In Heaven

Life has truely changed and will never be the same again.
Mommy here, Hi all! I can't believe that just this time yesterday I was sure I was going to be pregnant forever and saw no foressable end or labor. It is all kind of a blur and even though it was 12 hours, I feel like it was 2! I can't believe we needed to drug help! The labor tub was amazying and helped more then I can explain. I stepped into the tub during a contraction and as I was sitting down in the water I felt 10 times better! The entire time I was waiting for labor to get worse, for everything to get worse. My contrations left felt like full belly pain, only cramps....even though very painful cramps, they never spread anywhere else and almost never registered on the monitor. We love our midwife who has delieved both Johnny and Lily, Jasmin was amazing! The entire experience was amazying! I feel uplifted and ready to take on the world. Having had no drugs I already feel 10xs better then I did while pregnant and ready to take on the world.

So far today has been a very slow day. Lily has been sleeping almost constantly and breastfeeding is going pretty well. She has a little mouth so getting a latch that doesn't hurt too much is our struggle right now. But she seems to know just was she is doing. Johnny brought his Grams and Pops to the hospital this morning to meet his new little sister! Though he was a little wound up he seemed to take right to her. When we asked her where Lily was he could point to her and he hugged her and even asked to hold her and kiss her. He is such a sweet boy and still with everything going on I miss him. We will have lots more pictures later, we have been leaning on every one elses cameras.

So far she doesn't seem to care for swaddling and is always wiggling free of the wraps, she prefers to be as free as possible. I have many more things I want to write but I must try to feed the Cupcake. I will blog again in a little while and share more pictures. Thank you to everyone for your kind words and encouragement, we feel your love and prayers.

Lily Jean Branson 6-3-10

So after 2 pushes 10 hours in the hospital and NO drugs Lily literally came flying out. They didn't even have time to suction her mouth and nose before her body came out. She was born at 1:46 am, 8 pounds 8.5 ounces and 19 inches and a good amount of dark (the nurses are calling it auburn) hair. We have many pictures but I need to get to bed. We have a 2 year old that wakes up at 6 and a Pre-K graduation at 9:30.

PREPARING TO PUSH

Fifteen minutes ago she was getting ready to get back in the tub. Now they are preparing her to push. She is so strong! She is impressing everyone. She's actually apologizing for groaning. Thomas is here taking pictures.

Mommy's Log: Star Date 6/3, 12:29

Nice dorky Star Trek title for Mommy. So we've moved out of the tub and onto the ball. Apparently the water was a little too relaxing and she had only progressed to 8cm. The ball is still better than the bed, but the contractions seem to be more frequent and tougher. She is also doing that weird shaking thing and feels like she is going to puke (dude if you're going to spew, spew into this...) with each contraction. Jasmine(the midwife) is happy to hear that because we are making the progress she wants.

We're happy to hear that Jasmine will be on duty until 8am, which means she'll deliver both of the Branson babies.

Jenn is relying on Shawn for a nice hand squeeze, but is quick to say, "hands off." She is doing great. Keep the prayers love coming.

Update at 1:15 she was still at 8cm so they broke her water, there was a lot of it and it was clear. She has a slight urge to push. They're going to get her back in the tub. Grams

7cm & In The Tub

So PaPa & Uncle Tommy are at the hospital. When she was ready to get in the tub they wouldn't let her because the monitors were showing Lily doing funky things. They finally figured out that she was just sucking her thumb. HaHa. Now she's in the tub and so comfortable she is joking around. She's had her two doses of antbiotics for the Strep B so that's a relief.

I told the midwife when we were there that we thought Lily would surprise us and only weigh about 5 pounds. She said that she would bet her years salary against that and that she will be at least as big as John Robert was at over 8 pounds.

I talked to Charlie and he wants me to call no matter what time. I wish I was there and I really want to be there when she is born but I know I'm where I am supposse to be. Of course she can always wait until the morning for me to be able to bring John Robert with me but that causes more problems because Ella has her Pre-K graduation tomorrow morning. Ella seems to be very needy right now too. She's been such a great big sister and big cousin up until now, you can't blame her for being a bit jealous so PaPa and I stopped at Target on the way home from the hspital earlier and got her a toy and told her she was our first and will always be special.

PROGRESS

PaPa & I just got home and put John Robert to bed. We saw Mommy and she's progressing very well at 5cm and 100% effaced with her bag of water bulging. They think it might be tonight but we're not getting too excited because they said that on the first day with John Robert too.The midwife that delivered John Robert is on tonight so that makes Jen very happy. Her and Shawn seemed a little lonely since last time we had the whole family in there so PaPa went back to keep them company.She's pretty comfortable right now so the tub is waiting.Grams

We gave her a three piece pearl jewelry set (necklace, bracelet, earrings) that were mine since pearls are Lily's birthstone and hope that she passes them onto her one day.

IT'S TIME!

Grams here, Jen is all checked in at the hospital. She's 4cm dilated and 80% effaced with contractions every 5 minutes. She has the only room in the hospital with a labor tub and she's very excited about having that option this time. She still has no plans to have any pain medication. Just like last time. Read about that HERE.
She was found to be Strep B positive which is very common but she will need a round of antibiotics and then she wants to take a nap before she can get in the tub.
They both seem to be in a little bit in disbelief that this is really it since she's been to the hospital a few times this last week thinking she was in labor. I think the fact that they checked her in and started the antibiotics is a good sign that this is it.LOL
Shawn seems a little antsy and since he is still in uniform he is running home to change. We have John Robert and he has no idea that his life will never be the same again.