Kylee Ray is here! Like my inconsistent posting, this story also comes a bit late but we do promise to update more frequently so our family and friends can see Kylee grow into a beautiful young lady as the months pass.
I've been meaning to write down Kylee's birth story so she would have something to read later in life. I had seen an idea in which a new set of parents had written letters to their newborn so she'd have them down the road, things like, how your parents met, what their wedding was like, how they were born, etc... I absolutely love the idea and the memory freak that I am, this is perfect as I hope my daughter inherits my same joy of life. So here goes! Sharing installment #1 in the Letters to my Daughter....
My Sweet Kylee,
My dream come true. My answered prayers. You are my sweet everything!
Ever since I was a child, I dreamed of my future. I played house pretending to live out my hopes and wishes, my handsome husband, my daughter, my job as a school teacher (sometimes a banker kinda like your Grandma Boehringer and sometimes a store owner just so I could make money off your Aunt Jamie and Aunt Jennifer - ha). Every little girl dreams of their future. I've been dreaming about you as long as I can remember.
For so long I questioned when things would finally happen for me. Some of the visions I had for my future didn't work out as I had planned. I was 30 years old and my life was entirely different than I envisioned as a teen. My advice for you - don't plan, live! Life always has a way of working itself out. Enjoy your life, live it to the fullest. Don't put expectations on what and when things should happen. Have fun!
Then, I met your dad. On the exact day that we met, May 21, 2009...things felt right. He was my Prince Charming and my gut was filled with butterflies. A new future was forming. Not the one that I envisioned as a teenager, but the one that I would embrace for the rest of my life. The one I wouldn't want to change for anything. I remember every little detail about that very day. I finally felt what so many others always say, I finally "knew it was right."
After your dad and I got married, my dreams of you got stronger. I began praying that our wish would come true. It took time. I was beginning to lose hope and began accepting that my age might make things difficult and this may not happen for us. I took a mental baby break and let things take its course. Then September 2012 came. I was sitting at the Homecoming Mass at work. The congregation was receiving communion. I was listening to one of my favorite songs, "Be God's" and I had a sudden urge to pray like crazy for you. It was overcoming. I listened to the lyrics and prayed. Five days later I was coaching my cheerleading team at our homecoming game and I had the most painful back ache. Common for me in the past but since back surgery, not common now. I just didn't feel right. The next morning, someone in my head told me to take a pregnancy test. Who would have imagined our complete surprise when that test said positive. Your dad and I were shocked and overjoyed. It was my dream come true! You were given to me. God was answering my prayers.
Over the coming weeks, as my happiness built so did my worry, as any new mom-to-be's would. Almost everyday on the way to work I listened to that special Mass song and continued to pray for your health and safety. It just felt like the right thing to do. The first half of the pregnancy was uneventful and I felt like myself. I endured many visits to the doctor because of my age and previous health situations but every trip there was another opportunity to see you growing on that ultrasound screen. I'm so lucky to have been given so many chances to watch you grow. We shared the news with your brother Kaleb just before Christmas. He was excited but unsure. His world was changing in so many ways. I knew it would be the best thing to ever happen to him. Then, just after Christmas things started getting tough and my emotions were at an all time high. I still felt myself though and continued to pray that things would be okay. When we found out in January that you were a little girl, my world lit up! I think my visions of your future were all planned out in my head! Don't worry, I want you to be happy - you don't have to be a cheerleader if you don't want to be :). Through the remainder of my pregnancy, my health was struggling and I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. Your dad tried to be nice and save eating his "goodies" when I wasn't around but we all knew it was hard seeing that ice cream container slowly empty without my help. But your health was my priority. I did what I could to keep you safe. On my doctor's recommendation we were going to induce early because of my health conditions to make sure you and I made it through delivery safely.
On May 20, 2013, eleven days earlier than your expected due date, we were admitted to the hospital to begin the labor process. I was calm, excited, nervous all at the same time. Your dad was wonderful. There's something special about being around him that makes you feel at ease. For about 8 hours we did a lot of sitting/laying around, waiting on "the plan". At about 4:45 p.m. the nurses placed the cervidil to prepare my body to deliver you. The next 12 hours would be spent laying in bed, with no food, munching on ice chips and hanging with your dad. We had so many plans of things to do while waiting. We didn't do a single one. The doctor said it would probably be an uneventful 12 hours and to relax. I wasn't even dilated so they predicted a long process. About 4 hours later though, it was no longer uneventful. My contractions were about 2 minutes apart. An hour later, I was feeling quite a bit of discomfort. Your dad was amazing as always. There to do whatever I needed. Around 11 p.m. we were moved to labor and delivery and I was in a lot of pain...and still not dilated at all. Due to a previous surgery it was determined that scar tissue was going to prevent me from dilating. That meant one thing...being dilated by the doctor and a horrendous amount of pain. Immediately following, at 1 a.m., I gave in to the epidural and was given immediate relief. I slept. Your dad slept. We were doing much better. The cervidil was removed at 4 a.m. and I still hadn't dilated on my own. The nurse stretched me to a 3 and we waited. Thankfully I was still quite comfortable. At 9 a.m. they began pitocin through my IV line and I was still at only a 3. Just after noon, my doctor broke my water and then we began rolling. The pressure allowed my body to dilate and within an hour, we were already to a 4 naturally. Yay - progress! Two hours later, I was dilated fully. Oh no! Time to push! After some practice pushes and a bit of rest while we let you descend, the nurses and doctor set up the room. Following the first two pushes and a lot of eye pain (don't worry, we had the whole room laughing and your mom's eye didn't end up popping out) on the third and final push of the first set, I opened my eyes and you were laying on my stomach. What a miracle! I was overjoyed and your dad and I were in love!
We kept saying how pretty you were. You were so precious. You laid on my stomach while the doctor finished up the delivery process and with open eyes, you just looked everywhere. You had a small little cone head from delivery but I can confidently say within hours, it was gone. You were content and calm. The room was at peace. The nurses measured you. You weighed six pounds, thirteen ounces and measured twenty inches long. You were born at 4:50 p.m. on a very special day, May 21, 2013, four years exactly from the day I met your dad. The three of us bonded for a couple hours cuddling, kissing and hugging you. We were a family.
We sent you to the nursery the first night because I had to have a round of magnesium sulfate injected because of my pre-eclampsia diagnosis. I was again painfully bed stricken for 12 hours and couldn't help take care of you. In the morning we brought you back to our room and as a family, we moved to our mother/baby room. Your first day was filled with visitors - Grandma Boehringer, Aunt Jamie and Aunt Jennifer were the first to arrive. Then Auntie Tif. Everyone goo-goo'd over you. We were all in love. Your second set of visitors were Grandma Wyman, Great Aunt Donna, Maggie and your big brother Kaleb. Kaleb's eyes lit up when he saw you for the first time. He was such a proud big brother. Mommies friends Kaylee and Julie visited next. It was a busy day for you being cuddled and loved by so many. I couldn't stop smiling. Your first official night with mom and dad was work. We were learning to read your cues and console your every need and you just cried. Proud to say though, every night after that, you've been a nighttime warrior and your dad and I have both been blessed with lots of rest. Hey, we're learning. On May 23, after four days in the hospital, we were discharged to leave. Off to Jackson we went....a family.
I'm so proud to call you my sweet little girl. I thank God for answering my prayers and bringing such a blessing to our life. I can't wait for us to begin the journey together.
I love your with all my heart my little sweet one. Let the adventure begin....I can't wait!
