The Arrival of Olivia Mae

My due date was Friday, March 5th, but I had contractions for several weeks before. I scared a patient or two...or ten...having contractions right in the middle of treatment sessions. But my co-workers were so sweet and helpful! A week prior to my due date I had to call in sick, and that weekend I began having contractions about 10 minutes apart for days. Yes, I said DAYS. So by the time my weekly doctor visit rolled around on Monday, I was exhausted and terribly uncomfortable--yet determined to enjoy the process.

Dr. G felt confident that I would deliver soon, so he told me to come back later that afternoon to be checked again. So B and I spent what we knew could be our last day as a family of two together! We had lunch at our usual spot where I had contractions between bites of pizza. Our sweet waitress even tried to help me out by rounding up tabasco sauce and tabasco potato chips. Ha! Then we had Baby Izzy's car seat installed at the police station. Hey, no time like the last minute. When we returned to the doc, there was...no progress. Because of my despair, sweet Dr. G hooked me up to monitor my contractions. Yep, there they were. But not enough to produce that baby. So we went home.

Things progressed throughout the evening with my contractions ranging from 12 to 5 minutes apart, and by 6:30 pm we were on our way to the hospital with our pink AND blue baby gear. They monitored me for awhile, but again...no progress. The nurse actually looked at me and said, "I'm so sorry, Amy. You are not in labor. Your contractions are going to have to be a lot more consistent, and they are going to have to hurt a lot worse." Um, thanks. So home we went again with an Ambien and some Tylenol. This was around 9:00 pm.

Brandon tucked me in, and I actually did sleep for the first time in a couple of days. I woke up at midnight, and it was very clear to both of us that we had better get to the hospital. By that point, B was getting a little anxious about seeing me in this state for such a long time. He said, and I quote, "We are going to the hospital, and we are not coming home without a baby!"

Finally I had progressed! From 2 to 4 cm to be exact. When Dr. M asked if I wanted an epidural, the question I had previously been going back and forth on was totally clear. YES, I DO!

After that, we had a happy, peaceful night together listening to worship music and dozing when we were able to. At 5:00 am, we decided to go ahead and call our families so that they could start heading to Auburn. We thought that we were giving everyone plenty of time to get to the hospital, but what did we know. At 7:25 it was time to push! We absolutely could not wait to find out if we were having a Trot or a Livi!

8:13 was my favorite moment when Brandon got to be the one to tell me. It was kind of funny because he couldn't see at first, so Dr. M turned the baby upside down just right. I'll never forget how B said, "It's a beautiful...baby girl!!!"

Welcome to the world, little one!

Love at first sight

Waiting to meet the newest member of the family

First family photo

Proud Daddy and Mommy

Kisses from Livi

Going home!

Thank you for capturing our day so beautifully, Aunt Lori!

And thank you to the rest of our family and friends for calling, messaging, visiting, and making this time even more special by being a part of it! We love you!