Katie June Alexander

Hello!

I know it has been over a month, but it has been quite a busy month for us, as I am sure you are all aware. 

Introducing, Katie June Alexander!

On October 16th, at 4:14 PM, Katie June finally made her appearance into our arms weighing 6 lbs 15 ounces and 18 3/4 inches long. 

Collin and I went to the doctor the Friday before to see if I had progressed any further. At this point I was four days past my due date. I had every intention of going into labor naturally and having a natural, unmedicated labor. Well Dr. Dooley took a look and let me know that I had still not made any progress and inducing would probably have to happen. I, at this point, welcomed the idea. We scheduled to be induced on Monday night at 7:00. I was honestly glad we did it at night because it gave us some privacy for a while. 

We showed up at the hospital at 7:00 and got signed in and set up camp in L&D room number 7. We were so excited to get the show on the road. I was given a pill to start the dilation and was told the pitocin would come in the morning. Collin's awesome parents stopped by and then Collin and I walked around the L&D wing and by about midnight I realized that I might not need the pitocin after all. I started having contractions pretty strongly at about that time and by 4 AM, I was seriously in pain. (Collin has told me he hasn't seen someone in that much pain ever). Contractions were coming at most every 3 minutes and sometimes I only had about 30 seconds between each one.

Let me just brag on Collin real fast. He was AWESOME! He held my hand EVERY contraction and helped me breathe and focus and stayed up with me the entire night. He ever ran out of the bathroom to hold my hand. I never heard one complaint out of him or anything.

At 4:00 AM, Dr. Dooley came in and broke my water. This is when the first "uh oh" happened. I was informed there was meconium in my water. This is when stool from the baby is in the water. Because of this, Dr. Dooley had to put the NICU on stand by to be in the delivery room with us so they could suck it out of her before she inhaled it. She said it was not a big deal and to relax. 

After my water broke I decided meds sounded pretty dang good so I had them check me and I was at a 5 so I asked for an epidural at 6 AM. Let me just say, the epidural was AWESOME. I was able to get a little sleep here and there and yeah I may not have made a whole lot of sense when I talked but I didn't care. 

At about 3 PM, things got a little crazy. My nurse started getting concerned. Apparently I had started to get a fever and Katie's heart rate was increasing and my pulse was increasing. Katie's heart rate got to 190 at one point. Dr. Dooley was called to come check me and even though at 6:00 am when I got my epidural I was at a 5, I was only at a 6. Also, my cervix was swollen. I knew what that meant... 

Dr. Dooley told me that they would watch me for the next hour and if things didn't improve then they would take me back for a c-section. For about 5 minutes I was in shock. Collin said I would be ok but I didn't panic yet because I thought I had an hour and surely I would improve. Well, they came back only 15 minutes later and said they talked it over and decided to prep me and take me back for the c section immediately. I broke down. Collin left to find his dad, my mom sat in the corner in shock, and thankfully Collin's step mom stayed with me and comforted me while I bawled. She was amazing. They took me back and quickly got her out. 

Let me just say, SCARIEST MOMENT EVER. It took 3 minutes after they pulled her out, for her to start crying. She wasn't responding quickly and was a little limp at first but once they got her crying, I think the whole hospital heard her. 

I was sent to recovery and after about 45 minutes, Collin came in and he was beaming. I could tell her was smitten. Within 30 minutes mine and Collin's family were in recovery with me along with our little guest of honor. This was the best moment. Having our entire family there and our new addition. 

As Collin has already said, it is crazy how fast your life changes. Nothing else matters but our little family of three. The first moment I saw her, I was all hers. She made everything complete. Being as I am adopted, she is the first blood relative I have ever seen and let me tell you, I still cannot grasp the amazingness about it yet. 

So for the past 3 1/2 weeks, we have been learning her and she has been training us. We are in awe of her and God every day. 

Be prepared that probably the majority if not all my blogs will be filled with photos of her. 

Psalm 139:13, 14 has always been one of my favorite verses but even more so now. God is so beyond incredible. And it is true that you don't ever quite understand how much He loves you. But when you have a child, you get a small grasp of how unmeasurable and unfailing His love is for his children.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139: 13, 14

Blessings,

Collin, Jessica, & Katie