We are going HOME! They are actually going to send us home without an instruction manual! LOL
We had to wait till 4:40 to be released so at 4:40 on the dot we went looking for our baby girl! She was getting her last check before being released.
As you can see we are peeking in through the window!
Getting her all dressed and ready to go.
It takes two! lol
Me and baby girl
All dressed and ready!
Family of three
Getting her all strapped in.
Ready to roll.
First elevator ride, lol.
And we are off!
She peacefully slept through the 5 o'clock rush hour traffic.
And we are home!
Meeting the Bear, Skip wasn't interested.
And of course we would come home to KG's first bow and arrow from PePaw!
Mimi and Pepaw with KG.
Daddy, Memaw and Grandpa with KG.
To be honest with you I really don't remember the first night being that bad. I think I got up with her a few times. She slept in a pack n play in our bedroom. And if the first night was rough it must not have been to bad because I sure don't remember! LOL, I do remember the excitement of having her home.
Some good friends of ours brought dinner over which was awesome! I'm not sure if I was just over the hospital and fast food or what but that dinner was SOOOOO good to me!!! After everyone left my little sister sat in the nursery rocking KG while Josh and ate dinner together. Michelle was great! She even helped pick up and clean up after dinner. And shortly after that we were off to bed.
I was so excited to put her in some real clothes, LOL!
We had a number of visitors that came by the hospital along with flowers being delivered! It was such an exciting time! I will never forget the second night they took to bath her and when they brought her back she smelled so good. I will NEVER forget that smell! I can't even explain it. And no matter how much I bath her I can not relive that smell. CRAZY I know but it was such a special moment and something I will forever remember! She smelled brand new!
This picture was taken Saturday before Karlee Grace arrived. Let me just take a minute to say I was so incredibly lucky to have Josh by my side throughout the whole pregnancy! My pregnancy was easy but he made it easier!
As you can see I was set up to be induced however I was not sure about going through with that. I had all these fears of being induced and I am SO thankful that my little Karlee Grace decided to make her appearance a little early!
Monday, October 8
Josh and I decided to sit outside by the fire pit and eat s'mores. While sitting out there he decided to play games with Kyndal. Josh was trying to convince her that I was in labor and at the hospital which wasn't true at all! After playing around we went on to bed. I remember sitting up at 11 and saying I think I'm having contractions but they quickly laid back down and went on to sleep.
Tuesday, October 9
I awoke again at 2 thinking I was having contractions..........but I had NO idea what contractions felt like so I laid in bed till 3 then decided to wake Josh up. We started timing them........3:10, 3:19, 3:24, 3:32, 3:44, etc. We call the hospital and she advices to take a shower and drink water to see if the contractions stop. While in the shower Josh could literally say your about to have a contraction and BOOM a contraction. Shockingly I wasn't panicked at all however I think Josh was. I wanted to fix my hair and makeup and Josh was running from the bathroom door to the front door saying "I have to make a stop at the gas station!", LOL! We left the house sometime around 4:30 and Josh decided to take the long way through town to the gas station as I am having contractions every 4 minutes. We both called our parents but insisted no one come to the hospital till we call. I also had strict orders NOT to post anything on facebook or tell people. I wanted this to be a time for Josh and I and our families! I didn't want visitors. After stopping at the gas station we headed to the hospital. We were half way there when it hit me and I begin to cry!
What if I couldn't handle this!
What if I'm not ready!
What if we don't have everything!
What if, what if, what if!!
We arrived at the hospital at 5:15. I had preregistered and called ahead so they were ready for us. Josh stayed down stairs confirming everything while I was wheeled up to a room. By the time I changed into the oh so cute hospital gown Josh was by my side again in LDR 12.
I was beyond scared! As we waited for Dr. Phillips I was wondering if this was really happening or were they going to send me back home. Sometime around 7 Dr. Phillips came in and made the decision that I would be staying! 3 cm and I feel like I am DYING! As I wait for the epidural they gave me some other pain meds to help. We notified our parents and a few friends but again asked for them to hold off coming till after the epidural. While the epidural was being administered Josh was asked to leave however was by my side again shortly!
After the epidural my contractions began to slow down. My parents and sisters along with Josh's parents arrived around 10 and we were thinking that baby girl would make an appearance by lunch time however she had other plans!
My nurse decided I need some rest so she kicked the family out. I think I slept off and on and then after lunch our families came back in. Around 3 p.m. the nurse said we were ready and Dr. Phillips would be in shortly. I had a complete meltdown and thankfully Josh asked our families to leave giving us some time to ourselves. Our little family of 2 was about to become a family of 3. I was scared to death! Shaking uncontrollably and as nervous and scared that Josh may have been he never showed it to me! I remember Josh taking my hand and praying and shortly after that Dr. Phillips and a crowd of nurses came in.
Little Miss Karlee Grace decided to take her time and gave us a few scares with her heart rate. The moment had finally arrived! The moment we had been waiting on for 39 weeks and 3 days! Karlee Grace arrived at 4:40, October 9, 2012!
Karlee Grace
7 lbs. 5 oz. 19 in.
I wasn't sure if I was suppose to cry, smile, laugh, all these emotions ran through me! It was so hard to believe that our lives changed so much in a matter of seconds! We both fell in love at first sight! Josh and I spent the next 45 minutes taking in every second with our baby girl!
Josh finally made the phone call to our families and I could LITERALLY hear my sisters running down the hall, haha! Thankful for my youngest sister Michelle because she captured every moment of the day! As our families walk in I got a huge surprise! My best friend walked in the room with her husband! I immediately started crying! I had no idea that she had left work and drove up from Florida. I couldn't imagine her not being there but there was no way I was going to ask her to drive up so unexpectedly. I'm incredibly thankful for our friendship and can't wait for the day that I get to drive to her and her new baby!
Of course everyone couldn't wait to get their hands on our little KG so it was time for me to give her up for a little while!
The rest of the evening seem to fly by! The nurses took KG to get a bath and Josh stayed by her side and took pictures for me. While in the nursery Josh called to let me know that KG had a small hematoma on her head. To be honest with you it didn't register with me till I saw it and I was scared to even hold her because I didn't want to touch it! (Don't worry, it didn't stop me from holding here, lol!)
After being moved to a room our families went home. Josh seemed to have no problem sleeping the first night however I was so tired but wired! I did go ahead and send KG to the nursery so I could atleast TRY to get some sleep. I do remember laying in bed responding to a million text messages/facebook messages and waiting for them to bring my baby girl back to me.
Again, I am EXTREMELY thankful for my little sister for taking pictures and then making this slideshow for us! I can't watch it without crying and reliving this special moment in my life! I hope you enjoy this slideshow as much as I do!
Our Karlee Grace was shown so much love before she even made her appearance! We were blessed with four showers. Each shower was so much fun and we appreciate all the hard work that went into planning.
The first shower was hosted by my sister and some of my closest friends. I can not thank Rachel, Amanda, Rachel, Ashley and Tiffany enough for such an awesome shower! At this shower I had a surprise guest show up and I was beyond thrilled to see her. Kyndal and I have been best friends since around 10 or 11 years of age and she is basically by dark haired sister. I knew Kyndal would be at the shower because she came to spend the weekend with me however I had no idea her mom would be coming to town. Actually, Kyndal was just as surprised as me!
The girls who made this shower possible!
My sisters and Mom
My Aunt Sherry and Cousins came from GA
My Best Friend, Kyndal
Me and Karlee Grace
My surprise guest! Ms. Mary Carol and Mr. Rusty!
My mom (Mimi) and Josh's mom (Memaw)
My wonderful co-workers
Lindsay and Eden,
Meagan and Aubrey Kate,
Me and Karlee Grace
All the pink gifts!
The second shower was Josh's family shower! My sister and sister-in-law surprised me with the ULTIMATE must have, a pink Coach diaper bag!!! I wanted it so bad just had not broke down and bought it. I was so excited!!!! Josh's whole family showered us with some awesome must have gifts.
I don't think I have mention this till now but my dad is the music minster at a Baptist church. So our loving church hosted a wonderful Sunday afternoon shower. The hostess went in together and purchased our much needed travel system!
And on my last day of work my awesome coworkers threw a surprise shower! TOTALLY surprised me! I was clueless!!! I worked for the Alabama Bankers Association for 6 years and loved it. We were like one big happy family and I am forever grateful for the opportunity to work with each and everyone there.
Josh and I can't thank all involved enough for these showers!
