Welcome to the World, Madelyn Reese!

Here's the story...
On Friday & Saturday (Sept.10th & 11th) I had been having more frequent, stronger contractions than usual. I would time them for a while and then they would dissipate. Saturday night at 8:05, Wayne & I were sitting on the couch watching the Razorback game and I was timing my contractions. Then all of the sudden, POP! I literally jumped in my seat and quickly looked over at Wayne. My water had broken! From that moment on, I was like a ticking time bomb.

We quickly threw the last essential items into our overnight bags and I hopped in the shower. Mason was playing a game on the computer and was pretty oblivious to us rushing around. Calmly, I told him we would be dropping him off at Mimi & Grandpa's house so Mommy & Daddy could go to the hospital to have baby sister. He nodded & said, "Ok." (I'll add that it was his bedtime & he was very sleepy!) By this time, the contractions were coming on pretty strong and every 2-3 minutes! I wondered if we'd make it to the hospital, which was about 20 minutes away...and we still had to drop Mason off on the way.

We got him dropped off and arrived at the hospital pretty quickly. By this time, I was really hurting. We got to the ER (the front doors are locked after 9pm) and at that point I was ready for my epidural! Too bad I couldn't get it as I walked through the door. Turns out I was dilated to a 3. (I was previously not dilated at all.) I tried to find a happy place and breathe through the contractions, but I thought that I just might die from pain, then & there. After each contraction, I would get a wave of nausea and ended up vomiting several times. I really wished we had not had pizza for dinner.

They got me to a labor room and I got my beloved epidural. Within 30 minutes, I was a happy camper! In less than 2 hours, I had dilated from a 3 to Complete! In disbelief, I asked my nurse, "What does that mean?" as if I had no clue what was to happen next. She said it meant that I could push. I expressed my displeasure that my baby would be born on 9-11 after all and she said (this part is a secret...shhh!) that since the baby looked great on the monitor and I was not in pain, we could wait to push, if I wanted to! Wayne & I decided it was worth the 53 minutes to hold off so that Madelyn could be born on 9-12 (which was actually my due date...and not a memorial holiday like 9-11.) I also really just appreciated having the time to catch my breath from the pain and to get refocused.

Madelyn Reese was born at 12:11 AM on Sept. 12, 2010. She weighs 7 lbs 14 oz and is 20.5 inches long. The most surprising part is the amount of hair she has and that it is dark! We are so thankful that she is healthy and feel blessed to have such a beautiful daughter! (tear)

After my epidural (thus the smile)


Me with the Mom's (Mom & MIL) before delivering.
I'm looking quite scary in this pic-a little like Jabba the Hut.
She's here! Proud Daddy
Our little sweetheart
Proud Mommy
MUCH more to come...(for like 18 years)