On Your Birth-Day

Well sweet Peanut, today was the day! After 40 weeks and 2 days, we were finally going to meet you!

The day began for us at 5 AM with a phone call to Labor and Delivery to see if they would have a bed ready for us for our tentatively planned 7 AM induction. We were quickly told no beds would be available, but that one woman had just delivered and when she was finished recovering and her room cleaned, they would call us and get us into a room. Until then, we should go back to bed and rest.

Ha! There was no way I was going to go back to bed, but oddly, I was able to relax and rest. I wasn't worried or anxious. I was in a a state of peace and calmness that is not always like myself, but a feeling I was so thankful for. We started our day slowly with an unrushed shower, quiet breakfast just Daddy and I, and cuddling on the couch. Around 6:45, we heard the familiar knocks of your brothers on their bedroom doors, calling down, "Mommy, Daddy, our clock's green!" (meaning they were allowed to get out of bed now). So down came your brothers for some more snuggles, breakfast with them, and "patiently" waiting for our phone to ring.

While waiting, your school time was approaching. All along, we planned on keeping you home from school, thinking we'd be long gone by school time. At 7:45, we decided we would likely have time and were going to take you to school where Nenny could pick you up at noon.

Of course, as soon as you make a plan, things change! As we began to get you dressed and ready for school, my phone rang and we were told, "Come on down! We have a bed waiting for you." So frantically we called both Zsu Zsu and Nenny to help us out! Zsu Zsu would be here in 5 minutes to take you to school and Nenny would still pick you up, allowing your Daddy and I head to the hospital.

Clothes flying and directions being hollered at Zsu Zsu, we were all trying to get out the door by 8:30 (and succeeded too!).

 

In route to the hospital, we were grateful for a phone call from Tse Tse letting us know the highway was a mess (thank goodness I wasn't in labor yet!). So, it was a detour for us, but 40 or so minutes later we had arrived and were ready to meet you!

 

As we pulled into the parking lot, I turned to your daddy and asked, "Could you imagine if Terri were working today?! That would just be the icing on the cake." He agreed, but we both knew it was a long shot and didn't truly have any hope in these words, so that we wouldn't be disappointed. (Terri was our angel nurse from our pregnancy with your brothers. She was there on our darkest days, giving us hope and lifting us up in prayer along the way. She was also there when they were born and my nurse, holding my hand through each scary unknown turn. We know without a doubt that God put this woman into our lives and we still thank Him for the peace she brought to us three years ago. Amazing how circumstances can bring certain people into our lives that change us for the better.)

As we walked into Labor and Delivery, we were blown away to see Terri standing there smiling! I could've burst into tears right then and there. How great is our God?! Our dear nurse and friend, would be there for the birth of all three our children.

After getting checked in and into our room, it was time to get settled -- hospital gown on, baby and contraction monitors on, IV started, and questions answered. It was a routine we were used to with your brothers, but still a completely different experience this time around knowing we were giving birth to a full-term (and prayerfully healthy) baby!

We were soon settled and by 10 AM my water had been broken and still measuring 4 cm dilated (we were told typically it's about an hour to an hour and a half per centimeter. So we anticipated 6-9 hours of labor before go-time).

10:30, Zsu Zsu and Tse Tse had arrived and the waiting was officially underway. I was shocked at how quickly the contractions picked up and intensified after breaking my water and by 11:15, I had had my epidural.

Sidenote: Let me just say, I had been so concerned about the breaking of my water and the epidural, after a not so pleasant spinal block with your brothers' delivery. The breaking of my water was absolutely nothing to be stressed about. It wasn't even uncomfortable, let alone painful! It was definitely a bizarre sensation though - one I handled with maturity by giggling as it happened. The epidural was also equally less painful than I anticipated. The numbing shot was uncomfortable, and there was an odd feeling of pressure when the epidural was inserted, but definitely wasted energy in worrying over it.

An hour later, I was now measuring 6.5 centimeters (2 centimeters in 2 hours, so right on schedule as predicted), much more comfortable thanks to the epidural, and playing cards to help pass the time while watching some basketball.

 

 

Contractions were really picking up and getting closer together (thank you Lord for creating the brains that developed the epidural, for while I could feel pressure, the pain was so much better! I can't imagine experiencing that pain every minute with each contraction!), so they measured me again at 1:15....10 cm!!! In an hour, we had gone from 6.5 cm to 10 cm. I'm not sure how that happened, but there was instantly a buzz in the room as it became very clear that you would be with us much sooner than we anticipated!

 

Around 1:30, I gave a couple practice pushes through 2 contractions to see how you would progress. I was grateful for the decision to continue laboring for another 45 minutes or so, in hopes that you would drop more, cutting down on time (and energy) spent pushing.

2:30 and it was go time! I was so excited to try and deliver you without needing a c-section and prayed I would be strong enough to do so. Forty minutes later and a beautiful little (big!) girl was placed on my chest.

 

 

We had had your name picked out since December, but just last week, Daddy threw a curve ball at me, which had us questioning who you were! So, we combined them both, sweet Charleigh Jo Evelyn! You have been named after two incredible women who I know you will represent well. My grandma, Letti "Paugh" Jo, was one of the most intelligent women I have ever known. She put her career on hold to first raise her family and then went back to college in her 40s. At 55 years old, she earned her doctorate degree in education. She went on to impact and change countless lives as a teacher. Not only was she such an intelligent woman, she was witty and funny. I wished I had had more days just sitting and listening to her talk. And while all these traits are amazing, the strongest and most valuable trait she had was her faith in God. Prayer was her answer to everything -- from the biggest of thing to the smallest of need. I could name experience after experience that was delivered due to her faith. One of my favorite stories of her faith: she had a planter on her porch that was impossibly too heavy for her to lift. Something that most would never think to pray about, but not Paugh. She prayed. And sure enough, she was able to move the plant! I can't wait to tell you more stories about Paugh. I hope you carry this quality on, sweet Charleigh Jo. I hope you always know there is never anything too small to bring to God. If it is important to you, it is important to Him. Let your faith grow in Him, sweet baby girl, and He will work great miracles in your life. It was because of faith that you are even here, Little Girl. Take that faith and continue to grow with it in your own life. I can't wait to watch the brilliant, Dr. Letti "Paugh" Jo live on in you.

From one spiritual leader, to another, you are also named after your Daddy's selfless, great-aunt Evelyn. A spiritual rock in his life, Evelyn was a woman who lived by example, emulating what it means to "love God and love others." She put her Lord and her work for Him first in all things that she did. She taught your daddy what it means to be a Christian and how to serve Him in all things. I know you will wear her name proudly and pray you continue to serve the Lord just as she did.

Now that we had had over an hour of kangaroo care, you were named, and had been examined, it was time to head upstairs to our new room. We were so excited because that meant you could finally meet the rest of your family (Nenny, Papa Donnie, Boo, Uncle Kye and Aunt Yaya, Uncle Aaron, and of course...your big brothers!!)

I have never seen more proud smiles as they both walked through that door. Your brothers have been so excited to meet you and I hoped the feeling would continue once they actually met you in person. They beamed with pride as they peeked over your bed. "Can I kiss her? May I kiss baby sister?" you asked, Wiley. As you and Ryan both bent down to kiss her head. Aside from your affection with Baby Sister, you were also very concerned about me and made sure I was doing okay too. Wiley, you were especially concerned with the "pinch" I had in my hand (pinch is what you call a shot and you couldn't understand why a shot would stay in my hand). "Mommy, may I kiss your pinch please? It all better now?"

    

What a long and beautiful day. It's amazing how the second you meet your child, it has been as if you have always known them and they have always been. You've only been in our family for a few hours now, sweet Charleigh Jo, but you immediately fit just so perfectly. Even the boys can feel it; you have completed our family and we can't wait to watch you grow with us. Thank you Lord, for entrusting us with yet another miracle baby. We know you have great things in store for her, just as you do for our boys and can't wait to see what those things are. Happy Birthday, sweet Charleigh Jo!