A Family of Four

As of 6:53 pm on Friday, March 11th, the Maxwell House became a family of four! While the delivery didn't go as I had hoped, we are so happy to finally have our newest princess at home with us.

I had been dilated to 3 cm for almost two weeks when I went in for my check up on Thursday the 10th. I had progressed another cm and my doctor went ahead and stripped my membranes. She let me know since I was already 4 cm that anytime I decided to check into the hospital they wouldn't send me home. We came home and did a couple of loads of laundry and made sure we had everything we would need for our impending arrival. Starting at about 10:00 I began having fairly regular and very strong contractions. I really didn't want to check into the hospital during the middle of the night and I figured I wouldn't be delivering that night anyway, so I got into bed and the contractions tamed down. Right after I got out of bed the next morning I knew there was going to be a baby that day. I called Nick, who had gone into work, and told him it was time to come home. I finished packing our bags and went to wake Bailey up. We snuggled for a few minutes and then I told her that she was going to have a baby sister that day. She responded by jumping up and down in her bed and shouting yay!

Giving baby Peyton one last kiss while still in my belly

Mommy and Bailey before we left for the hospital

Daddy and Bailey before leaving for the hospital

After getting settled into the delivery room, we found out I was 5 cm dilated. The nurse was talking like Peyton would probably make her appearance in just a few hours. We were so excited! Then, we started to get a sense of deja vu. I was barely progressing at all. I was on pitocin and having regular contractions, but it was taking me at least 2 hours to dilate another cm. When my doctor came in to check me she discovered that Peyton was face up, meaning it would be harder to deliver. They had me get on all fours and sway back and forth to try and get her to rotate. I can't begin to tell you how hard it is to get in this position when you can't feel either of your legs! She was trying to turn, but couldn't quite seem to make it all the way around. They turned up the pitocin and had me in every possible position. As the contractions got stronger her heart rate kept dropping, and I was still only 8 cm dilated after nearly 8 hours of labor. Finally my doctor said the words I had been dreading...c-section. After a brief cry...by me, Nick and my mom, we were overwhelmed with nurses rushing in the room to get everything ready. My doctor hds said she wanted me back in the room within 5 minutes, she wasn't sure what was going on, but she felt certain there was some type of issue with the umbilical cord.

Once we got back into the operating room I was a little calmed down, but still overwhelmed and scared. Nick was great and never left my side. He held my hand and rubbed my head and talked to me the entire the time. I can't imagine what I would have done without him! After what seemed like no time at all, I heard Peyton crying. I couldn't hold back and started crying myself. When I finally saw her precious face, nothing else mattered. The surgery, the long hours of laboring and not knowing why I couldn't progress. She was here and healthy. And we found out the reason she wasn't coming out was because the cord was wrapped around her little foot.

She was a little chunky monkey compared to Bailey! She was 8 lbs even and 19 inches long. They said if I had gone full term she would have at least been 9 lbs.

More crazy hair!!

Mommy holding her new little girl for the first time

Daddy holding his new princess for the first time

One of our last days in the hospital

We are beyond happy to be home as a family of four and I have MANY more posts to come about our first couple of weeks adjusting to two babies, nursing, cloth diapers, big sister-ing and  much more!