Sweet Baby Girl

The newest member of
the Reeve family has arrived! 

Annika Noelle Reeve was born

Tuesday, February 8th, 2011

at 11:57pm.

Weighing 5 pounds 12 ounces

and 17 3/4 inches long.

Our night began around 7pm when I was feeling uncomfortable.  Brian had to stay late at the office (he has a trial next month) and I called him to get an idea when he would head for home.  Dinner was late getting on the table and by the time I got it all cleaned up, I could feel the contractions.  I recorded my first contraction at 8:09pm and they were already 3-5 minutes apart.  The contractions intensified quickly. 

As we were leaving for the hospital. 
Forced smile in between contractions. lol.

By 9:30 I was pleading to go to the hospital.  We left once my mom came over to watch the kids and 20 minutes later we were pulling up to Summerlin Hospital.  It seemed like the longest walk into the front doors.  I squeezed Brian's hand through each contraction as we crossed the parking lot.  At the time I thought I was shaking because it was cold outside.  But when the shakes wouldn't go away once we were out of the cold I realized that the shaking was due to my labor.  

They sent us to the Labor and Delivery triage room - that's where they make sure you're in real labor before you're admitted.  A nurse asked me to change into a gown in the restroom.  My contractions were so agonizing at that point that her request seemed impossible.  I worked as fast as I could between contractions to get out of my clothes, use the restroom, and get into a hospital gown before another contraction.  Unfortunately, my contractions we so close together that I spent half the time in the restroom huffing and puffing instead of getting changed.    

The triage nurse took her sweet time getting around to seeing us.  Since it was obvious that I was in real labor (I guess I'm not very quiet through such intense contractions) she skipped the lame questions and got straight to checking my cervix.  I was already dilated to 7 and 1/2 centimeters!  It's a good thing that Dr. Harter prepared me for a rapid delivery, because that's exactly what was happening.  

As soon as the nurses realized I was so far progressed, we were all of a sudden their first priority.  One nurse ran out to call my doctor and the anesthesiologist.  Two came in to wheel my bed to another room.  Then there were people setting up the delivery room and a nurse that was assigned to me.  Someone stuck me with an IV needle (twice.  grrr.)  And one obnoxious nurse kept shoving papers under my nose for signatures.  I couldn't even make out half the words through my tears.  And my hand was shaking so badly that my signature resembled my 2 year old's scribbling. 

Not an hour after we arrived at the hospital they checked my cervix again.  I was already at a 9.  As soon as I could say, "So much for anesthesia," the anesthesiologist waltzed in - and this guy drove me nuts.  As he entered the room he haughtily announced, "I'm here to take your pain away!!"  His ego was waay to big for his body.  I tried asking the nurse if the pain was going to get much worse than I had already experienced, but the pushy anesthesiologist cut me off and told me that if I didn't make a decision soon he had to leave to administer the next epidural.  I looked at Brian with pleading eyes.  I wanted someone else to make a decision for me!  I wasn't sure getting an epidural was worth it when I was already dilated to 9 centimeters.  How long until I was "complete"?  Would pushing be just as fast as my labor?  Could I handle it? 

All I knew was that I couldn't endure another contraction, sign another paper, hold still for another needle, answer another dumb question AND try to decide if getting an epidural would be worth it.  I was exhausted and overwhelmed.  

When I asked the nurse to get my doctor because of the questions I had, the anesthesiologist had apparently had it with me.  He finally said, "Well I'll just place the epidural.  Then if you want to turn off the medicine, you can."  FINE.  Agh.  Brian told me later that he wanted to punch that guy in the face.  I think if someone had just said, "You're doing great, Krystal!  You can do this!" I would have sent that guy on his way without another glance.

But I didn't.  While shaking and contracting, he stuck that epidural needle in my back.  I thought I would get relief right away.  I was wrong.  After several minutes my left foot felt tingly but there was no alleviation of pain.  I felt everything.  Then it was 11:47pm and time to push.  (Thank goodness.  I was hoping to have her born before midnight.  I liked the sound of 02/08/11 more than 02/09/11.  Haha!)  So much for the epidural.  Luckily it was all over in just under 10 minutes.  There's nothing more painful than childbirth.  Not to be too graphic, but I thought my bones were going to break.  Then it was over.  And they placed the most beautiful baby girl on my chest.  Ten little fingers and ten little toes.  I kept saying, "Oh!  She's so tiny!"  She was.  Just 5 pounds 11.9 ounces.   

Brian and I studied her perfect little face and ruled out all other names - she wasn't a Britta, she wasn't Tamzin, she wasn't Kalista, nor was she Elle.  She was so graceful.  Perfect lips.  Delicate features.  Long, dainty fingers.  So soft.  And teeny tiny all over.  She was definitely an Annika.  Brian and I agreed on it immediately.   

5 pounds 11.9 ounces

Dr. Steven B. Harter
He was my doctor for all 4 children.

Daddy holding his daughter for the first time -
just after midnight.

 

The next morning. 
Grandma, Daddy and the kids came to visit.





Our first family picture!
Just the 6 of us.



Natalya holding Annika for the first time.



 

Natalya is already such a huge help. 
She is a perfect example of "service with a smile".



Branson wouldn't stop snuggling her. 

He kissed her head and held her close until we told him to smile at the camera.

For being so upset when he found out he wasn't getting a brother, he sure is proud of his baby sister now!

Just as I thought, Irelynn adores her. 

It always makes me nervous to see how the youngest will adjust to a baby.  But there's no sign of jealousy.  In fact, she shows nothing but love and concern for her.  Phew!

It's hard to imagine someone who's 6'1" and 200 pounds melt at the sight of a baby, but Brian turns to goo every time he holds her.

Brian is one super proud dad.

Annika looks so filled out in this picture!  Her pediatrician said that her birth weight was probably a little inflated due to all my IV fluid.  She started out at 5 pounds 12 ounces and dropped to 5 pounds 0 ounces in just a few days.  But she's eating well and now weighs 5 pounds 7 ounces!   



I'm looking a little filled out, too! 
Let's hope that it's just the IV fluid...



Grandaddy!  He just loves her.



I suggested to Brian that he leave the kids at home with my mom when we were released from the hospital.  The kids wouldn't allow that.  They were SO excited to help bring their mommy and baby sister home.  When they got to the hospital they were bursting at the seams.  It was a party in room 257!   



Big yawn.  Getting in my carseat is exhausting.

Her little body made the carseat look enormous.

Welcome Home Sweet Baby Girl!