Our Little Angel Has Arrived!

We are excited to announce that Katherine Elaine Francom joined our family yesterday at 2:25 pm. She weighed  7 pounds and 8.6 ounces and was 21 inches long.

Excluding the fact that I have been contracting for weeks and quite ill for the last week this was the easiest labor and delivery I have ever had.  We spent most of the labor joking and talking. It was actually a relaxing experience and I never would have thought I could say that.

After contracting all night on Wednesday and Thursday I called Labor and Delivery for some advice on Friday morning and they suggested I come in and be checked. I was actually upset they wanted to see me. My contractions were tapering off. They were only coming about every 5 minutes and the intensity was not as strong as I thought they should be. I went in and found I was dilated to a 4-5. That was shocking to me! I am usually admitted at a 2 or 3! So they decided to observe me for an hour. I was upset because I only had about 10 contractions that hour and they were wimpy. I kept walking around and resigned myself to the fact they would send me home. I was emotional and crying a bit because I wanted to have my baby. The doctor came and checked me and informed me that I was a 7. I couldn't believe it. The contractions weren't painful enough in my mind! Actually they weren't consistent, hard, long or following any pattern...but they were working and I was relaxing through them as I should. So...they admitted me...here I am a few hours later at a 9 working my way to a 10.

See me! Smiling! Happy! Almost done! What the heck? I had a really good labor coach and decided to follow the Bradley Method. Apparently it really works... The scary part of the labor was ahead for me. :) The last hour and I was starting to feel apprehensive! It had been too easy. Apparently my really nice contractions were not quite enough to get the baby out so they gave me a little bit of pitocen. I didn't like that...then the baby was turned face up so the doc got to put his hand inside and turn her around. At that moment I thought I was going to maybe die and Greg says I kept saying  I should have got an epidural over and over and he kept saying something back to me like just push her out and you will be done :) That was true. A few pushes later and she was out. Beautiful little thing. I sure am happy I didn't give up! I kept my eyes shut the entire time I was pushing and when they placed her on me I finally cracked them to see my beautiful baby was a girl.  With no epidural recovery was fast...with all the labor practice and preparation there was no tearing. I didn't even swell. With the best labor coach in the world there were no tears or stress and he even helped me through the last hour with all one could wish for in a coach. Thank you Greg. You were amazing. The nurses are great here :) They joke about how some women can just come to the hospital and give a baby as if there was nothing to it. Apparently that is me. Good thing they didn't witness the other three long painful labors. I like the reputation I have here. (unlike the poor lady down the hall who spent some time screaming bloody murder even though she had an epidural.)

So Here we are...the laboring crew celebrating in our own ways. 

The Family arrived before the first bath and everyone got to watch!

Everyone had plenty of time for snuggles!

All my favorites in one shot. 

The kids have been staying here at the hospital with me! 

They have been so very good. Katherine has an elevated risk because of the Coombs factor (Jacob had it too) so we have to stay until Sunday.  So far her levels are great. 

Just for fun a few more of my new little angel Katherine.