Welcome Grace Josephine

On Sunday, July 19, 2009 we welcomed Grace Josephine into our family at 5:24 a.m.

We left for the hospital Saturday night when I found myself recognizing a few early signs of labor... but I was really feeling pretty good. My contractions were about 10 minutes apart and not too unbearable until we actually got to Bethesda National Naval Medical Center (which is about 45 minutes away from our home).

When I arrived they monitored the baby and assessed where I was in my labor. They said I wasn't actually in active labor yet but gave me the option to either walk around for awhile (without actually being admitted) then return and be reevaluated or I could get Patocin (a drug that helps bring on labor) which would put me into active labor. I opted for the later and decided I didn't really want to walk around for an hour or two... I was ready to meet this baby!

So, I was admitted... however, I did not actually end up needing the Patocin! It was somewhat of a long night but once I received pain medication via epidural I was comfortable and actually able to sleep through contractions even while laboring. Ahhhh... the advantages of pain medications. By the time they came to see how I was progressing and were ready to administer the Patocin, the doctor said I didn't need it and I would continue to progress just fine on my own.

Don slept on a fold out couch bed in the delivery suite. [The Labor and Delivery Deck at the Navy hospital is really nice and modern. This is where we have welcomed all three of our children into the world.]

Sometime around 5 a.m. the doctor came in and evaluated my progress. He said get ready to start pushing. "Hmm..." I thought "this might be a good time to wake up my husband!" The doctor left briefly and I shouted Don's name a few times. He jumped up and was quickly fully awake and ready to help out. Before we knew it we had a baby crying. Phew. (None of my labors have been traumatic or miserable... but I must say this was my easiest labor!)

Everything happened so fast and a doctor and nurse just took the baby over to a nearby table to clean her up. I figured the baby was a boy (I just had that feeling for the majority of the pregnancy) so I didn't even ask the baby's gender. Then the nurse said "Would you like to know what your baby is?" and I said "Yes." and I think everyone in the room said "It's a girl"... not in unison or anything but I know I heard it more than once... almost like an echo. I was in awe. (I still can't believe it.) Tears came streaming out as I just felt like I was in a dreamlike state. Seriously? A GIRL? wow. I looked at Don... he was beaming... "You knew we were having a girl?" (He had found out during an earlier ultrasound but was sworn to secrecy). I can't believe he didn't slip. If anything I thought he may have slipped more by referring to the baby as a "he" throughout the pregnancy.

Anyway, Grace is gorgeous (yes, I'm a little biased). She has more hair than either of our boys had at birth and it's dark. She's smaller (at 8 pounds) than either of the boys were too (they were both 8 lbs. 12 oz.) She's precious and a good baby so far. She sleeps a lot and cries only to let us know she needs something. We could not ask for more. She's been a true blessing and I am thankful for God sending her to us every day.