One Hard Days Work...

On Wednesday, November 19, we checked into Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Special Delivery Unit at 6:00AM ready to welcome our little one into the world but as we have learned throughout this entire pregnancy God is truly in control and that was not his plan for this day. After almost 12 hours on pitocin with minimal contractions, the decision was made to call it quits on Day 1 around 7:00PM. Rolf and I settled into our labor and delivery room with a nice dinner and a movie to prepare for the next day when we knew we would definitely be in labor one way or another.

On Thursday, November 20, we woke up around 6:30AM to begin preparing for our second day of induction. Pitocin was started at 7:00AM and my water was broken at 8:30AM, from that point on there was no turning back we were having a baby!! From about 8:30 to 10:30 things progressed similar to the day before but with one big change, each time they kicked up the pitocin my body responded. By 10:30AM we had retreated to our labor and delivery room accompanied by 2 nurse midwives who were in and out all day, several great L&D nurses, and an amazing OB/Gyn. Labor intensified throughout the day and there were several times that I wanted to give up but having Rolf as a labor coach that was not an option. He kept me going, reminded me of our plans for this birth, encouraged me through each contraction, and let me know that he knew I could do this. However, the most encouraging part was that the baby was doing amazing. His heart was accelerating with each contraction as it should, he was slowly but surely moving down. He was handling labor like the fighter we knew he would be.

At 9:00PM, I began pushing and after 2 hours and 43 minutes we welcomed Liam Walter Graning into the world at 11:43PM (just 17 minutes shy of his actual due date). He weighed in at a very healthy 7 pounds, 12.7 ounces and is 20.4 inches long. Since he handled labor so well, the doctor and midwife were able to let me pull Liam up onto my belly as he was born, Rolf got to cut the cord, and we had a few minutes to hold him and hear him cry for the first time in our arms. For us these were truly little blessings as we were prepared for him to whisked off as soon as he was born. Minutes after delivery, he was moved to an adjoining resuscitation room for evaluation by a neonatology team. The team made sure that he was truly stable, put in several lines, and prepared him to be transported to the CICU. On his way to the CICU he stopped into visit with us and was able to meet his grandparents for the first time too.

Rolf and the grandparent's followed Liam to the CICU and were able to spend some time with him as the doctors got me situated following delivery. Very shortly after delivery I was able to go to the CICU where both Rolf and I were able to spend some very special time with Liam.

Thank you so much for all your thoughts and prayers for us yesterday and today as we were in labor. It is truly a blessing and a miracle to have been able to experience such an amazing birth with such a special baby. We have many hurdles still ahead but know that God will be with us then just as we was with us on this day.

Sorry for the delay but we hope you enjoy the slide show.