She's Here...the adventure begins!

Well, it turns out...that feeling I had was right. We went to dinner that evening at Chili's and I figured I would make it another day or so. We came home and jumped into some things that needed finished...dishes, laundry, vacuuming, Aliyah's schoolwork. I took a break and talked on the phone still feeling like it would be a day or so away. I got up to get ready for bed and it had started raining. I took a bath and started feeling like the back pain and lower abdominal pain started to pick up.

I had Keirah go get Josh and I told him I was going to get some stuff ready to go and get ready and dressed again. I had two reservations...being sent home from the hospital OR not making it to the hospital on time. We called my mom and told her to be on high alert. She decided to come over to spend the night. As I was getting ready, things began picking up even more...to the tune of every 3-5 minutes. This all happened over 15-20 minutes. Aliyah was beyond excited and was hopping around. I got love from both girls before heading out. We decided to take off. My thought was if everything stopped we would turn around and head back. Josh assured me that they wouldn't send me home and it was real. We headed out in the rain while each of us made a call or two. It was almost 11 pm I think. It seemed like we got to stop at some extra red lights (go figure). The contactions began to intensify. I had to remind Josh to speed up a bit since he was kind of going LESS than the speed limit. I was so happy to see the lights of the hospital...semi-deserted due to the late hour.

We got out and took nothing inside except for my purse and the paper from my doctor's office that I had been instructed to take. We walked up to the doors and they were all locked...oh boy! So, there we stood with me having contractions that were pretty intense just hoping to get inside. There wasn't anyone inside the large lobby. Josh picked up the phone to get the doors opened. It rang for what seemed forever and finally someone picked up. He explained and the doors magically opened. I remember the elevator ride up...me bent over in pain. We got up to the floor and Josh told them we were there to have a baby. I often wonder how often people just walk in and say such because both times we have done that they have seemed kind of surprised considering it is the maternity floor. They put me in a room and excused themselves quickly as there was a delivery going on across the hall.

So, here I am sitting on the bed while across the hall is some lady who evidently didn't do any pain meds (our guess). She was moaning, groaning, screaming and all things imaginable. It was disturbing to me as I was in pain myself and that wasn't helping. We turned on the television to drown out the strange noise. Fortunately, it ended and I was writhing in pain. It hit me then that I was in back labor which I vividly remembered having with Aliyah. The LD nurse came back and started getting things going for me...meaning getting all of the info and other trivial things. She asked me my pain level and I told her 10...it was! They asked if I planned on having an epidural which I told them YES! Before I could have that, they had to draw blood, more questions, and forms to sign. The blood draw didn't go so great pain-wise since I apparently hadn't had enough water. I don't give blood very well--small veins or something. Add to that, the contractions were every 2 minutes and VERY intense. My phone was basically dead so no updates for anyone. They hooked me up to the monitors and confirmed what I told them about the 2 minute apart contractions. The blood pressure was a little elevated--go figure based on the pain.

At first check, I was at 3 and was 80-90 effaced. My water broke and then I was at a 4-5. After what seemed like ages, the lady came in to do the epidural. I hoped to be able to sit still...it was hard but I got it. I think it was around 12:30 or 1 when that happened. My left leg started tingling rather quickly, although they had to come back a few minutes later to add more. Pretty soon, the mid-wife on call came in. We talked and she said that it was going to be a pretty quick delivery. Time was flying by and it was probably 2 or 2:30. The epidural definitely helped. Around 3 am, the midwife came in again and sat down to talk and say they were calling a person from another hospital to do suctioning when she was born due to the meconium that was present when the water broke. Apparently, with the lateness (earliness) of the hour, they had to get a person to come in for this. She wasn't worried about it as it is common. As we sat there, she (midwife) told us that she grew up in the same city as we did. In my mind, I figured we would find a connection somewhere since we have lived here our entire lives. She asked what schools we attended and told us that she attended a private Catholic hs. Well, I figured that there was a good chance that she and Josh may have gone to the same elementary/middle school. Josh was pretty drowsy as he had worked the early shift the day before and had been up almost 24 hours straight. Anyway, in the next sentence she said that she went to the school. I looked at her and told her that Josh went there too. She asked him how old he was and then it all clicked for both of them. Yep...Josh and our doctor went to school together from kindergarten through 8th grade. We all had a good laugh about all of that. She said it made her day. I thought it was great because of all of the docs that I had seen, I saw her the most and so this seemed really comfortable. She (doc) checked again and I was fully dialated and effaced.

Anyway, the special suctioning person arrived from the other hospital and they were ready to go. I wonder really if it would have all gone faster if the hospital hadn't been busy that night and it hadn't been the middle of the night. The LD crew were lively and funny and it was so pleasant. She wanted me to do a "trial" push I guess. Once we did that for a few seconds, doc said she was getting dressed which all happened in like 15 seconds it seemed. They said fast, but I didn't have a clue how fast. We did a push and another and mid-way through one of them I almost felt nauseous and was coughing. Really, I just needed some breaths and all was fine. Next push...not long and there she was...3:45 am. I heard her start crying right away and they held her up. I didn't think she looked very large. I couldn't believe it happened so fast! I got to hold her and love on her for the next hour or more. After that, daddy went to the nursery to do bath, weight, and all of that good stuff. He was gone awhile. Finally, the nurse came back a little over an hour later to tell me her weight...7 lbs. 1 oz. and 19 inches long!

We were so excited! Not much sleep save about 30 minutes for me and then I was starving for breakfast. We ordered breakfast and I ate/scarfed that right up.

I was so impressed with the midwife. She did a great job of explaining everything and taking care of us. It was the best delivery I've had.
The hospital was so full, that I had to stay in the birthing room until way later on Saturday when they had 7 mommies/babies leave. Normally, this hospital doesn't have near that many at once. All rooms are private and that's great if you ask me. Ironically, once we got to our room, it was the same one we were in when Keirah was born =). We got discharged on Sunday which was awesome...rather than Monday. The beds are just not comfortable. I wanted my own bed and I knew my back would feel better at home in my own bed and I was right =).

More later on our adventures! Typing is difficult while holding a baby! We are loving her and cherishing each and every moment as they go way too fast!!