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.
I keep coming back to look at sweet little Kara and those squeezable cheeks. So precious.
Hope all is going well!
Posted by: Isabel | December 18, 2007 at 06:17 PM
She's beautiful. :) Congratulations!
Posted by: Melissa | December 18, 2007 at 07:08 PM
I keep coming back to look at that beautiful girl. I want to take a bite out of those rolllllssss! YUM! Delicious baybeeees.
And that video? Makes me cry over and over and over again.
Blessings to you and your family.
Posted by: Liz | December 18, 2007 at 07:29 PM
Hugs and kisses to all! I'm so happy for you all. And, Frema, my goodness girl, get some rest!!
Posted by: Jackie | December 18, 2007 at 08:12 PM
Congratulations! I couldn't be more happy about this baby and her name! I predict a very successful life based on name alone!!! :-)
Posted by: KARA! | December 18, 2007 at 08:31 PM
isn't it amazing how sweet bew baby faces can make you cry , even when you don't know the family that they belong to?
those are definitely two gorgeous girls in that video.
i would also like to add: holy shit, with the eleven plus pounds. that is seriously amazing.
i would also like to add that i'm sorry for swearing in the comment section of the post that welcomed your baby to the internet...but, seriously? eleven pounds?
and every ounce stuffed with cuteness?
congratulations, new little (but not really) family.
Posted by: supertiff | December 18, 2007 at 08:42 PM
YAY!!! Congratulations family!! And Frema 11 pounds?!?! No wonder you had to have a C-section. As we say here in the South, bless your heart, darlin'! Enjoy your baby girl!
Posted by: Brie | December 18, 2007 at 08:49 PM
Congrats, and JESUS CHRIST. 11lbs.
Posted by: Gillian | December 18, 2007 at 09:16 PM
Congratulations! :)
Posted by: Katie | December 18, 2007 at 09:43 PM
Well first off, the comment above me made me laugh...
Congratulations to you guys...she is cute and beautiful and amazing.
You've done good so far, I know you will make a wonderful mom and I can't wait to continue reading as Kara's life begins! I hope to see all of you in "real life" sometime in the near future!
Posted by: Jenny | December 18, 2007 at 09:46 PM
omgosh. she is absolutely beautiful, guys! mom and dad just watched the video with me. they both had happy tears in their eyes. geo is super happy as well. well, we all are. especially her youngest, hippest auntie donna!! oh i want to be called auntie d. its official =]
love you 3..!
kara leigh..such a pretty name for a pretty little girl..
Posted by: donna lyn | December 18, 2007 at 09:55 PM
Congrats! She's beautiful! I can't believe she weighed 11 pounds! I commend you mama! Congrats to you and your family! :)
Posted by: Christar | December 18, 2007 at 10:58 PM
Delurking to say Congrats! I've followed you here from Parental Discretion Advised and am so excited about the arrival of little sweet Kara!
I was just as happy to hear the news as I would be if it were my relative having a baby! Thank you for sharing your journey- you're a really great writer.
Posted by: K | December 18, 2007 at 11:50 PM
She's gorgeous--congrats to the whole family. And at that size, no, she probably wasn't coming "out of down there" any time soon.
Posted by: Margaret | December 18, 2007 at 11:56 PM
Oh my goodness!! That is one amazing baby! Congratulations!
I thought Molly was overtired and made a typo at first - 11 pounds!! That's some really good baby-growing!
Posted by: Michelle Z | December 19, 2007 at 12:08 AM
Congratulations, Bree and Luke. :) Welcome, Kara Leigh. Be good to your mamma so she can have some time to blog about you!
Posted by: kenandbelly | December 19, 2007 at 12:21 AM
CONGRATULATIONS!!! I love the pictures, she's absolutely gorgeous, with a gorgeous name also. No wonder you needed a c-section. Well done!
Posted by: Emmakirsten | December 19, 2007 at 07:43 AM
Congrats!! What a gorgeous (albeit big) baby!!
Posted by: Tink | December 19, 2007 at 08:45 AM
Congratulations -- such a big beautiful girl!
Posted by: Miss W | December 19, 2007 at 10:04 AM
OH MY GOSH!!! I am the great Auntie Don Don...!!! She is a beautiful gift from God. I cant wait to love on her....
Posted by: Auntie Don Don Don Don | December 19, 2007 at 10:14 AM
Ohhhhhh, Congratulations! Welcome darling little Kara Leigh. (Although, really, there's nothing little about her, is there?!?)
Posted by: Ree | December 19, 2007 at 11:51 AM
Hot diggity damn! You went and had yerself a BABY.
Congratulations!! :-)
Posted by: cagey | December 19, 2007 at 01:37 PM
Im mostly just a lurker... but wow they are both beatiful and holy hannah no wonder she wouldn't go into labor.. and i thought my almost 9pder was big.. wow... beatiful job momma!!!
Posted by: wolfbaby | December 19, 2007 at 03:29 PM
Congratulations on your beautiful daughter! I'm happy for all of you. Start exchanging the newborn sizes that haven't been washed yet for the 3-6 month sizes!
Posted by: Ann | December 19, 2007 at 04:41 PM
Wow ... beautiful baby and happy new family to you and Luke. AWESOME labor shots. LOVE IT! What an awesome Christmas this will be for you three! Glad things went well for you.
Posted by: Diane Arias | December 19, 2007 at 08:30 PM
Better late than ne ver, she's beautiful!! that's a big girl, like you haven't heard that. I love her name. :)
Posted by: Lisa's Chaos | December 19, 2007 at 08:39 PM
Oh my good gracious! ELEVEN POUNDS!!! Congratulations on the birth of a gorgeous little girl.
Posted by: Julie | December 19, 2007 at 09:25 PM
Oh my goodness! Little Kara is adorable! Congratulations! She's just in time for Christmas! I hope you have a wonderful first Christmas as a mom!
Posted by: Amber | December 19, 2007 at 09:39 PM
oh p.s....as an 11-pound newborn myself, let me tell you firsthand that kara will NOT appreciate you bringing up her birth weight in front of friends and/or boyfriends! hahaha :)
Posted by: katie | December 20, 2007 at 10:55 AM
Molly? Luke? Anyone? How is Frema doing? I hope her recovery is speeding along fabulously. And of course I wouldn't mind seeing some newborn delicious baby pictures ;-)
Posted by: Katie | December 20, 2007 at 11:32 AM
Congratulations! I love the name Kara Leigh. She's perfectly gorgeous - let us know how week #1 goes...
Posted by: eva | December 20, 2007 at 08:15 PM
Congrats!
That adorable clip at the end made me cry!I hope all is going well at home!
Congrats!
Posted by: crookedeyebrow | December 21, 2007 at 06:31 PM
i'm coming out of lurkdom to congratulate you on your beautiful new arrival...but 11 pounds?! oy! i had a c-section in august, and i tell people that my baby had to come out the window instead of the door...but she made it here and she's wonderful and that's all that matters. enjoy your new chunk of love.
Posted by: liz | December 22, 2007 at 12:21 AM
Congrats! She is perfectly adorable!
Posted by: Valeta | December 22, 2007 at 10:57 AM
CONGRATS! From one new Mama to another! She's beautiful.
Posted by: Carrster | December 22, 2007 at 05:14 PM
Im very late to the party but a huge heartfelt congrats! Im so sorry I promised you she was smaller than she looked, Goodness Mom thats one healthy baby. My heart breaks for you and your c-section, I know how much you wanted the unmedicated v-style but considering her size... well you know.
Merry Christmas new Family!
Posted by: Christina | December 24, 2007 at 12:52 AM