I just can't believe how fast time has gone by. I still get emotional just thinking about that day, and I want to remember every single second. So here's my attempt at documenting the happenings and emotions of that amazing, difficult, frustrating, beautiful, life-changing day. Beware, it's long, and personal...but then again, I'm documenting this for my own personal benefit. Read at your own discretion:)
First of all, that week had been perfect. I still felt great and wasn't miserable like I'd expected to be. I was cherishing all those kicks and stretches because I knew I'd miss being pregnant. But, like all pregnant ladies, I was really somehow convinced that I would go into labor early. My doctor also thought so. And she went on and on about how easy labor and delivery was going to be for me. The Monday before my due date, I went in to be checked and had a final Ultrasound. It was so fun seeing our girl that day, and there was part of me that hoped my fluids would be low or something so my OB would have to say that "It's time to go deliever your baby!" But God had His plan, and thank goodness those decisions weren't up to me. We left the hospital and my delivery date came and went. My sister came in town on my due date because she already had the flight. It worked out sooo perfectly- just enough time for us to spend some quality time before the big day. We had a day out to go walk at the Arboretum, grab lunch, do a little shopping and even make dinner. Brandon got home from work and we ate the worst pot roast that I've ever made. Don't know what happened there. All day I'd been having sporadic, small contractions that I'd convinced myself were not really there. And I certainly wasn't going to tell Jessi about them and get her hopes up too. After dinner, I was noticing them more frequently- like every 15-20 minutes, so I told Brandon and Jessi (with the firm belief that these were false). By 9pm, they were stronger and more regular, but still 10-15 minutes apart. Brandon and Jessi were starting to be sure this was it, but I was certain this wasn't the real thing. I took a bath and tried to relax, washed my hair and went through my mental check list, hoping that the contractions continued. By midnight, the contractions were taking my breath away. Brandon and I went on a walk down the street, and they kept on coming. The contractions didn't slow down at all and I was realizing this was for real. By 2am, we were all still awake and the very strong contractions were 6-8 minutes apart (for a minute each). At 2am, we all attempted to lay down for a few minutes to rest before calling all the family. We called everyone at 3am and told them we'd be heading to the hospital soon. Contractions were about 6 minutes apart, so I really wanted to wait until they were 5 or less. Brandon and Jessi dozed off and at 4:30 I woke them up, needing help to get ready to leave. The contractions seemed to get a lot closer and we were timing them anywhere between 3-4 minutes apart, which freaked me out...I kept having visions of delivering a baby in the car. Oh how wrong I was...
Brandon and I left the house at 5:15 and got to the hospital by 5:30. We were checked in by 6am (who knew it would take 30 minutes to check in to the hospital- I had already pre-registered!). So they checked me at 4cm and 100% effaced. Despite the nurse saying she wasn't sure if they'd keep me (which I was not thrilled about), she called the doctor who immediately admitted me. Hallelujah. After we got into our delivery room, contractions got crazy and I was hooked up to IV and monitors. I was not comfortable staying in the bed, so we pretty quickly starting walking around the whole hospital. I bounced and walked and leaned and breathed heavily for what seemed like forever, determined not to get an epidural yet because I was afraid it would slow things down. Well by 9:30am, I was ready for that epidural regardless of how far along I was (which wasn't much more than I had been earlier). At 10am I got my epidural and I met my doctor who would be delivering our baby, Dr. Shimer. She broke my water in an effort to speed things along. The epidural was great and we all took naps until family started to arrive. By about 2pm, I was 5-6 cm dilated, but progress was slow. When I hadn't progressed more by 3pm, Dr. Shimer wanted me to try a small dose of Pitocin to see if it would help. I had been so opposed to Pitocin, but she assured me it would be a very small amount and I wouldn't have to be on it very long since I was already in the middle of laboring. It helped a little but my contractions were already strong and close together, so the baby disengaged and was higher up, which allowed Dr. Shimer to find out that my sacrum was curved in too much to allow the baby through. That's when she told me I'd be the lucky recipient of a C-section. Booo. I was a basket-case. It didn't help anything that I had already been super emotional, shakey, and had horrible chills. But I was sure it was the right thing and I'm so glad there was a definite need, not just me wanting labor to be over with. I went to the OR at 7:40, and Brandon came a few minutes later. Evelyn was born at 8:00 exactly, and it was wonderful to hear her cry. Brandon kept looking over the curtain and peeking at our girl, then he checked on her over with the nurse and came back to tell me how perfect she was. He was so concerned about me, but so excited about Evelyn. He brought her to meet me and it was amazing. I was so so in love and just couldn't believe I was finally seeing our sweet baby. We went back to the delivery room and I fed her immediately. She did so well breastfeeding, I felt so blessed that it wasn't an issue at all for her. Then our family got to come in and meet her after a long day of waiting very patiently. And of course they, too, were immediately in love. She was measured and examined right there beside me. 9 pounds, 15 ounces and 21 3/4 inches long of pure perfection. Later on, we realized that I had gotten a fever during surgery and therefore, Evelyn had also. We both had to get IV antibiotics, which was pretty pitiful seeing her with an IV in her arm. But she was healthy and happy and oh so snuggly. She immediately knew my voice and was calm when she was with me. She would look for me and it's so amazing how she already knew me. The whole day leaves me overwhelmed with emotions. Labor and delivery were not at all what I'd hoped for, but my baby girl was perfect and healthy and I couldn't ask for anything more. I didn't feel hungry or even tired for those first days in the hospital. Nothing mattered except her, and it was like I was literally just living on the joy and peace I had in being with her. I spent so much of those days just thanking God for such an awesome gift to us. Life would never be the same again, and I was so joyful. God was so present in those moments, revealing Himself to us as new parents.
As David Crowder puts it so well,
"When all of a sudden I am unaware of the afflictions
Eclipsed by glory and I realize just how beautiful You are
And how great Your affections are for me
And oh, how he loves us, oh
Oh, how He loves us, how He loves us all"
