If anyone is reading this, just warning that it is a very long post....taking a look back in time (3 years ago).

Happy Birthday to my sweet sweet girl Alyda.  She celebrated her 3rd birthday on Sunday the 17th with lots of smiles and happy birthday wishes from plenty of people.  I am so happy I have this wonderfully adorable little girl in my life, she makes me smile for so many reasons.  I still remember the day I went to the hospital for the first time and met my very first baby, it was so exciting and the adrenaline I had helped me through the hardest parts just because I knew what the result would be, and I was not disappointed, not by a long shot.

(Again...just and FYI, if anyone is reading this, I apologize for the following length and details, but I can't find my previous blog about my day when having Alyda so I am recapping the story, I remember it like it was yesterday). 

It was a Wednesday and I was working at the dental office, barely fitting into my assistant chair by this point.  My previous doctor appointment had been Monday July 14th 2008 and I was only dilated at a 1 and about 75% effaced and he told me to not hold my breath, and that I most likely would make it to the due date which was July 21st, I was OK with that, I had already gone this long, right.  So then came Wednesday and I was experiencing a lot of back pain all day at work, which was understandable being this pregnant with a busy on your feet job, and I thought nothing of it.  I went home and it was about 6 on the dot that now I started contracting pretty regularly, but again brushed this off (I didn't even tell Zach).  We ate dinner watched TV and I began to time my contractions, still without Zach knowing, and they were about 8-10 min apart but didn't let up.  I was getting nervous wondering if this could be it, but again I had about 5 days left and I was going with what the doctor had said just a few days before.  Finally I indicated to Zach the timing and both he and I began to watch them closely, but by now they were getting intense and were narrowing down to about 6-7 min apart and I was handling it but knew this was not braxton hicks.  It was at about 11pm that we called the hospital, but they told me to do everything I could to get comfortable at home and just get rest......believe me I tried, but a contraction coming every several minutes leaves you no time to sleep, believe me.  We went to the hospital when they were about 5 minutes apart and they monitored me and all but I was still only at a 1 and a little more effaced but they suggested going home and resting.  We did to Zach's dismay (he was worried about delivering a baby at home alone).  I took a bath and tried my darnedest to get some sleep, but again I was having contractions every 3-5 minutes and they were just being that much bothersome that I couldn't sleep obviously. Zach finally had to beg me into going back to the hospital at about 6AM and we were finally checked in and staying, still only at a 1 though.  I kept up my hypnobirthing techniques to keep me relaxed, I called my mom about 9 and of course my work to let them know I wasn't going to be there (permanently now).  We were getting closer to having our very first baby and I was so excited.  I sat in the tub in the room for awhile, moved around here and there but ultimately ended up settling for the bed (I wish I hadn't and I also wish I would have had my Douala I used when I had Zaylin.  The things I learned from this first experience.)  I couldn't get comfortable, but was not to the point of desperation, that's when I knew I was under control of my body and was SET on doing this the way I had planned (naturally).  I have never been one for medication for much of anything and I knew my body was meant for this, along with just wanting to mentally figure it out, and I did.  Some say it's crazy but I say I wouldn't have done it any other way.  I was at the newly built  IMC which is a great hospital with wonderful staff, and when I had Zaylin there, I was very pleased with everything, but when I checked in for Alyda's birth and all, it had been a brand new hospital and they were still figuring out the kinks and I could tell.  It was not near as smooth a transition, but we managed OK.  Of course Dr. Froerer (my doctor) was on call the night I was laboring at home, but had plans the following day to head off to a youth conference and I was not happy with that.  I had not really even met the other doctors and didn't want to, luckily I had a wonderful young nurse with me with the name Lindsey of course to help me through the tough moments, as well as my wonderful husband who was just as clueless to what was going on as me, and I also had my experienced mom of 10 natural labors of her own, with me.  I had her and Zach doing some crazy things towards the end of laboring there, at least that is there story.  I had people coming in and taking my blood during not so swell times, I was low on energy and just ready to meet my baby.  I was at a 4 a little before noon and feeling ready to push a little after 12 noon.  Finally showing signs of it getting close, one nurse came in and said that I was not to push, that it was still too early and I would tear if I did, I didn't give a rat's bleep what she said, I did what I knew I needed to do and she ran over to check me, thinking she new everything and that I would not have progressed very far, lo and behold I was a 10 and I was ready to push (stupid bleeping nurse).  They ran and got the doctor who I was not excited to see because he was not Dr. Froerer, and we pushed a few times and in a matter of 40 minutes of going from a 4 to a 10 we had our Alyda at 1:17PM on Thursday July 17th, so perfect and  healthy.  I was so in shock of what had taken place, that I kept thinking is she mine, did I really just have a baby......a real alive human being, and I am her mom (what the heck).  It was crazy, that feeling was unreal and not even describable.  She was everything we hoped for and more and there was never a moment of any of it I regretted or wouldn't do again.  She has kept us surprised and amazed since and I am ever so grateful for her  in my life!

only a few hours old



Our first family picture at the hospital



2 weeks old