Today's blog I write with a brand new 1 week old baby girl sitting in her infant bouncer, fast asleep.
God is good.
On December 4th, 2011 I realized I was pregnant. Nathan and I had been actively trying to get pregnant since September, and sometime during the middle of November, God answered our prayers!
To know there was new life inside of me, especially after the loss of our little angel just 9 months earlier, was so incredible. I couldn't thank God enough.
Because of my cycles being all haywire after my miscarriage, we had a "due date window" - anytime between August 10th & 14th - yes, that's right ANOTHER August birthday! (G'Gma Ruth - Aug 1; PopPop - 3rd; Novi's - 4th; Super close friend, Ryan Connell - 5th; Dad's - 7th; Brooke & Brynne's - 8th; Mom's - 9th; and Amber Didden, a bestie from college - 10th!) You never forget which month to celebrate, but keeping the days straight can be a bit challenging.
So, August 10th was the 28-cycle due date, August 12th, 30-day cycle (my average) and the 14th was the due date according to the ultrasound that was done on December 20th - so we told everyone the 14th...that way if I went past that date, it wouldn't feel as late as the others! (*Side note: Novi came on her 28 cycle due date - August 4th - so I wasn't sure what it was like to go early or be late!)
This pregnancy was different - I definitely had a little bit of morning sickness, but still very mild. My biggest complaint was SI joint issues (tailbone and hip pain), heartburn, and looking bigger WAYYYY earlier than I did with Novi. I looked pregnant pretty much immediately after I found out I was pregnant - or so it seemed to me. :)
As the end of my 1st trimester came to a close, I became so anxious - would I lose this one two? Am I really able to carry another baby full term? What can I do to make sure that doesn't happen again? What will I do or how will I feel if it does? Will I be as strong as the last time? Such thoughts filled my mind, but the Lord was gracious and flooded my heart with His peace. I entered my 2nd trimester without any problems, excited to gain a little bit of energy to keep up with my potty-training, crazy-dancing, growing-up-so-fast 2 1/2 year old!
Novi was so incredibly excited about her new baby brother or sister. She guessed it was a "girl" - and she was right! We found out a little early - around 16 weeks - that we had an 85% chance of having a girl, and it was confirmed at our 20 week anatomy scan
The U/S doctor told us that she looked just perfect - we were so thankful to hear that this little one was blessed and completely healthy.
My 3rd trimester was definitely more difficult this time than the last - I felt bigger, the baby was lower, and I wasn't able to sleep when I wanted too...and when I could sleep it hurt. Let's just say nighttime wasn't my favorite time during those 12 weeks! So instead of sleeping, I made myself start the "nesting" process. I stayed up and crazy amounts of work done...which included stroller research, of course :)
At 35 weeks, I was large and in charge - and already dilating, contracting (fun, braxton hicks), and effacing - this baby was well on her way!
At 39wks, 5 days on August 8th, I was 4 cm dilated and 80% effaced and the baby was SUPER low! Dr. Trejo, my incredible OB (love, Love, LOVE her!) told me that when this baby would come - it would be fast! I still wouldn't let her strip my membranes - I was saving that for a "we need to induce you soon" diagnosis.
On Friday, August 10th, I was definitely feeling something going on. I was having back pain, hip pain, contractions, etc. but nothing was consistent, so I was hesitant to go in. After a few other little labor signs (I won't bore you with those details) I called Dr. Trejo and she told me to come in for a check up.
Taking Novi with me, we went into her office at 10am - and yup, I WAS IN LABOR! I was 5 cm dilated and a little more effaced. Dr. Trejo said that if my water broke, she was afraid I'd have this baby in the car on the way to the hospital - so I cancelled my PT appointment, called Nathan, went home to get our stuff packed up, took Novi to the sitters and away to the hospital we went!
We were admitted at St. John's Health Center, in Santa Monica (just a mile from our house!) around 1pm. I was having contractions, but nothing too crazy. Nathan and I made ourselves at home in the labor and delivery room. The maternity floor there is incredible - private rooms, all new, beautiful, serene, comfortable, and SO quiet! It was an incredible experience laboring there. The nurses were awesome - so nice and encouraging - and made me feel completely at home.
Nate and I have always decided to take the labor and birth process step by step. If I could have this baby without drugs - then so be it. If I wasn't able to handle it, then we'd take the next step. I only had a 1/2 dose of Stadol with Novi, and was completely happy with my birth process...but I really challenged myself this time, actually learned some real Bradley relaxation techniques, and did more reading concerning natural, unmedicated childbirth. But again...whatever happens, happens, and we take it one step at a time. My goal was to give birth to a safe and healthy baby - whatever way she was to come.
Dr. Trejo wanted to break my water right away, but experiencing that with Novi, I decided to wait a little while before we did that. Thankfully I made some progress, and 6, 6.5 cm, 7 cm came and went - no big deal. I was posting updates on FB, calling my mom, relaxing and listening to worship music (shout out to Trinity Grace Church - thanks for your awesome tunes!) and bouncing on my birthing ball without breaking a sweat. I decided that Dr. Trejo could try to break my water...but the baby was too far down for anything to happen. By this time, it was around 7pm...at least I think so :)
Then...transition labor began.
And yeah...I was starting to feel it.
I missed my opportunity to take Stadol (which I didn't really want to do anyway) and had no other option but the mini epidural...and that wasn't going to happen. So I was doing this - with NO pain medication. Okay...bring it on :)
Contractions got tougher and tougher. I got the transition shakes, tried visualizing, tried different birthing positions, but it was getting harder and harder to get through them. Nathan was an incredible birthing coach, though, rubbing my back, using counter - pressure, and encouraging me when I felt like giving up. I definitely wouldn't have been able to get though that without him.
The rectal pressure was increasing. It took all I could to get through the contractions. And I was only at 8, 8.5 cm. I began to pray, and pray....and pray! Prayer and pelvic tilts - that's how I got through that last cm. At 9.5 cm Dr. Trejo was able to break my water, and within seconds I was at 10 and SO READY to get this baby OUT!
...& 1 min later - she was!
Yes, I was a warrior woman. Pushing (on my side thanks to the SI joint issue) was crazy - I had that out of body experience when I realized my body was doing the work even though my brain wasn't actually saying "push." Hanging onto the sides of the bed, letting out noises from the depths of my soul, and getting down to business...after 3 pushes, she was here!
Our beautiful Kensington Noelle Kollar...
[[Born 9:07pm, August 10th, 2012 - 7lbs 12oz - 20 1/2 in]]
...and with the high of giving birth without pain medication, I said, "Thank GOD that is over!" I was truly thankful, for the end of labor - and the beginning of life with our 2nd little bundle of joy!
Kensi had a bowel movement right before I delivered, so they had to take her over to the warmer and clean out her airways before she could breathe. Nathan got to hold her first, which I'm sure was special for him, while I was stitched up (minor 2nd degree tear). Then we got to spend the next 45 mins together holding her, looking at her, and letting her breastfeed. We couldn't believe how beautiful she was, and how much she reminded us of Novi! We skyped with our parents, and were visited by Nate's brother, sister-in-law and nephew, who brought us Arby's...which tasted SO GOOD!
That night I was in awe of the little miracle I held in my hands. A little life, that was now entrusted to Nathan and I, who will hopefully one day, know the incredible love of our Heavenly Father. We are now a family four! I couldn't believe it.
[[Side Note: Kensington means - the King's land, so to us it means "Belongs to the King." Noelle was chosen because we found out in December that we were pregnant. ...so we have Kensington Noelle, aka Kensi and November Loren, aka Novi.)
Our stay at St. John's was wonderful. The postpartum nurses were INCREDIBLE! The took such great care of us, and really made us feel like family. That made it a ton easier being away from all of ours during this special time.
Novi got to meet Kensi Saturday morning. It was so sweet! "My Baby Sister?" she asked as she walked towards us in our room? It was love at first sight. She's been a great help and is transition well, especially for a 3 year old. God has truly blessed us with 2 amazing daughters!
(sorry will fix video soon...)
It has been almost 8 days since Kensington entered our family, and what a wonderful week it has been!
There's something special about having 2 children - Nathan says it feels like our family is more of a mission - and it's true. Excited to see what God has in store for us in the next few years, but for now, I'll savor every little moment. Thanking God for every answered prayer, every promised kept, and every second to be a mommy and wife to the sweetest 3 people on the planet.
Yes, God is SO good.
