And Baby Norah Makes Three!

She's finally here! By now, most of you know that our little girl was born on Wednesday, April 29th, 2009 at 9:47 a.m. She weighed 6 lbs. 12 oz. and was 20 1/2 inches long. And she has hair! It has been a blissful yet tiring week and a half since she was born and I apologize that it's taken me so long to post the infamous "Labor & Delivery" blog.

Other mothers I have talked to say that compared to other first time mom's, I had it pretty easy. And for that I feel very blessed! Not just because I was a little apprehensive going in, but now I have a beautiful memory instead of a traumatic experience to look back on. Luckily, my labor and delivery went pretty much by the book.

Tuesday morning started out like any other day for a largely pregnant woman. I rolled, yes...rolled out of bed around 8:30 or so, had breakfast and did a few things around the house, not feeling a bit different. I even planted some strawberries, banana peppers, and onions in our garden! I then went to the hospital to visit Dad and help in getting him discharged (many of you may know that he was in the hospital for a few days with a bad flu - and no, not the swine flu). We joked that now Norah would come since she knew grandpa was out of the hospital...little did we know! After the hospital I went to the gym for an hour long work out on the elliptical trainer, I thought that might help Norah get a move on if I did the same!

Jason got home around 5 o'clock and we decided to go to dinner at our favorite mexican restaurant, El Arriero...my last meal! We came home, watched a show and then it happened. After using the restroom, I felt what I thought was my water breaking. Shortly after, the REAL contractions started coming - and FAST and furious! By "fast", I mean 3 1/2 minutes apart from the get-go. And by "furious", I mean I could no longer talk through the contraction. I had to stop, learn over and just wait. Jason and I tried to go to bed, thinking that I was still 10 days away from the due date and that they would probably stop if I changed my activity by laying down. Nope! That did nothing. They were still coming...fast and furious. After a few minutes of laying in bed, I said, "Jay, I think we need to go!" The doctor told us to come to the hospital when the contractions were 6-7 minutes apart, s0 we were quite a bit ahead of the game!

We called our parents, letting them know "this was it!" Jay's parents were thrilled and let us know that they would be coming up in a few days. My parents, despite being sleep deprived and weary from 4 days in the hospital, jumped out of bed and headed to Ft. Wayne even before us! We quickly packed up the car and left, but not before one of our dogs escaped out the door leaving Jason to chase her around the neighborhood while I leaned against a trash can in the garage trying to wait out another contraction! It was truly a circus!

We called everyone in our phonebook (who we thought would be awake at that hour), while Jason drove VERY QUICKLY to Ft. Wayne. How quickly? Let's just say that we passed my parents on the road who had left much earlier!

When we got to the hospital, they admitted me and hooked up several kinds of monitors and told us that we could have the labor and delivery suite, but only if we would be staying. WHAT?!? I might have to go home??? Luckily...shortly after they said this, my water officially broke and that was my guarantee of staying at the hospital and leaving with a baby! Good thing, because I don't think I could have gone home and had to make that trip again!

They soon moved us into the labor and delivery suite which was nothing short of a 5-star hotel room! We had seen this room on a tour of the hospital a few weeks earlier and had hoped to be so lucky as to get it. Aside from being a HUGE room complete with a spring-scene skylight, the room also had a bed for Daddy, flat screen TV, and yes...a hot tub in the bathroom! Unfortunately I had little time to enjoy most of these amenities.

After laboring on my own for a while, the blessed anestheologist came in to releave me with an epidural. I must have thanked him 20 times! After that, Jason and I were able to sleep most of the night. Around 9 a.m., my OBGYN, Dr. Barbara Weise, came in to check "my progess." She quickly announced, "You're complete!" I thought, "what does that mean?!? Complete? Last time, I checked, I still don't have a baby!" No, it simply meant that I was ready to push! I was so happy that our doctor was able to deliver me, we have really liked her. I pushed for around 40 minutes. And I now know what my mom meant when she said, "it's the hardest work you'll ever do!" That it was! But all completely worth it.

As soon as Norah was born, the doctor placed her on my stomach and Jason was able to do the Daddy honors and cut the cord. It was an amazing moment. After nearly 10 long months, to see this beautiful little person we had waited so long to meet, was overwhelming. It felt so good to finally hold our daughter.

Now, a week later, we are still in love with her (despite the last night feedings and diaper changes and the many first-time-mom awkward moments). She is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen and I can't wait to see her grow! Daddy is equally enamored. He selflessly does anything for Mom and Baby and comforts his tiny daughter by holding her close and saying "Daddy's here." It's a wonderful site to see!

We can't wait for all of you to meet our little Norah. She is a precious gift and we hope that all of you will pray for her and pray for us as we try our best to raise her as God would want us to.

This blog will now be used to document Norah's life as she grows. So this is definitely not the end, but a beautiful beginning to a precious life!