Baby Girl

Friday, May 18 began like any other day. Dave and I left for work, excited that it was Friday and looking forward to our final pre-baby date night to see What to Expect When You're Expecting that Saturday. My employer had a spring cleaning day, so I spent 8 hours sorting through every piece of paper and every book in my office. I joked that my nesting instinct hadn't kicked in at home, but it sure had kicked in at work. My friend and I went to Chick-fil-A, noting that it may be my last outing before the baby came. I was pretty sure I'd have a few weeks left for another Chick-fil-A lunch. After all, at my doctor's appointment the day before, there was absolutely no sign that I'd be going into labor any time soon. I was quite confident that I would make it to my June 12 due date after that.

That evening, Dave and I ran some errands so that I could gather the essentials for our upcoming hospital stay. At one point, we parked at one end of a large strip mall to pick something up at Old Navy. Then we walked all the way to the other end so Dave could check out Game Stop and I could stop at Bath and Body Works for some aromatherapy lotion I wanted. As I looked at the choices on the shelves, I started experiencing severe pain in my abdomen. It was unlike any Braxton Hicks contraction I'd had, but it didn't feel like what I thought a contraction should be. I gritted my teeth, bought the lotion, and headed to a bench outside to sit down. When the pain subsided enough for me to get up again, I walked over to Dave, told him we had to go, and then sat down again while he walked all the way back to the car.

We got home and immediately checked online resources about contractions, but everything we read convinced me that I wasn't in labor and that I must have simply overextended myself by walking too much. I went to bed that night comforted by the fact that I hadn't experienced another episode like the one I'd had earlier.

Then I woke up just before 3:30, and there was no doubt that the baby was on her way. I called the doctor, who told me to get to the hospital within the hour. I'd already woken Dave up to tell him what was happening, so we hurriedly cut tags off the things we'd just bought hours before, threw it all in a suitcase, and headed off to the hospital.

Right before we left for the hospital at 4 in the morning

I was still in denial that we would be having our daughter that day. I even told Dave not to bother requesting a sub for the next Monday and Tuesday at school, because I was certain we'd go to the hospital and be sent home. (I blame the middle-of-the-night wake up for that error.)

Sure enough, at the hospital, it was confirmed that I was in labor, and I was admitted. I spent the next several hours watching HGTV and sipping apple juice before it was banned and ice chips took its place. My parents drove up to say hi, and my mom served as my backup labor coach when Dave left for a quick lunch.  Finally, the labor was too intense for my liking, and I requested an epidural. Oh, sweet relief! I am of the belief that every woman should do what she feels is best for herself and her baby. That epidural was one of the best decisions I made that day. A few hours later, it was time to get serious about having this baby, and at 9:33 pm on Saturday, May 19, little Miss G was born. She was hurried over to the NICU team to get checked out because she was technically pre-term, but after they gave the okay, I got to hold my precious baby girl. With Dave beside us, I told her that we loved her and that Jesus loved her, and I prayed that she would grow up to love Jesus, too.

Our baby girl came much earlier than we'd expected, but I can't imagine waiting any longer to meet her. God knew exactly when she needed to be born, and she arrived at the perfect time according to His schedule.

Me and my little girl a week after she was born