A Fathers Journal
Thursday July 15th, Paige and I go to see Dr. Kellert for an appointment at 9:00am. Dr. Kellert decides to induce labor the next day and informs Paige to check into the hospital at 7:00pm Friday July 16th. Dr. Kellert sends Paige over to Labor and Delivery for testing. They monitor the baby, and do an ultra sound. We see Erin and receive a photo of her. Paige and I return home and wait until tomorrow.
July 16th, 2004 - Paige and I checked into Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital around 7:00pm and met our personal nurse Wanda from Gulfport Mississippi. Paige being from Birmingham, Alabama originally, and Wanda sure had a lot to talk about, and hit it off well. Kathy and Jamie visited around 9:30pm and we all went home except of course Paige just after 10:30pm. I planned to spend the evening tomorrow, and wanted to get a good nights sleep for the day ahead. Erin was six days overdue and Paiges doctor decided to induce labor in the morning.
July 17th - I awoke around 4:20am as I do everyday. As I laid back in bed I came to realize that this day would be probably the most amazing day of my life. For today Paige and I were going to become parents of a baby daughter named Erin Katherine. Paige for the last 5 months had been preparing Erins room and getting the house ready for her. Nesting as Paige called it. It didn't stop until we came here to Santa Rosa Memorial hospital.
Around 6:30am Paige called from the hospital, asked how I was doing and wondered what time I would come over. I arrived around 7:00am and Wanda was saying goodbye and wishing her good luck. We wouldn't see Wanda, until she returned around 11:00pm that evening. Just before she left she turned and said,"its going to be a long day". Our new nurse Jill arrived around 7:30am and moved us to a nicer room. The night before it was packed with expecting mothers, and we had a small but cozy room. Paiges contractions started around 4:00am but Paige really wasn't effected by them until around 8:00am. Patoesen is given and Paige waits for it to take affect. It was around 9:00am that Paige had to resort to her breathing and calming techniques she learned in child birthing classes. Reiki and meditation music played in the back ground (i.e. soft piano, sounds of water, birds chirping, ocean waves, streams and even thunder and rain). Paige walked the floor as I nervously paced back and forth. Even Wanda pointed out to Paige, "Jim sure looks real serious sitting over there".
9:30am - Paige asked that I go home and get a fan to help with her being a little more comfortable. When I returned her doctor was with her. I finally met the doctor I heard so much good about. Doctor Kellert said as she was leaving, "first babies are always long labors". Paige has dilated to only one centimeter. When I heard that I knew we would be in for a long day. 10:00am came and went with Paige still having contractions and me pacing back and forth. We both have waited for this day for a long time but I know it will soon be well worth the wait.
10:30am- Paige is feeling more pain and extremely uncomfortable. Our nurse Jill administers a little dose of fentanyl to ease the pain. The dose worked cause Paige can feel the pain ease up.
11:00am - After making a few calls outside I came back into the room and asked Paige how she felt. "I feel much better but that Jack Johnson is annoying me". Paige loves Jack Johnson, so I knew she was not feeling good. I then asked how the contractions were and if she needed anything. "The hot flashes have subsided, but I still feel a lot of pain". I put on Peter Tosh's "Coming in Hot" from "Wanted Dread or Alive". As it played, Paige smiled, sat back and tried to relax. Paige's contractions are one to five minutes apart and last around 15-25 seconds.
Soon after, I started to sing "Reggaemylitus". Paige laughs at the lyrics (or my singing) and says, " I really like Peter Tosh"! Today was the one day I had to try my best to keep Paige happy, content and comfortable. I am at her every becking call. Jerry Miesel calls and wished us a "Happy Labor Day". Paige laughs and I as well.
12:00pm - Marion and Jenn who are co-workers of Paige's drop by to say hello and see how she is doing. They stay for a while and then leave. Paige is feeling nausea and the patoesen is increased. Paige starts to walk around to ease the uncomfortability. Contractions start to get more frequent and stronger. Watching the read out Paige counts the contractions and how far apart they are. Tosh continues to play in the back ground.
12:15 - Dr Kellert pays a visit and attempts to break Paige's water. Paige has a contraction and they wait until it stops. This is starting to get scary. I'm now starting to get nauseated too. Paiges water does break and Dr. Kellert orders the epidurul. Paige asks concerning questions and Dr. Kellert acts as this is an everyday occurrence. To her it is..not to Paige!!
12:35 - Paige starts to get sick and I walked out to inform the nurse. "Paige is sick". She puts down what she is doing and walks towards me very calm. "You deal with this everyday i take it"? I said knowing she does. The nurse starts to laugh and says, "Everyday"! Paige feels better once Jill comes in assures her it normal. As she leaves she tells Paige, "the epidural will be here very soon'. Paige turns to me and smiles. When she smiles...I smile. This is only the beginning of our day and it seems this day has already lasted 24 hours.
12:50pm - I check to see if the anesthesiologist is here. When I opened the door he (Dr Sheremer) is right outside preparing his procedure. In an extremely cordial and nice tone of voice he asks "You must be Dad"? "Yes sir" I reply. As I made a move outside the room and across the hall. He looks up again, probably sensing my nervousness and lets me know, "You can be there for this, and you don't have to watch". "If not for anything but moral support". I confused and nervous for Paige reply, "Yeah, moral support". I walk back into the room and let Paige know he is here. Once again Paige smiles. The anesthesiologist while doing his procedure asks Paige, "Who's birthday is it anyways". Paige says with a smile,"Erin's". The procedure takes a few minutes to administer. Paige is calm and relaxed minutes later after being in excruciating pain. She says with a sense of euphoria, "I feel like a science experiment". The anesthesiologist says with a laugh, "You are"! He then checks the monitors and notices one piece of equipment needs a new battery. He fixes the battery and asks Paige different questions. Paige feels the warmth and the tingling. He then assures Paige, "Its working fine". He walks over, shakes my hand and then wishes Paige and I well. Dr Kellert comes in and they decide to monitor Erin a little closer. They decide to directly connect to Erin to monitor her heartbeat. Her heart drops slightly and they move Paige to see if Erin is laying on her cord or something. The rate increases and the nurse informs us, "It's coming back up". A third nurse comes in and checks out the situation and says, "Wow, that was low". I can hear the the heart beat slow and I'm starting to worry again. The nurse is on top of it and seems calm and at ease. They come in and add water and that helps cushion the baby. They are not alarmed and assure us everything is ok. Paige is dilated to 3 centimeters, the baby's heart rates is back up and Paige is feeling fine. Reiki/Meditation music starts to play as we sit and wait.
2:00pm - I came back from calling family and friends and asked the nurse, "Being that Erin pooped (meconium) in there will Erin have to go to intensive care". "Not really", said Jill. "When Erin is born the Pediatrician will observe her and if the meconium hasn't gone below her vocal cords she will be ok". "If not she will have to placed under observation in intensive care". "This happens all the time and the baby next door has meconium too". "I think I noticed it before we broke the water, so I don't think Erin was in distress", she assured us.
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