Happy Birthday Cara!

Cara turned one yesterday! We already had two birthday parties with each side of the family, so we just took it easy yesterday. Cara Liza Luckinbill was born on September 4, 2007 at 6:23 pm.

She weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz. and was 20 3/4 inches long.

Disclaimer: If you do not like birth stories, STOP reading now!

I was very anxious to have her and have Justin there for the birth so we induced early that morning. Once the induction medicine was placed, I had a very long, very hard contraction that really scared the doctor and nurses. They rushed in and broke my water to put several monitors on Cara and to better judge the strength of the contractions. That one contraction dilated me to a 3 and Cara did not like it one bit. From then on out, the contractions were really strong and LONG, longer than was safe. Cara was not recovering from them very quickly and after 12 hours of labor and pushing, the doctor advised me to have a C-section. Cara was still very high and not handling the labor well, so my choices were to stop pushing and have a C-section...or keep pushing and have an emergency C-section. I felt I had no choice and was very emotional, but wanted Cara born healthy. So I went in for the C-section and it took 8 attempts for my spinal block to take affect (which gave me icky side effects later!). The medicine did what they call a "splash" where it doesn't completely numb you where it should, but "splashes" into other areas of the body. In my case, I went numb up to my forehead and it made it difficult to breath, I couldn't swallow, and because the meds did not get localized, I had some feeling during the surgery. Of course, I had to throw up and choke because I could not swallow or breathe. Needless to say, the experience was very scary and painful. I was not conscious enough to greet my new baby and while I was in recovery, the pain medicine I was supposed to have been given was not charted, so I came out of surgery with all the awareness of the PAIN! The nurses would not give me anything, so in the morning when my Dr. came to check on me, they thought I had developed a uterine infection because I should not have been in that much pain. The Dr. was pretty upset that no one had called her about it and had me attached to a morphine pump for the next couple days. Justin's mom was so worried about me that she feared for my life. Now I will not go as far as to say that I felt like I was going to die at any point, but I was more miserable than I have ever been. Long story short (too late), Cara was born healthy (she had abrasions or "rug burns" on her head from rubbing on my pelvis and the cord was wrapped around her shoulders, keeping her from descending) and after a long 8 month recovery for me, we are back to normal and loving every minute of life.

Birth story is over, it is safe to read from here out!

Cara is such a loving and cuddly baby. She has been very attached to her mommy from day one. She is pulling up and cruising. She loves to play with Merilee, but likes her own space. They entertain each other, and I can only hope that they grow up to be best friends. I am so thankful that Heavenly Father knew to send us our two girls and give us more blessings than we could have dreamed of. We love you Cara!!

Cara looks like a turtle. That is why Daddy gave her the nickname "Toogie".

Cara on her blessing day.

Cara with her first baby doll.

Modeling her "World's Greatest Sister" shirt that Merilee gave her.

Cara eating her "turtle" birthday cake.