I decided to wait until Chase and I started to adjust to the new transition of parenthood before getting back to blogging. I thought I would take this first blog back to share Eli’s birth story with you. And no worries, there wont be any TMI or anything.

November 17th I went to bed around midnight after already having contractions off and on for awhile that evening. I did not sleep well or much at all that night. I would find myself going to sleep and waking up to contractions continually until about 4:30 in the morning. By that point I had gotten maybe an hour of sleep and that is being generous on my guess. From 4:30 to 5:30 my contractions were varying from 5 minutes apart to 3 or 4 minutes apart. These were very intense contracts that I actually had to “breath” through. At 5:30 I decided to let Chase know that he would not be going into work that day. We got up and both took showers, with me pausing every few minutes to breath through a contraction. I called my parents to let them know we were headed to the hospital and it was not easy talking to my mom with the contractions. I told Chase to finish making the phone calls because I was not getting back on the phone again.

We were actually not rushing to get to the hospital at first since the contracts were still in the 5 minute range and then I looked at my timed contractions and realized that they were coming about every two minutes now. This made us hurry up a little, but of course we couldnt just walk right out the door because one of our dogs, Stella, tracked in mud and me being the clean freak I am Chase cleaned it up for me before we left. Sounds crazy I know but just the day before I had cleaned the house and I wanted to keep it clean to come home to.

We arrived at the hospital a little before 6:00. We went through the emergency room doors because at night the main doors lock. We got inside and they had me get in a wheel chair and sent me up to labor and delivery. Once there the nurse checked me and said that I was in labor, early labor but I would not be sent home. Eli would be coming that day! Around 7:00 my doctor stopped by to see how I was doing and to break my water. After they did that I was moved from triage to my labor and delivery room. By this point my parents and nieces had made it to the hospital. My brother and sister in law were on the road and Chase’s parents were too. Chase’s sister didn’t make it until a little after 10:00 because she was having her first baby doctor appointment with my doctor in the building next to us; and Chase’s brother had class until that afternoon.

Anyway, labor continued to progress quickly, and let me tell you I was not very chatty, those contracts are intense! Once I got my epidural though things were so much better. I was at a 5 by the time I got my epidural and I was so thankful for that relief from the pain. I was able to talk and enjoy the experience a little more. Once I was at an 8 almost 9 we asked the family to go to the waiting room so that I could get some rest before it was time to push. Chase and I were able to enjoy that time alone listening to worship music, it was such a beautiful moment.

Once the nurse gave the green light for pushing I was incredibly greatful for that epidural because my contractions were lasting for 5 minutes and were about 5 minutes apart. It was crazy! Eventually though it all paid off and on November 18th at 3:23pm Eli was born, weighing in at 7 pounds 9 ounces and 20 inches long, he was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen! I actually had a hard time seeing him at first because my eyes were so full of tears. The worst part was that they only let me hold him for about a minute and then they took him to the nursery because he was breathing fast. That is the worst thing ever to a mom who wants to hold her newborn. They thought that he was going to be in there for 6 hours but thankfully he started breathing good on his own and they brought him to me just a couple of hours later. I can’t describe how amazing it was to hold him in my arms and feel the rush of love fall over me. It truly is love at first sight! I am so thankful everyday for this sweet blessing that God has given to Chase and I. I am so glad that I trusted in God’s timing because now I have a beautiful son that I love so much!

Here is a short video Chase made of that day.