Skye Allie Glauser
Friday May 6, 2016 at 8:48 am
7 lb 14 oz - 19.25 in long - 35.5 cm head
Skye is our Goldilocks baby: not too early, not too late, just right. Scarlett was too late and was in the NICU. The twirls were too early and in the NICU. Skye was just on time and totally healthy! (my next post will be all about choosing her name and name color - Skye Blue).
The night before our scheduled c-section I rocked all the girls in the red rocking chair to give them special attention. Siena was having the most anxiety with me leaving to the hospital, she kept stroking my face and saying "I love you and I miss you." So sweet!
On the way to the hospital at 5:40am Jake asked me: "you know what to do if we get pulled over, right?" I explained that a scheduled c-section wasn't an excuse to speed down Geddes road. Jake dropped me off at the door and I sat on a bench and waited for him. It was all very calm. Not anything like the women who come through those doors in hard labor. We checked in then the nurse took us back to the surgery prep room. While we walked down the hallway we could hear women laboring behind closed doors. The look on Jake's face was priceless!!! haha!!!
The next two hours were spent going over forms and talking with the surgery team. The anesthesiologist told me that they got called earlier in the week to prep them for my "special case." Because of my history of postpartum hemorrhaging and losing more blood than normal, they had several extra things in place. They put 2 IVs in my arms. That way if the needed to get blood in me ASAP they would have two ports to use. The nurse didn't like my veins, until she looked on the back side of my arms. She was like "There are ropes back here! Hallelujah!" Apparently they were easy to poke. They had 4 bags of blood in the ER just in case. And they had a Cell Saver machine (next to the nurse in the photo). It's like a blood vacuum. If they get enough blood then they can spin it down and give you your own red blood cells back in your IV.
I was having contractions every 4 minutes. So I guess my body wanted her bday to be today too! They rolled me back to surgery and brought Jake in to join me. After they put up the blue curtain I couldn't see or feel my lower half, but every once in a while I caught a glimpse of my body in the reflection of a glass cabinet. There was no denying that I was basically naked for all to see. My arms were strapped down and there was a plastic bag that they pump warm air through on top of them to keep my body warm. Right before Jake walked in the room I started throwing up. My stomach was empty except for the nasty acid-neutralizing drink they made me chug in case I threw up. Well that nasty drink came right back up. Since I was strapped to the table all I could do was turn my head to the side. A nurse came and held a little bowl under my mouth while I puked and dry-heaved. Jake came in and immediately started wiping my eyes and face off. They got the nausea under control a few minutes before she was born. While they were working on me Dr. Bernardoni was telling everyone in the OR how we were both on the IHA billboard together. It was weird to have such a normal, upbeat conversation while my insides were being exposed!
As they lifted her out of me, Jake stood up to watch. He said that right when they pulled her out she had a bowel movement into me. Haha! I think all of the girls have done that. Thank goodness they clean me out afterward! They brought her over so we could get a glimpse of her before they cleaned her off. She pooped and peed all over the floor. Jake went to go look at her and they told him to watch out where he stepped so he didn't slip on her potty accident. Then for the next 10-15 min she just kept grunting and pooping everywhere. Jake thought it was pretty funny how they went through like 20 hospital blankets. The pediatrician came over and told me that there was some merconium in the sac with her and they wanted to watch her until she stopped grunting - which is a warning sign for respiratory distress. I was looking forward to doing some skin-to-skin time in the ER (something new that St. Joes just started) and I think I would have been disappointed that she wasn't able to - except for the fact that I started throwing up again and was super sick.
The next two hours were spent going over forms and talking with the surgery team. The anesthesiologist told me that they got called earlier in the week to prep them for my "special case." Because of my history of postpartum hemorrhaging and losing more blood than normal, they had several extra things in place. They put 2 IVs in my arms. That way if the needed to get blood in me ASAP they would have two ports to use. The nurse didn't like my veins, until she looked on the back side of my arms. She was like "There are ropes back here! Hallelujah!" Apparently they were easy to poke. They had 4 bags of blood in the ER just in case. And they had a Cell Saver machine (next to the nurse in the photo). It's like a blood vacuum. If they get enough blood then they can spin it down and give you your own red blood cells back in your IV.
I was having contractions every 4 minutes. So I guess my body wanted her bday to be today too! They rolled me back to surgery and brought Jake in to join me. After they put up the blue curtain I couldn't see or feel my lower half, but every once in a while I caught a glimpse of my body in the reflection of a glass cabinet. There was no denying that I was basically naked for all to see. My arms were strapped down and there was a plastic bag that they pump warm air through on top of them to keep my body warm. Right before Jake walked in the room I started throwing up. My stomach was empty except for the nasty acid-neutralizing drink they made me chug in case I threw up. Well that nasty drink came right back up. Since I was strapped to the table all I could do was turn my head to the side. A nurse came and held a little bowl under my mouth while I puked and dry-heaved. Jake came in and immediately started wiping my eyes and face off. They got the nausea under control a few minutes before she was born. While they were working on me Dr. Bernardoni was telling everyone in the OR how we were both on the IHA billboard together. It was weird to have such a normal, upbeat conversation while my insides were being exposed!
As they lifted her out of me, Jake stood up to watch. He said that right when they pulled her out she had a bowel movement into me. Haha! I think all of the girls have done that. Thank goodness they clean me out afterward! They brought her over so we could get a glimpse of her before they cleaned her off. She pooped and peed all over the floor. Jake went to go look at her and they told him to watch out where he stepped so he didn't slip on her potty accident. Then for the next 10-15 min she just kept grunting and pooping everywhere. Jake thought it was pretty funny how they went through like 20 hospital blankets. The pediatrician came over and told me that there was some merconium in the sac with her and they wanted to watch her until she stopped grunting - which is a warning sign for respiratory distress. I was looking forward to doing some skin-to-skin time in the ER (something new that St. Joes just started) and I think I would have been disappointed that she wasn't able to - except for the fact that I started throwing up again and was super sick.
Jake said once the poop stopped that she stopped grunting and everything looked great. They brought her over so I could give her kisses then Jake and Skye went to the post-op room. The rest of my surgery went well. With the exception of the nausea, everything was great. They did sutures instead of staples - to help avoid the popping open incision like last time. And I only lost 800ml of blood, which is well below the normal 1000ml. Yay!!!
They wheeled me back into the recovery room and I found Jake shirtless with a little naked baby on his chest. I wasn't able to do skin-to-skin but Jake was! What a sweet moment! Then a few minutes later I was able to breastfeed her. She latched right on and hasn't had a single problem! My kids love to eat!
They wheeled me back into the recovery room and I found Jake shirtless with a little naked baby on his chest. I wasn't able to do skin-to-skin but Jake was! What a sweet moment! Then a few minutes later I was able to breastfeed her. She latched right on and hasn't had a single problem! My kids love to eat!
I asked Jake to write notes on his phone of a few events so we wouldn't forget them. He captured the skin-to-skin moment like this: "since Jen was nauseated, Jake ripped his shirt off to expose his rippling chest, like a wrestler expressing his dominance in the ring, to provide skin to skin contact for Skye. It helped keep her body temperature up for her first couple of hours" that boy... He also wrote about my nausea during the surgery: "Jen puked all over everyone, the walls, and it even flowed under the doors into the hall - twice!"
Dr. Bernardoni! And Jake is an old pro at this baby thing. She was fussy so he used his little finger to calm her down. Fourth baby's the charm! Jake went to go get a snack and one of the other dads took him to the snack room and showed him where all the good stuff was. He had been there for a long time with his laboring wife. Luckily we were out of Labor and Delivery and in Mother/Baby by noon that day.
When they move you to Mother/Baby they play a lullaby song over the speakers:
It was so wonderful to have Skye in our room! We've only had NICU babies so far. This was the least-stressful and such a tender time. Jake took care of everything (except for feeding her). He would change diapers, burp her, rock her, swaddle her, etc. He was on top of it! What a cutie!
His bed/chair. Needless to say, his back was a little stiff all weekend. I woke up and saw that he had moved Skye to over by his bed so he could pat her to sleep in the middle of the night.
We love our little Skye!!! She is our biggest baby by a whole pound! Look at those chubby cheeks! I love her squishy face. She's got a stork bite that shows up bright when she's crying. And her swollen newborn face includes a furrowed brow that gives her a very stern look. Even with all her chunk she is so tiny!!! I just love to kiss her and snuggle her. Her hair is so soft and fun to play with.
She has Erythema Toxicum which is a menacing name for a newborn skin rash. Basically it looks way worse than it is. Just their body trying to get used to their new environment.
She loved her first little bath.
She passed her hearing test with flying colors.
My mom told me that the girls ran into my bedroom that morning. My mom covered herself with the covers so they wouldn't see her. When Scarlett came to the bed and said "mom" she popped up and they all just squealed with laughter. Grammy in mom's bed: hilarious! They were so excited that we were at the hospital and that the baby was getting out of mommy's tummy. Jaide kept saying "I want to see Miss Skye" (we told them her name the night before).
My dad flew into town that day. So when he got to our house he helped my mom load the girls and head over to the hospital.
The girls meet baby Skye:
They were all so sweet with her!
They love to sing to her:
The excitment was too much for the twirls!
Look at that hair!!!
The next day they brought baby Skye some new toys.
The girls brought artwork for the baby. And Scarlett saw this TruGreen ad on our door and knew, just knew, that dad wanted to have it for our hospital room. haha!
Getting ready to head home.
She's so tiny!!!
Mother's Day. The best present was going home and spending the evening with all our little ladies.
I remember thinking last week how the twirls are such little toddlers. This week they look so huge to me!!! Funny how a newborn can shift your perspective. When we came home she was only 7 lbs 4oz.
They are so interested in how "baby Skye drinks out of mommy's boobies" haha!
This week has been so nice. The girls really seem to love her. Occasionally they will get fussy, but mostly just cause they want my attention. I think Siena is afraid that I'm going to go to the hospital again. But really, they have been wonderful. I came home in more pain than I remember being in last time. But the last surgeries I have stayed at the hospital for 4 and 7 days. So 48 hours was a bit early to come home - right in the thick of the pain. It's a bummer that I'm allergic to NSAIDs cause the pain meds knock me out. But luckily my parents are here to help. So we're just loving on our baby and trying to sleep when we can. We love our little Skye!!!
8 comments:
Great pictures - and especially the video of the 3 sisters coming into the hospital room and meeting Skye for the first time. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to seeing her and everyone in person!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the wonderful pictures. I actually got a little teary looking at all these wonderful pictures and hearing the girls sing their lullaby for baby Skye. She is so beautiful and with all that hair; she actually reminds me a little of Christy. I can't wait to see her and hug her. I have been so anxious for these pictures that I have been checking every 12 hrs. I love the sweetness of the family all being together to welcome her home and see her sisters bond with her. What a great thing. So sorry you were so sick. Hopefully that is the flourishing end of 9 months of being sick. Yahoo!
So, so wonderful! Congrats for lile Skye!
Four darling little girls! So happy for you and Jake.
Suddenly the twirls don't look like babies anymore! How fun for you all (which I know is exactly what you're thinking at 2 in the morning now days). Congratulations!
That C-section description was pretty fascinating. You sound like a robot. Truly though, you're a rock star! I hope your healing goes quickly.
I like Jake's journaling. If it's not accurate, at least it's humorous!
Congratulations to your family. This post brought tears to my eyes. Looking forward to meeting my newest niece in person when she's a little older.
Yaaay!! I'm so happy for you all! Congrats to the whole family!
I have loved reading this several times over the last two weeks. So exciting to have her here! And you're right, I can definitely see that she looks more like Siena in these pictures.
So funny how they're all gathered around watching you nurse. The other day Parker asked what my nipples were and I told him that they were for feeding babies. Right now, no one covers up around here (don't walk into our house unannounced!), but I wonder how it will be way down the road for our baby #4 (if we get that far). It sounds like the worst thing ever to have to cover up AT HOME for a whole year of nursing. Anyway, just throwing that out there so we can discuss in a few years. :)
That carseat looks ENORMOUS! It's hard to remember that babies come out so teeny tiny.
So excited to hear all the adventures of the four Glauser girls!
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