our wonderful nurses

I have to have a whole post dedicated to our nurses at Woman's Hospital.

As we got checked in we meet a nurse, Liz, who is also a member of the local Junior League with me.  It was so comforting to have that initial connection with someone in the hospital.  It felt like I had a friend in the hospital from the start.  She already had another patient so she wasn't going to be our nurse, but said that our nurse was great, Sandra.

Sandra was with us from 9ish when we check in, till 5pm when her shift ended.  She was so good to us, making sure we knew where the drinks were and as comfortable as possible.  She had to go over a lot of hospital stuff and she made it simple and quick.  We mentioned to her that we didn't have maternity coverage and she said she would help us out by not starting the IV until right before the epidural.  She was a caring woman and very compassionate to our situation.  Sandra  had been with the hospital for a long time and quickly put all our concerns at ease (as much as was possible).  She was so good to answer all my questions, even when I repeated them several times as my brain was not working correctly.

Due to the lack of other activity on the floor Sandra was let go a little early at 5 and Liz, whom we had met that morning was with us till 7:30 pm.  Liz was super sweet again, and we could tell she wanted to do more, but that there just wasn't any more to do.  We did spent a good long time talking through what we would be going happening in the next few days and she was very patient with us.

Christine was our woman.  She was very kind and will always hold a special place in our hearts.  Christine realized I didn't have an egg crate on the bed and got me one really quick.  It really did make such a better experience in that hospital bed.  When I was hungry and was only allowed to drink clears, she was so willing to call my doctor and request a sandwich--even making sure it was a fresh sandwich from the cart.  Christine could tell I was in pain, but wasn't ready for the epidural so she suggested IV meds.  I didn't know IV meds was an option till that moment.  What a perfect suggestion those meds ended up being. They knocked me out and made me so comfortable.  I think that having those meds in my system made it easier and less stressful getting the epidural.  I don't think Christine or anyone else thought our boys' births would have been so quick to arrive, but I am so glad she was the one to help bring their bodies into this world.  She cried with us for our babies and tenderly lifting them to and from our room.  If we had had to chose whom to hand over our two boys to forever, it would have been her.  I can't thank her enough for her compassion and carring spirit through the hardest time of our life.

Lastly, at 7:30 am we had a new nurse, Jennifer.  It was hard to see Christine go as we were so connected with her.  But, Jennifer was wonderful in her own way.  I had to have help getting out of the bed after the epidural and she acomplished this with a quickness no nonsence attitude that I liked.  We still had to make some decisions about the babies and testing and of course there was paperwork to sign, but Jennifer had this undercontrol even though we felt like everything was spinning out of control.  But after everything was signed and I was released to leave, it was great to have Jennifer there to help us in the process of getting discharged quickly.  She pushed my chair out of the room, the only room I would ever hold by sons in and held my sholders as I cried.

I can't not say enough about the nursing staff at Woman's hospital.  They are some very strong women to have this as part of their job.  I can't thank them enough for making the hardest experience of my life somewhat easier.