Hadley Ann Dixon

Hadley Ann finally made her way into the world and joined our family! She was born on January 18, 2010 at 3:26am, weighing 7 lbs 6 oz 20 inches long. After a very long week of on-and-off-again labor starting on Monday the 11th and pretty much being in pain and emotionally drained from it all, I finally started having regular 5 min apart contractions Sunday night at 11:30 pm. I really didn't think they'd last but after timing them for a good hour and a half I figured I might as well go to the hospital and get checked and they can tell me if I'm at least having some progression or not (because as of Friday the 15th I was still closed). So Ryan and I got to the hospital at 1:30 am signed paper work got checked for dilation around 2:00 and they said I was 5 cm 90% effaced so I could stay. We got checked into our labor and delivery room close to 2:30 and they had called the epidural guy to come in as well as my doctor. I told them once I got the epidural I'd probably dilate really fast and be ready to have this baby when it was in. Luckily the doctor got to the hospital soon after that but not the epidural guy, he didn't get there until after 3:00 and by then the contractions were getting more intense. I was managing them, but it was getting rough. When the epidural guy finally got there he did not look happy to be there and he was very rude and mumbley to us and my contractions were getting very intense. They sat me up on the table and swung my legs over the edge so I could get the epidural and as soon as I did that I had a huge contraction which broke my water all over the table. I sat there for a few more mins while the epidural went in and had 3 more very intense contractions. Finally it was in and they laid me down, but I was telling them she's coming out. At this point things went fast, the epidural was in yes but no drugs. The nurse checked me when I laid back down, said yes she's fully dilated and I said she's coming out now and they kept saying don't push, don't push. I said I'm not but she's coming out now! The doctor came in and basically caught her coming out while the nurses pushed my legs up in the stir ups and at 3:26 am she was out with 1 push. It's a good thing that memory of pain goes away quickly because that was really one of the most painful experiences of my life. However, I would do it all over again if it meant bringing a beautiful and perfect baby girl into the world. We can't imagine life with out her. The boys are both in love with her (as well as her parents) and are so sweet to her. She's a perfect fit into our family. We have already had some special moments, and I wish I had time to share them all here, but this will have to do for now.