Oakley's Birth Story.

On Tuesday October 21, I was sitting in CPR class at work.  I started having contractions and they were regular and frequent.   I started timing them and realized they were coming every 2-5 minutes for 2 hours.

Mom and Dad headed to the hospital where I was checked and dilated only to a 1.   They had us walk around the unit for an hour and checked again, still a 1.   Contractions were strong enough to the point of me having to hold onto the railing and breathe through, but not strong enough for any dilation to occur.  They sent us home.

The next morning Mom had an appointment with Dr. Bierer who told me I had dilated to a 3 overnight.   I went home to pack our hospital bags and get things in order for baby to arrive.  Family spent the whole week on-call, thinking I may go into labor at any moment.   Dad worked and had school the next 3 days--Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night. Luckily baby stayed put until Dad was done with his busy week.  

Saturday morning, October 24, water broke at 9:00am.   Mom and Dad grabbed out bags, dropped big sister Hazel off at Aunt Linda's and Great Grandma Delphas and headed to the hospital. 

Unfortunately, McKay-Dee was switching over there entire charting system and things were hectic, to say the least.  Mom and Dad waited in the waiting from for 30 minutes until we had a room and were in the system.   Mom was nervous that things weren't organized and worried that the day may be a bit crazy.  

We headed to our room where we met Grandma Pam, Grandma Sue, Grandpa Curtis, Aunt Sadie and our photographer (Moms elementary best-friend).   

Mom was checked at a 3, and then waited about 2 hours until we were admitted in the computer and started on Pitocin. Nurses kept apologizing for things being so chaotic and it was obvious the frustrations they all had with the computers.  Pitocin was started around 12:00pm and Mom got an epidural around 1:30pm.   

We spent the day relaxing in bed, talking with one another and anticipating baby's arrival. Mom dilated to a 5, and then a 7 around 3:30pm.  

The nurse turned Mom into her side after checking her and Mom felt a great amount of pressure.   Mom got a big urge to push and told the nurse.  The nurse checked her just 2 minutes later and Mom was dilated to a 10.  

Go time!

Dr. Bierer was called and Mom did her best to not push.   Mom did everything she could to hold baby in, squeezing all her muscles and keeping her legs close together until doctor arrived.

Dr. Bierer arrived, scrubbed in and Mom got ready to push.   Half push and baby's head was out, another half push and shoulders were out and then came the rest of baby.

She arrived at 4:32pm weighing 7lb 4oz and 19in long.  Mom and Dad debated all day on the spelling of babies name, but decided finally on Oakley Rae Hall.

Aunt Linda was called and Hazel arrived just shortly after to meet her baby sister. Hazel loved Oakley from the moment she saw her.  She has been kissing on her, loving her, holding her and rubbing her cheeks about every two minutes.  She likes "Okey" to sit by her, and be with her at all times.  She likes to show her off to her daycare friends and she loves to help me dress her.

We planned to go home on Sunday October 25th.  We had our bags packed and was waiting on discharge orders from the pediatrician.   The nurse arrived at 5:00pm and told us Oakley's bilirubin was too high, and she wants us to stay another night to be monitored and have light therapy.   

Bring on the water works.

Mom cried, and cried and cried some more.   Mom didn't have baby-sitters arranged for Hazel, Dad needed to go home and sleep for school the next day, and Mom REALLY wanted to be home as a family.   Dad made a few phone calls and arranged everything: Hazel would sleep at Grandma and Grandpa Halls and spend Monday with Grandma Sue.  Dad would sleep at home, but checked on Mom all through the night.  Before Dad left, he bought Mom some nail polish, a lemonade, some Taco Bell and some redbox movies for the evening.   Mom was set.

Luckily, Moms friend Susan was her post-partum nurse for the night.  Susan spent a lot of time with Mom, helping us breastfeed and making sure Mom was doing okay emotionally.  The evening turned out fine and Oakley spent the night under light therapy.

The next day, we were sent home.  Bilirubin was still high, so we were sent with light therapy.  Dad arrived after class around 2:00pm, Grandpa Curtis brought Hazel up around 3:00pm and we left the hospital at 5pm.  

We headed home as a family of 4, and things have never felt more perfect.  
Raising girls is my favorite thing, and I feel so blessed to have been given the call as a Mother.
Life COULD. NOT. be any better.