Baby Sissy is Here! {& Her Birth Story}

We are so excited to announce that Miss Olivia Grace was born Tuesday the 4th at 5pm! 6lb 8 oz & 19 inches! We are so in love! She came out quickly and unexpectedly, but in God's perfect timing!

 

I started having contractions at 6:45am on Tuesday, along with a cranky toddler who just woke up and realizing she gave me her head cold, I was mostly just annoyed and tried to ignore them. I honestly thought it might be false labor, and that the contractions would stop altogether.  They stayed anywhere from 3-6 minutes apart for hours. I decided not to go to bible study, and to have my sister come get Lovebug for our lunch date with our Grandma. Meanwhile, I did two loads of laundry, wiped down counters, made sure our bags were packed (just in case) and made lunch. My sister brought home Lovebug, put her down for a nap, and said she'd stay with her for the day. 

 

Brian ran a few errands and told his boss he was going to my Dr appt with me, that was scheduled for 4pm. I figured we'd go get checked at my regular appt and then maybe go walk around Target if my contractions weren't consistently closer and I wasn't dialated much. We kissed our girl goodbye and told her Baby Sissy might be coming! On route to the appt, I called my Dr and she told me to go straight to Labor and Delivery to be checked and she'd meet me there. We stopped at Sonic so I could get a big cup of ice (a serious craving lately) to munch on.

 

When we arrived at the hospital, the contractions were stronger. I was sure I was only dilated to a 3 or 4, but was anxious to find out. The nurse came at 4pm and checked me... I was at a big 8! Things got a little crazy from there. Nurses were having me fill out paperwork with one hand, while getting blood drawn from another and answering questions for another nurse while she typed on the computer! 

 

 

I started crying. This was fast! Our baby was coming and I didn't feel prepared emotionally! It was 28 1/2 hrs of labor with Lovebug and I guess I assumed it would be long this time too. Bri was very calm and reassuring. He told me excitedly that we were about to meet our baby!

 

I had decided this time that I was open to an epidural. It had been a long, hard pregnancy and I felt that my body was already worn out. Unfourtunately, it was too little too late. The anesthesiologist arrived at 4:30 and ten minutes later, my Dr came in and wanted me to start pushing! There were people everywhere! Still doing paperwork, and hooking things up and a team from the Nicu was there, since there was miconium when my water broke. I was freaking out- in position, feeling EVERYTHING. In the next few minutes, there were a few pushes, a lot of screaming, and then... Our girl. 

She is absolutely perfect. Almost a carbon copy of her big sister when she was born. Another full head of dark hair, just like their Daddy. We cuddled for an hour, and soaked up her sweetness. Then our family was let in. I couldn't believe that just 2 1/2 hours before, I had kissed my girl goodbye, and now she was meeting her Baby Sissy! The first thing she said was, "Sissy... Livi." So precious.

We spent all of Wednesday and half of Thursday in the hospital. It was hard for me to sleep there, I had a pretty bad sinus headache, and I missed my Lovebug. Once Sissy stopped eating long enough, we packed up and left the hospital! We were so excited to be heading home and be a family of four!
We are resting (as much as possible with a toddler) and cuddling with our girls, and settling in now. So thankful, and so blessed.