First of all, She hardly ever gave me morning sickness. Thanks so much for that, oh daughter of mine.
I craved those salty, crispy, greasy burgers from Freddy's instead of chocolate chip cookies.
She wasn't much of a kicker and she never got the hiccups.
I was hoping she would be born on New Years Day. How cool of a birthday would that be?
Alas, January 1st arrived and nothing was happening. I went to bed around midnight that night. I don't know what compelled me to stay up that late but I did.
I remember laying down in bed and I just had the weirdest feeling in my back. It was almost like a deep tickle in my spine.
In the back of my mind, I knew that it was beginning. Yet I pushed it further back and told myself it was really just a hope.
Paul came to bed around 2:30. He hardly ever wakes me up when he gets in bed but that night he did. When I woke up I felt the teeniest tiniest contraction. I tried to sleep but;
1. I was way too excited to sleep
2. The contractions were just annoying enough that they kept me up and
3. I was way way way too excited to sleep.
There is just something about labor day, guys. Knowing that you are about to meet this little one that you have been waiting for for 9 months. Wondering what she will look like.. Hoping that the ultrasound was correct and she actually is a she so you didn't buy all of these adorable little baby girl clothes for nothing..
I got up and went into the living room.
My distraction of choice was The Office season 9. Time to binge watch.
I sat on the birthing ball and timed each contraction. They got closer and closer together and each was a little more painful than the last.
I called my mom and I called my mother-in-law pretty early in the morning letting them know I was pretty sure it was time.
My mom started to make the hour and a half drive from Sapulpa and my in-laws came to pick up Shamblin.
Of course as soon as they got there my contractions stopped.
They just stopped...
I was afraid it was a false alarm but Paul's parents took Shamblin anyway.
By that time I had woken up a grumpy husband. (sorry Paul but you should really get in bed earlier)
We had gotten everything packed up for the hospital but since my contractions stopped we didn't go. So Paul sprawled out on the couch and fell asleep.
I decided to take advantage of the stall in the middle of my labor to get some shut eye too since I only had slept about two and a half hours.
It was a gift from God.
I got to sleep another couple of hours and when I woke up it was go time again! My contractions were back and they were strong.
At 11:00 we left for the hospital and stopped at sonic because I was starving.
mmmm... cheesburger bacon toasters...
Can I just say that I love the Norman Healthplex? So clean and everyone is so friendly! Except for the lady that took us back in the triage room. She was a little grumpy. She also made us wait in that room for an hour. She also took about 8 minutes to see how dilated I was. So that was awful.. but i'm not holding a grudge or anything..
They finally got me to my room and broke my water. Which means labor just got a lot harder yo. After an hour I was ready for my epidural because I had not progressed any further.
Thank you giant needle in my spine.
I could still feel each contraction but they no longer hurt so I closed my eyes and tried to doze off.
I always felt a little annoyed that I had to be hooked up to machines while I labored. I felt like it was unnecessary. Oh how wrong I was. Oh how grateful I am for the machines that surround me and monitor my heart and my girl's heart.
As I was drifting off I could hear the beeping slow down. It got slower and slower. I was so tired literally the first thought that went through my head was, "Am I dying?"
I open my eyes and I see the nurse hustle in. I could tell there was something wrong. She was moving way too quickly for just a check in on me.
I'm thankful for nurses who can stay so calm in a time of crisis. I knew something bad was happening but I didn't know what.
Serenity's heart rate had plummeted.
They quickly put an oxygen mask on me and told me to breath deep. They tried to flip me over on my other side.
This was the scariest few minutes of my life.
I am so thankful for nurses knowing exactly what to do.
Soon Serenity's heart rate was back where it needed to be.
After I shed a few tears I felt better and thanked God for helping Serenity.
When they checked on my dilation I was at a 7. About 30 minutes later my brother, Luke, and my father came to visit.
My sister was on her way to take pictures for me but she was stopping to get some food for everyone.
Except for me.. woe is labor.
My mom stepped out for the first time all morning to go to the bathroom. While she stepped out they checked my dilation and I was at a 10! It happened so fast. Paul ran to get my mom and she called Becky and told her to just forget the food and get her butt to the hospital!
I pushed maybe 4 or 5 times and my little baby was out. My sister walked in right when it happened and was able to capture these beautiful moments.
She was such a tiny thing. She has brought so much joy to our house! My little Ren Bird.
