The story of Raquel Moreno's birth...and days following.
Like any birth, this could be a very VERY long story. I'll try to stick with the highlights.
Thursday night, January 26th, I began having contractions. Friday morning around 5, we finally decided it was time to go.
I was admitted and the fun began. Like most never-before-mothers, I was terrified of labor. Thankfully, everything went so smoothly and was not anywhere near as bad as I thought it would be...even when the anesthesiologist plunged the needle into my back and said, "That was wierd." (Not something you want to hear from that guy.)
Labor was also a surprise. I found myself pushing one minute and then chatting it up with my doctor the next. Then pushing. Then chatting. It was a very strange experience that I should probably attribute to my eqidural. They are pure gold!
At 2:22 pm, little Raquel Moreno was born into the world weighing 7 lbs. 14 oz and being 18 1/2 in. long. However, after later measurements by her pediatritian, we found her length to actually be 21 inches long.
Right away they handed me my baby. I would upload the picture, but the nursing student who took it didn't realize she got a whole lot of me in the shot - a whole lot of me that I would rather not post for the blogging world to see.
When they took her away again to do all her testing, I didn't realize that something was wrong. When they brought Raquel to me the second time, they explained that she was in respiratory distress and would need to be taken to the NICU. It was awful to then realize her breathing really didn't sound normal. I began just sobbing and as much as I needed Luis to comfort me, I sent him away to be with our baby, who I thought needed him more. Pretty soon everyone except my nurse had left the room and I was left to cry and cry.
A little while later, Luis came back up to give me an update. He said we could go be with her, but my nurse wouldn't let me until I was stronger. Four hours later I was finally wheeled down to see my Raquel, but not allowed to hold her. It was heartbreaking to see my little girl hooked up to so many wires and machines, even wearing a face mask to keep on her oxygen. Again, I sat and bawled. (That was kind of a theme during our hospital stay.) We were then told she would most likely have to stay in the NICU for 7-10 days. That didn't help my emotional state.
Throughout the night and next day we made several trips down to our Raquel, but it wasn't until Saturday afternoon that I was finally able to hold my baby again and Luis was able to hold her for the FIRST time.
That evening, the nurses brought us our celebratory meal, which we ate quickly so we could go back down to NICU and give Raquel her first bath.
She wasn't a big fan of mommy & daddy's bath techniques.
Sunday night, Luis and I were kicked out of the hospital, forced to leave our little girl behind. Once again, EMOTIONAL! I felt like we were abandoning her over and over when she needed us most. Thankfully, we could be with her almost any time we wanted.
Monday evening, mom flew in to be with us.
And that is when she first was introduced to little Raquel, her 13th (and most adorable) grandchild.
You can see Raquel was ecstatic to finally meet her grandma.
Naturally, I was very concerned about Raquel having to wear the ugly unisex t-shirts the hospital staff puts on all the babies, so I brought in her own clothes. Here she is in her first onesie.
This is her first feeding session with grandma.
Her first pajamas.
Her first "necklace."
This is the burping pose we lovingly refer to as "caveman."
Finally, 7 days and too many obnoxious nurse opinions later, we got to pack up and leave.
I think our nurse was about to have a heart attack when we asked to stop at every interval to take pictures, but that's how you do it in our clan.
And we finally made it home!!!
Officially one week old.
It was the best feeling in the world to have my baby girl home. I had been feeling guilty all week whenever I wasn't with her. Of course, sitting on hard chairs in the NICU that whole week was really difficult, especially when sitting was the last thing my bum wanted to do. I was grateful to be able to breastfeed while there, but every time I did, we had to drag out big green partitions for privacy. Even then, I still had about 75 staff members poking their heads through the curtains to check on me and tell me what I was doing wrong. It took all the graciousness I could muster not to make any sassy comments. After all, they WERE taking care of my baby.
Anyways, the day after bringing Raquel home, Luis and I once again tried the whole bathing routine. You can pretty much tell how it went.
Disclaimer: I am NOT using the potty. I only sat there to brush Raquel's hair. As a true daughter of mine, she loves having her hair brushed.
Officially 2 weeks old.
Raquelita is doing perfectly these days and we love love LOVE having her home with us. I do find myself crying every 5 minutes with post-pregnancy emotions which mom and Luis have to then soothe away. I also panic every time she chokes a little on my milk and I'm pretty sure I had a nervous breakdown today when she spit-up for the first time; BUT mom reasurres me this will pass.
About Raquel:
She is a very happy baby and can sit contentedly just watching her surroundings.
She sounds like a kitty cat because she purrs nonstop.
As of now, she is waking up about 3 times a night.
Her once black hair now seems to be turning brown and her eyes look like they might be headed towards a green color, something all Luis's extended family is rooting for since they are almost all brown-eyed.
She is starting to enjoy bath time more and more each day.
The toe next to her big toe is longest...just like mommy.
She has big feet and long fingers...also like mommy.
She has daddy's nose and face shape.
She is already developing Mexican woman sideburns.
