Your first week

Your first week of life has been filled with activities.  On Monday, May 6th (one day after being released from the hospital) you attended my final dissertation defense. I was worried about you getting hungry but you actually slept through the whole 3 hr defense.  During the week, you went to your first doctor's appt and accompanied me on several errands as I got ready for graduation.  We even went shopping for a dress on Friday.  On Saturday we attended the Latino Congratulatory Ceremony.  You slept through most of it (4 hrs) and didn't wake until the end, when I had already received my award and had gone up for my certificate with your brothers.  On Sunday morning we attended the Education Congratulatory Ceremony and you also slept through that one too till the end.  You have behaved soooo well and allowed me to be part of such important days for me.  I feel so blessed to have you as my daughter!

Your arrival!

So on Thursday, May 2nd, 2013 in the afternoon I started to lose the mucus plug.  I was getting kinda excited because it meant that my body was getting ready to have you, the only thing was there was still no contractions and I still didn't know when I would have you.  On Friday morning I started feeling contractions, but nothing major.  I informed your dad and he started to get excited because we would finally be meeting you.  I told him this might be only early labor and that we still had a looooong way to go.  In the afternoon, the contractions subsided and I lost more of the mucus plug, so I thought I wasn't in labor.  At about 5:30 PM I started getting contractions again.  This time they were so strong that I had to stop whatever I was doing, so I thought this might be the real thing.  When your father got home from work I was washing and ironing clothes.  He was surprised to see me moving around since I had told him that I was having contractions but then he saw me during one and saw how painful it was and how I couldn't move during the 30-45 sec contraction.  This kept going for a while, so your father and I started cleaning up the house and making sure everything was packed for hospital. I also called the Awees to let them know that I was in what looked like early labor and for them to be ready to head to hospital in the middle of the night or early morning.  At about 8:30PM I finished ironing and decided to labor in the tub while watching the movie "Knocked Up" with your dad. At 11:30 PM, the pain was getting so bad your father thought we should start getting to hospital.  It took me what seemed like forever to get ready for the hospital because now the contractions were one on top of another, so I had no down time to get ready.  We called the Awees and told them to meet us at the hospital.  When arriving at the hospital at 12:30 AM contractions were one on top of another and the nurse told me I was 6-7 cms fully enfaced.  Your father and I were super excited that we would be meeting you soon.  I was in so much pain I didn't know if I would be able to do it, but your father was great at encouraging me and telling me how each contraction got us closer to meeting you. At 1:10 PM Dr. Trupin told me we could start pushing, I tried my best but wasn't do such a good job.  They kept telling me I was pushing in my chest and that I had to hold me breathe which I couldn't seem to do.  They said you were still really high, so I had to get in some good pushes to bring you down.  I was in so much pain I didn't think I could do it.  Both your dad and Abuela Norma were there helping me.  Awee was in the room, but did not want to be right there.  I kept trying my best and felt like I couldn't go on, but finally the doctor used a vacuum to help your arrival and you were born at 2:07 AM.  Your dad cut the umbilical cord. We were all so happy to finally have your here! You weighed 7 lbs 7 ozs and had a length of 20 inches.  You had a full set of hair and were absolutely PERFECT!