The birth of a miracle..

This may be a tad boring to some.. so if you're not interested in birth stories, I give you permission to skip this post and move on to the next :)

Five days ago, on Friday, January 13th, I was exactly 39 weeks and I was walking around shopping with my husband, Kenny, and two youngest kids, Alianna and Dominic.. all three of them just NEEDED new sneakers.  As I was walking around, I noticed I was getting a little slower at times since I was having a few contractions, but I didn't think much about it, considering they did not hurt, just felt uncomfortable, plus, this was the norm for me, whenever I walked around more than walking from my couch to the fridge or the bathroom, I would start having some braxton hicks - no biggie right?!  I just went to the doctor the day before and he said I was only a fingertip dilated and they'd schedule an induction at my 40 week appointment.

After leaving the mall at 7:30pm, I asked the hubby to stop at Old Navy so I could return something before heading home, as we pulled into the parking lot, I felt something wet in my pants but figured it was more of the mucus plug since I passed some the night prior so I tried to ignore it as I hurried in Old Navy and while I stood in line, I felt a bit more come out and I was so confused.. am I peeing my pants, am I bleeding, or could this be HER?!  But, I've been pregnant 3 times prior and 2 of the times, my water broke and it gushed.. there was no gush this time.. just every few minutes, I was feeling wetness so I really started to get nervous and wondered if something was wrong.  So nervous that once back in the car, I tried to pull down my pants a bit and asked my husband to look and see what it was.. he verified that it definitely wasn't blood and most likely not urine.. "OMGosh, She is coming!", I thought!

Then a thousand things went through my head.. do I call Kate now and tell her.. do I go to the hospital now.. I haven't even packed my bag  yet (everything was in piles, but not in a suitcase), I didn't wrap the gifts I got for Kate and Amara yet, what do I do with my kids, Am I ready for this.. Is Kate ready for this?!...

Thank goodness Kenny was there and he calmed me down.. He took over my brain and did all the thinking for me.. he told me step one was to let Kate know what was going on, or atleast what I thought was going on.  Then we dropped the kids off to my sister and went home.  I took a quick shower while Kenny packed my bag and got me ready.  I was still leaking, but very tiny amounts, but I was now 90% sure it was my water, it was a nice clear-pinkish color - definitely not urine :)  I called my doctor's office and spoke with the on-call doctor and she wanted me to go to the hospital to be checked.

OFF TO THE HOSPITAL

Kenny and I arrived at the hospital shortly after 9:30pm.  I was full of smiles and probably the happiest girl in the maternity unit at the time!  It didn't take long for them to confirm that it was my water and although I was only 1-2cms, they admitted me, Labor & Delivery Room 2 was my new home.  They started my IV and an antibiotic.  Kate and both her parents arrived shortly after midnight and there we all sat.. nothing was happening.. I was only 2cms and the nurse was saying they may not start pitocin until the morning!!!  I was not having contractions on my own, so it was pretty boring.. The nurse set up a room for Kate and her parents, Room 8, and both her parents went to take a nap since it was pretty late in the night and no one knew when the baby would actually come!

HOSPITAL

Maybe taking a nap would have been the thing to do.. maybe we should have all just waited, but I was a tad anxious - I really wanted to meet this little girl and so did KATE!  Thankfully Kate and I talked about it quickly while the nurse was out of the room and we both thought it was better to start pitocin sooner and get things rolling and luckily our nurse was great and agreed, too.  She quickly got the orders from the doctor - The pitocin started at 2am and every 20 minutes, the dose was increased.

By 4:30am, I was definitely starting to feel the pain - Kenny had gone home a little before 2am to get some rest, but now I just wanted him to come back.. I really need him there with me, for me.  I had Kate there and  her mom was now back in the room, as well as the nurse, but I just needed my husband.  He finally got back around 6am, and I never been so happy to see him. I felt like I was able to focus more with him there.. noone knows me better than he does - we've been together since we were 15, he is my rock! Plus, I think I needed him by my side because I know I can be crappy and mean-ish to him.. I didn't want to take my pain anger out on Kate or the nurse!!!

Now the pain is really starting to increase and I am 8cms and feeling like I will never ever get to 10!  The Nubain that I received around 4:30am was wearing off.  Thankfully, the nurse was fantastic and had me breathing and focusing through the contractions - breathe in through my nose, blow out through my mouth, nice and slow - I am sure I was no longer smiling and joking like I was before, but I was atleast trying to be well-behaved.  My record for a swear-free labor and delivery is still intact by the way!  The worst word I ever said while in labor was with my first child when I said "SHOOT!"   :)   I am such a good girl!  (my husband would disagree since I have a trucker's mouth at home.. opps! But in front of others, I am a true angel.. haha!)

I don't remember what time I FINALLYYYY got the urge to push, and I am not sure how many pushes I actually did.. I feel like it was 4 sets of 3, but I could be wrong since later in the day, when my sister came to visit and asked how many pushes, Kate responded with "A LOT!!"  I think I totally scared her during labor and she may be a tad happy she doesn't ever have to go through that pain!.... Anyhow, all I know is, when I got the urge, I pushed with all my might, I just wanted this little girl to be born, to enter the world, to be with her ever-so-deserving mommy!  BUT, the doctor didn't have the same urgency as I did... he took his time to get his protective equipment on and get into position.. The worst part of pushing a child out of you is being in the middle of doing it and being told  "don't push".. reallly?!  I have a child's head almost sticking out of my vagina, and you want me to just lay here and do nothing.. to NOT PUSH?!  YAAAAA OKAY!!!   I was about to tell Kenny or Kate to get ready to catch the baby!!  Thank goodness the doctor hurried up a tad and was finally ready to give this little girl a birthday... and JUST IN TIME!

Right then, the most amazing girl in the world took her first breath.  Amara Lee was born at 8:28am on Saturday, January 14, 2012.  The doctor put her tiny body (6lbs11.4oz, 19" long) on my abdomen as her mommy cut her cord - pretty awesome since most mommies are not able to cut the cord of their own child!  Amara cried for the first time...

Once Amara was no longer connected to me, after she no longer depended on me for survival, her and her mommy sat down for skin-to-skin contact, both of them crying almost louder than the other.. Amara was on Kate's chest and I am sure Amara was able to hear her mommy's heart.. a new heartbeat to listen too, a new body to cuddle up with , a new person to depend on and to love.  There were so many emotions in the room at that moment.. I was crying, Kenny was crying, Kate's mother was crying, shoot, maybe even the nurse was crying.. I cannot even begin to describe all the emotions we all felt..  Kate wanted this moment forever.. a moment she dreamed about but at times thought would never happen.. and I am sure she never pictured this moment without her husband physically present... but as much as I know he was't there physically, he was definitely in that room spiritually!  Amara Lee has the greatest guardian angel watching over here.. he was there in that room that day, and he will be there beside her every day of her precious life. Happy Birthday, Amara Lee - you just made your daddy the happiest angel in heaven!