Twelve days ago my sweet little girl was born. Honestly, she is a little angel. All she does is sleep and sleep and sleep. I have to wake her to eat and she hardly cries. She is so calm and easy going. Soooo different from James as a newborn! I don't even want to write this because I'm afraid I might jinx it!

Here is her birth story: On November 28 I was set to be induction #1. I needed to call the hospital at 430am to make sure there was bed availability. Most #1 inductions are to report to the hospital at 5am but the hospital told me that they wouldn't be able to take me until 630am. At 430 when I called I was all showered and ready to go but now had 2 hrs before we needed to be there. I tried to sleep but of course I couldn't! My mom was here to watch James so we headed off to the hospital around 6. By 730 I had my IV going. Around 8 my OB came and broke my water and checked me. I was dilated to a 3. He said that was a great start for an induction and that he would probably see me late afternoon to have the baby. Right after I had my water broken I asked my nurse if I could have my epidural. I wasn't in pain yet but I didn't want to get to that point either! Soon the anesthesiologist came and gave me my epidural. He was the nicest guy. He explained everything to me and hung out a little bit after the epidural was placed. The epidural worked like a charm! Around 9 when my epidural started to take effect my nursed checked me and said I was at a 6 and the baby was low!! She thought I would have her pretty soon and that she needed to call my Dr. What?! I had only really been there about an hr! My nurse said that she had a technique where she rolls her patients from one side to the other to try to get the baby to come down. So, she turned me on my right side and said she would check on me in a bit. I stayed on that side for about an hr and a half. She came back and checked me and I had made no progress. Of course, I thought the worst! I thought that I wouldn't be able to progress any further and that I would be destined to have a c-section! My nurse said it was no big deal and that she would just roll me over to the other side. She rolled me to my left side and left me there for another hour and a half. She then checked me and said I was at a 9+ and that she would call my dr and tell him to come on over. My nurse said she thought I could have my baby out in 2 or 3 pushes. I couldn't believe it! I was all going so fast! However, the epidural worked a little too well and I never felt any pressure to push. My dr came and it took me about 30 mins to push her out. Ellie Marie Strebel arrived at 12:58pm weighing 8 lbs 3 oz and 20 1/2 in long! When I saw her I just cried. I was so happy that she was ours forever and that that she was finally here and healthy! Having a baby is such a miracle! She is absolutely perfect and has been the perfect addition to our family. James loves her and constantly kisses her and wants to hold her. Welcome to the family little Ellie!

Many many Ellie pics soon to come!