Remainder of our hospital stay and The Lord's Day

The remainder of our stay at Ruby was great. 

**I meant to mention that Sweet Uncle Michael hopped on a plane after work and made it into Morgantown on Friday night.  What a blessing it was to see him - and it meant so much to Kyle...to us both!  Unfortunately I don't have any pics of him holding Eliza, but it is for a very sweet reason.  I think he was coming down with a little cold, but he shared with us that he wanted to save the 1st time experience of holding a newborn for his own son.  These Boyce men's hearts are size Large!  (Remember Rebecca was due w/Campbell just 5 weeks after I was due with Eliza)

There is no nursery on the L&D floor @ Ruby, so the baby stays in the room with you the entire time.  I loved it so, so much!  Friday night (her Birthday) I didn't sleep a wink.  I couldn't stop staring at her.  Then she slept on Kyle's chest for a few hours, and that was so precious I couldn't stop staring at them.  Every time the nurses came in to poke and prod they would beg me to sleep.  I just couldn't.  I wasn't tired.  Well - correction - I was tired, but not sleepy.

Saturday the fam came back to join us around 9AM.  I'm pretty sure Eliza was never put down all day.  I just loved sitting back and soaking up all the joy on everyone's faces.  Granny K, Papa and Uncle Michael came in a little bit later after a much appreciated trip to the mall.  Eliza was a teeny tiny little thing and NONE of the clothes I had for her fit.  Morgantown has next to NO places to shop, so they combed through the small department stores and bought the only 3 premie outfits in the mall.

I wish I had a picture of her holding Eliza - but I had the sweetest surprise visitor all the way from Charlottesville...Daisy.  I stole a pic of her to share.  Hope she doesn't mind. :)

Kyle started coming down with a bad cold.  Poor Dad.  By the end of the day it reached its peak.  He was a little concerned about holding Eliza through the night, so one of the sweet nurses offered to take her for a couple of hours so that I could catch a nap.  I don't think I've ever slept so hard!

Sunday morning, room 602 became a different place.  Praise the Lord for livestream via Christ Church of the Carolinas!  I set my laptop up on the food tray, everyone had their bibles with them, and we watched a wonderful sermon by Pastor Bowers.  The nurses and medical staff left us alone for 2 whole hours while we worshipped in that tiny little hospital room.  One would open the door slightly, notice what was going on, and shut the door.  Vitals could wait.  This was the Lord's day.  My cup runneth over!

Happy Birthday, Eliza!

We checked into room 602 at Ruby Memorial and I met my nurse for the day - Holly.  I absolutely LOVED her!  She had the most precious disposition that never wavered, no matter how busy she was.

 

They started the pitocin around 9AM and in no time I was having some pretty good contractions.  This may sound very strange, but I actually really enjoyed labor.  It was all so fascinating to me.  The Lord created a miraculous process. 

The first line = Eliza's heartrate.

The second line = my contractions.

It was about an hour before the contractions became quite painful and for some reason I decided to tough it out a while.  Both sets of grandparents hung out with us all day and it was just a marvelous time.  Every 4-5 minutes I had to close my eyes and grip the bed handles, but otherwise we had a ball hanging out. 

Grandmamma Ann

A basket of goodies Kyle and I put together for the L&D floor:

Between toughing it out a while, an epidural that took a left turn on the way in and waiting on the 2nd epidural to kick in, I ended up feeling it all through 10cm.  It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't a waltz in the park, either.  Again, I really just enjoyed every moment.  I was perfectly comfortable for the most difficult stage - PTL!

Elizabeth "Eliza" Childers Boyce

9:33PM August 27, 2010

6 pounds 5 ounces/19.5 inches

Right as they handed her to me:

This little lady looks EXACTLY like her Daddy

First moments with family

Granny K and Papa 

Boyce

Grandaddy Harry and Grandmamma Ann

Wilson

Aunt Annie and Uncle Wyman made it up in perfect timing!

As did Great Aunt Victoria!!

August 26 - morning of the 27.

The evening before the induction, Granny K and Papa (Kyle's parents) came up to WV and took us out to dinner. Grandmamma and Grandaddy (my parents) left Columbia after work and would be arriving around 1AM. I knew I wouldn't be able to eat much the next day, so I filled up on pasta from Puglioni's. Delish! We went home, made sure we had everything ready and hit the hay fairly early. Around 3AM I shot up like a dart in crazy pain and realized I was experiencing my first real contraction. I had just the one, though, so I was able to fall back asleep shortly thereafter.

We had to be at the hospital at 8AM, so we asked the grandparents to come by the house around 7:30 for a time of prayer and a few pictures. 

Kyle read Psalm 100:

1Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.

2Serve the LORD with gladness;

Come before Him with joyful singing.

3Know that the LORD Himself is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

4Enter His gates with thanksgiving

And His courts with praise

Give thanks to Him, bless His name.

5For the LORD is good;

His lovingkindness is everlasting

And His faithfulness to all generations. 

and Psalm 128:

1How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,

Who walks in His ways.

2When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands,

You will be happy and it will be well with you.

3Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house,

your children like olive plants around your table.

4Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed

Who fears the Lord.

5The Lord bless you from Zion,

And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.

6Indeed, may you see your children's children.

Peace be upon Isreal!

My Dad prayed for us, we took a few pictures, and took off for the hospital.