Lillian Gracey

Lillian Gracey arrived on April 18, 2013 at 11:41 p.m. She was perfect at 20 1/4 inches and 7 pounds 2 ounces. 

The day started out by going to my weekly appointment with Dr. Huston.  I had spent the day before at the hospital in labor and delivery having a 3 hour blood pressure screening done because my blood pressure had been high that morning.  Needless to say, I spent over 6 hours the day before at St. John's hooked up to monitors.  My blood pressure was pretty good all afternoon/evening, so they released me.  I then went the next morning for my regular appointment with Dr. Huston.  Because my blood pressure had been high for the last few weeks, Dr. Huston thought that he would probably induce me early....as early as that weekend!  I was happy knowing I'd have a few days to go home, spend some time with Ainsley, get my house cleaned, finish packing our bags, etc.  I went on to my non-stress test and the doctor came in to let me know that he wanted me to go in on Sunday morning to be induced.  He was on call all weekend, so he'd be delivering.  I couldn't have been happier!  That happiness quickly began to disappear when Joel and I went in for our sonogram after the NST. 

We both could tell that something wasn't quite right during the sonogram when the tech didn't do her usual measurements first.  She didn't say much either, which wasn't like her.  After a few minutes of looking around, she finally looked at us and said that there wasn't much amniotic fluid around the baby and she needed to go get a doctor.  Of course, the next few minutes waiting for the doctor to come in were terrible.  Dr. Huston finally walked in, looked at me and said:  "You just had to ruin our plan, didn't you?!"  He said that he was sending me to labor and delivery right then and I'd be having a baby that day.  Of course, I asked if I could at least eat lunch before I got checked in (it was right at noon and I was already starving), but he informed me that I shouldn't in case they had to do a c section.  He said they needed to watch the baby closely because with low fluid, the baby could lay on the cord and cut off the flow.  He informed me that there was an increased chance that they'd have to do a c section.  I was worried sick!  The sooner Lily arrived, the better at that point, so I could see my healthy baby.

We walked down to the main floor and checked in to labor and delivery.  They wheeled me up to my room, and I was hooked up to the monitors, iv, asked a million questions, etc.  While all of this was going on, Joel and I both were on the phone trying to let everyone know what was going on.  Of course, I was worried about Ainsley, who was at Lisa's that day.  I didn't see her the day before because I didn't get home from the hospital until late the night before, and I wanted to see my baby!!!  Thankfully, Rita got Ainsley from Lisa's that afternoon and brought her up to the hospital so I could see her that afternoon.  Mom was at work that afternoon, but left early and ran by the house to finish packing our bags and get the car seat, etc.  Joel had mentioned that morning before leaving for the hospital that maybe we should put our bag and car seat in the car, but I told him there was no way we would stay today and we'd be able to go home and get everything.  Yep, I should have listened to Joel. 

Around 5 that evening, people started showing up at the hospital.  Rita and Ainsley came, and Ainsley was very interested in all the monitors, etc.  Mom came with all our bags, etc. and then Dad, Tanner, and Mark all arrived.  I'm guessing it was around 6-7 when I got my epidural.  It was much like my labor with Ainsley, where I started to feel the contractions a little, but they really weren't too bad.  A doctor came in before leaving for the day to break my water, but she didn't really do the job!  She thought she did, but actually didn't.  The nurse had to break it a little while later on her own.  I hadn't been checked to see if I was progressing in a long time, and (I'm guessing) it was around 10:30 when I started to say that I felt like I was going to need to push soon.  Around 11 or so, I finally told a nurse that I felt like I needed to push and someone then came in to check me at that point, and sure enough, the baby was right there and ready to come out! 

Again, much like Ainsley's birth, I can't complain about the delivery of the baby.  I only pushed a handful of times, and at one point they even had to stop me so they could get everything ready.  I remember looking at her, seeing she had darker hair and that she resembled Ainsley before the nurses took her over to the warming table to get her cleaned up.  That's about all I remember in detail.  The next few hours are almost a blur for me.

I remember the doctors getting ready to deliver the placenta.  It wasn't coming out like it should, and I told them that I had issues delivering the placenta with my first baby also.  I remember thinking, we're going to have issues getting the placenta out, but it would be like Ainsley's and I'd be done in twenty minutes or so.  Boy, was I wrong! 

After an hour and a half or so, they finally got the placenta out.  They had to manually extract it in pieces.  Their best guess is it was stuck to a muscle, which is why it wouldn't come out but couldn't tell me for sure.  Even though I had an epidural, the pain was horrible.  Like I said, delivering the baby was a breeze.  Delivering the placenta was hell!  When they looked at me and told me they may have to take me back to the operating room and put me to sleep to get it out (after trying for quite some time in the room), I started to get nervous.  I just wanted it out of me and to see my precious little baby.  I'm so thankful that Mom was in the room during the delivery and afterwards.  I'm assuming it was from the pain, but I started to get nauseous after a few minutes of them working to get the placenta out.  Mom was right there to hold my hair and hold the "puke bucket".

Joel was finally able to go over and get Lily, and he took her over to the chair and held her while they continued working on me.  I'm pretty sure both Joel and Mom were both pretty worried and scared watching everything.  There was so much blood.  It was everywhere.  I looked at the doctor and she was covered down to her feet in blood.  Joel still has blood splattered on his tennis shoes.  I remember someone coming in and telling me they were going to give me some shots in my legs.  At that point, a few shots in my legs were the least of my concerns!  I just wanted them to get their hands out of me and that placenta out!!!  They gave me a shot for the hemorrhaging and nausea.  I was completely exhausted after it was all done.  I wanted to hold Lily so bad, but literally couldn't.  I think I ended up falling asleep shortly after they got everything out of me, because I don't remember anything for an hour or so after that.  I remember waking up (or coming to) and being so thirsty.  They would only let me have ice chips, so Joel spooned some ice chips in my mouth while he held Lily. 

Proud Daddy

Grandma Shelly and Lillian

The doctor came back in the room and said that if I felt up to it, we could have visitors.  Dad and Tanner were still out in the waiting room waiting to meet Lillian, and Mom had gone out sometime after everything was done to let Dad and Tanner know Lillian was here.  Of course, I said they could come back and I think it was around 2 at this point.  I remember Mom, Dad, and Tanner all coming in the room and seeing Lillian and that's about it.  I fell asleep again while they were still there, I think.  I don't remember them leaving.  I don't remember holding Lily at all that night.  I woke up at one point and the nurse was giving her a bath.  I asked the nurse if she could take Lily to the nursery for a few hours, because I knew I was about to pass out and fall asleep again.  Thankfully, they took her to the nursery for a few hours. 

I think I held Lillian for the first time around 6 that morning.  Finally!!!   She was absolutely perfect and was a perfect fit in my arms.  I was in love!

I snuggled with her for most of the morning.  She looked so much like Ainsley.  The only difference was Lily had a crooked nose from being smashed inside me, a little "stork bite" on her eye lid, and a funky hair line.  She has two cow licks, which makes it look like she has a widow's peek.  Joel has some cow licks in the front of his hair line too.  She has big hands and feet with long fingers and toes.

Ainsley is on the left and Lillian is on the right

I anxiously awaited for Ainsley to arrive later that morning.  Jennifer, Kathleen, and Jim all brought Ainsley up to the hospital to meet her baby sister.  Of course, Jennifer and Kathleen immediately started making fun of me (and I'm sure Jim laughed too), but I was a huge sappy mess full of emotions when I saw Ainsley.  She walked in holding a balloon for her sister and as soon as she saw Lillian, pointed to her with big eyes and said "baby!"  I was holding Lillian, so we stuck Ainsley in bed with me so she could see her sister.  She was one proud big sister, and I was one proud Mommy who couldn't hold back the tears. 

Seeing Lillian...she was excited!

Telling me "shhhh" because the baby was sleeping



"SURPRISE!" Ainsley had to yell it for some reason!

Everyone couldn't wait to get their hands on Lillian, and Ainsley didn't hold interest in her very long.  Lily's diaper needed changed and Ainsley was interested in that. 

Aunt Jennifer with Ainsley and Lillian

Ainsley saw Lily's bottle laying on the table, and thought she needed to give it to her.  We could already tell she was going to be a big help! 

Ainsley helping Daddy give Lily a bottle

Aftermath of Ainsley helping give Lily a bottle....we need to work on it a little!

Giving Lily kisses

Ainsley wanted to give Lily all kinds of hugs and kisses and didn't understand why she couldn't squeeze her very hard.  Lily's going to have to toughen up pretty fast with Ainsley as her big sister!!!


Ainsley with her finger up her nose again...

She lost interest and wanted to look out the window!

Papa Jim and Lillian

Jennifer, Joel, Jeremy, Lillian and Ainsley

After getting their baby fix, Jennifer, Kathleen, Jeremy, and Jim all headed home and we had a few minutes with just the two girls before Mom showed up to get Ainsley.  Of course, as soon as Mom showed up, Ainsley was ready to go bye-bye with her.  Mom was able to put Ainsley off for a few minutes and hold Lily before leaving. 

Had to get a "hair fix" before she left

We then had all afternoon to cuddle and hold Lillian all we wanted before we had more visitors. 

Jim came back up later that afternoon with Rita, and Grandma Rita got to rock her newest grand baby.  Soon after that, Tanner and Emilee came by with some much needed pacifiers!!!  I didn't pack any, and when I asked the nurse for one, she informed me they didn't have any.  I still don't understand how they didn't have any pacifiers, but thankfully, Tanner was able to bring some.  He saved the day (and night)!

Grandma Rita and Lillian

Yay for pacifiers!

We didn't get much sleep that night with the nurses coming in every hour or so and feeding Lily every couple hours.  We were both ready to get out of the hospital and go home that next morning.  Of course, it took longer to be released then they said.  Lillian had to see the pediatrician before we could be released and we were the last one to see her that morning.  I think we were finally released around 1 that afternoon. 

Waiting to be released

Ready to go home!!!

The ride home wasn't nearly as nerve-wracking as it was when we brought Ainsley home.  I still rode in the backseat with Lily, but neither one of us was as nervous as we were with Ainsley.  It's amazing how different it is with your second child!  We made it home safe and sound and waited for Grandma and Grandpa to bring Ainsley home.  Mom and Mark had taken Ainsley and Rowdy to Chuckie Cheese that afternoon and was dropping Ainsley off on their way home.  We didn't have to wait long, and Ainsley arrived home to make our little family of four complete!