Introducing

She is here and we are in heaven. It is truly incredible.

Here is her story...

The night of 4th of July I started feeling, what can I say, funny. Contractions randomly, sharp pains, and just felt different. I tried to go to bed but there was NO sleep to be had. I was up the entire night.

Tuesday morning the 5th I asked Aaron to give me a blessing as I just felt not right and had the feeling that our lil one was on her way. He gave me a great blessing and kissed me goodbye as he left to go to work. I took the day to hang out. Still couldn't rest though...dang it! So I packed up Bear and drove him to the park. We played a MAJOR game of fetch and he was in heaven. So was I as I knew this may be our last time just us. I then had Young Women's so I picked up some girls and had a fun night of human foosball. I kept feeling just off. I got upset at a couple of the girls and have to give them a bit of a stern talking to. As I was driving them home I joked and asked if they were trying to induce my labor? haha funny....fast forward just 30 minutes. I am on the phone with my mom just chatting, I was sitting at the kitchen table. All of a sudden...a release. I said " mom hold on I think my water just broke." I stood up walked to tell Aaron and I said "yup mom I am pretty sure my water broke, let me call you back." Then it was like the world STOPPED. I told Aaron and I jumped in the shower and he headed straight out to take the dogs out. It was 9:30 p.m. I hurried in the shower as I was group B positive and wanted to make sure I got there ASAP to start the antibiotic IV. We were thankfully all packed, the kitchen table had been the holder of our hospital bag, correction BAGS. We kinda were like "oh my gosh, this is happening." We checked all our stuff, gave the pups a kiss and let them know that the next time we would be home we would finally have their sister.

We got in the car and we were so excited. Thankfully the hospital is no more than 10 minutes from our house, and that is even in LA traffic. We get there and park and head in to the 4th floor and I felt so proud and pumped to walk in and check it and declare "my water broke." They checked me in got me changed and on the admit bed. They tested my fluids and yup that's what it was. I didn't need much convincing as just like they say if your water breaks, YOU WILL KNOW. By 10:30 I had been checked by the Dr, officially admitted and contractions were coming, I was just a 2.

They then take me back to our labor and delivery room. Of course phone calls and texts galore were going out and we were sounding the alarm. At about 2:00 a.m. I decide alright let's get the epidural. I didn't know what this day would entail and I thought there is no way any of us are sleeping if I don't get an epidural. The contractions were manageable at this point, however no sleeping was gonna happen. At this point I have already been up since Monday July 4th and I was BEAT tired. So I get the epidural. Aaron had to leave the room and I felt so calm. I think he was more nervous to leave me. He later told me he paced the halls and actually was jumping up and down seeing if he could touch the ceiling. I worked on arching my back like an angry cat and in went the epidural.

Within a few minutes things were feeling better and the catheter was placed in. Amazing that catheter, it was so cool to not have to use the restroom. I am the pee queen and it was so cool to just not even think about it. Back to the catheter later though.

We turn off the lights, Aar goes on the couch bed and he successfully falls asleep. The heart rate monitor was on pretty loud in the room and I just layed in bed in AWE and EXCITEMENT yet this amazing sense of CALM. I listened to our girl's heart rate all night. I layed there in this dark room, only lit by monitors and just listened and observed my contractions wondering what the day was going to have in store for us.

The morning rolled around and as the sun lit our room the nurses started coming back in to check on me. I was at a 5 at 7 a.m. and then guessed our baby girl would make it here no later than 2. I was continuing to contract every 1-3 minutes on my own without pitocin. I told my nurse, Yvonne, that Dr. Meyers was my dr. She checked and Dr. Meyers was working at the clinic that day, not at labor and delivery though so that meant she would not deliver my baby. Then Yvonne came back in the room and said "so I just called Dr. Meyers and she told me that she loves you so much that she will come and deliver your baby." I just died. Then in walks my mom in the room around 8:30. I was so excited to see her and she was just as excited to see me. She walked in the room with the biggest smile on her face and came right up to me to give me a kiss and a hug.

At about 10:00 a.m. Yvonne came back in and checked me and I was a 10 and 100% effaced. They moved up baby girl's arrival to 12:00. So I called my friend Christin who was going to come and take pictures of the birth and of course called everyone else and updated them via phone calls and text messages. The plan: Dr. Meyers would come over after her morning appts. and help me bring our girl here. It was during this time when they checked me that they realized I was allergic to latex. So the catheter was creating a bit allergic reaction. It didn't hurt but you could see the reaction I guess pretty significantly.

Fast forward to 12:00...Dr Meyers checks me and well lil one is NOT dropping...AT ALL. Dr. Meyers was so sweet and happy and made me feel so calm about everything. She let me know she will check me again after her clinics at 4 and I should then be all good to go.

So the wait was on. It was so cool as we didn't even turn the TV on once. It was like a hang out party all day. Me, Aar, Mom, Jeremy, and Christin (capturing the events of the day) and of course Yvonne.

4:30 rolls around and they check me and guess what? No progress. Baby girl is still not dropping. So Dr. Meyers orders me pitocin, just a "whiff" of it they said. This made my contractions super strong and super close. I felt them and just knew something had to be happening. During this time my sweet mom I swear never took her gaze and focus off the contraction monitor. She was so great. During this time the nurses let me know that my baby is "textbook perfect." She never was showing any distress and her heart rate was PERFECT. Mulberry pizza was ordered and brought by Jer during this time. Of course I was not eating, as I was just having ice chips all day, but the smell was amazing and I was so excited to eat later that night. Nate and Rachel arrived during this time too.

At 6:15 I get checked again and well NO PROGRESS. Dr Meyers informs me that I have just a few minutes to show her that I can push her out else there will need be an alternative plan. I of course ask what she means and she lets me know a C Section. Not that I wouldn't get a C section after all most important thing is a healthy baby and a healthy mom. But I really did not want a c section, especially after 20+ hours of labor. (We later find out the next morning that the dr working labor and delivery that day had started prepping my blood at 2 p.m. for a c section and ordered it at 4:00, however Dr. Meyers called and told the nurses to let him know that she KNEW I could push her out and that he was to not do a c section. I owe it to her for having such confidence in me.) So I almost start to lose it and I look at Aar and I feel tears come but I fight them back as I realized all throughout the day that the minute I got teary I lost all my focus and all my strength. So Dr. Meyers suited up and we got to. Dr Meyers was at my left, Yvonne at my right and Aaron was holding my back and neck. I pushed and pushed for 10 minutes and it was so hard. I couldn't tell if I was doing things right. With every contraction I would push 3 times for 10 counts each. Aaron was right in my ear counting and talking and honestly all I could hear was him. I remember it being bright and him at my right ear the entire time. After a contraction the room became dead silent. All the women in the room would just stare at the contraction monitor and I did not say much. I would keep my eyes mostly closed and focused on my breath to calm myself down and regain my strength. Then I would say "Okay I think this is one coming." They would look at the monitor and say "yup you are right, let's go." Then for the next 30 seconds-minute (aaron counted LONG and SLOW 10 counts) the most exhausting work out would take place. I asked if I was doing it right and Dr Meyers assured I was and let me know that I would be able to do this. I prayed during this time silently, kept focused and just manged my breathing as best as I could. I never let myself go to the emotional part or thoughts of how hard this was, I conserved all my energy for pushing.

About 30 minutes into it the head was coming out and I touched her sweet head, that had BROWN hair!!!

A few more contractions and pushes later and her head came out followed by the rest. I remember them just saying "ok stop pushing." And I was thinking "oh my goodness she is here."

I reached down with my hands and then handed her to me right away. She started crying right away and I was so relieved to know she was healthy and here. They placed her right on me. All covered in her vernix, which was the warmest and softest lotiony substance I had ever felt. I just rubbed her and loved her and kissed her and was amazed. The biggest rush of relief came over me and I just felt calm. For about 45 minutes she just layed there on me and me and Aaron marveled over her. At one point I remember Aaron coming back up to me, as he had walked away for a moment and my mom came in, and when he came back he was just crying and kissing my head telling me how much he loves me. It was perfection!!! He cut the chord and we just snuggled close checking her out. Phone calls were made, my mom held up the phone so my dad could hear her, we called Matt and KT and Aaron called his family.

Finally they took her away from me so they could do all the vitals. Due to her being so healthy they were not worried about her so they wanted me to just hold her as long as I wanted. When they took her off of me I remember just watching everything around the room and sat there so peaceful and content.

Since then our life has been changed forever and we are in love. I honestly feel like she has been here all along. I don't feel so far the big change that occurred in our lives. It feels like the natural progression and feels like this has always been our normal.

We are in love and overwhelmed by all the love and support we have received by so many.