It's a.......

GIRL!!!

Introducing Lorelei Elena Coldewey. Born Monday, December 10, 2012 at 11:51 am coming into the world at 6lbs 12oz & 19 3/4" long!!

The story:

Preston worked the day before and ended up getting a late call Monday morning before getting of work. He texted me to let me know he'd be late & I decided to stay in bed until he got home. Preston got home around 8:15a & took a shower. He then started to tell me about his late call while I was still in bed. All of a sudden, at 8:55a, I felt a BIG kick which actually made me say "Ow!"- I figured Baby was ready for some breakfast. So, I got up to go to the bathroom & on my way, noticed that I was leaving a trail behind (on the floor that had just been mopped the day before!). So I called out "Preston, I'm pretty sure my water broke & we need to head out soon!" He got up, came to look and very excitedly said "Okay! Let's go!!" So, he went out to make sure the outside faucets were covered for the freeze that was coming & I went to get dressed... Only it was pretty difficult bc the contractions started & I had to pause to breathe through them, and I was pausing quite a bit, it seemed. Preston came back in while I was getting ready & was around for 3 contractions that were 3 minutes apart & told me "we need to go now bc they're really close." So we grabbed the backpack with our things for the labor (that we never ended up using) & got in the car & left. On the way, they were getting closer together & more intense- the squeeze his hand as hard as I can kind. As we're driving we start coming up on morning traffic...contractions weren't slowing down so we decided to take the "back way" to the hospital. Along the back route, we came up on a church & church school with its own stop light. As it was turning yellow &( the contractions were getting stronger) I told Preston, "Don't you stop at that light!!" His response: "wasn't planning on it!"- ha!

Finally at the ER (even though we made great time for AM rush hour) and Preston goes in to tell them I'm in labor & get a wheel chair (no way I was walking anywhere!). They take me up to L&D triage and start getting me ready & checking me in. I changed into a gown & was lying back down when the contractions started getting stronger. The nurse checked me & said I was dilated 3cm & was doing good. Preston went to go move the car quickly & the pain intensified. I told the nurse "I'm feeling pressure, it feels like I have to go to the bathroom!" She told me to keep breathing & I wasn't far enough along to push. Preston got back & I nearly squeezed his hand off during the next contraction & the nurse started my IV to get me ready to go to L&D. I told her the same thing again & she insisted I try to relax bc I wasn't close enough to push. Just then my nurse from L&D came to get me & started wheeling me over to my room. I was having a contraction along the way & when we got there so as soon as it was done, she & Preston helped me haul butt into bed. There comes another one.... "It feels like I have to go to the bathroom. So much pressure down low", I tell her. She actually listens to me & checks me (it's been 20 minutes...) I'm dilated to 10cm- WHAT?!?! I KNEW IT...but at the same time I was thinking- is this supposed to be happening this fast??? AAAAHHH!! The nurse said she was going to call my doctor & then looked at me & said, "you're so close, do you want to just do it without meds?" I froze.. & she said "let me go call". As she walked out I turned to Preston & said, " is she out of her freaking mind?!?!? What kind of dumb ass question is that?!?" (Pardon my French..I blame labor...yeah right!) she came right back & said good news, your doctor asked me to please get you at least a little something & the anesthesiologist is right outside, so he's coming in. He comes in mid contraction & I try to say hi. He goes through he spiel of what he's supposed to say & says "we don't have time for an epidural, this is a spinal & should wear off in an hour". I did what they told me & rolled onto my side while the nurse held me in fetal position in case of a contraction... Here it comes! In goes the needle mid contraction-felt like nothing comparatively! And he was done before my contraction. They rolled me back onto my back & instantly I can feel my lower half start to relax....ahh. I can finally comprehend & think. "Wait did he say it will wear off in an hour?? Am I really going to be done by then?? Is he nuts?" (Luckily it only took half an hour!) The nurse checks again & tells me we'll for sure be done by then & that we're going to start pushing a little to move the baby down before the big show! As my first push is ending, my doctor walks in & says "do I have time to change?" She looks at me & immediately says, " oh I'd better hurry!" I only do three "pre" pushes before its "go time". I push for two rounds (3 in a round) & on the third round, out comes the head. She has me pause to cut the cord that was wrapped once (probably because that baby was a rollie pollie in there). I give one final push...out comes baby.

I immediately look at Preston....

"It's a GIRL!!"

"WHAT?!? REALLY??" I'm bawling.

And then the doctor lifts her up & puts her on my chest. SHE is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!! The first things I notice: 1. She has a small freckle on her left temple 2. Her nose & lips look EXACTLY like the sonogram!!

I have a DAUGHTER!!!!

Preston & I are instantly in love & just spend the next little while staring at her. The nurses take Hertel clean her up & get her weight while proud Daddy takes pictures & makes sure they "do it right" ;)

They do it all quickly & get her back to me. Once I have her back, Preston asks me if he should go tell everyone now. I knew my Dad was there but didn't know who else... But the nurse said quite a few people (turns out they just wanted to see me & didn't know I HAD her!) Preston went out to tell them (they think it's just a labor update) and I hear them get quiet as he's about to say then... SCREAMS..."A GIRL?!?" Then somewhat quiet again for her name... "AWWWWW!!" After I had my uninterrupted hour with my baby girl, the nurse came to take her to the nursery and Daddy went too. As soon as they get in the hallway... "Awwwww!!" Haha

In come my mommy, Kami & sister, Stephanie for hugs!! My dad & Kathy follow & then comes Nancy, Sophie & baby Gordon sleeping. After a few hugs, my nurse came in to move me to my recovery room to get settled. Once I'm settled, in comes family & friends for hugs and congrats.

A short time later, in comes Preston, followed by the nursery nurse with our Baby GIRL, Lorelei Elena!!

The rest of our stay was full of visitors & gifts for baby by family & friends! We are So thankful to all who came to visit our new family, being us food & help with anything we needed!

And so our journey begins:
"A man & a woman had a little baby, yes they did. They had three in the family, that's a magic number"- School House Rock

A New Mommy,
Sandra