October 12th, 2008

Sallie Rose's due date was October 12th, 2008. October 12th came and went without me having a baby. October 12th was a Sunday and I skipped church, mainly because I was uncomfortable and couldn't wear shoes, but also because I was secretly hoping that I would go into labor. After all, I was born on my due date so I expected Sallie Rose to do the same.

Well, she didn't. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday came and went and it was finally Wednesday night and the next day I knew I would have my baby. I had my bags packed, including Kevin's 14 bags and 12 pillows, and I had went to bed and suprisingly had no problem sleeping. I figured it would be like Christmas Eve and I would be too excited to sleep, but I think I was so exhausted from carrying around my extra 45 lbs that I passed out. We woke up the next morning and Kevin was running late as usual and I was waiting in the car fuming, wondering "why the hell can't he be on time for anything, not even this? Really?". Then we were off to the hospital for the beginning of our new life as a family.

I was nervous, I had no idea what to REALLY expect. Everyone tells you things, but experiencing it is something else. Everything was going fine until my blood pressure started getting really high. They weren't real concerned about it at first, but as time progressed and the contractions were not progressing like they should, my dr. began to worry. I don't remember everything, but I know she tried to break my water and I cussed. She tried to put a monitor somewhere and I cussed again. Then I asked for my epidural. The contractions were not bad, but the other stuff was. So, I get the epidural and all was good. Except my blood pressure. I finally began to dialate quickly and before I knew it I was feeling the real pains of contractions. Sallie Rose was finlly ready around 10:30. I felt like it was easy, but Kevin said it was longer than I remember. She was born at 11:03 pm. What an amazing time. What an experience for a husband and wife and their new baby.

My Dad, Patty, and Nancy were there waiting. I will never forget them coming and me being so proud of my new little girl. Then my Dad and Patty came over and gave me a necklace that was from my Grandma Rosa Lee that was for Sallie Rose. I cried and Dad or Patty, I can't remember which one, said that Grandma was here with us. I knew that, I felt her in the room watching. It was one long day that I will never forget.

We went to our room at about 3am and finally got to sleep. We sent Sallie Rose to the nursery and I felt bad about it, but I knew she was in good hands. I needed some rest, I had been up for almost 24 hours and not to mention had given birth. The next morning around 7am, the nurse busted through the door with our little girl in her rolling crib and Kevin and I sat up so fast and I think we both wondered where in the hell we were. We joke that it was like the twilight zone.

So, that was the beginning of the real adventure. I'll spare all of you the details about the following week, because we made it through despite the ER trip, me being put back in the hospital for 4 days, and Kevin taking care of a newborn baby on his own, not having ever even held a baby before.

Now, a year later, our baby is a little girl. She is beautiful, happy, and the biggest joy in our lives. She is loved by so many people and makes me smile every single day. I am a lot more emotional about her birthday than I thought I would be. I think I am just so grateful to have a healthy baby and people who love us.