She's Here!!

What a crazy couple weeks it has been! 

To back up in time a bit, it continued to be a not so fun pregnancy, but with every week closer to the due date, the more excited we became. As long as I could make out the movements of the baby inside of me, I could tell that she was breech. This was something the doctors monitored, but there's was always a chance she'd flip. Once we got to 34 weeks though, the chances were slim. At our 36 week appointment, we talked with our doctor about doing a cesarean section at 39 weeks, which would be July 31. Unfortunately though, she was on vacation, and we'd have to do it with the doctor on call; otherwise wait until August 4 when our doctor was back in town. We decided to take a week to decide and schedule our next appointment with the doctor for the 31st. I felt very connected with our doctor and really wanted her to be there, but a few days longer of being pregnant and waiting on our precious baby wasn't thrilling. So we went in on July 18, my 37 week (and one day) appointment with the on-call doctor for the 31st. We had met her briefly before and after a chat decided we wanted to book the 31st. So we scheduled a c section at noon for July 31. Later day I started making plans with family and my maternity leave from work.

I noticed that afternoon our little Peanut was a bit more active in the womb. I was guessing she was excited about making her appearance in less than 2 weeks away. Boy was I wrong!

At the end of the work day, I headed to the bathroom to empty my bladder before the car ride home. In the bathroom, I noticed I couldn't stop peeing. It was so weird. Until I realized something wasn't normal. It really wouldn't stop!!...was this my water breaking?? Was something wrong with the baby? I gave up on trying to make it stop and just pulled up my pants and took off. I hurried to my office and grabbed my stuff and called for a co-worker to come to my office. I told her what was going on and asked her to walk me to my car. I immediately called Mike without trying to panic. He was at work and would call the doctor and meet me at home. I also called my mom to tell her that I could be in labor.

Once I got home, I just started gathering all of our stuff for our 'overnight bag' that was in our guest room. There were last minute items that needed to be added. In the midst of getting everything together, I had to stop for more bathroom breaks to let more water gush out. Besides just being freaked out, I didn't have any other symptoms. I just wanted my husband there. Not easy to do during rush hour on a Friday night!

I got all the bags in the car and sat down for a minute before he arrived. He changed super quick and we took off to the hospital. As we're driving, I start to feel contractions begin and I'm thinking this really could be it. 

When we get there, I just tell him to park that I felt ok to walk to where we needed to go. The staff was great. They were very nice and calming and it didn't take long to confirm that I was in labor and that our planned c section was happening very soon, not in a couple weeks!

I felt extremely nervous, but I just focused on the task at hand. I've been to the doctor a lot over the years and I just wanted to think of one step at a time and let the medical professionals do their jobs. We were maybe in the triage room an hour before they were wheeling me to the operating room. I couldn't believe how quickly it was all happening, but I just wanted to get it over with.

Once we got there, the CRNA and nurse told Mike to stay outside the room for about 10 minutes while they gave me the spinal and got me prepped. As the spinal began, it did hurt a lot, but only for about 5 seconds. That was really the only pain I felt in the OR. More and more people started coming in...all had a different role in making this a successful surgery. Once Mike was in the room and the doctor, it quickly got down to business and it felt like only minutes before they were telling my baby was out and then I heard the most wonderful sound in my entire life.

It was the cry of the most blessed baby in the world. We immediately began to cry and thinking back on it now, I'll forever cherish that moment and will never forget how that sound touched my heart so deeply.

Throughout my single life, our infertility, and even the pregnancy, I never fully let my heart believe that I would have a baby because I was worried something would go wrong or it was all a dream. In that one moment, my dreams came true in the most amazing way. I praise God for giving me this wonderful gift and I'll cherish her always because God trusted me to be her mommy.

Every minute past then felt so surreal. They got the baby cleaned up and checked out with her daddy by her side while the doctors stitched me up. We were whisked away to a recovery room for about an hour where our family of 3 got a few minutes together and then we brought in my mom and sister, Mike's parents, and Mike's brother and sister-in-law. From there we went to our postpartum room where we would be imprisoned staying for the next 3 nights. It was definitely not the most enjoyable days although all the meds they had me on gave me little memory of every detail. I do know that we were very blessed by all the friends and family that were there visiting or calling/texting their congratulations to us.

I did get to see what an amazing daddy our Little Peanut has. Being so out of it, I just didn't feel like I got to be her mommy, but Mike was all the parent she needed. He was there by her side and watching over her every minute. He really is the rock that will always hold our family together and I don't know what I would have done without him by my side during this event or anything ever again. I love him so much and as much as God blessed me with an adorable baby, he went above and beyond on giving me the best husband and soul mate I could ever imagine. Ella Grace is so lucky to have him for her dad and by her second day on Earth, I can tell she will be a daddy's girl.

I also want to share how we decided on the name Ella Grace. Honestly, it was a name I have wanted for years and lucky Mike liked it too. My dad's mom Ella Pearl Johnson passed away from pancreatic cancer before I was born. She didn't even get to meet my mom before this disease took her. My dad was the youngest of eight and it was known that he was a mommy's boy being the baby of the family. From pictures and stories, I always wondered what it would be like to have her as a grandmother. I know I would have loved her and the moment I get to Heaven, I want to meet her. Plus it helps that it's such a beautiful name and it warms my heart every time I hear it.

The past couple weeks seem so incredibly wonderful. So far Ella has been an easy baby. Yes, she gets us up at night and keeps us on our toes, but we wouldn't want it any other way. I'm so glad that we trusted God, because he gave us the most wonderful miracle baby! Love her, love her, LOVE HER!!