Long time no blog...we had a baby! Below is the birth story (readers beware!) and check out our new photos located under "Other Links". Blessings! Pray for us! :)
At about 3:52 AM (I was timing) I got up. I asked God if this was "it" and he said "get ready". So I got up, packed, paid some bills that were due and had contractions. At about 6:30, Ashley and Samuel got up. By then my contractions were 3 minutes apart and 1 minute long. I remember this because I laid down on our bed at 7:28 and at 7:31 had a contraction. The next one came at 7:36 just as Ashley was stepping out of the shower. He said that he heard a *pop*, but I felt a wave. My water had broken as I was on the bed reading a book to Samuel. We had a waterproof mattress pad which really saved our bed.
When this happened, we started to hurry because we knew it would be soon (from Samuel's birth). We dropped Samuel off at our friend's house, which was a lifesaver, and drove to the hospital. We drove up to the emergency room and told them I was in labor. They wheeled me down the hallway first to one room then another. They admitted me into the hospital computer system, which was a test of patience, and then proceeded to try to have a monitor attached to my belly. At this point, I was having really strong contractions and felt ready to push.
The nurse checking me didn't believe me and continued to want to hear the baby's heartbeat. I told her that I was ready to push. When she checked me, she said that my cervix was changing as she was feeling it, and I was already at 9cm.
At this point, she was trying to be calm and get more nurses to help in that little triage room. There were nursing students and nurses running everywhere. Ashley was great and held my hand...he even tried to be counter-pressure for me during a contraction, but honestly at that point it was too late. :) It was still great to have him nearby amidst the influx of hot pink scrubs and seeming pandemonium. They told me to walk down the hallway to the delivery room because they couldn't get the stretcher out of the room, but there was no way I was walking.
I started to push the baby out, and they grabbed an MD out in the hallway to deliver our baby. ;) The door was wide open, but they had thought to drape a sheet over the entrance for some privacy. I pushed gently so that I wouldn't tear so badly, and they said they held the perineum to prevent it--but I still got sutures.
So...my water broke at 7:36, Got there at 8:15 and had the baby at 8:50...or so they think. It was really fast, they didn't know for sure the exact time.
It was really great because we had prayed that we would be a good witness when we went, and the nurses were saying that during that time we were really peaceful and they could see it. I really thank God because He answered our prayers. She came in at 37 weeks, 6 lb. 15oz and 19 inches on November 16, 2007!
We named our little girl Alabaster Raine which comes from Luke 7 where the woman pours her alabaster jar of perfume out on Jesus' feet. Raine means "pure".
"A life poured forth as an offering"
Thanks for being a part of our lives. Join us in welcoming our newest addition. ;) Please pray for us as we are transitioning!
Love,
Ashley, Karen, Samuel and Allie
