Emily Grace

Born January 29, 2012 at 4:08 pm. She was 8 pounds 3 ounces and 21 1/2 inches long.

The morning started out with getting ready for my doctor's appointment at 9:30 that morning. I took a shower and started having contractions. There was a couple strong ones! Then we were making breakfast. (I had asked Brad the week before if he wanted to go with me to one of my appointments to meet the midwife before the day so he planned on coming with me that day). Brad had made some muffins and my contractions were coming about 10-12 minutes apart for about 30 minutes. (Nothing new because I had a couple of days where I had contractions several minutes apart for a few hours-we thought she might be born the week before.) I told Brad and he told me to see if Shayna could watch Henry that morning-just in case :) so she was available to watch him and Brad took him over to her house. Then he came home and it had been 45 minutes of 10-12 minutes apart so we hurried and got the car packed (our bags were already packed since we thought she might come the week before). Brad drove while I listened to my Hypnobabies tracks to help with the pain of the contractions.

We get to the doctor's office and she asks how I am doing. I said I was having pretty consistent contractions. She checked me and I was dilated to 4 cm already. So she told us to go to the mall and walk around and come back if they got closer and stronger. So we went and got the seatbelt fixed in the car and then went to lunch at Chili's.   The contractions started to get very strong and about 4-5 minutes apart. I hurried and paid and had Brad get the car while I had another contraction. I got in the car and put on my Hypnobabies tracks and cringed whenever Brad went over a bump. We went to the dr's office and sat there for what felt like forever!! Then I was checked and I was dilated to a 7 and she said that it was time to check into the hospital. I tried to walk to where the labor and delivery part was but I was having too strong and too frequent contractions to walk the whole way. We got checked in and I listened to my Hypnobabies tracks trying to get through the labor without medication. It was hard but I did it!! She was born at 4:08. I had told Brad that I thought she was going to be born around 3pm that day while we were driving down to Sioux Falls.

It was a great day and a great experience to go unmedicated. She ate right away and did great!! Emily had a little jaundice-not as much as Henry but still had some. I was thrilled to be able to walk around about an hour after she was born. I walked to where she was going to have her first bath. We were anxious to get out of the hospital and be home with Henry and Emily!

Shayna brought Henry to the hospital and he didn't really care about Emily (at first) but was delighted to see Mommy and Daddy! Henry has done great! He is a happy big brother and he is a proud big brother. He likes to hold Emily, sometimes without help which scares me a little!

Life with two is a challenge but I am so happy to have both of them. I go back to work on Sunday:( but Brad will learn the ways with two kids all alone :) I even get a nap in some days while both kids are sleeping!

That's all for now.