22.4.09

Violet Josephine Clark

Let's start at the top shall we? On Monday night or Tuesday morning around 1:15 I woke up with contractions. They were about 30 minutes apart but hurt and I knew they were for real. After contracting all night with no sleep and little rest I sent Michael to work and laid down out of exhaustion around 6:30 am. By some miracle I fell asleep even though they were 7 minutes apart and woke up 2 hours later feeling like nothing had happened. I WAS FURIOUS! I was determined to make them come back and put myself back into labor so I called my good friend Lili and demanded to go walking. :) We went a couple of miles and I would have contractions that would make me breathless but nothing dramatic.

After the walk I was even more exhausted and discouraged. Jack was being a pretty big turd and so I took him to do one of our favorite things, eat pizza at Costco. Still my contractions didn't stop me from moving or doing or lifting or anything. I decided I would try to sleep again while Jack napped but here is the kicker, instantly they were 7 minutes apart and brutal. I mean, the second I laid down it was game time. I called the OB nurse she said go to the hospital. I showered, called my lifesaver Gigi and got the last of our bags packed. Gigi loaded Jack and I up in her car and drove me to the hospital.

After spending an hour in triage and feeling extremely pessimistic that I would be sent home the nurse checked my cervix. I had dilated from a 2.5 to a 4 in one hour. HOORAY! REAL LABOR! I was admitted and Michael started to get excited. We were moved into our delivery room and the anesthesiologist took waaaaaaaay too long to get there. I was a six by the time the drugs started to work. Seriously?! I never want to feel a six again!

By 6:30 pm I was finally sitting pretty. I had been stuck twice because the epidural didn't quite work the first time but I felt so good by that point that I didn't care. Roughly 2 hours later, I was feeling contractions again and I almost started to cry. I did NOT want to feel them again! The anesthesiologist came back, re-drugged me and of course the contractions slowed. I was only a 7. One centimeter in about 4 or so hours is no good. Bring on the pitocin right? Wrong! Twenty minutes later I felt one hard contraction of alot of pressure and her head was crowning. The best part is that they wanted me to hold it! The doctor took 10 minutes to get there and boom! Five pushes later there she was. Ta da! It hurt like a son of a biscuit but of course, cliche cliche cliche, she was worth it.

Now for some pics after all of that blabbity bla and btw they aren't in order but I am too lazy to turn all of these around. If that bugs you start from the bottom. :)

Poor Jack is STILL not too sure about her.


Super sensitive skin = super rosy cheeks.


My Cookie!


Happy Mommy and Daddy.


My little gnome. Awww.


Loved having her hair washed.


Just chillin'


Again, total bliss.


Not so much a fan of the body washing.


Wanting her Mommy of course.


So exciting to hold her for the first time.


The happy, ugly cry.


Almost a smile.


Welcome to the world!


I just want to quickly thank everyone who has called, emailed, text or commented. We are doing great and hope that continues. My mom is coming in 3 hours (HALLELUJAH!) and so maybe I will be better about returning calls and such soon. We are so grateful to have this healthy, beautiful editiona and have truly felt the love of our Heavenly Father in these last few days. It's a joy and blessing that only comes from new life!

25 comments:

Margaret Vance said...

Kat,

SHE IS BEAUTIFUL!!!! Welcome to the world Violet. And, can I just say that you look like you DIDN'T EVEN go through labor. Most women look totally beat-up after labor (like me), but you... no... you just look like your beautiful self. Congratulations Clark family!

Margaret

Mo and Tory Reeder said...

Wow am I really comment #2? I feel so special!

Congrats you guys! She is beautiful! Also good going on the name! Just golden! You guys have the cutest little family!

XOXO

Tory and MO

Eevi said...

Yay for posting all these cute pictures!!!!!COngratulations! I want to come and hold her...let me know when you're welcoming visitors:)

Sharisa at Outstanding Occasions said...

Oh she is amamzing! You have just the perfect little family now!! I cannot wiat to see her in person :) Kat, you look beautiful too, what a good mommy you are x's 2 now!

Sarah said...

I am glad you sent a text because i had no idea you had your little sweetheart!! I am glad everything went well. I was still expecting you to get induced tomorrow!!! She is beautiful!!

Carmen said...

Love the post, love the pictures, love the author...love everything! She is beautiful, congratulations! I can't wait to live vicariously through all of your future 'pink' posts...girls are just amazing :) Congratulations! (btw...I was wondering if Michael would get to give you the epidural...was he standing close by scrutinizing the way the anesthesiologist did it? that must be odd for him?!)

Jeanette said...

She is so tiny and precious! Those pictures are great; I love the one where Jack is looking in on her. She looks like a happy, mellow gal. So glad you didn't have to wait until tomorrow to have her! Lots of love from the Cobabes!

Kory said...

She's a good looking kid! Congratulations! I'm really happy for you guys.

The Ensign's said...

Congrats!!! She's adorable.... and way to go w/out having to be induced. Woohoo!!

KaSs MiLeS said...

i was all geared up to text you "good luck" in the morning, you beat me i guess. Kat, she is so perfect! congratulations! so happy for you!!!

Bailey bits and pieces said...

She is adorable Katherine and we are very happy for y'all! I love the pic of Jack checking her out..Im sure there are lots more priceless moments like that to come over the next little while! Have fun!! It only gets better from here (minus feeling like a zombie...but it is great!!)

Mel said...

Violet is truly one of the most beautiful little newborns I have seen. And you look just as gorgeous as I remember. Congratulations on your new addition!

becca olsen said...

KAT!!!!
ahhh, I'm just so excited for you right now! I had no idea you had the baby and for some reason I found out on your facebook wall! She is so precious and you look fantastic! I want to hold her right now!! I'm glad to hear recovery went well and she is a good nurser. I miss you!!

Jana said...

Congrats you guys! This is what life is all about! We can't wait to meet her.

Ryan said...

Love the pictures! She's so full of life and character! Congratulations!!!!!
maureen

Amy said...

Ok so she is BEAUTIFUL! And that cry face frown she makes TOTALY is your cry frown face! Congrats!

Natchel said...

Yay yay yay! I had no idea you had her already! Congrats! Let me know if you need anything, but when my mom was here, that's all I needed!

Annie said...

Good Work Kat! Congrats on that gorgeous little girly....so sorry you felt the pain, but dang, she is worth it for sure! I love her name...ahhh, enjoy that sweet little thing. Luvs!

Kristi said...

OK so are you sure you guys dont work for National Geographic what great pics

Jill said...

She's beautiful and so are the pictures! I love the one where your nose is by her cheek. So precious. I'm totally having flashbacks with the one of Jack checking her out. He'll soon realize she's not all that bad and they'll be best buds!

LeRae said...

Oh me goodness~~~~~~
She is so beautiful and perfect!!!!
Congratulations!!!!
must be so exciting to have a new born in the house again~
I hope you and violet are doing well...

big J said...

Congratulations!! she is BEAUTIFUL!

big J said...

The Big J is me.. Bonnie

Gigi said...

I just read your blog and it has entertained me for the past hour! You are so funny. Violet is beautiful. You are amazing and I am so glad I could help and be a small part of it. BTW, when I talked to Jack in nursery and asked him about Violet, he would not talk to me about it. It was so funny. See you soon!

Melissa S. said...

I was expecting her to look like Jack did since you think all my babies looks like "smith babies"! She looks different, that's for sure and beautiful. There's something sooooo special about a new born. CONGRATS! I've been out of the blogging world for a few days and can't believe I missed it! I'm so glad she's hear...I was thinking Friday was the day and you ahead and go early. Are you trying to rub it in? :)