Thank you just doesn't quite seem to cut it.

So...I'm throwing in a bunch of cookies and some hand made cards.

Tomorrow's my sweet baby's birthday. So, in these days and weeks leading up to the big day, Dennis and I have done a fair amount of reminiscing about the pregnancy and the day Kaylee was born.

We were so incredibly blessed to have such amazing people taking care of us. So, tomorrow, I'm getting Kaylee all dressed up in her cute little birthday dress (with matching bow, of course), and we're delivering some cards and some cookies to 4 of the people who made such a difference to us.

Let's start with my OB doctor. Here's her card.


















I work in a hospital, so I know full well that there are plenty of doctors out there who really don't take the time to make their patients feel like they matter. They just rush, rush, rush, and they don't take time to answer questions and make patients feel like their concerns are significant at all. It's as if everyone is "just another patient."

Not my OB doctor. Even though I showed up to every appointment for the first 3/4 of my pregnancy with a list of questions 3 miles long, she'd just sit there and patiently answer each of my questions, never acting as if any of them were stupid or silly. And when I finished asking questions, she'd say - "Okay, what else? What other questions do you have?" And she wasn't even being sarcastic - she really meant it! She's been so kind and laid back, and when I worried about things, she had a way of bringing me back down to reality and calming me down. Then, 3 months after Kaylee was born, it was her that helped me get back to being me again when I was going through postpartum depression. She's awesome. I'm hoping and praying that she's not on maternity leave herself when it comes time for me to have another baby someday. I'm just so selfish, aren't I?

Next, the doctor who actually delivered my baby because my doctor's round of on-call duty ended a few hours before Kaylee was born. Here's his card, with a significant amount of green - because he's a guy.


















I was never at all crazy about the idea of a man delivering my baby. But, I got over that real quick as soon as I felt the first contraction. I didn't care who delivered that kid as long as she got OUT.

So, I think this doctor went between the hospital and the doctor's office a minimum of 3 or 4 times the day Kaylee was born. Her heart was doing some funny things, so he'd rush over and check it out, keeping a real close eye on us, and almost taking us for a c-section 2 different times, until Kaylee decided to start behaving again. I remember getting really scared right before it was time to push - I was just terrified that something might happen, and so I was talking to my nurse about it. He jumped right in there and gave me an awesome pep talk, restoring my confidence in myself, and in the team of people there in the delivery room with me. In between contractions he told funny stories about his own little girl, and he was constantly reassuring me through the whole process.

Ultimately, I know that God was in control that whole day, and it was God that kept us safe, but he sure knew what he was doing when he gave us this doctor. It was that doctor who called the shots all day about what needed to be done in order to ensure that Kaylee and I were safe. He was the one who quickly untangled the cord that was around her neck twice and her belly once, and he was the first person to ever lay eyes on my beautiful baby girl. A few days later, he happened to be on call when I had my first panic attack, and he talked me through it, every step of the way, and never made me feel like it was anything to be ashamed of. I remember hearing his own kids in the background as he talked me through it.

Honestly, how can you ever possibly thank someone for all those things?

Next, is my labor nurse - Melinda. She. was. my. ANGEL. And she gets my favorite card.


















I work in the OB on the weekends, and before I had Kaylee, I remember thinking that if I could have my pick of any of the nurses to be my labor nurse, it would have been this amazing lady. She was by my side all day long, giving Dennis ideas about how he could help me cope with the pain, letting me squeeze her hand until it was completely white while I battled contractions, helping me breathe, and rescuing me from the wretched Nurse Ratchett who took care of me for a couple hours before Melinda was on duty. Nurse Ratchett had the nerve to see how far I was dilated DURING a contraction and when I winced in pain and said, "OUCH!" that bizatch looked at me and said, "You need to learn to relax." Had Melinda not shown up when she did, I think there would have been a hole in the wall in the shape of Nurse Ratchett's head. I don't know what I would have done without Melinda. She was always calm, always gentle and kind, and genuinely shared our excitement as we welcomed Kaylee into the world.

And, because I am not a machine, I stopped making cards at 4. This last one goes to my lactation consultant (LC for short).


















If you've been a reader for a while, you know that Kaylee decided not to latch on for the first 8 weeks of her life. We needed some help, and my LC was there every step of the way. She'd make time for us whenever we needed it, and she'd even talk me through stuff on the phone. She was there with me through the tears, the disappointment, the frustration, the clogs and infections, and finally - she was there with me for the success. She never gave up on me, and she was a constant source of encouragement and optimism during a time when I felt like a helpless failure. She has absolutely adored Kaylee from day one, and I think I'd have given up if it weren't for her.

I know this was a long post, so if you made it to the end, go reward yourself with a cookie, a new purse, a pedicure, or whatever it is you like to be rewarded with.

It's posts like this one that I have to remind myself of why I blog. Yes, I blog for you. But, I also blog for me. Someday, I want to remember these little details about why these 4 people meant so much to me, and since I've become a mother, my brain cells are diminishing with each passing day, so I need to get these thoughts out there while they're still relatively fresh. They've survived in my swiss cheese brain for a year, but I'm not sure how much longer I'll remember things so vividly. So, thanks for bearing with me.

And now, it's time for me to go to bed. Tomorrow, I'll have a 1 year old to shower with hugs and kisses. :)