On Thursday was my 24th birthday and I had a great time. I woke up early and normally I wake up a little disappointed because I didn't go into labor in the middle of the night, but this morning I woke up and Taylor was kind of awake and I said, "Lets go running." Believe it or not I actually did it. It was probably more of a jog then a run, but I felt determined to get this baby out of me. Later in the morning I went out with my mother in law to get a pedicure and out to lunch. I ordered a turkey avocado sandwich and it honestly was the best sandwich I've ever had. I want to it again, now :)
After that Taylor and I went to the movies and saw Hancock. I've heard this movie has gotten mixed reviews, but we really enjoyed it. We laughed almost the entire time.
For dinner I wanted to have breakfast foods. My mother in law made a great breakfast with lots of pancakes, bacon and very yummy hash browns. Then we enjoyed a nice cake and opened presents.
Thank you for everyone who called or sent cards to wish me a happy birthday.
The only thing that could have made this day better for it to be cooler outside and for me to go into labor.
Peyton Elizabeth arrived on August 4, 2008 at 4:11 am. One nurse referred to my labor and delivery as the fast and the furious and I would have to agree. On Sunday I was having contractions all day long varying from 5 minutes apart to 20 minutes and sometimes longer. They weren't even that painful so I knew it wasn't time. Then in the evening they STOPPED! I was so frustrated. I went to bed and I woke up in pain at 12:15 am. I tried to go back to sleep, but they kept coming stronger and closer. After about 30 minutes they were 2 minutes apart and lasting over a minute. I knew it was time to go. We got to the hospital a little after 1 am and my contractions were only 5-6 minutes apart now, but they were lasting about 2 minutes. At this point I was dilated to 5-6 cm. I decided awhile back that I didn't want an epidural and that I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. At this point I wasn't admitted yet so I wasn't even allowed the opportunity to ask for one. Once I was admitted it was around 3 am. I decided to try a little longer without the epidural now that I was able to walk around. Close to 4am the doctor came in to see me. I was 7 cm, but they were worried that my contractions weren't close enough. They knew they were long and intense, but they didn't think that was enough so the doctor broke my water and walked out of the room and the nurse left with him. One minute later I had another contractions with pain beyond words to describe. All I remember is that I was screaming hanging on the the handrails of the bed and asking someone to go get the nurse. She comes in and checks me saying that I was at 10 cm and the baby was ready. She shouted from my bed for someone out of the room to get Dr. Shelton. Immediately the room was flooded with help prepping the baby equipment and getting dressed in sterile clothes. After 4 pushes Peyton was here. I can't imagine what it was like watching or listening to me towards the end. The nurse kept saying they weren't expecting me to go that fast and I would have a couple hours left. Thankfully she was wrong. I am grateful that it only took 4 hours of intense labor as opposed to the 18 hours I endured with Ashton. Peyton is absolutely beautiful and is completely healthy. I couldn't ask for more.
