Houston Dillons: It's a girl!!!

Mailee Raylin born March 3, 2011 at 8:01 a.m. 8 lbs 4 oz and 20 inches long.

Here is our story...

I decided to make the week before my due date (Monday, Feb. 28) my last week of work. That was the best decision ever! I had been SO tired that I was looking forward to some rest. A little silly, but we really were hoping that the baby would wait until March to come. So the whole weekend before my due date, I rested as much as possible and stayed off my feet when I could.

Come Tuesday, March 1, I started doing everything in my power to have the baby. I cleaned house, I lifted things, I went on walks...no luck. By Wednesday March 2, I was serious! I went on a 2.5 mile walk. After dinner I was having some "tightening" of my stomach, but not strong. (I had to touch my stomach to see if it was contracting). Around 10 pm, I googled ways to induce labor and found out about some pressure points that were said to start contractions. I tried them...sure enough, I felt a few contractions. Then I had the realization that if I went into labor now, I would get NO sleep. So I gave up and headed for bed.

While getting ready for bed, I was having a few mild contractions. I timed them, very random and not strong at all. I actually fell asleep timing one and decided that meant it wasn't too serious. Around 4 am I woke up and needed to go to the bathroom. Only when I got there, my water broke! So I woke up Lichar, called the doctor, then off to the hospital we went! (Ok, not before calling Ashley and Kalum to watch Kaiden)

Here is my "one last pregnant picture." I can't believe I am posting this! It really isn't for the world to see, but since this is my "baby book," it has to be done. If I look tired, I am! It WAS 4:00 am. And, my contractions were 3-4 minutes apart at this point. We had to wait for one to pass before taking the picture.

We arrived at the hospital around 5 am. They checked me in, made me sign a million things while they "verified" I was really in labor. (Really? I was pretty sure I was!!) This labor went SO much better than labor with Kaiden. First of all, it was my second child--much faster and I knew *more* of what I was doing. Second, it was a much slower day and I was not fighting 12 other ladies for a doctor. Third, MY doctor was there. Fourth, I didn't have an epidural. I know, you are thinking I'm crazy right about now! But let me tell you, I would do it again in a heartbeat! Yes, the contractions were terrible and I did think I might die at some point, but it made labor go so much faster and I felt so much more in control. No one had to tell me when to push, or that I wasn't pushing the right way. I think I pushed 6-8 times before Miss Mailee came to visit at 8:01am!

I also felt SO much better after delivery. :) When they came to take Mailee away for her bath, I did get a little sleepy....but outside of that, I felt great!