Chelsea's Postcards

Last family photo of just us three!

Jo Jo came to stay with Graham

Welcome to the world Ellis Ann!

I should start by saying I started having contractions around April 3. They would get stronger to the point I thought maybe that was it, and then they would go away for several hours or even a whole day. However on Saturday April 9, something told me they were a bit different this time. We got up and took Graham to swimming lessons, and then I met a friend for a pedicure. She jokingly said the pedicure would send me into labor (but I had a feeling it was already coming).

I was having contractions on and off throughout the morning. They were really not painful and I was able to keep doing what I had planned. Once I was at home, Sean wanted me to rest, hoping that the contractions would go away. I think he secretly wanted a few more days to prepare! As the day went on it just started to seem more and more like it was time! Late that afternoon I called Aunt Jody and told her to come over to our house to stay with Graham so we would be able to leave for the hospital when the time came. We called Dadima and Pop Pop and told them to head to our house the next morning because we thought it was close to time. We had dinner and Graham went to bed. We thought we would go to bed and try to get some rest before the time came. We were in bed no more than 15 minutes before I said “it’s time.”

Around 10:00 that night the contractions were starting to be very painful and getting closer together. Sean had already loaded everything in the car that afternoon, in anticipation of needing to leave quickly. Luckily it is a short drive from our house to the hospital. When entering the hospital I had been asked if I had any Covid-19 symptoms and I said no (but I wasn’t being totally honest, I had a terrible cough that I had for at least a week, but had tested negative at home several times). We were taken in and given a triage room right away and I thought things would move quickly. They checked me out and decided that I was in labor and it was time to be admitted. But then we had the two SLOWEST nurses come in and it took FOREVER to get triaged. Time passes much slower too when you’re waiting anxiously for an epidural! The nurses were moving so slow that it gave everyone on the floor enough time to notice my cough, so I had to be tested for covid and the flu, luckily both were negative.

Two hours later we were finally moved to a labor and delivery room. We had the sweetest nurse, who I think had just finished nursing school. She was just the nicest, but had no confidence and had to call the charge nurse to come check behind her over and over. I guess that’s better than her making a mistake though.

She called for the epidural and the anesthesia resident came right away. I had such a great experience with my epidural with Graham that I was expecting the same thing. And I did not get that. It took him several tries to get it placed and it was really not the most comfortable experience. Thankfully, it started to work quickly, but then out of nowhere I got so sick!

There was a nurse in the room setting up the warmer and we were just chatting away and suddenly I was like I AM SO HOT I AM GOING TO BE SICK! She jumped into action and took care of the situation. The sickness passed quickly and finally I was able to rest a little. It’s tough to rest though because people keep coming in and out of the room and checking different things. It felt like I had finally fallen asleep for a few minutes when I was awoken by my water breaking!

After my water broke things went QUICKLY and I sort of lost track of time. The nurse called for my doctor and he came right away. From the pictures it looks like he was gowning up around 4:50 am. I pushed for about 10 minutes and that was it! Our Ellis Ann was born at 5:06 am, weighing 6lb 9.5 oz., and 19.75 inches long! The tiniest little thing. She didn’t cry much at first and it was scary for a few seconds, but the nurse rubbed her and got her crying and said she was just fine!

We didn’t realize it at first, but when I asked if Sean was going to cut the cord, the doctor said he had to do it already. The cord was wrapped around her neck twice when she was delivered so he had to quickly get it off, but it did not cause her any issues.

Right from the start Ellis Ann has been the cuddliest little thing. We spent most of the rest of the day in the labor and delivery room because there was no mother/baby rooms available. Sean was hesitant to leave for food because we kept thinking I would be getting moved and he would need to help out. Finally after a few hours I was STARVING and so he had no choice but to go out and get lunch! I ate my sandwich snuggling the sweetest girl. We were still in the labor and delivery room another few hours before they found a room for us, but it wasn’t so bad because the L&D rooms are so much bigger and nicer.

Once we finally got moved we ordered our celebratory meal from the hospital (we knew better than to order the “steak” this time around). We spent the rest of the day snuggling our girl! She slept well the first night as long as she was being held. Ellis Ann had her bath and all of her required testing very early the next morning. She passed with flying colors so we were cleared to go home.

Once we were home she was able to meet Dadima and Pop Pop before we went to daycare to pick up Graham so he could meet his sister. Graham was happy to see us after being with Aunt Jody and Dadima and Pop Pop for a couple of days. When we got home to meet Ellis Ann it was very uneventful, Graham noticed that she had a paci and he wanted it for himself, but other than that he went on his way, which was funny enough in its own way. It was so nice outside that we loaded her up in the stroller and went for a walk to enjoy some fresh air.

We are feeling so lucky to have this healthy happy little girl!