.Harper's newborn pictures.

I'm obsessed with Harper's newborn pics. All thanks to Priscilla Davis.

.Harper Grace Pittsenbarger.

The morning of September 29th started off normal as always. Woke up, got Paige breakfast, Chase left for work. All pretty normal. But by 10 am I started to feel tiny contractions..nothing crazy but still contractions. I called my mom to tell her and she told me time them, i did and they were about 10-12 minutes apart. So i didn't really think much of it. By lunch time I noticed Harper was hardly moving so I called my doctor to let them know about the contractions and her hardly moving and they wanted me to come in to be monitored. Thank heavens my Dad was off work so my mom could go with me and he could watch Paige. Chase had some stuff to finish up at work before he could leave. I got to the doctors and my contraction were about 9 minutes apart which they confirmed and i was dilated to a 3 and 50% effaced. My doctor told me this could be the start of labor or it could wear off. I was in denial the whole time and thought it would wear off. My mom stayed at my house with me until Chase got home and by 4 they were 4 minutes apart but i could hardly feel them. We decided to wait until they were really hurting to go in. My brother and his wife invited us to dinner and once we got to their house the contractions we coming in at 3 minutes apart and starting to hurt. Chase and I hurry and ate so we could get to the hospital. I think as we were leaving is when it really started to set in and i lost it. I started crying. I have never left Paige over night until now. I was a nervous wreck and didn't want to leave her. Chase, my dad and brother gave me a blessing and we were on our way to the hospital. We had to stop by Chase's parents house to drop Paige off and grab a couple more things at our place before heading in. 

Last picture as a family of 3. 

We got to the hospital around 8:30pm (i think) and they started to monitor me. I was still having contractions 2-3 minutes apart but still dilated at a 3 from earlier. They had me walk for an hour and wanted to check me again. Walking was no big deal until 45 minutes in I was DYING, I wanted that epidural ASAP. They check me and I was fully effaced and at a 5. They admitted me and got me into my room. The Anesthesiologist came in around 12:30 am. This epidural experience was 10x better than when I got one with Paige. After 10 minutes he was out of the room and I was feeling good. The nurse checked me right after and I was at a 7. She told me to get some sleep because this baby will be here in no time. At 3:45 I woke up from my water breaking and some pressure. I waited to tell my nurse because the pressure wasn't bad yet. BAD IDEA. After 20 minutes i finally told her and she said " DO NOT DO ANYTHING, Your baby is crowning and we still have to call your doctor." those were her exact words..i still remember them haha. Once i heard that i started to shake uncontrollably, she told me to stop because any pressure and this baby will pop out. Lovely. not what i wanted to hear. By time my doctor got in the room it was around 5 am. And after 2 pushes miss Harper was born and that when the craziness started. 

Harper Grace Pittsenbarger 

7lbs 3oz's 19 inches. 

5:08 am

Once your baby is born you wait for that cry and Harper's never came. (They thought she had a bowel movement in me so the NICU nurses were already in the room. But she didn't.) After about 2 minutes the NICU nurses were yelling for more help and about 6 people came running in the room to work on my sweet girl. I kept asking what was going on and no one would answer me. Seeing tubes go down her throat and wires being hooked up was horrible, I don't wish it on anyone. Chase had a blank look on his face and was covering his mouth. I couldn't see much with all the people in the room and all i could hear were them yelling her heart rate. Her heart rate dropped all the way down to a 30. After 6 minutes she finally started crying. Best cry ever..But she still wasn't breathing great. They let me hold her for about 2 minutes while they explained everything to Chase and I before they rushed her into the NICU.

 ignore my crying face. I was a wreck.

IVs in babies are the WORST. 

2nd Day

  

I swear we lived here for 5 days. Trying to juggle between Paige and the hospital was the worst.  

After 5 days in the NICU we were finally able to go home. It was the best day ever. 

I have a new respect for those NICU nurses and doctors. Seeing tiny babies under a pound and drug babies in there made me realize we didn't have it that bad after all. Now we are home and loving life. 

.Splash Pad/Play Dates.

We lived for splash pads and play dates this summer. 

.Brian Head.

We took a little family vacation in August to Brian Head. Just the 3 of us. It was MUCH needed with the crazy busy summer we had and before the baby came. I hardly took any pictures but we had a blast just soaking in time with Chase and doing whatever we pleased. 

We forgot swim diapers. oops. 

.Rowe Family Reunion.

Paige and I went with my family to our big reunion in Idaho. It was so nice to see my grandparents and cousins we haven't  seen in FOREVER and learn more about our Rowe ancestors. There were over 200 people at the Reunion and we even made it into the local town newspaper. AND the potatoes at our Rowe Family Farm go into some McDonald's across the country. No wonder I'm such a fan of Mickey D's. 

some of my cousins

Our immediate Rowe Family.

Until next year, Idaho.