Sevilla's due date was on the calendar for July 18th. I made the mistake of thinking she might just come meet us early...After all, I was carrying very low...so very very low, and I had started some contractions a week and half before her due date. On and off they would come each night...some small, some quite uncomfortable. I tried to be patient but let me tell you, when you are having contractions, dilating and then end up going past your due date, this is very difficult to achieve ;) Every morning, Vince and I would glance at each other and joke that I was "still here"...
As the due date came and went, those "jokes" became emotional floodgate starters...I did my morning ritual of crying before rising...I felt miserable, I was dilated to 4 cm and I had lost my mucus plug. Again, another day came and went...and another...
Thursday morning (July 21), I woke up an emotional wreck. "Yes Lord, I do trust You, but this is hard. I can barely walk more than a few steps without pain and I really want to be brave about the birth but the longer this goes, I get fearful of the labor because I have more time to think about it. Thank you for being patient with my emotions, please have the baby come soon." God was not the only one having to be patient with me and my emotions...my dear sweet husband was so loving and kind throughout this difficult time.
My midwife came to check things out. My contractions were still on and off and it ended up that I hadn't dilated any more than what I was a few days earlier (of course this brought more tears). My husband, seeing I needed a change of pace and my mind on something else, whisked Vienna and me off the Starbucks and Wal-mart. It was refreshing being out, I couldn't walk much but hey, it was still great! We were loading up the car with our purchases in the Wal-mart parking lot when suddenly...my water BROKE! I was in denial, this couldn't be...I just didn't believe this was actually it!
Reality soon hit when on the way home, the contractions really kicked in hard...
Minutes later, we met the midwives at our house, the project of setting up the birth pool commenced as I stayed focused on my breathing :) I was SO excited. Truth is, I didn't mind most of labor. Sure it hurt, but until about 8 cm, it wasn't unbearable. I was able to labor in the water, which was wonderful.
However, my fear of having a similar complication as I had with Vienna ended up coming to pass. The final "lip" of my cervix was being stubborn. With Vienna, I was stuck at a 9 1/2 cm for five hours...it appeared that this was happening again and I wept. I didn't want that pain, I was too exhausted, I was disappointed. Thankfully, the Lord guided my midwives. They hooked me up to a fluid IV to hydrate my body and moments later, I began to complete the opening process. Pushing Sevilla out was extremely painful...more painful then I remember it being with Vienna. Unfortunately, I express my pain during childbirth. When it's time to push the baby out...you know how I feel about it :P Yes, I screamed, yes I begged my midwife to save me, yes I thought I would die :/ haha!
Then...
Sevilla arrived and I was relieved, overwhelmed, excited, exhausted, in love, and blessed all at once. IT'S A GIRL! I can't believe I have another princess to cherish. God is good and I am so thankful He pulled me through the dark waters of childbirth once again. Praise His name. We love you baby Sevilla Marie...you brighten our every day with your priceless sweetness :)
My amazing Midwives: Stacy Lewis and Jessica Arno...
My dear Mother and sweet Sisters came to help during labor and delivery and to welcome our baby girl into the world. I am so thankful for ALL the work they did to make things run smoothly. I am truly blessed...
It was quite the event...and we were all sleepy when it was over :)
