Friday, January 29th (Karly’s due date) I woke up to contractions
at about 2am. They weren’t very strong, but they were pretty consistently
coming between 10-15 minutes apart so I couldn’t fall back asleep. This same thing had happened a few nights
ago, only after about 2 ½ hours, the contractions just stopped. So this time I
wasn’t sure if they would stop, or if this was going to be the real deal. I grabbed a book and went into the movie room
and read for a while as the contractions kept coming. By 5am, they were still
coming, so I figured I better get up and start getting things ready just in
case (plus I was so stir crazy, feeling tired, but not being able to sleep!). I
got Eden’s school lunch made and helped gather all her things for school that
morning. Meanwhile, the contractions
were still going, but not getting any closer together. Eventually all the
family started waking up so I just carried on with the routine as normal. The
contractions were still every ten minutes apart, but they were getting a little
stronger. At this point, I was fairly certain it was the real deal, but it was
already so different than the rest of my babies in that it wasn’t progressing
very much (or so I thought) so I still wasn’t sure. Brad decided to go to work on “high alert”
just in case things took a turn. I
helped Eden get ready for school and drove carpool, all while having some
pretty good contractions.
The contractions still weren’t consistently getting any
closer together, but they were getting stronger, so when I got home from
dropping the kids off at school, I decided to ask my mom to head up. At this
point, Brad was still at work but was checking in a lot to see what was
happening.
9:30 rolled around and Brad called for another update,
wondering if he should cancel his meetings for the day and come home. At this
point, I still didn’t know what was happening timing wise because the
contractions still weren’t consistently getting closer together, but they were
getting intense and painful at this point and I was certain it was the real
deal so I told him he should just come home.
10am Brad text me that he was just leaving the office and
would be home soon. Meanwhile, my mom had arrived and we were just chatting and
playing with the kids. Things took a pretty quick turn and at this point I was
hurting pretty bad and pacing the kitchen cursing Brad in my head for taking so
long. I’m pretty sure I told my mom, “What is taking Brad so long? I’m getting
really grouchy now and he is taking forever. He better already have a bag
packed and ready to go.”
10:30 Brad walks through the door and I walk out to get into
the car. I was so ready and not in the mood to wait for him while he very
quickly grabbed some snacks and threw them into his backpack (which fortunately
was already packed and ready to go).
By about 11 we were in the triage room, all gowned up, with
the monitors on and talking with the midwife. She finally checked my cervix and
said I was dilated to a 7, which I was glad to hear because I definitely felt
like I had already been laboring for a while so I was glad there was good
progress. I decided at this point that I wouldn’t do an epidural since I was
that far along, and really hoping the rest would go quickly.
Around 11:15 I was moved into a labor and delivery room. We
kept telling them that my previous labors were pretty fast, and that once my
water broke the baby would be born within ten minutes. They helped us get
settled into the room and then said they would be back to check on us about
every 10 or 15 minutes.
When the midwife originally checked me, she said she could
feel my bag of water and then the baby’s head so she wanted me to be sitting or
standing up to help get the babies head to move lower. So instead of laying
down in the bed, I sat in a rocking chair and tried to relax through the contractions.
The time frame of all this next part is a big blur because at this point, my
contractions were coming right on top of each other and were very painful. I
remember trying to relax through them, but sitting in the chair was so
uncomfortable that I was having to hold myself up because the pressure was so
much. I told our nurse that I was really close and she should get the midwife
so she left, and Brad tried to help me onto the bed but I was hurting so bad I
didn’t want to move!
Somehow I was able to hobble to the bed and the midwife came
in to check me. Sure enough, I was ready. The baby was right there so the room
became a frenzy as everyone started gowning up and getting things ready. The
sweet midwife was still kind of arranging her gown over her shoulders when she
sat down in front of me and at that same moment my bag of water literally burst,
and yes, unfortunately it did shower her quite a bit. Afterward I felt bad
about this, but in the moment all I could think about was the fact that my body
was taking over, it was pushing and that baby was coming out whether or not
anyone was ready!
I don’t know exactly, but I think it was only like 5 minutes
from the time my water broke until the midwife said, “reach down here and grab
your baby!” and then she was on my chest and I was instantly in love. It’s so
amazing how quickly it changes from pain and craziness, to the sweet calming
spirit and intense love the moment that baby hit my chest. It’s one of the most
amazing experiences for sure.
So we were in the labor and delivery room for less than an
hour. I told them it would be fast but I don’t think they believed me that it
was going to be that fast! She was born at 12:11 pm.
I was so relieved that it was over, and I felt such a
beautiful feeling of peace as I held her and looked at her cute face. At this
point we still hadn’t decided on a name for her, but I wasn’t even thinking
about it. She was just so beautiful and perfect and even though this was my
fourth time, I was still so much in awe about her, and the process, and the
feeling of heaven in the room. It’s so special and there is no other experience
in life like it.
For the next hour, it was just Brad, me and our sweet new
baby in the room and I was just soaking in every bit of the experience and
sweetness of the spirit as we bonded with her.
After this time together, the nurses came back and took her to get her
size stats, and then the name discussion began (more on that later).
So here she is, introducing our baby girl:
Karly Rose Justice
Friday, January 29th at 12:11 PM
7 pounds 2 ounces
20 ¼ inches long
Right after this photo was taken, we were moved from the labor and delivery room, into our room for the night. I can't even tell you how much happiness and relief I was already feeling at this point. I was so glad it was all over, and that she was healthy and absolutely perfect.
How we decided on the name:
Throughout the whole pregnancy, I had kept a list of "maybe" baby names and we periodically discussed them. As her due date got closer, I felt like we were no closer to choosing a name than we were when we found out it was a girl! Actually, I should clarify - I was no closer to deciding on a name. Brad was ready to choose and hated that I was dragging out the decision.
The name Karly wasn't even on our list and had never even been discussed until just a couple weeks before she was born. We were sitting down to dinner with the kids and Eden said, "I think we should name her Karly". It seemed kind of out of the blue so we asked where she came up with that name and she said there was a girl in her kindergarten class last year with that name and she just thought it was cute.
So fast forward to the day this sweet baby is laying in my arms and we are once again discussing names. I was going through my maybe list one by one and saying them aloud and looking at her, and nothing seemed to fit! At this point, Brad was set on the name Cora and was going nuts over the fact that I was making such a big deal about it and not making a decision. I think Cora is a pretty name, but it still just didn't feel right. So at this point, I suggested Karly and we began discussing those two only - would she be Cora or Karly. We went back and forth, but I told Brad that if he really liked them both equally, it would be fun to go with Karly because it was Eden's pick. So there you have it! The first name was finally decided - thanks to Eden. :)
Her middle name "Rose" was easy. Brad and I both had a great grandma Rose (actually mine was Rosa, but close enough) so it was the perfect fit.
The name suits her well. It's the perfect name for her. We love you Karly Rose - welcome to this crazy family!
