Our Minnesota Adventure

Helen Mae Hartzler ~ April 30, 2011 by Sari

 

Here’s the story:

It was a saturday, so that meant we were heading to the beach for our normal spiel.  Volleyball for Rob and beach time for me, Witt and Rob’s mom.  Once we arrived I started to feel regular contractions, but they weren’t strong yet and were about 5 min apart.  Rob was enjoying volleyball and I was enjoying watching Witt play with his grandma.  Jon, Emily and Kylie arrived a little bit after we did.  Emily and I joined Witt and Sheila down by the waters edge and by that time my contractions were getting stronger so we started timing them.  They were about 4 min apart at that time (around 11:30) and they ended up being every 3-4 by about 12:30.  Before they got too painful I made sure to get some pictures to commemorate the day I went into labor!  And thanks to Meili, she reminded me that my Aunt Nan had taken some ‘beached whale’ shots when she was pregnant so we decided to do the same. Although, it was tough lying on my back like I was so the photo shoot didn’t last for very long. Rob came to came to check in with my between games and by about 1 we decided it was the real deal and time to go.   We headed home to grab our bags and a shower.  The car ride felt longer than it really was and by the time we got home I was contracting every 2-3 minutes.  We had called the hospital on the way to let them know we were coming.  I didn’t really feel like showering by the time we were home but knew it’d be a while before I’d be able to and was able to get the sand and sunscreen off with Rob’s gracious help!  I definitely did not feel like bending over in any way! 

Off we went downtown to the hospital.  The 20 minute trip (thank goodness it was a saturday and not rush hour!) turned out to be a little longer because two blocks from the hospital we got stuck behind a very slow moving train!  Thank goodness, once again, for modern technology – Rob looked up an alternate route on his iphone and we made it to the hospital while the train was still moseying along. 

Rob got out of the car and got me a wheelchair and took me up to L&D.  Since I had called ahead they knew who we were when we got up to the floor and we were put straight into a delivery room where two nurses proceeded to hook me up to an iv (I got some fluid as well as antibiotics since I had tested positive for strep b) and get me all set up.  I was still contracting every 2-3 minutes and once checked I found out I was 6 cm!  That was encouraging to hear but at the same time I was suddenly very aware that there were still 4 more cm’s to go – and there was no telling how long that might take.  My contractions were getting stronger and stronger, quite unmanagable and I began to feel desperate and unable to handle the pain anymore – so I asked for an epidural.  I’m sure it wasn’t much later, although it felt like an eternity, before the anesthesiologist came in and hooked me up.  By about 4 I was feeling comfortable.  Rob was able to leave to go get something to eat and move the car which had been sitting in the drive this whole time!  I relaxed and called my mom and dad to let them know what was happening. 

Rob returned and we watched a little tv.  I had the shakes so bad and my left leg had started to swell because of the way I was lying on the bed, but other than that I was comfortable and getting really excited about meeting our little girl!  At about 7:45 maybe, we were ready to start pushing.   The movie Rocky 3 was on in the tv – best motivation ever! – when we began.  Although it was turned off immediately =) Helen was born by 8:24 and aside from a slightly elevated temperature (for me as well) she was perfect!  I didn’t end up tearing and could not have been happier with the whole birthing experience.  The nurses and my doctor were fantastic and, most of all, Helen was in our arms and healthy!

So, there you have it =)  It’s been a little over two weeks now that she’s been in our world and it feels so right!  Witt’s been incredible with the change  – he wants to hold her a lot, give her kisses, throw her dirty diapers in the trash, rock her in the bouncer, etc.  I’ll do another post about life thus far so do stay tuned.  I can’t promise when that will be but I will do my best to have it be sooner rather than later!  Afternoon nap time is no longer mommy’s free time    

 

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