The past several weeks of record-breaking heat and two (yes, two) false alarms that sent us to the hospital had made me extremely ready to meet you, little one. I was getting extremely uncomfortable and impatient. Being that your sister was born 11 days early made this pregnancy seem so much longer. I realize now, 11 days in retrospect isn't all that long of time, but hauling around a huge belly in the heat while still trying to play with and run after a 2 year old made those 11 days seem like eternity. My last day working was July 12 and I was so glad to be done. Shampooing my clients we becoming nearly impossible. With my due date approaching, I had hoped I would go into labor soon, but of course we didn't know when you would arrive. I had my 40 week doctor appointment scheduled on my due date, Tuesday, July 17. I dropped Ava off at daycare late morning and came home to get a few things done and get ready for my doctor appointment. I went to my appointment and was eager to hear what my doctor had planned as far as scheduling an induction. I assumed it would need to happen, I figured you weren't coming out on your own. When Dr. Hintz checked me, I was surprised and extremely happy to learn that I was already dilated to 4-5 cm and was 80% thinned out! He stripped my membranes and said there was a good chance I would be back later that evening in labor. He told me if I had any contractions start, to go ahead and call him and head to the hospital. We also set up an induction for Saturday, July 23 just in case. But he didn't sound like he thought I would make it that long.
After my appointment I went to meet a friend for lunch. After lunch, I came back home and did a few more things before I needed to pick up Ava from day care. I started having some contractions around 3:00 pm. I left home around 4 to get Ava and we headed to the grocery store. I still wasn't convinced that these contractions were the real deal since I had been having contractions all the time the past few weeks. It makes me laugh now that in the middle of labor I had to get groceries! By the time we got home from the store, I knew we would definitely be headed to labor and delivery when Darren got home, so I called him to give him the heads up. He said he as there by himself and had to wait for the last truck to get back, he thought it would be close to 6:30. I got Ava fed and had a snack too, but the contractions were getting stronger and closer together and I was becoming pretty uncomfortable. I called Darren and said it was getting worse, so he made a phone call to his boss and his boss came in to relieve him so he could leave. Ava and I were ready and waiting when he arrived home. He quickly showered and we headed out. We still had to drop Ava off at Tyson and Rachel's house. We didn't get her there until about 7:30 and I called the doctor on the way. He actually beat us to the hospital and called me as we were pulling in the parking lot, wondering where we were!
We were finally checking in to Admissions about 8:00 pm. By the time we got up to Labor and Delivery and Dr. Hintz came in to break my water it was 8:30 pm. I was surprised and excited to learn that I was already dilated to 7 cm! Holy cow! SEVEN! They paged the anesthesiologist and he arrived around 9:30 for the epidural. My pain was pretty intense by that point so I was more than excited to see him. The nurses kept saying that I have a high pain tolerance and that I was clearly meant to have lots of babies. I wouldn't agree with the high pain tolerance thing at all. It makes me wonder if other women are screaming and yelling when they are experiencing labor pains?! My parents arrived shortly after I received my epidural and we waited. Dr Hintz came in shortly after I received my epidural as well and I was still dilated to 7 and my contractions had slowed, so I thought we were in for a long night. Now we wait. The nurse came in around 11:20 to check me again and I couldn't believe when she said I was at a 10 and ready to push. I even questioned her expertise and said, "Are you sure? Because I really don't want to have to push for an hour." She reassured me I was ready and next thing I know she has the doctor in the room. I was still skeptical. However, after 5 minutes of pushing we had a baby girl!
Ella Rae Malcolm was born at 11:33 pm and weight 8 lbs, 1 oz and was 21 inches When she came out I started yelling, "is it a boy or girl?" over and over. She, of course, was upside down and the umbilical cord was in the way and I couldn't tell. When I finally realized it was a girl, I in true Wendy fashion like at the birth of Ava started screaming with joy "it's a girl!" I was laughing and crying and saying "I can't believe I have two girls!" My dad and Rachel were in the hallway and didn't have to wonder what the gender was, you could hear me yelling down the hall! They could also hear baby Ella crying, and they said she was the loudest baby they've ever heard! It was love at first sight! The next morning, I was eager for my mom and Rachel (and baby Kai) to bring Ava up to meet her new sister. She was a little nervous at first, but I told her baby Ella had some presents for her so she warmed up. They visited for a couple hours and then left to take Ava shopping to pick out something for her baby sister. She came back later that evening with two cute outfits and a toy for the car seat.
I remember after Ava was born wondering how I could ever have enough love for another child. I learned the moment Ella arrived that your love doesn't split when you have another, it doubles.
