Sunday, December 11, 2011

Kayla has Arrived!!!

Kayla Amanda Stansel was born Friday December 9, 2011 at 5:09pm.  She weighed 7 lbs, 15 oz. and was 19" long.  I was 36 weeks and 5 days when she was born.  I almost made it to full term.  I'm so happy I made it that far. We are so happy she is here and healthy! We have been so blessed with this precious miracle!

Here is the story of her birth:
Friday morning (Dec 9) I started having some pain which was progressing to painful contractions.  They were coming every 8 minutes.  I called my doctor who suggested I come in to see him.  I drove myself to the doctor while having contractions every 4 minutes at this point.  They weren't too painful, but getting really uncomfortable.  I knew Kayla was going to arrive soon.  I got to my doctor and they hooked me up to the contraction monitor.  I was having a lot of contractions.  He checked my cervix which was not dilated, but was starting to stretch.  My doctor admitted me right away to Woman's hospital where I was to have an emergent c-section.  My doctor was not going to waste any time since I had a cerclage and he didn't want it to tear or rip my cervix.  The c-section went well with no complications.  Kayla is doing well and is breathing on her own.  Her lungs are great!  Kayla has been having low blood sugars and she is in the level 2 NICU due to that.  This is very common for babies from diabetic moms.  With time her blood sugars will stabilize.  She may have to stay in the NICU for a couple of days after I leave the hospital. 

Here are the pictures:

Thomas dressed for the c-section

Me waiting to go into the operating room
Kayla soon after birth
She looks so much like daddy
Daddy and Kayla

Me and Kayla
Look at those cheeks and rolls!

Beautiful Kayla

44 comments:

  1. Congratulations! Long time reader first time poster! I am smiling as I type this and am reminded of a line from a favorite movie. " The happiest days are when babies are born." Or something like that! So happy for you Amanda. Having 4 C sections under my belt I am so glad your blessing has arrived healthy and happy and that you will have time to recover enough to be able to celebrate Christmas with your lovely family! Snuggle that angel!

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  2. Congrats!!! She is beautiful!

    I also love her name :-)

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  3. I am a long time reader! CONGRATS on your PRECIOUS Princess!!!!!!!!!!!

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  4. Congrats guys! She is beautiful. I think she looks like Thomas. I'm so happy she is here and healthy. Great job!

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  5. A long time reader and first time poster as well. A HUGE congratulations to you and your husband and the 2 big sisters to Kayla. She's perfect. Great job momma. :)

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  6. Congrats you guys! She is gorgeous!

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  7. Congrats you two....she is beautiful!!

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  8. Congratulations on your beautiful daughter! I can't wait to see pictures with her big sisters!

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  9. ooooh, she is big and precious! Congratulations, you two!

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  10. I came expecting another pregnancy update but was thrilled to see that Kayla has arrived! Congratulations Stansel Family! She is absolutely gorgeous. I am so very happy for all of you! I am dying to hear what Rachel and Haley think of her, and to see pictures of them with her. Take it easy and I hope your recovery goes very smoothly Amanda! Enjoy this holiday season with your newest miracle (and those other two wonderful miracles too, I bet they are just going to love christmas this year!). :)

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  11. Beautiful baby girl congrats on your new bundle of joy :)

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  12. Congratulations Amanda and Thomas! Soooo very happy for you all. Beautiful baby!

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  13. Congrats! She's precious and I love all the rolls!!

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  14. Isn't it funny how relaxed you can be about a few days' NICU stay? Your perspective is much different from most parents. I'm so happy for you to have carried her so long. Congratulations!

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  15. Congratulations! Glad all went well. She is a cutie for sure!

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  16. congratulations, She's a beauty.

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  17. Congratulations on Kayla! Glad to hear it all went to comparatively smoothly, I'm sure everyone was happy about that! Have the two big sisters seen the baby yet?

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  18. Congratulations and Merry Christmas to your whole family!

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  19. Congratulations! She's beautiful and I love her dark hair! I miss you guys and love seeing how big the girls are getting!

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  20. What a doll! I can't believe how big--almost 8 pounds!! Congratulations to all of you, I hope the recovery is going well and she's home quickly!

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  21. Been following your blog for a while and love hearing about your lovely family and your faith. Many many congratulations on the safe arrival of Kayla, a very blessed little girl, and the blessings she will bring to your family. She is so cute!

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  22. Look at all that hair! What a cutie-pie. What a blessed Christmas you will have with your three sweet girls around you.

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  23. She is absolutely beautiful! Congratulations on making it to 36 weeks 5 days! I hope she is home with you very soon.

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  24. She is beautiful! She looks so cute and healthy! Congrats! She is proof that miracles do happen!

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  25. Congrats.. I have followed your blog for a long time and not sure that I have every posted. Congrats on the best Christmas gift anyone could receive. Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas

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  26. fantastic she is beautiful !!!!!!!!! hugest congratulations to you all :)

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  27. I'm a long time reader also but never posted. You really didn't even look big enough to have such a big bundle of joy! Beautiful baby, simply beautiful!

    While you were pregnant, I looked so forward to Sundays so I could get your update and to watch the Houston Texans play! You're an amazing person Amanda!

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  28. Gorgeous, healthy baby! Congratulations!

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  29. Woohoo!!!! I've been watching and waiting. I know you had GDB, but goodness she's a big girl. My daughter was born at 36 weeks 6 days and was only 5.5 lbs and 18 1/4". Does she look HUGE to you? Especially if you put a picture of the girls at birth up next to her.

    Thank you Jesus for a healthy mom and baby!

    Thomas, get some rest. You now live in a house with four women. =)

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  30. Congratulations!!! Kayla is absolutely beautiful! What a wonderful day of celebration for your family! 3 precious daughters to love!!!

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  31. Congrats! She is just beautiful! I'm amazed she was as big as she was for being 3+ weeks early. What a blessing!

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  32. Congrats! I'm hoping to make it to 36 weeks! You did great!

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  33. Awe she so cute!! Congrats to your family :)

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  34. Congratulations! She is such a little chunk! :) I love the little chub creases on her arms in the picture with her daddy!

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  35. Congratulations Amanda, Thomas, Rachel, Haley, and Kayla! She is beautiful! Can't wait to hear how the girls react!

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  36. Congratulations!!! (from another first time poster, long time reader). We had a nice, big baby after having had preemies. There is such a difference! I'm so glad that you are getting this experience. :)

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  37. She is so beautiful and I m so glad to hear that everything went well!!!

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  38. Congratulations! I've been following your journey since I was admitted to the hospital at 27 weeks pregnant in 09. I went on to deliver a baby girl at 35 weeks in September 09. My older daughter, Natalie, was born Dec 9, 2005! What a wonderful day!

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