Eilers 6: January 2011

Elynn Sara Eilers

Born 1-28-2011

10:39 am

7 lbs 1 oz and 19 1/4 inch long

So, after waiting in anticipation since 31 weeks, to meet this little bundle of joy, SHE finally arrived at a healthy 37 weeks! We have been covered in prayer with this little one since the beginning of the pregnancy, but for sure since I went into the hospital at 31 weeks with pre-term labor. It has definitely been a ride, but God is good, all the time, and covered us in health and protection. I am so thankful that HE is in control and knew her birth date long before I even knew we were going to have her!

On Wednesday morning I went to the hospital around 7 am because throughout the night I was having mild contractions that were close together, but not anything strong, with some bleeding. I wasn't for sure it was true labor since the contractions were mild, but went in anyway because of the bleeding. I was checked and monitored for two hours. At that time, I was only dilated to 3 cm and 80% effaced with mild contractions that were not "active" labor. They even made me walk around the hospital for an hour to see if that would send me into active labor. After no progression, they sent me home and I went to see my OB. She sent me home and told me to go for a good walk, among other things, and that I would probably not make it until the weekend. Thursday was such a pretty day that I met a friend at the library and we did story time and lunch at the playground. I was having some contractions, but nothing to be mindful of and felt a little "off", but just figured it was from being checked twice at the hospital the day before. That night, the contractions started getting a little stronger but not regular. I wasn't feeling the best so I headed to bed early. At 2 am, I started having painful contractions but they were only about 8 to 10 minutes apart. By 4 am, after not being able to sleep, I decided to take a bath to see if that would relive some of the pain. It did not work! I got out of the bath and started bleeding. This bleeding was a heavier bleed and made me SUPER NERVOUS. I called my dr's office and talked to the on-call nurse. She told me that I had just lost my mucus plug (i am sure you wanted to know that! ha!) and that I should head to the hospital. Well, we got ready and were trying to get a hold of our neighbor to come stay with the kids until further notice. We could NOT get a hold of anyone, so we loaded up the kids and took them with us. Brent dropped me off at Labor and Delivery at 5:45am and waited in the car to see if they were going to admit me or not. I was admitted by 6am, dilated at 5 and 100% effaced. Brent got a hold of our neighbor and took the kids back home!! He got back in time (less than 5 minutes) before I got my epidural. I got the epidural around 730am and was checked again. I was already at an 8. They didn't want to break my water until my contractions were more on top of each other, so they gave me a little pitosin to get them closer together. Even with the epidural, I was still feeling all of my contractions, but with some of the edge taken off. They said they could up my dose, but I told them that I liked that I could feel them somewhat so I knew what was going on. My OB finally came in around 930 and checked me again. I was a 9 1/2 dilated. 10'clock she broke my water and with two pushes, little GIRL Elynn Sara Eilers was here by 10:39 am! It was such a smooth, fast delivery. Praise God!

It was only Brent and I in the room during the delivery, which was such a sweet special time for us. It was OH SO FUN not knowing who was going to come out, that when the baby was almost out, Brent looked at me and said "what do you think it will be?". It was such a fun thing when the DR said, "It's a GIRL!". So sweet and so precious. I would not do it any differently!

We are so in LOVE with Elynn. She is the perfect combination of her sweet big brother Ezra with his cheeks, lips and chin, but so much like her big sister Emersyn with her eyes and nose. I LOVE IT! She is the skinniest little peanut. So perfect and precious.

Ezra and Emersyn love her! It was funny, Brent called his mom to let them know, and they were also watching the kids at that point, and he got Ezra on the phone and told him he had a little sister. Ezra at first said, "why?" (he was really wanting a brother) and Brent replied "because that is what God gave us" (great answer dad!) to which Ezra replied, "OH. Yay!". Super sweet.

We are home. We came home Saturday afternoon. My mom is here this week, Praise God, and we are loving it. It is so sweet to be a family of 5! It still blows my mind that I am not yet 30 and I have 3 children. I am truly blessed. We are just going to soak up every minute of this baby stage because we know it goes by so fast. I am definitely looking forward to all of new stages we will go through this year.

Thank you all so much for the prayers, concerns and things you have done to show your love and support. We are truly blessed to have you as family and friends.

Love,

The Eilers 5