Meet our new baby

It started out as a normal Monday: did some laundry, cleaned the bathrooms, played with Kjersten, went grocery shopping, but I had an inkling that I might go into labor that day. I told only Jonas, and he was excited, but we were wise enough to not get too excited. We invited a family over for Family Home Evening and dessert, so my afternoon was filled with dinner and dessert preparations. I felt fine throughout the day with the usual pregnancy discomfort. Dinner, FHE, and dessert went well. Our guests left about 8:15 and at 8:30 I felt greater lower back pain than normal. I was excited!

We called Mandi over at about 9, and started keeping track of contractions at about ten. I called the midwife to give her a heads up and tried to get some sleep. No such luck. So I went downstairs, put on my Jane Eyre, and kept track of contractions. They were about 20 minutes apart at this time. Jonas came down at about 11 to help. We drew a bath for me at about midnight, and now contractions were coming about every five minutes and getting stronger. I was still doing well with my relaxation at this point.

My labor progressed very quickly, to put it succinctly. I called the midwife at 1 am and said I wanted to go to the hospital. The hospital is only ten minutes away, but I don't think we got there until 1:30 or so. I was feeling it fairly strongly by now. I could walk about 20 paces between contractions. I told Jonas in the parking garage that I think I wanted an epidural.

They took me to the triage room, which was really annoying because I was so progressed in my labor that I just needed to get to my room. It tok me about three contractions to get there (poor nurses and midwife were very patient), and I sank onto the bed. I was in pain and I wanted relief! The midwife kept saying that she needed to check my cervix. By the time she got to that, I was fully dilated. No time for pain relief. I begged and pleaded and then very grudgingly accepted my fate. Relaxation was out the window.

Oh my goodness, I have never felt pain like that in my life! I yelled and screamed, right into Jonas' ear, poor man, because I wouldn't let him go. I told him to "Shut up!" only once, and did not swear. The pressure was incredible. I don't have the words for it. But when our baby finally came, the pain was all gone (for a time). I wasn't at the time, but I'm glad I didn't get any drugs. I was able to push well and my recovery has been great! Only six total hours of labor is a good thing.

Ready for the gender now? :)

Welcome Malia Dawn to our family, born January 27th (right on her due date!) at 2:18 am, weighing 7 lbs 10 0z and measuring 20 1/4 inches long. She is beautiful and because her labor went so fast, her face isn't too misshapen.

We're home now and doing well. Kjersten is fairly indifferent to Malia, but accepts her being a girl (she was convinced it was a boy and is stll holding out for Seth). Enjoy the pictures!