Makayla Ivy Graham

Sunday had been just a regular 'ol Sunday. I went to church, spent the afternoon filling out goals and paperwork for parent teacher conferences, went to dinner at the Graham's home, then to the Robison's for Hunter's birthday. We got home around 9:15 and I was exhausted. I got ready for bed and climbed in. Soon after, I started feeling light contractions. (I had been experiencing those the past week or so.) The crazy teacher inside me thought: "humm I better go write some sub plans, just in case these ones are different.) Out to the computer I went and sent my plans, just in case. As I crawled back into bed the contractions started creeping to my lower back, then to my legs... something that my book ("What to Expect When You're Expecting) said was a sign you were "really in labor." I didn't move. Hoping they would go away. As I laid there, and didn't move I felt a strange little pop. As I stood I quickly realized that pop was my water breaking.

I went to the bathroom, and was overwhelmed with the reality: this is it. I am in labor. Baby is coming. I am not going to make it to all the things I needed to this week. The house is a mess. Sink is full of dishes. The pack and play is not set up. I didn't wash that or put that away. O- well. SHE is COMING! It was 11:30 on Sunday night, and she was on her way!

I called for Andrew and calmly let him know. He started throwing things together and running around. It was cute. We tried to gather what we thought we needed and headed for the hospital. I wasn't in any pain as I waddled in with my wet bum (even after changing twice) and let the nurse know that I thought my water had broken. She let me in. (She must have believed me ;))

They checked me out and discovered that yes, my water was broken, but I was only dilated to about 2/2.5 cm. I was taken to my room, asked a bunch of questions, registered, hooked up to lots of beeping machines, poked and prodded. Then the pain that comes with birthing arrived. I knew I was going to get an epidural, it was just a question of when. I didn't know how bad I was supposed to hurt, or how bad it could hurt, or if I should wait it out. Then, around 1:45 I decided that the anesthesiologist was invited to join the party. He arrived about a half hour later and worked his magic.

I loved the feeling of the ending pain, and the warm, heavy legs. I loved it so much that my typically low heart rate plummeted even lower. I was at 81/45 (or something like that) but they just slipped a little something into my IV and I was back up. I was in and out of sleep until 4:00 (yeah, epidurals make it so your body is working, but you don't feel it!) at four they started the pitocin. By 7:00 I was at a 10.

I started pushing with the nurse and Andrew. Makayla made her way down that canal much quicker than the nurse expected and told me not to push anymore! (she was not in the mood to deliver a baby without the dr. ;)) Dr. Weibell was summoned and arrived at about 8:00. Dr. Weibell had told me on my last visit that baby looked big, and that if I went full term she would be between 9 and 10 lbs. As he began feeling her, he told me he had been wrong! He said unless this baby has a tiny head and huge body, she is going to be small! A few pushes later Makayla Ivy was in front of me, a purplish/white, crying, beautiful mess. He was right, she was small and that's what everyone said instantly. The nurses refer to her as a peanut, because of her size. I love this little peanut.

I got teary eyed. Then I laughed. She was the smallest cutest thing I had ever seen. I watched as Andrew cut the cord, then as she was tested and weighed. I was amazed, happy, surprised (that it was over-so quick and easy). She was here! Then I got to hold her, a feeling I will never forget.

Stats:

Date: 1-24-2011

Time: 8:28 am

Weight: 5 lbs 10.8 oz

Height: 19.5 in

Kinda Perfectly Beautiful :)

Adams Feet- no doubt about it.