She's here!

Boy, you guys are a tough crowd.  When Frema appointed me Official Blog Updater (for when I arrived home tonight, that is) I suppose we might have mentioned that I'd be staying at the hospital with her.  All day.  Without internet access.  Until I arrived home, which was two and a half hours North of where this precious baby was born tonight.

But now you'll forgive all of the madness and waiting, won't you?  Because I've returned with pictures!

When I arrived today, I was excited to see my dear friend in her normal character.  Is this the perfect Frema Does Childbirth picture or what?

Of course, then the medical staff went and ruined all the fun with a pretty good Pitocin drip, and I've never seen Bree more focused, or in more pain.  She was wonderful, and Luke was an incredible support, but dog-gone if she wasn't in some pain.

And then, well, the drugs came.   And all was right with the world again.

By 2pm there was cheer and double foot rubs and full effacement and eight good centimeters of dilating.  We thought for sure baby Freka was well on her way to catching the five o'clock news.

But as things sometimes go, progress came to a screeching halt and the baby decided things were a bit cramped, but mostly comfy inside.  And she stayed exactly where she was comfortable throughout almost fourteen hours of labor, until approximately 9pm, when the doctor assured Breain and Luke that the only way this baby would be coming out would be through a c-section.

This was definitely the low point of the day, when they wheeled our girl(s) off to surgery. 

(Luke, your gown's open, pal.)

(Snicker, snicker.)

Thankfully, the low point was followed closely by the highest point.  This is who returned to the room, just an hour later:

An amazing family of three.

At 9:50pm, Miss Kara Leigh arrived, weighing 11 pounds, 4 ounces, and measuring 22.5 inches long, with a smirk on her face and the sweetest chubby cheeks you've ever laid eyes on.

Which should leave no room for questioning the need for a Cesarean Section.  My word!

Congratulations, friends.

Comments

[Anna]

I am a long time lurker, but had to post to say congratulations!! She's beautiful. I love the first photo of you all as a family.

[Elizabeth]

Congratulations!!! (while I'm up so darn early/late feeding my own little one).
She's beautiful and has a beautiful name.

And I second that "my word"! A BIG, beautiful baby!

[Anna]

First comment?! Guess there are some advantages to being in Australia! Congratulations once again.

[alyndabear]

11 POUND. Ohholyhell.

Congratulations, family. You did great! Freka/Kara, welcome. :)

[Liza]

Welcome, Kara! Congratulations Mommy & Daddy! Good work, on the spot reporter Molly!

And let me add to the chorus of WOW. 11 lbs of baby! Mommy, you are a CHAMP.

(Aside to the ladyblogs: You girls gave me a hard time for my "big" guess! Ha. ;-) )

[Bunny]

Congratulations! Wow, 11 pounds, such a healthy sized little girl. She is beautiful and you are amazing, Frema. It is 5:30 in the morning and I am blubbering over my keyboard. Congratulations, get some rest!

[Tess]

Happy BIrthday, Kara Leigh! Congrats Frema and Luke! I hope your recovery from the surgery goes smoothly, and quickly so you can fully enjoy your little treasure! She is beautiful.

[Kelly]

Dleurking to say CONGRATS!!! She is beautiful. I love her name :-)
Kelly in Wisconsin

[Stacey]

I found you on parents and followed you here...I started at the beginning and was so happy to find myself here on this day. Congratulations to you and Luke and to a very luck baby girl. She has a beautiful, intelligent and caring momma who has loved her before she was even a thought!

[Daw]

Congratulations! She's absolutely beautiful.

[HollowSquirrel]

Oh Frema, she's gorgeous, and you look so incredibly happy! What a beautiful family. Lucky Kara! Congrats to you and Luke. Now please...take care of yourself, girlfriend! Thanks to Molly for the update!!

[Erika]

Okay. I thought you were a little silly for thinking you may not use the newborn diapers. When will I learn??!??!?! You sure grew that baby good. And I LOVE the name and I am so glad she is here and healthy and that you both are OK.

[mjd]

Thanks, to Molly for everything. Our little (or our not so little) Kara is beautiful. Her Grandpa and I look forward to meeting her.

[Valerie]

Delurking to say GOOD LORD that is one big, beautiful baby!

Thank you for sharing this with us. Rest up and love on that smooshable baby girl.

[Jessie]

Yay!!!! Congratulations to you, Luke, and Kara. She's adorable!

I'm just so happy for you all I can hardly stand it. Congrats again.

[Stephanie]

Congratulations! What a big beautiful baby! I like how her name sounds a bit like Freka, it makes it easier to adjust to calling her something else in my mind.

[daddy d]

The 17 th was a happy day. I am so glad for the joyfull out come. Baby,Kara,Mom and Dad did it the best that it could be done. Thanks to Molly for her support. I know that the Mom really likes not missing any internet time. Thanks to sister Sam. The whole family is now one baby larger.

[Liana]

WOW. Such a big (and cute!) girl!
HUGE Congrats to Brea and Luke...and WELCOME to the world, little Kara! We promise there's more to do out here, more fun to have, than in your mommy's comfy belly.
YAY!

[christine]

Just another one chiming in with congrats! I was dying all day yesterday waiting to see when she came! I'm glad everything went well, and I hope you're feeling ok!

[Heather B.]

Awwww. She's gorgeous. Congratulations!

[Joanne]

Congratulations, I'm so glad she's here. I had a c-section too and my recovery was not that bad, I hope yours goes well too. That is some big baby, and she is gorgeous!

[Stacey]

So happy for your beautiful little family! Molly, thanks for the wonderful update. Such a gorgeous baby, and what a wonderful journey ahead of you!

[Rachel]

Congratulations, Luke and Bree!!! She is absolutely gorgeous!!!! I am so happy for you both. I cannot wait to watch her grow up in pictures!!!

Also, 11 pounds??? Holy crap girl, how did a baby that big come from someone as teensy as you??

[Emily]

Congratulations, Frema! You are a CHAMP. Have a wonderful time settling in with your new family!

[CathyHW]

Congratulations! She's beautiful!

[Katie]

Congratulations! What a beautiful girl you have! And oh my gosh, 11 pounds from your teeny tiny body? Girl, you did good!

[Kelly]

Congratulations! What a beautiful girl! :) Great job, Frema and Luke! Now the fun begins.... enjoy every minute.

[Anna]

Congratulations on a beautiful and healthy baby!

Way to go, Bree!

[CPA Mom]

Mazel Tov to you all!! Wow, 11, 4 beats my big baby even. She is so BEAUTIFUL!!!

[H]

Sweetest congratulations to the new family! She's absolutely lovely! And, thank you Molly for the fabulous update.

[ktjrdn]

Congratulations! My labor went a lot like that too. The best advice the doctor gave me about recovering form a c-section is to go down the stairs backwards. Best advice ever. You don't stretch your stomach muscles so much that way.

Kara is absoluetly beautiful! Congrats Frema!!

[Jessi]

OK, I rarely cry over blog posts, but that video with little Kara crying in the background while you introduce her might have been the sweetest thing I have seen in a while! (and tear inducing!) Congrats Frema and Luke and welcome to the world, Kara! :)

Have a great holiday!

[SJ]

Kara's beautiful! Congratulations to you all - you all look so very, very happy. And that video? Totally worth the wait.

And a BIG thanks to Molly for the update!

[JenniferB]

Good Lord, what an enormous, beautiful baby! Congratulations! Now the real adventure begins! Best wishes.

[Lauren]

Congratulations! And oh my Lord what a big girl!!! Good thing you have all those size up diapers!!!!

[Kristin]

Wow, that's a big baby! For sure she was not going to come out from "down there"! Congratulations, she is just precious!

[Nic]

She's beautiful and you look so happy. Congratulations to your little family. What a wonderful gift!

[Virginia Gal]

What preciousness! I'm so happy for you and your family. And, welcome to this crazy (blogging) world little Kara.

Not that you need my validation, but I love the name!

[Kevin]

Kara is adorable! Congrats to the three of you. You already have the look of an adorable family of three ;) Best wishes for a fast recovery and a long life of happiness together.

Kevin

[PaintingChef]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

And oh sweet jesus... 11 pounds of beautiful squirmy baby goodness. You and Luke are the luckiest people ever! No go forth and hibernate with your new little family.

(Beautiful name!!)

[Becca]

What a sweet girl Kara is!!!!!!! Congratulations! I am so excited for you and Luke. And I LOVE her name. She is beautiful!

[Liz]

Oh Bree...I just don't have words. Mostly because I'm BAWLING over my keyboard.
Congratulations to you and Luke and beautiful baby Kara. She is welcomed to the world by such a loving family and friends, we here at the house of h send our heartiest congratulations and love. From our family to yours.
You should be very proud of yourself for the beautiful, healthy girl you grew! Congratulations, love.

[Fraulein N]

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Beautiful baby, beautiful name. I'm so happy for all of you! (I'm getting a little weepy here.) I know you're going to be awesome parents.

[Nette]

Congratulations!

[Nichole]

Congratulations! Kara is a lovely little girl.

[Lizarita]

Holy Crap! She's a big girl. And so beautiful!!! Congrats Luke and Bree! And welcome Baby Kara!! Love you guys!
And thanks Molly!

[Mandee]

Congratulations! She is beautiful and you are a force not to be reckoned with, woman. Enjoy your new family.

[Audrey]

Congratulations!!! Kara Leigh is a gorgeous name for such a beautiful baby!

[lar]

She is so beautiful, and worth every minute of those 14 hours, right?! Congratulations! God bless your new little addition.

[Stephanie]

Holy Mother of God! 11lbs. You are an amazing woman! Congrats and more congrats!