Story of Loren's Birth

I guess this is quite a bit overdue - ha!  I didn't have a blog until recently though.  I want to write this down so I remember accurately. Even though it has been four years, I feel like I still remember all the details about Loren's birth and could never forget but time does march on!

My due date with Loren was April 22, 2007.  I had planned to work right up until my due date and assumed she would be late since she was my first baby.  I had gone to the doctor and been dilated to two centimeters and 100% effaced but still didn't understand the reality of what that meant.  Early in the morning on Tuesday, April 17th, I woke up to an upset stomach and some "signs" of impending labor.  I told my husband and mom that I thought something was happening.

I went to work anyway and saw a few students and even helped administer a standardized test to a home schooled child.  I continued to have an upset stomach and was having what I thought were cramps.  When these "cramping episodes" started to occur more frequently and hurt more, I decided to go home for the day.

My Mother met me at my house and tried to distract me from the pain.  She kept telling me I should shave my legs before going to the hospital- ha!  Guess it had been a while since I could reach them down there and she just wanted me to have some pride!  We called and talked to my OB nurse a few times and she said she didn't think I was in labor but I could go to the hospital if I liked.  Mom said we should wait a while before going. 

I promptly called Andy and said, "Come home NOW and take me to the hospital!"  Mind you this is less than an hour after I told him, "I'm fine.  Come home a little early if you can."  He made it home in record time and scooped up our new camera that had been delivered from the front porch. (He would later "learn" how to use this new camera by taking hideous pictures of me in labor!)  We rushed to the hospital and when they checked me, I was five centimeters and in tons of pain!  I literally told Andy (and meant it) that we were never, ever doing this again!

Two doses of Nubain, an epidural, and about 10 hours later, our beautiful daughter, Loren, was born!  (My epidural worked so well that when a nurse sat on my bed to tend to me, I shouted at her and asked if she was sitting on my leg!  Funny stuff! Of course she was not!)  I pushed for about an hour and a half (yowzers!) and she was born healthy and weighed seven pounds and one ounce.

We love you so much Loren!!!