BAY-TIFUL BLISS UPDATE :)

As of Wednesday, March 30th, 2011--- my priorities have shifted. That's right. For all of my blog readers out there--- I went into labor at 8:45AM March 30th. I'll fill everyone in on those details in a minute :) As you all know, I've been a dedicated "Project 365-er" for quite some time. I LOVE blogging. I LOVE giving everyone updates. I just LOVE this period :) But, since having my sweet baby girl... and all the time I have been spending getting things organized and getting a routine down.. my blog will be just that-- a blog. I'll still update, but it may not be EVERY day (or it could!) It will just depend on how my sweet Tayler is, how this momma is feeling, and what we have planned for the day :)  Now-- for a TAYLER update. Here's my labor story: DISCLAIMER: This is my labor story. For those of you that are currently pregnant or trying to conceive, please note that EVERY labor is different. What worked/happened/didn't work for me, may not work/not happen/work for you. Enjoy your own experience and don't be afraid of what happened with me. You will be different... one way or another. Wednesday, March 30th, 2011, I woke up and felt a bit damp. Silly old me thought I'd peed the bed. But as I got up, more liquid began dripping down my leg. Gross? I know, haha! The more I walked, the more it gushed. I knew right then and there-- my water was breaking. I called my mom and told her the news... I called the nurse hot-line and asked them what I needed to do (because I was not contracting whatsoever when my water broke.) They told me to wait until my contractions got stronger... and then... I called the husband. I said 'Hey! You ready to be a daddy today?' and he started freaking out! 'What, what are you talking about?' I told him my water had just broke and all I heard was, 'Okay, I'm on my way!' And he was off. Where was he you might be wondering? At work-- in Columbus! So, my dad ended up coming down to sit with me while we waited for Ethan to get home. (He got home from near the Columbus Airport in 50 minutes!) We got my contractions going, grabbed our bags, and headed for the hospital. We arrived at the hospital about noon. We got a room, they hooked us up to machines, and we were set to go. Or so we thought. 5:00 came around... and I was still only dilated 2, so they started the pitocin. Of course, the contractions started getting a bit stronger. Thank God I had some distractions (family... and the wonderful American Idol!) Although I couldn't really focus on either, haha! Well, the night continued going and March 30th soon passed. (I thought for sure that was going to be Tayler's birthday!) At midnight, they checked me and I was still only dilated 2. Talk about frustrating! I'd went through 1 bag of pitocin.. and was still only contracting about every 6 minutes. So, they started another bag of pitocin... and told me that since I was having trouble dilating, a c-section may be in order since they like to have babies out within 24 hours of the water breaking. I was dreading a c-section, but I was exhausted and just ready to have Tayler. As the night progressed, my contractions started getting stronger. They gave me some pain medication to ease the pain since I wasn't able to get the epidural yet and it knocked me out for awhile (thank God!) At 1AM, I knew there was a change being made in my body. Contractions were rough... and I was getting cranky (sorry family and hubby!) They checked me and told me I was FINALLY dilated 5! The nurse said, 'You can get the epidural now!' Finally! All of that talk about how relief was coming was here! But it seemed like the anastesiologist was taking forever. I remember yelling, 'Someone please help me! Get them to help me!' Ethan was asking them to get the epidural because I was losing it. I remember pulling my hair, frustrated. At 1:15AM, they checked me again prior to giving me the epidural. And as I looked at the nurse's face.... she looked shocked. All she said was, "You're clear." I remember asking, 'What does that mean?!' And she said, 'Sweetie, you're dilated 10! You can't get the epidural...' Everyone walked out of the room. LITERALLY, hahaha! Even Ethan. They all knew this pregnant lady was probably about to lose it. But I didn't... all I said was, "WELL LETS DO THIS! LETS GET THIS BABY OUT!" They started rushing into the room with lights and all of their equipment. I kept telling them I had the urge to push... they told me to wait. My legs were shaking trying to hold it in. (I didn't... and the waters started gushing, haha!) They finally got the stirrups up, my legs were ready, and it was time to push! I started pushing at 1:27AM. They counted me off 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10... deep breath, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. I pushed for about an hour and finally at 2:22AM, Tayler Serenity Bay was born! She was 6lbs, 3oz and 20" long. We were in love already! It was tough. I won't lie. It hurts. And is painful, but trust me--- it is so worth it! When women say that once your baby is laying on your belly and you see them for the first time, you forget about the pain-- YOU DO. I remember during contractions, I kept saying, 'I'm never having another baby!' And now, I would do it all over again just to see a new baby again <3