Hannah Elizabeth's birth story, part 2

So here's the rest of Hannah's birth story...sorry it has taken me a while to post this, but snuggling my precious baby girl (as well as feeding, changing diapers, and sleeping!) have been higher on my priority list than blogging lately ;)


Soon after the dr. came and broke my water at around 10:00 p.m., my contractions started. I was so thankful that I didn't have to be induced (big answer to prayer) and didn't need any pitocin at all.


12:00 a.m., August 31st--Epidural time, just when the pain was starting to get pretty rough.


1:30 a.m.--I was really starting to wonder how far I had progressed to this point, and so I asked the nurse if Dr. P could come back and check to see how far I was dilated. To say the least, I was soo ready to meet our baby girl! Tony's mom and grandma were in our l/d room at that point, so they stepped out while I was being checked. I was ecstatic to hear that I was 10 cm, so Dr. said that I could go ahead and start pushing when I felt pressure. I was thinking...this could still be a while. In a matter of just a couple minutes, everything was ready for baby's arrival and the pushing had begun.


1:47 a.m.--I think I counted only 8 pushes (about 10 minutes or less...what a HUGE blessing!) and baby Hannah Elizabeth had arrived! The dr. placed her into my arms right away and she started screaming! That was the most beautiful sound I have ever heard. She let us know right away that she has a good set of lungs.

Tony cut the umbilical cord, and we just stared at our precious, ALIVE, breathing, beautiful little girl!

The only words I can really use to describe it are "Praise God from whom all blessings flow!"



On a side note, Tony's mom and grandma were out in the waiting room wondering why it was taking so long for them to check to see how far I was dilated. After they got me taken care of and and Hannah was cleaned up, the nurse came out and told them they could come back in the room now. They couldn't believe it when they already heard the noise of a screaming baby coming from inside our labor and delivery room.

(Meeting Hannah for the first time, and recording her scream on Grandma's phone to send to others!)

We were all in amazement and thanking the Lord for how smooth and quickly everything went. I have no doubt that it is due to the fact that SO many people (many of you!) were praying for us. We can't thank you enough.

Holding our beautiful Hannah Beth in our arms has brought back so many emotions and memories of our precious Alethia Joy. Oh how we wish that we had a 19-month-old little Alli running around, entertaining her newborn sister and making us all smile. Having Hannah here, those moments of leaving the hospital room, coming home to the nursery (this time all joyful occasions, praise God!), finally getting to use the blankets, diapers, wipes, and little pink and purple outfits, all have made us miss our Alethia Joy even more. The thought that one baby "replaces" another couldn't be further from the truth.

But how incredibly blessed we are to have the privilege of loving, cuddling, kissing, and raising little miss Hannah Beth. Cherishing every moment...

"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things."

Psalm 72:18