Molly is here - not exactly as planned!!!

Most of you know this already, but baby Molly is here!

Stats and Picture . . .

Born Tuesday, September 22nd (10 days early) at 1:59 pm

Weight - 7 lbs, 6 oz (1 oz smaller than Bailey).

Length - 19 inches (1/2 inch shorter than Bailey).

We're doing great! Trying to adjust to having a newborn again. I think God really "helps" you forget some of the "difficult" and "bad" stuff - a kind of grace for new parents.

Details . . . If you are interested, here are some details of my labor and delivery (no inappropriate details - I promise!)

Last Monday was a crazy busy day - Bailey and I did our normal grocery errands, the entire computer system went down at Dillons while we we there, and I had pretty much constant Braxton-Hicks contractions all day long. Really, nothing too out of the ordinary, though.

That night, I went to bed early and Joey came up about midnight (it was the first night of season premiere week after all . . ) I told him that I'd had a couple Braxton-Hicks contractions strong enough to wake me up. No big deal, right?

Around 3:30, I woke up with my first real contraction. Didn't feel like they did with Bailey - she was born face up, so I felt most contractions in my back. These felt much different! I told Joey these were the real thing, but I had plenty of time.

Got up, paid the bills due by the first of the month (I know - I'm a little neurotic) and addressed the Thank You cards from my shower two days earlier. Contractions were still 15 minutes apart, so I decided to go into work for about an hour to take care of a few things. Joey's dad came to watch Bailey for an hour so he could take me to work (just in case). Got my work done, came home, and rested. Contractions were still 10-12 minutes apart. About 11:30, my dear friend Caressa came over to check on me (she noticed both cars were in the driveway and knew something might be up). Contractions were 8-10 minutes, but I could still walk and talk through them. She agreed that I should wait a little longer to go in

Then, noon - contractions became 5 minutes apart and very intense. I told Joey we needed to get some things together and go. We got in the car at 12:30 and arrived at the birthcare center at 12:55 - darn Kellogg construction! They checked me in right away and the charge nurse took me back to check me. At 1:05 I was 8 cm dilated and 100% effaced. She made about 20 phone calls (OB, anesthesiologist, etc), then checked me again around 1:15 - I was 10 cm complete! We had to wait about 10 minutes for the epidural because he was next door and by the time he got there, I really felt like I needed to push. My OB said I would have to hold the baby in for 20-25 minutes while the epidural took effect. Wasn't at all physically or emotionally prepared for this, but decided to go without! Started pushing about 1:40 and Molly was born less than 20 minutes later.

I won't lie - it hurt! But, she is here safe and beautiful. The best part is that the hospital recovery was so much easier than with Bailey (I had an epidural and had to push for a couple of hours since she was face up). I was able to get up on my own within the hour, nurse right away, etc.

So, she's here - all natural! Didn't know I had it in me. Will write more soon. She's a week old today. Time flies, even in early days.

Cammy