Keeping up with the Kenly's

I was set to be induced Monday morning for a few reasons. I was very nervous because I knew of the risks with being induced. Plus I feel like being induced is like dooms day because when you are in labor you just have to deal with the pain and everything, but when you induce yourself then you are putting yourself into that pain. I can way better handle being poked with needles and being checked (ladies you probably know what I mean) when I am in pain and need it!

I arrived at the hospital at 7:30am and was admitted and (4 tries later) had my IV in and was given oxytocin to induce my body into labor. After the third IV attempt I passed out because I apparently could not handle being continuously poked with needles and then bleeding. I was at 3 cm upon arrival. My contractions and mine and babies heart rate was constantly being monitored. Also, unlike when I was in Canada I had a blood pressure band on my arm which was so annoying! It kept going off at the worst times and I had to have my arm straight. Contractions started coming along an hour or so later and when they got quite consistent and painful I asked for my epidural which was just before noon. Why is it that epidurals are way easier and less painful than getting an IV? Baffles me!

Well after being checked and having no progression, I was bleeding and they were starting to worry. FYI nurses that are rough checkers... I STRONGLY dislike them. I think that was why I was bleeding, but they were really unsure why I was bleeding. But it started right after my strong nurse just shoved up there with rage (haha I am half joking, but in the moment I was like ready to run away it hurt SO bad and was SO rough!) Then when the babies heart rate started slowing down after contractions, they started to worry more. Since the contractions were not pulling her head down, they decided to break my water to hopefully get things moving. They also put internal monitors in me for contractions and put a heart rate monitor on babies head so they could really watch her and make sure she was good. Well still nothing was happening, and due to blood loss and stress on the baby which was shown in decreasing heart rate after contractions, and baby was also not lowering and going into the birth canal, the safe decision was to have a c section.

Having a c section is something that I did not want. I could not help but tear up when they said that that would be my best move. I was scared. I am not good with hospital stuff. I am a wimp and did not want to be cut open. Well, at this point it was too late. I had to just brave it up and go with it. I did get pushed down the hallway in my bed. That was fun! Also, pretty much everything was numb. Even my arms and hands which did get annoying but I will get to that in a minute.

They slid me over onto the table and I was prepped within minutes. I love how they have to count the tools to make sure they do not leave anything inside of you. It is of course important, but it made me laugh to hear the count and I made sure to listen afterwards to make sure everything was accounted for. Well, what else was I really going to do? I couldn't even move! They did put a sheet up so I couldn't see anything since I was awake when it happened. I couldn't really feel anything since I had an epidural in and they gave me something else that made me more numb. My arms stuck out straight to the sides, and I laid there as Jeff watched them take out our beautiful baby girl! I totally teared up hearing her cry and knowing she was alright. They cleaned her up, had Jeff cut the cord and I couldn't hold her, but I got to give her a kiss on the check before they took her away to check her out fully.

They finished up by vacuuming me out, stitching and then gluing the top later closed. I was wheeled back in and saw my little girl but due to all of the drugs in my system I was shaking like crazy and had to wait to hold her. It was the weirdest thing being so shaky. All through the surgery I would just shake and Jeff was looking at me like something was completely wrong with me.... to be honest I had no idea what was wrong with me until later. Once I finally stop shaking and my nausea subsided, I finally got to hold my little Monroe! She is perfect and my smallest (by weight) child weighing in at 7 pounds 7 ounces. We found out she has a deep dimple (sacrum dimple?) that we had to get an ultra sound done on. This is the first real thing to make us nervous when having a baby because that could have been spinal bifida which is where the spine doesn't completely close up. She is fine though and will always have a dimple there. I am so thankful to have a beautiful healthy baby girl. I love her so much and she has been latching to nurse pretty easy which always makes me happy! It was a hard first night because they generally want to sleep the first day, so I was trying to sleep but I was so itchy from all of the drugs and nauseated. It has now been 24 hours since it was all over, and I am still a little itchy, but snuggling my little baby and so in love! It was hard but completely worth it! I had a hard pregnancy with Monroe and I feel like a hard labor. It does make me grateful for my family and everything I have because it makes me remember that things do actually happen to normal people.

I am so grateful that my parents are here watching my other two children. What would I do without them? They are LOVING their Grandparent time and I think that is sometimes needed too to bond and build memories together. Here are a few pictures from the whole birthing experience!

Getting ready to go to the operating room.

Getting wheeled down the hallway!

Jeff had to wait for them to get all ready.

The OR.

Cleaning her off.

Me meeting my little girl!!

The view from our room - we could see the strip!

Monroe showing off her birth card and footprint.

4 Bracelets... no biggie....

Nixon and Oakley meeting their baby sister!

We had some awesome visitors!

Celebration dinner!

My little baby is 2! That just seems crazy! It is crazy to me how quickly time goes by. Although some days don't make it seem quick... In the past year Oakley has learned a lot and changed a lot. She talks quite a bit now. Her most common phrases at this point are:

-What about me

- I do it

- Stop it Nixon!

She is quite independent and very eager to learn and do things on her own. I just started potty training her which I thought would go a lot better because I was having battles with her about going in her diaper. She would ask to go on the potty and I would say no you're too little and you wear a diaper go in your diaper! This would then be followed by a break down. It was horrible, and now I am living with a horrible potty trainer kid. Nixon took the morning to potty train. He had it down. He was also almost a whole year older than where Oakley is at now. But he never once asked to use the potty before I trained him, he never cared! She has it down pretty good as long as she has no pants on, so I have been at home with her a lot working with her, but I am not a home body and I am wanting to get out with her for the last few weeks before the next baby comes along.

Oakley loves mermaids. I do not know how this obsession came to be, especially since we do not have any in our house... but as soon as her potty sticker chart is done we will! She has a mermaid shirt and requests that shirt most often. She also loves Minnie Mouse, who she usually calls Mickey unless they are together and then she can get them right. Her favorite show is Little Einstein's with the rocket ship! She could watch it ALL day if I let her. I think this is funny because Nixon was like 3 1/2 before we could get him to sit still and watch a show, but she will zone on on that rocket ship and sing and clap along and just enjoys it!

Oakley did swimming lessons this year which she hated at first, but was totally worth it because she now loves the water. Her most favorite part was when she would sit on the edge of the wall and sing "humpty dumpty sat on a wall, humpty dumpty had a great fall!" and then fall into the water.

Her favorite foods are noodles and pizza. Just cheese or just sauce pizza thought, anything else she will pick off of it. Her love for ice cream has faded away, and she can barely stand to eat half a kids cone. She would much rather chocolate.

I am so glad to have this little fire ball in our family. She lights up the room with her charm and her smile and always knows when others are upset and will rub their backs and say "its ok." I have gotten this a lot with my pregnancy sickness and I love that she is so caring and loving.

On her birthday we went to the bounce houses. Oakley was having a blast until she was going from one room to the next (with dad right beside her) and a big kid ran into her and flattened her on the floor. She hit pretty hard and did a holding her breath spell and then was conscious but unresponsive afterwards so they called 911. I honestly did not think too much of it when it happened because she started holding her breath spells at about 5 months old. The first time I thought she was dying, but she was just super ticked at Nixon! She has had a few and her doctor says that some kids do it, and then they are a little weird after because they have cut off oxygen to their brain. Anyone reading this and has had another opinion, PLEASE tell me because I am so worried she will not come back to one time. I wish that when you keep bringing something up to your doctor they would refer you to someone to ease your mind. I am in America and paying for their health care, shouldn't I be able to get this peace of mind that really nothing is wrong with her?

Happy 2 years of life my little Oakster, we love you!!!

Here is a look back over the past year...