So this is what they mean by labor of love

To my three year old nieces, Clara and Sophia, who both asked after seeing my pregnant belly, "How is she going to get out?" At the time I told them to ask their moms, but girls... this is how she came out. Some people like to share a FULL delivery story, leaving no detail to the readers imagination. Personally, I am of the belief that some details were not meant to be shared. And with that in mind, here is the story of the birth of Quincy Elinor Bohne.

They say first labors last an average of 20 hours. Mine was 6. To those of you who labored for 20 hours, I bow to you and tip my hat. I don't know how you did it. I can only hope it was with a lot of drugs.

Our story started on Sunday, December 18th. I got out of bed that morning to go to the bathroom (Oh, I don't miss having a little baby sitting on my bladder one bit) and thought that maybe, just maybe my water had broken. Not like in the movies where suddenly the woman is standing above a puddle and crying that her water broke, but I thought that perhaps there was a little leak. So, I did what I do best... denied it and figured I'd call my mom at a more decent hour to ask her about it. Ten o'clock came around and I called my mom. I explained that we'd been walking (what felt like miles) around Union Square the day before and that I'd had some subtle cramping. Then that morning, perhaps there was a "leak." She told me I needed to go in and get checked. Of course I didn't want to. It was Sunday and I didn't want to disturb the on-call doctor and I certainly didn't want to be "that girl" that thought she was in labor because she peed her pants a little. But my mom seemed concerned enough that after a few more hours (of frantically packing hospital bags and cleaning) I caved and called the on-call doctor.

Good thing it wasn't an emergency. A receptionist took my information and told me I'd get a call back. Well, that call didn't come for about another hour, so Seth and I took Max to the park to throw a ball. We were sitting in the grass when the call came. The doctor agreed that I should at least be checked out. So we walked back home, packed up the car, and hit the road. Seth's first comment as we got onto the freeway was, "this isn't how I imagined it would happen," followed by, "I don't think this is really going to be it." I agreed to both statements. I wasn't in pain at all. Seth wasn't weaving in and out of traffic as I white knuckled the handle above the door grimacing through another contraction. Surely, this wasn't it. We started to feel stupid for calling and going in at all, and we nearly turned around. But, we didn't.

When we got to the hospital, we checked in with the statement, "We're probably just overreacting, but I'm here to be checked." So they did their test, and what do you know? I had a leak after all. They were keeping me, and we were having a baby. I was struck with fear. And then more fear. And then excitement. We were having a baby!

A bit past 4:00 pm the on-call doctor came in and truly broke my water and they got me started on a little Pitocin to get my contractions going. And oh! did they get going! The next 6 hours were filled with contraction after contraction with hardly a minute to breath in between. It must have been about 8 o'clock when they checked me and determined I was dilated about 4 cm (WTHeck?! Thats it!?) So, I suffered through a few more excruciating contractions and decided I wanted to get in the shower. (Hind sight: bad idea. The crazy-humid-shower-hair ruined the post-birth pictures. Plus, a little hot water is no match for death curdling contractions. And it's even worse when you're trying to keep an IV line out of the water while simultaneously working to keep a baby monitor hooked around you. Not the relaxing shower I was imagining at all.)

The shower hassle had me back in bed, begging to be checked a little before 10:00 pm. The nurse did her thing, and before telling me anything reached across to the "page nurse" button and ordered, "We need Dr. Adie for immediate delivery." Holy smokes, this thing was happening. Thankfully, not even time to ask for pain drugs or an epidural! I was dilated to a ten and the nurse told me that she'd like to have a doctor present, but if I couldn't help but push, well then push! The hospitalist doctor stood in the room looking a bit worried that she'd be delivering baby Q until Dr. Adie came rushing in, gowning up as she ran. With my doctor present I was given full permission to push this baby out! Just about 15 minutes of pushing later, I had a beautiful, healthy, screaming baby lying across my chest as Seth cut the umbilical cord. I wondered in awe of the whole situation as took in the moment. It'd all happened so quickly that through the labor I'd lost sight that at the end of it all, I'd be holding her in my arms. And yet, there she was. And I was already so in love. I had witnessed a miracle undeniable orchestrated by God. No other being could give us such an incredible and perfect gift. The missing piece of our family had arrived.

And that, Clara and Sophia, is how baby Quincy Elinor "got out."

With Dr. Adie.

Mama and baby's first picture together. (I might photoshop in some better hair :)

Such a proud daddy! (Seth later told me he wore this shirt because he wanted to be in something that resembled what she was used to seeing in the womb - oh, how I love him!)

A first of many kisses to come!

The picture sent via text to announce her arrival to our immediate families.

Daddy and daughter under the lights after her first bath.

First family picture