CAMBRIA AUTUMN WILKINS

And the countdown is over!

It is with droopy eyes, a thankful heart and still an anxious sigh that I type this
post.

Yesterday at 7:15 p.m. Cambria Autumn Wilkins decided to make her first appearance. Hallie began laboring around 10 a.m. and things progressed "quickly," from what I'm told. She did very well. She was strong, brave and beautiful. I couldn't be more proud of her. And she did it all WITHOUT an epidural!

Immediately after joining the party Cambria began grunting really hard. I thought she was just doing a really sweet "Tim-the-toolman-Taylor," impression. Turns out she couldn't breath well. Within minutes they had her in the NICU (Newborn Intensive Care Unit), complete with an IV and all sorts of crazy monitors. They drew blood right away to begin testing and began working away while mom was being attended to in the delivery room. After getting Hallie to the post-delivery room, we were able to go and see our little wired wonder for a few minutes, then we came back to the room for Hallie (and myself) to rest.

It was a LONG night. Hospital sleeping is always the pits and it's even worse when you've just given birth to your firstborn child, but can't have them with you. I went to attempt to feed her around midnight and Hallie and I both went around 5 or 6 in the morning, I think (the hours all mushed together-my concept of time is shot). We spent parts of the night talking, watching television and listening to some tunes-oh and trying to get the ocassional minute of shut-eye of course.

By morning Cambria was doing better and we began trying to get her going on her breastfeeding to no avail. She'd sort of-kind of take a bottle, but then just puke everything right back up. Thankfully they released her from the NICU by late morning and the feeding battle has continued ever since. Personally, I have to admit that I'm confident, but a little frustrated at the same time. It's hard for me to be completely happy-go-lucky when it's been one thing after another that hasn't been working out. I know that breatfeeding takes some time, but I just wish that she could at least keep down the formula from the bottle so she's got some form of nourishment-more than just a few drops anyways.

All-in-all, we couldn't be happier that she's here and that she's breathing better, though those grunts sure were impressive. At 19 inches and 7.9 lbs, she's doing alright for now.