Friday, October 31, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Granddad Comes to Visit
Granddad Harrington flew all the way out from Indiana to see you little one... expect lots of postcards from his travels. We are creating a postcard album to collect all of those memories.
Don't Blame Me- Daddy Dressed Me
Pink striped hat, brown bear shirt, green striped pants, blue socks.
I particularly liked the blue socks...they make the outfit.
Sorry Natalie- looks like the matching pants were in the wash.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Grandpa and Nana Hiltgen
They can't wait for you to come visit. There is a playhouse all ready to go.
The Birth Story: Part II
At 2pm, I was prepped for a c-section. At that point, the exhaustion was overwhelming. Both mentally and physically, my body was just done. I was so sad that I would be unable to deliver Natalie naturally, and just started to cry. At that point, I had been in labor for 27 hours, and was not prepared for a c-section. But Katy helped my through by finally telling my her labor stories. Yeah, unfortunately for Katy, that did actually make me feel better. Amanda and Daniel dressed in scrubs and we all entered the operating room. On Oct. 16th at 2:49pm, Natalie was born. She was held up over the drape and we all cried. At no point was she ever in distress. Natalie was the perfect baby the whole time. Daniel took her to be cleaned up and Amanda stayed with me.
Unfortunately, there was a complication and the placenta would not separate from the uterus. I started to loose a lot of blood. Amanda was kicked out of the operating room. Daniel started to get nervous because I was not coming out. I don't really remember too much, but I do remember to commotion. Ultimately, I was given drugs to stop the bleeding. Finally, I was sewn back up and taken to the recovery room.
On Friday, my blood count was 18. Normal is between 35 and 40. By Saturday, my blood count was down to 16, cardiac arrest levels, and I was given a blood transfusion of 2 units of blood. On Monday, my blood count was back to 20. We stayed in the hospital until Tuesday morning, 6 days total. Finally, we were able to bring little Natalie home.
Unfortunately, there was a complication and the placenta would not separate from the uterus. I started to loose a lot of blood. Amanda was kicked out of the operating room. Daniel started to get nervous because I was not coming out. I don't really remember too much, but I do remember to commotion. Ultimately, I was given drugs to stop the bleeding. Finally, I was sewn back up and taken to the recovery room.
On Friday, my blood count was 18. Normal is between 35 and 40. By Saturday, my blood count was down to 16, cardiac arrest levels, and I was given a blood transfusion of 2 units of blood. On Monday, my blood count was back to 20. We stayed in the hospital until Tuesday morning, 6 days total. Finally, we were able to bring little Natalie home.
The Birth Story: Part I
Natalie was due on Oct. 9th. Everyone (except our doctor) thought she would be at least 1 week early. We were ready and waiting. However, she had different ideas. So, on Wed Oct. 15, I was scheduled to be induced. That morning, I was unsure if my water was leaking and Dr. Tate told us to come on in and start the induction process. Daniel and I arrived at about 10am. Amanda was there 15 min after. Turns out, no, my water had not broken yet, but they kept us anyway and started the induction process. I was 3 cm dilated and 50% effaced. A cervical softener was inserted at 11:30am and would be left until midnight that night. I was scheduled to have pitocin to start contractions at 6am the next morning.
And then the waiting began. I did start to contract, but the contractions were light. Amanda brought lunch and then dinner and we all hung out for the day. Erik, Katy and Nicholas came to visit that night to help with the delivery. We sent them all home for the night and prepared to start pitocin the next morning. Again, Natalie had other ideas. My water broke at 11:15pm and by 11:30, the contractions started fast and furious. At midnight, I was shaking uncontrollably and the contractions had not stopped. The nurse agreed it was time for pain management. By 12:45, I had an epidural and was finally able to relax. I slept through the night. When the nurse checked at 6am, I was dilated to 6am and fully effaced. She started the pitocin to help with the labor. By 8 am, I was 7 cm dilated. Dr. Tate estimated that I would be delivering you by early afternoon. The nurse inserted an internal fetal monitor to track the intensity of the contractions more closely.
Amanda, Erik and Katy were all there to help with the labor. They even started to bet on how strong each contractions would be. Everyone was in anticipation waiting for the phone call of your arrival. However, when the nurse checked again at 1pm, I had not progressed at all. The contractions were not strong enough to continue the dilation. The decision was made that a c-section was necessary at that point. To be continued...
And then the waiting began. I did start to contract, but the contractions were light. Amanda brought lunch and then dinner and we all hung out for the day. Erik, Katy and Nicholas came to visit that night to help with the delivery. We sent them all home for the night and prepared to start pitocin the next morning. Again, Natalie had other ideas. My water broke at 11:15pm and by 11:30, the contractions started fast and furious. At midnight, I was shaking uncontrollably and the contractions had not stopped. The nurse agreed it was time for pain management. By 12:45, I had an epidural and was finally able to relax. I slept through the night. When the nurse checked at 6am, I was dilated to 6am and fully effaced. She started the pitocin to help with the labor. By 8 am, I was 7 cm dilated. Dr. Tate estimated that I would be delivering you by early afternoon. The nurse inserted an internal fetal monitor to track the intensity of the contractions more closely.
Amanda, Erik and Katy were all there to help with the labor. They even started to bet on how strong each contractions would be. Everyone was in anticipation waiting for the phone call of your arrival. However, when the nurse checked again at 1pm, I had not progressed at all. The contractions were not strong enough to continue the dilation. The decision was made that a c-section was necessary at that point. To be continued...
Friday, October 17, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Happy Birthday Natalie!
Daniel and I are thrilled to announce the arrival of Natalie Keenan Hiltgen. The whole family is doing great, just tired.She was born at Good Samaritan Hospital on October 16, 2008 at 2:49pm and weighed 7lbs 12 oz.
Happy Birthday, sweet girl. We love you so much and are so excited to finally meet you.
Thank you to our friends and family. We cannot tell you how much your support and love through these past months has meant to us.
Pictures are being uploaded to www.flickr.com/photos/mhiltgen (Natalie Set) or click on the flickr badge to the left.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Still waiting....
Due Date was October 9th. You are officially one day overdue. We are all ready and waiting. Grandparents, aunts, and friends are eager to meet you and learn your name. They have been pretty patient all this time. Let's get this show on the road, huh?
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