An Introduction of Madelyn Reese in Pictures....

Madelyn's Birth Story {Part Two}

Okay, the last post left off where I told Leo that he needed to change bc this was real and it was for sure happening.

He ran, got changed and threw all of my things in the Jeep. I hugged everyone and Isabella was in tears as I was leaving. It really broke my heart but I knew we needed to get to the hospital soon...things were really intensifying at this point.

We're in the car and I told Leo to call my mom to tell her we were on the way to the hospital (Leo had called LDRP and they told him he needed to get me there soon). I couldn't talk to her because I was having more contractions and my back was beyond killing me at this point. I was trying to lift myself up to relieve the back pressure...not that it helped too much at this point!

Ahead of us was a Mississippi Highway Patrolman...I was *this close* to asking him to escort us all the way to base! People were driving sooo slow (at least it seemed like it) and base was at least 30 minutes away.

I resisted asking him (Leo talked me out of it, ha!) and my honey got us there and quick.

Less than 20 minutes later we pulled up to the gate and they got us through quickly. Leo parked and he helped me out. I had to stop twice to breathe through my contractions and focus on letting my body work how it was supposed to. At this point I still had some ability to do those things.

Once upstairs they placed me in and Antepartum Room...my stupid contraction monitor wouldn't fit correctly so we were having to hold it in place to show my contractions. The staff was short handed and there were 5 other women in labor...

They finally came to check my cervix for dialation around 12:30 or so. They asked me what I was dialated at on Monday at my appt. I told them a one. After being there for half an hour I was already to a four. I was in shock and happy at the same time. My blood pressure was really high and they had wanted me to walk (which there was no way with my back labor) so I had to stay in the bed.

An hour later I was in intense pain--mainly my back. Back labor? Yeah, it sucks. Horribly.

I requested an epidural and they were very calm telling me I had to wait until 2:30 to get checked again and then they would move me into my room for an epidural.

I was pretty pissed off because I knew things were getting moved along very, very quickly. At this point I was really loud and letting them know that HELLO!!! I am in PAIN!

The doctor poked her head in and said they would get me my epidural and possibly an iv pain med as well...at this point I didn't care. I wanted some relief from my back. It was taking over everything...and I thought I was going to die.

They came in checked my cervix. I was practically an eight. Freaking EIGHT CM DIALATED!!

I really felt like they probably thought I was a little dramatic over my pain...and then when they realized this they seriously got their butts in gear. My nurse asked if I could walk across the ward to my room....are you kidding me?! I couldn't even walk to the bathroom at this point. My contractions were coming one after the other with NO break in between them.

They get me to my room...I'm still screaming for pain meds. Nobody is listening. They are trying to get my iv in...and I thought I was, um, going to go to the bathroom right there. I told Leo I needed to get to the bathroom (okay, so I probably yelled it) and then I realized that I didn't have to go to the bathroom. I. needed. to. push.

They were freaking out, telling me not to push yet, I wasn't there. (Not push?! Were they crazy?!) They checked me and I almost fully dialated. Except for a lip or something. They had me do a couple of practice pushes but I couldn't concentrate. I still asked about my epi and um, that's when I got the bad news.

No. epi. for. me.

Leo said I cried.

I believed it.

The doc came in from another delivery and Leo told her hey--my water hasn't broke! She couldn't believe it, broke it and told me to push.

One contraction, three pushes later...and my princess #2 was delivered. It was 3:05 p.m.

I was in such a euphoric state...and I was so proud of myself for surviving major back labor and having her without the assistance of anything for pain.

Amazing.

Took my breath away.

And I'm still on cloud 9.

Now for part three...the pictures!

Madelyn's Birth Story {Part One}

Wow, what an amazing 24 + a few hours it's been!

Madelyn Reese definitely took us by surprise yesterday (July 29, 2009). For sure a very, very shocking surprise!

Just a warning, this may be a little long....and there may be tmi (what birth story doesn't have tmi?!). So, here I go....

It all started Tuesday. All day long I had contractions. Nothing too major, but it had me wondering what if...

They slowed down towards the end of the day, but I was still very nauseated as I had been all day.

I went to bed as normal--posted on my Facebook that I was planning on going to Mobile to go to Target to do some shopping this weekend. I was really looking forward to going to my favorite store even though it's an hour away! But in a way I was hoping I would somehow jinx myself and go into labor *smile*

I woke up Wednesday morning pretty early with horrible, horrible cramping. I didn't think a lot of it until I realized they weren't going away. I turned on the news and finally fell back asleep for a little while.

When I woke back up I realized I was still in a lot of pain and having contractions regularly. But this has happened to me before (hello, false alarm!) so I still wasn't thinking much of it. I really didn't want to get my hopes up(or anyone else's hopes up!) once again. I had breakfast with Isabella...just half a banana, a bowl of cereal and a Juicy Juice juice box. I noticed I was kind of grouchy...the dog and cat were seriously getting on my nerves and Isabella seemed to be a lot whinier than normal.

I sat down and called my mom. When she answered I told her about my contractions, cramping and back pain. As we chatted the contractions and everything were coming a lot stronger and closer together. When we first started talking my mom thought Isabella and I could go do some shopping or go somewhere where we could just be up and walking together. By the end of our conversation she was telling me to call Leo, get him home and try to take a warm bath. She also told me to pack my bag (Isabella had unpacked the whole thing silly girl!).

I called Leo told him he needed to get home and I was going to take a bath to see if that would help. I placed the phone on the side of the tub to time my contractions (coming 2-4 minutes apart by this point, lots of back pain) and sat down. Isabella wanted to come in with me (she was acting a little worried with what was going on).

I'm sitting in the tub when my back labor really intensified. I called Leo again and told him he needed to leave work. Now.

Isabella wanted to wash my hair (haiwuh, haiwuh Mommy), she wanted "froppie" (her frog squirtie), was pouring warm water on my belly and kept coming and holding me. She kept handing me my loofah (where I'd thank her and she'd say 'elcum, Mommy'). At one point she knocked my BlackBerry in the water (thank God it still works!). My whole relaxing bath was taking a comical turn for sure and I was thankful for Isabella making me relax and focus on something else!

I got out, got dressed and packed my bag very, very quickly. Thankfully Miss Madelyn's bag was packed! I started a load of laundry--this is the first time I saw Leo's parents and I told them I was in labor and Leo was coming home asap. They were so sweet and attentive and I reassured them that I was okay and just needed to stand up to relieve the pressure off of my back as it was killing me at this point.

Leo came in and he told me to get in the car. I told him he really should get out of his uniform and at first I don't think he fully understood I was in true labor. He told me he wasn't changing bc if this wasn't the real thing he'd have to return to work.

I then looked at him and in mid contraction told him that this was the real deal....

{to be continued.....)

She's Heeeere!

Hi all! I wanted to update Chelle's blog for her to let y'all know that Madelyn Reese is finally here! She was born at 3:05 p.m. weighing 7 lbs 4 oz and 19 inches long. Isn't she precious? That picture was taken when she was about 1 hour old.

She ended up surprising the hospital staff and coming so quickly that they didn't have time to give Chelle her epidural - but Chelle's doing fine!

Proud Mema signing off!