born February 21st, 2012
8 lbs 10 ounces
Pre-Birth
We had a long weekend just before having Tenley to get all ready. It was nice to wait to get it all done, as it took my mind off the ceasarean. It is very nerve wracking to know in a few days you are going to walk in the hospital just fine, then have to drink some REALLY nasty drink (kind of like a cup of strong vinegar) for anti-nausea, then get needles poked in my back of freezing and get cut open, layer by layer..... At least its very rewarding!
The night before surgery we decided to go out for wing night as I had to start fasting just afterwards, and wanted something somewhat filling. BIG mistake as I had heartburn ALL night and I couldn't take any drink or any tums.
Day of Birth
We had to arrive at the hospital at 6am to start prepping. They get the IV in, get me in hospital gear, do a stress test on the baby to make sure everything is ok, and then we wait till 8am to go to the surgery room. We waited about another 20 minutes as my dr. was late.
After I am numb and laying down they start cutting right away. After a few minutes I start to hear a vacuum type thing and the suction all of a sudden popping off sound. The surgeon kept telling people to bring in the other surgeon as the baby's head was stuck. From what I gathered with listening to them talking, the baby got stuck in the scar tissue and they didn't want to cut me open more then needed. Finally after a long wait she got out at 8:50am. Normally they hand my baby to me right away to hold and then do all the measuring after surgery, but this time they took her and made sure she was alright from the foreceps and vacuum before handing her to me. After a long wait they handed me my baby girl.
Most people when they first see her, are shocked with how much hair she has, especially for her not to have black hair as they usually see ethnic babies with that much hair, not so much caucasian. I have a hard time figuring out who she looks like, maybe later on she'll have more similarities, but for now she's one of a kind in my eyes.
Post Birth
After a few days of nasty hospital food, awesome pain drugs (oxycodone), and enjoying my cute baby girl alone, I was able to go home Thursday morning. Recovery has been pretty good, once the staples got out it felt much better. Lee took a week off (goes back to work tomorrow) which has been a huge help. The hardest part about recovery is not being able to drive for 3 weeks or pick up Tenley in her carseat for 6 weeks. I am sure I will break the rules a little early, but for now my Mom or Lee have been able to help out.
Zoë and Dreyton have waited a LONG time for their baby sister, so they were super excited to meet her.
Tenley had some complications from the vacuum and foreceps. She got some bruising on her face and eye. She also started to have an increase in jaundice just as we were getting released from the hospital. We had to keep seeing the nurse for a few extra days and she had to get a vial of blood out of her poor foot each day until it went down. Luckily Monday, her jaundice levels went way down and we no longer have to see the nurse daily.
Before picture of bruising
She also got a hematoma on her head. When Lee was bathing her he found the soft bump on her head, and as soon as he did it was a flashback to when Dreyton had a skull fracture at 6 mos of age. I knew she hadn't bumped her head at all so we called the early start line and gave them our information. They told us it was from the vacuum at birth and the swelling would go down in a week or so.
She is such a good baby so far, and making this transition to having a newborn again easy.
(note: this is written before Lee has headed back to work yet)
How She Got Her Name
It has always been difficult to figure names out for our babies as Lee and I don't have the same taste. I got the name Tenley from a girl on bachelorette and really liked it. We were debating on two names, Brynnlee or Tenley. The reason I chose Tenley was because I don't like names that can be shortened into a different name like Brynn. Once I find a name that I like its hard for me to switch to anything else, so I had to convince Lee. Lee doesn't ever say if he likes a name just to bug me, he knows when i've made up my mind and will try to get some kind of deal before he finally agrees.
Elizabeth we had chosen for a long time as the middle name. It's my Grandma Sefcik's first name, and my Granny Naylor's middle name. So to get both my grandma's in one name was perfect.
Kind of funny, my family doctors birthday was on Feb 21, AND her middle name is Elizabeth too.
More Pictures
uh, she's screaming mommy maybe kisses will help
The girls
Tenley and Grandma Sefcik on her one week birthday.
