Cumorah is here!!!

She actually arrived over a week ago, on Aug 1st at 10:12 pm, but I just didn't get the blog updated. She weighed 7 lbs exactly and was 20 inches long. She is a beautiful, sweet baby and very much loved! I'm amazed at how well she sleeps through the noise and busyness and how well she tolerates the kisses and loves. She had her days and nights mixed up at first, but seems to have it figured out now. The last 2 nights she only woke up twice.

I'd been having contractions since about 33 weeks and taking it really easy, so once we passed the magic 38 week mark, I was ready to be active again. It just happened that Ryan is getting close to having a birthday and to finish his Webelos badge for Cub Scouts, he needed a 3 mile hike. So on Sunday, the 31st, I told Stephen we were going to take the family "hiking" along the Green Belt for 3 miles. Sure enough, as long as I was walking good, I would have contractions. They were pretty consistent, but not super hard. We went to bed that night and I kept having them occasionally until about 2 am. The next morning once I got moving again they started right back up and got more consistent and harder as the day went on. We went into the hospital about 2:30 pm and when they would have me lay on the bed, nothing would happen, but if I was walking they were consistent. The nurse said she thought the dr. on call would send us home since I had an appt the next day with my own dr, but that I should come prepared to be sent right over to the hospital from that appt. As she walked out of the room, contractions started regular just laying there, so the dr. on call kept us there and came in and broke my water.

When I was able to keep walking around the contractions got harder and stronger, when I would lay down they would ease up. When I got the epidural her heart rate started dropping, so they thought for a minute that I would need a cesearean, but then they checked and she was almost here. Once I relaxed it was only about 30 minutes to go from a 5 to "here she comes, wait for the dr." Her delivery was quick and easy and she was born wanting to eat! We stayed in the hospital overnight and came home Tues afternoon. Stephen took the rest of that week off of work, (and was very ready to go back when Monday rolled around. Now life at home is getting back into the regular routine but with everyone jumping at her slightest whimper. One little cry and all the kids run over to help. They also come in from playing often to hold her, even if it only lasts for a few minutes at a time (except Jeanisha who will hold her for hours).