It’s the night before my daughter’s first birthday and I realize that I’ve never written down Liv’s birth story, so thought I’d share it here– don’t worry, no graphic details will be mentioned! I remember that the day before I was on my feet aaaaallll day at work (thanks to PARCC testing, you teachers know what I’m talking about) and when I got home I thought I am going to take a long walk and get this baby outta me! Eric and I ate dinner and then went for a quick trip to Dairy Queen. As you can see from the picture, my face was huuuuuuge, I was approximately 936 months pregnant, and about to pop. Little did we know that we would be meeting our daughter in less than 24 hours.
I remember waking up at 3am that night thinking I had somehow peed on myself/wet the bed (not outside the realm of possibilities when pregnant, so don’t judge). I got up and cleaned myself off and went back to bed but somehow I peed on myself again. Wtf?? I wondered if I had broken my water… Nah! But I started feeling pains that seemed like contractions so I woke Eric up and he said, “I don’t think your water broke, just go back to sleep.” Ha! Good thing he’s not a doctor!
I waited a little longer and decided to call the doctor, I told her the sitch and she said that it was possible that my water broke but to walk around for a bit and see if there was anymore fluid. By this time it was 5:30 so I started getting ready for work. Everything seemed normal until I bent down to put my pants on and then I was like okay something is def happening here. I called the doc again and she told me to go to triage, but I still didn’t think it was my water breaking so I didn’t take it too seriously. I frantically threw some things in a bag (being a major procrastinator, I hadn’t packed my hospital bag yet, despite hubby’s constant urging). Eric and I figured they would check me out and then send me on my way. In fact, this was how Eric dressed for triage:
Once we got to the hospital, they confirmed that my water did, in fact, break. They wheeled me up to L&D and I swear that the other mamas in triage must have given me the look of death as they walked up and down the halls trying to ease their pain. By the time we got upstairs, it was around 10am and they started me on Pitocin and then it was a waiting game. The contractions started coming more regularly but they weren’t unbearable… yet. By 3pm I asked for the epidural and I have to say that out of all the things I was most fearful of surrounding birth, it was getting the epidural. Fortunately, it went well, besides my right leg feeling way more numb than my left.
After the epidural, it seemed like we were just hanging around waiting for something to happen. Uhhh, obvi! It was around 5:30pm when I started feeling that pressure. You mamas know what I’m talking about, that holy-hell-mother-effer-ten-tons-on-my-nether-regions-feels-like-I’m-about-poo-out-a-baby kinda pressure. It was time! My mom and mother in-law went to the waiting room, and it was just me, Eric, the doctor, and one nurse. The sun was just starting to set and there were no lights on in the room. It was quiet, peaceful, and utterly surreal. The doctor told me what to do and I started pushing. After only 14 minutes of pushing, my baby was out!
Eric and I didn’t find out the sex of the baby, so I remember the doctor holding her above me and me trying to figure out if it was a boy or a girl, until she finally said those words: It’s a girl! She weighed in at 4 pounds 12 ounces. And the only thoughts that kept going through my head were: I can’t believe I just had a baby, I can’t believe we have a daughter, and I can’t believe how small she is!
Even to this day it doesn’t feel real. Sometimes I just can’t believe that this adorable girl is mine and that I’m lucky enough to be her mom.
XO,
L
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Dearest Lauren,
Yes and I’m lucky enough to be her Nani. Thank you Thank You Thank you. Reading your story brings back the wonderful memories of that day and along with the memories brings on the tears of joy. I remember sitting there in your room with your Mom. It was very quiet and you were soooooo calm. I remember the Dr. saying it was going to be awhile. Your Mom and I said lets go across the street and do what we do best. Go shopping on Michigan Ave. So we did, We weren’t gone long when Eric called me and said get back the baby’s coming. In that short time we managed to buy a watch, a purse, make-up brush from Mac and lots of chocolate candy. ( Hey, there was a sale on Frango mints. Hello!!!! . ) When we got back the room was darkening from the setting sun, there were no lights on and it was very peaceful . You could feel something big was about to happen. The Dr, came in ( she looked like she had just come from gardening in her back yard. In a whisper she told us that it was time to deliver a baby and maybe we wanted to wait in the waiting room just next door. Your Mom and I slipped out but not without kissing you two and wishing you good luck and I love you’s. We sat in two chairs looking out at lake Michigan both of us teary eyed and nervous. Within minutes I turned and saw Eric coming around the corner and announcing sweet baby Olivia’s birth. Wow !!!!! It’s a Girl to Eric surprise. What a great moment I hugged my boy who just became a Daddy to a precious little girl. We held each other and cried and the he took us to see his new little girl. Sooooooo tiny she was and perfect and beautiful. To me she looked like Grandma Kelly. I’ll always remember that day and the special time I shared with you (Lauren) your Mom and Eric. It’s so hard to believe that it’s a year already and Olivia is one. What a big milestone for such a tiny tiny bundle. Happy Happy 1st Birthday sweet Livi.
Nani and Popi loves you to the moon and back.
XOXO Nani
P.S Lauren was that long enough?
That was the best response EVER! Your comment brought tears to my eyes and I loved hearing your memory of that day. It’s funny because my mom and I were talking today about how funny it was that you two were shopping on Michigan Ave just before Livy was born! Thank you so much for being the best Nani to our baby and loving her as much as you do. Love you!! And yes, that was EXACTLY the type of response I would expect from you! It must have taken you a couple hours to type! 😉
Yes indeed it did. At one point I had to turn the computer off and start it up again just to finish it. So sorry, I spelled Livy with and ( I ) , Your Mom and I have great memories of that whole day.
Love you, all 3 of you.
I’m really enjoying reading your blog! (I found out about it from a post you did in a Lombard moms site.)
Not knowing the gender is the best! We didn’t know for my daughter and I loved the surprise! It also gave me a lot of motivation when I was pushing… You’re SO LUCKY you only pushed for 15 minutes!
Hi Elizabeth! Thank you so much for reading! I agree, not knowing the gender was so much fun! It’s one of life’s best surprises! 🙂
Got the chills reading her story… makes me want to have another 😋 Love you guys so so much!! xo
Awww! Love you more!
OMG….I cant……..wow..
This was just….ugh….dont even have a word…
It hurts me as much as it excites me to see your journey as a mommy to little Livy. The Lauren I know has always been such an amazing, loyal and loving friend that I can only imagine what a mother your are to Livy. Although you were nervous becoming a mother you have today proven (only to yourself) as the rest of us knew, what an amazing nurturing mother you would be. I SO appreciate this blog because it is my way of stalking you and your journey and feeling like I am part of it despite the 1000 miljon miles distance beetween us:)
Livy is just as blessed to have you as her mother as you are having her as your daugther!
Miss you and Luuh you Mucho Sis
-The Pretty/Nice Sister, Sumeila