The Price is Right: Savannah's Arrival!

It's been almost 3 months... it's about time I get caught up!

My sweet, sweet Savannah.

Mommy had a rough pregnancy this go round. Constantly at the doctor, we were sent to L&D Testing 4 times. I ultimately ended up on bed rest the Thursday before Easter weekend. We broke the rules a little and still went to Easter celebrations at the Club! In any event, the next 2 weeks were spent at home hanging out with Crew. Anytime I would get up, my BP would sky rocket. They ended up diagnosing me with gestational hypertension - so at least no Pre-E this time around! The entire pregnancy you did just beautifully. You always measured right on track, usually down to the day. I got sick a few times, but you were never phased. You, my sweet angel, were the picture of health.

Just before I was put on bed rest, our doctor told us she had a 'feeling' that we'd have you on May 5th. That was just her gut feeling. After we left, I realized that May 5th fell on a Monday - which just so happened to be her surgery day, and I would be 37 weeks at the time. So that's the moment I realized we would for sure be induced, and your birthday was decided! Cinco de Mayo will sure be fun for you when you get older (MUCH older I might add....). It at least allowed us to plan things out and know what was coming. We could notify family, work, etc. But the anticipation was tough for me, it was just nerve-wracking knowing that I would be having a baby on a certain day. I mean, you know that you're having a baby, but putting an exact time/day on it was strange.

So, on May 5th at 7 AM, Daddy and I loaded up the car, gave Charlotte a kiss, and headed off to have a baby! With sister, I was put on a magnesium drip due to the pre-e, so I was expecting to have that again since my BP was still so high. Imagine my relief when the Dr said nope, no mag for you! I was SO excited. It made me feel so crummy, it made for a totally different experience for you. They came in and she broke my water around 9:15, and the anesthesiologist gave me the epidural around 10. I really enjoyed that epi this time around. It was very nice and made things so much easier. My contractions started getting pretty strong about halfway through the day, around 12ish I'd say. Honestly I can't remember for sure. However, I do remember feeling like you were ready to make your appearance around 2:45 PM. The nurse had been gone for about an hour, so it was just me and Daddy in the room. I was in a lot of pain and needed more of the epidural medicine, and I just knew you were ready - so I sent him of search of a nurse. ANY nurse. Finally ours came back and checked and said yep, let me get the dr! She got in the room just before 3 - and after about 5 minutes of pushing you came right out! You were definitely ready - so thank you for that my dear!

The hospital had changed the way they did things this time around, so you immediately came straight up to me for skin-to-skin. You knew exactly what to do and made your way down to start nursing, and you did so well! I think you nursed for a good 20-30 minutes and then you just cuddled on my chest. After a little over an hour or so they took you and cleaned you off and did all the stats. Then your Daddy finally got to hold you! Pretty quick after that they moved us all into the post-partum recovery room. That's where you got to meet big sister for the first time! Mamaw, Granny, and Paw-paw were all there too. You also got to meet your Nanny, and some of our friends - Tiffany and Makayla, and Robert and Ashley. The only time you left the room was during the first night when it was time for your bath. You stayed with us the rest of the time!

Tuesday night was definitely the toughest night. You cluster fed pretty much all night, and then just when I'd gotten you settled and finally in the little crib - they came in to do your newborn screening check. I was not very nice to that nurse. Needless to say - we were VERY happy to go home on Wednesday. You had several jaundice checks while there, your billirubin levels were on the low end. So we had to go get that checked a few times after we got home. Other than that - you were the picture of health!

Born: 3:06 PM, Monday, May 5th, 2014
6 lbs, 9 oz, 19.25 inches long