story

So here it is folks. It may be long and you may not care, but I want to document our story here.

I already shared with everyone about Thursday and our trip to the hospital and our trip back home.

So after we returned home I continued to labor and have contractions All day on Thursday throughout the day. I think the longest break was 45 min. Most often 15 to 20 min. apart all day with contractions. Amy was here to help - Thank goodness.
Thursday evening the contractions continued and picked up in strength around Midnight. From Midnight to one is when I figured out that if I was lying or sitting the pain from the contractions was about 10X stronger (I'd later learn this was because Landries head was against my sacrum (sp?))
So from 1:00 a.m. till I got my epidural, I was standing, swaying, walking or kneeling. My hips were killing me and I was so tired.

From 2-2:45 ish I had contractions every 5 min. or less (I was to have contractions 5 min or less solid for an hour before I went in) Then they spread out so we continued to labor at home. The biggest gap was 10 min. 7 min. was my average. Then again from 7:00-7:45 my contractions were on average 4 min. apart then started to spread back out. I was a hormonal mess at this point in pain, and tired and sore from the walking, kneeling, and sitting. Mark was such a trouper. Amy had come over to help me get through the day as I didn't think I should go in yet, out of fear for being sent home. My mom called and after hearing what we had gone through during the night she came over as well. At 8:30 I was told we were going in. I had GREAT fear of being sent back home again.

When we got to the hospital, with me breaking the law and kneeling on the floor board of the car on the ride over I was quickly checked and learned that I was a 5 and fully effaced. I was pleasantly surprised and then VERY nervous I might miss the epidural. I knew I needed sleep and wasn't going to get it without DRUGS!!!

We got in a room and got the IV and the drugs, then I finally got some rest. The rest of the labor went well I got stuck at a nine for a couple of hours with a 'ridge' whatever that means. During this time, I began having some pretty intense back pain, even with the epidural. I also got the shakes, a normal hormonal reaction. The magic people came back in and gave me more drugs, much to my dismay these did NOTHING for my back pain. This is when I learned that the babies head was scrapping my sacrum and that epidurals do NOTHING for bone on bone pain and I'd have that pain till the baby was born. YEAH!!! It was not fun. My doctor came in to see how I was and asked me to push a few times just to see what would happen to the ridge, the next thing I new they were dropping the table and telling me it was time to go. I really thought I'd have some mental prep time before pushing, but that didn't happen.

I then pushed for the next hour and fifteen min. I also learned that I have very sporadic but LONG contractions. I was pushing four times on almost every contraction. The babies heart rate was getting low so they had to give me more stuff through the IV which caused my IV arm to have some pretty bad pain as well (Yes, I'm aware I may be a baby) Mark was an EXCELLENT coach and did a great job of letting me know how I was doing by the tone in his voice. I could tell when I had a good push because his voice would get so exited.

Then finally they said your baby is here. For the first time in about an hour, I opened my eyes just in time to look at Mark so he could tell me that we had a beautiful baby girl. That was the best moment of the day for both Mark and I. Overall we had an excellent experience, but how could you not when what you get at the end is a miracle.

Landrie had swallowed or inhaled some maconium (sp?) so I didn't get to hold her right away :( They took her, in our room, for observation. We stayed in our labor room for a long time and they did not weigh and measure her until they were comfortable with her breathing so it felt like forever till we got to share our news because we wanted to wait until we had all the information we knew everyone would want.

FYI - Breastfeeding is going LEAPS and BOUNDS better and we are all doing well. Many wonderful friends and family have come by to visit and bring food, which we are grateful for - THANKS.

I will post more pictures soon and share more of our first week home. Amy was here today and took some newborn pictures which are to die for and I can't wait to share those as well.

Jaren is still doing great with 'Nani' and loves to give her kisses. He is trying to learn to share her with daddy but that is still a struggle.