Kimberly is Here!
Kimberly is finally here! She was born February 18, 2005, by Caesarean Section, weighing in at 8lbs, 3.5oz, and measuring 21.5 inches long.
We were supposed to go to the hospital at 4:00pm on the 17th to start the induction process. After 42 weeks, our Dr. decided that enough was enough, it was time to bring this little girl into the world!
My last day at home was spent just hanging out. Neil was going to go to work until lunch, and then stay home, so I wasn't in any hurry to get things done; I just figured I would start getting everything ready after lunch. There wasn't a lot to do, just finish packing the bag, taking a shower, little things like that! Then, at 11:30, I got a call from my Dr.'s office -- Labor & Delivery was filling up fast (because of the big low pressure system moving through Southern California) -- and to make sure I got a bed, I should go now! I called Neil at work, asked him to come home, and then hopped in the shower and packed my bag.
We got to the hospital about 12:30, and my Dr. came at 1:40 to start the first part of the induction. They also strapped me to some monitors, everything was normal. I got another dose of medicine around 5:30, and about 9:00, I started feeling contractions. This lasted throughout the night, and they were pretty uncomfortable after about 2am - my HypnoBirthing helped here, especially when Neil was there to help me focus.
We had an awesome night nurse, and she came in and told us that at 5am, she'd check me and let my Dr. know where I was, and that he would be making a decision then. Apparently, things were moving a little bit by then, but not enough. My Dr. got to the hospital at 6:15, and he checked me, and was not impressed. As a last resort, he broke my water, to see what he could do with that. It turned out that there was a lot of Meconium in the fluid, and at that point, he thought it would be best to get her out, because it can be dangerous if they inhale the meconium, and it gets in their lungs. He called in one of his partners to assist in the C-section, the pediatrician, the anesthesiologist, a cardiologist, and a respiratory therapist.
They took me to the OR at 7:00, started the epidural, and got me ready. Neil was able to sit with me while they got Kimberly out, and she was born at 7:33. They immediately took her to the incubator in the room, and started working on her. Neil said that there were at least 4 people around her, checking her out, cleaning her off (and out), and assessing her. One of the nurses asked him if he wanted to go over and cut the cord, which he did, and then they brought her over to me to see her, and touch her, and give her a kiss. After that, they took her to the nursery, and sewed me back up.
In the nursery.......(Neil is telling me this, because I wasn't there)......They had to clear her lungs, so they pounded on her with something that looked like it belonged on an air hockey table, and suctioned her through her nose and mouth, and just generally cleaned her up. They took a chest x-ray, and they hooked her up to machines to take her vital signs (pulse, blood pressure, breathing, O2 level, etc.). They weren't happy with her O2 level, the pediatrician actually had another machine brought in, because she thought it wasn't reading correctly, but it was the same on that machine, so they kept going, cleaning her out, and eventually, the reading came up to a percentage they were happy with.
In the recovery room.........I was pretty out of it. With an epidural, you'd think it would only affect you from the chest down (wherever it's supposed to numb you), but I felt really fuzzy all over(I actually threw up in the OR). I started shivering, which I guess is a pretty common response to the anesthesia, and they gave me heated blankets over my chest and around my head. I had to stay in the recovery room until I could move my legs. My O2 sensor actually was broken; the alarm kept going off because it would lose the reading, but it only happened when it was on my finger - the nurse didn't have problems on her finger, Neil got a reading no problem, but no matter which finger they put it on for me, it would lose the signal.
Neil was such a trooper - he kept going back and forth between the nursery and recovery room, trying to make sure we were both doing okay. He would give me an update on how she was doing each time he came in, and always asked if he should stay with me or go to her (Go be with her - make sure she's doing well!!!)
After we were both ready, they moved us to our room, where we stayed for the next 4 days. We had some wonderful nurses over our time there -- they made sure we had everything we needed to heal, and to bond as a family. The first couple of nights, we had them take her to the nursery, because I really needed to sleep, but once I was up and about (without IV's and catheters), we decided to have her in the room with us. The first night was rough -- she had slept almost all day, and was up ALL night, but the second night, she slept in 2-1/2 hour chunks, would wake up and eat, and go right back to sleep.
Thanks to everyone who sent flowers and balloons while we were in the hospital - we put them all on our shelf and took a picture!! They made our room beautiful, and they smelled so good (got rid of the "hospital" smell) Also, thanks to those who were able to visit, including Grandma and Grandpa Willard. We appreciated everyone coming by - and for understanding when we were tired and needed to rest (or eat!)
We look forward to introducing Kimberly to everyone in the upcoming months, including her cousin Isaura, who shares her birthday! Yes, my sister and her husband welcomed their 2nd daughter, Isaura Robin Nees, in to the world on February 18th also, at 5:33pm (HA HA Becca, Kimberly is older!!) Isn't it funny how things work out!
Neil and I are loving being at home, spending time with our daughter, and getting to know her. She loves being held (sometimes we fight over who gets to hold her), wrapped up tight (we call her Taco or Burrito during those times), doesn't mind having her diaper changed, and she has just been such a good baby so far.
I'll try to do this page in the reverse of the Pregnancy page - I'll try to have the newest updates at the top, so that you don't have to scroll down each time to see the latest.
Thanks to everyone who was sending us good thoughts, we love you all, and will talk to everyone soon!
Neil, Lisa & Kimberly Willard (and Kali too!)
We were supposed to go to the hospital at 4:00pm on the 17th to start the induction process. After 42 weeks, our Dr. decided that enough was enough, it was time to bring this little girl into the world!
My last day at home was spent just hanging out. Neil was going to go to work until lunch, and then stay home, so I wasn't in any hurry to get things done; I just figured I would start getting everything ready after lunch. There wasn't a lot to do, just finish packing the bag, taking a shower, little things like that! Then, at 11:30, I got a call from my Dr.'s office -- Labor & Delivery was filling up fast (because of the big low pressure system moving through Southern California) -- and to make sure I got a bed, I should go now! I called Neil at work, asked him to come home, and then hopped in the shower and packed my bag.
We got to the hospital about 12:30, and my Dr. came at 1:40 to start the first part of the induction. They also strapped me to some monitors, everything was normal. I got another dose of medicine around 5:30, and about 9:00, I started feeling contractions. This lasted throughout the night, and they were pretty uncomfortable after about 2am - my HypnoBirthing helped here, especially when Neil was there to help me focus.
We had an awesome night nurse, and she came in and told us that at 5am, she'd check me and let my Dr. know where I was, and that he would be making a decision then. Apparently, things were moving a little bit by then, but not enough. My Dr. got to the hospital at 6:15, and he checked me, and was not impressed. As a last resort, he broke my water, to see what he could do with that. It turned out that there was a lot of Meconium in the fluid, and at that point, he thought it would be best to get her out, because it can be dangerous if they inhale the meconium, and it gets in their lungs. He called in one of his partners to assist in the C-section, the pediatrician, the anesthesiologist, a cardiologist, and a respiratory therapist.
They took me to the OR at 7:00, started the epidural, and got me ready. Neil was able to sit with me while they got Kimberly out, and she was born at 7:33. They immediately took her to the incubator in the room, and started working on her. Neil said that there were at least 4 people around her, checking her out, cleaning her off (and out), and assessing her. One of the nurses asked him if he wanted to go over and cut the cord, which he did, and then they brought her over to me to see her, and touch her, and give her a kiss. After that, they took her to the nursery, and sewed me back up.
In the nursery.......(Neil is telling me this, because I wasn't there)......They had to clear her lungs, so they pounded on her with something that looked like it belonged on an air hockey table, and suctioned her through her nose and mouth, and just generally cleaned her up. They took a chest x-ray, and they hooked her up to machines to take her vital signs (pulse, blood pressure, breathing, O2 level, etc.). They weren't happy with her O2 level, the pediatrician actually had another machine brought in, because she thought it wasn't reading correctly, but it was the same on that machine, so they kept going, cleaning her out, and eventually, the reading came up to a percentage they were happy with.
In the recovery room.........I was pretty out of it. With an epidural, you'd think it would only affect you from the chest down (wherever it's supposed to numb you), but I felt really fuzzy all over(I actually threw up in the OR). I started shivering, which I guess is a pretty common response to the anesthesia, and they gave me heated blankets over my chest and around my head. I had to stay in the recovery room until I could move my legs. My O2 sensor actually was broken; the alarm kept going off because it would lose the reading, but it only happened when it was on my finger - the nurse didn't have problems on her finger, Neil got a reading no problem, but no matter which finger they put it on for me, it would lose the signal.
Neil was such a trooper - he kept going back and forth between the nursery and recovery room, trying to make sure we were both doing okay. He would give me an update on how she was doing each time he came in, and always asked if he should stay with me or go to her (Go be with her - make sure she's doing well!!!)
After we were both ready, they moved us to our room, where we stayed for the next 4 days. We had some wonderful nurses over our time there -- they made sure we had everything we needed to heal, and to bond as a family. The first couple of nights, we had them take her to the nursery, because I really needed to sleep, but once I was up and about (without IV's and catheters), we decided to have her in the room with us. The first night was rough -- she had slept almost all day, and was up ALL night, but the second night, she slept in 2-1/2 hour chunks, would wake up and eat, and go right back to sleep.
Thanks to everyone who sent flowers and balloons while we were in the hospital - we put them all on our shelf and took a picture!! They made our room beautiful, and they smelled so good (got rid of the "hospital" smell) Also, thanks to those who were able to visit, including Grandma and Grandpa Willard. We appreciated everyone coming by - and for understanding when we were tired and needed to rest (or eat!)
We look forward to introducing Kimberly to everyone in the upcoming months, including her cousin Isaura, who shares her birthday! Yes, my sister and her husband welcomed their 2nd daughter, Isaura Robin Nees, in to the world on February 18th also, at 5:33pm (HA HA Becca, Kimberly is older!!) Isn't it funny how things work out!
Neil and I are loving being at home, spending time with our daughter, and getting to know her. She loves being held (sometimes we fight over who gets to hold her), wrapped up tight (we call her Taco or Burrito during those times), doesn't mind having her diaper changed, and she has just been such a good baby so far.
I'll try to do this page in the reverse of the Pregnancy page - I'll try to have the newest updates at the top, so that you don't have to scroll down each time to see the latest.
Thanks to everyone who was sending us good thoughts, we love you all, and will talk to everyone soon!
Neil, Lisa & Kimberly Willard (and Kali too!)
