At exactly this time...11:04 p.m., 7 years ago, I had checked into Sacred Heart Women's Hospital in Pensacola, Florida and was receiving my first dose of Cervadil to begin the induction of our sweet baby girl, Clara. She was FOUR, count them, one, two three, FOUR days late (which is absolutely NO laughing matter when one is pregnant and overdue in AUGUST in FLORIDA!!!). I was miserable and so past ready to have her. Yet, Clara seemed to have missed the memo that her due date was even anywhere close at hand! I had not dilated....AT ALL. Not even effaced, like ANY. And yes...Clara was my THIRD baby. No...it seemed, 4 days past my due date, as though Clara might never appear. And so the Cervadil was placed and we settled in to wait for 4 hours to see if it would help ripen things up at all so that we might begin the process of induction. 4 hours later, the nurse checked and the announcement was made that not only had things softened up, I had dilated to 4 centimeters! Well Hallelujah! The show was finally getting on the road! I was offered an epidural, which I gladly accepted, even though the contractions I was feeling were really quite bearable and fine. Within that next hour the anesthesiologist was called and the epidural was administered and we again settled in for the wait. I figured they could just wake me up when it was time to push. I was snuggling down for my beauty sleep! About 10 minutes after getting my epidural, my water broke and we sent for the nurse...just to be sure. She confirmed the water breaking and said it all looked good and mentioned that I was now at 7 centimeters. But not to get too riled up...I still had a long ways to go. We were basically told to pipe down and go back to sleep. So after chatting for a few minutes Chris and I did settle down to be quiet and go to sleep. Only...about 5 minutes later I had this strong sense of pressure...which I denied. But only for a few moments. Chris AGAIN summoned the nurse, who at 4 something a.m. was really in no mood to play with the over anxious parents that we were obviously being. She was in the process of scolding us as she pulled back the blankets to check my progress once again...not 10 minutes since the last check...only to be brought up short by the appearance of a tiny head trying to make it's appearance in this world! My knees were quickly slammed shut and the nurse proceeded to stand there, in exactly that position for the next 10 minutes while they brought in the whole delivery setup and a doctor was snagged from someone else's delivery (not MY doctor I should add). When this random doc was in place at the foot of the bed I was told that I COULD give one little push if I liked...but before I could do so, Clara Elisabeth Roberts slipped into this world...in a hurry...unwilling to wait for my assistance in the whole delivery process. She had a head full of red hair and weighed in at a whopping 8 pounds, 0.3 ounces. She was beautiful beyond words. Chris and I found ourselves with this beautiful little angel of a girl in our arms and we were just in awe of the blessing that had been bestowed upon us. She was so very perfect. Every tiny finger accounted for. And every tiny toe. Her was so long and girly...she was simply exquisite. And so ...it is with fond memories and great excitement that I reflect on the baby girl she was and the little princess she is today...my baby girl turns seven in 33 minutes! Happy Birthday Clarabelle!
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