Labor Day!

Where to begin:

I went into the Dr. office Monday morning on June 29th (3 days overdue) to see if I had progressed at all. The Dr. checked me and told me that I had 2 options. 1: to have my stress test done that day and have one on Thursday and come back to see him the following Monday. He said I wasn't doing much on my own and I would still be pregnant in a week and maybe still have to be induced. Options 2: Schedule to come in the following morning for an induction. Through much thought and debating, we decided to go with Option 2 and get her out while she was healthy.

After the decision was made, we both started panicing. We knew that we would have a baby the next day when before it was just like..."maybe I will go into labor today". So that night we went to a baseball game and packed our bags and TRIED to sleep. Kyle was so cute. He was thinking of any and every question to ask while laying in bed. I actually slept better than he did. He was very nervous.

We woke up Tuesday morning around 4:15am and headed to the hospital. I think we were stalling b/c we didn't make it there until 5:30. We checked in and they got the pitocin started at 7:00 am, and Dr. came in and broke my water at about 7:15. Very soon after my contractions started every 1 1/2 minutes apart and weren't too bad. The Dr. and nurse asked if I wanted my epidural yet and I said, "No way, this isn't that bad!!" So they came in twice and turned up the pitocin so I was maxed out. I was still denying the epidural. Contractions were getting really strong and intense but I was bearing through them. Kyle was a nervous wreck watching me in so much pain. I finally asked my mom and Kyle if they would think I was an pansy if I got the epidural and they both said, NO PLEASE....GET IT!!!! They were both in pain watching me go through the pain. My body wasn't liking it anymore and I was shaking and quivering and it was too much. I got the epidural around 10:20 or so. The pain dr. came in and had me lean over the bed and I bore down into Kyles chest. Kyle was having a hard time watching me in the pain but I told him to watch the epidural be placed. He was leaning over and his knees were locked. As soon as the needle was placed, Kyle asked if he could sit down and he was going pale. The nurse hurried and escorted him into a chair. We almost lost the Daddy to be. Anyways, it was in and starting to work. Can I just tell you that I LOVED life after that. It was great. After it all kicked in I was ready to party. I couldn't feel any of my strong contractions and I was in such a great mood. I was laughing and joking and actually enjoyed the rest of my labor. Around 4:00 pm the nurse checked me and I was dilated to a 9.5. They said they would call the doctor and have him come at 5 so I could rest and decend. Dr. Judd showed up about 5:30 and I was ready to push. He checked me and said...Well, we have 2 options. This was sounding too familiar.






Option 1: "I can go home, enjoy a nice dinner, come back in 2 hours and you will still be trying to push this child out of you OR options 2: I could use the forceps and have your baby out in 5 minutes." I was really scared and didn't know how I felt about the forceps but I just wanted her out and he reassured me that it wasn't dangerous. He tugged and pulled on her for a bit and I could feel that through the meds and then he had me push twice and out popped her head. As soon as I saw her head pop out my emotions kicked in. It was finally real. I saw my little girl who I had nurtured and loved for 9 months and now she was here..almost. I gave one last push and she had arrived at 5:37 pm. Kyle and I both bursted into tears. Kyle cut the umbilical cord and they took her to the bedside to check her out. There were so many people in the room that I could hardly see her and remembered asking..IS SHE OKAY?? It was love at first sight. She was so beautiful and perfect. I did notice her abnormally large feet and her left ear was poking straight out from her head, but that didn't matter. lol. She was here, safe and sound. The dr. sewed me back together and next thing I knew, Bailey was in my arms. I will say, I think I fell back in love all over again with Kyle that day. It bonded us closer together than ever before and I'm so grateful for her and her adorable self.





We passed her around to all the visitors and then I was able to feed her not long after. That was an amazing but painful experience. The bonding that takes place when a mother feeds her child is undescribable. The minute she was born, your heart softens and your world has completely changed. Nothing is for you now, your child is #1 priority. Kyle has been such a wonderful daddy already and he loves his little girl. I love to watch him hold her. He is so gentle and caring. Being a mommy is the best in the world, although it is long and hard days. Bailey, I love you and thank you for coming to our family.

(I walked in to Kyle telling Bailey Bible stories. It was so cute)

People in the delivery room....that I could remember: Kyle, Debby (Mom), Heidi (sister), Katy, Annalee, Allie, Caren Johnson, Gini, lots of medical staff, and who knows who else. More people came in as soon as she was born.