11-15-1984

Well, today is Friday... Five day's later.

On Sunday morning at 4:30 a.m. I woke up and my underwear were all wet. I wasn't sure if I had peed my pants or if my water had broken. I got up and cleaned up when I noticed I was having back pains. I knew I had only a bologna sandwich and a chocolate cup cake and a glass of milk before I went to bed. The pains kept coming. So for about an hour I was timing the pains. I went into the bathroom and noticed I had lost my mucus plug and then I knew the back pains was a sure sign of labor. I knew Steve had only gotten home a few hours before so I let him sleep. I could not let him sleep. I knew he had already had a wife with a child and asked him if this was a real sign that I was having Labor. He said, " I think so". We both agreed to call the Doctor but would wait a little while longer because it was so early in the morning. But then we changed our minds. The Doctor told us to come to the hospital. Which was actually a half hour drive, but it took us an hour. I took a shower and wore the only clean outfit I had. All the way to the hospital I was so afraid... It was the First Snowfall of the year and we were the only tracks on the road, we were slipping and sliding everwhere. The weather was a mess. the snow was falling so hard. We were on the expressway and could hardly change lanes. We finally made it through. I could not believe that this was the day. The first Snowfall... You are our little Snowflake. We got to the hospital a little after 9:00 a.m. They checked me to see how far along I was, and I was only dialated to a two. It seemed like forever. The contractions kept comming, stronger and stronger. It was so funny cause the nurse gave me a sanitary pad to wear with a belt, and I did not know how to put the dang thing on. Steve tried to hokk it up for me but it would not stay. Finally the nurse showed us what we were doing wrong. Well it was really painful by 5:00 p.m. I was really in bad shape. The nurse put a monitor on but the contractions were not showing up. By 6:30 or 7:00 my Mom and Dad came up to see how I was doing.
I sent Steve to get something to eat earlier, but he only had a bowl of cereal.
He was such a big help. He rubbed my back with the contractions and he kept giving me ice chips. Well, suddenly I really was hurting and the nurse mad me lay on my back. Well, I was so mad! I had all back labor and it did not make me feel very well to lay on my back. Finally this female nurse came in and said she did not want me on my back. Boy was I ever happy about that! Your heartbeat went up on the monitor so the doctor had to put in a fetal monitor up inside of me. It attatched to the top of your head. I asked if it would hurt the baby and the nurse said, "NO'. My Mom was in the room while they did that and I know she was worried. It hurt so much! Everytime I had a contraction it seemed to get in the way. All the blood between my legs was bothering me so much! I kept sticking the sheet between my legs. Then this one nurse said, " I don't know how these sheets are geting so messed up, but we don't have enough clean linen to keep changing the sheets". I did not tell her how they got so bloody.. I was holding myself to indure the pain...... It was sooooo bad, so bad, so bad! Back labor just about killed me!
Well, finally the Doctor came in and said, " The Baby was posterior, which meant your face was up facing the sky instead of down. Most babies are born face down. Once I found that out, I knew then why my back was hurting so much. About an hour before you were born you turned. I was so glad! But let me say it hurt so much! Then I got the urge to push. I tried and then had to take a breath. I kept pushing with every contraction, I was so glad that I could push. Th Doctor said, I was a good pusher, and that they could see the babies head. I kept pushing a little more but I lost control. My breathing was getting all mixed up. They put some demerol in my IV and then gave me some oxygen. Steve kept wiping my face after each time I pushed. He was breathing right along with me. It helped alot! The Doctor said, to push as hard as I could and then finally they were taking me to the delivery room. The nurse gave some kind of cover up for Steve to wear. I told him to hurry and get dressed, oh yea, earlier when my Mom came in I told her to tell Steve to get something to eat. They both left and my Dad came in to see me. He helped rub my back but he sure looked worried. As my parents were downstairs eating or having coffee, my Dad said to my Mom, " Are you having labor pains too?" She said, "Yes". It was at the same time I was pushing and almost having my baby. Anyways, The Nurse brought me to the labor room, and it sure was cold in there. The Doctor prepared me, and there was a mirror up above so I could see what was happening. Well, it was time! I was so glad, we were finally going to have our baby. Well, I pushed and I could see your head. I pushed some more and could see more of your head. One more push and your head was out. The Doctor told me not to push anymore, so they could suck the blood from your mouth and ears and everywheare else. Then I pushed once more and out you came. The Doctor said, " It's a Baby Girl", and I could not believe it! I said to Steve, We have a baby girl. The Doctor put you on my belly and said, I could hold you, I was so excited and said, oh my I can really hold her? Then my arms reache out and I picked you up. You were crying really loud. It was so exciting! Steve cut the umbilical cord, and then the nurses took you to clean you up and give you the Apgar test. Steve was looking over at you and he said you were sticking out your tongue. I couldn't believe it. The Doctors were sewing me up after the after birth came out. I wanted them to hurry. It took about 15 minutes. After that I got onto another table and they wheeled me to a clean room. I was so exausted. Mom was looking through the doors and I said we had a Baby Girl and she said, " She already knew, the Doctor had come out and told my parents it was a Girl", I was bummed, I wanted to tell them. Anyways, She was really happy. Grandma LaFleur got to hold you when you were only a half hour old. We named you Shanelle June. And it fits you perfect. You weighted 5 lbs, 15 ozs and were 19 inches long. You are really a pretty baby. You were born at 7:58 p.m.


While in the hospital you were so good. the first night you stayed in the nursery except for feeding time. The second night you stayed with me. It was really nice. Inface you slept right in my bed. My roomates made fun of me the next day because I kept talking to you all night. Even when you were sleeping. I am so proud. the Doctor let me and you come home on Wednesday. I was so glad to come home. Oh yea, On Sunday when you were born. Daddy left the car lights on all day. So Uncle Norman had to come and pick up Grandma LaFleur and Daddy up. The car had no charge left on the battery from the lights being left on all day.

So Monday Daddy went to Grandma Wilso's and charged the battery. Monday night Debbie and Daddy came up to the hospital and Daddy gave you your first bath. He said you only cried a little bit.

Well, today is Tuesday November 20th. You are already 9 days old. I am doing pretty good. You are doing great and Daddy is doing great too. he is so proud of you. He held you for along time today. He was rocking you in his arms and you seemed so happy. I got my hair cut on sunday, my hair was so long. I wanted to get it cout so you could see your Momma.

I had to go to the Doctor's yesterday, because my right ear is plugged, and I can't hear on that side. The Doctor said the canal is my throat is blocked so he gave me some medicing. It has not helped yet.

You are sound asleep right now. You like to make faces when you sleep. You smmile alot when your sleeping. You look so cute. Amy stayed here on Staurday night. She sure does like you. She is so happy to have a baby sister.

Shanelle you really melt my heart! I had to just pick you up and hold you today. You were sleeping and didn't even wake up. I gave you a bath today and you got a little upset. You don't like to be cold. You are so cute! You don't have too much hair yet, but it's so pretty after it's washed. You sure smell good!

Uncle Pennie and Uncle Norman came to see you lastnight. Uncle Norman was holding you and you squirted poop in your pants. He jumped and we all laughted. You did not get him messy though. Baby's do those things sometimes. Well, I'm going to go and do dishes from dinner.

I'll write again tomorrow.

We Love you Shanelle!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

© Kiki LaFleur-Wilson