Everly May Najarian

Here we are, day 3 home. Picture two very tired new parents chiseling a third tally mark in the drywall next to our bed marking the days. Just kidding, it's not that bad! Everly is doing well. She is eating better and better each day. She sleeps (like a baby). We discovered that she does have a bewitching hour and it falls anywhere between the hours of 2 AM and 6 AM. Coincidentally these are also the hours that Katrina and I dread being awake.  To combat the dreaded fussy time in the wee hours of the morning, Katrina and I have decided to go to bed earlier and wake up for the day around Everly's bewitching hour. We also think about staying up late and getting shut-eye after the bewitching hour has ended. We'll see how things go.  We are still working on a routine but the routine might be working us. We feed and burp Everly every 3 hours, clean the pump parts, change her diaper, hold her in our arms, wipe her occasional spit-ups, and put her down for naps. If this was everyt...

 Yesterday was a wild day but I am elated to report that we came home and we came home together as a family! We were nervous that Katrina was going to be discharged from the maternity ward and that our baby would have to be left behind in the NICU. Thankfully the NICU staff was able to accommodate us staying in their one single boarding room which is usually held for mothers who are discharged before their babies are allowed to go home.  Everly was able to start eating more in the NICU (each feeding she was averaging an ounce of formula with whatever amount of breast milk we could mix in the bottle). Also, there had been no more troubles with her breathing. She doesn't cry or make much fuss at all either. We know that the last part may be short lived but we want to believe the theory: chill parents make chill babies.  Katrina has been doing better and better each day with her breast pumping (producing more) and getting Everly to latch on is building strong habits. We are ...

With yesterday’s update done now I realized that I forgot something. It was my Birthday yesterday! I’m 28 years old and I forgot it was my birthday but I wouldn’t have wanted to spend it anyplace else.  Evidently everyone else remembered it was my birthday because my phone has been just absolutely bursting with messages. Both happy birthdays and well wishes for Everly. I hope everyone knows that as busy as I am, I am absolutely thankful for every bit of love that everyone is showing us. I’m trying to get back to people but between answering my phone and my little hospitalized family I’ll choose to focus my attention on them and get back to my phone when there’s time for it. I hope you all know we are doing our best and that we love you and we know we wouldn’t have gotten this far in life without your love and support.  Today is a new day and we are lucky to be living it. Katrina was up early this morning. At 4 AM She was told by staff that Everly was ready to be fed. Katrina a...

I hope you all weren’t holding your breath. I’m sorry that I haven’t been back to you all with updates or really answering many messages. The last 24 hours have been challenging but we are all OK.  Since the birth and the quick update after that, it probably seems like I’ve fallen off the radar and I’m not kidding when I say, I have. We all have.  Baby Everly was taken from the birthing suite to the NICU right after birth for some respiratory distress resulting from fluid in her lungs. When inducing labor, things moved rapidly once they started moving - like a boulder down a hill. Our little girl went from aquatic living to room air so quickly that her lungs didn’t really get rung out while coming out of the womb so away she went to the NICU.  Now let me tell you - before any panic sets in - that this type of thing is fairly common. It is especially common for c-sections but it can happen when induced birthing goes as quickly as ours did.  When the nurses wheeled Eve...

At 6:01 PM weighing in at 7 pounds 14 ounces Everly May Najarian is born into the world! She is doing well and currently off being assessed in another room while Katrina is getting some routine care. Katrina did a wonderful job and our hearts are so entirely full! Pictures will come in time, we are not taking visitors right at the moment but we will be taking immediate family soon. We’ll all catch up over these next several hours and upcoming days. We want to thank every single staff member at Wilson who made this what a wonderful day that it was. There are not enough great things to say about these people.  Thank you everyone tuning into this for all of your love, support, kindness, prayers, and every bit of consideration given to us. You are all family and we love you to no end!

 No baby yet BUT after Katrina’s water broke, there were contractions - a bunch of them consistently. One following the other with a minute or so between them. I’m going to bring you all up to speed as the last few hours have been a blur. 2:15 PM The water has broken (see last post) 2:25 PM The contractions are consistent and the pain level is up. Katrina initially requested IV Tylenol but quickly decided it was time for an epidural. 3:15 PM The contractions were still consistent. There were some delays in getting the epidural because there was also an emergent C-Section going on for another patient. The doctor had stopped in a couple of times, the nurse stayed with us for the most part, and the anesthesiologist came in. I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful these people are and come close to the praise they deserve.  3:24 PM The Epidural is done and it’s time to lay down and rest while it kicks in. Katrina was still in a lot of pain at this point.  3:44 PM We were twe...

 The time was 2:15 PM when Katrina asked if I would adjust one of her pillows. As she went to move so I could adjust her pillow she said she felt something pop and that she thought her water broke. She hit the call bell and the nurse and doctor entered the room. After a quick cervical exam by the doctor it’s been confirmed. Katrina’s water has broken! I’ll try and keep you updated but any one of these posts could be the last until Everly is born. This may in fact be the final pre-birth posting. We love you all and we will let you know more as soon as we can. 

It’s now 1:30 PM and we just got back to the room from a little hall walking. The sight seeing on our little hike was limited, lots of empty birthing suites, a nurses station, and a group of windows that overlook an open area of dead space that the hospital was built around.  We walked down the hall and back twice and you wouldn’t have heard us coming if the IV pole didn’t get in the way of Katrina’s toes a few times. She says that the pain of the stubbed toes takes away from the pain of contractions. Modern problems require modern solutions? Right? We’re back in the room now and Katrina is - as you might expect - more tired than before we took to the halls. Now we are waiting for someone to come in and increase the Petocin from 12 to 14 units. We also think there may be another cervical exam in the near future.  Daylight is burning and we are starting to wonder if labor will carry us into tomorrow. Delivering Everly tomorrow instead of today would mean that Everly and her dad...

Katrina is very tired but has mustered up the strength to get on the exercise ball, as recommended by the nurse. Petocin was started at 2 units and has increased by intervals of 2. We are now up to 10. The nurse said that Katrina should start to feel uncomfortable when the petocin gets increased to 12 units. Either way, things are still slow moving but it feels like we are inching closer and closer to the start of active labor.. relax everyone, I said inching.  Katrina has graduated to a diet of clear liquids only. The turkey sub I had for lunch was not any good (or so I tried to tell her). Maybe I should have eaten that in the lobby.. there’s always next time.  And just like that while I’m typing this the nurse came in and we’re up to 12 units of the Petocin! We thought maybe 12 was the end but it turns out they can go up to 20 units. Bring it on!! We’re about to take some steps and walk the hall so I’ll leave it here for now. More to come…  With love, Jack & Katrina...

It’s 10:15 AM and the IV Petocin is running! This will really get the ball rolling as the dose will increase over time. The doctor came in a short while ago and did another cervical exam to reveal that she is 2 cm dilated now. In one of the pregnancy classes we took, we were told that birthing a child is like pushing a boulder down a hill, it may take a bit to build that momentum but the longer it goes the faster it rolls. Katrina is feeling a little bit nauseous but the nurse was quick to come back with some Zofran (smooth muscle relaxer) and diet ginger ale. The people who work L&D have been very good to us and they’ve been consistently checking back. I mean I know it’s their job and all but they have been doing it well.  Also the nurse mentioned that she had a portable monitor so Katrina could walk the hall and get some steps in. She wants to get out of the bed and walk but understandably not until the nausea subsides. It’s estimated that we have several hours left before Ka...

 If anyone out there in the world is reading this: we are running low on supplies. We are in dire need of ice, salt, limes, tequila, and margarita mix. Just kidding. But for real.  It’s the sunniest day here in Gloom County, and rumor in the maternity ward is that the temp is going to get up there into the 70’s outside. When we got here last night we were so grateful to see that our room has windows…but now Katrina is attempting to take a nap and sun is the enemy. The shades in our room serve about as much purpose as the free condoms that they put in a bowl at the check out desk at the OB Dr’s office. It’s okay to laugh.  With a pillow over her face and the room nice and cool, Katrina attempts to sleep. Oh yeah, Katrina is having contractions more consistently now too by the way. They’re short, the nurse said around 40 seconds each. And they are still pretty spread out. I think about a 40 second contraction and it seems like ‘short’ isn’t the word I would pick to describe...

 No baby yet! I figured I’d lead with that information. Good morning everyone!! Last night was uneventful. Another round of the inducing drugs at 2am and no real changes in baby activity on the monitor.  Katrina says that she feels okay right now. No real changes or anything to note. While we were trying to sleep last night the nurses checked in a few times, readjusted the monitor, and asked if there was anything they could do to make her more comfortable. They have been great to both of us so far.  I went home this morning to check on the Frey and as soon as I opened the door she let out a whine and about leapt into my arms. Without trying to waste too much time I gave her some loving and let her out to do her business. Food in the dish, water in the bowl, and just like that I’m back at the hospital… and still no baby, PHEW. The nurse came back and did a cervical exam - still 1cm dilated. Katrina has only one request at this time and it is for a banana. The nurse said th...

 Katrina is uncomfortable. Hospital beds aren’t comfortable -which is the standard in modern medicine - but hospital beds in L&D are exceptionally uncomfortable. The nurse came in to check on Katrina and she provided some Ambien to aid with sleep. The lights are out in our room for now. Die Hard 2 plays on the small tv in the room and the audio comes from the call button remote that is in bed with Katrina. As we lay here quietly I can’t help but think about the Pook, our furry baby at home. Is she waiting by the door at the bottom of the stairs? Is she watching tv? Is she hiding under the bed in a husky curl? Where ever she is, does she know we’ll still love her when we get home with our less furry baby? I’ll make a post about how she does when I bring home something with the baby’s scent accompanied by treats and praises.  Thank you to our dear friend Phil for consistently checking on Freya (pook) and the house while we are away. We’re going to shut our eyes now. Let you ...

We arrived at UHS Wilson on 04/23/2025 at 7:00 PM for our scheduled appointment to induce.  Katrina was checked in, we were taken to a room with a hospital bed and a couch and all of the other medical equipment/monitoring devices. Katrina was given a gown and some grippy socks to don. She was also given a cup for a urine sample. Also in the room there is an incubator bed for Everly. The nurse, Ella, checked Katrina’s vitals, went over several details with us, put in an IV, did a cervical exam, and placed the monitoring devices on Katrina’s belly. Whish-whish-whish-whish 135 beats per minute… and the occasional thud indicative that Everly is practicing her jujitsu. The attending doctor entered the room to introduce himself. He is an older gentleman who stated that he has been in this line of work for over 40 years. (Ella mentioned before this moment that he would come in to say hello and that he was a very nice and very good doctor). The doctor took some notes on medical history, al...