She is here!!!
Ryleigh Judith Johnston
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:17am
Weighing 7lbs, 13oz.
Measuring 21 inches long.
On September 1st, Chuck and I went to the hospital for me to be induced. So, I got the gel injection, and I waited until 10am and I was told to go home and wait for it to start working. Around 2:30pm, it started working and the regular contractions were between 3-6 minutes apart. So, we got to the hospital and they broke my water, and sent me up to the birthing suite floor. So this was about 3:30 and the contractions started getting worse and worse. So, Chuck went down to the car (and I could see where he was parked from my hospital room.) and then the fire alarm went off… DOH! So, as I was going through the intense stuff, so I started crying because of the alarm, and I could see him and I wanted him to be there with me. So that lasted 20 minutes. During that 20 minutes, my friend Chad and his wife had a baby. So, then Chuck got upstairs and I told him I needed some drugs. I ended up getting a nice shot in the butt (but worth it) and I kinda relaxed for a little bit. Watched tv, called a few people.. The contractions weren’t hurting but I had to breathe through them. I had to tell Adrienne and Chuck’s mom to “hold a sec..” lol. So, about 6:00, they gave me the oxytocin, and I got another pain shot at 7, because I figured it was going to be pretty intense. So, I relaxed again for a bit…. After that, I got the epidural at 8:00 and relaxed a little bit more, Chuck and I rested and I continued to contract. At around 10:00, I started feeling pain even with the epidural, so they ended up cranking it to the max and between 10 and 12, she was decending into my pelvis. I kept visualizing leaving the hospital down the street, and I used the hand rails as a steering wheel (LOL)…. so that got me through it. I felt like I was in a trance, maybe because I was so doped up. lol. So, I got some sleep finally between 12:00 and 2:00am, and they woke me up to check me. They said don’t move. I just poked her head with my finger. And it was just like an index finger. Not getting in there like the owned it or anything. So, at 2:17am, on September 2nd.. Ryleigh came out a screamin’! I had 10 pushes, and she came out. I looked at Chuck and I said… “That’s it? She’s out?” while I was giving birth.. I was watching tv. LOL Mad TV was on, and it kinda kept my mind occupied too. She was well worth the pain, and I don’t even remember it really. I just remember how happy I was when she came out. I didn’t feel a thing, and I didn’t scream when she came out… I have 2nd degree tearring, but that’s okay I guess. My doctor stitched me up and said “There, now everything looks pretty again!” LMAO. Gotta love Dr Jana and her Gyne humour. The one nurse that we had was absolutely amazing! I wish I had her my entire stay, but she worked in the L&D floor only. She would come in and shoot the shit with me and stuff. She bathed Ryleigh and dressed her up in a cute outfit that I brought. Then she would take her for a walk out into the hallways and let me have some rest.
My first words to her were…. “your grandma & great-grandpa would be so proud of you right now…” and she sat there and looked at me… and gave faces…. grinned a lot. Chuck said to her.. “Yeah you’re a keeper!” because she is absolutely so cute!
The first over-night was hell. She wouldn’t latch on properly, and she was getting a bit jaundice… Didn’t sleep properly, or anything. So, we had to put her in a light blanket (called a billy blanket), and I ended up pumping my mom-juice and fomula feeding so she would drop some atomic bombs to get rid of it. So, now that she has feed a bunch of times, she is latching onto me pretty well. I still want to pump because Chuck really likes feeding her and stuff. Chuck has been absolutely amazing. He was there through the entire ordeal. I think I love him more now, than I ever have in my entire life. He rubbed my neck while I was pushing, and telling me how great I was doing. I missed him a lot when he was gone over-night. 
Me and Ryleigh would have talks. Yesterday morning she smiled at me when I told her she was cute! LOL But maybe it was gas pains. 
My only complaints were some of the nurses were REALLY condescending. They would assume that you knew everything and then when you didn’t they would say stuff like “Well, do you not have ANY experience with children?” NO, this is a learning thing for me too. I said to one I was an only child and everyone was older than me. Then, one nurse said to Chuck “Do you know how to change a diaper?” he said “Yeah” because he had changed two of Ryleigh’s already. So, then the nurse said “Oh no you don’t…” like why’d you ask? I know that all moms go through the same. Kathy told me that some nurses like their job and others are there to get paid. It’s sad, because it’s true. But, now that I’m home.. I’m comfortable. I got to see my two fur babies, and they have been taking to Ryleigh a little bit at a time. They like to sit on the floor near her, but every day they get a bit more comfortable. They have taken to her pretty well. Lennon likes to sit in the basket underneath her chair, or a few feet away from her. Abbey will go right up to her, and smell her head then walk away. Just checking in, you know? Yesterday, Chuck was sitting on the floor with her, and Lennon came up and rubbed his head against Ryleigh’s. SUPER ADORABLE! Right now, Miss Ryleigh is sleeping while Chuck and I are on the computer. Lennon is closely guarding her. Everything seems to be going really well. I’m so glad that she’s here!!!