Remember all the times I wished she would just come out already?
Well she is FINALLY here.
Penelope Louise Packard
made her earthly debut on May 10th, 2013 at 11:05 pm.
She was a healthy 7lb 11oz and 19 inches long.
This is just the beginning of the cuteness.
Friday, May 10th, started out like any other working day. I rolled out of bed, got my self as situated as possible and headed to work. My main thought that morning was... how in the world am I going to survive 12 hours of waddling around this hospital? Even more on my mind was the fact that I was scheduled for four days in a row. Luckily for me, census has been relatively low which can roughly be translated as less walking!
Can you say AWESOME?
Throughout the hospital the overwhelming question was.....how have you not had that baby yet? I am like....tell me about it.
My actual due date was May 28th. Let me just say, as Andrew can testify, I knew this date was WRONG!!! Emilee and Jaxson were born two weeks early to the day. Penelope had moved into position quite early on and I knew there was no way my cervix would cooperate with keeping this baby in!
Anywho, I left work around 4pm because this was a day Andrew had to work late. After picking up the kids I had NOTHING left.
I was just exhausted.
Andrew came home and assumed the role of being the awesome dad. He was so great at letting me rest.
At about 5:30 pm I felt my first contraction. It was relatively week and I thought nothing of it. Then at 6:05 ish I felt another one. This cycle lasted until around 9pm. I hadn't said anything to Andrew because I did not want to jinx it. After saying something like "Man, I just do not feel good" I got into the bathtub. I mentioned to Andrew that I had had a few contractions and he says this is the moment that it clicked for him that it was time. He asked if he should start initiating our birth plan....I'm all like, NO, I don't want to waste their time if this isn't it. FYI....that was a BIG mistake. I should have let him call.
I was texting my dear friends Bri and Shankie to pass the time...again just thinking I was uncomfortable.
Andrew got the kids to bed and I went to lay down... cause thats what I do when I feel like crap. At 9:00pm almost to the dot the biznass hit the fan so to say. I had a horrendous pain and felt a pop. After looking down I thought...well either my water just broke or I just wet the bed!
The next thought was CRAP....my kitchen isn't clean and I need to fix my face.
I know it seems a bit shallow in reflection...but its the truth....that is just how I roll. My contractions intensified and became more frequent. Andrew jumped into action as did I. He got the everything ready while I fixed my face and brushed my teeth. I remember being so concerned about how not clean my kitchen was....but alas there was no time to clean it. I may or may not have said "Andrew, start cleaning that kitchen while we wait!"
There was a bit of a snafu in out childcare arrangement. So after a tiny panic on my part we reached my dear friend Bri and she came to pick up the kids.
We left the house at 9:45 pm. My contractions were about 7-10 minutes apart. My physician had given me her cell phone number and said to text or call when I went into labor. I sent her a text and she said she would meet me at the hospital.
Let me point out that we chose to deliver at a hospital that was 30 minutes away!!!
Of course, we got behind every road block and semi possible. It took so long my physician called me concerned that I was having Penny on the side of the road. (My labors are FAST)
We arrived at 10:15 ish...by this point I was no longer doubting the labor. Crap was getting serious with contractions every 3 minutes.
I was frankly terrified
This seems like a good place to point out that I had decided to go with a natural childbirth. After a very bad epidural experience with Emilee, I made Andrew vow not to let me talk my self into anything but natural child birth. My main squeeze took this job very serious. For weeks leading up to the main event he would gently remind me of my goals when I would start talking about the possibility of an epidural.
Once upon a time I had seen a child birth video with a woman who was silent while having a baby without intervention. She was in her element, completely Zen. It inspired me and I thought...oh I can TOTALLY do that. (hahahhahha oh what was I thinking!)
The reality of the situation is that I most likely resembled a woman possessed.
I was a straight up crazy woman!
From the point of entering the hospital this is what I remember:
- The person who greeted me was in my ACLS class not but a week before. I was horrified and made him promise not to tell anyone what I looked like.
- They tried to make me go in the wheelchair but I just couldn't take the sitting down. I was cussing and apologizing....and then cussing again.
- My doctor was AWESOME. She is more like a midwife than doctor.
- My nurse was freaked out to put an IV in me.....word had obvious traveled that I am on an IV team. Uh....suck it up sister and get that thing in!
- I just wanted to lean over and rock my hips.
- I needed a hair tie....but for once in my life did not have one in my purse. They gave me a rubber band and I thought....great, this is going to mess up my hair!
- I need to push...but it hurts....so I am just going to try to cross my legs! Cause that will so help the situation right? Then the doctors gentle voice saying...."Joni, you can't keep closing your legs because she cant get her head out!"
- I then felt the worst pain of my existence. I felt as though I was outside of my body no longer in control.
Then I heard the sweetest voice. It was my dear Andrew saying "Come on Joni....she is almost here. You can do it."
I thought....SHIT...and then gave one last barbaric push.
- Joni gave me permission to go over the speed limit while she was in labor. It was pedal to the metal on the highway as much as possible but we kept getting stuck behind Semi's and slow moving vehicles.
- I dropped Joni off at the ER and parked the car. We began the trek to the maternity ward. Joni was bent over with her hands on my shoulders while I walked in front. A nurse came with a wheelchair and Joni got in backwards, because that was comfortable. There were multiple expletives being uttered at this time.
- Once in the room the doctor and nurse got Joni situated. She checked and said "Oh yep you are having this baby." She was dilated to an 8 and 100% effaced, -1 station.
- The doctor was this cute tiny woman who was very comforting to Joni. She smiled through the whole thing. The nurse was very kind. Everyone was calm and professional.
- Then we had the baby.
Here is the story according to Andrews perspective:
( I love how it was...then we had the baby. Like it was no big thing. :D)
Right after bringing this child into the world they laid her on my stomach. My first words....IT BURNS!!!!
The nurse said ..oh HE is so cute. I was like HE???? Wait, it's not a girl? The physician smiled and said, no its a girl.
She was so adorable...I love that moment when the baby is finally revealed. All that day dreaming about what she would be like and now she was here.
Andrew and I had not at this point picked out a name. We had some names floating around but nothing in concrete. Ellie was the name we were leaning towards. He looked at her and said..."Penelope....she looks like a Penelope." I thought that was SO romantic! :D He just named the baby...and she does look like a sweet little Penny!
At this point Dr. Iovino looked at me with a seriousness I had not experienced before. " Joni....did they have problems getting the bleeding stopped with your last pregnancies?" As she said this her fist sunk deep into my uterus and she urgently instructed the nurse to go get a medication that would stop the bleeding.
I started to feel pretty sick, nauseous, light headed and had some serious cramping from the meds. Andrew took the baby for some bonding time. Bri arrived and spent the next three hours getting me situated. I am thankful it was only a few hours of discomfort and nothing more serious. I finally started feeling normal and was able to begin to enjoy my sweet little Penny.
I seriously love this man.
My favorite part of a newborn is getting to cuddle them skin to skin. I love these baby cuddles.
She is such a quiet baby. She cries very little and sleeps well.
Yep, I loved the bonding time.
The kids were able to come see the new baby. All Emilee could say was "Momma....Baby..." over and over.
She is very skilled at finding her eyes, ears, mouth and nose.
Jaxson loves her name. He is always wanting to hold and cuddle her.
Sunday morning we were up and ready to go. I missed my kids and bed.
Ric and Lori just happened to be passing through on their was to Andrews sister Amandas. What a blessing to know our kids were in safe hands.
The coming home went well...slight Emmilee melt down but it was nap time.
What a great big brother.
Hello Nana!
These two are enamoured with Penny.
She looks like a Sweet Pea.
The kids love having dad home for a few weeks.
I have to keep a really close watch on the baby because Emilee is constantly wanting to smother her!
(also, I love my little bed side set up. This pack and play is awesome)
Jaxson did not want to pose for a picture with dad and Emilee because his favorite scene from the Princess Bride was on.
He always says..."Never go up against a Sicilian when death is on the line!"
She is already growing so fast. I love this bonding time and can't stop taking pictures.
This is today after her first bath.
Look at that crazy hair!
So peaceful.
I wonder what she is thinking.
Bright eyes!
She will try to nurse anyting close enough to her face~!
My heart is full. I love being a mother. My children have changed me into the woman I am today. I am thankful everyday for the lessons they teach me. I hope they will grow to be faithfull, honest, loving individuals who know how much their parents love them.
I love my sweet husband who is my rock. He may explain it as "then we had a baby" but to me his support was so much more than that. What a blessing to get eternity with this sweet family of mine.
I can't wait to do it again!
Hahaha don't tell Andrew I said that, he might have a stroke!
