Lydia Suzanne Olsen

This picture makes me smile.  

The look on Kjetil's face, the newness of Lydia and the tired/relieved expression of a overwhelmed mother of two.

And this picture makes me realize what I had to go through - 

 So, if you are curious, here is the story of how Lydia Suzanne arrived into our family.

I had been waddling around with slight pressure for a few days but hadn't felt any type of contraction.  On Saturday morning (Jan 19th) we went for a long walk together and my mom kept telling me that it would happen soon. Kjetil had church meetings in the afternoon because of a ward conference and his mom came up from Stavanger because she is in the stake primary presidency.  My mom and I stayed home with Nathan while they went to their meetings. 

In the early afternoon, the pressure increased but still no contractions.  We finally got to the point where Nathan could be put to bed and we started dinner.  I decided to call my sister around 6:40pm and my first contraction hit right after she picked up the phone.  10 minutes apart and consistent but not overly painful or difficult to manage.

And they stayed that way for the next few hours.  Kjetil and Erna showed up around 8:30pm, we ate homemade pizza and a little ice cream for dinner.  I worried about throwing up again and decided to take it slow.  Then I got hot - really, really hot!  I took a cool shower and decided that I would rest for awhile.  Kjetil gave me a blessing and I tried to sleep.

And then at 10:18pm, the first painful contraction hit.  I rolled around on our bed and tried not to call out in pain.  Moments later Kjetil came into the room to check on me.  We talked, I told him about the contraction and asked him to rub my back.  I rolled over and suddenly I felt a warm, wet feeling.

"Either my water just broke or I just peed on myself" is what I told Kjetil.  

I came out into the living room, told the moms, started to gather my things and Kjetil called the hospital.  Erna had agreed to stay with Nathan so that my mom could come to the hospital.  That is what I call perfect timing because had she not been here, mom would have had to stay behind.  A tender mercy.  We (or maybe it was just me) waddled out to the car and left the house at about 10:45pm.

Kjetil drove fast - really, really fast!  We live about 30mins away from the hospital and my contractions were coming fast and strong.  The speed limit is 90 kilometers an hour and Kjetil was driving 110-140kph.  We laughed that it would be fun to be pulled over but luckily that didn't happen.  My mom talked me through my contractions which dropped from 5 mins apart to 3 minutes apart to 1 minute apart rather quickly.  Kjetil ran a red light, drove quickly down a bumpy road (rather painful!) and got the car parked outside the hospital.  

I wiggled and waddled my way up to the third floor of the hospital - The Stork is what the labor and delivery unit is called :)  We were met by a midwife in the hall at 11:02pm and she helped me towards the room where I would stay.  All I could think about was how badly I needed to pee and how much pain I was in.  I used the restroom while the nurse and Kjetil helped me into my robe.  The contractions were so intense that I felt the need to push.  I was told to wait.  I was told to make my way to the bed.  I was told to keep breathing.  I was told I could do it and to be strong.  

Upon examination, the midwife told me that I was at a 7 and progressing quickly.  I could hardly get into the bed and was laying with 2 pillows in my lower back.  Highly uncomfortable but no time to fix it.  Kjetil lifted my upper body, held me in my arms and encouraged me to keep going.  My mom was in the background coaching me and telling me that I was doing great and before I knew it, the midwife told me to push.  It was a whirlwind of voices, pain and anticipation.

3 or maybe 4 pushes later at 11:23pm, Lydia Suzanne was born. 

 And just like that - it was over.  I had hardly had time to button my robe.  I hadn't had the chance to get a good look at the midwife who was now handing me a little baby girl with LOTS of dark hair.  I still had those two irritating pillows in my lower back.  And yet - she was here and it was over.  

3255g (7lb 1oz) and 52cm (20.5in)

11:23pm

Jan 19th 2013 

My life changed and this little girl entered our family.

Kjetil got to cut her cord, I got to hold her as long as I wanted and it was a quiet peaceful evening for all of us.  Kjetil called his mom - who could hardly believe Lydia had arrived so quickly and after about an hour and a half, they moved us to another room where we all admired the little girl with the thick, dark hair.  Both mom and Kjetil stayed through the night with me at the hospital.

The next morning, Mom traded places with Erna and took care of Nathan.  Kjetil and I stayed at the hospital and drank in the newness of our little girl.

Lydia Suzanne.

Lydia because it is beautiful and both of us liked it.  Suzanne because the first daughter on my side of the family has that middle name - it was my Grandma Suzie's middle name (FreddaLee was her first name but she preferred Sue/Suzie).  

We have Abigail Suzanne, McKayla Suzanne, Jill Suzanne and many others but now we have our own  Lydia Suzanne

She is quiet, gentle, calm and hardly makes a noise.  Even when the doctors examine her.  Even when they prick her foot for blood, even when she is hungry.  Her eyes remind us of Nathan's but according to my mom, her mouth is from me.  She has long feet, long toes and long fingers.  She loves to sleep and is learning to eat well.  Her hair is thick and dark and beautiful.

but occasionally she has morning hair...

don't tease her about it though, she is still getting used to it!

Now a week has gone by and it feels like she has always been here.  

And if you are wondering about Nathan - 

He has been a champ.  He likes to brush her hair, runs to her crib when he wakes up and says "Hi!", is fascinated when we change her diaper or when I nurse her.  He has offered Ruggles the Rat to her and looks concerned when he hears her cry.  Sometimes he pinches her nose and likes to look at her toes - just like a good big brother should! 

All is well in the Olsen home!  :)