On the day before you were born Dad and I spent the day at the Maulhardt's beach house on Solimar beach. (This is one of my favorite spots on earth.) It was the Sunday before Memorial Day and it was very hot in Simi Valley. When Auntie Beth called and invited us out, Dad and I jumped in the car and raced to the beach.
It was a perfect day at Solimar. Little did I know this day and the day that followed would be permanently etched in my brain forever. I can still smell the salt air, feel the cool ocean breeze tickling my face and feel the soft sand sifting between my toes. Dad and I strolled the beach a half a dozen times. We picked up shells, kicked seaweed and let the ocean water wash our feet up and down the beach all day long. With each push and pull of the tide I could feel my body pushing, pulling, tightening, releasing.
Beth kept encouraging me to keep walking. If I wasn't walking on the beach we all walked up and down the private road. We checked out house after house while Ellie rode her bike and Kayley was sleeping all snuggled up in her sling. Every time I looked at 6 week old Kayley a wave of jealousy would wash over me. I wanted my own baby. Hurry up! I kept telling my body. I'm ready.
In the weeks preceding your birth I prepared extensively. All 50 dresses were hung in order or age. Every blanket, burp cloth, pajama and onesie had been washed and sterilized. My bag was packed for the hospital. Dad and I had taken several birthing classes, a nursing class and were both CPR certified. We read everything we could read online and in books to prepare for birth. Hurry up! I kept telling my body, I'm ready.
Uncle Matt, made a huge tri-tip dinner and I ate until I couldn't eat anymore. Beth and I took one last walk before Dad and climbed in the car and headed home. It was 9:00 pm and dark by the time we got home. We decided to take Pickles for a walk around the neighborhood. Several of our neighbors were outside so we stopped and chatted before heading home. By the time we got inside I was so exhausted from the day I took a quick bath and headed to bed.
At 1:30 am I awoke to some pretty strong and painful contractions. Everyone said you'd know when you were going into labor and that was the truth. I knew this was it. I tried to lay there and count the minutes between each contraction. I was so excited I couldn't stay still. Get up, this is it, I kept saying to myself. I went downstairs for grabbed a piece of paper and started writing down the times of my contractions. They were about 5-7 minutes apart and were lasting for about a minute. After about an hour I went back upstairs to lay down and try to get some more rest before waking up Dad. That didn't last long. I was way too excited. We layed there together and counted. I was still pretty consistent so at 3:30a we called the on call Dr. He encouraged us to stay home till the contractions were closer together or my water broke. Boring. This time my body said to me, Hurry! I'm ready.
Dad and I got up and showered. We packed a few more last minute items and at 4:30a headed to West Hills Hospital. Upon arrival I was taken up to a Maternity Triage room. The nurse checked me and I was dilated to a 2-3 and about 75% effaced. She wanted to monitor me for a bit to see how things would progress. Then I started walking the hallways of the Maternity floor. Every hour I'd come back and they'd check me. At 6:30 am the nurse was ready to send me home. I was a 3+ and still about 75% effaced. Thankfully my, Dr. Galitz was the Dr. on-call and told the nurse not to let me leave. Dr. Galitz was worried you were going to be too big so he ordered an ultrasound. Dad and I were told you'd be about 6lbs 13oz.
Once again I set off for the hallway. I walked till 10:30a checking in with the nurses every 30 minutes. At that point I was a 5+ and fully effaced. My Dr. had arrived and we were moved into a Labor and Delivery Room. Things were getting real official, real fast. I was starting to get used to the comfort of the hallway. When Dr. Galitz checked me he said things were progressing well and he wanted me to go poop. (Yes, that's the truth. Sorry.) Shortly after all that fun. I layed down to take a little rest, just as I closed my eyes I had a really gnarly contraction and my water broke! Hurry! I'm ready. This time it was you talking to me.
The Dr. and my nurse came in and checked me out. We got all the monitors in place and they called for my epidural. It was getting a bit painful and I was happy for the relief. It was about noon by the time the nurse got me all situated with a dozen pillows and laying on my left side. Linnae and Betsy arrived and we all chatted in eager anticipation of your arrival.
As I layed there Dad and I kept watching the monstrous contractions on the monitor and I was happy the epidural had numbed the pain. I could still fell the pressure and a very dull amount of pain but was so ready nothing else seemed to matter. Just before 3:00p the nurse came in and we did some "practice" pushing. After a few minutes I told her I needed to throw-up. (That was a little unpleasant and embarrassing.) The nurse congratulated me for throwing up. She said that saved me a least 20 minutes of pushing. At the time I could not comprehend what one had to do with the other.
In a few short minutes the Dr. came in and then things really started to get serious. All the blue cloths were taken off several carts of equipment. Several nursed came in and I was pushing with every contraction. I had no idea what I was really doing, only that everyone kept encouraging me.
All I could think was, am I really capable of doing this? There was no going back, I couldn't back out now. I just kept pushing. A large mirror was brought in but I couldn't bring myself to look. Hurry! We are ready, we said to each other.
At 3:27pm, you were born, all 8lbs 3 oz and 20 inches of you. You were crying and healthy and all I wanted to do was hold you and never let go.
You latched on right away and nursed well. It was one of the best days of my life. So many people came to see you. Auntie Nae-Nae, Auntie Betsy, Uncle Mark and Aunt Lisa, Grandma and Grandpa McEuen, and so many more. You had huge bright pink cheeks and a squirmy body with olive skin. Most importantly you were mine. Dad and I had waited a long time for you. As I looked in your dark brown eyes, you said; slow down! I'm here.
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