When I posted last Wednesday hoping for the doctor to give us news like... "we are inducing, tomorrow!".. I never expected to actually go to the doctor on Thursday and be told that I was to report to the hospital that night to be induced.

Unfortunately I had been having some high numbers at night with my gestational diabetes.  Those high numbers COULD have signaled that my diabetes was switching to needing insulin.  So rather than risk it, it was time to get the baby out.  Plus we asked an estimate on her weight (the last we heard she was 1 pound, 1 ounce)... the doctors response? 8 pounds 11 ounces.. give or take a few.  YIKES!  Not exactly awesome words for a first time momma to hear.

Nevertheless, you can imagine our shock when all of a sudden we had mere hours left of just Rob and Amanda.  Mere hours that included me cleaning the house, Rob wrapping up things at work and my parents rushing around KC to hit the road for Georgia.

By 9 we were at the hospital and by midnight I had gotten my first dose of meds.  We were told to sleep.  Rob did.  I tried.  I've never been admitted to a hospital, like ever, so between the IV, the sounds and oh yeah.. it not being my bed.. I did my best.  Not to mention the anticipation of what was to come... way worse than the weeks leading up to it all.

I got a couple more doses of meds and was progressing... but I honestly don't remember 90% of that morning.  I was given some pain meds at some point that put me about ten feet above the clouds.  Which of course prompted a visit from Rob's higher-ups.. hopefully I didn't embarrass him or I TOO much.

The next thing I remember is my parents getting there around lunchtime.  From there the pain started to set in.  I waited as long as possible before the epidural but didn't want to wait too long and by 4, I was ready.  All I can say is thank God for the epidural.  Like seriously.

It took most of the pain away, but not the pressure which is what I battled through most of the evening.  I felt like my body was telling me to push and of course the doctors were telling me not to.  Eventually it became pretty evident that we were not meeting our girl on Friday.  Shortly after midnight though.. it was time.

Finally they let me push.  Which I did for an hour.  Half of it was spent doing the three sets of pushes per contraction.  The other half was me pushing through my contractions on my own.  Finally I asked the doctor where things stood.. and he said that part of her head was out.

Much to my surprise the next contraction and 3 pushes later Grace Elaine was here.

I got to hold her for a brief moment... a moment I will seriously never forget.  Rob stood silently by my shoulder and I could tell he was feeling every emotion possible.  Emotions I was feeling as well.  Who knew you could fall in love so quickly?

The nurse took her to clean her up and get all her measurements.  8 pounds 5 ounces.  With a full head of hair, a splitting image of my husband.  20.5 inches with blue eyes.

After a bit the nurse thought she wasn't breathing as well as she could be so they took her to the NICU to do some vitals.  Rob went with for her first bath as I finished getting stitched up (holy ouch.. my meds wore off and I felt EVERYTHING!).  Next thing I know my husband is walking back into the room holding our baby, ready for her first feeding.

Seriously.. I never knew love until this moment.  Nothing can compare to seeing my husband hold our sweet girl.

Nothing can compare to this experience.  I can't say I enjoyed every moment.  But the reward, is so so sweet.  I was meant to be a mother to this sweet girl and so far, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Thanks for all the sweet wishes friends.