January 8th, 2007
I was HUGE. I was 9”shorter around than I was tall!!! That is 52” around. I was SOOO uncomfortable, my feet were swollen, I had developed Gestational Diabetes, I couldn’t sleep and was just ready to meet our baby already! I was going to see the Dr. in three days Hoping he would say alright lets induce you. January 11th came and NO induction, I was disappointed. I pleaded with Dr. Kaelberer to help me out, with no avail 
I asked him jokingly if women really went into labor after big snowstorms, which we were currently experiencing. Three inches had fallen already and it was still coming down. He told me that it tends to happen that they are busy during big storms but wasn’t proven to be a fact. I jokingly told him I would see him tonight at L&D because I knew he was on call all night and I was hoping to be one of the lucky ones who would be able to take advantage of the snowstorm. Little did I know that exactly 12 hours after I left my appointment I would be walking back to the hospital after my water broke.
I rolled over in bed at 2:30 am and it happened. Instead of panicking and running around losing my mind, like you see in the movies, I started a load of laundry, read ‘What to expect, When expecting’ and started packing our bags for the hospital. I waited about 45 minutes to call my mom. I just wanted to make sure this was really happening before I woke people up in the middle of the night. Debbie panicked when I called her at work at that time of night, and told me she was leaving work and heading to the hospital. She told me I should probably wake Cody up and do the same. Yes I was letting him sleep. I would have never heard the end of it if I had woke him up and cried wolf, so I did.
The drive to the hospital was one of the most calm moments of my life, and probably my last! The roads were dark, covered in snow and empty. I was so excited to be heading to the hospital knowing that sooner or later we would be meeting out miracle. I was hoping for sooner rather than later, but was I wrong
Walking into L&D I thought it was strange that they asked me “what are you in for?” I wanted to say “a root canal, what do you think?’ but I’m pretty sure that amniotic fluid leaking through my pants would give me away. They set me up in my room and soon after that a half asleep Dr. Kaelberer walked in. he informed me he would be going home to take a nap and watching my contractions from his home computer. I settled in, Cody found a chair to go back to sleep in
and my Mom headed back to our house to get the laundry out of the dryer that I had started and finish packing for me. I watched T.V. and tried breathing through the contractions, that didn’t last long. The nurse only asked twice before I gave her permission to call the Anesthesiologist. That was one amazing move. I do not handle pain well and knew that I would accept the epidural from the beginning. I have so much respect for women who give birth without it.
I was in labor for 11 hours before I realized that every time I would have a contraction the nurse would get a call on the phone from my Dr. I knew he was watching from home, but I was plenty distracted by all of the friends and family that had come to the hospital anticipating Taylor’s arrival. The nurse came in and said “well do you want the good news or the bad news first?” I replied with “good news!” She proceeded to inform me that we would be meeting Taylor with in two hours, the bad. I had to have a C-Section. I was not progressing in my dilation and she was under stress with every contraction. This was something Cody, Dr. Kaelberer and I had discussed. The Dr. was more concerned with the size of the baby being an issue ( you have seen her father, so you understand that there was a good chance that she would be a big girl). Dr K was on his way back in and Cody and I were getting prepped for surgery.
Cody and I were so excited. My Grandma was scared and crying as she kissed me goodbye before we went down the long hall to the operating room. Soon after entering that amazing man who gave me my epidural also loaded me up with more drugs and before I knew it I was getting tugged on and all kinds of pressure, no pain just pressure was coming from my torso. Cody gets quite queasy when it comes to blood so he didn’t watch, him and I discussed middle names. 40 minutes into the procedure Dr. K said “Sheena A LOT of pressure right here, take a deep breath…” “and she is here a baby girl with all 10 fingers and toes!!!” he held her up over the paper wall and there she was. I could barely see her. I wear glasses and they wouldn’t let me wear them in there. I could hear her screaming, my eyes welled up, I looked at Cody as he starred at her in amazement.
3:48pm Taylor Mae Smith was born at 7lbs 15oz and 21” long
She was perfect!! The "Paparazzi”(a name the nurses gave them) of family and friends waiting outside the doors all awed in unison as Daddy carried he into their view. I still had to be closed up so the family took advantage of the moment to eat her up before I came back into the room
4 years ago our lives changed and what a beautiful new beginning it was!! Taylor you have taught Mom & Dad so many things and given us so much joy. We love you so very much I hope your 4th birthday is an amazing one!!!!
