Kamoe Ohana

Friday, July 15, 2016

Olive's Birth Story

OLIVE'S BIRTH STORY

I was 4 days overdue and so done waiting for baby to come. So we went in for our scheduled induction...we checked into the hospital around 7am and they started me on Pitocin. Everything was normal and going great...Ka'i gave me a blessing to have comfort during this special day. During the first few hours I was having minor contractions, nothing painful so Ka'i dosed off while I tried to take everything in. I remember apologizing to the nurses for his loud snoring haha! When they checked me baby was low and my body was ready for baby! I was expecting things to go quite like Remi's birth at this point. Around 10am mom and Abbey showed up and soon after Jessy was there too.

Nurse Abbey helping me stay comfy

A little later contractions started to pick up and my mom and sisters left so I could rest. The nurses told me to decide on the epidural (by now I know that the epidural was exactly what my body needs to relax and I go from a 4 to a 10 in about an hour---that's what I experienced with my first two). After being on pitocin for about 5 hours I got the epidural and doc came in to check me and break my water.. Here's where all he🎿 broke loose. Dr Harrison checks me and mumbles something to herself and quickly asks for an ultrasound. My heart is racing. She does a quick ultrasound on me and looks up and explains to me that when she went to break my water she felt 2 butt cheeks and no head..baby was breach and I would have to have a c section. I lost it. After having 2 pretty normal vaginal deliveries this was devastating to me. How was baby all the sudden breach?! They were checking me all day and never knew...it never even crossed my mind. Since my water was already broken, they couldn't try to turn her. They told me I had 20 minutes and then they would be operating. I was pretty hysterical, my mom and sisters were there trying tell me I could do it and that I'd be fine but I couldn't handle their encouraging words..and Ka'i knew that but was too nice to say anything. So I told them as nicely as I could that I needed to be with Ka'i alone. Once they left he did everything he could to keep me calm. He was simply the sweetest. We prayed, silently and together and soon enough we were taken to the operating room to meet sweet Olive. I could tell that my doctor felt bad about the situation. I was so out of it, with everything going on around me I could hardly keep my eyes open and I was super shaky. It ended up being a really good thing that I got the epidural when I did so the numbing process went smoothly. I couldn't feel much.

All I remember in the operating room was being asked if I was ready to get started..saying yes...and them telling me that they already had! Ka'i had his head by mine the entire time making sure I was ok. His eyes were right on mine and he was praying with tears in his eyes. He never cries but I could tell he was worried about me. He won my heart all over again while Olive was being born. Soon enough she was here and they held her to my face. She was beautiful, with a perfectly round head and her own unique look about her. Ka'i asked if he should stay with me or go with baby and I sent him with her while they sewed me back up and sent me back to my room.

I slightly remember him FaceTimeing me during her bath but to be honest I was so out of it. Finally they brought her in to me where I was able to hold her for the first time and suddenly everything was worth it. Recovery was rough and scary to me. Every time I stood up I felt like my insides were falling out. I don't remember changing a single diaper while I was in the hospital! Ka'i was superman in there.

Olive was a surprise from day one and she didn't stop there...she was a surprise c section baby as well and I am so thankful that she is healthy and here with us. My scar is proof of a miracle and proof that I can do hard things! 3rd babies are hard! I'm not going to lie...having 3 kids is life changing. But this sweet little angel we were given makes everything 100 times worth it. Elsie, Remi and now Olive are the best most beautiful creations, in my eyes, and I'm thankful to be their mommy.

We named her Olive for several reasons.
1) I've always loved the name Liv but wanted a longer name for it so Olive was a beautiful option
2) A personal story happened in the temple with Olives name
3) Elsie wouldn't entertain any other name ideas other than Olive
4) it is a family name (there is an Elsie and Olive that are sisters...sorry Remi!)
5) most importantly is the meaning..
Because of Ka’i’s Hawaiian heritage, naming our children has brought on a whole new meaning. We have given each of our girls a Hawaiian middle name in hopes that they will live up to their name. No pressure right? Ka’i for example was given the name Alaka’i meaning Leader. And he has been exactly that since the day i met him. He led on the soccer field. He leads his friends as they turn to him for help and advice, he leads in his jobs, he leads within the church and most importantly he leads his family.

Olive Hannah Lilia Kamoe
We chose her name with thoughtfulness and meaning:
Olive - symbol of peace
Hannah - grace of God
Lilia - lily: the flower of innocence, purity and beauty

She is already are exceeding our expectations!

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Mother's Day Dance

For my mom for Mother's Day we decided to make a little video showcasing some of our crazier dance moves. Hope you enjoy! And happy Mother's Day momma. ♡

Saturday, August 1, 2015

Here We Go Again!

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Remi

It's almost been 6 weeks since Remi came flying into our lives and I thought I'd better jot down my memories of her birth before they fade away. I say Remi flew into our lives because that was precisely what happened. Throughout my whole pregnancy there was never a moment when I thought "man this is taking forever" it literally flew by and then when the time came to have her, she came very quickly...and flew out of me (quite unlike her older sister).

Here is Remi's birth story...

On Friday the 10th of October I had my last scheduled prenatal appointment at 11am. My doctor was measuring me and taking my vitals when she told me that she was worried cause I was measuring at 35 weeks when really I was 39 weeks and 5 days. She told Ka'i and I that she was worried about the baby's fluid levels and thinks it would be safest for me and baby to be induced that day. We were NOT expecting that. And I was very opposed to being induced especially after my experience last time. She told us that she'd give us a few minutes to think it over and left the room. We went back and forth for a little while and finally decided we should listen to our docs advise and play it safe. When the doctor came back in we told her our decision and she said "good cause if you told me 'no' then I would have twisted your arm till you said yes" and then proceeded to tell us that we needed to be checked into the hospital by 2pm to get things going and that we would be holding our baby by 10:10 tonight (haha on 10/10). I didn't believe her.

We grabbed a bite to eat on the way home, arranged care for Elsie, called my mom and sisters to head up from Logan and Rexburg, grabbed our mostly packed bags and headed to the hospital.

We got into our room which we were told was the biggest room with the best view of those beautiful Wasatch mountains. Ka'i immediately offered to give me a blessing which I am so grateful for and hold close to my heart. By 3:30 they had my IV in and the Pitocin dripping. I was already dilated to a 3 and I was having regular contractions but not painful. I was EXTREMELY happy and grateful I didn't have back labor this time. So was Ka'i:). My mom and Abbey showed up followed by Jessy a bit later...we all sat around chatting, with the nurses coming in periodically to check for changes. I slowly was feeling a little more pain. But still had a smile on my face (Ka'i was watching Newsies--that should tell you how much pain I was in). I was told my doctor would be in at 6ish to break my water so I decided to try to take a nap before that happened.

My nurse came in around 6:30 saying my doctor would soon be in to break my water. She told me that I should choose whether or not to get the epidural before that happened because things tend to speed up a lot after your water breaks and that I might not have time to get one if I wait till after. I was feeling bad pain by then and asked her to check me and I still was at a 3+... So I said a little prayer and decided that the epidural was what I needed (especially with that darn pitocin) so the anesthesiologist came in and hooked me up with the minimum dosage in hopes I could feel pushing. Then my doc came in and broke my water and told me that she could see meconium (baby pooped in utero) and that we would need the NICU nurses there when I delivered just incase. Then she told me she had to dash over to another hospital real fast. I was feeling GOOD after that. Real good, super happy, giggling a lot at the excitement of getting to meet my new baby soon. I was like that for about half an hour. Then I started feeling pain, weird, cause I had just had my epidural. I told my nurse and she said she'd be back in 20 minutes to check me. I was shaking uncontrollably and my blood pressure dropped ridiculously low. She came back, checked me, and I remember her saying "so here's the story...you are at a full 10". My body was shaking so bad because I went from a 3 to a 10 in about an hour. P.S. My doctor was NOT in the building! She was still at the other hospital! So my nurse called her and told me to hold on and the doctor would be there in 10 minutes. HA! Hold on?! I had to push so bad! Not pushing was the hardest thing ever. While we waited, the NICU nurses arrived and got things ready. I somehow kept Remi in till the doc arrived, Ka'i kept me sane and helped me through it. I pushed 3 times and she was out in 4 minutes. At 10:04pm, there was NO way I could have waited till 10:10!!! They got all the meconium cleaned up and made sure she was okay, the whole while Ka'i was right by her side. I was in tears of happiness at the beautiful miracle that just took place, then they brought her to me and I got to hold my baby girl for the first time. It's truly amazing, this is my second time giving birth and it was a completely different experience than the time before but the same overwhelming feeling of completeness. Joy. Love. Gratitude. Every happy feeling possible. I wasn't sure if I had room to love another child and then my heart grew and made room. I had no idea that was possible. I am the luckiest mama in the world to have two beautiful, healthy daughters. And a husband who adores them and takes care of us all.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Mother's Day

This is what motherhood is all about...

I can't express to you the joy of being a mother brings to me. Ever since I was a little girl when people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up I would say "A Mommy!" I'm so grateful that I get to be just that. I love the tender moments that Elsie and I get to share each and every day...I'm soaking them in before baby #2 arrives! I can't wait to have another Child of God enter our lives and make it that much brighter and happier!

Happy Mothers Day to all you mothers out there! Especially my mom. She has taught me everything a mother ought to me, kind, patient, encouraging, loving, supportive, goofy, cheerful, spiritual, approachable and charitable...these are but a few. I hope to be like her someday. Love you mom.