Welcoming home Rebekah Hope.

My due date was May 15th.   From the very beginning I had a lot of anxiety about that date, and the 2 weeks leading up to the date.  Elyzabeth was in her first dance recital on May 5th, and another recital on May 12th. 

And the worse thing I could think of was missing her first recital.  Elyzabeth was SOOO excited about her recital, that for weeks she kept asking if her recital was "tomorrow".  So, I had it completely worked out.  I had the back up plan for people to do hair, take her to the rehearsal and the recital.  I had talked with my doctor about allowing me to be discharged as soon as possible.   I was totally ready!  

But when my contractions started May 2nd, just days before the recital... i started to panic.  I kept praying, "Please wait until after the recital!  Please wait!"  I couldn't imagine anything as devastating as missing Elyzabeth's stage debut!    Luckily for me, we made it through an awesome rehearsal.

On Stage, and determined to get every step right!

Elyzabeth and her friend Ella, post rehearsal.

Although my contractions continued to intensify through Sunday, I was determined to make it through the recital.

My friend Mary, and the closest I came to belly photos.

Elyzabeth and me.

Always daddy's girl.

Elyzabeth & Ella with their hard earned flowers!

Although I made it through the recital, I had a feeling i would not be making it to work the next day.  And through Sunday night into Monday morning my contractions started coming faster.  By 4 am they were 5-6 min apart and we decided to head into the hospital.

I am one of those people who always things of plan B.  If this doesn't work out, what is my next option.  So, going to the hospital I was more worried about making sure Elyzabeth was the first person to meet the baby, than how my labor was going to be.  I was getting an epidural, that was already planned.  And I am pretty sure it was the first thing I had said to the nurse, "I want the epidural."

What I didn't realize at the time was there wasn't going to be an epidural.  And there wasn't going to be any pushing either.  

We were in the hospital almost an hour when the nurse checked my progress and announced the baby's butt was down.  I don't remember exactly what my response was, but i know that there were a few profanities thrown in.   

Two ultrasounds later, I am being taken back into surgery.  

Of all the scenarios that ran through my head, a c-section was never on the list.  I had discussed all other possibilities, but never a c-section.  So when the on call surgeon said my only option was a c-section, I cried and I cried.  I wasn't prepared!  It meant three days in the hospital, a longer recovery, and missing my Elyzabeth for way to long.  I was scared out of my mind.

For those of you who have never experienced a c-section, it isn't like they show in the movies and on TV.  First, you go back to the Operating Room by yourself.  I made them wheel the entire bed into the OR, because I was pretty sure if my feet hit the ground I was going to be running for the door!

Once you are back in the OR, they start telling you all these things they are going to do to you.  Needles, and meds, and cuts.... And then they tell you all the things that can go wrong.  They were seriously freaking me out!  However, by this time I was literally TIED to the bed, so I wasn't going anywhere.  But I snapped, like only I can do!  I looked at them all and said (rather hysterically), "Too many words, stop talking!  Just do what you need to do, stop telling me everything you are doing."  

At that point, the nice male med student came over and offered to hold my hand.  He said, "I know I am not your husband, but I can hold your hand until he gets here."  And he did, because it was another ten minutes before they were ready for my husband to come into the room.  

And when he did, our daughter was born shortly after.  A beautiful baby girl with thick dark hair, ten little fingers and ten little toes.  We didn't get a picture of that moment, because our camera was still in the car.  We were expecting to have a couple of hours of labor before she came... 

But we got plenty of pictures later.  

Elyzabeth was the first one to meet Rebekah.   And she was a super proud big sister.  This picture makes me so proud to be their mom.

A partial Family photo... waiting for Courtney to come home for the summer to complete our family photo.

Elyzabeth supervising the Pediatrician as she checks out Rebekah.

And Once we finally made it home from the hospital, story time!

Although it went nothing like I had planned, it turned out okay.  There are things I wish would be different:

      I wish I would have made it to the mother's day recital, but I was in too much pain to make the drive, or sit for 2 hours.  Luckily, my amazing husband was there with a dozen white roses for our dancing princess.

     I wish my mother in law was alive to meet Rebekah, but her body was just too broken to make it this long.  But I know she is watching from heaven and very happy we didn't name our baby Ronald.

Right now, I am just thankful that I have an amazing family and amazing daughters.

And thankful, that i can put my own shoes on once again.