Look at the pretty baby, and not me:)

I'll write more later, but this is Annie Ruth Jared. Born Dec. 16, 2008. She weighed 8 lbs, 20 inches and some change. 

We went in to the hospital Monday night to be induced after a long day of contractions. However, we arrived to see that I was already in labor and dilated to 3. I had an epidural by midnight and was feeling good...

Things started going down hill around 6 yesterday morning. I was dilated around 6 or 7, and received a boost for my epidural and the dr. broke my water. It became apparent very quickly that the epidural was no longer working, so another was put in while I was dilated to 8. I was feeling full on transition labor, so this was ummm....not in my birth plan:)

The next epidural worked, but there was still some "problem areas", shall we say, which made things pretty much miserable.

I was at 10 cm by 11 or so, and so we started pushing- after an hour and a half- I was literally falling asleep between pushes- which were pretty unbearable due to the lack of epidural working. My Dr. made the call to do a c-section.

In order to this, however, the anesthesiologist had to put in a spinal block, with me sitting up, with a baby wanting to come out:) He performed some kind of miracle in those moments, because I was screaming bloody murder.

The bad news is that it worked too well, numbed me way to high, and I could no longer breathe or talk- so he had to put me under, intubate me, etc....

The baby was difficult to deliver- even via c-section and heavily sedated from all the drugs I had been on, trying to get the epidural right. They (I was told) intubated her rather quickly and sent her to NICU fairly quickly. I was assured that she pinked up nicely even in the operating room, but for obvious reasons needed to get her seen about, stabalized, etc...

So, all in all a traumatic day for us- It will be awhile before either one of comes to grips with just how difficult it was, how scary. I was able to hold and see Annie last nite due to the kindness of a very lovely nurse. Because of all my complications, they really did not want me "traveling", to see the baby- but I was adamant that I needed to see my child!!! I was feeling so disconnected. Anyway- it was a beautiful moment. I was able to hold her, and she accidently pulled her breathing tube out- but it was fine, as she was ready to be taken on the ventilator anyway. She let out a few wimpers and girly cries, and then settled into my arms as calm as can be. It was a short visit, and I was so sad to leave her, but it made Josh and I both feel so good to see and be with her.

Hopefully today will be her last in the NICU- and I'l get to feed her, and get more acquainted with her and all that stuff.

There are a few photos above. She has lots of dark and hair and good solid cheeks:)

Pray we all recover fast...I am feeling really good. A little sore, but compared to the labor, this feels like a walk in the park, so I am thankful. 

much love-

brooke