Meet my sweet Lylah

Typing out her birth story is a hard thing to do. It's pretty personal, but I want to document it. Hope it's not too TMI for you. Sorry if it is...

Here goes nothin'.

We were scheduled for an induction on Wednesday morning, August 31. I thought sure I wouldn't be able to sleep the night before but miraculously, I did. Maybe I was just ready to go. We got there at 6am, just a little before actually. Which was a good thing, cause they were so busy if we had been late we might have gotten bumped. We got settled in our room and met a nurse named Allison (great name!). She said she'd get us going and someone else would be in. Apparently there was an emergency C-section down the hall and some craziness, so she kept telling us how lucky we were that we were early and we got the last room on the hallway where it's quiet. After a little while, we met Shannon, our nurse. Shannon was a gift from the Lord. I cried when her shift ended. She was funny, kind and just so sweet. She reminded me of some of my favorite people rolled into one.
     My Doctor came about 8 to break my water, and she asked me if I wanted my epidural now or if I wanted to wait. I told her I would wait. I hadn't experienced contractions, and after waiting for them at home and being paranoid, I wanted to at least know what one felt like. I told this to Ryan after she left. We both agreed later this was pretty stupid. They hurt. A lot. And I should have just told her I'd have it then, because it took the drug guy forever to get there. When he did, I rejoiced. And he gave me the edidural and I was in heaven. Ryan laughs now cause he said I told him "You have to try one of these" and asked him to ask the doctor to "give him one, too." Then I felt good. I completely relaxed and was ready to get going. I started progressing really fast. I had already had some significant progress, so before I knew it, it was time to push. This part was not in the least bit fun. Everyone kept saying "good! good!" and I felt like they were all lying. After about an hour and a half, lo and behold, here came Lylah. I can't even describe the moment when I saw her first. I can't begin to tell you my emotions and how happy/elated/relieved/overjoyed I was. They layed her on me, and all I remember is laughing and crying at the same time and saying "Hi baby...." over and over. Ryan and I kept repeating "She's so perfect" and smiling the biggest smiles.
     They took her over to clean her up, and I told Ryan to grab our camera. He started taking pictures and after a minute I made him give it to me. The nurses were cracking up at me as I snapped pictures from the bed. Ryan got her footprints stamped on his shirt (so sweet) and she got cleaned up and then she was in my arms. I felt all of those emotions all over again. I couldn't believe she was here and that she came and that she was even more amazing than I had ever imagined. So much hair, too. We both did skin-to-skin and I fed her.
     Family arrived to meet her. Everyone got to hold her. I was so happy seeing my family and seeing their faces when they saw her.
     They told us we'd be staying in that room tonight because they were full. I didn't care. I had a baby. Put me anywhere with her and Ryan and I would be good to go. But then a room opened up and we went there to get settled.
     The next couple of days are a blur. A blur of feeding, barely sleeping, crying, visiting, staring at Lylah, singing to Lylah, taking pictures of Lylah. I can't describe my love for her. It is so deep, so rich and so real. Ryan and I are so in love with her. We look at her and look at each other and it's like we know what we are thinking. We are thinking we can't believe God gave her to us. Blessed us with her sweet life. I love this little girl more than I ever thought I could.
     Now, not that this is easy. There are days I am so tired and fatigued I don't think I will make it. But I can make it. I have the most amazing husband....I couldn't do it without him. We have had great family visitors that have helped us. I can't tell you how much I appreciate that.

I am so deeply thankful for my baby girl. Thank you, Lord, for the most perfect gift I have ever received.