She's Here!

Gracelyn Jane Bell was born on October 4, 2011.

I was scheduled for an induction for the morning of October 4th, but I should have known that my plans never turn out the way that I think they will!

I started having contractions on October 3rd around 9:30pm. I had been having false labor for weeks though, so I pretty much just ignored them. Until they started to REALLY hurt (That was around 10:30). At 11:00pm we decided to go into the hospital. I thought that it might be too early, and was a bit worried that they would just send me home since I had only been having contractions for an hour and a half.

Ryan raced me up to the hospital, and by the time we got there I was shaking uncontrollably. It was so annoying, and it made me even more tense (which was making the contractions hurt more!) We got into our room, and when they checked me I was at an EIGHT. Things were moving too quickly, and they told me that there would be no time for an epidural. I asked when my doctor would be there, and they told me that he was not going to be able to make it for the delivery. Nothing was working the way I wanted it to, and I pretty much started freaking out.

The on-call doctor came in and introduced himself, and told me about a one time shot that you can get in your spine that works pretty much the same as an epidural, except for the fact that it wears off after around two hours. They were sure that I would deliver within the hour, so we decided to go for it. I didn't know then that our baby was twisted the wrong way, and that it would be three more hours before she would be born!

After the spinal shot. I couldn't feel any contractions and was a happy girl!

The rest of our room

After I had the shot in my spine, I was feeling SO much better. The shaking stopped, and we relaxed and watched my contractions on the screen. And then the drugs wore off. And I could feel EVERYTHING again. The nurses rushed to find the anesthesiologist to give me another dose, but by the time that he got there I was already at a ten and ready to push. He gave me another dose of the medication, and when that didn't work he gave me ANOTHER dose of it. I still could feel everything, but the pain was so intense that my doctor told me to that it was time to get our baby girl out! Thankfully the medication kicked in right before she was born, and even though she had been twisted sideways, she was able to be born without any major complications at 1:54 am. She had swallowed some meconium, so I didn't get to hold her right away. They hurried her over to her table and had to pump her stomach (I HATED this!)

 I was SO happy and overwhelmed when Gracelyn was finally handed to me and I got to see her sweet little face. She weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces, was 21 inches. She is healthy and beautiful, and is such a good baby! We feel so blessed that she was able to come into our lives!

The first time I got to hold my sweet girl. I was SO swollen and looked pretty hot by this point. Don't judge!

Ryan's first time holding Baby Gracie

I know I am biased....but seriously how cute is this baby!?!



My mom brought Addison to the hospital the next morning, and Addison fell instantly in love with her baby sister. She can't get enough of her...hopefully that lasts! :)