Y’all we are totally and completely smitten with her! We are SO BLESSED and beyond grateful to have her in our lives. This week was much smoother and more peaceful than I ever anticipated. It is like she’s always been here. The kids are transitioning remarkably well and have been amazing with her… even William!
Just for documenting sake I want to give a run down of the day she was born:
5:30 am - Charles and I left the house and headed to Dubai. Espy came in the house and got the kids ready for school while a friend of ours picked them up from our villa and brought them to school.
7:30 am – Got settled into our hospital room, Charles went to get some paperwork done at the desk and I put my face on.
8:00 am – Midwives came in and out, got me hooked up to monitors and they watched the contractions I was already having.
8:30 am – Got checked and was still 3 cm. *I had been 3 cm for a full week
9:00 am – Nurse unsuccessfully tried to break my water. OUCH. Dr. Josza came in and got the job done.
9:30 am – Got hooked up to IV fluids, still no painful contractions
10:30 am – Anesthesiologist was available – so I got the epidural… I learned with Will’s birth that you get it when they are available because if you wait… you may be sorry! I had the epidural done before I had any ‘real’ contractions.. nice!
11:30 am – Get checked, still 3cm. what?!
1:00 pm – feeling contractions – epidural was broken. yes, seriously. I know the epidural was working some, just not as full on as it was supposed to be. this was a good thing though, I felt enough to know it was nearly “go time” and convinced the nurse to check again.
1:15 pm – nurse checked – 9 cm! They were scurring around quickly to prepare the room, call the doc. It was almost time to push.
1:30 pm – start pushing a little bit – but realized baby was ready to meet us sooner than later!
1:46 pm – baby Julia was born! 6lbs 10oz – (the runt of the litter)
1:50 pm – Doctor arrived. LOL. he got stuck in the elevator and did not make the delivery. My midwife was FABULOUS and didn’t need him.
2:30 pm – (5:30 am USA time) Skyping with mom and dad
3:45 pm – Charles leaves to check into the hotel and then drives to Abu Dhabi to get the kids
6:30 pm – Charles returns with Audrey, Will and Espy and they meet Julia!
Check out Will’s face in the next picture… he’s such a goober! I love this picture because it shows his personality so much. ha!
The kids seemed really nervous and reserved when meeting her – I expected more excitement, but I think the hospital setting etc.. was a bit intimidating. I could tell they just weren’t ‘sure’ what to think about it all and they seemed a little worried about me. They left around 7:15 to go to the hotel and stay there for the night. Julia and I got upgraded to a VIP room at around 8:30 that night so we changed rooms yet again (3rd room of the day) and got settled in again. I begged them to bathe her since their policy is to not bathe the baby until they are 6 hours old. They said something about helping to regulate the body temperature.. but it just seemed icky to me. When they took her for a bath I got a shower too and we finally finally got to rest at 11:00 that night. Long day, indeed.
Since my people were all at the hotel, it was a unique thing for me to be in the hospital just me and baby. I’m sure the nurses were curious as to where my husband, family or any visitors were. But surprisingly being alone there without anyone didn’t feel lonely. I really cherished the sweet bonding time I had with my baby girl. It was quiet, it was calm and it was peaceful. Most people think I’m nuts for staying alone, but really it didn’t bother me.
The kids came back the next morning around 8:00 to visit us an I ordered room service to feed the troops. We had quite the spread! The VIP room set up was nice since it was a regular hospital room on one side and the adjoining room was the same size, but a living room set up. It had a couch, TV, bathroom and enough space for Audrey to do cartwheels.
an up close of that hair!
This time they were much more comfortable in the setting and were eager to love on her (and mama too!). Audrey wanted to hold her so we got her all set up with the boppy pillow, nestled baby sister in her arms and took all the necessary pictures etc..
then BLECH. spit up and (lots of it) spewed out of my tiny babe. Audrey was in shock and Will covered his mouth and was yelling YUCKY! YUCKY! YUCKY! over and over again. Charles and I just busted out laughing. I took Julia into the other room and got her cleaned up nicely and curious Will came over to check out the situation. He gave Julia one look and said, “I’m older than you!” and walked out. He is so funny and completely unpredictable… Charles and the kids hung out for quite a while… around 11:00 they left to go back to the hotel and check out the swimming pool. They spent a couple hours there and Will went down for a nap (Espy stayed with him) while Charles came back with Audrey to hang with me and J. Espy and Will hopped in a cab and joined us for another couple of hours and then they headed to a nearby mall to play on an indoor playground and grab some dinner.
The next morning we got all geared up and ready to go, did our big breakfast once again and then waited and waited… we were used to being kicked out early in the US, but here there was no rush. We finally got to leave around 12:00 noon and we were all ready to go. It was 110 degrees that day (yes literally). Julia did awesome on the car ride home. We looked ridiculous all piled into the explorer… try to get a visual: Charles and Espy in front seats, behind them were Will, me in the middle and Julia beside, in far back was one seat up with Audrey in it and the other seat laid down with all our bags on top… that is three adults, three kids in car seats and luggage all in a Ford Explorer… it was hilarious. When we walked into the house, it all seemed so natural, so normal and no big deal. Espy was unpacking bags, Charles entertained the kids and I fed the baby. I quickly got on the computer and uploaded some pictures to facebook…
…yeah I forgot to mention that the WIFI was not working on the day after Julia was born OR the day we checked out. brutal. I desperately wanted to connect with family and friends.. if there was any time that technology was needed it was a time like this: when you have a baby in a foreign country! It stressed me out at first as I felt sorry for our families and friends.. I knew it was killing them. I messed with it over and over and over again to see if I could get a connection and then I realized the outcome was no different, the internet was not going to work and I just needed to let it go and be present in the moment with Julia and my other two sweeties… after that it was all good.
back to the day we came home: We were home maybe an hour and my girl Nancy was knocking at the door 
Audrey rode to school with a friend while I just jumped in the car and brought Charles to work and Will to school. Yes, less than 3 days post partum. I did the same the next day and then we just laid low all weekend long. Espy was off of work for the weekend, so it was “just us” for the first time with our three little munchkins. it was much more manageable than I ever anticipated. The kids played together while I tended to baby and Charles tended to his iPad. LOL. just kidding – he really has been a huge help thru all of this.
Baby Julia is nursing like a champ, I am feeling great and it is all good here. I feel totally relaxed and confident in caring for her and I am just enjoying and cherishing her littleness SO VERY MUCH.
Charles and I thank y’all for all the sweet emails, Facebook messages, calls, instant messages and texts showing our family your love and support. It means the world to us and makes us feel connected to you even half way around the world. We are joyfully looking forward to this next chapter in our lives as a family of FIVE. wow. we couldn’t be more blessed.
Abu Dhabi Time
4 comments:
Congratulations, she's beautiful!
Yay! Congratulations on a super smooth delivery and transition!! Julia is precious with all her awesome hair and I can't wait to see her next time ya'll come home! Much love,
Haley
julia is so beautiful Christa! Congratulations :)
Congratulations, Krista! She is just gorgeous and your whole family is just beaming! We are so happy for you and your precious Julia!
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