Packard Adventures: December 2010

Jetta Helen Packard 6lb 11oz and 21 inches long!

On November 23, 2010 at 7:57 am our world changed when we saw and held our beautiful daughter for the first time! I can’t even describe how fast we fell in love with her. Because I had a C-section I didn’t get to hold her right away, but as soon as they lifted her out and I heard her cry I was in love and in tears! “That’s MY baby, that’s MY sweet sweet baby girl!” It still seems a little unreal, in the “it’s too perfect to be true” kind of a way, but I can’t imagine life without her!

So here is the story…

On Monday Nov 22^nd I had my 39 week doctor appointment. The previous week the doc told me I was 0% effaced and not at all dilated! He told me that my plan to have Jetta before thanksgiving was not looking so good, and that in fact the chances of her coming in November at all were slim to none! Not what I wanted to hear, but she was at least head down and getting lower! So at this appointment (nov.22) I was hoping to have progressed a little. Nope! Nothing once again! However, this time when he checked me he no longer felt her head in my pelvic space but instead her bottom!! He sent me down the hall to have an ultra sound to make sure he was correct. Sure enough she was breach. At this point my head was spinning and unsure what all of this meant. Will I have to have a c-section? I don’t know anything about c-sections, I didn’t plan on a c-section and haven’t read anything or prepared! Everything was changing in a matter of seconds and tears started to roll down my checks. Thank goodness Joseph was with me to help calm me down and tell me everything would be okay. The doctor told us that normally they could try aversion (where they try to turn the baby) but the ultra sound showed that the umbilical cord was wrapped around Jetta’s neck twice and although it was not a problem now, it could potential be one if they tried to turn her. So aversion was out, and chances of her turning back by herself were slim, so a c-section it was. So a c-section was scheduled for the very next day! Although it wasn’t the plan I expected, Jetta made my ‘before thanksgiving’ plan work out after all. That night we went home, called family and made sure we had everything ready for 5am the next morning. After making sure we had everything ready for the 20^th time, Joseph assured me I didn’t need to check again, and took me out for our last date without a child. It was wonderful. Then that night after a blessing we went to bed. I didn’t sleep at all! So when the alarm went off at 4:20am I was already up.

We got to the hospital at 5am and got all set up to go. At 7:30 I was taken into the operating room without Joseph while they gave me a spinal block and prepared me for surgery. Once the blue curtain was up (blocking me from seeing the doctors cut) Joseph was allowed in and he stood next to me holding my hand the whole time. He watched the whole thing and told me what the doctors were doing because all I could feel was a little tugging. I had the nurses lower my curtain when they pulled Jetta out so I could see and the first thing I saw was her cute little butt and then a leg came out! Even though the curtain was lowered I couldn’t see the rest of her. I then watched the respitory therapist take Jetta to the side of the room where he cleaned out her mouth and nose and it was then that I heard the sweetest scream I’ve ever heard! Joseph followed taking tons of pictures, but at this point I still hadn’t seen my beautiful daughter. But finally they brought her to me and I was able to kiss her check and touch her face. She was absolutely beautiful!!!!!!!!! Joseph then got to carry her to the nursery where they cleaned her and did whatever it is they do. About ten minutes later I was all sewn up and moved back to my room. And then seconds later I held Jetta for the first time and promised myself I’d never let her go! (Eventually I gave in and let Joseph hold her too!) After holding and seeing Jetta I told Joseph I wanted a thousand of these!! I have since lowered my number, but seriously I didn’t anticipate it being this amazing and loving someone soo much! Jetta is a little angel and we are so happy she is a part of our family and consider ourselves blessed to have such a precious gift given to us from our Father in heaven.

more pics...