Here are a few pics taken soon after we arrived at the hospital:
Holy Moly: I firmly believe that women who give birth the old fashioned drug free way have lost their marbles and should be rewarded in some grand way for being tougher than nails...labor hurts so so bad...it's unexplainable! We found out quickly that our little peanut was head down, but sunny side up. This resulted in some top notch back labor, which I would have to say was the worst of the pain! We tried everything to get me a bit more comfortable, but nothing seemed to work. Dr. D came in at 9:00 to check on me & to break my water. As she walked in the door I felt it happen on its own. I remember telling her, "I think it just broke, or maybe I peed the bed...not sure, but something just happened and it's very warm"! She laughed, checked me, & sure enough it had a pin hole leak, but she broke it the rest of the way. I only thought contractions were bad before...once the water was gone they escalated full throttle! I think Dr. D could tell I was dying, because she said, "Kelly, aren't you planning on getting an epidural?...just remember that from the moment you say that you want it, it takes 45 minutes for you to get it & for it to take effect."
At about 11:00 my nurse asked me again about the epidural & she again reminded me about the 45 minute wait time. I told her I wanted it ASAP, but didn't want to be known as the "pansie" patient who got it way early. She looked at me, laughed & said, "Kelly, your contractions are off the charts on the monitor & just so you know we don't hand out trophies to patients that wait the longest to get the epidurals...those patients end up waiting too long and their prize is NO EPIDURAL." With that said I asked for the DRUGS....and that wait time Dr. D mentioned back at 9:00 was hands down the longest 45 minutes of my life!!!
Once, they got enough fluids pumped through me the anesthesiologist arrived and hooked me up with the shot to the spine...life got WAY better! Here are some pics pre-drugs and after drugs.
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| Before the Drugs...no smiles! |
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| After the Drugs...SMILING! |
The epidural was top notch! I could still feel the back labor, but it was bearable, nothing like before. So, for the next few hours we rocked out to CMT music, relaxed a little, got even more anxious, a touch more nervous, and waited for the infamous push time! I remember laying there thinking about our journey and the road it took us to get to this very point in time...we waited so long & it was finally here! I would go back and do it all again...all the heartbreak... to be here & about to meet our little girl! Even if it's not our timing/our plan, God's timing/his plan is always perfect!
Here are a few pics as we waited to push. Carl & Kelly were in visiting with us when it began.
I remember telling Kelly that I was feeling something down there, lots of pressure. A few minutes later my nurse came in to check me & sure enough I was at a 10 and ready to PUSH. She checked and said, "Oh my, you're a 10, this isn't going to take long, I can already see her hair on the top of her head...I'm going to call Dr. D." At that very point my heart skipped a couple beats! It was time to meet our miracle! While she called, T & I took a few pics...our last pics before we officially became Mommy & Daddy!
So, we began to push and push and push and push! What she thought would take 15 minutes turned into a half hour & then an hour & then an hour & a half, & then two hours. Baby's heart rate got too high, so she called Dr. D. I wasn't making enough progress & she had been in the birth canal for too long. At this point they began preparing the room for delivery:
Dr. D got there, checked me & immediately said that we had to get her out...the cord was wrapped around her neck. She crawled up in the bed with me and gave me a pep talk (which was much needed..lol..I was exhausted) & then it was go time! We went through a couple rounds of pushes and still no dice. She told me we would give it one more round of pushes before she had to use the vacuum. I guess that's what I needed to hear because it worked! On my last push... Dr. D told me to open my eyes and look...and as I watched...she arrived! This was the absolute BEST moment of my entire life:
Collins Kierzek Hardy
5:19 pm
7lbs. 13oz. - 21.25 in.
At that very moment our lives changed! They changed in a way that we could have never imagined...we have never loved anything so much or seen anything as beautiful! Dr. D suctioned her and then immediately placed her on my chest. I got to hold my miracle in my arms for the very first time!
I've gotta say my husband is the best guy in the entire world! I never could have made it through this journey, pregnancy, or most definitely delivery without him by my side. He never missed a beat. He was with me at every appointment, ultrasound, procedure...you name it & he was there. During delivery he held my hand, rubbed my back, helped me to the bathroom (a million times), gave me pep talks, got me ice & held my leg for two hours of pushing! He even watched Collins come into this world & cut the cord and DIDN'T pass out...which is huge considering a prick of the finger has brought him to the floor before! Beyond how awesome of a husband he is, Thomas is by far the BEST Daddy! He loves our little girl so very much! We are both so lucky to have him!
So, there it is..."The Best Day"! This post is long overdue, but I've been a bit busy taking care of our little pea! Now, that I've got the hang of this Mommy business I will be updating this more frequently...I've gotta keep up with how fast she's growing. It seems like she changes everyday & I don't want to miss a thing!
