Introducing Paisley Marie

The story:

I was due Monday, 9/20 but as of my last Dr appt on 9/14, I hadn't been having any contractions or signs of labor coming. So, Dr Quinn and I scheduled an induction for Wednesday, 9/22. I was completely planning on having the baby on Wednesday. I was planning on going to work Monday, 9/20 and had a fun day of events planned for Emery and I on Tuesday, 9/21. Baby Paisley had a much different plan.

Monday, 9/20, my alarm went off at 4a so I could get up and get ready for work. I snoozed the alarm a couple of times and thought I was having contractions. I was immediately stressed - I was not ready to have a baby! I figured weather I was going to work or having a baby, I would get up and get ready for the day so I hopped in the shower. The entire time getting ready I kept having contractions so I figured it was best to go to the hospital. I woke Ivan up at 5:45a and told him I was in labor. He wasn't ready to have the baby yet either!

I hadn't packed a bag for Emery or wrapped her "present" from her little sister. So, in the middle of contractions at 530a, I was packing her bag and wrapping presents. When I went into Emery's room to pack, she woke up, sat up and said to me, "Mama, what are you doing in my room? Get out, I'm trying to sleep". Someone has some attitude.

We got to the hospital at 7a and I was only 2 centimeters. My contractions were 2 minutes apart. I started in the triage room and nurse was taking down all of the information and watching my contractions to see if I would stay or be sent home. By that point, I had committed to having the baby and told her I wasn't going home. At 730a, my water broke and that sealed the deal - we would be staying. She moved me into an official labor and delivery room and I started asking for the epidural. My thought is that if I know I am going to have an epidural, why go through any pain. Once again, baby had another idea. The nurse tried twice to get the IV in and wasn't successful (I have a nice, huge nasty bruise on my left hand to show it) so she called the anesthesiologist in to place the IV. She then asked him about the epidural so he stayed and gave me the epidural around 830a. The nurse checked me again and I was dilated to a 5 - that was 3 centimeters in 1 hour.

The epidural was only taking on the left side so I was laying on my right side trying to get it to move over and numb both sides. At 930a, I thought I was feeling pressure and the contractions were intense so I asked the nurse to check me - I was at an 8. Things were moving quickly and needless to say, the epidural never took 100%. By 1015a, I was complete and started to push. I pushed for about 30 minutes (it took so long because I was essentially having the baby naturally and I didn't want to push because of the pain) and out came baby at 1112a. She weighed 7lbs 7 oz and 19 inches long.

It took us a few days, but we finally decided on a name - Paisley Marie. She has been a wonderful baby - very quiet and sleeps a lot. Paisley and I stayed in the hospital for 2 nights and came home this afternoon. Emery is adjusting very well to her baby sister and always asks where she is and talks about how cute she is.

Ivan and I are very happy to be home as a family. I do think he's getting a little dose of reality that he's got 3 women in his life now but he's adjusting well.