Just a Few Pics

The Cutest Baby Girl Ever

I am staying overnight with Cynthia and Mackenzie so Joseph could get a decent night's sleep tonight. Poor guy was flat out exhausted after working all night last night and then spending the day encouraging and supporting Cynthia. Plus, I wouldn't pass up a chance to love on this sweet, darling, little girl. Until I get home I can't upload any of the pictures from the camera so we took a few on the webcam to share tonight. . .

She's Here! ! ! ! !

Mackenzie Bell Swartz was born on 1/30/2012 at 1533. She weighs 7lbs 6.4 oz and is 21 inches long!!!! She has a head of dark brown hair long enough for a bow! Mother and baby are doing awesome! I have taken a million pictures, but don't have a way to post them right now. I will post some as soon as I get home so be looking for them shortly. . .

UPDATE 1/30/12 1300

Mackenzie is still pretty high up and with the epidural Cynthia is having a little trouble getting her to move down. We are going to give her a rest for now. She is sitting up and letting gravity do some of the work. Plan to push again in an hour. . . Sooner if Cynthia feels like it.

UPDATE 1/30/12 1235

Time to push!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

UPDATE 1/30/12 1145

WOW! While waiting for the anesthesiologist Cynthia was having some really strong, really long contractions. She scared me (and Joseph) to death when she yelled " I WANNA PUSH!" It had only been about 20 minutes since they checked her and she was 6cm, but they checked her again and she was 8cm! No wonder she was in so much pain!

The anesthesiologist was outside the door ready to come in so he agreed to try to put the epidural in. He was awesome and got the epidural in quickly. By 1130 she was resting with minimal pain.

It won't be long now. . .

UPDATE 1/30/12 1045

Pitocin was increased at 0900 and contractions have been steady at 2-2.5 minutes apart and much stronger than before. Cynthia has been in a lot of pain and has decided to take the epidural.

Just checked her cervix and she is at 6cm!


Just so you know. . . I have an amazing daughter.

UPDATE 1/30/12 0730

Not making any progress in dilating and contractions are still 3-4 minutes apart so they decided to start some Pitocin to try to get contractions to every 2 minutes and hopefully get things going. . . Cynthia is tired (no sleep last night!), but still doing well managing her pain without any more medications.

UPDATE 1/30/12 0630

Since Cynthia was having strong contractions with little progress they decided to insert a balloon device that is supposed to help the cervix dilate. (No need for pitocin right now since she is having regular, strong contractions, but might try some later if things don't progress.) After multiple attempts at placement, Cynthia agreed to some morphine for pain. When they tried again they accidentally broke her water (which went all over the doctors scrubs and made everyone laugh!)

So, still at 1 cm. Water broke at 0600. And Cynthia is one tough cookie!

UPDATE 1/30/12 0300

Irregular contractions started around 2000 this evening and got progressively more regular and more intense. By 2300 it was clear that Mackenzie Bell wasn't interested in waiting for the doctors to initiate labor at 0530 and she would be scheduling her own arrival time! Cynthia tried to rest and snuggled on the couch under the electric blanket and watched a movie (50/50. It was just okay, but it kept our minds occupied for a little while anyway).

We arrived at the hospital at 0300 and she was 1cm dilated and contracting every 3-4 minutes.

She is still planning to try for a natural birth, but the contractions have been pretty strong already so she is keeping her options open!

Ready or Not. . .

Life has a way of. . . well. . . happening. We can plan. And we can imagine what the future holds. But in the end it really just happens.

So here I am. Thirty-six years old and soon to be a Grandma. Very Soon.

I wouldn't have planned it this way. I would have rather felt more, um, Grandma-ish before I jumped into this role. I would have rather felt more prepared. I would have rather things went more according to my plan.

But, as I have been reminded time and time again, life happens. And my "plan" is just something to look back and laugh about.

I know this isn't the ideal situation, but I also know that my granddaughter will be loved completely and well cared for. I know that my daughter will be an amazing mother. And I know I will figure out this Grandma thing without filling my closet with elastic waist slacks and cardigan sweaters with used tissues tucked away in the pockets.

I am nervous. About what this big step means for all of us. But I am also feeling more excitement and anticipation than I can adequately express. And I already love this little girl more than you can imagine.