Sunday, December 30, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Monday, December 17, 2012
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
NOVEMBER TWENTY-FIRST
This was it.
The day we welcomed you into this world.
And now, here you are.
We could not love anyone, any more than as much as we love you. Our little Olivia.
So this is it. Your story. How you blessed our lives and forever changed us.
Tuesday, November twentieth.
I had the day off of work. I had my weekly doctor's appointment scheduled, followed by a dentist appointment and then a hair appointment. I put up all of the Christmas decorations. I did a mini-makeover on the bathroom decor. I cleaned the house. I should have known. Everyone says you have a "burst" of energy before you go into labor. This was my burst.
Tuesday night your dad and I went to dinner and then stopped to get ice cream on the way home.
As we settled into bed, we had the same conversation that had been on repeat for several days now. Speculating and wondering when we'd finally get to meet you.
Later that night, daddy and I awoke to some commotion in the neighborhood. (Daddy thinks this is what sent me into labor.) But by 1AM we were tucked cozily back in bed. Wednesday, November twenty-first.
Three hours later, 4:30AM I wake up to what feels like contractions. But different contractions than the infrequent ones I had been feeling earlier that week. Convinced it was probably my excited imagination, I attempt to go back to sleep.
5:00AM I wake up again. It's definitely not my imagination. I'm having real contractions.
I get out of bed, whisper to daddy, "I think it's go time. I'm going out to the living room to start timing contractions" and proceed to fold a load of laundry and empty the dishwasher to pass the time. All the while, keep time of the contractions.
6:00AM I wake up daddy. The contractions are getting more fierce and serious. I need some company. Daddy gets up but he is still unsure if it's the real deal. I convince him otherwise and tell him to call-in to work. We're having a baby today. He says "are you sure?" and my only reply in between two contractions. "Call them."
6:30AM I call the doctor and explain the contractions, frequency and time in between. The doctor encourages me to drink some water and lay down to see if the contractions go away, or if they are real. I do as directed, and still, they are getting closer together and more painful.
I decide at this point, since it wasn't time to go to the hospital, that I'd shower and get ready. But somewhere along the way, the contractions get even worse. I have to stop in between blow-drying my hair to get through one contraction. All the while, daddy is at my side, encouraging me and helping me through.
Finally, 9:00AM daddy calls the doctor again. The contractions are lasting more than a minute, less than five minutes apart and have been this same pattern for more than an hour.
The doctor gives us the green light. We load up the car and drive less than 10 minutes to the hospital.
It was the longest and most painful 10 minutes I've ever spent in the car.
After being admitted to the hospital, the nurse checked us and I was dilated to a 4. What a relief. And so was the epidural that I received shortly thereafter.
Prior to going into labor, I had given much thought to the epidural. Ultimately, I decided I would wait until we were in labor to determine if I wanted the epidural or not. But after spending the better half of the morning on Wednesday laboring without it, there was no question in my mind when we arrived at the hospital that I wanted the epidural. And I wanted it as quickly as possible.
This was such a good decision. Almost immediately, the pain was reduced to a minimum, I became more relaxed and enjoyed the next several hours with daddy as we anxiously awaited your arrival. I tried to nap, but who was I kidding? We were about to meet our daughter. It was finally happening. After 9 months of waiting. You were just hours away.
By 10:00AM, I was dilated to a 6 and from then until 1:00PM I was ready. Dilated to a 10. The anticipation and excitement was too much to stand. And at 1:45PM our doctor arrived and I began to push. For just 29 short minutes, I pushed and breathed and paused and pushed again, just as instructed.
And then at 2:14PM, I heard you. I heard that glorious cry that signaled you were here. You were purple and screaming. And as they placed you on my chest, I glanced up at your daddy, we smiled, and I could feel the tears roll down my cheeks.
That moment, the one in which they placed you on my chest will never escape me. The feeling of you on top of me was incredible, priceless and it was then that you changed me.
I was a mom.
But not just any mom - I was your mom.
November twenty-first; the day you were born. Your daddy and I couldn't be prouder. Proud of you, proud to be your parents.
November twenty-first. One day before Thanksgiving. Daddy and I always knew we had lots to be thankful for. But you Olivia, you gave a whole new meaning to the word blessed.
Just a few short moments after your arrival, you changed us. Changed us for the better. You have blessed us beyond measure and we are so completely in love with you. Our precious, perfect and beautiful Olivia.
The day we welcomed you into this world.
And now, here you are.
We could not love anyone, any more than as much as we love you. Our little Olivia.
So this is it. Your story. How you blessed our lives and forever changed us.
Tuesday, November twentieth.
I had the day off of work. I had my weekly doctor's appointment scheduled, followed by a dentist appointment and then a hair appointment. I put up all of the Christmas decorations. I did a mini-makeover on the bathroom decor. I cleaned the house. I should have known. Everyone says you have a "burst" of energy before you go into labor. This was my burst.
Tuesday night your dad and I went to dinner and then stopped to get ice cream on the way home.
As we settled into bed, we had the same conversation that had been on repeat for several days now. Speculating and wondering when we'd finally get to meet you.
Later that night, daddy and I awoke to some commotion in the neighborhood. (Daddy thinks this is what sent me into labor.) But by 1AM we were tucked cozily back in bed. Wednesday, November twenty-first.
Three hours later, 4:30AM I wake up to what feels like contractions. But different contractions than the infrequent ones I had been feeling earlier that week. Convinced it was probably my excited imagination, I attempt to go back to sleep.
5:00AM I wake up again. It's definitely not my imagination. I'm having real contractions.
I get out of bed, whisper to daddy, "I think it's go time. I'm going out to the living room to start timing contractions" and proceed to fold a load of laundry and empty the dishwasher to pass the time. All the while, keep time of the contractions.
6:00AM I wake up daddy. The contractions are getting more fierce and serious. I need some company. Daddy gets up but he is still unsure if it's the real deal. I convince him otherwise and tell him to call-in to work. We're having a baby today. He says "are you sure?" and my only reply in between two contractions. "Call them."
6:30AM I call the doctor and explain the contractions, frequency and time in between. The doctor encourages me to drink some water and lay down to see if the contractions go away, or if they are real. I do as directed, and still, they are getting closer together and more painful.
I decide at this point, since it wasn't time to go to the hospital, that I'd shower and get ready. But somewhere along the way, the contractions get even worse. I have to stop in between blow-drying my hair to get through one contraction. All the while, daddy is at my side, encouraging me and helping me through.
Finally, 9:00AM daddy calls the doctor again. The contractions are lasting more than a minute, less than five minutes apart and have been this same pattern for more than an hour.
The doctor gives us the green light. We load up the car and drive less than 10 minutes to the hospital.
It was the longest and most painful 10 minutes I've ever spent in the car.
After being admitted to the hospital, the nurse checked us and I was dilated to a 4. What a relief. And so was the epidural that I received shortly thereafter.
Prior to going into labor, I had given much thought to the epidural. Ultimately, I decided I would wait until we were in labor to determine if I wanted the epidural or not. But after spending the better half of the morning on Wednesday laboring without it, there was no question in my mind when we arrived at the hospital that I wanted the epidural. And I wanted it as quickly as possible.
This was such a good decision. Almost immediately, the pain was reduced to a minimum, I became more relaxed and enjoyed the next several hours with daddy as we anxiously awaited your arrival. I tried to nap, but who was I kidding? We were about to meet our daughter. It was finally happening. After 9 months of waiting. You were just hours away.
By 10:00AM, I was dilated to a 6 and from then until 1:00PM I was ready. Dilated to a 10. The anticipation and excitement was too much to stand. And at 1:45PM our doctor arrived and I began to push. For just 29 short minutes, I pushed and breathed and paused and pushed again, just as instructed.
And then at 2:14PM, I heard you. I heard that glorious cry that signaled you were here. You were purple and screaming. And as they placed you on my chest, I glanced up at your daddy, we smiled, and I could feel the tears roll down my cheeks.
That moment, the one in which they placed you on my chest will never escape me. The feeling of you on top of me was incredible, priceless and it was then that you changed me.
I was a mom.
But not just any mom - I was your mom.
November twenty-first; the day you were born. Your daddy and I couldn't be prouder. Proud of you, proud to be your parents.
November twenty-first. One day before Thanksgiving. Daddy and I always knew we had lots to be thankful for. But you Olivia, you gave a whole new meaning to the word blessed.
Just a few short moments after your arrival, you changed us. Changed us for the better. You have blessed us beyond measure and we are so completely in love with you. Our precious, perfect and beautiful Olivia.
Olivia Kay Schamberger
November 21, 2012
2:14pm
7 pounds, 9 ounces
19-1/2 inches
Shawnee Mission Hospital
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