Welcome to the World Linnea Joy!!!

Wow.....where do I begin?? Well, I suppose from the beginning. And I hope you don't mind all the pics ;) ....I figure the more the better for family and friends who can't be here to experience it in person. Now, I am VERY serious when I say don't read this if you are not one for labor details...I couldn't resist, and don't have a clue how to condense a story. I suppose I could just not write about the whole labor, but it was all so crazy and exciting to me, I just can't help myself.

I woke up at about 3:15am on Tuesday, August 18th and most definitely did not return to sleep. I think I had a few contractions that were 4-5 minutes apart, but after that, they were even closer together. Anyways.... :) .... In less than an hour I realized the contractions were really close together (probably 3 minutes), but didn't waste my time coutning knowing that we needed to get to the hospital. I took a shower and woke my hubby up at 5:15. My mom and him got everything packed up and into the car, and we were on our way by 5:45.

I decided to time my contractions with my cell phone during the 30 min. car ride (well....more like 20-25 min....let's just say Aaron wasn't exactly driving slow). They were 2-3 minutes apart. Now, as a side note...we were in a hurry because they wanted me at the hospital in the beginning of labor in order to get two doses of a drug in me. I have GBS I think it's called, which is vaginal beta strep (sorry to be detailed...I hope it doesn't gross you out). Each dose can only be given 4 hrs. apart. GBS doesn't affect me at all, but there was a slight chance of infection to the baby, which could have dangereous ramifications.....SO, all that to say, we tried to hurry.

By the time I got a room, my contractions were no more than 2 minutes apart and many times less. My initial thinking was there is NO WAY I can do this for many more hours, and since I assumed labor lasted a long time, I thought I had many more hours to go, and just happened to have my contractions really close together. At about 8:00am (I think) I started to have 2-3 contractions on top of one another and then a rest. I laugh at how I groaned I think through every contraction. I remember telling my husband that "relaxing is a joke, becuase it is impossible". My body was being taking over by extreme pain that made me shake and throw up. I was thinking "this is crazy! I thought this wasn't supposed to happen until transition (right before the pushing stage) and there is no way I am at that point yet!" Boy was I wrong!

Because I thought I had hours to go I told my husband that I couldn't do this anymore. He said "yes you can, honey, one contraction at a time." I didn't say anything in response, but I "knew" I wouldn't be able to go much longer without an epidural. The last thing I remember before asking the nurse to check me is having four contractions in a row without a rest period and pushing periodically during those contractions. The nurse checked me and said my bag of waters was "right there" meaning I was ten cm. dialated and I think fully efaced, but my water hadn't broken.

The next few minutes were the most unbearable waiting for the doctor to get there to break my water. He finally arrived, and didn't have time to put his blue scrubs on before breaking my water. This part is somewhat humorous. He rolled up his collared shirt as much as he could and broke my water, which went everywhere! Then he stepped aside to actually put his scrubs on, which felt like an eternity of time since all I wanted to do was push and all the nurses kept telling me not to. I won't go into detail, but I pushed like 6-8 times and she was born at 9:37!!!!
She is/was 6 lbs. 5 1/2 oz. and 20 3/4 in. long. Tiny but long! I only got one dose of the drug in me, so they had to take her blood the next day to test her for infection from the GBS, but she is perfectly healthy, so that is a praise!

That is a total labor of 6 hrs. and about 15 minutes. This is the part where you are not supposed to get jealous but rejoice with me ;). God is SO good and gracious!!! I just never expected it to be like that (nor that painful). Yes, I thought I was going to die, but then there was an end to it and the Lord definitely carried me through (with the amazing help of my husband and his sidekick, my mom). And the Lord's grace and MANY blessings have only continued!

I am amazed at the miracle of a child and have literally enjoyed EVERY minute of being a mommy and seeing my husband be a daddy. Linnea is SO precious, even when she cries. God has been so gracious in giving us a daughter who is absolutely beautiful :), nurses well, is healthy, and has pretty much already adapted to night and day. My mom has been a wonderful help and Aaron's mom is coming next Thurs! My heart is overwhelmed with joy and thankfulness to the Lord for abundantly blessing us.

Thank you all for your prayers and excitement with us! Enjoy the pictures of sweet Linnea Joy!

One minute old

A very happy grandma and mommy!

Daddy trying to give you a size perspective and touching his precious daughter's head.

Daddy bonding with Linnea.

Our new family of three (sorry Linnea is a little blurry)
Resting after her first bath.
Hannah meets her baby cousing for the first time!
Grandma's lovin on her!

I could kiss her all day!
All ready to go home :) (Thanks sis for the adorable outfit!)
VERY excited to be going home from our long three day stay at the hospital.
Readu for her first car ride!
Yes, she makes funny faces quite often that I think are just adorable
Welcome home Linnea!
She has really long fingers and toes!

Precious...

So tiny....