Jocelyn Rebecca

Jocelyn Rebecca Lee

September 13, 2011 @ 1:15pm

7 lbs. 15 oz. 20.5 inches

On September 13, 2000 Chris "asked me out", meaning he asked me to be his girlfriend. I was barely 15, he was 16 and we were sophomores. I said, "I guess" to be funny. Real funny, huh? Anyhow, 11 years later we have 3 kids! And this sweetie came on our "anniversary".

39 weeks - 2 days before delivery

 First picture, minutes after birth.

 Proud big sister. She had been waiting, and waiting, and WAITING for this day!

 First family picture

 The day she was born she was mouthing at Chris looking for something to eat. She's an eater :)

 First bath

 Home from the hospital

The Story...

I had been running around like a crazy pregnant women for a month in preparation of the new baby. She was the first baby that I didn't want to come early. I felt like I wasn't through "nesting". I even painted my dining room a few days before she came! On Sunday evening, (I was due that coming Saturday) I started to have a lot of pressure down really low. I felt like she HAD to be coming really really soon. If she didn't come, I was going to have my membranes stripped at my checkup on Tuesday. I woke up on Monday knowing that this was my last day to get stuff done. I had to weed the yard and put preen down. If you have seen my yard, you know that this is not a small task that can be done in a day. I did my best to get it all done though. It was 95 degrees, I had my support hose on for my veins, sweats, and the baby was LOW. I was miserable, but I HAD to get it done. Chris came home before football practice and I broke down crying. I was miserable! I had him take the kids to his sisters in Connell (thank you Melissa!) and I finished the yard. I came inside in a lot of pain. I had spent 7 hours doing hard yard work! I plopped down on the couch for the rest of the night. I lay in bed that night thinking of all the things I needed to do before my appt. the next day.

Tuesday morning I woke up and got to work. I was rushing from one thing to the next. I fed the kids, cleaned up the house, organized the messy laundry room, swept and mopped the hard floors, put lots of laundry away, then realized I was gonna be late for my 12:30 appt! So here is my hour and a half labor story:

11:45- I went to get in the shower and the kids started whining for the TV so I ran down to turn something on for them. Thats when I had my first noticeable contraction. Addysin asked me what was wrong, but I had been SO uncomfortable for the last 2 days that I didn't think it was anything different. I showered, then called my mom to come get the kids because I didn't have time to drop them off. I told her I might be in labor. She said I should still go to my appt. because the Dr. could tell me if I was in labor. She told me to take my hospital bag because I might not be coming back :) Oh boy, I hadn't packed yet! I was planning to do it after my appt. I had a list though. So as the contractions got a little stronger (but not too bad) I was literally running around the house trying to pack for myself, Chris, and the kids- and not be late for my appt. Plus, my hair looked like a psycho so I had to kinda fix it up.


12:15- my mom decided she would take me to my appt, just in case. I still didn't know for sure if this was real labor, but took her offer since we live 15 min. from the Dr, and 25 min. from the hospital.


12:30- We leave for the Doctor. Thats me, always a little late. I still wasn't positive that I was in labor, but it was getting pretty uncomfortable. (The thing about labor is that pregnancy is so uncomfortable that its hard to distinguish between "normal" and "labor".) Addysin and Caiden fell asleep in the car so they missed all the excitement.


12:45- We arrive at the Dr and I knew I was about to start a contraction so my mom went to check me in. She came back and said that they wanted me to just go to the hospital. I was pretty surprised. They always say "Dont be in a rush to get to the hospital! Try to do a lot of your laboring at home." I just didn't want to be sent home. We pulled out of the parking lot and MY WATER BROKE! I called Chris to tell him to meet us at the hospital asap. (His office is right by the hospital, thank goodness!) My contractions started getting pretty strong. I was holding my breath and tensing up. My mom was kinda making fun and me and telling me how to breath right. She is the professional that had 10 kids, 8 without an epidural.


1:00 ish- We arrive at the hospital, after missing the turn because I didn't really know where to go. Chris pulls in right behind us. My mom ran in to make sure we were at the right entrance. We were. Someome brought out a wheel chair for me. I thought, "are you kidding, I dont need a wheelchair, how embarrassing!" I was just worried about switching my bags from my moms Car to Chris'. I stood up  and felt a TON OF PRESSURE. Thank whoever for that wheelchair!!! I sat down and Chris took me up to the 2nd floor.


1:05 ish- The nurses tell us to wait in the waiting room because they didn't have a room quite ready. We go to the waiting room and my eyes are starting to tear up. Meanwhile, Chris had been timing my contractions for the last 4 min on an iphone app we downloaded the day before :) I had no idea that my contractions were 1 min. apart! After waiting 2 min. he notified the nurses that I needed a room.
They had a room that was supposed to be empty for remodeling (but hadn't begun remodeling), so they quickly got me in there.


1:10ish- I stood up out of the wheelchair to put my gown on and BAMMMM, I felt like the baby was going to come out, but thought I still had hours of labor. I changed my top, but HAD to sit down. Chris, very rapidly and not so gently, took off my shoes, socks, and pants. I requested an epidual, as I was letting out yells during the contractions. Everything was a blur, like a confusing dream. I have no idea who or how many people were in the room. The nurse checked me for dialtion and said, "Whoa, there she is! You're a plus 2!" I was crowing and 12 cm. If you're not familiar with delivery, you only need to be 10 cm to push a baby out!!! My response to that was, "so I cant get an epidural?" I was scared! They quickly got some random Dr. in there and I begged to push her out.
They said I could, but I was hesitant because it hurt so bad! I thought I was going to break, rip, and push out things that didn't need to come out! They assured me I was doing good and to keep pushing. (Oh, important side note- in the car my hands started tingling and progressively started falling asleep. After I got changed into my gown, my hands when totally numb and completely PARALYZED into this weird deformed position!) During the delivery I kept telling them "I CANT FEEL MY HANDS!". They didn't care, to say the least.


1:15- Anyways, after pushing for a minute, and the most pain I have ever felt, Jocelyn was out. AHHHHHH, what a great feeling to be done with that! They placed her up on my chest (which I have never had done, and I LOVED), but I couldn't even touch her because my hands were still paralyzed. Chris tried to help me and open them up, but failed :)

This was such a fun, crazy experience but super scary. If I hadn't been rushing to make it to my Dr. appt, I  ***FOR SURE*** would have had her AT HOME, or worse, in the car! Scary!!! My mom would have had to delver her and Chris would've missed it. And Thank Heaven for my mom with her "mothers intuition". I was going to drive myself if she hadn't suggested that she take me. And if I would have stood up out the car at the Dr office (she went in for me), I know I would have had her there, and they would've thought, "who is this crazy lady, hasn't she heard of a hospital?!". So many things could have gone wrong, but nothing did! Everything went perfect. I dont know why I was so blessed, but I am sooooo grateful! I didn't know anything about real delivery because I have always had an epidural. Next time I am even 36 weeks and feel anything that could be labor, I will be on my way to the hospital. And definitely no leaving town for anything during the last month. I'm already scared. My mom's babies all came very quick as well, so I think this will be the norm.

2 weeks

 3 1/2 weeks

 4 weeks

I won this basket in on online giveaway 2 years ago, and finally get to use it! I carry it around the house with me when I want her close, but cant hold her.

Jocelyn is so precious! Her first night she wouldn't stay asleep in her bed at the hospital. She slept in my arm against my chest, and has insisted on that most every night since. (I know thats a terrible habit to start, but how can anyone resist a sweet, tiny newborn that used to spend 24/7 with you?) How does a brand new baby know that she wants to be right with her mama? Another amazing thing is her sucking obsession. She loves nursing and pacifiers. The first time she nursed (just after birth) she ate for 40 minutes!!

She doesn't like to be alone, unless she is in a super deep sleep. She will start whining, then it will turn to  a cry of death. Even if she is hungry, all I have to do it pick her up and she calms right down. She has had a few days that have made me wonder if she is gonna be a fussy baby, but so far she is really good. She does great at night. She goes a lot longer between feedings during the night. Sometimes 5 hours! She loves eating, she spits up a lot, but continues to gain weight above average weight gain (according to the dr), she loves baths, getting her diaper changed, and being talked to. She's just a sweetheart!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE NEWBORNS!