Sweet Caroline

Introducing Caroline Joy!
What a whirlwind of excitement and emotions for our family.



Thursday morning I woke up with the distinct thought of cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning. I cleaned my house top to bottom. 3 hours later I sat down and started having contractions about the same I've had over the last 10 weeks. I didn't think much of it.

We had a play date at a neighbors house, the contractions came every 10 minutes.

One of my church moms group had an evening get together. I went my contractions were every 5 minutes not painful just lots of pressure. I left the group at 9:00 I told them I think I need to go to the hospital.

We got to the hospital at 10:00 I was 4 cm dilated and they admitted me. Yes, were having a baby! Got my epidural by Dr. Feel Good (Really that's what he called himself) at mid-night and they wanted to see how I progressed and didn't break my water.

8:30 am: The Dr came in and broke my water I was dilated to a 6. About 30 minutes later I was in extreme pain and felt off the chart pressure. Dr. Feel Good came back in to up my epidural. By the time he came in I could feel everything. I was moaning and in so much pain. The worst pain of my life. He took at look at my epidural and I was only numb in my legs.... not where it mattered. So he redid the epidural and I still am feeling off the chart pain.

9:30 am: The nurse checks me to see how far I am. She says with big eyes... "The baby is right here don't move. Don't push keep your legs together. Call the dr and tell her NOW".

Ummm yeah, we are having a baby and I can feel it. The dr came in and 4 pushes later Caroline is up on my tummy. Oh, it's a girl not a boy like we thought. Shock, excitement and some pain.

The NICU staff was present and ready to wheel her off except little girl showed us her stuff and screamed and kicked. She acted like a 40 week full term baby. What a joy! Yes her middle name is also Joy.

We had an uneventfuly hospital stay. I opted not to breastfeed and went for the bottle. I've been unsuccessful 3 times and decided I had too much on my plate at home to stress about breast feeding. So we ordered the formula and I haven't looked back.

We got home Sunday. Monday morning we had our first dr's appt. She was looking orange so they did a blood test. Monday afternoon I got a phone call from the Dr saying take her to the NICU immediately. I cried and cried and cried.

Caroline was admitted to the NICU. We were told 4 days. They had a room available so I could stay at the hopstial so I did. I was able to feed her change her and most of all be there for her. Miraculously the girl only needed 24 hours of light thearaphy and IV fluids. Her numbers dropped so fast plus she gained 6 oz. Thank you God!

So we are back home today. My husbands birthday. What a joyous day I've got my new little girl at home with me.

Thank you cannot express my appreciation for the prayers over the last 10 weeks. God is good. He showed me many times that he is the one in control. I feel very blessed to have 4 healthy children and a wonderful husband. Now remind me of this feeling when I am having a stressed day and the kids are making me crazy.

Next week I plan to turn a baby boys room into a baby girls room without changing the bedding. Defineately will be painting over my Row, Row, Row Your Boat.
Not really wanting to grow a fishergirl, I'm thinking beachy and flip flops. Any ideas?