Monday, October 18, 2010 was hands down the best day of my life....of course our wedding day ranks a very close second! I was a nervous wreck on Sunday evening...excited to meet our little one the next day, but fearful of the unknowns of the labor process and how the next day would pan out. Josh and I went on our last date as a family of two on Sunday evening and prayed fervently before we went to bed that evening for our child's health, my health, the labor process, the nurses and doctors that would be involved, our child's salvation and that his/her birth would bring nothing but glory and honor to God. Thankfully, I slept really well that night. We woke up a 6am to get ready for the big day....or as Josh called it, "Go Live Day." We left our house at 7am (I took a good, long look as we left knowing that when we walked back in, we'd have a baby in tow) and checked in to the Plano Presbyterian Labor and Deliver Wing at 7:30am. After signing a ton of paperwork, we were escorted to our L&D room by my nurse, Brandy. She was a doll...I absolutely loved her! I changed into a hospital gown and was given an IV shortly after. The heart and contraction monitors were put on my belly and about 30 minutes later, Brandy started the Pitocin drip to get the contractions going! I started having contractions about an hour later per the monitor, but it took about 3 hours before I started feeling anything. When I started feeling the contractions, they really were not that bad....very manageable. At 1:30pm, my doctor broke my water. After my water was broken, it didn't take long at all until the contractions became extremely painful! I was dilated to a 4, so we decided to go ahead and get the epidural....no need to suffer through the pain if I didn't have to! I was so nervous about getting the epidural (I shed a few tears as they were getting me ready for it) but it really wasn't that bad, especially compared to the contractions. It took about 30 minutes to get everything in place with the epidural and then baby's heart rate dropped significantly (to 70), so they had to give me a shot to stop the contractions in order to get baby's heart rate stabilized. They kept making me turn from side to side to regulate it. Once they got the heart rate back to normal, they started the Pitocin drip again and the laboring process continued. Throughout the afternoon, I had to continue switching from side to side to keep baby's heart rate stable and they put me in other awkward positions to help open my cervix and get the baby to drop. I was just thankful that I couldn't feel the contractions anymore and praising Jesus for modern medicine! All of the nurses were convinced that we were going to have a boy (they said that boys tend to be a little more high maintenance during the labor process and baby's heart beat averaged around 130 most of the day). I think they even had Josh convinced that it was going to be a boy! (Come to find out, her umbilical cord was wrapped around her arm, which was causing her heart rate to dip throughout the day.) My doctor came back around 6pm to check my progress. I was dilated to a 6 (he was hoping that I would be a little farther along than that), but he was patient and said that we'd keep waiting and see what happens. Sure enough, I started progressing pretty quickly after that. By 8:00pm I was dilated to a 9 and almost ready to start pushing. Brandy's shift was over at 7pm, so another nurse, Laura, took over from there. She was fantastic as well! A little before 8:30pm, I started pushing. My doctor thought it wouldn't take long (20 minutes or so). Boy, was he wrong! An hour and 15 minutes later of pushing, sweet baby girl was born at 9:43pm! Pushing for that long was one of the hardest things I've ever done physically, but SO worth it. When Josh told me it was a girl, I was completely overwhelmed and SHOCKED....it was one of the most amazing moments of my life! We were both so excited!! They cleaned her up a bit and then placed her on my chest, which was amazing. My heart melted when our eyes met for the first time! I will never forget that day. It changed our lives forever. I definitely could not have done it without Josh....he was incredible to me all day long....and the best birthing coach ever! I love you so much, honey. More than you will every know. Thank you for giving me the most amazing gift ever....our precious baby girl! And thank you Jesus for hearing our prayers and blessing us abundantly...our cup truly overflows.
Our L&D Room...
All hooked up and ready to start the day...
Josh prefers this version...
Baby monitor...baby's heart rate is on top, contractions on bottom...
Patiently waiting on our little one to arrive...
SHE is here!!!
Getting weighed and measured....7lbs, 6oz and 19.25" Long
Much better now...all warm and wrapped up!
Our first family photo...
(I'm looking a little rough and swollen here...I'll blame it on the 13 hours of labor!)
Dad and Lucy Kate...
Mom and Lucy Kate...
Proud Grandparents...
The most precious toes I've ever seen...
She was not very happy about taking this pic...
We love our little bumpkin!
Lucy and daddy discussing the baseball game. Let's go Rangers!!
Lucy's Halloween treats from Uncle Jimmy, Aunt Jill, Dorothy (Kalie) and Ironman (Cole)...
We are so in love, it's ridiculous! Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers over the last few days. We are home and getting settled. More updates and pictures coming soon....I don't have much free time anymore!
If this picture grosses you out, I'm sorry. I just want to remember what my belly really looked like! It's truly a miracle that there is a baby in there!
I hear that modesty goes out the window once you've given birth, so I might as well get over it now!
Cheerleaders...GO #54!!
After the game, I had breakfast at Cafe Brazil with some of my besties...Gillean (due with baby boy Wade in January), Caroline and Karen. Gill and Carol are in town from L.A. and St. Louis for their high school reunions. We had a great time catching up! 
