The Tale of Our Precious Gift

The day finally arrived when we got to meet our precious Brooklyn.  As eager as I was to have her early, she was well worth the wait.  Late in the evening on Friday the 23rd about 10:00 I had a few consistent contractions, but wasn't getting too anxious because this had happened twice before with no exciting end results.  I finally decided to start recording the timings, just in case.  After about an hour and an increase in the severity, I started to think that this might be it!  By 11:45 they were averaging 5-6 minutes apart, but I wasn't sure if we should head to the hospital because my water hadn't broke.  The last thing I wanted was to get to St. Petes and be told I was in false labor.  With much prodding from Josh, we finally decided it was time to go.  So, we started packing up the car, called my parents to let them know we would be dropping Lincoln off and we were on the road.  By the time we dropped Lincoln off and were headed to St. Petes it was 1:00 in the morning and my contractions were 3 min apart.  We got checked in and I had my exam after which they told us that we for sure needed to be at the hospital (phew!). 

We were both exhausted as neither of had slept a wink.  I luckily was on an adrenaline high, Josh however was fading rather quickly...  So much so that our nurse, Doty (who was awesome) gave him strict orders to sleep once I was all settled in the room.  She wanted him at full attention once things really got rolling.  Doty even went so far as to cover him with a blanket and take off his shoes!

I apparently have a low pain tolerance and definitely wanted an epidural.  I was so excited when the anesthesiologist came in despite the fact that he was wearing a Husky bandanna...  Josh was not allowed to watch the anesthesiologist actually give me the epidural this time due to someone passing out and suffering from head trauma.  This time the epidural was not as quick an easy as I recall it was with Lincoln...  Imagine my shock when after what seemed like too long the anesthesiologist said, "I'm going to have to start over and place it in a different spot."  What?!  Luckily Doty was WONDERFUL and kept me chatting about random things.  The epidural was of course initially wonderful, but I'm not convinced it was placed right.  I could not for the life of me move my right leg at all throughout labor and for three hours afterwards still could not use it to walk.  The last hour and a half I felt everything...  And my back is still killing me three days later.  Of course the moment she was born and placed upon me all the pain turned to pure joy, as she was perfect!!!  We got to spent that first hour with her uninterrupted.    It was amazing

I was in labor for 10 hours (so much for that second one coming early and being half as long of a labor as the first!)  She was born Christmas Eve at 8:46 a.m., weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces, and was 20 inches long.  God blessed us yet again with a beautiful healthy child. 

 She was so calm compared to Lincoln.  He screamed when they weighed him, bathed him, and gave him a bath.  She didn't make a peep :-)  Lincoln enjoyed watching the bath.  I'm not convinced that it was her, but probably more the bubbles as he has been loving bubbles in the shower lately.  Either way the picture was adorable!

They then moved us from labor and delivery to our room.  The hardest part was watching Lincoln go back home with Grandma and Grandpa.  He couldn't understand why I couldn't get out of bed and "walk" with him.  He told me, "No, hold baby," and cried on his way out the door.  It was awful feeling!! 

It was mid morning when visitors started to arrive.
   

  

We were not overwhelmed with visitors and it was nice to relax and just enjoy her.  From the beginning I was adamant that we weren't spending Christmas in the hospital and that it would be horrible, but I was pleasantly surprised.  The hospital really made being there special.  When she was born and as we were headed to our new room a lullaby was played throughout the whole hospital.  Apparently after every birth they play a lullaby to lift the spirits of other patients.  Santa and Mrs. Clause came to our room to pay Brooklyn a visit and take her picture.  Someone had knitted a bunch of Christmas hats and they delivered one to each room for the babies. 

It was our hope to be released in the morning on Christmas so that we could have some family time and celebrate the holiday at home.  We had a laundry list of things that had to get done first, starting with her pediatrician check.  While checking her out they found a faint heart murmur.  They told us not to worry and that there was a good chance that in the morning it would be gone and would have resolved itself (it was gone in the morning :-)).  She then had to have her hearing check which she passed with flying colors.

 

The final item to scratch off the list was the car seat check.  She was not a huge fan... 

We then got officially discharged at 11:00 on Christmas morning.  Yeah!!!  It was not home to relax just yet though...  We had quite a day ahead of us.  Picking up the missing link to our newly founded family of four was the next priority.  He was at Grandma and Grandpa Brannin's as they were celebrating Christmas with the rest of the Brannin clan.  We arrived and of course everyone wanted to meet Brooklyn just as much as I wanted to give my little man hug and kisses.  We did our Christmas with Josh's parents and enjoyed the fellowship.  

Finally we were homeward bound.  Lincoln's attitude towards Brooklyn I believe was greatly influenced by the car ride from Grandma and Grandpa's to our house.  He no longer was a solo rider, he now had company...  It was weird to come home and have two kiddos to cart into the house.  Ahhh, it felt great to be home.  Josh unloaded the car and we sat down, relaxed, showered, and did our little family Christmas for the first time with four.  Lincoln loved opening his presents as did the dogs.  Josh and I had had our own mini gift exchange in the hospital and of course Brooklyn slept peacefully right through the whole thing.  Although this was relaxing and wonderful our day was not yet over...
   

We headed to my grandparents to celebrate with my mom's side of the family.  I think they were most excited to meet Brooklyn though :-)  Finally we trekked next door to my parents house and ended the evening with a small gift exchange before closing the chapter on Brooklyn's first Christmas. 

It was an amazingly long day, but worth the effort.  And of course Josh, Lincoln and I received the greatest gift of all, our beautiful little girl, Brooklyn Noelle Brannin!