Okay- so last Friday night my son happened to go to his cousins to spend the night and my DH and I were home bored. I didn't want to sit home and wonder what we were going to do until Wed., my scheduled section. So we went to some friends. Later that night I was having lower back pain and I called the Dr on call. She told me to go up to the ER and I asked her if they were going to use brethine to stop my contractions and she got kind of snotty with me. So I told me DH to get back into bed, I wasn't going. I went back to sleep.

What do you know! I woke up with a HUGE puddle! I woke Dh and said I think my water broke. I sat up and it was worse. As I was walking to the bathroom, DH and I started laughing because it was Niagra Falls! We made the calls and went to the hospital.

Once they, they explained that they would have to see about getting an operating room for me and hooked me up to the monitor. My contractions were about seven minutes apart but not to bad.

While DH and I were talking to the anesthesiologist, our families showed up and waited in the waiting rom. The pain Doc was great. I was real nervous about the epi. Once in the surgery room, (DH had to wait until after the epi), and the epi was started we waited. Unfortunately, it didn't take. He gave me another. It didn't take. By now I'm upset and throwing up and I demand my DH. They bring him in and decide to give me a spinal. (I had a broken back and two surgeries, thats why the epi didn't work) We said go for it, I had been waiting for almost two hours. It worked!

The Drs didn't drop the drape but took our daughter over to the isolet. I was soooo scared cuz she wasn't crying. She had to have oxygen and a shot to get her started. Later I found out that her cord was wrapped around her little neck, thats why they didn't drop the drape. Thank goodness we didn't try a vaginal delivery!

When they brought her over to me, she looked right into my eyes and I just cried. I couldn't touch her because my arms were too numb but DH went with her to the nursery and her brother got to join them there too. I couldn't believe how little she was! Only 6 pounds 7 ounces and 18 inches. My son was 8 pounds 12 1/2 ounces and 21 inches long. BIG difference.

I got to recovery but had to wait to see her because my bp had dropped so low. I did get to hold her there for a while but I waited to nurse her until I was in my room. It was so wonderful!! The hospital has an open visitation, 24 hours. So all my family and friends got to come in and see her too. DH got to stay with me the entire time. We took a little bit getting latched but we're doing well now. I came home on Monday afternoon at my request.

I am so thankful for this baby. We tried so hard to get pregnant and now all those frustrating months seem so long ago whenever I hold her.....which is ALOT!

Gonna go catch up now with everyone else. Thanks for reading my rambling.

Ricki- madly in love with Sydney Grace 4-25-98