Ellie Grace Wood

September 4, 2012. The day we have been looking forward to for nine months. Yesterday was my official due date. I had my forty week appointment scheduled at 1pm to have an ultrasound making sure it was safe to continue past forty weeks and to check my cervix. I had the same appointment with Ensley two years ago and went home with an induction day scheduled for the following week (but Ensley came three days before the induction). So EJ took off this time to go with me and help with Ensley during the ultrasound and we planned to take Ensley out for a fun afternoon with Mommy and Daddy after the appointment because we figured it may be the last time she had us to herself for quite some time. After the ultrasound my doctor came in to check me and said I was at 3 cm and she was sending me down to L&D to have a baby because my amniotic fluid measured low in the ultrasound.

Whoa! Surprise! We were going to meet "baby Edy" in a few hours!!! And my bags were packed but at the house and Ensley was with us which was not part of the "going to the hospital plan"...hmmm. This threw Little Miss Not Spontaneous (me) for a loop but it all worked out. We all went downstairs to L&D where I got checked in about 2 pm. Then EJ took Ensley home to get my bag while the nurse set up my IV and started my pitocin or "liquid evil" as my friend Sarah calls it. When EJ returned Ensley helped Mommy get in a relaxed state by cuddling like a sweet girl watching Clifford and Curious George. I told EJ there could not be a better way to relax and prepare for Ellie's arrival. My parents arrived at the hospital around 4pm to care for Ensley while I labored.

The labor went quickly and the delivery could not have been any faster. A dear friend of mine who is a doula sent me a message early in the labor process that said "stay totally relaxed and let your body do the work! be heavy in the bed. like you are falling through it! imagine the bed in the hand of the LORD and REST completely in HIM!" This was such great encouragement to me and those thoughts helped me through the process. Another dear friend who had her three precious little ones natural told me before I had Ensley that God created my body and the labor process and to let my body that He created do a job He created it to do. I was able to get through some of the intense moments by telling myself "let your body do it's job. Ellie will be her soon and it will be worth it." Then a verse from a song that I can't remember, "My hands are holding you", would repeat in my head until the contraction died off. I am so thankful for encouraging friends who prayed for me during the process. And EJ did a great job as coach yet again. He would rub my back when asked to and stop when I snapped at him...sorry honey. He kept me focused and encouraged me during the last few intense hours. I don't know that I could have made it through without him.

My doctor arrived about 9pm and broke what little water I had at 9:20pm. After five pushes and a little screaming (sorry neighbors), Ellie Grace Wood was born at 9:38pm.

I asked the nurses to apologize to the other new mothers on my wing for my loud screams at bedtime. One of the nurses said they were sending a girl home just as I started to holler and they told her to come back when she felt like that...bahaha! Poor thing. I hope I didn't scare her too much.

I cannot express how overwhelmed I am with God's goodness nor can I express how much I love my sweet daughters. Thank you God for a quick labor and delivery of a healthy and beautiful baby girl and for the family you have blessed me with!