the ever so long and drawn out arrival of miss metta joy miller.

Dang this ragamuffin (I think that's the female version of a rugrat?!)  What a day leap year 2012 turned out to be.  

Due to Kent's current insane schedule and my way too speedy delivery with Ike- one of the base doctors was wonderful enough to grant my wishes of having a leap year baby.  He said I could come in the morning of the 29th- check my progress- and try to help things along.  I got there at a 4 and 60 percent effaced (although no real contractions) so they decided to start pitocin and get me going.

May I just start out by saying that I ABHOR waiting.  And honestly I didn't think I'd really have to wait all day for a baby since I was already progressing and it's my third.  It turned out to be the longest day and wait of my existence thus far on Earth.  seriously.

I got there at six am- and my wonderful husband arrived at eight- coming over straight from his all night shift at Dayton Children's hospital.  They started pitocin after Kent arrived- and then it began. Not labor- just the wait.  and we waited and waited and waited and waited.  I felt some tightening and some moving but nothing remotely painful and nothing intense.  We kept waiting. They kept turning up my pitocin. and I got progressively more anxious as one- two- three- four- and five o'clock passed with NOTHING.  A doc checked my progress at five thirty because I told her I couldn't feel ANYthing. and I was right.  eight hours and I hadn't budged. even at 20 mili somethings (I'll ask kent!) of pitocin a minute.

I was pretty stressed and kent was pretty tired!  I really really did want a leap year baby- but more than that I just wanted something to happen.

There were some tears and at shift change a new doctor came in and told me she would break my water. I was so happy. She also said we would go off pitocin for a bit and start over. I guess sometimes that helps?!  I asked her if we could try breaking my water and letting me go out into the hall with the pitocin 

still attached. She agreed.  Here I am ready to get started- trying my hardest to have positive thoughts.

She broke my water and I went at it. Seriously. full on walking lunges- squats- wall sits- and jogging.  The staff thought I was nuts.  Best thing about delivering on the air force base is that everything is so small and private.  Just one other delivering mom on the whole floor with us so we had the place to ourselves.  Within one hour I was starting to get pretty uncomfortable and asked to be checked for the epidural prep.  And then suddenly I wanted to die and need the epidural IMMEDIATELY.  It was bad.  I describe this pain level to kent as 'impending doom'. I didn't want to be checked- I just wanted DRUGS.  The man showed up and had me all comfortable through about 7 or 8 more horrendous and atrocious contractions- now less than a minute apart and a full minute long.  He told me I had great anatomy. Perfect ligaments and a great spine.  I told him thanks.

There's honestly NOTHING better than an epidural.  I was really hoping to avoid the impending doom pain this time around- but I can't have my cake and eat it too, I guess.  I got my day and the drugs- so the pain was the exchange.

He watched the baby's vitals for a minute and then went on his way.  My obgyn showed up and assured me she'd check my progress- but also assured me I probably still had 4-5 cm to go.  The first thing she said was: "Hello baby. No way." and then continued with:  "You're ready- let's get the warmers- call the pediatricians and techs".  and that's how it went. I was 100 there- with a baby heading out.  My prayers had been answered- literally.  Apparently when I do something- it's ALL or NOTHING. No in between.

Everybody showed up and I had this baby.  I had to push for a full twenty minutes because she was a lot bigger than anticipated.  The delivery was pretty fun.  Kent knows all the staff and works with most of them regularly so they'd been checking on me all day.  Three of the doctors in with us were also pregnant and our age. It felt like we were just hanging out with friends. I LOVED my nurse- and the pediatricians there were the best.  And I was SO SO happy that it was still leap day and that I'd gotten my wish.  My ob still can't believe I got it all done so fast. She was convinced it would come the next morning

 Kent gowned up and delivered miss metta (minus the help he had to get when they saw the cord wrapped around her neck twice!!) and got to check her all out.  Her apgars were 8 and 9.

 Since I had just gotten the epidural- my nurse turned it off as soon as I started to push and the timing was PERFECT.  Right after nursing the baby- I got up and walked to the recovery room.

 At midnight- the night got long because I had some suspected clots in my uterus and we had to do some ultrasounds and uncomfortable pushing and shoving- which continued regularly through the night.  Kent was out dead asleep before all of it even started and he had no idea!  things turned out fine and besides low platelets now - I should be in the clear.  I have to go back in on Sunday to check my levels again to make sure- but besides being tired- I feel great.

I really was excited about the notion of having three boys- but we were totally nameless in the boy department so I guess it's a good thing she turned out to be a girl.   

Marietta Joy Miller.  8 lbs 5 ounces.  

named after her auntie metta and my great aunt metta- both wonderfully fabulous people.  Plus I think she already takes after her aunt metta (my sis) in the stubborn and drama departments.

lots more pictures and stories to come :)