Wow! Back To Our New Reality

So, we are gradually adjusting to this awesome new member of our family. We're taking it moment by moment....and it's pretty neat: ) Not always calm or perfect, but nonetheless amazing.

And just in case anyone was interested with how it all went down: ) here's Brinley's birthday story.

Wednesday morning I woke up to some faint contraction like feelings. (for me they started out mostly like menstrual cramps).

I only add that because upon asking people what contractions felt like, I found they had a hard time describing them or even remembering what they felt like. The funny thing is, even now thinking back on the heavy contractions I can't really describe them or particularly remember what they were exactly like myself.....besides the fact that they hurt like crazy: )

So anyway, I tried not to get my hopes up like I had with every twinge of pain in the last three weeks prior. And I also decided not to tell Chad about them yet, so as not to jinx myself. But all throughout the day I was feeling contractions that just slowly kept getting stronger. It was still a pretty busy day out and about getting things done. And as for nesting feeling, I'd been nesting for a month straight! Chad will attest to this crazy maternal instinct as he found me on my hands and knees scrubbing the kitchen floor that day while taking breaks every 15 minutes to cringe at a contraction: )

After dinner I finally had Chad start timing my contractions and they were anywhere from 8-12 minutes apart. It finally hit both of us that this was a reality and that yes we were going to be having a baby soon. We called the hospital to ask them exactly what we should do. They told us to wait a little longer. So we occupied our time with packing and getting things organized. All the while my contractions were getting stronger and stronger. At first I was able to mostly laugh at them, since we were both really excited and somewhat giddy, but by the time we finished packing and we laid down in bed to talk they were definitely getting kind of rough. Chad fell asleep and I fell asleep in between contractions, but by 2:00 am I couldn't take it anymore and told Chad we needed to go. I felt so bad packing up emyri who was confused and half asleep and wondering why I was hurting, but she did awesome and we were able to drop her off at Deb's in the middle of the night. (Thanks Deb...and Thanks Ashley who also would have whole heartedly taken emyri in if her phone had been charged: ) We were in such a hurry and tired at the same time that Chad even forgot to put a shirt on over his garment top. Luckily, he had his coat on though....and pants: )

I was dilated to a four when we got to the hospital. My goal was to get to at least 5 or 6 cm by myself before I got an epidural (I know that sounds easy peasy compared to those who do this all on their own, but nevertheless it was my goal: ) By the time we got settled into our room and all checked in it was about 5:30 am and I was dilated to a 5 and was able to get my epidural. After the epidural things were really peaceful. For me, the epidural helped me calm down and really take in what was happening. I couldn't really sleep because my mind was thinking of all that was about to take place, but I felt so calm. Chad was finally able to get a little sleep and the hospital was quiet. I really loved those three hours to just think and feel.

Well, at 8:30 am they came in to check on things and I was dilated to an 8. I was impressed. I thought for sure it was only going to be a 6 or something....so we were glad. But then we got stuck at 8 cm for another 3 hours. Bummer. They were about to give me some pitosin, which I didn't really feel great about, because of the way it intensifies contractions, which makes it more likely that my c-section scar could tear. So, I was relieved when the doctor came in and decided to take matters into his own hands....literally. He pretty much reached in there and massaged brinley's head around the rim of my cervix she was stuck on. (sorry if that was too much info) But as soon as he did, I could feel her head instantly drop and the dr. exclaimed, "You're a ten! She's low and we can start pushing!" Yeah! Chad and I were kind of shocked, but were so excited that meeting Brinley was right around the corner.

Anyway, my nurses and Dr. were awesome and encouraged me so much while I pushed. And Chad was there the whole time helping me out. Everytime I looked at his excited face I got more strength to keep pushing. It was so neat. I only had to push for about 50 minutes and then.......there she was! Brinley Marie, all 8 lbs. 1 oz. of her. It was incredible and I loved that I got to be an active part of her birth. We were in awe with this awesome little child, as any parent is, and we loved the whole experience.

We feel so blessed that everything went so well, especially considering it was a vbac. It was an awesome experience and we are so glad she is finally here. We all love her to death. Emyri loves her more to death than anyone though: ) If Brinley survives her sisters constant kisses, hugs, concerns, and loves than she'll be the toughest baby we know: )

Hope everything is going great for everyone. And thanks to everyone who has brought us meals and gifts, let emyri come play, visited, sent us cards and goodies, wrote comments on the blog and who has been thinking and praying for us. You know who you are and we are overwhelmed with all of your love. Thank you more than you know!

p.s. sorry for the hoards of pictures. We just wanted to share: )

Taking her in....









Proud Big Sister....there is a lot of this going on lately.
It is the loving her to death I was talking about.









Em's 1st real haircut (this is for you mom....remind you of someone: )





































Sleeping Peacefully









Stroller Time with Big Sister
(I'm pretty sure there is some warning against this
in the toy stroller owner's manual, but we're not really
the cautious kind of family: ) Plus, Emyri said it was "just her size".


















Tummy Time....









Us Three Girls