Happy 1st Birthday Reesey Bear!!!

April 3, 2011    Reese's birth-

This was the day of Lillian's 4th birthday party. I had no idea what this day was fixing to bring. After the party I went to Target because we needed coffee filters and while I was there I found the cutest outfit for Reese. As I was walking to the front of the store to checkout I started getting really light headed, hot and was having some pains I never felt before. I had to stop for a minute because I was getting so dizzy. A very nice couple who just had a baby two weeks prior stopped and she asked me if I was ok. I said I wasn't sure. She got somebody who worked there to get me a wheelchair and I called Garrett to tell him what was going on. The contractions were still coming and so we decided I should go to the hospital and Garrett would meet me there. The lady wheeled me out to my car and she kept asking me if I was sure I was ok to drive. By the time I got to the hospital the contractions had pretty much stopped. I sat in my car for 45 minutes debating whether or not to go in. I didn't want to be one of those pregnant girls who had to go to the hospital every time something strange was going on. And since the contractions had stopped I knew they would probably just send me home. I finally decided to go on in and at least tell them whats going on, since I live far away and at least they could check me.  I think I was dilated to a 6 when the nurse checked me. She then told me to walk around for and hour and then she would check me again. Garrett finally got there and walked with me. She checked me again and nothing had changed. She told me that they would probably just send me home, then came back the contractions.....in my back. I was admitted and I was so excited because I knew this was it, we were finally going to meet Reese. I got in my room and the anesthesiologist came in with my epidural. Boy was I happy and scared at the same time. I hate needles! He put the needle in and this shot of pain shot through the whole left side of my body, which was not supposed to happen. He had to wiggle it around to get it in the right place. Finally he got it and I was all taped up and as soon as I laid down I bled through. Had to do the epidural all over again. Thank goodness I was numb and couldn't feel him put the needle in again.  After a couple hours of waiting the Dr came in and broke my water and again waited. When I was finally dilated to a 9 it was pushing time. I remember the nurse saying to rest as much as possible and try to take little cat naps in between pushes. I remember thinking why would I do that? Its not going to take that long. I pushed for an hour. It was the longest, hardest hour of my life. I had often thought about not getting an epidural for the experience of an all natural birth but boy am I glad i had one. Even with it, it still hurt. I had been so worried about not being able to get my knee to bend enough, but to my surprise it was no problem. Garrett was so great during the whole thing. He held my hand and rubbed my head the entire time, and counted during pushes. Finally at 2:23am Reese Kate McMullen was brought into this world weighing 6lbs 4oz, 19in long. It's amazing how much you can love something so small.