Gabriella Grace Brannon - Birth Story

Tuesday, June 18th Blake and I went to the doctor to check on our baby.  I had been experiencing high blood pressure for a couple of weeks and once again, it was high on this day.  We took a peek at Gabbi on the ultrasound and couldn't believe how much she had grown since our last peek!  The doctor asked how we felt about being induced and explain the risks of high blood pressure.  He was extremely sensitive to the things we had recently been through and went through the pros and cons of being induced.  After we decided that even the cons of being induced outweighed the risk of my blood pressure situation, he told us he was most comfortable getting this started on Thursday (39 weeks pregnant).  I wish you all could have seen Blake's face, he looked like he had seen a ghost!  With excitement and fear we agreed to be induced in just 36 hours!  

Wednesday was a little crazy!  I was filled with anxious thoughts knowing I would be meeting this baby that has taken up my entire abdomen as her home the last 9 months.  I packed, unpacked, repacked, double and triple checking the "hospital packing list".  I probably texted my sister, who had a baby just just 5 1/2 weeks before, a thousand times making sure I wasn't forgetting anything.  Needless to say, we did not sleep much Wednesday night!

Thursday morning we checked into the hospital at 5:30am.  Getting started was actually pretty quick, thanks to our small hospital I suppose!  My doctor started me on an induction process without using drugs.  If I explained you would stop reading so I'll just leave it at that!  This process was very easy on me and the baby and worked perfectly.  The downside of this process, it's a long one!  Although for Blake and I the day didn't seem to drag, probably because I was making steady progress and we kept ourselves busy with cards.  Somewhere between 3 and 5pm I was ready for a little pain medication but not quite ready for the epidural.  (I was terrified that if I had the epidural too soon it would stop working before I had her!)  Let's just say I will not make that mistake again!  The lady administering the pain medication said it would make me feel a little funny.  A little funny is not what I felt!  That crazy medicine made me feel like I had taken 12 tequila shots (or what I imagine that would feel like!).  Although it did help me sleep and build up some strength, I will never ask for that again, I feel "funny" just thinking about it!!

Somewhere between 5 and 7pm I was dilated enough to start petocin and get my epidural.  (Yes, I am an epidural fan-get over it.)  I have to say that I think starting them at the same time is really what made this long process so doable.  Anyway, I'll get to that!  After the petocin I continued to make progress, dilating slowly but surely.  At some point in the middle of the night (if you can't tell already, I never knew what time it was!) the epidural stopped working in my right butt cheek.  Yes that's right, just one cheek!  And boy was that enough pain for me (and Blake!  He didn't like me hurting!).  According to my mom I started asking for my sister to occupy my side opposite Blake at about 4:30am.  I was confused on why she was at my house, obviously not knowing the time!  She came to mine and Blake's rescue between 7 and 8am right as we were getting very weary.  She was a blessing to have in the room for a short while just before pushing to keep us encouraged but mostly just to keep us from freaking out.  

At 9am my doctor came in to check on our progress and finally tell us it's time to push!  The nurses got the room ready and he went to tell our family it was time.  And then.. everyone disappeared.  Here we were, adrenaline pumping, ready to push, and we can't find anyone!  Apparently the L&D had a rush of other soon to be moms at that very moment.  Finally, everyone comes rushing back in and it's go time.  I pushed for about 30 minutes before we saw that sweet baby, all her hair, and heard her extremely developed lungs screaming!  Gah she was beautiful.  We cried, kissed, cried some more, hugged and stared at this miracle God gave us.  Gabriella Grace was born at 9:51am on June 21, 2013. She weighed 8 pounds 2 ounces and was 20.25 inches long.  

Very quickly, as they were measuring and weighing our Gabriella, our doctor and nurses began rushing around.  Pounding on my stomach, shots in my thighs, and explaining that I would need a blood transfusion.  Luckily I was so light headed from the blood loss I didn't really know what was going on, but Blake did and his sweet face look terrified.  He paced back and forth between Gabbi and I, not knowing what to do or where to go as the number of nurses double in our room.  We continued to cry and smile at the warmer across the room, not knowing fully what was happening with me.  With a few drop kicks to my stomach and two units of blood I was good to go.  We are so thankful for my doctor and all the nurses at the hospital who acted so quickly to stop the bleeding and get me back to normal!  It took a little while for the dizziness to go away and kick the fever I had developed, but who even cares!  They put my baby in my arms and I didn't have a care in the world.  

Soon the family began flooding in, one after the other to welcome this child to the world.  The next 12 hours, at least, were a big blur!  But I know that we had some very sweet visitors and I apologize if I slept through your visit.  For a while I had not control over my eye lids, they would literally close in mid sentence.  Gabbi was a great eater and sleeper from the very start, thankfully because we were exhausted!  We were finally able to take our daughter home on Sunday the 23rd where she finally got to meet her cousins Brooks and Caroline.  

Since then our lives have changed, yes, but neither of us remember what life was like before her.  We love being this sweet things parents!  She is a very good baby, sleeping 5 hour stretches at night (sometimes more) and eating perfectly!  She has recently begun smiling and cooing at us and now prefers to be swaddled at night!  She is a cuddle bug!  Gabriella is definitely a mommas girl, for now, and loves loves loves her swing!!  

Our hearts are so full from all of your sweet comments, messages, cards, and gifts!  This child is blessed beyond measure!  I hope to keep you all updated on her happenings, though my computer time is now limited (for a very good reason!).  Keep the prayers coming for her and for us as we journey through life together.  

Thank you God for this miracle.  Thank you for giving me the desires of my heart as you promised you would! 

I'm Not In Hiding

My last post was at 35 weeks pregnant.  After that, things got a little crazy around here.  We were enjoying my mom living here while her house was being built, she was so much help tying up loose ends around the house and nursery before the baby arrived.  Also during this time is when my grandfather got very sick.  I was an extremely lucky girl to be 24 years old and have all of my grandpartents living.  In fact, I have been fortunate to not have many experiences with death at all.  My dad's brother passed away when I was very young and my sweet aunt passed away just a couple of years ago.  I have always thought of death as a celebration.  I mean seriously, there is no place I would rather be than in Heaven with my Father.  I always wanted the pain to go away for my loved ones and I knew only God could do that.
My family, all of them, began making trips to visit with my grandfather.  Unfortunately I was the only one that missed out on this because of the 6 hour drive.  This was harder than I imagined.  I kept reminding myself that he would know I wanted to be there and that he knew how much I loved him.  I so badly wanted him to meet the sweet baby in my stomach.  She would have loved him as much as I did.  At 38 weeks pregnant, my grandpa passed away.  My view on death was suddenly shaken.  Not only did I not get a few last hugs from him, I was unable to attend the funeral.  My heart was broken, and with tears falling on this keyboard, it still is.  All of my friends and extended family, near and far, were sweet to send encouraging words to me and to my family during this time.  I tried to stay busy around the house and focus on the health of myself and my baby as my blood pressure was getting high.  I found myself in bed during the funeral talking to my grandfather in Heaven, praying for my family at the funeral, and thinking about my grandmother who had spent the last 60 years waking up to her best friend.  I knew he was sitting next to me, and he knew where I wanted to be.  Little did I know, he would be watching over the birth of my daughter the following week.

I love you, Dad.  I miss you everyday.  I am so thankful to have known you and grateful for the example of what a Godly husband, dad, and grandfather looks like.  You are an amazing man!