We're Home!

We are finally home from the hospital!  It is weird to think that I hadn't been outside in the sun in almost five days.  The last few days have been a whirlwind of happiness and excitement.  We have been blessed with great doctors, nurses, family and friends that have showered us with help and love.  The first visitors we had were my mom, Lucas' parents and Elijah (Lucas' best friend and Ke'alohi's godfather).  Over the next few days Jill, Andrew, Nani, Christian, Michelle, Melissa, Kat, Autumn and Will came to see our little Ke'alohi.

Some of the things we did while we were in the hospital were learning how to bathe Ke'alohi, change diapers, change clothes, practicing putting her in the car seat and taking hundreds of photos.  If you think hundreds of photos is an exaggeration, you would be wrong because we filled up our memory card on our camera.  A luxury that Cedar Sinai Hospital provided us was a professional photographer to take some photos of Ke'alohi when she was only three days old.  We happy took advantage of the photographer so we could get some photos for her birth announcement!

A huge adjustment for me was learning how to care for her, as well as, recover from my c-section.  Getting in and out of the hospital bed wasn't easy, it was a workout.  We are so thankful and blessed that Ke'alohi was a perfectly healthy little girl and passed all her newborn screening tests, the hearing test and weight checks.  She even gave us her first "gummy" smile!  It absolutely was the best thing I have ever seen and just melted my heart!

The doctors discharged us on May 30th, our due date.  We could not get out of there fast enough but at the same time were afraid because now we are responsible for another human being.  On our drive home, Lucas drove the slowest we have ever gone and avoided all major freeways and streets.  It really was one of the cutest things I have ever witnessed out my husband and I fell in love with him all over again on that drive.

And Baby Makes Three!

As you all know, at Wednesday's appointment, my blood pressure had risen and Dr. Wyatt was a bit concerned.  He put me on 24 hour bed rest and we saw him again yesterday.  At yesterday's appointment my blood pressure was still high and that I might have pregnancy induced hypertension and was developing pre-eclampsia.  He made the decision that we should induce labor and walked us over to labor and delivery.  I know it sounds naive of me but I really thought I would go into labor like how it happens in the movies: either in the middle of the night or while I was out shopping.  I never in a million years thought that a normal doctor's appointment would turn into going directly to labor and delivery.  I was totally not prepared to be admitted that day but luckily my mom had just gotten in the night before from Hawaii and helped calm my nerves.

At 3 pm, I was hooked up to an IV and given magnesium to lower my blood pressure and pitocin to induce labor.  At 2 am, my water broke and that's when I finally came to the realization that the baby was coming.  I know what you are thinking, "Didn't the doctor's appointment, the walk over to labor and delivery or the night spent in the hospital give me any indication that the baby was coming?" Nope, I was still in denial.  The induction process was a long process and not without complications.  In the early morning hours, after my water broke and I got an epidural, my oxygen levels dropped and the baby's heart rate dropped when I would have a contraction.  So after 16 hours of labor, Dr. Wyatt made the decision that it would be best for the baby and I, if he performed an emergency c-section.

At 8:55 am, on May 27, 2011, we had a GIRL!  Ke'alohilani Amelia Jade Sayin was born weighing 8 pounds, 9 ounces and measuring 21.25 inches long.

She is the most beautiful little baby girl (Okay, I might be a little biased.) and is perfect in every way.  After we had her, I was able to spend a few minutes with her and Lucas before the nurses had to take me to recovery and Ke'alohi to the nursery to get bathed and checked out.  


All in all, we are elated and so blessed to have her in our lives!

Doctors Orders = Bed Rest

At today's doctor's appointment, the doctor noticed that my blood pressure had risen since last week.  He felt I needed to rest and stay in bed for the next 24 hours.  We have to see him again tomorrow to see if it stabilized, and if it doesn't, he thinks we might have to induce labor.  Ahh, the little one really is coming soon but I hope it can stay in for another few days so I can finish up with work (as an accountant, I'd like to finish May's month-end papers), finish the nursery and get MENTALLY prepared for the baby's arrival.  We are going to be parents! 

MGA Brunch

My hula sisters planned a brunch get-together at El Torito today to celebrate the end of another year with the halau.  Actually, I'm sure they planned this brunch because they wanted another excuse to drag our husbands/boyfriends to all hang out together and because El Torito has bottomless mimosas (don't worry, only orange juice and water for me).  It was so much fun seeing everyone again since I don't get to dance with them on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays anymore.  We had a great time eating our mid-day meal of tacos, waffles and churros while talking about our next emergency MGA meeting happening at Cedar Sinai when we deliver our little one.

The Beginning of the End, The Final Month...

It is finally May!  Even though I am due May 30th, so technically I could have this baby in June, it's still crazy to say that I could have this baby THIS month.  Wow!  This week we are getting together some of the last things for the baby and I, installing the car seat and packing the hospital bag.  Everything is feeling a bit more real as we approach the final countdown.  I still can't believe the clothes and towels have been washed, and all we need is the bedding to be sent from Hawaii to finish the nursery.  Ohh yeah, and we need the baby to make everything complete.  Hahaha. Can't wait for the next few weeks!