Tuesday, September 22, 2009

The birth story!!!

Well, week 39, to our surprise Little Ashlyn was born. It was Thursday, September 10th, at 3:30 am I started having my first contractions. They were coming about 5 minutes apart. I thought, okay, this is the day. So at 8:30 the next morning we went into the clinic and had the doctor check to see how far along I was. I was dilated only 1 cm., and I was thin and she had dropped some. Dr. Lovell said to go and walk around a for a while and then go to the hospital. So Gabe, my mom and I went to Smith park, which is right by the hospital, and walked around for a couple of hours. Lisa, Jackie and the boys had joined us later. Then we went home for some lunch, and then went back and walked for a couple more hours. Then around 2:30 my contractions were getting stronger so I decided that I was ready to go to the hospital. We went straight up there and checked in. They put me in the exam room and the nurse came in and checked me. I had dilated to a woppin’ 1.5 cm after about 6 hours, and I was 90% effaced, and the baby was really low. But, to my dissappointment, they sent me home because they thought I would be more comfortable at home. Well, I started to cry. I was so tired, I was in pain from having consistant contractions for the last 11 hours, and going home only meant that I would have to suffer through more contractions until I could get that blessed epidural!!! Don’t get me wrong, she was worth it, but I was tired. So we went home and I tried to rest but contractions woke me up every 5 minutes. Then around 10 I went to bed and tried to sleep but I couldn’t, so I paced our little apartment, trying to decide when it was the right time to go into the hospital. It kind of shoots your confidence down when you get sent home. You wonder how bad the pain has to be to be emitted in. Then about 12:00 I couldn’t handle it anymore, so Gabe and I took a walk around our complex, and when we got back, I had had enough and decided it was time. I was in so much pain and I was ready for the peace and serenity that the epidural had to offer:)


So we arrived at the hospital around 12:45. The nurse checked me and I was dilated to a 3 1/2. So the nurse stretched me and called it in for me to get the Epidural!!!! I was so relieved. I honestly think that the epidural is God’s gift to women. I was so relaxed and able to sleep until about 7:30 when Dr. Meridith came in and broke my water. That was an interesting experience, and a pride stripping one at that! Then Gabe and I just slept until 11:30 came around, by that time I was dilated to a 10 and ready to go. There was 45 minutes of pushing and she was finally here. 


In the hospital room there was of course Gabe, Grandma Jones, and Lisa. We stayed entertained by making bets on things like what she would weigh, how long she would be, her weight, and the color of her hair

Lisa: 1 hour 45 minutes of pushing. 20 in. 8 lbs 6oz.

Mom: 30 min. pusing. 19.5 in. 8 lbs 10 oz.

Gabe: 12 hours. 21 in. and 12 lbs. OUCH! There wouldn't be any brothers or sisters if this was the case.

Me: 45 minutes pushing. 19 in. long. 8 lbs. 5 oz. 


That made it kind of fun while we were waiting. But when she actually came it was the most amazing experience of our lives. We both had tears in our eyes, but I was crying because I was so overcome by how much love I had for this little girl. Then they put her in my arms immediately as they were cleaning her off. She was absolutely beautiful. She had a little cone head and of course her face was a little swollen, but that was normal. She had perfect skin. It wasn’t blotchy or red, but it was smooth, clear and beautiful. 

 

Each day she gets more and more beautiful and kissable and loveable. I can't seem to get enough of her. It was so sweet because when we were at the hospital I would wake up and I would see Gabe just watching her sleep. He loves little Ashlyn so much, and it makes me excited to start our lives with her, raising her and watching her grow together. We are so happy and excited that she is finally here. 


Her birthday is 9/11/09. She was 19 in. long, 7 lbs. 3 oz. She has beautiful black hair, and she is thee most beautiful sweet baby girl.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Ashlyn Elizabeth Ray

Here are a couple of pictures of our new addition. I am going to update you next week on ALL the details. But since I have a lot of family in town, here are some to tide you over until then.

Ashlyn Elizabeth Ray
7 lbs 3 oz
19 inches long



She is so beautiful and sweet and we are absolutely crazy about this little girl. I promise there are more pictures to come and I will tell you all about her birth....next week!!! 

I also wanted to put a couple of pictures that my sister Lisa took of Ashlyn while she was here, then I tried a few different photoshop styles on them. She did a really great job, so here they are....




Friday, September 4, 2009

NOTHING:(

Well I just wanted to give everyone a quick update. I had my 38 week appointment on Wednesday. Some of you may be confused by my baby countdown. Well I decided that since I was planning on being induced one week early that I would put that as my due date on the countdown, in hopes that the positive thinking would help me out. Well, at my appointment the dr. said that I wasn't dialated AT ALL...and I am not thinning AT ALL.... and the baby is STILL HIGH.... needless to say, I was bummed. Cuz let me tell you, she feels ready to come out. Or maybe that is her mom, anxious to have her body back, I don't know. So anyway, Gabe and I got home from that appointment with an ambitious goal to induce labor. We went to the gym that night, as we have been lately. I worked out on the eliptical for 30 minutes... then I lifted some weights... then we went straight to the duck pond and walked another mile around that. So I guess we will see if this helps at all for the upcoming week. I am scheduled to be induced on the 10th, which is next Thursday. If I am progressing at all then I will be able to keep that date. If not, then I will just have to wait until she wants to come on her own. Don't you just wish sometimes that you control the uncontrollable? In this case I have tried hard...with little luck, but thats ok, I guess if thats the case she will just come when she is ready. 

Nevertheless, we are just so excited to meet our little girl. I think that Gabe and I actually, maybe, decided on a name for her. It was a name that we had on our list of names, but never really stuck out to us. Then the other night we were talking about it and when Gabe said it with a middle name, I loved it, and it just made sense. Are you ready...... Ashlyn Elizabeth Ray! We still want to wait and see what she looks like and make sure that it fits her, but that one has stuck with us for about 2 weeks now. So its lookin' good!

Well, there might just be one more post before you all get to meet our newest addition to the Ray family. Lisa, Cory and the kids, along with my mom, Jackie and the boys are all coming down on Monday. Its been about a year since I saw Lisa's family, 9 months since I saw Jackie and the boys, and a month since I saw my mom. We are really excited to see them all. Jackie is going to take some nice pregnancy pictures of me so hopefully I don't go into labor before she gets to take them. Can't Wait!!! I will be getting back to you soon. Wish me luck!