Happy Birthday, Brooks!

Dr. Drexel wanted to induce me because of my gestational diabetes at 38 weeks.  I was scheduled to go in on June 3rd at 6pm.  We got there early and settled in.  The nurse hooked me up to an IV and the fetal monitor and gave me a dose of Ambien plus a dose of a medicine to prepare me for induction the next morning.  She warned about some cramping with the medicine, but that it wouldn't be anything big.  The last dose was given at 12am.  By 12:30 I was feeling some discomfort.  By 1:30 I was practicing some breathing exercises and had contractions every 2 minutes.  The nurse checked me and I was at 7cm!  Steven got on the phone with the parents and Becky to let them know that I was close to having Brooks.  I didn't have time for an epidural, but the nurse was able to give me some pain medicine to help me relax in between contractions.  By 3:00 I was ready to push and they called Dr. Drexel in.  I only pushed a few times and Brooks was born at 3:42am!  He was 6lbs, 5oz and 19.5 inches long.  Perfection right before my eyes.

It was the most amazing experience of my life and I still get chills and tears in my eyes thinking about the moment Dr. Drexel held him up for me to see.  I've watched the birth video several times over the past 2 months to relive the moment Brooks made his entry into this world and thank God for blessing me and Steven with such a perfect and beautiful baby.  People told me that my life would never be the same and that I would feel a love that I have never experienced before.  I loved this baby I held in my body for 9 months already, but immediately felt the love overflow the moment they placed him in my arms.  Emotions peaked the day I realized that I got to take this precious soul home with me that Sunday morning.  I sat in my hospital bed with a warm, pink bundled up baby in my arms praising God and thanking Him for blessing us.  We had both waited so long for this moment and it was here!  I couldn't believe it, and I remember crying tears of joy because I loved him so much already and he was only 48 hours old.  I remember looking him over head to toe in utter amazement that I held him in my body, nourished him for 9 months, and delivered this baby from my body!  I AM WOMAN!!!  I've never felt so proud in all my life.