Birthday

March 15th Elise decided to make her arrival, 3 days early... and I was thankful for that!

Contractions started at 1:30AM, water broke at 3:20AM. I tried to wait it out for a while (watched Forgetting Sarah Marshall), but by 5:00 the contractions got stronger and I wanted a shower. I woke up Dan and told him that it was the day, and he made me use our code word, which Ireally thought was a joke... "Thundercats, ho!" We got ready and headed to the hospital, admitted a little before 7:00.

I was checked in, set up on monitors, the IV, all the fun stuff. The midwife came in and advised me to walk around which I didn't want to do necessarily, but I did it. The contractions got a lot stronger and I could barely stand up during them, so after 2 laps around the maternity unit I went to bed and dealt with them a while longer from there. Around 11 the nurse asked if I thought I needed something for pain since they knew I was pro-epidural... I said yes! By 11:30 the anesthesiologist had become my best friend and taken all but one little strip of pain away... it was enough to know I was having contractions, but not so bad that it bothered me. I rested a while... unfortunately things slowed down, but at least I was comfortable. Finally at 5:15PM the work began. I could feel some discomfort, but just enough to feel when I had a contraction. As the time went by I was progressing, but getting fatigued. The midwife consulted the OB on call as to whether I should continue, or if surgery would be needed... she said if I was up for it, to keep pushing. The only complication at the time was I had a fever. After a while longer the OB came back in to assist since Elise did not want to come out on her own. She had continued to progress, but I was exhausted to the point of sleeping between contractions.

So with a little help at 9:49PM Elise Michelle made her arrival, 7 pounds 7 ounces, 20.5 inches long. I got to see her for a little while before they took her to the nursery... she needed precautionary antibiotics because of my fever and infection.

The last hour of labor was a little foggy, maybe for the best... once all the excitement was over they brought me dinner around 11PM and I remember eating all of it in about 2 minutes. I was tired, but I was starving! Just as I was falling asleep we had to be moved from the birthing room to the maternity unit (1:30AM), but at least it was nice to feel settled.

changes are coming

Less than a month until my due date. Belly is steadily expanding, but overall I'm feeling pretty good. Moving slower these days, but still working full time, hoping to save all my time off for after the baby arrives. Dan should be able to finish up the baby's room this weekend... some touch-up painting and putting the crib together. Then I can finally empty my living room of the shower gifts. It reminds me of how lucky we are to have such considerate friends and family, but I need it to be put away... exert the last little bit of control I can before she gets here!

I'm sure our pets will be in for a shock, as much as we will be. They have been our babies for the last several years, so they will be a bit displaced. Cal will probably want to snuggle with the baby, Nemo will probably hide for the next few years and Lily should be fine as long as she gets her walks and frisbee.

It has luckily been an uncomplicated pregnancy... I have actually enjoyed most of it, just a few days here and there that I would skip if I had the choice. Now we are just waiting... excited and nervous.