miller's hospital stay

Saturday, August 7 - Monday, August 9

The postpartum unit at St. Francis was under construction during our hospital stay, so we stayed on the B level of the brand new Children's Hospital. On the postpartum unit there are 3 large "pavilion rooms" that are available on a first-come first-serve basis for an additional $185 per night that is not covered by insurance. All other rooms on the postpartum unit are very small and pie-shaped. The rooms in the Children's Hospital are very large and even have a neat view of Tulsa. The temporary nursery was on the fifth floor of the Children's Hospital. Miller stayed in our room most of the time. However, we did have him go to the nursery for about 2 ½ hours on Sunday night so that we could try to get some sleep. Because the nursery was so far away from the B level, the babies could not be transported by parents and were not allowed to leave the mom's room without a member of the nursery staff.

Our room at St. Francis Children's Hospital.

Our first night in the hospital after Miller was born. We had wonderful postpartum nurses and techs during our stay.

We chose Dr. Knippers as our pediatrician. I had heard great things about him from several people and we were not disappointed. He came to the hospital on Sunday to see Miller and perform his circumcision. He walked into our room in his red M&M T-shirt and started joking with us about our last name. We weren't quite sure who he was at first. He was very personable and funny and looks a little bit like Santa Claus. Miller's circumcision went perfectly although he was a little drowsy for the rest of the day.

Miller's bassinet.

Miller had lots of visitors during our hospital stay-both friends and family. We are so grateful for all of the love and support! Our pastor from Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, Dr. Biggs, even visited on Monday morning.

Miller and Grandpa Curtis.

Miller with Nana Debbie.

Miller and Uncle Brian.



Miller with Aunt Krystle.


My family with Mackenzie.

Miller with Aunt Mackenzie.

Miller and Aunt Maddie.

Miller and Grandma Paula.

Miller and Grandpa Randy.

Melody and Dustin visit.


Michelle Phillips and Sutton with me and Miller.

Brad Phillips and Sutton with Colby and Miller. The Phillips are members of our Sunday school class. The Gaddis family from our Sunday school class also visited us at the hospital. Unfortunately, they came right after Miller was taken to the nursery for his circumcision, so they were not able to see him.

Miller with flowers from Orchid.

Miller with Grandma Paula and Aunt Maddie.

Miller with Aunt Maddie and Aunt Mackenzie.

My hospital stay was uneventful. I did have IV antibiotics after delivery because my labor was so long-almost 29 hours. Dr. Nilson returned from his vacation and came to the hospital on Monday morning to discharge me.

Breastfeeding was pretty difficult and painful at first. Miller didn't want to eat for about the first 24 hours and had trouble latching on. I had trouble learning how to coordinate the different holding positions. The lactation nurse at the hospital was very helpful and encouraging. She even showed Colby and me how to practice the sucking technique with Miller using a finger and sterile water.

We are so thankful that Miller's hospital stay was uneventful. He did not have jaundice or any other problems and he passed his hearing test. He weighed 8 lbs 9 ounces when we left the hospital.

miller's birthday

Saturday, August 7, 2010



Miller and Colby's family.

Miller and my family minus Mackenzie. (she left right after Miller was born to make it back to Stillwater by 6:00 that night)

Proud mommy!

Miller's first measurements.

First bath and hair wash.

Happy family!

Proud daddy!

Daddy and nurse Denise getting Miller's footprints.

Miller weighed 9 lb 0 oz and was 21 ¾ inches long.

Miller's here!

My room.

Colby and I before Miller arrived.

I was scheduled to go to the hospital to be induced on Sunday night, August 8. On Friday afternoon, August 6, I was laying on the couch watching TV waiting for Colby to get home to eat lunch when my water broke (12:04 PM). I thought that I had all weekend to prepare for Miller's arrival. It was so unexpected. I had not really been having contractions (except for a few Braxton-Hicks contractions). At my doctor appointment that Monday I was not dilated or effaced. I had pretty much mentally prepared myself for the fact that Miller did not want to come on his own and that I would have to be induced.

When my water broke, I immediately called Colby, who was still at work, and then I tried to call my mom. She was in a class that day for her job and had left her cell phone at home. She had called me earlier from her friend Janet's cell phone, so I tried to call her back on Janet's phone but didn't get an answer. Finally, Colby called my dad who went to my mom's class and told her the news. Because I wasn't having any contractions or pain, I wasn't really in any hurry to get to the hospital. I had Colby help me clean up around the house. Then, around 2:30 PM, after packing our bags, we headed to the hospital.

I was admitted to the hospital around 3:15 and started on IV fluids. My nurse, Tracy, checked me and said I was about 80% effaced but not dilated. Dr. Nilson was still out of town on vacation and Dr. Coleman was on call. At 5:15 I was started on pitocin to help induce contractions since my water had already broken. By this time, my parents had arrived at the hospital and Colby's parents were on their way. Maddie was on her way from Houston and Mackenzie was coming later that night from Stillwater. The timing worked out perfectly for both of my sisters to be there for Miller's birthday!

Around 9:15, after gradually increasing the pitocin, I began to feel the contractions especially in my lower back. However, the contractions weren't very painful yet and I was only about 1 cm dilated. At this point, I wasn't very concerned about the pain and remember just wanting the contractions to get stronger so that I could meet my baby boy! At 11:00 PM (shift change) I was assigned a different nurse, Julie. By this time, I was having contractions every 1-3 minutes. By midnight our families had all arrived at the hospital (except for Brian and Krystle who came the next morning) and were beginning to leave for the evening to get some rest with our promise that we would call them immediately if anything happened. My mom and Colby both stayed with me at the hospital.

At 3:00 AM I asked Julie to check me because I was really starting to have a lot of pain with the contractions. She said that I was still only 1 cm dilated and about 90% effaced. I really wanted to go ahead and get an epidural, but Julie said that I should wait until I was 3 cm dilated. She offered to give me stadol instead. So, thinking that she knew best, I agreed. The stadol helped for about 30 minutes before it wore off and just left me feeling really drunk. At 4:50, I couldn't stand the pain any longer. Since I was still only 1 cm dilated, Julie gave me another dose of stadol, which was much less effective than the first dose. I had a third dose of stadol at 6:20, which basically had no effect at all. I remember crying in pain and asking for her to give me an epidural. Julie was not very sympathetic, but at 07:00 AM I got a new nurse, Denise. I had a bolus of fluid and the epidural by 07:45. Colby and my mom both said later that they wished they would have insisted that I had the epidural sooner. I also was given penicillin since I had been in labor for so long already. Doctors typically prefer that the baby is born within 24 hours of your water breaking.

After the epidural, I was finally able to relax and even got to close my eyes for a little while after being up all night. However, I was a little too excited to sleep! By 09:00 AM I was 2 cm dilated and my cervix was much softer. Denise was very positive that I would continue to dilate and that I would have Miller in my arms by that afternoon. She was right and by 3:00 PM I was fully dilated and ready to push! Miller was born at 4:35 PM without complications! I am so grateful to my mom and Colby for all of their support and encouragement. I know that it was a long night and day for both of them! I couldn't have done it without them! Colby was by my side the entire time and my mom got lots of great pictures.

hospital time

Colby and Meg in the nursery right before leaving to go to the hospital.

Miller decided he didn't want to wait until Sunday, so we are at the hospital patiently waiting on his arrival. We will post more once he arrives!

nursery pics 2

We have finally finished the nursery. Thank you to my mom for all of her help! It has been a lot of fun decorating, planning, and shopping with her!

Colby, me, and Miller in the nursery.

This beautiful cradle was made by my Grandpa Jack for my parents when Maddie was born. Colby and I are getting to use it in our bedroom for baby Miller.

The AMAZING monogram painted by Brian. It really completes the room!

We couldn't find a mobile that matched the nursery, so my mom made this adorable lamb mobile.

This is the crib from Colby's parents. My mom made the bedskirt and bumper.

The frames above the shelf are for pictures of Miller when he arrives.

Thank you to my Grandma Betty for the glider and beautiful quilt! The curtains match the bedskirt and were made by my mom.

Great antique finds by my mom and me.

Side table and laundry hamper. The lampshade was recovered with polka-dot ribbon by my mom.

The dresser/changing table was a gift from Colby's parents. The mirror was found by my mom and repainted white with blue details.

I am so pleased with how everything turned out! Thank you to all of our friends and family for their generous gifts! We love you all!

our twelfth appointment

Monday, August 2
Well, it seems that Miller is not quite ready to make an appearance! I still do not have any changes in my cervix. I am not dilated or effaced and I have not had any contractions. I have noticed some Braxton-Hicks contractions for the past week or so, however. At this appointment, Dr. Nilson was on vacation, so we saw Dr. Sterling. Colby and I both liked him alot. He was very personable and informative and I would not mind having him deliver Miller. Even though I was ready to be scheduled for an induction, he explained that unless there is a medical necessity, each doctor prefers to deliver their own patient's inductions. But, if I go into labor naturally this week, either Dr. Sterling or Dr. Coleman will be our delivering physician. Miller is doing really well. He has plenty of amniotic fluid, the placenta is working well, he is very active, and his heartbeat looks good. Dr. Sterling estimates that he weighs about 9 lbs, but does not see any reason why he could not be delivered naturally without a C-section. So, the plan at this point is to do a "trial of labor" (induction) next Monday night and Tuesday morning when Dr. Nilson is back from vacation. This will still ensure that Miller is born before 42 weeks. Because my cervix is not "favorable", I will have prostaglandin gel inserted Monday night and then I will begin pitocin on Tuesday morning. Hopefully Miller will be born sometime Tuesday or Tuesday night. If the induction is not successful, then I will have to have an emergency C-section. We are praying that this does not happen. More importantly, we understand the need to be flexible and are praying for a healthy baby. It feels good to finally know that we will meet Miller next week!