All the details...

The moment we have been anticipating for 9 months has now come and gone and the good news is that we made it out with a beautiful baby girl! I had been feeling what I thought were contractions since Tuesday (Sept 29). Since I was still 2 weeks out from my due date I didn't give too much thought to them. Especially since they were not at all consistent. The contractions continued on into the next day, but again there was nothing consistent so I just went about my day. We went to bed that night and I joked to Matt that this may be the last night we get a full night’s sleep for a long time. Little did I know we were not even going to get that! Around 12:30 I was woken by another contraction. This one was stronger than the ones I had been feeling earlier. Although it hurt, it was nothing worse than a period cramp. This time though they continued coming and at pretty regular intervals. Matt eventually woke up because of my constant tossing and turning and I told him that I thought I was having contractions. We began timing them and almost like clockwork they were coming every 10 minutes. I called my doctor and asked her what we should do and she said to wait until they were about 5 minutes apart. We carried on for the rest of the night timing and by the end of the night we were around 7 minutes. We had a doctor's appointment at 3:00 that day, but I didn't think I would be able to wait that long. So as soon as they opened I called to see if I could get an earlier appointment. They scheduled us for 9:45. When we went in the doctor checked me and I was at 4cm, 100% effaced and the baby was at zero station. She told us that we could go over to the hospital now or we could go home and wait a little longer. Trying to put of the IV for as long as possible I opted to go home. We waited for 2 hours and my contractions started to slow down a little, but Matt didn't care. He was too excited and ready to go to the hospital.
When we finally got there I was still the same so they told me I needed to relax and take a walk (apparently the anxiety about the IV was slowing down the labor). A couple of hours rolled by and they decided they were going to have me stay. They started with the IV and some blood work (my FAVORITE!) and then the waiting games began. They gave me Pitocin and things started picking up quickly. I have to admit, the pain was nowhere near as bad as I thought it was going to be. I used to get pretty horrible cramps as a teenager which frankly, I thought were worse than the contractions (because you get a break in between). Unfortunately, I knew that the break was going to get shorter and shorter, and I did not want to feel the actual delivery so I opted to get the epidural around 6 cm. That was the WORST part of labor hands down (for both me and Matt. He got pretty nauseous when they were putting it in)!! It took the guy FOREVER! All the while I was having contractions. It did however, kick in very quickly and before I knew it I was high as a kite. Up next, more waiting... By this time I have several family members and friends starting to arrive. In total I think we had 12 people there which really helped keep me distracted. I am sure the nurses were slightly annoyed though. Finally, in the last hour my nurse told me everyone should probably leave because pushing was the hardest part and I needed all the rest I could get. As everyone headed to the waiting room I tried to get a little sleep (not happening). At about 9:30 we began pushing (just for the record, this was not the hardest part. Exhausting, yes, but I would have pushed for another hour before getting another epidural!). It took an hour and some throwing up, but I finally got her out. Matt even cut the umbilical cord, which he swore he wouldn't do. 22 hours of labor and Kendyl Morgan was here. 8lbs 2 oz and 20.5 in long. She was a perfectly healthy little baby girl. I don't think I will ever be able to explain the relief I felt. After everyone came in to meet her and things got settled down they took us over to the postpartum room. We had been told that there was a room called the "princess suite" and that if we wanted it we would have to ask. Naturally, we did. As luck would have it, it was available! This room is 3 times the size of their normal postpartum rooms and it has 2 walls of windows!
Anyway, back to the baby, I know a lot of women talk about this being the happiest moment in their life, but for me it was a sense of zen. I wasn't pregnant anymore! And I had a healthy baby :) The overwhelming feelings so many women describe came the next day when we found out she was borderline jaundice. I know that a lot of babies get it, but you never want to hear that something is wrong with your tiny little child. She had to stay under phototherapy lights for 3 hour increments coming out for 30 minutes to eat and get her diaper changed. When they first put her in there she cried her eyes out. I just sat there by her little crib and cried right along with her. It wasn't until Matt came and let her hold his finger that she stopped. I think she just wanted to know that someone was there with her. After 11 hours they came and tested her again and she passed. Once that happened we were able to get checked out and go home!! We could not wait to get home in our own bed.
It has been a week and 3 days now and I think we are getting things down. To be honest, it is not as bad as I was prepared for. This is probably because I have the best baby EVER! She is so easy going. She loves to sleep and after getting a little help she is finally nursing. She rarely fusses and when she does it is usually one of 3 things that she wants so we can easily calm her back down. I feel rested, relaxed and happy. Matt has been an amazing help and I am so grateful that he was able to get 2 weeks off of work. It has been so much fun getting to hang out with my little family every day. I have always considered us very lucky people and this little baby is just another example of that. Now, here are the pictures...and there are A LOT of them...

Everyone waiting...

Happy little Smith family

Grandma and Grandpa Smith

Mally and Kendyl

Aunt Danielle and Kendyl

Uncle Jay and Kendyl

Her little tanning bed :(

Katie...meet Kendyl

First night at home

Curious Katie

Matt watching TV with his girls...LOVE it!

Fist bath...not so happy. The 2nd bath went much better!

Cousins :) Austin could not get over how small she is.

Cuddling with mom. I dont think I will ever get tired of this!

She hasn't actually slept in her crib yet, except to nap...once.

I think I was talking in this picture.