Whitney is 9 days old today! Her birth story begins two weeks ago on Sunday, March 20, when one of the most devastating spring storms to hit the Sierra Foothills in 50 years blew in. Nobody was quite prepared for it, although I did pace the house all day watching the rain pour down outside and thinking about the drive to Fresno. Late Sunday afternoon it started to snow; big and heavy flakes that accumulated rapidly. Sunday night it snowed more than a foot at our house and the combination of snow and saturated ground caused massive old oaks to come crashing down and triggered road-closing rockslides. The power was cut to most of our area and Yosemite was closed for the week, including the school where Matthew works. Fortunately Whitney was calmly resting inside my belly during this time. But the next day, faced with no power, no water, an unstable road situation and three more storms lined up for the week, we decided that we needed to relocate to give Whitney a calm place to be born.
We emptied the entire contents of both refrigerators, packed up the birthing ball, and headed for the Bay. About 6 hours after arriving at my parents house I felt my first contraction. It came at about 4am on March 23, my sister's birthday. With Lyell's birth once my contractions started they continued steadily until he was born. But Whitney was taking her time. By the time I got up and announced that I "think I'm pretty sure I'm in labor" the contractions had stopped. It went along this way for 3 days, starting and stopping, getting more then less intense. I could not have had a better place to be in extended early labor, as my whole family took care of me and Lyell, and Stanford hospital was 3 miles away.
Friday afternoon Matthew and I took a hike. We went up to "the Dish," a hilly area right behind the hospital where I have gone walking and running since my high school years. It was an incredible post-storm day, with the wet smell of rain still on the oaks and the electric greenness of a California spring everywhere. I powered up and down the hill 3 times.
We drove back to my parents house and I sat down on the couch. The contractions started almost immediately. I closed my eyes and spent an hour with myself preparing for the journey ahead. Then my sister and I drove to the hospital. Stanford is the premier hospital for high-risk pregnancies and births, so when we walked in and said we were planning a natural birth we took them a bit by surprise. I actually labored in the hallways of the hospital for a few hours as I didn't want to be hooked up to any monitors until it was necessary. Finally Matthew gently told me it was time to check in. Whitney was born one hour later!
Whitney came on Friday night, March 25, as the final storm was moving through the Bay Area. We were surrounded by both sets of grandparents, family and friends. Somehow the universe had arranged events such that I could have a relaxed and completely natural birth experience in a nurturing and supporting environment. It was amazing!!!
And Whitney! She radiates calm, sweetness and light. The following pictures tell her story...
Just a few seconds old and she is so pink!
Nana was there for the birth.
Weighing in at 6lbs. 14oz.
Complete happiness!!!
The next morning...
Meeting Grammy and Papa Marcis
Quiet time with Grammy
Tiny hands
Whitney spent most of her first day resting from her birth journey.
With Nana, Auntie Patty and cousin Georgia
Uncle Rich and Aunt Leslie meeting Whitney
With our dearest friend Pat Robinson
Georgia discovering baby Whitney
Thank goodness for Auntie... she keeps me organized and sane!
She even got to meet her great-grandpa Tincher.
So how did Lyell fare in all this excitement? He has never had such a great time. He was showered with love from both sets of grandparents, AND he got to run around screaming with his cousin all day. Georgia and Lyell discovered the great sport of wresting...
Lyell did usually come out on top...
But Georgia didn't seem to mind :)
Are these two peas in a pod or what???
When we left our home on March 22 it was 32 degrees and covered in snow. Yesterday the thermometer hit 80! We are watching our daffodils pop open and basking in the sun and newness of life.
Note the pine needle in Whitney's hand. This was a gift from Lyell as he gets to know his little sister.
Whitney would love to meet you! We would love visitors, especially those who like to hold tiny babies or run around with ball-and-car loving toddling boys. Just give us a call or email to let us know you are coming. Happy, happy springtime to all!!
