My Sweet Lucy Abigail

As most of you know, my sweet baby girl was born on February 13th--TEN DAYS AGO!!! How in the world do I already have a 10-day-old? Oh goodness me. Let's start at the beginning, shall we? 

Tuesday evening, February 12th, I felt great all day--not thinking that the next day, I'd be a mommy. But Tuesday night, Jamie and I went to bed fairly late for us--around 11:00 PM--and I remember before I went to sleep, I kept thinking, it'd be fun to have a baby on 2-13-13. It's got a nice ring to it, and would be easy to remember. At that point, I started thinking, I think she'll be here sooner than later! 

Around midnight, I woke up with minor contractions. I jumped out of bed and started to frantically clean the apartment and...paint my toes. I had ugly, little boy, sausage toes, and I didn't want my daughter to see those scary things first thing out of my tummy! So I painted them watermelon pink :) And then I straightened my hair. Priorities, right? 

Starting at about 1:15 ish, my contractions started to pick up and were very close together. That's when I started to time them. Ouchy-wa-wa! Those things HURT!! At this point, I was thinking, Baby Scho is well on her way!! I sent my friends, Emily and Carmen, a Facebook message, praying that one of them would be awake to come get Leia. Praise Jesus, Emily was awake and came to my rescue. She and her boyfriend came to pick up my fur child so that I could get to the hospital and not worry about my sweet pup. 

Thanks, Emily!

                                                

That is my final picture with the belly. It's weird to think that I don't have that belly anymore. Now it's just mush. Hmmm....

I woke up Jamie around 2:00, and he was skeptical that it was a false alarm. I assured him that I was in too much pain to be false alarming!! But we were both really really calm and got to the hospital just fine around 3:00 ish. 

We got all checked in and in a delivery room within minutes. Very efficient hospital! At this point, I was doubled over in pain, thinking that Baby Scho was going to come out right on that floor! Ooo baby, labor hurts! 

After I got my wildly attractive hospital gown on, a nurse came in to check me, and sure enough, I was in labor at 4 cm dilated. Baby girl was coming! At that point, Jamie texted our moms to tell them that they should probably head on over to Lafayette :) They were about to be grandparents! 

They got me all hooked up to a blood pressure machine, an ivy, and a monitor to check my baby's heartbeat. Around 3:45 ish, one of the nurses asked me if I was going to get an epidural, and I responded with an emphatic YES! She told me to let her know when I wanted to order the epidural, because they would need to page the anesthesiologist. I said I wanted it ASAP. The doctor came in around 4:30, and got going. Getting an epidural really doesn't feel great, but within minutes, I was a happy woman. I would have gotten 10 epidurals as opposed to one more contraction. No joke, I felt those drugs going through me, and my body went instantly numb. And that is why they pay doctors the big bucks! I could finally relax and enjoy the next few hours, pain free. Praise Jesus. But really, praise Jesus. 

Jamie was so great and so comforting that whole morning. 

                                        

He is already an incredible daddy. I love that man. 

From then on, we just waited. We took little cat naps here and there. Jamie was by my side the whole time, and was unbelievably supportive. We had several nurses coming in every half hour to check on me and my progress. Everyone was beyond lovely and accommodating! Loved my nurses :) 

My doctor came in a little after 8:00 and checked on me. She guessed Baby girl Schoenthaler would arrive somewhere in between 1:00 and 2:00. I was kind of hoping for a little earlier, because I was ready to get this little lady outa here! 

The waiting continued. 

Sometime that morning, my sister and mom made it to the hospital. Boy, was I glad to see them! Angela drove in from Houston and my mom caught the first flight out of Tulsa. So glad they made it in time! 

Around 12:15, my nurses, Mel and Meagan came in to check on me and said that I was almost 10 cm dilated. My epidural was wearing off so another anesthesiologist came in to give me another small dose of feel-good drugs before it was go time! 

Sure enough. It was go time! 

My nurses were back and they casually asked me, "Well Abby, are you ready to push?" It was as if they were asking if I wanted a Diet Coke or a Tea. I was like, Push push? As in push the baby out? As in have my child? As in PUSH?! Sure enough, they meant push push. 

This was taken about an hour before I had my baby. 

It's my last picture before being a mommy. 

I'll spare you the details, but I pushed for only 15-20 minutes or so and my sweet angel was born at 12:53 PM on Wednesday afternoon, February 13th, 2013. 

Meet Miss Lucy Abigail Schoenthaler:

 6 pounds, 11 ounces of perfection

20 and 1/4 inches long

The second she left my body, I wept. Big time weep. Uncontrollable sobbing. Such a relief to have a healthy baby!


After they got her cleaned off a bit and all the fluid out of her mouth, my doctor put her in my arms, and I'm not kidding...it was the most horrifying moment of my life. I remember looking at her weeping, thinking, How do I take care of this little girl? Am I ready for this? Pull yourself together, Abby! This is my baby. She's healthy. What a miracle. I hope she likes me. But really, what do I do with her? Am I holding her right? Is she comfortable? Does she know I'm her mommy? 

A flood of questions and insecurity rushed in my mind and I was a nervous wreck! It was as if I didn't know what a baby was. I was unbelievably horrified to be holding MY child!

They then took her from me to get her all cleaned off, check her vitals, get her footprints and so on and so forth.  They also had to finish getting everything out of me. (Yet again, I'll spare you the gory details.) I was kind of relieved they took her, because I was exhausted and sobbing and kind of out of it.

This picture melts my heart. That's Jamie's finger she's holding:

I melt.

I really wanted to have a moment with just me, Jamie and our sweet Lucy girl, but the nurses of course had to check me, check the baby, teach me how to nurse, help me go to the bathroom, just get everyone set and ready to go into the post-delivery room. Whodathunk there's so much to having a baby in those tender first few moments they're born?

We finally just got to be our little family of three, and I was a happy mama.

A scary looking mama, but a happy one.

Lucy girl was not thrilled about being out of my tummy. I think she was pretty comfy in there.

After an hour or so of just me and Jamie and our girl, we called in our mamas. At that point, my mom, Angela and Jamie's mom were in the waiting room, anxiously awaiting Sweet Pea's arrival.  My dad, Jamie's dad and sister would be arriving shortly.

Jamie and Kim loving on Lucy:

Lots of tears were shed in these first few moments.

Big tears.

My mama meeting her first grandbaby:

Kim, in complete awe:

This was the sign on her little crib:

Our first picture as a a family:

Looking a little more refreshed:

Red nose from crying so hard: 

Happy Daddy:

Lucy Abigail:

 My stay in the hospital was fantastic. I LOVED my nurses! They were so lovely and so helpful and I kind of didn't want to leave. It was just so nice to be waited on hand and foot and have people love on me and my baby. Just very comforting to be there. Once I get my life in order, I'll be bringing cookies or muffins or something to thank them for their fabulousness!

Jamie and I got to go home Friday around noon, and I was nervous but really excited all at the same time!

Right before we left the hospital room:

About to get in the car to go home as a family:

First time in her car seat:

My dad left on Sunday and my mom stayed until Wednesday to help me out around here, cooking meals and cleaning up since I have to take it pretty easy.  I ugly cried when my dad left. I ugly cried when my mom left. I've been ugly, snot crying every day since I had this baby girl. My doctor told me that I'd be pretty emotional the first week or two--not like I'm already an emotional lady without these post-pregnant hormones. So if you've been around or talking to me while I break down into a crying fit, don't mind me. I'll be just fine.

My mama with her grandbaby and grandweenie:

My dad with his grandbaby and Leia Lu:

Have you noticed a theme here? Leia loves her new little sister.

Isn't she beautiful?

She had little scratches on her face from her sharp little fingernails:

Daddy Jamie was a bit sleepy:

Best dad in the world:

Notice the trucker hat his daughter is wearing :)

Sweet angel baby:

I melt:

Her newborn clothes are too big for her:

She's just a tiny thing!

I know I look scared in this picture, but Jamie got all in my face with the camera, and Lord knows I didn't want a close up of my scary face!

Since we've been home, it's been a pretty consistent routine of feed, poop, sleep, feed, poop, sleep. And if you couldn't tell, Leia hasn't left my side:

This was taken right before we went home:

This was taken Saturday morning...after my first night at home:

Fell asleep on the couch with baby girl in my arms. Don't worry. She was safely sleeping in my arms, on the boppy with pillows surrounding me.

Plus, my motherly instincts have definitely kicked in. If I hear her breathing change, I wake up! I'm a very alert mama!

Saturday afternoon, we attempted newborn pictures while my parents were still here. In true Schoenthaler form, she does NOT like getting her picture taken. I'll post those pictures later, but I got this one with my phone:

Sweet baby.

Snuggle bunny:

Daddy and baby:

This is where she sleeps every night--in her bassinet, in our room:

All swaddled and bundled.

Well hi there, Sweet Pea!:

Leia is a very watchful pup:

Never leaves my side.

Could you absolutely die looking at this baby?

Lucy loves her swing! And Leia loves to sit by her while she's swinging away.

Happy baby:

Sleepy baby:

Anything better than a baby yawn?

The next several pictures are just a few of the sweet and silly faces my little Lucy makes on an every day basis:

I melt.

She had just taken a really scary poo in the above picture--hence the grossed out face.

On Wednesday, we went to her first pediatrician appointment. It went perfectly besides the bloody screams she made the whole time! Good news: she's above birth weight and perfectly healthy! I was a happy mama with such a good report!

Post doctor cuddles with Leia and Lucy:

This is my new normal:

Sitting outside, enjoying the fresh air:

Daddy with his girls:

I got brave and took Lucy on her first stroll with Leia on Wednesday afternoon:

It was soooo nice to get out and about!

She sleeps with one arm in the air:

Sometimes two:

Each day, she shows a little more personality. Lots of gassy smiles, cooing, grunts, squeals, snores and more.

Her smile...I die:

Leia, you're still a precious puppy dog and I still love you with all my heart!

"I throw my hands up in the air sometimes saying AYO, gotta let go!"

Lucy, this picture will go on your senior slide show:

Today, I had a big goal in mind: do my hair and get a Sonic drink during happy hour:

With just minutes to spare, it happened.

I love my happy baby. So so much.

Slow down, time! She's already getting too big!! I weep thinking about it!

Thank you all so so much for your consistent prayers throughout my pregnancy, labor and delivery. I truly have to give God every bit of glory, because without Him, this little miracle wouldn't be here. I fully believe that every baby is a miraculous gift from God and I feel unbelievably blessed and honored to get to be a part of one of His miracles. 

We love our Lucy girl so much and cannot believe she's already here and 10 days old. 

Now, she's waking up and needs to be changed and fed. Welcome to my new normal :)

Love you guys! Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers and well wishes and congratulations and kind words. Love love love to you all!