I've been meaning to catch everyone up since returning home Monday from the hospital, but between sleep deprivation, breast feeding, and not wanting to put Annabelle down for one second it's been hard to keep up with communicating with the outside world.
As many of you already know, Annabelle was born last Saturday, January 24th at 7:58pm at The Christ Hospital. The Lord is so faithful in His promises, in reassuring us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, but He won't put more on us than we can bear. For the past month I have been praying for a safe and healthy delivery, and it seemed with every doctors visit I was getting news that pointed towards a late delivery and possible induction, which could result in an emergency C Section. So with every prayer I gave the Lord this final stage of my pregnancy, asking Him to let His will be done, praying for our doctors, nurses, and every hand who would have a part in the labor and delivery.
After a huge dinner at the Melting Pot last Friday night Tony and I went back home and spent the evening simply enjoying being home and talking about the exciting events coming our way. The doctor had scheduled our induction for Super Bowl Sunday and we were prepared for another week of waiting. We went to bed and I felt no different than usual, peeing every hour on the hour and waking up with a foot embedded in it's favorite rib. At 5am I got up for my hourly bathroom break and the moment I entered the bathroom my water broke! I called for Tony who had the car warmed, dog walked, and bags organzied all before I had chance to even get off the toilet or call my doctor, and we were on our way to the hospital.
In between contractions we were sitting in silence, holding hands, running a few red lights when needed. I think it hit us at the same time that this was our last car ride as "Tony and Natalie," from now on a little girl would be sitting behind us and it was scary and exhilerating all at the same time. Arriving at the ER, January 24th became a whirl wind of wheelchairs, doctors, nurses, strange machines, and lots of family and friends. It was also a day of the Lord showing His faithfulness, character, and love for human life as He entered that room with us and held our hand throughout the entire process.
Every small complication that occurred was fixed, Annabelle switched positions at the perfect time so I could get an epidural around 6cm and finally take a break from all the pain. The labor was textbook as I dialated quickly, our nurse was truly heaven sent, and I was my doctor's only patient. I started pushing at 6:30pm and she came an hour and half later weighing 7lbs 8oz and 20.5 inches long.
When she came out she came out with passion and suprised us all by arriving a few pushes early, and when they put her on my chest I was so overwhelmed I could barely speak and had no idea what to say to her. All I could do was tell her how happy I was to meet her and how much her mommy and daddy loved her as she squealed and kicked looking around in complete awe.
Tony and I spent 2 nights in the hospital with Annabelle because I had to heal from the wounds of delivery. She came out so fast I was left with several level 3 tears which resulted in over an hour of stitching and now a lot of pain as I heal. But she was worth it all and it has been amazing to spend these quiet nights alone with my husband and daughter as we all get to know each other better and better.
I am exhausted, I have done things I never knew I could do- like delivering a baby, breastfeeding, changing dirty diapers without dry heaving, and waking up in complete joy despite true exhaustion. Her cries don't scare me, they only make me want to find out how to make whatever is wrong right, and when she looks at me I know she is all mine and that reality is both terrifying and empowering.
Tony is an amazing father, getting up with her in the middle of the night and rocking her back to sleep so I can rest up before the next feeding. She looks so much like him, the only part of me she has is my dimples and mouth, but the rest is all Runion. He is such a natural and I find myself loving our new family more than I ever imagined possible.
Looking back over the past week, I can't believe she is here, and yet I don't know why I am always suprised when the Lord answers prayer. I am prepared to make mistakes but not afraid to try and be the best mom God has called me to be, because before she is mine she is His and He will take good care of Annabelle and her new mommy and daddy.
I hope to keep this blog alive weekly, although I'm learning the time I used to have is now filled with feedings, pumpings, cleanings, and other new duties I didn't know existed, so Facebook and blogging might have to take a backseat for a few weeks. Thank you to all our family and friends who have been so amazing in their prayers, words of encouragement, and little emails sent over the past week. The wisdom of those who have done this before is priceless and I hope everyone knows how important all those little nuggets really do help in moments of uncertainty when I have no idea how to make the crying stop don't know how to get spit up out of sleepers.
The Lord is good and we give Him all the praise for bringing Annabelle safely into this world. She is a true reflection of love and I am forever grateful to God for choosing Tony and I to be Annabelle's parents.
As many of you already know, Annabelle was born last Saturday, January 24th at 7:58pm at The Christ Hospital. The Lord is so faithful in His promises, in reassuring us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, but He won't put more on us than we can bear. For the past month I have been praying for a safe and healthy delivery, and it seemed with every doctors visit I was getting news that pointed towards a late delivery and possible induction, which could result in an emergency C Section. So with every prayer I gave the Lord this final stage of my pregnancy, asking Him to let His will be done, praying for our doctors, nurses, and every hand who would have a part in the labor and delivery.
After a huge dinner at the Melting Pot last Friday night Tony and I went back home and spent the evening simply enjoying being home and talking about the exciting events coming our way. The doctor had scheduled our induction for Super Bowl Sunday and we were prepared for another week of waiting. We went to bed and I felt no different than usual, peeing every hour on the hour and waking up with a foot embedded in it's favorite rib. At 5am I got up for my hourly bathroom break and the moment I entered the bathroom my water broke! I called for Tony who had the car warmed, dog walked, and bags organzied all before I had chance to even get off the toilet or call my doctor, and we were on our way to the hospital.
In between contractions we were sitting in silence, holding hands, running a few red lights when needed. I think it hit us at the same time that this was our last car ride as "Tony and Natalie," from now on a little girl would be sitting behind us and it was scary and exhilerating all at the same time. Arriving at the ER, January 24th became a whirl wind of wheelchairs, doctors, nurses, strange machines, and lots of family and friends. It was also a day of the Lord showing His faithfulness, character, and love for human life as He entered that room with us and held our hand throughout the entire process.
Every small complication that occurred was fixed, Annabelle switched positions at the perfect time so I could get an epidural around 6cm and finally take a break from all the pain. The labor was textbook as I dialated quickly, our nurse was truly heaven sent, and I was my doctor's only patient. I started pushing at 6:30pm and she came an hour and half later weighing 7lbs 8oz and 20.5 inches long.
When she came out she came out with passion and suprised us all by arriving a few pushes early, and when they put her on my chest I was so overwhelmed I could barely speak and had no idea what to say to her. All I could do was tell her how happy I was to meet her and how much her mommy and daddy loved her as she squealed and kicked looking around in complete awe.
Tony and I spent 2 nights in the hospital with Annabelle because I had to heal from the wounds of delivery. She came out so fast I was left with several level 3 tears which resulted in over an hour of stitching and now a lot of pain as I heal. But she was worth it all and it has been amazing to spend these quiet nights alone with my husband and daughter as we all get to know each other better and better.
I am exhausted, I have done things I never knew I could do- like delivering a baby, breastfeeding, changing dirty diapers without dry heaving, and waking up in complete joy despite true exhaustion. Her cries don't scare me, they only make me want to find out how to make whatever is wrong right, and when she looks at me I know she is all mine and that reality is both terrifying and empowering.
Tony is an amazing father, getting up with her in the middle of the night and rocking her back to sleep so I can rest up before the next feeding. She looks so much like him, the only part of me she has is my dimples and mouth, but the rest is all Runion. He is such a natural and I find myself loving our new family more than I ever imagined possible.
Looking back over the past week, I can't believe she is here, and yet I don't know why I am always suprised when the Lord answers prayer. I am prepared to make mistakes but not afraid to try and be the best mom God has called me to be, because before she is mine she is His and He will take good care of Annabelle and her new mommy and daddy.
I hope to keep this blog alive weekly, although I'm learning the time I used to have is now filled with feedings, pumpings, cleanings, and other new duties I didn't know existed, so Facebook and blogging might have to take a backseat for a few weeks. Thank you to all our family and friends who have been so amazing in their prayers, words of encouragement, and little emails sent over the past week. The wisdom of those who have done this before is priceless and I hope everyone knows how important all those little nuggets really do help in moments of uncertainty when I have no idea how to make the crying stop don't know how to get spit up out of sleepers.
The Lord is good and we give Him all the praise for bringing Annabelle safely into this world. She is a true reflection of love and I am forever grateful to God for choosing Tony and I to be Annabelle's parents.
No comments:
Post a Comment