Alyvia Paige Nerwuca is here!
And this is her story:

Kamil & I woke up Tuesday morning (the 27th) rather early, cuz he had to help my dad out at the warehouse. I went with him, and took our bunny Booh - she had a vet appt. later that day. On our way in, I got some pretty strong contractions. They actually took my breath away! But of course, they were so few and far between, we didn't bother timing them. I just took them as a sign that within a few days, I'd be holding my baby girl.

Once we got back home that afternoon, I was online, talking to a few girls I had become friends with - all complaining we STILL hadn't had our babies! While sitting at the computer, I had this weird feeling, and felt like I may have peed myself. I ran into the bathroom, yanked my pants down, and sat down. I peed. On my panty liner though, I had noticed a rather large wet spot, and got kind of excited. I yelled out to Kamil "Babe!! I think my water just broke!!" He heard this before, so he didn't get excited hahah. He just told me to sit around and wait to see what happens. So I did just that. I went right back to the computer, and it happened again. I started to get excited, and ripped my pants off in the middle of the living room, and some fluid started to leak out. I called out to Kamil again - "Babe, I DEFINITELY THINK MY WATER BROKE!" He says "what are we supposed to do now?" I just stood there and stared at him, then shrugged my shoulders. I thought for sure I knew what should happen, but my mind blanked! (This was around 1:00 pm)

He got up and started running around the house, grabbing things, saying "we need to pack our bag! We need to get the car packed!" I waddled upstairs to help him pack our big bag, grabbing random things and throwing them on the bed. Once we got everything in the car, we headed for the hospital. I was getting nervous, and thought that once we got there, they'd just tell me I peed myself, and to quit being a silly girl and go home! Kamil mentioned that he liked the fact that we didn't know if I was really in labor, cuz he could calmly drive to the hospital, instead of driving like a maniac. I just rolled my eyes.

Once we got there, it was almost 2 pm, I waddled into L&D with Kamil at my side, told the lady at the front desk I thought my water had broke, and she took us into an observation room, and sent a midwife in. The midwife had me strip from the waist down so she could check to see if I was dialated, effaced, and to swab my insides to see if my water had truly broken. I was 1 cm dialated and 80% effaced. She took the swab and went to test it, saying she'd be back as soon as the test was done. At first, before swabbing, she said that she really thought my water had broke. But after swabbing, she said now she didn't think so! So I was rather discouraged. I laid there, talking to Kamil, waiting for her to come back. About 10 mins before she did, I felt a big gush, and looked at Kamil wide - eyed, saying "if my water hadn't broke this morning, it definitely did just now!" When the midwife got back, I told her I just had a big gush of fluid, so she checked again. She didn't even have to swab that time - she was 100% positive it was my water! Before taking us to a L&D room, she asked me a million and one questions, and had me change into a gown. Kamil grabbed our stuff, and we followed her into our room. Because my water had broke, but I wasn't having any serious contractons, they put an IV into my right arm, and started a pitocin drip. Mind you, I went in there completely sent on having a natural delivery. (I think around 5 or 6 pm. My time is all messed up!)

Within in 5 mins of getting the pitocin started, my contractions started coming in waves. At first, they weren't so bad, I could breath through them, and then I was ok. I was checked again, and at that point, I was 1.5 cm dialated and almost completely effaced. Kamil started to call my dad, my mom, and his parents, to let them know that I was in labor, and that in at least a day, we'd have our baby girl. Everybody got real excited, and my mom tried to invite herself into the delivery room. Again.. Lol.

Around 8 pm, my contractions were at least a minute apart, and were absolutely HORRIBLE. The nurse I had at that time suggested that I try getting into the jacuzzi, to see if that helped. As I sat on the edge of the bed and hung onto Kamil, she started the water, told us how it worked, and left, saying she'd be back in a half hour to check my progress. I stepped in and sat down. The water was great, it helped my back. But it did nothing for the contractions. It felt like a knife was being shoved into my abdomen and dragged across. Everytime I felt one coming, I'd wrap my arms around Kamil's neck and bury my face into his chest, trying to breath. He kept telling me "just breath. Find a happy place, and it won't hurt as bad. You're doing great.. just breath." He was SUCH a good labor coach - he really amazed me. He stuck by my side and helped me through each and every contraction. After only 5 mins in the tub, I couldn't stand it anymore. I was crying and telling him I just wanted to go home, I didn't want to be in labor, and kept asking him to please make the pain go away. He told me I could get the epi, and he wouldn't think any less of me. I told him I wanted it, but was so scared to get a needle in my back, that I just didn't think I could do it. But then, I couldn't do it naturally, either! He helped me out of the tub and by the time the nurse got back, I was dried off and dressed in my gown. I told her the tub didn't help a bit, and she suggested walking this time. I was only 2 cm dialated.

Kamil & I walked the halls of the L&D unit. He pulled the IV cart behind him, and let me hang on to him while we walked. Whenever a contraction hit, he'd pull me over to the wall, wrap his arms around my waist so I could wrap my arms around his neck, and he'd gently sway side to side as I'd rotate my hips. He'd whisper in my ear how great of a job I was doing, and was constantly telling me to find a happy place and go there. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. We got back to the room, and he left to find our nurse, and told her I needed the epidural. She came in, checked me again (I was still only 2 cm), and went to put the order into the anesthesiologist. Within 20 mins, she was there, along with our new nurse cuz they had a shift change. While I was being prepped for the epi, Kamil was told he wasn't allowed to be in the room while I was getting it done. This made me cry, and I think he may have had a couple tears in his eyes - he really doesn't like to see me in pain. As he walked out the door, I started to cry again, and the nurse, Jessica, asked me what was wrong. I told her how scared I was, and didn't think I could do this. She encouraged me, and gave me her hand to hold.

The epi really wasn't that bad. It didn't hurt besides when I was given a local numbing shot. It was just all the weird feelings I got as the catheder was being put in that scared me. By the time it was all done, my right leg was going numb, and Kamil was allowed back in the room. My right side was numb, except from my knee down, but that was still tingly and I couldn't move it without help. I could feel everything on my left side :(

Eventually the contractions on my left side died down, even though they still hurt like crazy. An hour after getting the epi, I was checked, and I had jumped from 2-4. This was around 11:30 pm. I laid on my left side, in the dark, while Kamil tried to take a nap. I tried getting some rest, cuz the nurses didn't think I'd deliver until the next afternoon. My contractions moved from my left side to my butt. Every time I got one, I felt bad pain and a lot of pressure in my butt. It was weird! I'd breath through those - at least they were more bareable than the ones in my belly. At around 12:30 am, Kamil went to get the nurse to tell her that I was feeling a lot of pressure. She checked me and I was a 5. She left, and as soon as she did, the contractions got worse and worse. I was crying and couldn't control my breathing. He ran to get the nurse again (almost 1 am) and when she came back to check me again, instead of saying how far dialated I was, she said "Ok. I need to call the doctor right now." Kamil looked at her wide eyed and asked if I was ready to push. She said "oh yea."

As they turned on the lights and got all the equipment at the foot of the bed, I was in so much pain. I couldn't really comprehend what was going on. I asked if the epi would get more stuff shoved through it to take it away, and was told no, that I was ready to deliver. Before the DR even got there, I was ready to push. I couldn't control my breathing still, and yelled out "I HAVE TO PUSH NOW!!" They nodded and told me to go ahead. So I pushed. And pushed. And pushed. I hated that feeling. It really was like you had to take the biggest crap of your life! The dr. got there 5 mins later, and told me we were gonna get serious about pushing. The nurse had to help me hold up my right leg cuz I still couldn't feel it. When I felt a contraction coming, I grabbed my thighs and lifted myself up and curled around my belly and pushed like there was no tomorrow. By the time she was crowning, I was screaming. I remember screaming out 'MOTHER FUCKER'. They told me to quit screaming and concentrate on pushing. I felt her head crown, and they quickly suctioned out her nose and mouth, and told me to give another super big push. I gave them what they wanted, and I felt her slipping out. Within seconds, my baby girl was on my belly. She was covered in the grossest stuff I had ever seen, but I still grabbed on to her and started to cry. I looked at Kamil and he had tears running down his eyes. He cut the cord, and they took her over to the baby warmer to get her cleaned up. Kamil kept looking from me to her, and didn't know if he should stay with me or follow her. I smiled and told him to go see his baby girl. He grinned and went over there and started snapping away with the camera. I laid there as they tried to clean me up. Jessica (L&D nurse) told me to just look at her, not look down at the dr cuz of all the blood. Dr. Berg was mashing on my uterus, and I really wanted to kick her, it hurt so bad. She was trying to mop up the blood from my crotch with a towel, and I swatted her hand away. I didn't want her touching me, I was so sensitive. She told me she had to stop the bleeding, otherwise I wouldn't be in very good shape. She eventually stopped it, and had to stitch me up - I had a 1st degree tear.

After a few hours of breast feeding and staring at my beautiful baby girl, they came to take us to our recovery room. They had me slowly stand up so I could pee. I took 3 nurses and Kamil leading the way to get me into the bathroom. As soon as I sat on the toilet, Kamil yelled "she's going!" and I passed out. I woke back up after they shoved one of those ammonia things in my face, but my vision was still very blurry, and I could barely hear what they were saying to me. Out I went again. I ended up passing out 3 times because of the amount of blood I lost, and had 4 salt things broke open in my face. They got me on the bathroom floor and propped my feet up, and pushed a bag of fluid through my IV to put some volume back in me, so it wouldn't happen again. They had to straight cath me so that they could empty my bladder. They got me back in bed, and after a couple hours, came to check on us. They took Alyvia to the nursey to give her a bath, and took Kamil and I to our new room. The baby was brought in a few hours later, and we all slept.

Good luck to you ladies waiting for your babies. It's the best thing in the world.

I just got out of the shower (showers make you feel human again!) and caught this =]

Her daddy said I'm the only one that can make her smile right now.. Look how good of a job I do =]

- Update on Alyvia -
6.5.08

Alyvia is doing absolutely amazing!! She's 8 days old today, and had her first newborn check up this morning. She really didn't like it! Especially when her daddy had to undress her so they could look her over. Surpisingly enough, she didn't scream when they did the rectal temp check! I wanted to cry when they did though.. I was sitting next to the exam table, Kamil was standing over her, as was the nurse, and as he undid her diaper for the nurse, she looked right at me with wide eyes that said "Mommy, what are they doing to me??" AHHHH!!! I just grabbed her hand and rubbed it with my thumb, and whispered to her that she'd be ok. I'm such a sap when it comes to her! She now weighs 8 lbs 13 oz.. That's a whole pound more than when she was born! She came home weighing 7.4, so she's gained a total of 1.9 lbs since coming home.. She's such a chubby bunny! I'm still so amazed that she's actually mine.. I can't believe it! I stare at her all the time, and I always get tears in my eyes.. Like - Did I really help create that? Was she really in my belly? Life is such a miracle! I knew this before, but having a child of your own, you really realize what your body can do, and what a miracle and a blessing life really is. Mommyhood is absolutely amazing, and I would go through labor again in a heartbeat, just for her :)

She loves her some daddy :)

2 weeks old today!

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June 18th, 2008

Kamil's First Father's Day was great :) Alyvia got her daddy a first father's day card with a baby cookie monster on it, and she even signed it herself! I put her on the floor with a pen in her hand, and the card under her hand. She was wiggling around and signed it just for her daddy =D He loved it!

The past few days she's been eating like crazy - I think she may be going through a growth spurt. Either that, or she's getting sick :( She's been spitting up quite a bit, and I don't know what to do! She's had normal spit up, but then there's been a few times where it looks as if she's thrown up everything she just ate. Like today.. I was sitting in my car burping her, and out flowed just about everything she ate. Like if you were to turn on a waterhose.. shot out just like the water would. I feel so bad... She also has times where she cries and cries, and fusses and whines, and I can't get her to stop.. I've probably walked a few miles around my house with her, talking to her, singing to her, kissing her chubby little face, rocking her, trying to get her to stop. She eventually does, but I feel bad that I don't know what's wrong with her, and I can't get her to be happy :(

On a lighter note.. she just turned 3 weeks 18 mins ago! (1:16am on Wednesday morning) They grow up too fast! She's already starting to hold her head up on her own.. If she's on my chest, she'll push herself up and her head will bobble around. Her muscles aren't the strongest yet, but they're getting there!

And she's starting to sleep a little more at night. I'm co-sleeping with her(don't give me your opinion on this, please. It works for me. And studies have been done and they show that co-sleeping actually reduces the risk of SIDs anyway. So thanks for your advice, but no thanks!) and once I lay down with her, I think she kind of realizes that now is the time to go nini. We usually go to bed around 2am, cuz I can't get her to sleep very long if I try to go to bed before then, and she'll wake up close to 5am, and then around 8am, but then once we fall back asleep after that, we sleep until 11am or noon! And yes, I sleep that long too. I can't get up early anymore. My body is too rundown and sleep deprived! I'd like for one day to get completely caught up on my sleep.. but as everyone keeps telling me.. now that I've had a kid, I'll never sleep again!! Ahh well. I love being a mother, and if giving up some sleep is what needs to happen, I'll do it w/o looking back! My daughter is completely worth it =D

UPDATE!

I had to take Alyvia to the doctor this morning. She threw up twice in about an hour, and kept spitting up, and wasn't able to keep any breastmilk down it seemed. Her appointment was 9am this morning, so I've pretty much been up with her since 6am (went to bed around 2am.. I'm running on about 3 hours of sleep!) Apparently she has acid reflux :( Poor baby! They told me to take her off my boob before she's done to burp her, and then put her back on to finish, and then keep her upright for about 30 mins to make sure the breastmilk stays down. I've tried twice to take her off to burp her, and each time, she's always fallen asleep, and I can't get her back on! So she's been nursing quite a bit since we've gotten home. AND! You wouldn't believe how much she weighs right now... 9lbs 14 oz! See, I told you you wouldn't believe it! I HAVE TURBO-CHARGED BREAST MILK! WOOOO!

hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

My baby girl is 3 weeks old!!
She loves her daddy.. She's such a daddy's girl!

She's had a blocked tear duct, and I had just wiped her eye, that's why it's red in the 2nd picture!

Her first "real" smile!! (meaning not one caused by a toot!)

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6.29.2008

^^ Lil Miss Cranky Butt ^^

ONE MONTH OLD!!
PS.. More pics in my photo album!

I'M SO IN LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE