Your arrival!!

Liv,
As I am writing this, I am looking at you wriggling around trying to wake up :) I wanted to take the chance to get this all down before it fades from memory, as things have a tendancy to do over time. Not that I will ever forget your birth or the overjoyed feelings that accompanied that day. I just wanted to get it all written for you and I both!
From my earlier posts you can tell that I was anxiously awaiting your arrival, and wondering if you would be early or later than your due date. I went in for my appointment on Wednesday before the Friday that you were due, and everything was looking alright at first...then I ended up having some protein in my urine. This is not a good sign, since it can mean that you have a syndrome called Preeclampsia. My blood pressure was fine at first check, but after repeating a second urine test which also had higher proteins in it, my blood pressure was already going up! Uh oh! Dr. Catherine Le Clair, my OB, was worried that I had developed Preeclampsia in the very last stages of pregnancy and wanted me to go to triage at the hospital to run blood work and see if it was in fact this syndrome. I'm not going to lie, I was a little bit nervous but Dad was with me and that made me feel so much better! Plus, the only way to cure Preeclampsia is to have your baby. This syndrome can get really uncomfortable for the mother, and it causes nausea and severe fatigue.
So we were on our way to triage (mind you, I wanted to go home and get some chores done, I think this was me going into a little bit of shock that I was going to deliver you so soon, as I wasn't expecting to stay at the hospital any longer than 30 minutes for the appointment.) I went to triage and got by blood tested and I did have Preeclampsia! I was feeling just fine though and dad went home to get some stuff done and came back. By that time we were informed that I would be induced that night. The good news was that I was already dilated to 3cm and 75% effaced, so I was in a great place to be induced since I was already on my way to labor. I saved about 12 hours of early labor by being at that point before induction. It was a good thing! I was so excited to meet you Olivia! My labor with you was very interesting, because I just went with it. I knew that it was going to be hard work, but I didn't care at all. I just wanted to have you in my arms and to see what you looked like! Grammy, Grandma Pat, and even your Grandad were in the room. He was behind a little sheet for most of the active labor, but was such a support nontheless!
Anywho, before I knew it I was induced around 1am, and progressed quickly. By about 3 or 4 I was at 7cm, and I began pushing about 5:30am. I pushed as hard as I could possibly push. It was hard work, but Dad was so great and knew that I could do it, and never stopped encouraging me. I knew that I could too with his and Heavenly Father's help. I remember praying during that part of the labor that I could accomplish it. I also did it without medication. Of course at the 11th hour I was asking if there was a local that they could possibly give me. Those nurses were so wonderful and so supportive. They told me that I could do this! Our bodies are amazing blessings!
You were delivered at 7:47am on Thursday October 25th 2012. I will never forget the moment that they put you on my chest and I could feel your skin on mine. I so wanted that initial bonding experience! It was so amazing to actually see and feel you on the outside of me! So cool. Your Dad definitely shed some tears; I actually don't think there was a dry eye in the room. You were so loved from the get go, even the nurses were amazed. I got to hangout with you and Dad for a while on our own while I got stiched up, and then after all the stiching was finished I had the worst pain in my vagina ever! The labor and birth process honestly didn't even compare to this serious pain. All I knew was that I was not going to be able to take the pain my longer. They gave me 2 shots of morphine and it didn't even phase me. They took me to the O.R. since I had formed a hematoma on the inside of my vagina. I had never been under, but I was so happy to go to sleep. I remember telling the nurses that I didn't have heartburn anymore just before I went under :) When I woke up you were nursing and Dad was hovering over my face smiling. He had you skin to skin the whole time, I think you have already taken a liking to him quite well. Yay!
Boy, was I swollen up like a puffer fish! I lost a lot of blood and fluid, so they pumped me full of 5 liters of fluid and I was very swollen from it. I didn't care much, even though I also looked like a vampire of because of the broken blood vessels in my eyes :) We stayed at the hospital for 4 days and got to go home on Sunday! It was fabulous to bring you home and we took lots of pictures!
It has been so awesome being your mom, and it was the best being at home with you and home from work! It pretty much rocked! You are such a sweet baby and I can just tell you are going to be so fun to raise and have experiences with :) I really look forward to it!

You came and conquered our hearts

Olivia Mae Jentzsch
7lbs 6oz of punctual cuteness! Yes, we were wondering if you'd come on time and as if you were to outdue your mother's knack for puntuality, you showed up a day early!
I'll let your mother write about her birthing experience if she likes, I just wanted to let you know that you are a light that has come into our lives and we have been on a high for the last three weeks you have joined us.
So far we have gone on walks, taken you to our favorite breakfast place (Bob's RedMill...twice I might add), taken you out to dinner, and toured your arrival on a weekend in Eugene. As we speak, your mom is extending that tour to include Southern Oregon and all of the people down there that have yet to meet you. Needless to say, you are a big deal. To us and to many other people that love you.
I'll miss you until Thanksgiving, but can't wait to celebrate all that I have to be thankful for and all of the incredible gifts and blessings we have received as a family this past year.
xoxo Dad