Evelyn Claire Young was born into our family on August 1st, 2016 at 6:10am weighing 8 lbs 3 oz and measuring 20 1/4 inches long. For those interested, the following paragraph is the birth story.
On Sunday July 31st after church, between 5pm and 6pm, I started having what I thought were more intense Braxton Hicks Contractions. There would be a crampy feeling associated with the tightening sensation. That evening while skyping with my parents I mentioned that I thought I was experiencing more intense Braxton Hicks Contractions. My mom said that they kind of sounded like real contractions and that I should time them. Not long after that I spoke with my sister Emilie who also suggested that I time them and recommended installing an app on my phone that helps to time contractions (that was so nice to have!!) So just after 10pm I started timing them. The length of time between the 1st two that I timed was 18 minutes, but from then on they went quickly to 8-10 minutes, then 6 minutes, then between 4 and 5 minutes, and the duration of the contractions were all around 1 minute in length. The intensity of them increased as well. During that time I woke up Morgan for support and for some help in determining if we should go to the hospital. After a phone call to Labor and Delivery, and while we packed up the rest of everything in case we decided to go to the hospital, I had a few pretty painful contractions that made the decision for me. It was between midnight and 1am and Morgan woke up the kids and put them in the car and we were off. I called my sister Emilie who was planning on taking the kiddos while we had the baby. She luckily was still awake and met us at the hospital to take the kiddos.
At 1am they checked me I was at 4cm dilated and 80% effaced. At my weekly check up the week prior I was at 2.5 cm dilated, but they weren't sure if that progression had happened during my recent contractions or throughout the past week, so for an hour they had us wait to see if I truly was in labor and they'd check me again at 2am. During that time, the contractions got more and more painful and intense. Like 30% of women, during the pregnancy I tested positive for Group B Strep so it was pretty important that I get two doses of antibiotics via IV 4 hours apart from each other before the baby was born in order for her to have a much lesser risk of getting it. So that was a huge concern of mine and luckily after getting to the hospital at 1am, the nurse called my doctor and my doctor said that if I wanted I could be induced if I really wasn't in labor, so that I could make sure to get those antibiotics in me. Luckily, my body was truly in labor. At 2am I was checked and I was at 6cm dilated. Soon after that I received the IV, then the 1st dose of antibiotics, and around 3am or so I received the epidural. By that time I had the shakes really bad but once the epidural was finished and I was able to relax a little, they went away. Then it was the waiting game. Around 5:30/5:45am the nurse came in and checked me and I was at 10cm dilated and without me really knowing, my water had broke as well. My nurse told me to let her know if I started to feel any pressure and then rushed to call my doctor. I wasn't supposed to have my second dose of the antibiotics til 6am but the doctor gave the nurse permission to give the 2nd dose to me a few minutes early and to accelerate the time it took to get it through the IV. (Normally it takes 30 minutes to finish up with the antibiotics through the IV but they made it go into me within 8-10 minutes or so, which burned my arm where the IV was! so they diluted it a little). My doctor arrived just after 6am and got everything ready. The 2nd dose of antibiotics just had finished and then my doctor said "Are you ready to push?" and from then on it all felt surreal. Evelyn's head was already crowning without me pushing. 1st push, her head was out, 2nd push up to her shoulders were out, 3rd and last quick/little push the rest of her came out. It was a beautiful experience and there were many tears, of joy of course. She was beautiful and perfect in every way. They set her on my chest on a towel as they wiped her down and sucked out the fluid from her mouth. She cried a lot which was good to get all that fluid out of her lungs. I was being stitched up during this time with 3 stitches due to a minor tear. Luckily the epidural helped me not feel a thing! They then took her, weighed her, assessed her and gave her a quick bath. They gave her back to me for some skin to skin and then finally Morgan was able to hold her after that.
This is right after she was born.
Evelyn getting weighed.
Then some skin to skin.
Then some Daddy time.
That morning when the kids woke up, Ems texted me this picture saying, "I just told them!" I loved seeing this picture and how excited the kids were (especially Noel). They have been looking forward to having this baby just as much as Morgan and I have.
They visited later that day.
We are now officially a Family of 5!
My mom flew in later that day and my brother Mikey picked her up from the airport and came and visited us at the hospital. Emilie came along as well.
Then, my brother Mikey used his amazing photography skills and took some newborn pictures of Evelyn. They are so beautiful. Mikey is so talented. Enjoy:)
My mom came back the next day with Noel as well as Chris and Kareena.
Meanwhile, while at the hospital for those two days, I would get texts from Emilie and my Mom showing how the kids were doing. They were doing just great, having a blast with their cousins. They loved having a sleepover with their cousins. Sam got to sleep in Charlie and Myles's room.
And Noel slept with Henry and Tommy.
The kids all played hard and got really dirty, hence the picture of Sam's feet.
Wednesday, August 3rd we were discharged.
Sorry for the blurry picture.
My mom stayed with us for a week and helped with Evelyn, took care of Noel and Sam, made us meals, was my soundboard, ran errands for us, and made my recovery and the adjustment so much easier than it would've been without her. The kids had a blast with my mom. I was so grateful to have her help for a week.
The kids did all sorts of crafts with Grandma.
Meanwhile, baby Evelyn came home from the hospital having higher than normal Bilirubin levels so we had to get that checked a couple more times before it went down. We put her in soft sunlight for a little bit to perhaps help.
My dad also was able to come and be here for a little while.
Evelyn's first sponge bath. (She didn't like it:)
Noel loves being a big sister.
Sam loves being a big brother. It's been fun to see him take interest in her.
On Sunday my Utah sibs and families came over and we all had dinner here and visited and the kids all played.
The kids recently have loved playing Stratego.
I love sleeping with my baby. Although sleep is getting more complicated. A couple of nights ago she was awake from 1am-4am (nursing, pooping, fussing, almost sleeping, and nursing and pooping again).
Noel started her first year of soccer. She had two practices this last week and is loving it so far.
The kids helped Grandma make her famous cinnamon rolls. It's tradition that when my mom helps out for that week after one of her daughters has a baby, she makes her cinnamon rolls. Let me tell you, it sure hit the spot!
The kids dressed up their stuffed animals in diapers.
Grandpa holding Evelyn.
Saying goodbye to my mom was very hard. Thank you so much mom for EVERYTHING. You helped me so much during this rough time of adjustment and healing. Now I'm trying to adjust without you, but I know it will get easier as time goes on, but I'm grateful to you and your love and support. I love you Mom.
All HAIL broke loose when my mom left;)- (pretty large hail eh?)
Morgan spending some time with Evelyn. He is such a good dad.
Noel practicing some soccer with her daddy in the backyard.
Evelyn has given us some smiles here and there and I finally got it on camera this time.
Well, there you have it. Evelyn is now 2 weeks old and I'm still trying figure out her different cries and her schedule and trying to adjust it to mine. It's crazy that for the last 9 months we were looking forward to Evelyn's arrival and finally she is here and 2 weeks have already passed. We love her and are grateful for the smooth pregnancy and delivery.
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