decided to try and get some sleep (HAH!). I laid in bed for about 15 minutes-my contractions too hard/uncomfortable to sleep through, but I wanted your Daddy to get plenty of rest for what was to come. I switched from laying on the couch…being in the bathroom…rocking in the chair…sitting on the exercise ball…to cleaning up the kitchen. The contractions became about 5 minutes apart-and were very strong. I didn’t realize how much the contractions would hurt. I have a high tolerance for pain-but this was something completely different! It would almost knock me off my feet-but it felt good to try and keep my mind off of it. I waited as long as I could, then woke your Daddy up around 3:45 and told him “I think it’s time!” We took our time and got everything ready to take to the hospital and made sure the house was clean and ready for your welcome home J. At this point the contractions were anywhere between 3-5 minutes apart and very strong.
When we got in the car your Daddy wanted to take the car through a quick car wash. He loves his cars being clean and wanted it to be super clean for your arrival. I agreed and we went through a drive through car wash. It was the perfect moment for us. The windows all sudded up-not able to see out. We grabbed each other’s hands and looked into one another’s eyes. I said “This is the last time it will ever be just me and you…I’m kind of scared”. He said “ I know, me too”. And we gazed into each other’s eyes-which were teary by now-and shared a kiss. It was the perfect moment for us. It was a little peace before we jumped into the crazyness (but a wonderful crazyness)!
We pulled into the hospital and went up to the maternity/labor section. We checked in and then were called into a side room to be checked, to make sure I was really in labor. You were monitored along with my contractions-and the nurse said I was dilated to about 3 ½ -4 cm and about 80% effaced. She wanted to monitor me for only 30 minutes, but it ended up being about an hour and 15 minutes. They wanted to send me home or have me walk around for an hour and then come back-but as she continued monitoring me I think she could tell I was getting more and more uncomfortable. I don’t think I could’ve left and walked around or gone home even if I wanted to. The contractions were SO strong…I was trying so hard to breathe through them, and your Daddy was SO good with me. I couldn’t lay still when a contraction would come they were so strong. Daddy said my big toes would go straight up in the air and all my other ones would be curled down tight-and you inherited those toes! At this point I decided an epidural was a YES! The nurse decided that I was making good progress and she would admit me and give us a room. Daddy called your Grandma Moore and Auntie Jilly to come down to the hospital. We were given a room where I was hooked up to an IV. The nurse asked when I would want the epidural and I didn’t really know when I wanted it at this point so I said I could wait a little bit. She was very smart and suggested I get it as soon as possible so then my Doctor (Rita Barron) could break my water. The nurse said that she thought I would progress very quickly once my water was broken-so I agreed and said bring them on in! I had to wait about 30 minutes (to get some fluids from and IV in me) to get the epidural. It was in those 30 minutes that I was so thankful for the nurse’s recommendation to get the epidural as soon as possible. My contractions were so hard I could barely breathe! Your grandma and auntie came in-and it was then that I was throwing up over the side of my bed (yucky I know, but I just couldn’t help it!). Your Daddy was amazing during all of this! Soon after that my midwife Rita came in with the epidural crew. YAY!!!! The epidural was administered (thank you Rita for holding my hand and helping me relax!) and then your Dad, Grandma and Auntie came back into the room. It worked immediately-and it was AMAZING! For the next couple hours I slept on and off (I was tired from being up all night) and watched TV with Dad, Grandma and Auntie (Say Yes to the Dress, and the GMA-Brad Paisley was on and I really wanted to see it-hehe). Your Dad and Aunt decided to go get something to eat and I decided to take a nap. The nurse (Shirley) came back in-it was about 12 at this point) to check how far I was and she said in a shocked voice “Oh wow, you are at 10 cm and are fully effaced!” Which meant ‘let’s get this show on the road!’ I didn’t quite feel the pressure to push so they decided to hold off on me pushing for a little bit. Around 1pm the nurse came in and decided it was time I started pushing. I pushed for a little while and then Rita came in. Now it was time to get down to business! It was hard for me to push because I was so numb from the epidural that I couldn’t feel where to push. But I was so thankful not to feel the pain of it all! Every contraction just felt like a Braxton Hicks contraction-super tight but no pain. So I kept pushing-and I guess I did a pretty descent job because you came in about an hour. I had an amazing support system while I pushed, and all I could think about was the harder I push, the quicker I get to meet you!
On Friday July 15, 2011 at 2:13pm we welcomed you into the world. I was sooo amazed-I couldn’t help but crying and staring into your face (you were screaming your little head off!) and you were laid right on my chest. Your daddy was so happy he was crying (he had the major water works going). Your grandma and auntie were so very excited too! We were all waiting to meet you, and here you were, finally!
I never thought I could love something so much. You are perfect! Your toes are long like your daddy and mommy’s. We don’t know who’s eyes or nose you have yet. Many people say you look just like me J. You have a dimple in your left cheek. And you are so cuddly. You love your mommy and daddy. And you LOVE to eat! As soon as you came out you were ready to eat J. You weighed 7lbs 7 oz and were 19 ½ inches long. You were held by your Daddy right after I got my fill, and then by Grandma Nancy and Auntie Jilly.
We had to wait 2 hours before going to the room that we were to stay in for the next two nights. Daddy knew some of the nurses so we got hooked up with one of the baby room suites! It was a very big, nice room! We were greeted by Pop Pop, Grandma and Grandpa Foley, Auntie Katie, and Great Grandma Paula. I got a little teary eyed as we rounded the corner and saw all of them there. It was a little overwhelming-and I was already brimming to the edge with emotions. I do remember that all I wanted to eat was a deli sandwich! Haha-I think it was because when I was pregnant I couldn’t eat deli meat because of a bacteria that can be found in it. And I got me a sandwich that night and pigged out! J Mommy’s cousin Bethany came by and got to hold you for a little bit, and your Auntie Jilly came by again to check up on mommy. She helped us so much-and when she was about to leave we (Jill, Dad and I) were all looking at you and you smiled. (I don’t think you meant to-but it was so cute ).
Oh Charleigh, I could go on and on about all that happened in those first few days of your life! I am loving every moment of being your mommy! You are growing so fast already. You were welcomed home when you were 2 days old. Auntie Jilly and cousin Laney made you a welcome home sign. Laney was sooo excited to meet her cousin Baby Charleigh. She likes to give you kisses on the head and always whispers “I yuv (love) you bebe Cha-yee”. She loves you very much and can’t wait until you get old enough to play with.
Your Daddy and I are so blessed to be your parents. I pray daily that we will teach you all that you need to know-and that we will help you along this journey of life. We thank God daily for you and are amazed each and every day that we get to have you in our lives. You have changed our lives for the better-we love you so very much-more than we ever thought we could. Oh our sweet baby girl. We can finally kiss that beautiful face of yours! We waited patiently for that day to come, and are overflowing with joy and love. Know that you are so very loved.
Mommy and Daddy
