The Day my Little sparkler was born

Our first picture as a family

It was a seemingly normal Wednesday that it all began, I made some plans with a friend to visit our pool and go for a swim. We enjoyed ourselves at the pool for a couple of hours, then went our separate ways. I showered, ate lunch and got ready for my doctors appointment. I remember as I was getting ready, applying my make-up for the day, I looked down at my very large belly thinking I bet she is coming tonight. I don't know why I thought that, I just did, after all this seemed like a perfectly normal day.
Andrew and I walked into the doctors office, waiting for our turn to be seen, again everything seemed perfectly normal. As they started taking all the normal measurements, there seemed to be a few red alarms. The doctor came in and informed us that I had gained 10 pounds in one week (all inflammation, as I was not overeating) and that my Blood pressure wass really high at 160/120 (normal is 120/80). They did a few tests in the office, then decided to send me to the hospital to be monitored for the next few hours.

While at the hospital Andrew and I were basically starving as neither of us had eaten since about 12 noon that day. We kept talking about where we were going to eat after we got out of here... The doctor then came in and gave us two options. We can go home tonight, collect a 24 hour urine sample to prove it is not pre-eclampsia, bring it to the lab on Friday morning , then be induced on Saturday. Or we could go on ahead and get it over with tonight and be induced. After a little thought we decided not to wait to have our baby, and do it tonight.

Fear and joy overwhelmed me, I was going to meet my baby soon. She was most likely going to be a fourth of July baby. We made a few phone calls asking people to bring our go bag, and something for Andrew to eat. I wasn't allowed to eat anything since I was going into labor. They started me on Pitosin and now we waited. My parents, grandparents, siblings, and aunt stopped by while we were waiting. It seemed like nothing was going on, I could feel the contractions, but they were not that bad yet. I just remember hating that blood pressure cuff that went off every 10minutes.... At about 3AM they decided to break my water to help speed things up. This was definitely one of the oddest experiences of my life. Once they did this the contractions got to be pretty rough. I made it until about 5:00 am before I had a nurse come in and offer me pain medication. I remember her explaining how both things worked one was like having a few drinks and made the pain more manageable, and the other I might be able to take a nap. I swear that's exactly what she said, or at least that is what I heard. I opted for the epidural, a nap sounded really good in my sleep deprived and starving state. She gave me a little but of the other to dull the pain until I received my epidural at about 6:00am, Whatever it was she gave me hit me like a ton of bricks, Andrew said I was pretty out of it! Once I received my epidural (which is an amazing thing!) I went to sleep, it was awesome. I woke up again at around 9:00am  and had dialated to 8 cm. I was having a baby soon! I labored for a while longer, and before I knew it I was at 10cm and it was time to push. I pushed for about 30min.
After the pain, there she was my beautiful little girl! I couldn't believe it! She was incredible, perfect, everything I dreamed she would be. I held her in my arms and began to cry. This is my daughter! I never realized I could love someone so much so quickly! I will always love and protect her! She is my little angel and I am so thankful that God has blessed me with her!
My little fourth of July miricle! Welcome Madeline Ellar Peterson!

Minutes before she was born 

My first time holding her

Andrew's first time holding her

so little 

Isn't she beautiful!