Rose Katherine Barnes

August 27, 2010 4:55am

5 lbs 9 oz 17 and 3/4 inches

Little Rosey came into our lives in a flash! I had a doctors appointment the morning of the 26th at 9:00am and I was dilated to a 4 and 80% effaced. After the appointment I had lots of cramping and I thought that was just normal because that's what I had felt in the past after being checked. I went back home with my mom, who had spent the week with us, and we just hung out on the couch and crocheted. I started having some contractions at that point but they were about 25 mins apart. They continued pretty inconsistently throughout the rest of the day so we headed to the airport to drop my mom off for her 5:30pm flight. Around 7:oopm I started to feel like the contractions were getting closer together so Mike started timing them. They were about 6 minutes apart, then 10 minutes, then 5 minutes, and so on. We didn't really know what to expect so we called the hospital to see if we should go in. I think they were pretty surprised because they were like "So did your doctor tell you to call us?" I got really embarrassed because I really had no idea if I was in labor or not and the hospital clearly reassured me that I was not in labor :( Eventually the contractions stopped and we headed to bed at 10:30pm. At 12:30am I woke up with extreme cramping! I thought I just had an upset stomach or something so I just went into the bathroom and hung out for a little while before Mike finally woke up and realized that I was in tons of pain. Because the hospital was so sure that I was not in labor, I really didn't think I was. After a while I started to feel so much pain so Mike finally convinced me that we should go to the hospital. I called to let them know that we were coming and they didn't try to send me away ;) We live about 25 mins from the hospital and Mike made it there in about 10. The nurse came out just as I was having a major contraction on a chair in the lobby so after I regrouped she got me into a room and without even checking me, called the anesthesiologist. I was dilated to an 8 and my contractions were less that 2 mins apart! Anyways, I got the epidural (how stupid was I for not wanting one before) and hung out for a little bit feeling so warm and cozy in my bed and then the nurse came in and had me start pushing. I pushed for about 45 mins and then she called in the doctor and about 10 mins later Rose arrived at 4:55am. Giving birth was seriously the coolest experience of my whole life! One minute you're on the freeway screaming at your husband to drive faster and the next you are holding the most beautiful thing you're ever laid eyes on! So amazing. Mike and I keep saying to each other "How can you not believe in God after an experience like that?" Rosey arrieved with dark dark hair and dark dark eyes. We have no idea where the hair came from! It is getting lighter everyday though. By the time we left the hospital she was one 5lbs 2oz but at her pediatrician appointment this week she was already up to 6lbs! She is a very good eater as you can tell.

We were in the hospital until the 29th and we really loved being there together. Our nurses were amazing and we really missed them when we left. On Sunday night just before bed Rose has "dusky spell" where she turned blue so we rushed her to the ER and had to be admitted to the NICU for monitoring for 5 days. It was so hard being in the NICU, physically and emotionally. I can't imagine how I would feel if our baby was actually sick! She had so many tests done but everything came back negative so the doctors figured that it was a one time event. We loved our nurses and doctors and were so grateful for the good care that Rose received. We came home on Friday and my mom came to visit on Saturday and Mike's parents came on Sunday.

We are sure glad to be home and can't believe that she is already 2 weeks old! Her face is really filling out and she is getting bigger by the second! She is so so sweet and we just can't get enough of her!