2 years!

Andy and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary yesterday and it was wonderful! We started out the day with breakfast...at noon...at Angie's restaurant. Then we ran some errands together. Andy had a lot of homework to do so that night he worked on homework while I watched Mansfield Park and Funny Girl. I wasn't expecting him to do anything else, but when he came home from doing homework, he surprised me with a beautiful bouquet of flowers, a box of chocolates, and dinner. He makes me so happy and feel so special. I sure do love that guy.

Sidenote: Evelyn has really bad diaper rash right now. Even with it, she is normally really good about getting her diaper changed. Last night was an exception. She was crying so much and I knew it was hurting her every time I wiped her that it made me feel awful and like a horrible parent. I was crying too by the end of it. We went through 4 diapers before I was finally able to change her without her peeing or pooping. We have some special cream from our doctor and I hope it will get better soon.

12 days old!

• Evelyn left the hospital weighing 6 lbx 9 oz. We found out last Friday she was back to her birth weight of 7 lbs 3 oz and she's 20 inches long.
• She does really well at sleeping during the night. I give her a feeding around midnight and she'll wake up anytime from 2-5. She'll wake up again from 6-9. Sometimes it's hard to get her back to sleep, so I'll try for like an hour and then I'll wake Andy up and she always goes right to sleep with him. He now calls himself "Magic Hands".
• I hardly ever call her Evelyn. Her nicknames are Pretty (Baby, Girl, or Lady depending on how I feel). Andy calls her Lumpy.
• Just since yesterday she's been crying more. Normally she only cries when she's hungry, but yesterday and today she's been crying just to cry. Last night we took some newborn pictures by Alayna Bean, our personal family photographer, and Evelyn was very unhappy at the new environment and weird situations. We put her in a tutu and she didn't like the material. We tried to get her to curl up to go into this wrap thing called a pod, but she flipped. The rest of the night we kept her swaddled and she did better. She did take some super cute pics though, so when I get them, I'll post them.
• I have a hard time breastfeeding. She doesn't like to latch on, but we're working on it and she's doing better everyday. Luckily, I still can breastfeed her and we haven't had to switch to formula.
• She makes a lot of noises...coos, squeaks, moans, and I could swear she giggled a little today.
• She is a pooper.
• She loves her dad. I think just the sound of his voice soothes her.
• She loves to have her hands be by her face. It was how she was born.

We sure do love this girl and are so blessed to have her in our family.

Kim's account

On Tuesday, I had a doctor appointment and I was informed my doctor would be away from Wednesday night to Monday. She stripped my membranes, hoping I would go into labor before she left. On Wednesday, Sept. 8th, I worked 2-11. I was uncomfortable the whole shift and it hurt to walk, but that was nothing new..the baby's head was so low she was practically coming out of me. I got off work and told Andy I was more uncomfortable than normal so he suggested taking a bath. It was a good idea, because I got to shave my legs :). We went to bed around 12:30ish and I remember I first got a contraction that was more painful at 12:50. That's when I started counting contractions. I got out of bed and thought if I went to the bathroom they might get better...cuz I couldn't be in labor... I thought for sure I would be late (my due date was Sept 9th). I had a really painful contraction in the bathroom and I couldn't breathe during it. That's when a nurse I talked to a couple of days prior told me to come in-when I couldn't breathe during a contraction. I woke Andy up and he told me to walk around. Since my contractions weren't super consistent, I complied, but I thought he would walk with me...nope...he went back to sleep. I walked around our living room and I had another one and I woke Andy up and told him we're going to the hospital because I didn't want to be in pain anymore. He thought it was a fluke, but since I was in pain he got up and put on the clothes he had on earlier...khakis and a nice button up shirt. I was wearing bright maroon scrubs. We looked awesome. Like he said before, we stopped at 7-11 for him to get a slurpee, but that was because I told him to drive around. I still wasn't sure if I was in labor or not. Well we got to the hospital and I sat in the car for a bit, because I was afraid if we went in they would send us away. I told Andy to drive around some more so he started pulling out of the parking lot and I had a SUPER bad contraction that made me nauseous. I told him I was going to throw up and he quickly parked and went to go get a wheelchair. While he was gone, I did throw up and I remember looking up and seeing that RN Andy mentioned earlier just looking at me. He probably had no clue what he should do, so he just watched. We got up to Labor and Delivery and they saw us coming and had the doors opened and ready for us...normally you have to check in at a window and then they unlock the doors for you. I first got checked around 1:45 and like Andy said, I was at a 3+. I was so disappointed, because I was in so much pain, but I was only a centimeter higher than what I was the day before. She told us she would check me in an hour and that hour somehow passed and I was still at a 3+ and normally they would send you home if you still hadn't dilated. BUT, I had thrown up twice more during that time so she decided to call the on-call doctor to see what he would say. Good news! He said I could stay and be given some fluids and anti-nausea stuff to see if that would help. Every time the nurse would come in she would ask me to rate my pain from 1-10. I hate that question. Since I could barely think or breathe when she was talking to me, I think that was a good enough answer for her. I don't know how many times I told this nurse "I don't like being in pain. I don't want to be in pain anymore. Can I please have something?". Pretty pathetic, but holy smokes. It's like a pain I can't even describe. At 3, Andy called my mom to tell her I was in the hospital and she should probably come up. We still weren't sure how long I would be able to stay in the hospital, but we knew we were having the baby that day. Around 3:45, the nurse checked me again and I was a 4+! I was finally given some pain killers that worked for like 45 more minutes and then the contractions were really painful again. My mom got to Logan around 5:30 and that's when things started to get exciting. Around 6, I was checked again and I was dilated to a 5+ . I got my epidural(which didn't hurt at all and probably saved my life...or sanity) and my water broke at 6:18. That was the weirdest feeling. I felt a pop and then a gush of water. When my nurses were cleaning up the fluid, they noticed Meconium in it, which meant the baby had a bowel movement while still inside of me and they were nervous about it getting into her lungs. Also during this time, the baby's heart rate dropped from around 130 to about 80 after contractions. I was quickly put on oxygen and given a shot to slow down contractions. At 7:20, I was checked again I remember my nurse, Heather, looking up at me and said calmly "Well, you're dilated to a 10". So, in just over an hour, I dilated 5 centimeters. Thank goodness for that epidural and I got it right in the nick of time. We were then told they like to wait an hour for the baby and mom to rest before pushing. So, Andy slept and I kinda dozed in and out. Around 9, the room was set up and I started pushing. Even though I had the epidural, I could feel the pressure of the contraction. Apparently her head was stuck or something because the nurse could see her head for a long time before her head crowned. At 11, the on-call doctor, Dr. Craig, came up and at 11:12am Evelyn Elizabeth was born. Andy cut the cord and then she was handed off to the NICU nurses to suck everything out of her lungs. About 10 minutes later I was able to hold her for the first time and I looked at her and she looked at me and I was smitten. She was and still is such a good baby. We love her so much and are so grateful she is part of our family. So, there you have it. And this is the short version too. Ha.

A little blurry, but this is what I spend the majority of my time doing

Don't judge that she doesn't have clothes on. We just got back from a walk and she was hot and sweaty.

We think she's perfect and the cutest baby ever. Typical parent, I guess

Coming home from the hospial

After her first bath

Evelyn Elizabeth Yerka

We had our baby! Hooray!

The story.....

Kim and I got home about 11:15pm on Wednesday night after she got off work and I finished studying for the evening. Nothing out of the usual at this point. Kim was feeling a little tense so we decided to take a bath to help her relax. After scripture study and prayer, we finally hit the sack around 12:15am.

True to form, I passed out very quickly. This rest however was to be short lived. Kim began feeling contractions after the first few minutes and at about 12:30, Kim gently woke me up and told me she was feeling contractions. In return, I instructed her to go walk around for a bit and maybe they'll feel a bit better. So she got out of bed and walked out of the room. Feeling smug that she took the sound advice of her infinitely wise husband, I seamlessly slipped back into my nocturnal coma.

I was quickly awakened when it was clear that her contractions were more than just uncomfortable, they hurt!

So, like any good husband, I peeled myself out of my nice, warm bed, got dressed, put my dear wife in our car, and drove to 7-Eleven to get a delicious Dr. Pepper Slurpee. (We were in it for the long haul, after all)

As we got to the hospital parking lot, Kim was in a considerable amount of pain. I told her to stay in the car as I went and got a wheelchair from the lobby. (I think it's an unwritten law that the hospital won't take your 'labor' seriously until you're in a wheelchair.) As I got the wheelchair, there was a (male) RN taking out the garbage. I exchanged a cordial nod and went back out to the parking lot where I found my dear spouse on her hands and knees next to the car emptying the entire contents of her stomach onto the pavement. Lovely.

As I picked her up and wheeled her in, it dawned on me that the RN had just witnessed this entire ordeal and must have made a conscious decision to not get involved.

After that, we got her upstairs to delivery, she got in her gown and all hooked up to their machines, and we started the waiting game. When the nurse first checked her cervix, she was only dilated to a 3+. We then had to wait an hour for her to be checked again. Usually, at this point, if you're not dilating anymore, they send you home. (Not on Kimmie's wish list.)

So, at about 2:45am, nurse comes back in, lubes up the glove, and tells us the words we really don't want to hear....still at a 3. At this point, I'm convinced Heavenly Father invoked the Imperius Curse because she stopped and said; "Let me call the doctor and see what he thinks." Thank heavens! Doctor said to keep us another hour and at 3:45ish she had dilated to a 4+ and Kimmie was deemed a "Keeper."

With Kimmie's mom on her way up to Logan, and her cervix dilating, we were ready to have this baby! The overnight RN was switched out at 5:00am for a new one (Heather) and her RN-in-training (Whitney), and they were great! Eventually, Kim finally got her epidural and we both spent the wee hours of the morning dozing while she was still contracting.

At 7:40 her cervix was checked again, and she was at a full 10! Go time! (Well, almost) They like to wait an hour after full-dilation before starting to push to help the process go a little more smoothly. So at about 9:00, we had her in their little stirrups, and we were pushing!

At this point, I'm instructed to mention that earlier in the evening, Evelyn's heart rate was dropping a bit after each contraction so Heather was a bit concerned and put Kimmie on oxygen just as a precaution. Thankfully, nothing serious became of it.

At about 11:00am, the doctor and crew were all on the room and the magic was about to happen!

I would like to make a point here. To all future fathers; hold here hand, rub her back, help her push, and encourage her, but whatever you do, DON'T LOOK!

At 11:12am, Evelyn Elizabeth Yerka was born. She weighed in at 7lbs, 3 oz, 19.5 inches long, and she has 10 fingers and 10 toes. Mom and Grandma were instantly reduced to tears and we were all just so happy to have her in our arms!

After about an hour, they moved us up to our recovery room where we would stay for they next 48 hours and they would wait on us hand-and-foot! The hospital staff were really nice and helpful. I'll publicly give props to Logan Regional right here and now. They were great.

We were discharged at 12:00pm on Saturday and we've been home and happy since.

Thanks for reading, and below are some pictures for your enjoyment!

First time in Mom's arms.

Baby Evelyn!

All things considered, I'd say she looks pretty good!

"Now listen here, you! You're not gonna give me any trouble in 13-18 years!"

Our new family.

She did not appreciate this picture...at all.

What a champ!

Sleepy time.

I think we made a pretty cute kid.

She LOVES her hands in her face.

First time in Grandma's arms. (Grandma really loves her!)

Not ashamed to admit I am 50% responsible for this.

Evelyn with Aunt Heidi.

Hi Grandma!

Evelyn with Aunt Camille.

Grandpa really loves her.

Nap time with Daddy.

Cousin Eli with Evelyn.

Where is Uncle Chris?!

Evelyn with Great-Grandpa Fred.

Evelyn with Great-Grandma Nancy.

Grandpa loves you!

Look at those toes! Those are Yerka toes!

Time to go home, Evelyn.

Mommy and Daddy love you.

Grandma and Grandpa at the hospital.

Uncle Andrew, Scott, and Aunt Jess came to visit.

I don't think Grandpa Kevin could be any happier.

It's been a while

I'm still pregnant. We did take some pregnancy pics from our personal photographer, Alayna Bean, so when I get those I'll put them up. Anyways, I had what I hope to be my last appointment today since my due date this Friday, the 9th. I'm dilated to a 2 and 80-90% effaced (my doctor has a hard time telling how effaced I am because the baby's head is in front of the cervix). She stripped my membranes today and then told me she'll be out of town til Monday...which is almost a week away. So, hopefully I'll either have the baby tomorrow or anytime after Monday. Ha. My life has become super uncomfortable lately. Sitting in the car is the worst. My ribs feel so bruised after sitting only for a little bit of time. I'm still able to sleep pretty well, but I do wake up early in the morning to go to the bathroom and then I have a hard time falling asleep again. Poor Andy. He's a light sleeper and wakes up practically every time I move. Our baby is a mover lately and it makes me really grateful because we've had a few scares. We're so happy and excited for the next stage in our life and we are trying to be patient to wait this last little bit. Have a wonderful day!