Newborn Leah

I wanted to share some photos and stories about Leah's birthday.  So here's the whole story.  

Leah's due date was January 28, 2009.  I had an appointment on January 21st for my 39 week check.  Everything was looking great, I was 80% effaced and 4-5 cm dilated already!!! I was also steadily contracting about every 4-10 minutes. Everything was fine until they took my blood pressure.  My midwife, Stacy, wanted me to walk for about an hour, then come back and recheck.  Again, when we got back it was still 190/80.  She sent me right to the hospital.  Cavan got to calling people, and I was being hooked up to monitors.  They did some blood work, and determined I had pre-eclampsia.  I needed to be delivered as soon as possible.  I was really hoping for a drug free delivery, so I begged them to let me contract on my own until the morning, and if I didn't have her by 6am, they could start pitocin.  They agreed.  

I laid on this awful bed all night having very consistent contractions, and they were really starting to get stronger.  I was ok.  By morning, I knew by the look on the face of the on call doctor, I hadn't progressed enough.  I was 6cm by the morning.  She started pitocin. Wow, I was getting contractions every 30 seconds or less... it was so unnatural.  This is why I wanted a drug free delivery.  I was uncomfortable before this, but now, it was unbearable.  My blood pressure was getting dangerously high.  I think I remember them saying it was 210/80 at one point.  The doctor really wanted me to deliver, so she kept "upping" the pitocin.  Some nurses felt so bad for me, they actually pretended to "up" the dose.  Cavan was amazing.  He was talking me through every contraction, breathing with me, holding my hands, rubbing my back... wow, how am I so blessed?  He is the one that kept me focused.  By 12pm, I was done... I needed something, I was exhausted, in so much pain, and really needed to rest.  I requested an epidural.  They wanted me to get one earlier because sometimes the epidural makes blood pressures drop.  Unfortunately, the anesthesiologist couldn't find the right tubes, pumps, or something... and I was not getting any relief.  Wonderful.  I was fully dilated by 5:15, and my wonderful midwife came to save the day.  I pushed for about 45 minutes.. I could have gotten her out in 20 but I was too scared... what a goof.  At 6:06pm the whole world stopped.  Leah, Cavan, and I were the only ones.  She was a perfect 7lbs 6.5oz and 20 1/4" long.  

What an amazing blessing.  At that moment, I knew what a mommy was, I knew what I wanted to be for her, and what she needed from me.  This little person, whom we just met, was the most important thing in the world.  From that moment on, I realized how my love for Leah reflects just an ounce of the love Jesus has for us.  The best 3 letter word in the world is mom,  I am going to do everything in my power to set the best example and be the best mom for Leah.  She is our pride and joy.  The best day in our lives is January 22, 2009, we got the greatest gift.

Here I am.. huge and so ready to have our little Leah

Leah just born, making sure she has all her fingers and toes!!

Our new family

Daddy holding his princess

Leah had to be under the billiruben lights to keep her jaundice levels down

Beautiful baby 1 day old

Going home!!

Daddy and Leah

Mommy and Leah first day home

Leah and her best buddy, Payton.

1 week old Leah

teeny tiny baby

so cute.