The Birth Story
On Friday the 27th of August I went in for an ultrasound to check her weight and position, to make sure Baby Earl was still head down and to see if I was dilated. As usual Auntie Sandy and Ashley met me at the Doctor's office that morning, though this time I had thought it would be routine and it was at my mom's request they came...I thought it would be a quick in and out as I was feeling okay. It had been a long week but at 39 weeks pregnant, other than some major swelling in my feet I thought everything was fine. I had not even been experiencing any prelabor symptoms.
Things turned very serious very quickly. The nurse took my blood pressure and said it was not good, she asked me to lie down and went to get Dr. Brown. He came in, very quickly, and told me how high my blood pressure was 165/102...and I had gained 9lbs in one week, he said we needed to get me to the hospital and would most likely do a c-section that afternoon, he left the room to check me in to the hospital and I just remember being so glad Auntie Sandy and Ashley were there. I remember my heart racing, wondering if my parents could get there in time - I even tried to call my mom but no reception in the damn exam rooms. Dr. Brown was back in literally two minutes and said I was set, that I needed to go straight to the hospital....he asked if I was ok and commented on how calm I was. I just wanted to get Baby Earl out safely, I wasn't worried about me. I know I was teary eyed, but had not cried or gotten upset or even too nervous. I asked him if we could wait for my parents, until 4 or 5 and he said that worked for him.
The day passed quickly in the hospital, my BP came down once I was in bed. The staff was amazing, Uncle Dann came down, and my parents checked in as they drove over from Spokane. They made it just in time, literally minutes after they got their they came to wheel me down to surgery, the tears came when they walked in the door I was so glad they made it in time, that been my fear all along that my mom wouldn't be there when Peyton was born. The doctors even let both my mom and Auntie Sandy come into the room. They started the epidural at 5:15 and Peyton Joan Laramie was born into the world at 5:45. The spinal was uncomfortable and made me nauseous but they gave me medicine for that, the c-section went very fast and other than feeling kinda drunk I didn't feel a thing.
I was released by Monday at lunch time and was feeling great. Actually I had been walking too much in the hospital on Sunday and was put on bed rest...though I was still very swollen and bloated the joy and awe of having this beautiful little girl in my arms took any possible pain away. From the moment I saw her Peyton just seemed so familiar, for months I wondered what she would look like and what it would feel like when she was finally in my arms, and once she was it felt like home, like I had known her my whole life.
The First 8 Weeks
My parents were just amazing the first days, weeks and months of Peyton's life. They stayed for a week and half, passing us off to the Breidenbach's who took care of us for a week, then Peyton and I were cleared after 2 weeks to go to Spokane. My dad came and got us, and as a new mom with a 2 week old I was pretty nervous to take her by car to Spokane - just the three of us, but my dad was great...amazing what grandparenthood can do! And we did just fine. We spent 6 weeks in Spokane, visiting family and traveling all over that side of the state to see Papa in Inchelium and Barry, Tiff and the kids in Chewelah. My mom eventually stopped insisting to help me with night time feedings and Peyton and I found ourselves alone during the day for the first time when she was about a month old...and we did great. But the help from everyone made it so easy, I was able to get sleep and positive reinforcement, and even though at times I had to ask for my turn to hold Peyton, I know I could not have done it without my family. Peyton and I are so lucky to have the support, love and care that we do.
On Our Own
Peyton and I have now been home, on our own for a month. It has gone by so fast. People had told me how hard this was going to be, being a single mom, taking care of her on my own...and other than a couple bouts of constipation (Peyton not me :) hahaha), some stress around me having to resign from my job, and my tendency to over worry...we have been doing great. I love every minute of being a mom, and to me it honestly does not even feel like work...I look forward to taking care of her and doing everything I can to make her happy, and make sure she knows how much she is loved. Peyton is 10 weeks old, and is on week 3 of sleeping though the night - from about 10 pm to 7 am. She is now over 23" long and is 12 lbs, 10 ounces. She still just calm, sweet, happy and so loving. She is amazing. She is a wonderful baby and I am so blessed. We are in a great routine and adjusting to my new work schedule, she is growing and developing at record speed and I find myself thinking about how lucky I am to have her at least 10 times a day. We have an amazing family, extended family - like Tracy and Jace, and we are doing so well because of all of their love and support.
Peyton has changed my life forever. A year ago I was a mess and now I have all I ever wanted. I am so happy, I just could not ask for more. And I can not wait to spend the rest of my life in Peyton's world.
