She's here! And, she's perfect!

Well, Olivia must have heard that New Year's Eve was always a big party and she wanted in on that action. She joined us in a typical 2nd child drama filled birth! About midnight I started having hard--regular contractions. I got up and walked, propped up and watched TV, rolled around in the bed trying to get somewhat comfortable....it never happened. I finally woke Bryan up and told him to get a shower--we were headed to the hospital soon! He jumped up and got excited. I was excited for the epidural that I knew was on it's way!! We got to the hospital about 5 am and it was deserted! I went right back to a room and the nurse checked me. I was 4-5 cm dilated (awesome!!). So she hung my fluid bag and started pushing fluids. After you finish a bag, then comes the epidural :). I was on my way. Shift change was at 7 so a new nurse came on. I finally got my epidural, just in time, because I was having 4 contractions in 10 minutes, so I was more than ready!!! The anesthesiologist was really nice--but I had about 3 contractions while he was trying to get my epidural in ....hard to be perfectly still when you can't catch your breath. As soon as my epidural was good and working, the new nurse checked me. She said I was 7-8 cm but she couldn't really tell because my water was about to break. So the OB from my office was in for a scheduled c section and would come check me before that and break my water if it didn't break on its own. Well, doc came in and checked me. Yes I was about 8-- but "uh oh mom, that isn't a head I feel, that's a butt!" A butt??? Wait wait wait--hold the bus!! Are you saying what I think you are saying? So she goes on to say yes I will be having an emergency c section and if my doctor can't get here in time, she would be glad to do it for me. Glad to do it for me??? No thanks!! I would like to go home, wake up and try this again. This time with me pushing a baby out! But, I am 8 cm already? You were about to break my water? Why didn't the first two nurses notice she was butt down?? Cue the water works!! I was freaking out. Luckily Bryan was holding it together and reassuring me that everything would be ok. I was losing it. Crying-shaking-thinking the worst. It just came as a huge shock. I had no clue that was even a possibility at this point. She had been head down for weeks. She was head down on Thursday---how is this possible? My OB came in and calmed me down a little. He told me that at this point a c section was the safest option, VBAC would be possible for next time. That this would all be over soon, and he knew this wasn't my plan, but sometimes plans change and this would be ok. I calmed down a little. Then in no time I was being wheeled into a cold bright white OR! And the sweet anesthesiologist talked to me through the whole procedure--although there were a few things he could have kept to himself. Like how much pressure they had to use to push the baby out. They kept saying--you'll just feel a lot of pressure, it won't hurt. They lied!!! All that pressure hurt!! And the noises were a bit much at times. Thank goodness I couldn't see over the curtain! And before I knew it, I had my perfect beautiful little girl! 9:34 am--6 lbs 15 oz--20 inches. She is beautiful! And so sweet. And, the best nurser a mom could ask for!!! After doing this once before I had a lot more confidence going in--but I didn't need it- she is great! And Martin couldn't be any sweeter with her. He loves his Olivia! He didn't want anyone else to hold her, he kept saying "I need my Olivia back!" It was hard enough to share with his grandparents, but when someone else came in the room, he certainly didn't want any strangers holding her! We are still adjusting to life with two, but so far things are going well!