Lexi's Arrival Story

So last Wednesday at my Dr. appointment I was in tears begging my Dr. to induce me Friday. After explaining very sympathetically that he couldn't do that, he told me to come into his office Friday morning and he could strip the membranes again and possible "augment" the labor. Friday morning he stripped them again. He told me if I have any kind of consistent contractions to go into the hospital. He said they don't even have to be painful. So that day we did several different activities to get me going. I did have some contractions, but nothing too consistent. Around lunch time I thought I might take a very small dose of castor oil. 3/4 Tablespoon and a little trip over to the pool contractions started. They happened like that for a couple hours. I wasn't feeling well and couldn't eat dinner. I told Alex we should go in. He was a bit surprised because I hadn't told him about the contractions. I was just trying to make sure they were for real. So we arrived at the hospital. They got me into the room and hooked up to the monitors. I was dilated to a 4 and contractions were on the monitor every 5 minutes. Ok so you'd think great...I get to be admitted right? Dumb nurse says "I think I'm gonna send you walking around for an hour, you still have a pretty good smile on your face so we'll see if we can get those contractions stronger". I'm thinkin' ok dumb nurse...I'm smiling because you have NO IDEA how excited I am to be here...despite the contractions! I say "well, my Dr. told me the contractions don't have to be painful to be admitted". She sent me walking anyway! Whatever, so we're walking the halls. I ran into an old friend who was a labor delivery nurse and I told her to come be my nurse. Then by some miracle I ran into MY Dr.!!! Hallelujah!!!

So Dr. Christenson was in the hall way. I was so excited because I knew he would understand. Of course he did and went down to the nurse's station and told them to admit me. I got admitted, but then I had to wait and hour for the anesthetist to come in and give me an epidural. My Dr. wanted to break my water, but I insisted he wait until I was numb. The anesthetist arrived and I was doing ok. Right after he was done, Dr. Christenson came in and broke my water. This was all around 10:30pm. Soon my contractions were getting much harder and the epidural wasn't quite kicked in. Then they took a sharp turn to PAIN!!! The epidural wasn't numbing my right pelvic area and I was having to breathe through contractions that were not letting up. The anesthetist gave me two more doses into the epidural line. I didn't know what to do it was so painful. Now, my legs were DEAD and my left pelvic area was DEAD. The nurse checked me around 11 and I was complete! I went from a 4, getting my water broke, to a 10 in just a 1/2 hour!! It was time to push. At this point my relief came and my lower body was one sold mass of NUMB. 11:17pm Friday August 13th, Lexi Beal was born, weighing in at 7lbs 12oz measuring 20inches long.

We stayed two nights in the hospital. I actually look forward to these stays for a couple reasons. The nursery can take the baby over night. And I get a break from the "craziness" to enjoy my new little one. Food and Pain meds are served to me and I don't have to think about anything other than getting some R&R.
That went by quickly, and Sunday we came home.

Here are Lexi's cousins Brynn and Brayden.

Here we are today. The kids are back and Alex is kind of getting back to work. Today he has a meeting, then tomorrow and Friday he will go in. Next week, I am On My Own! Wish me luck in a quick recovery :)

Lots of Love and Thanks to EVERYONE who has taken my kids, made and delivered meals, and brought nice gifts. I appreciate all the prayers on my behalf and I have no doubt it was because of that reason I was able to have little Lexi on Friday. Love you all!