the last 72 hrs...(or something like that)

so, i had my 38 (38.5 week) appt on Tues. was finally showing some progress and was dialated to a 1 and was 75% effaced!! the doc said that "i know it doesn't sound like much, but that's great progress!...your water could break tomorrow, but when i see you next week then we can talk about setting a date to induce you." well, good news, and then the ok news. i really didn't want to be induced, but the idea was sounding better and better. so, i went home, excited, but also telling myself that maybe i would only be a few days late...and if it came to it that induction wouldn't be that bad.

well, that night my husband, being the night owl that he is, decided to head to bed very early (around 8:30-9pm) so i tried along with him (i usually go to be around 9 or 9:30, but since i've not been working i've gotten out of the habit. thought it would be a good idea to try to get back in the habit because once Ruby Belle was here i knew i'd be getting up at the crack of dawn again)...(this is the foreshadowing :) )

well, at 2:15 i got up to go to the restroom (for the millionth time) and my water broke. i was in denial at first, but then realized that i couldn't ignore the steadily flowing stream!! so, off we went to the hospital!!!

from there, labor set in. and boy did it. well, i was still only dialated to a 1 a few hours after my water broke so they started pitocin. THAT brought on more contraction pain than i could handle. (moms, you know what i'm talking about) so i started off w/just some pain meds through my IV, but then they cranked the pitocin up more and i quickly changed my mind and gave in to the epidural!!! and that was the BEST decision i'd ever made!!! i thought i'd try to go epidural free, but i quickly realized i could: a) hate life and go through the next few hours feeling like i was going to puke, pass out,
or b) enjoy labor and life and be able to see and talk to people

i will never go w/o an epidural again!

so then labor progressed rather quickly. i was dialated to a 6 after 1.5 hrs, then to a 8 after another hour then to a 9 at another hour. and from there...we welcomed Ruby Belle into the world at 3:05pm, 7lbs 8oz, 18.5in. and just PERFECT!! see for yourself...




Our Family!!! :)

proud daddy!! (and a GREAT daddy at that!!)


a proud new grandma!!! (we're definitely going to have to find a name for Ruby Belle to call her though...it's NOT going to be grandma!)



so, we got to come home thursday - 24 hrs after she was born. from there...it's been interesting! SO good to be home, but kinda scared me now that i have a little one to take care of!! i was terrified the first night, and each night is getting a smidgen better...but just a smidge. :) mommyhood worries have definitely set in!...along w/the "when do i get to sleep?" so, i'm off for a nap, but will post more soon!!