In the Hospital

(finally getting this down for the record...like 3 months later) 

Friday February10 - I went to my doctors appointment.  2 1/2 weeks until my due date and I'm feeling great.  I mentioned that the palms of my hands and feet had been itching for the last week or two...doctor started to get worried.  That it one of the first signs of Cholestasis of Pregnancy , a liver complication that only happens in pregnancy.  (*Oddly enough that's what Becca had...and no, it's not suppose to be genetic).  Doctor wanted me to get blood work done.  If my liver numbers were high they would probably be inducing me on Monday. (the reason for that is because once you hit 38 weeks and have cholestasis the risk of having a still birth go up drastically)

Saturday February 11 - Went to the Out-Patient clinic of the hospital to have blood work drawn to see if my liver numbers were high.  I went and checked in then took my seat to wait.  30...45... then a whole hour later I was still sitting there and there wasn't a line.  I saw people coming, check in, and leave and there I am sill waiting.  I starting wondering what was going on but told myself to be patient.  There was a sign that said that we, as patients, might not be seen in the order we came in due to what tests needed to be done.  I saw kids come in and 4-5 groups of adults with special needs be brought...'maybe they need to be taken in first' I thought to myself.  Over an hour and a half later I am frustrated almost to the point of tears (*note to self, never let yourself get that frustrated without doing something about it first...save your emotional sanity) and finally went over to a worker "I'm sorry to bug but I'm just wondering if I'm even in the system".  Turns out - Nope you're not!  Somehow my info wasn't actually entered...once it was I was in and out in less than 5 minutes  

 (*That was my only complaint about any of this.  All the doctors and staff were fabulous!)

That afternoon I called to get the results.  2 of the 3 were ready.  My numbers were more than double the normal high.  What did that mean?  I wasn't sure. So I called my brother Dr. Stewart.  He said with numbers like that I should plan on being induced Monday.  I would get the call from my dr office Monday morning when they decided whether or not to do just that.

Of course now we are putting in the car seat and getting all the last minute things done tonight so we can be ready for Monday - just in case 

  

Sunday February 12 - Last minute change and I had our ward choir sing today instead of next week because "this might be my last Sunday for a while...but who knows" 

Monday February 13 - Me and Mom Andersen spent the morning cleaning the house and me trying to get a hold of the doctors office to see if they'd got the test results and if I'd be induced that morning or afternoon...or not.  I finally got a hold of them and at first they didn't want me to even go to work though they weren't sure what we'd be doing yet.  (She also told me that I hadn't looked too favorable to be induce when they had checked me on Friday.)  Well, we worked it out that I could go teach all but my last class, then head into the doctors to be checked.  "Not favorable..t well that's good! :) I'm not gonna have the baby yet"  I thought maybe I'd go in frequently to have him monitored but that'd be it, so me and Mom Andersen made plans to go do some shopping together after the appointment.

The NP came into the room and the first thing told me was that I was going to be having the baby right away.  She ripened my cervix and sent me over to Utah Valley Regional Hospital. (*I should have gone and got something to eat, gone home and got my bags...but I didn't know...I'd never done this before...so yea, I was starving by the time I got to eat again)   I called Nathan on my way over "So you want to become a Dad today?!"  Needless to say he had a hard time concentrating at school after that.

I checked into the hospital at 3:30, they place a pill in me to help soften me up, put the IV in and then...waited...and waited...and waited.  The pill hadn't disolved so we had to do that again.  The Laings and Paul came to visit me.  It's nice to have family visit you in the hospital.

Tuesday February 14/Valentine's Day - They started the pitocin at 1am and by 8 in the morning I had hardly changed/dilated at all...they broke my water hoping that's do something...it didn't do much.  My body just wasn't ready to have him yet...I'm glad all the doctors and everyone were so patient, we didn't feel rushed at all, they just wanted to make sure me and the baby were okay.  I have to say that the contracts became much more intense once they broke the water but I felt like I was managing the pain okay.  Then his heart rate started to drop with every contraction, dropping lower and lower.  The way I was laying pinched a cord and caused him stress.  So there I am, 10:30am, I can't shift positions, the nurses are worried about my baby's heart rate, I'm worrying about my baby, I'm also trying to manage and breath through the pain, and I am not progressing...'I'm going to have a C-section' I thought.  That's when I opted for the epidural.  They epidural was wonderful - I could still feel and move my legs but the edge was taken off.  Still didn't progress for a few hours but his heart rate became much more stable - what a relief for me! They couldn't turn the pitocin all the way up because it started messing with his heart rate again so my contractions were spaced pretty far apart but I finally started to dilate :) WAHOO

It was strange, I had the epidural so I wasn't in too much pain but I felt my body begin to shake.  My body was going through transition.  I called Nathan over and had him run his hand down my side.  As soon as he did this my body would stop shaking and when he stopped it would begin again.  Neat how powerful touch is - that was a beautiful thing to me.

I could finally start pushing; Mom Andersen was there and got the camera out, Mom Rasmussen was there via skype (weird, I never thought we'd skype during all this).  We pushed and made good progress and then I was told to stop and wait for the doctor, even with the epidural that's tough, you don't want to stop.  Dr. Wolsey arrived and we pushed again.  My contractions were 7-8min apart still and so we started pushing between contractions on my own so we could continue to progress.  "We're there! We're almost there Lizz!" Then all the pressure released in a big rush and when we heard that little cry both Nathan and I burst into tears, our baby was here, he was ours!  (arrival time 5:35pm)

It is nearly impossible for me to even begin trying to describe those powerful feelings of love you have as your tiny little baby is placed in your arms.  It takes all your words away and makes your throat tight with emotion.  Tears fill your eyes.  You feel Heaven surround you.  You take your baby and press him against your body, feeling as though your souls are connecting.  I've never met this person before but suddenly I know I would give my life for this child.  I would give anything and everything I needed to in order to keep him safe and loved.

Harlow was born a great nurser - He just liked to eat from that very first time :) I love how close you feel, getting to share that precious time connecting with each other.  Nathan then went with the nurse to wash him up and later meet me in our room.  I was able to get myself out of the bed and into the wheelchair almost by myself.  When they came we just sat and held him, not wanting to ever let him go.  We looked at and loved every little perfect part of him, his fingers, toes, nose, lips, ears - just giggling at how beautiful he was.  I kept him in my arms most that night, I could not let him go.  He was a BEAUTIFUL BABY!  there's no other words for it.  (Nathan had done his hair in a cute fo-hawk - "a fo-hawk, that's right, a fo-hawk!")

We love our Harlow!  He is the greatest blessing in our lives.  

Bringing him into the world was the perfect way to celebrate our 1 1/2 year anniversary!

~ the prego sisters ~

I'm grateful Mom Andersen was here with us.  She came and patiently waited with me while Nathan was still at school.  She was even able to get some great pictures during and after the delivery.  She was such a support through it all.  I love my Mother-in-law!!  She's a sweet blessing in my life!

yup...still no outie!  Told ya I had a deep belly button!

Nathan was still being a good student through it all...since we had to sit & wait he got some studying done

Nathan came into my bed to cuddle and lay with me.  

Its amazing how comforting it is being close to my Love!

I had to wear an oxygen mask for little Harlow

Proud Daddy with tears in his eyes!  As soon as Harlow was born and we heard his unforgettable cry both Nathan and I burst into happy tears!  "He's our baby!" 

First Bath

Our Valentines Baby

who we love with all our hearts

The Laing kiddos were late to school because they wanted to come see their newest cousin the morning after Harlow was born.  They were so excited to hold our little guy...and to miss some of school

Beautiful Grandma Andersen with her first grandson!

Harlow went in for his hearing test while in the hospital...He did not pass in either ear.  He went in the next two days to be tested again and still did not pass.  My heart felt like it was breaking.  Being deaf is not the worst thing, by any means, but I have never felt pain like this, pain that you wish you could take it all away.  There wasn't anything I wouldn't give to make his ears work.  I'd never be able to sing to my baby!  He'd never hear me say 'I love you'.  I sat and sobbed while Nathan held me in his arms.  He was trying to be strong as he saw how hard it was for me while inside he was hurting too.  I told him that I didn't know what to do, I wanted to pray to have God make it so he could hear but what if that's not what God wanted.  I know He sometimes has different plans for his children then we do.  How could I pray when I didn't know what to say.  We sat holding each other.  Later Nathan prayed for us and I felt comfort.  He told Heaven Father that as Harlow's parents we felt like it was best for him if he could hear but that we knew His ways are not always our ways.  He prayed for comfort, understanding, and a miracle if it was the Lord's will.  He had all the words I couldn't say.  Whatever happened the Lord knew our hearts and we would do his will.  A week later I took Harlow back to the hospital for another hearing test - HE PASSED, BOTH EARS!  Tears of gratitude filled my eyes and I thanked my Heavenly Father for hearing the prayers of loving parents.

Recovery was harder than I thought it was going to be but looking back it is all worth it.  I hope I'll be able to someday go into labor on my own...if I do have cholestasis that might not be possible.  It was a disappointment but I'm just glad my Baby Harlow is here and perfect!