Early on in my pregnancy we decided to have Helen at the Timpanogos Hospital in Orem, Utah and have Dr. Allen deliver her. The OB in Page would only see me if I saw two other specialists each month because of my thyroid and we loved the care we had with Dr. Allen with my pregnancy and labor with Pierce. Our sweet baby girl was estimated to come as early as mid-December because I was already dilated to 2.5 early that month so we had to go back each weekend to check my dilation. I was so worried we would not spend Christmas at home but our doctor gave us the okay. We had Christmas and then on the 28th Pierce and I went up to Utah to stay until she decided to join our family. Peter drove a separate car that trip and was able to travel back and forth from Page. George, Theo, and others took over Fridays so he was able to work only Mondays through Thursdays and travel up each weekend. We stayed with my sister Joely and her family. I cannot thank them enough for letting us stay there for almost an entire month plus all the weekends before then. She and her girls were so helpful with Pierce. Almost a year later and he still asks to go there at least once a week.
On our trip on the 28th, a deer ran right in front of my van and I was inches from hitting it. Something caused me to go into labor that night whether it was the slamming on the breaks, my mini heart-attack, or sitting in the same position for five hours or maybe it would have happened anyway. A few hours after we got to Pleasant Grove, Peter and I drove to Orem to maybe meet our baby. It turned out to be a false-alarm. At that point I was dilated to a 4 and I continued to stay that way for three more weeks.
While we waited for Helen, my sister Dorey and sister-in-law Tiffany threw a fun and gorgeous baby shower. Friends and family gave us the cutest things for our baby girl. I had fun nesting in Utah getting clothes ready and making her mobile. Peter worked in the evenings after working in Page getting her nursery ready and finishing all the projects while I was in Utah. He's the best.
Side story. I was asked to be the relief society president in 5th ward a couple months into my pregnancy with Helen. I was gone so often and Nicole, Torie, and Kelsi did everything when I was gone. I am so grateful for them and how much they did for the sisters in the ward especially the entire month I was gone and the month after I had her. I had mixed feelings but was so relieved when I heard that fifth ward was going to dissolved. I still think about how difficult it would have been with a new baby and a toddler. I'm pretty sure Heavenly Father dissolved the ward just for me.
On the 17th my cute niece Linzy got the flu- the nasty seven day flu. She was so sick and I wasn't taking any chances so Pierce and I left Joely and Jake's house. We stayed at my dad's house for a couple nights and then moved to my brother Ben's house. Pierce loved being with his cousins and playing there. Tiffany is the sweetest so I knew Pierce would be in good hands if I went into labor.
Peter came up for the last time on January 19th for my doctor's appointment and my doctor stripped my membranes. I was hoping to have Helen on the 10th anniversary of my grandma Helen passing away, January 20th but it didn't happen. I had high blood pressure on the 19th so my doctor agreed that he would break my water on Monday if I didn't go into labor on my own before then. Sunday night they called me to schedule my induction and I was able to request to have the same nurse I had with Pierce. Deb is a rock star nurse and made my natural birth with Pierce so easy because of her counter pressure technique so I was stoked. We scheduled the induction for 6 am the following morning. I was so emotional about leaving Pierce and knowing we would have two kids when I saw him again. It is silly looking back but I was grieving the time I had with him as an only child and thought I would miss our alone time together. I got ready that night and had the hardest time falling asleep.
On January 21st we woke up, packed everything in our van, kissed sleeping Pierce and went to the hospital. We got there at 6am and they monitored and checked me in. I was still at a 4 even though I had been having small contractions here and there. Dr. Allen came at 8am and broke my water. I wish that I had recorded a video of that because the noise it makes is wild! He agreed that I didn't need to take pitocin or anything as long as I progressed quickly. Nothing happened after that. I took a two hour nap until Deb woke me up and told me I needed to go walk around and get some contractions going. At 10am, we walked a few laps around the hallway and I was soon having some major contractions. These contractions were more painful that what I remember with Pierce and I think it has something to do with not having that barrier of fluid. It was crazy. I was at a 6 when we got back to the bed and called Jena to have her come to take pictures.
Jena got there and I still hadn't progressed very much. We laughed looking at the dilation chart how much more I needed to go. I was able to labor some in the bathtub there and that was okay but I couldn't have the bathwater hot enough so it was just a little awkward. When I got out though, I knew the baby was going to be coming pretty soon but I really needed to pee. My doctor and the nurses were all so concerned that I thought I needed to poop and that I was going to go push the baby out in the bathroom or something. It still makes me giggle. Anyway, I went to the restroom and then laid down. We got situated and I was dilated to a 9 and some. Peter and Debbie held my knees and did the counter pressure and Helen was there in just three pushes. I was so relieved that she came on her own and we could have her naturally. Peter is so impressed by how Dr. Allen so delicately handled both of our babies. He is so kind and soft spoken that he makes you feel so comfortable. I totally recommend him.
Helen Camilla arrived at 12:35pm weighing 8lbs 1 ounce and laying 19.5 inches long. It was amazing seeing her sweet pink body! She was chubby and beautiful. Everyone in the room was impressed because she had a perfect 10 for the apgar score which I guess is pretty rare. I don't know much about that but you should have seen her cute forehead roll, dark hair, chubby cheeks, and her gorgeous lips. I was in heaven holding her sweet little body next to mine.
While Peter got some Helen time, they birthed my plecenta and that was terrible. That thing was stuck in there. Haha. I think everything happened so fast that I was sort of in shock. My hands were shaking but it didn't last long.
Pierce came to meet Helen later that day and he was so sweet with her. He came in to me holding her and was excited to see her. Peter took a video of him playing with her toes and saying this little piggy. The next day Jena came to take pictures of Pierce and Helen and you can see how much he loves her in those pictures. He is so good to her. A year later and I will still catch him giving her kisses, hugging her, playing peek-a-boo, and looking at her with such kindness. I am so proud of Pierce. Helen loves him so much.
That night my brother Ben had bowel obstruction and went to the emergency room. They thought he would need emergency surgery but right before his surgery, his intestines twisted back to normal. Anyway, my brother Shayne and sister-in-law Heidi took Pierce in for the next couple nights. We stayed there for one night after we had Helen and went back home. He had a good time playing with Ezra and their family. We have so much family and friends to thank for helping us during this time.
Here are the gorgeous pictures Jena took. I am so grateful she came down to take pictures again.
