Born on the 6th of July

Our little Camilla couldn't wait any longer, and so it has started...she's already getting her way. Fourth of July, we had John's sister, Colleen, and her family out for the day. We grilled hot dogs, made a blueberry pie, and shot fireworks that night. I went to bed fat and happy. Around 3:30am we were on our way to the hospital with some bleeding and contractions. Milla was getting impatient...maybe it was the fireworks. I had originally had a C-Section planned for July 19th due to a condition called placenta previa; this is where the placenta is covering the cervix and can be dangerous to both the baby and the mother if I was to go into labor. I was admitted into the hospital and the C-Section date was moved up to the next day, July 6th! Holy bananas.

For the next 24 hours, I was pumped full of steroids to boost Milla's lung development; she was already 37 weeks, but my Dr. wanted to take every precaution. Then we had to wait until morning...and the anxiety about killed me. We had the house pretty much ready, but I'm not sure our brains were able to take in the fact that we would be parents in less than 24 hours. It's a rather large responsibility, but I think excitement was winning out over all of the other nervous and anxious emotions. My surgery was scheduled for 8am, but I got to go back early and Camilla Marie was born at 7:51am on Wednesday, July 6th. It was so fast!

John had barely gotten his hazmat suit on and come into the operating room when Dr. Hinton was saying "you're about to have a baby"! It all went so well and was painless and then Millie is being held up over the barrier for us to look at. Oh, the emotions...it was overwhelming, and she was covered in cheese (actually called vernix), but somehow we still knew she was perfect! John got to watch them clean her and take measurements: weight 7 pounds, 1 ounce; length 19.5 inches of gorgeousness. Apgar scores of 8 & then 9...atta girl.  Video: Camilla is born!

John even got to carry her to the nursery. An hour later, we were all back in our hospital room and Milla was nursing like a pro. (Okay, so this first time to nurse proved to be a bit of a fluke. We had a few struggles over the next couple of days, but by the time we left the hospital, I think we all had the hang of it again.) The next two days were spent in the hospital, and both of those nights Milla ended up sleeping on my chest. She did not like that bassinet in the room! I was happy to provide the space though and keep her close to me. John didn't like his bed in the room either, but he couldn't fit in with the two of us. He spent many hours each night rocking her and snuggling her and making her feel loved. And I'm pretty sure he got 99% of those nasty meconium diapers. :)

Forty-eight hours and a thousand pictures later, we were strapping her into her car seat and taking our cute little bundle home to meet her furry siblings. My mom and John's sister, Colleen, had stayed at our house all week taking care of the pets and keeping us fed so we didn't have to live on hospital food alone. Oh, it was good to be home! How I missed my buddy...and my bed. Our family of four is now officially a fivesome!