A few pictures of our growing family

After coming home on Wednesday from my OB appointment (0%, 1cm), I never dreamed that only 24hrs later we would be meeting our daughter for the first time. What a shock!


At 4:20 am on Thursday morning, I awoke to use the bathroom and my waters broke. We grabbed the overnight bag and woke up Russell (who was only too glad to be awake). I called the hospital to let them know we were coming in and we were there by 4:50 am (50%, 3cm). Russell was so excited to finally visit the hospital he'd often asked about.


The nurses started the antibiotics for my GBS+ and then Dan took Russell to our friends' house for the day. Unlike my delivery with Russell my contractions did not start immediately. Finally, six hours later they started (at 10:30 am) but I could barely feel them. I began to get anxious that I'd be in labor for the dreaded '20 hrs' that sometimes happens.


At 1:30 pm, the contractions were only a 2 or 3 on the pain scale and by 3:30 pm, they were at a '5' (80%/ 5 cm). Literally, between one contraction and the next, I couldn't handle the pain and asked for an epidural. If my labor had been so drawn out already, I feared I wouldn't have the strength to push when it came time. At 3:50 pm, I began to feel the need to push (100%, 10 cm) and the nurses started calling for the OB to come. The epidural didn't have time to work but it was nice to know if the labor had been longer, it would have helped. The OB ran into the room at 4pm after the nurses had told me not to push for the last ten minutes- which, is very difficult to do! After two contractions (4 minutes), Camille was born. The cord was wrapped around her neck and the OB quickly undid it. Dan cut the cord and placed the baby in my arms.


I momentarily held Camille and then asked the nurses to take her. I wanted to make sure the bi-lobed placenta would be delivered safely and I would not be at risk for hemorrhaging. By God's complete grace, the placenta came out in one piece and the OB assured me that there was nothing to be afraid of. I think he was as relieved as I was. It was then I started crying in relief and joy over Camille's birth and in sadness for the losses we had experienced and the realization that Camille could have been a 'loss' as well, had it not been for God's infinite plan.


It is surreal to have a little one in our arms again. Two to three years of sorrow are not easily erased and I pray with time, our hearts will heal over the past. For now, we are savoring as much as possible because we know with time, Camille will be an active little girl running through life.

Russell loved the cafeteria once he realized they sold chocolate covered doughnuts!