We are so excited!  We have a new member in our family.  Cami Ann joined us Sunday, March 3, 2013.  She was born at 9:55 p.m. and weighed in at 9 lb 12 oz and was 22 inches long.  That is one big baby! 


I started having contractions on Saturday afternoon.  They continued until we went to bed, but we made arrangements to call a babysitter in the middle of the night and got my stuff packed just in case.  Sunday morning was uneventful-went to church etc.  I took a nap after church and then went for a walk around our complex, hoping the contractions would start up again.  I was lucky!  Around 3 p.m. they started going every 10 minutes or so.  I went home, made dinner, we ate etc. and they continued.  By 5:30 we were under 10 min and they were getting stronger.  We called up some friends that offered to watch Cade for us.  We took Cade to their house around 7 p.m., let him play a bit and then put him to bed.  By this time my contranctions were every 5 min and getting pretty strong.  We left for the hospital and after hitting a bit of traffic, arrived 40 min later at about 8:25.  I wasn't too nervous though.  It took me about 8 hours to get Cade out after we arrived at the hospital.  I thought I may be a bit further along this time, but I was wrong!

That's when things started to get crazy.  I got checked in and changed into the hospital gown.  I walked around the room through the contractions and less than 10 min later, my water broke all over the floor.  We called in the nurse and she helped get it cleaned up and started my medical history.  She asked if I had a birth plan and I told her all I wanted was an epidural and quick!  She checked me--I was at a 6 and maybe 90% effaced.  She got an IV and epidural ordered and left the room.  My contractions were coming faster and harder.  Kirk said they were off the scale on the chart.  I could feel my body pushing with each one.  A few minutes later (maybe 15?) I could tell that the baby was coming now.  We called the nurse and told her we needed help.  She checked me again and said "you're at a 10 and I think I felt hair!"  Things happened really fast.  I was trying to breathe through the contractions without pushing as the nurses got things ready for delivery.  I remember people telling me what they were doing and asking me questions and I just tried to figure out what was going on.  They told me my doctor would be there in 15 min or they had one at the desk if we needed her.  I said we did and get her in here!  I started to push with the contractions.  It was so hard.  I totally had to focus my energy and not scream!  I knew it would be over soon and I just had to push.  About 5 minutes later her head came out and I felt so much better.  Next push and her shoulders were out and the doctor pulled the rest.  I didn't see Cade as he came out but I did see Cami.  It was really a wierd feeling.  They suctioned her mouth and I heard the beautiful sound of her crying!  The nurses wiped her off and showed us our awesome new daughter. She was born about an hour and a half after we arrived at the hospital.  Not what I was expecting at all!

Everyone kept commenting on how big she was.  I got stitched up and my doctor arrived.  He asked if I wanted some pain killers and I was so grateful!  They were put in my IV and started working immediately.  They also made me very sleepy.  The rest of the night was simple.  I was able to nurse Cami.  We stayed in the room for a bit and the pediatric nurse checked out Cami.  We were taken up to another room and Cami was taken to the nursey and we got to sleep. 

It happened so fast Kirk didn't even take his hat off!  Yes, I was as tired as I look here.

Kirk left around 11 to pick up Cade and they went home and took naps.  They came back to visit that evening and let Cade meet Cami.  Cade is very excited and calls her "Anna"