more visitors

Visits in the hospital from Mike's mom and dad, Nona Shell and Grandpa Buddy. Also had a visit from our midwife, Jeanne, who is amazing, and did a check up on mom and baby and answered all our questions.

visitors

Visits from Great Grandma and Grandpa Larson, and also with my mom and dad, who I think want to be called mumsie and grandpa....

more hospital pics

first hours of life

Mike was able to stay with Wren the entire time after she was born. He escorted her down the hall to the nursery, where she had blood work down and other vitals monitored. Ont he way they passed the waiting room, where Mike called to Mark and Soozi, "It's a GIRL!!" getting it right the second time around. At this point I was being stitched up, and then sent to recovery for almost an hour. Honestly, the worst end of the deal. I went through over 60 hours of labor, and then everyone else got to hang out with my baby! Finally she was brought to me, and we were all taken to what would be our home for the next 4 nights. Midwives Jeanne and Pam stayed near our side the whole time. And grandparents Mark, Soozi, Arnie and Michelle all were able to visit for a little bit. And Auntie Kellie, too. But Wren was tired, and we were tired, and mostly we kicked everyone out and fell asleep.

c-section

pretty much the complete opposite of what we had in mind, we delivered Wren Elizabeth by c-section at 6:34 on Thursday, April 24th. Our hospital staff was amazing, and made the whole ordeal very positive and empowering for us. The surgery was underway within an hour of our arrival, and over within 30 minutes! Mike was allowed to be in the room with me, and held my hand and watched as my stomach was sliced open and our baby was lifted out. The surgeon even gave him a job, to announce to me the sex when baby arrived. She held Wren up and showed Mike her backside, at which Mike proclaimed, "It's a boy!!". The Dr. looked at him and frowned, "What??! No it's not!" Mike checked again. "Oh, " he said, "I thought that was a ball sack..." And then baby and Mike were whisked away while I got stitched up.

labor

Labor started for us at midnight on Monday, April 21st. At first we were excited, running around, cleaning and planning and dealing with contractions. But as the hours, and then days, passed by, it was harder, painful and sad. We were frustrated and tired. On Thursday the 24th our midwife (who had been visiting us daily) did an exam she discovered the baby was breech and I was 9cm dilated, about to give birth. We had to make a hasty decision to go to a hospital and deliver by C-section. We left our house a little before 5pm, and by 6:34 Wren had arrived!