Yesterday, March 3rd {somewhere around 10 pm} Story Rae Tietjen decided to make her debut.
Just like that, Carson and Shellena are now Daddy and Mommy! WHOA!
This little cutie didn't waste any time. She got outta there fast!
Last night I was actually on my way to keep Shellena company at their apartment. Carson had a late class and she was really not feeling so good. She needed someone to distract her from her contractions. The poor girl had contacted her doctor earlier in the day, who told her it was really very unlikely she was already in labor, and so she toughed it out thinking that she was probably just being a wimp.
So, I left my class early only to arrive at their dark and very empty apartment. When Shellena didn't answer her phone my first thought was ooooh myyyyy gooodnessss she's at the hospital!!!!
I was able to get a hold of Carson, who told me that they were indeed where I thought they were. He had jumped out of class when Shellena texted him, finally unable handle the pain for another minute. When he explained to the professor why he had to leave, the class applauded him right out of the room. Exciting :-)! But still the couple were worried it might be a false alarm {the words from their doctor most likely casting doubt into the situation}. Therefore, they didn't want me or any visitors heading to the hospital just yet.
Roy was at the gym and unable to answer my calls. I didn't have a key to our apartment because I'd given it to my sister-in-law. It was cold. None of my friends were answering their phones. I was homeless, not to mention anxious for our friends who were possibly having a baby!!!
So I calmed my nerves at Costa Vida. Hmmmm, veggie salads.... wow just writing about it is making my mouth water.
Roy was able to meet me there eventually- which was really good because I felt like a LOSER eating at a booth by myself, surrounded by couples and big groups of students. We rushed to the hospital together and met Kenny there.
Turns out the hospital is a pretty complicated place. At each door there were two phones. One of them would ask for a code and would then open to let you in and the other one... I'm not even sure. But we picked up the wrong phone at one of the doors. Oops!
After getting in trouble with nurses and meddling around with phones, we FINALLY found Carson and Shellena in a spacious room. Shellena in a hospital bed with an IV, Carson right at her side.
And let me just say now... I'm recording here my first experience ever with this whole birth thing. Sure, I've visited a few new mommies and their new babies, but only after it was born. Days after. I'd never seen a person right before giving birth!
It was a lot less scary than I'd expected. We talked to them for a while, and they both seemed calm. When Shellena felt a particularly strong contraction she would press a button that would make her feel a bit better. Not so bad!
After a while the boys left to get Carson some food and things to keep him occupied. Then Shellena started feeling a little less chipper. Before I knew it, nurses were rushing in and exclaiming how quickly everything was going. "The faster the better," they assured her.
All of a sudden I found myself trapped in a corner of the room with nurses and doctors all over the place. I knew it was time to split, but I wasn't sure how to get passed the blockade of scrubs!
I eventually made it out with Carson's help. But I was so excited! I wanted to just stand on the other side of the door, waiting and listening. Before I'd always thought giving birth was kind of a hush hush, we-don't-talk-about-it-because-it's-kind-of-gross thing. Let me tell you, the excitement of a new person coming into the world banished any and all of those thoughts and feelings. I just felt... AMAZED! Amazed that Shellena and Carson had created a human being, that she was coming right away, and that she was going to be their daughter!
The sign on the door told Roy and I to clear out and head for the waiting room. We weaved through the labyrinth of a hospital with huge smiles on our faces. You would think we were going to be real aunts and uncles or something.
After watching basketball in the waiting room for what felt like forever, my phone rang.
ELLIOT: Is she here?
CARSON: I'm holding her in my arms right now.
ROY & ELLIOT: We're coming we're coming- {hang up}
We rushed back down the hallway, squeezing each others hands. The excitement was palpable! She was here! We pushed open the door without knocking and...
Voila!
Baby! {Disclaimer, all of these pictures were taken with my camera on my phone, so they aren't that great}
They didn't have a name for her right away, so we just called her Baby. Or She. Carson offered her to Roy but he said, "She's too little!" and didn't want to risk holding her. Um- I hope that's not a problem in the future.
I got to hold her though. And all my previous theories about how all newborns look like monkey-aliens... shattered. This little girl is so beautiful. And she looks so much like her parents I couldn't believe it.
Shellena looked amazing. Not sweaty or red-faced or anything. She had deflated as though she had never been pregnant before. I don't expect that happens to everyone.
Story was born with her umbilical chord wrapped around her neck but they got her out quickly and everything was fine. She's healthy and sleeps like a rock! Sometimes Shellena would blow lightly on her face to make her wrinkle up her nose or squirm a little bit. You know. Just to make sure she was still actually alive.
Roy looked like he wanted to take her home. He said, "Ell, can we get one of these?" He was joking around. But... I have a feeling this experience has opened up a whole new can of worms.
Since the Teitjens had rushed off to the hospital in such a hurry, they sent Kenny and I to their apartment with they keys to grab some things they'll need for staying at the hospital for two nights. Why not Roy? Because my hubby gets really sleepy. He went home to go to sleep.
When Kenny and I returned to the hospital we had to be checked in by security, because of the late hour. The silver-haired man behind the desk asked for my first name. And, of course, he gave me a weird look when I told him. -_- He asked, "Really?" Haha!
Baby was with Carson getting her shots and getting checked out. When we went back upstairs to where Shellena was staying, Andrea was there. She'd had to work late and so had missed seeing the baby. Until they brought her back in, of course. If Roy and I were excited to see the baby, Andrea was ecstatic.
Which is understandable, because this baby is adorable.
The next morning, after seeing off my sister-in-laws, Andrea and I returned to Carson and Shellena's house. There were a few more afterthoughts we volunteered to pick up for them. Like the car seat. They need a car seat in their car now! So weird.
We took advantage of having access to their house and car :-)
Welcome to the world, Story!
1 comment:
EXCITING!!! I can't even believe it!!! Now tell that Shellena chick to get a friggin blog already. And tell her to put up lots of cute baby pics! :) p.s. Story is an ADORABLE name!
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