Our Angel is Here

Our little angel, Peyton, arrived on Friday afternoon at 4:50 pm. The day started out at 8:00 am when they started me. Around noon, I couldn't handle the contractions any longer so I asked for the epidural. (A heavenly invention!) After that, we waited another 3 hours to fully dilate. From there, I pushed for about an hour and a half with no progress. She was close, but just not moving any more. Peyton started to scare us because every time I would have a contraction, her heart rate would slow WAY down. I hated hearing her heart monitor drop so fast. It was the most horrifying sound each time it happened. It REALLY made me nervous.
Finally about 4:30 the doctor showed up. I had been pushing for an hour and half straight and was really starting to lose my energy. He said that these days they hardly ever use forceps or vacuum sucking. He tried to help turn Peyton (her head was facing sideways a little--thus the hard labor). After that didn't work, he asked the nurse to get the vacuum sucker. We used that and I pushed more. I tore inside and the doctor asked, "Do you want to keep tearing, or would you like me to cut?" My mom was in the room and she basically yelled, "cut!" I would have said that, but I love that she did. I needed a split moment of comedy. :) He cut, I pushed, and all of a sudden she was here! The doctor placed her on my belly right away and my emotions were running wild. It was SO special. So tender. I just wanted to cry and never stop holding her.
Dave got to cut the umbilical cord. It's funny-- I thought he would be grossed out and not want to see much or even want to leave (he teased me that he would NOT be in the room when she was born), but then the day came and he was so intrigued with questions and so great to help me... even when I basically nailed and scratched his hand off while they gave me the epidural. :] I promise that the only tears he shed were not from me hurting him. He is such a great husband and will be an amazing daddy for this little angel of ours.
Peyton arrived as a healthy 8lb. 2oz. beautiful baby girl. She is 18.5 inches long and full of thick dark hair. So far she likes to sleep a lot. She is a very good baby, not too fussy. (The first night was a little rough--sort of a wake-up call to parenthood; but since then, she's been a little angel.) She loves to be snuggled-- so precious. She brings such a new and greater sense of love to our home. We both just love her so much that it's seriously miraculous to be able to love so more than you thought you possibly could.