Miss Charlotte Marie Jones has arrived!!

She's here!! She's finally here!! We are so excited and happy. I should have made a post sooner, but we have been SO busy with everything that has been going on. But, I am doing it now. August 14th, 2012, started out like most other days, but ended much differently, and not as we had planned, but it was very exciting. I had a doctor appointment that day, first thing in the morning. I expected it to be quick, painless and easy. I could not have been more wrong. My doctor asked how things were, and I told her that I had had some contractions very early that morning, and although painful, they were not consistent and went away and I was not too concerned. I was a little concerned that Charlotte seemed less active, but thought maybe it was because I had spent the evening before chasing Hudson all over at football practice for Austyn. The doctor said she wanted to do a non-stress test to check on the baby. So, I got all cozy in their recliner and hooked up to the monitors. She was moving, but not as much as she should have been, so, they gave me some juice to try to rouse her. It worked. But, I was also having contractions, 7 minutes apart, on the dot. And with each contraction Charlotte was not responding the way they thought she should be, so I was sent to the hospital for further evaluation.

At this point, I called Andrew to let him know, but also still did not feel like it was super serious (baby's movement and heart rate were both good, and there were no signs of labor, other than my contractions that I could barely feel). So I told him not to worry, I was sure I would be out of there in an hour or so and off to work, but I would keep him posted. Well, in the 30 minutes or so that it took me to get to the hospital and hooked up to all their gear, my contractions had gotten a little closer, about 5 minutes apart. So, I called Andrew again, and he came up there to see what was going on. The doctor came in to see me, and said that my contractions seemed to be real labor, because they were so regular, and getting closer. He wanted to monitor me for a bit, with fluids (in case I was dehydrated) and we would go from there. If they didn't stop, they would deliver her that day, since I was scheduled for a c-section anyway and was "full term" because I was 37.2 weeks along. Now I was a little nervous. I thought it was a bit too soon for her and didn't want any complications, plus, we just weren't prepared. I mean, we had everything we needed for her, and all set up, the carseat was in the car and my hospital bag was packed. But, I think mentally I was not ready, and I had loose ends to tie up at work and arrangements needed to be made for Hudson and Austyn and my house wasn't cleaned and the people who were planning on coming to help weren't gonna have enough notice and.... these are just a few of the million or so thoughts that went through my head when I heard the doctor say they might deliver the baby that day. And, deep down, I knew right then, that that was it, I was gonna have a baby that day.

 So, about an hour later, the doctor comes back in and sees that my contractions are now 4 minutes apart, the fluids did not help, and they were actually starting to hurt a little. So, he said there was no reason for me to continue laboring, in pain and risking a uterine rupture, when I was having a repeat c-section anyway, and was going to the operating room to get me in for my surgery. So, I called Andrew and told him we are having a baby today, and he said he could be back in about an hour. I thought that was plenty of time, there was no way they would have me in there in that short of a time period. Nothing ever happens that fast in the hospital if it's not an emergency. Well...I could not have been more wrong. The nurse came in and said she needed to start prepping me for surgery. I asked how long before I was going, and she said... about an hour. WAIT!!! WHAT?!?!?! Now I am panicking. So, I called Andrew, yet AGAIN, and told him he needed to make his hour the fastest hour ever. I didn't want him to not be there. I needed him. So, he promised to do his best. Well, then the nurse comes in and is getting me ready to go and says that they are on their way to get me!!! WHAT HAPPENED TO MY HOUR?!?!? I explained to them that my husband couldn't be there for about an hour, and they said they didn't know if that was soon enough and if they could wait. They called the doctor and he agreed to give me some medicine to try to stop the contractions for a while to buy some time for Andrew, and off to surgery I went. The meds didn't stop the contractions, only gave me the shakes REALLY bad. Not fun.

So, I met the anesthesiologist and went over all that fun stuff, signed a bunch of paperwork for the surgery and to have my tubes tied (that's right, no more kids for us) talked with the nurses and very patiently waited my turn. I was crying because I was scared and worried that Andrew wouldn't make it in time. One of the nurses was kind enough to call Andrew from the OR waiting area, and let him know where to go and told him to call as soon as he got there so she could run out to get him and bring him directly in. We waited and waited for him, but finally, my doctor put the brakes to the waiting and said we had to go in and get it started. My contractions were now 2 minutes apart and painful and it was time to get the show started. So into the operating room I went, without Andrew, scared to death. They gave me the spinal block and were getting started when Andrew FINALLY called and said he was there. So, they ran out to get him and get him in some scrubs and brought him in. Finally!! I felt SO, SO, SO much better with him in there. I stopped crying and felt like I could breath. Then, after what seemed like hours, but I'm sure it was only minutes, Charlotte was born. August 14th, 2012 at 2:26 pm. She was so tiny. They held her up so I could see her, then took her off to wash her up before giving her to Andrew for him to come sit by me and hold her so I could see her and kiss her. She was absolutely perfect, like all of my kids. Then, off they (Andrew and Charlotte) went, to the room, while they finished up the surgery on me. I felt like I was in the recovery room for eternity!! It was taking forever for the spinal to wear off. I just wanted to see and hold my baby!!!! I finally got to go up and see her. My dad and Connie were already there, waiting, but Andrew said no one could hold her until I did. So sweet. She was so precious, and tiny!! She was only 6 lbs 5 oz and 18 3/4" long. My smallest baby yet. So, here are some pictures of her first couple of days.

The first picture of momma and Charlotte. I just love her to pieces.

My pretty little girl.

4 of our 5 family members. Unfortunately, we weren't all together at the hospital, so there are is not a full family photo of that occassion.

Daddy and his little girl.

Hudson was pretty excited when we brought her home.

The first time Hudson got to hold her. He loved it!! So, in closing.... we are adjusting pretty well. Our little family of 5 is complete. I love every aspect of it. Never a dull moment, that's for sure. Charlotte is a pretty good baby, although not *quite* as easy as the boys, but her "crabby" times aren't as bad as they could be, so no complaints. She's healthy and happy, and beautiful (of course) and that's what matter the most. I am still recovering from my surgery, this time is taking a while, mostly because I haven't really had a lot of time to rest since I am chasing Hudson most of the time that I am not taking care of Charlotte. We will get there eventually though. The boys adore their little sister. She is still sleeping most of the time, but I am sure once that "newborn sleepiness" wears off, things will get even more interesting around here. 2 kids under 2 years old is definitely a challenge, but we are all doing well, and have received help from family and friends that is GREATLY appreciated. Andrew and I are both exhausted, but it comes with the territory, and it's all worth it. And things will get easier the more we find our groove. But, in the end, no matter how hard it is, how tiring our frustrating, I have to say, we are the happiest we have ever been and both feel happy, satisfied, and completely in love with each other and our kids. Things are better than ever, and continue to get better every day. It's perfect. :)