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The Day of Emma's Birth

Tomorrow will be my oldest daughter's 11th birthday.  She is a middle child and oldest daughter.  I was so happy to meet her and to see that she really was a girl.  At the ultrasound her legs were crossed when the technician tried to show us so we couldn't see for ourselves, but she assured us that she really was a girl.  I didn't dare get my hopes up too high, knowing mistakes are made.  However, I bought plenty of pink outfits.  I am also pleased to report that she was by far my easiest delivery.  Taylor had come nearly three weeks early and I was hoping to get at least a week from her, but no such luck.  She came 2 1/2 hours before her due date. The waiting part wasn't easy.

 My labor started in the afternoon and I realized that a trip to Walmart was necessary before she came.  I prepared dinner and my hospital bag.  We had a meeting scheduled for a financial planner  at seven that evening.  Destry didn't make it home, so I tried to discretely count/time contractions while listening to the man's presentation.  He and Destry met on the porch at eight  as Destry was coming and he was leaving.  

 By 8:00 that evening I was more uncomfortable and Erika, who was living with us at the time, helped Destry get the boys to bed while I took a shower.  I was beginning to blow dry my hair when I vomited and didn't feel well at all.  Even though I had been in labor for a short time I felt like it was time to go the hospital.  I was right.  The nurse checked me after timing a long, hard contraction and said, "that is the way to do it; you are complete." She assured me that the doctor was in the hospital, that they would page him, that he would break my water and I would have a baby.  

 Well, after several pages, my water breaking on its own and the nurses assuring me now that they had delivered babies before, Dr. Saunders walked in just in time to catch her. I only had about 20 minutes after my water broke that labor was really intense.  A few gentle pushes from me and she safely entered the world.  I felt perky and great.  It was wonderful holding my daughter.  She looked like Spencer.  I even got to go into the nursery to watch the nurses give her her first bath.  She was a welcome addition to our family.  

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