Our Sweet Baby Violet is Finally Here!!!

The long anticipated day of Baby Bryner #6 joining our family finally arrived on Sunday, July 1st, 2018 (2 days early!) at 7:00 AM sharp! Sweet Violet Annette Bryner weighed 7 lbs 9 oz and was 20 in long.

Here is how our sweet angel came into the world...

Saturday (June 30th) was a BUSY day full of preparing for our little princess to hopefully soon arrive. My due date was July 3rd and the doctor had an induction set for July 5th at 6:30 am just in case she didn't come on her own. I was not anticipating her doing before my next OB appt, which was Monday, July 2nd, where my doctor was planning to strip my membranes, which has been the only way I have been able to go into labor naturally. So, I was planning that the game would be "on" after my appt on Monday. In the meantime, I had been procrastinating preparing for the little ones' arrival, which I am always guilty of each and every time expect with my 1st, I had everything ready for months! Ha! Gone are the days of being overly prepared and on top of things! Like usual, we are in full survival mode, and I gave myself the weekend (June 30-July 1st) to get everything done (my To-Do list was as long as my arm!) before my Monday appt. Luckily, the nesting hormones had finally kicked in and I was an energizer bunny ALL DAY LONG! I actually impressed myself with all that I had accomplished...organized all of the baby girl clothes by sizes in drawers and totes, washed all baby bedding, blankets, and swaddles, located all of the feeding and bathing supplies, washed and set up the carseat, and set everything up nicely in the bassinet, including diapers, wipes, creams, the whole works. Then I wildly worked to clean the house, prepare the guest room and bathroom for Annette and Brent, hang pictures, and a bunch of odds and ins that had not been completed since we moved to our new house (3rd house in Frisco). Oh and throughout the entire day, I was having extremely painful, but not consistent enough to go to the hospital, contractions. I was was still bleeding and had been since the morning of my last OB appt on June 28th, which was not normal for me and I only in past pregnancies would bleed ("bloody show") like that when it was "game time" and I was in full blown active labor! So this delivery scenario was already starting out totally different than what I had experienced before.

So back to my fun Saturday night, I had pretty much finished everything on my list (shocking, I know!) when all that was left was to cut all 4 of the boys' hair. So I began with Reid, then Beau, then Logan, and last was Dane. During the entire hair cutting session, my contraptions were getting more and more consistent and more and more painful! Multiple times while cutting their hair, I had to stop with each contraction and breath through them as the pain was getting so intense. I was finally on my last hair cut with Dane, was just about to cut the very last snip off of the front, when I had a DOOZY of a contraction that I stopped and cried all the way through it and just as I was about to feel relief with it being done, I felt a HUGE SPLASH spill from between my legs...MY WATER JUST BROKE like straight out of the movies!!! In disbelief (bc my water has NEVER broken on its' own outside of hospital care or from the doctor breaking it himself) and starting screaming for Benny! Dane's eyes were about to bug out of his head from this scene and started screaming "DAAAADDDD!!! Something's wrong with mom!!! HEEEELLLLPPPP!!!" Poor Daners was so traumatized and was convinced I was dying;) Benny came sprinting in, to quite a sight in the bathroom...the boys' hair allll over the floor mixed with so much amniotic fluid (like a broken pipe, which was yellowy like pee and kinda thickish...ick!) and blood with me standing in the middle of it still leaking like crazy, soaking wet, and in shock! Ha! Now that's a disgustingly detailed and graphic image singed in your brain forever! I'm sorry!

I tried to clean up, but the leaking would not stop! So I tried to clean up what I could and hopped in the shower. I thought for sure that the game was on BIG TIME now and we had, but only a few minutes to get to hospital or I was going to have a natural birth in the car (my biggest fear) if we didn't get there asap! But much to my surprise, the contradictions were still pretty inconsistent and about 20 minutes apart, but man they were painful and with each contraction, it was like Old Faithful down my legs....eek, sorry for the yucky details;) This water breaking business was a strange new world for me and I figured if the contractions weren't consistent then there was no reason to rush to hospital quite yet. But I knew I'd be delivering within the next 12 hours since my water broke and the risk of infection and all of that stuff. So I knew it was happening, but not right this second, so I took a moment to clean up, get ready and pack my hospital bag (something on my To-Do list that I didn't get to today). Benny on the other hand, was running around the house like a crazy person trying to finish up feeding the kids, ensuring them that me and the baby were ok, getting them off to bed, packing his bags (he even showered too), and calling Tom and Brittany to come over to be with our kids while we go to the hospital and have this baby.

It was about 9:45pm when my water broke and we kissed our kiddos goodbye and thanked Tom and Britt for holding down the fort, and were off to the hospital at about 11 pm. In the car, my contractions were starting to get more consistent and were about 12-15 minutes apart. We arrived to the hospital at about 11:15 pm where the put my in a wheel chair (I had a towel between my legs at this point, but was still leaking every where...eek!) and took me straight up into my room in Labor & Delivery. The nurse started asking me a bunch of questions especially about my water breaking. At the time, the leaking had slowed, but I was still saturated. So they had me change into a hospital gown and get into bed. My contractions were about 12 minutes apart at this time and pretty painful, but much to my dismay, I was dilated only a 1/2 cm!!! SAAAY WHAT?!? How did my water break if my contractions were not being strong and effective at dilating me and progressing towards delivery?!? I was in shock! I totally expected to be at least at a 4!!!! She said sometimes the water breaks before labor has really started...I had no idea! She then proceeded to get a sample of my leaking amniotic fluid and I asked her why? She said they have to make sure it is really amniotic fluid. I was like...WHAAATTT?!?! What else would it be?!? She said it could be urine...say WHAAATTT again?!? You think I have been peeing like a broken pipe for the past almost 2 hours?!? HA! What in the world?!? The nurse said that you'd be surprised at how often it happens that women hunk their water broke when they actually just peed their pants....mmmmkay...that's crazy! I think I would know the difference!!! Ha! But to make things worse, my test came back NEGATIVE for amniotic fluid!!! WHAT?!? Ok, now I was really confused...was I just peeing my pants this whole time?!? Nooo way! There is NO WAY that much urine would be in my body!!! So I told her that and she insisted on doing another test, which luckily came back POSITIVE...phew! Thank goodness I'm not the crazy pregnant lady insisting that my water broke when really I had just peed my pants and I'm not even dilated on top of it all! Haha! Well, I'm crazy, but at least I know when I'm peeing my pants of not! Haha! So then, they now believed me, fully admitted me, got my IV in, and paged the anesthesiologist to be on-call for once my contractions picked up. At this point they were about 10 minutes apart at 12 AM.

So they left me in my room to progress naturally on my own. I told them that once I start progressing, I deliver quickly...they seemed unconvinced, but I was feeling unconvinced at this point too. This labor was like nothing I had experienced before. So of course, I was starting to get worried that things wouldn't start happening and since my doctor was out of town, the doctor on-call would not be willing to intervene much with pitocin or anything since it was a VBAC and I'd end up having a c-section. I always jump to the worst case scenario. Haha, I panicked and then just tried to relax because it was all out of my hands at this point, which helped with my contractions REALLY picking up. The pain was becoming unbearable...like crying, moaning, and gripping the side rail. Benny tried to help soothe me, but he ended up soothing himself to sleep...ha! Typical narcoleptic Benny, but at least one of us was getting some good sleep! My contractions were now about 5-7 minutes apart and the nurses came in at 3 am after watching my contractions on the monitor for past 3 hours, they new I was starting to progress quickly. So they checked me again and I went from 1/2 cm at 12 am to a 6 at 3 am! OKAAAY, it's game time!!! They laughed and said I was right about progressing quickly! They seemed impressed and I was just thankful that my body knew what to do on its' own and didn't need any drugs to get there. I was just hoping things would continue down that path until my sweet girl was safely in my arms.

So, they paged the anesthesiologist to come in STAT to give me my epidural before it was too late. Thankfully, he came in a matter of minutes and I didn't have to feel the horrible contraction pain for much longer. I did start to feel nauseous and my jaw started to chatter and it always does as I start to progress rapidly. I'm sure I was at a 7 right as the doctor was putting the epidural needle in my back, because those contractions were the absolute WORST!!! I was crying, but just breathing through them without moaning much since I was trying to put on a brave face with all of the people in my room at the time. I kept squeezing Benny's hands hard with each contraction with tears in my eyes, staring at him with my face grimacing in the worst pain as I was trying to get into the correct rounded over stance for the perfect needle poke into my spine. This was a painful poke this time! Ouch! The epidural is never fun, but I am always so happy when it is over and I can lie back down, pain free, and feel like I'm suddenly at the spa! Haha! It took a minute to get to the pain free zone though and I kept telling my nurse that I could still feel pain. Then she said a snarky comment, "You need to be tougher than that when you labor!" HA! That was kinda rude! I didn't just get this crazy large needle injected into my spine to still feel pain! I guess I am a wussy, but if I wanted to feel pain, I would have gone natural! Then she said that with most epidurals, your pain may still be at a 2 and I was like, uh uh, I want my pain at a ZERO! I was nice about it, but this isn't my first rodeo and with only one of my deliveries could I feel pain, and that was with Reid, which was NO FUN! SO thankfully after another bolus dose and a position change, my pain was at a spa relaxing zero...yaaasss! It was a heavy epidural though, and my legs were like 100 ton elephant legs, but I was ok as long as I wasn't in pain.

I laid there relaxing/laboring pain free for a few hours. Benny was back to sleep having the best sleep of his life and snoring soooo loudly! Ha! When the nurse came in and said that I have to wear an oxygen mask to help wake up the baby bc the contractions slowed a bit and her heart had been decelerating a bit. So with the O2 mask on, lying there, with the sound of her heart beat on the monitor and oxygen blowing out of the mask in my ears, I kinda felt like I was having an out of body experience. Suddenly, I could feel my angel mother in the room SO strongly. I was so strong, I could almost see her standing by my bedside holding my sweet angel Violet in her arms. I know 100% she was in the room there with me, supporting and comforting me through the veil. She also was holding my hand and then was sitting and waiting with me to progress and rocking in a rocking chair with Violet in her arms. It was as though she was saying her goodbyes to Violet as she was about to officially come into this world. I know my mom was so sad to let go of Violet, as she will probably be the last grand baby in the Rasmussen side, but I also know she was so happy to see that Violet made it safely to my arms. It is SO hard to not have my angel mama here with my in the flesh during big life events. But I know she was with me in every way possible that she can be through the veil. It was such a beautiful, quiet, peaceful, and incredibly sacred experience to feel my angel mama SO strongly with me in my hospital room as Violet was just about to cross over to our side. She most definitely came straight from my angel mama's arms to mine. It was the next best thing to having my mom here in the flesh and a spiritual experience I will never forget.

As, I laid there closing my eyes, still awake, but the in peace and comfort of the spiritual blanket that my angel mama's presence in the room created, the nurses came in again to change my position to be sure that Violet's heart rate continued to stay in the optimal range with each contraction. They said my contractions are getting closer, about 4 minutes apart, and it should be any time now. She said she will check my dilation the next time she comes in. I woke up Benny to tell him, then the doctor on call who had been tracking my progression (since I am a VBAC he had to monitor me the entire time I was in the hospital) came in and introduced himself (Dr. Clay???) and said that my OB, Dr. Meggs who was on vacation, was due to be back at the hospital at 7 AM (it was 6:30 AM at the time) and may get here just in time to deliver me! I was ecstatic! Not that I minded being delivered by the on call doctor, but it would be nice to have my own doctor do it. He said to try and get some rest and we'll see who ends up delivering me. As soon as she left, my jaw started to quiver/chatter as it does every time I start to rapidly progress and approach delivery. I knew it was game time and luckily the nurse came right in after seeing on the monitor how close and powerful my contractions were coming. So she checked me and, YEP, Violet's head was crowning!!! They started wildly prepping the room for delivery and went to page the doctor. It was about 6:50 AM at this point and I was pretty sure that Dr. Meggs wasn't going to get here in time considering how fast my deliveries go at this point in my past deliveries. Then entered the on call doctor. He checked me and started to kind of panic and bark orders at the nurses...this baby is coming now, he said! He got everything quickly set up, had my legs up in the stirrups, which one side was broken and a nurse had to hold up my 100 ton epidural dead leg, and we all sat there for about 30 seconds (which seemed like eternity!) waiting for my next contraction so I could push. It finally came and I pushed once, HA! more like a half of a push because the doctor told me to stop pushing in the middle of it, and out our sweet Violet came!!! Here sweet and soft little cry was powerful, but faint and music to my ears....YAAAASSS!!! SHE"S FINALLY HERE SAFE AND SOUND...THE ABSOLUTE BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD TO FINALLY HAVE HER IN MY ARMS!!! I immediately started bawling as they quickly wiped her  up and put her directly on my chest...YES!!! I did it!! WE did it!!! She's here and our family is now COMPLETE...I felt so much peace and comfort knowing that our final family member just made her big debut!!! She is so so SO sweet and beautiful and looks like a Fehlman...my heart exploded and the tears flowed with gratitude to my Heavenly Father and my angel mama for delivering her safely into my arms. Seriously, the best feeling in the world. My 6th and final baby made it home to my arms and I could feel so much love as the thinness of the veil made that hospital room literally feel like heaven on earth. What a miracle it is to bring an innocent tiny angel baby into this world safe and sound and to do it 6 times now...the gratitude felt was almost unbearable! I am ELATED, truly the luckiest, blessed beyond measure, and so incredibly thankful for this beautiful little soul Heavenly Father has entrusted me with. I am beyond in LOVE! She is BEAUTIFUL! She has dark dark brown hair (the most hair any of my babies have ever had), blue eyes, VERY long fingers and toes (like her mama), with the longest fingernails I've ever seen on a newborn, and the saddest most faint little cry! A cry that just breaks your heart it is THAT sad sounding! She was 7 lbs 9 oz, 20 inches and born exactly at 7:00 AM (by the on call doctor, haha) on July 1st,  2018 in Frisco, TX and the Baylor Scott and White Hospital. I HAVE TWO GIRLS!!! WHAAAAAT!?! I NEVER thought that would be possible! 4 boys and 2 little princesses...man, I am truly BLESSED!

Benny cut the cord and we both just soaked in our new little angel in as the doctor sewed me up and the nurses cleaned around us...there were like 5 or 6 nurses in there helping. As they were all hustling about, the world stood still as Benny and I welcomed our beautiful Violet into the world. They finished and didn't take her away for a bath or to get weighed (we found out her stats later that morning) or anything (this was a first of all of my babies) they just wanted her to get as much chest on chest time with me as possible and I wasn't complaining! I could hold this sweet baby girl FOR-EV-VER! She latched on right away (a first for my babies too) and seemed happy as a clam to in my arms and the feeling was definitely mutual. After holding her for quite some time, Benny patiently waited for his turn, and as I handed her to him, I discovered that little Miss Vi had pooped all over me! Ha! She is quite the pooper! She pooped inside the womb, one me, and then right after the nurses put a diaper on her...hahaha! Love this little poopy pants and I happy we don't have to stress about her bowels working...ha!

After laying there with her in my arms in a heavenly bliss for about an hour or two, they transferred us to a recovery room and took baby Vi off for her bath and measurements. It is such a relief to have the delivery behind us and our beautiful little angel here safe and sound. Giving birth is such an overwhelmingly emotional, spiritual, sacred, and magical experience and moment in time that just floods your body with warm tingly feelings of so much love, peace, and comfort knowing that all is well with your new little one and the world. To say we are thankful Violet ANNETTE (named after her AMAZING grandma Bryner) made is safely home to us would be a MAJOR understatement! We are SOOOOOO in love with this beautiful little soul fresh from my angel mama's arms! WELCOME HOME VIOLET...we've been waiting for you!!!

Our Princess is Finally Here!!!

Hazel's Birth Story: 

Most of my pregnancy with Hazel was pretty standard for me, no big concerns or problems. Except, this time around I felt like a zombie most of my pregnancy! I mean absolutely NO ENERGY! I think it was a culmination of things, such as having 4 little kids under the age of 8 to care for, going through a big move to Vegas while I was 21 weeks prego, Ben working MUCH longer hours therefore not being home to help with the boys as much, the stress of financial struggles, and just the overall physical pregnancy ailments. Therefore, I was a walking zombie for the entire 2nd half of my pregnancy and then just walking even became difficult (this was a new one for me) due to Hazel's positioning causing shooting nerve pain down my legs. This leg pain became so bad in the last weeks that I literally would not be able to walk! Such a debilitating feeling. It is so crazy how each pregnancy is soooo different just like every delivery. All 5 of mine have been very unique and amazing (for the most part) experiences. 

WOW! I sound like such a baby right now! Do not get me wrong, every pain, stress, and worry we go through as pregnant mothers is MORE than worth bringing these perfect little angels into the world. Nothing is more sacred and special than holding your newborn baby for the first time fresh from heaven. I am so grateful that I have been able to conceive and bear 5 healthy children and humbled that Heavenly Father has entrusted me with these precious little lives. So again, it is all MORE than worth it!!! Nothing makes me happier than being a mom and I CANNOT believe that I have 5 babies now!!! Seriously, blessed beyond measure and so eternally grateful for my 5 sweet babies:)

Ok, back to her birth story:) Since we moved to Vegas in the middle of my pregnancy, I had a little anxiety about finding a doctor here that does VBACs and would also be someone that I trust. I was given two VBAC doctor recommendations by acquaintences from Vegas. The highly recommended one wasn't taking any new patients so I was lucky to get into the 2nd recommendation, Dr. Martin. From the first time I met him, I loved him! He is so genuine, personable, thorough, and OCD. The perfect combination for me! I knew right away that I could trust my child's life and possibly my own in his hands. He was very impressive! It was such a relief to find a great doctor because I loved Dr. Holmes in AZ and was so sad to leave him. Now that the doctor was squared away, I just had to make it through this pregnancy the best I could.

As I approached the end of the pregnancy, at one point, I was measuring large and was told that I could possibly be having sweet Hazel early...woohoo! I never have my babies early, well Reid was 3 days early, Logan 1 day early (but didn't come naturally as we know too well), Beau was 1 day overdue, and good old Daners was 9 DAYS over due!!! So, I have been though the gamut of delivery dates and birth scenarios! The idea of delivering possibly weeks early was really exciting to me, but that didn't quite happen. Dr. Martin told me that, "if my cervix was favorable" he would actually induce me a week before my due date. WHAT?!?! Induce a VBAC a week early was not what I was used to hearing, but because I am, "a loyal VBACer" as Dr. Martin said, "he would be a bad doctor if he didn't VBAC me." He said more risks would be involved at this point with doing a C-Section. So a VBAC was still the plan and it was now up to how I progressed over the past weeks. I actually considered just doing a C-Section this time because it seemed easier on my family to KNOW the due date of our sweet babe so we could tell Jen and Annette and Brent when to come to help us. But then I thought about the long and difficult recovery from a C-Section and how that would be a detriment to my family. Also, I really fought for a VBAC with Dane because I didn't want the number of children we were able to have be limited by my C-Section and the lack of knowledge that I had with my first delivery. But, now we will be having our 5th and I could most likely have another C-Section after this one if were to have another baby. So, that wasn't the reason to fight for a VBAC anymore. Then I started to worry about all of the VBAC and C-Section risks and worst case scenarios. I tell you, I have never had more anxiety and fear for a delivery than I did for this one! With each pregnancy I have become more and more scared and I think it is because I am more and more aware of all of the possible things that can go wrong. Dr. Martin confirmed that is very common amongst majority of mothers that have had many babies...each one is much more nerve racking! I would think, "How is it possible that I have had 4 healthy babies?!?! Is is safe to roll the dice for the 5th time?!?" I most definitely say, YES, but I was definitely worried that something would go wrong this 5th time because how could I be so lucky??? So after this inner battle and many conversations with Ben, Jen, Ju, and Dr. Martin, I knew a VBAC was the way to go again if my body was willing this time around.

  Dr. Martin, however, was disappointed that at 37 weeks I was only 1 & 1/2 cm and 50% effaced. I was thrilled I was that dilated at this point because usually I do not dilate at all until the week of my due date. I told Dr. Martin this is how I am. He started to worry that we would have to do a C-Section if I don't start dilating more, but come on, I am only 37 weeks! I think he was having a bad day when he said that and I tried to shrug it off. I really was ok with a C-Section too, but he wasn't even giving my body a chance...I was 37 weeks mind you! I still love him though and that was the only time my love wavered;) Sadly, at my 38 week exam, I was still 1.5 cm and 50%. I told my doctor that this is normal for me until it gets closer and stripping my membranes has put me into labor the past 2 times. With both Beau and Reid, I was 1 cm dilated then after getting my membranes stripped I delivered them within 24 hours! It was my last ditch effort to naturally put myself into labor. So, Dr. Martin and I decided to wait to strip my membranes until week 39 when Jen will be in town to watch our boys if I go into labor. As week 39 came and went, I was still 1.5 cm and 50% and the membrane stripping did not work...boo:( Even after my efforts with jumping on the tramp, etc...it wasn't go time yet. Dr. Martin still wanted to set up an induction (just small doses of Pitocin) on my due date just in case I didn't go into labor naturally before then. He does not believe in going over a due date because of the increased risks of still births so, I agreed to this plan and was happy to somewhat know when she would arrive. So my induction was set for 6/22/2015 at 4:30 AM...YES, AM!!! YUCK! But I'll take it! There was a chance though that the hospital could call me in the middle of the night and reschedule me if the hospital was too full...ugh! Fingers crossed! I was lucky to have both Jen and Julie (and of course Ben!) there to help me get through that time between my last doctor's appointment on 6/17/2015 and my induction/due date. It was agonizing mainly because I could hardly walk (darn nerve pain!) and I was beyond exhausted from trying to go into labor naturally and just so DONE at that point!

FINALLY D Day (wait, not a good term for this!)...Delivery Day arrives! After staying up ALL night as a ball full of anxiety, as expected, Benny and I head to the hospital at 4:15 AM after he had given me a beautiful Priesthood blessing of comfort and peace. We arrived to the OB Triage right at 4:30 AM on the nose! The front desk lady was very frazzled and not very nice which caused me to worry that they were full and forgot to call and cancel my induction. Then she handed me a form to fill out them sent us to the waiting room until she had time to deal with us. All righty then. You could imagine my anxiety sitting there in the waiting room which felt like eternity! I thought for sure that when they would come back they would be sending me home due to lack of vacancy. Thankfully after 45 minutes, the longest 45 minutes of my life, they took me to my delivery room and the process began. YES! I was in and it was finally going to happen! It wasn't until 6 AM when that they actually examined me (I was at a loose 3 cm and 50% on my own before Pitocin...not bad! I guess some of my labor inducing techniques were not in vain) then started the Pitocin. 

Over the next few hours, the contractions started to get stronger and stronger with each dose increase.   But, this process of induction was very calm, relaxing, and peaceful...until, of course, the pain started to become unbearable and Mr. John Rasmussen walked through the door! HA! No, really, I was so happy to see my dad, but he arrived from Springdale (where his 2nd home is) into my hospital room at the peak of my pain when I was basically crying and gripping the side rail through each contraction that were quickly getting stronger and longer! I did have to tell my dad to stop talking a few times in my agony while he was joking around with the nurses and everyone, but I was so happy he was there to support me. Whenever he shows up the game is on and my babies come. This was true with all of my babes except for Daners. It took hime leaving the hospital for me to relax and have the baby. But I could tell this time that he was good energy. After many painful contractions (more than I wanted to experience) I started to panic that I wasn't going to get my epidural in time because my babies come quickly once the hard labor begins. 

Luckily, the anesthesiologist was on the floor and able to come quickly. He was a tall man with a Superman bandana on. Very fitting because he was most definitely here to my rescue!!! I was elated to see him yet a bit nervous for the epidural. He quickly worked his magic with only one really painful contraction during the process (with Beau, my water broke whilst getting my epidural...it was no bueno) and just a small prick of pain on my back. Well done Superman! Probably my best epidural yet, but it got better from there! The pain quickly subsided as expected and the feeling of a warm comfortable blanket of peace and relaxation over came my body, as per usual, but the feeling of 100 ton elephant dead legs did not happen! I was worried and asked the nurse why my legs did not feel dead??? She said that is the type of epidural Superman (we'll just call him that because I do not remember his name) likes to give. So, I could move my legs and body, but could not feel ANY pain!!! This was wonderful, but I was still nervous that I would be able to feel her ripping through at delivery time so I asked for another bolus dose just in case. They kindly gave it to me and assured me that I shouldn't feel any pain, so I tried to trust them and relax in my comfortable state of no pain. "Comfortably numb" as my dad would like to reference Pink Floyd. While I listened to my dad and Ben discuss solar and other topics I tried to sleep. It was SO relaxing like I was at a spa or something. I almost felt like I was cheating the whole child birth experience by getting an epidural, because after that point, the rest was cake (at least it has been for me in the past, hopefully it will be again). But, I am an advocate of epidurals and not feeling any pain so I was fine with it and enjoyed my moments of pain free relaxation. My dad kept coming over and checking on me and telling me how much I look like my mom and I act just like her when she delivered all three of us sisters. I could feel my mom there and I knew that baby Hazel was coming soon and my mom would kiss her goodbye and send her on our way. 

Not much time had passed after the epidural and Dr. Martin came in for the first time. I was to happy to see him. It is funny how attached moms get to their OBs. It is like we are in love or something. I love them for what they do and I am so happy they do it...what a tough job, but yet so rewarding. Anyway, he was very sweet and upbeat. He checked my cervix and I was at a 6 and still 50% effaced. He decide to break my water and get this show on the road! It was about 11AM then. He asked if my labors tend to move quickly and I told him they roughly last 3 hours when I'm in active labor. So he said he can tell I'm going to go quickly so he turned down the Pitocin to buy some time because he had to go and do a C-Section at the moment. So, hopefully things slow down a bit, but no too long! I'm ready to have this baby, but I was still in my nice, relaxed, comfortably numb state. This induction was amazing so far! I did have to experience some pain, but it was all controllable and way less than the amount of pain I went through with Beau and Reid's natural labors. This is the way to go! 

About 10 minutes later my dad started to get impatient and wanted me to have the baby already because he was hangry. So, I sent him and Ben to the cafeteria. Ben was worried I would have the baby while they were gone, but they were just a quick phone call away and it gave me a chance for more of my amazing relaxing time. This was most definitely the most relaxed and comfortable I have felt in the past 9 months...it was heavenly!!! About 20 minutes after I sent them away, I felt a heavy heavy feeling in my bottom, unlike I have never felt before due to my past 100 ton dead paralyzed body feeling epidurals. I have heard other mothers in natural labor on movies, etc, describe the go time as that heavy feeling in your bottom. I started to panic that she was coming out and that nobody was in here...the doctor, Ben, my dad, the nurse...no one and I was going to deliver myself! I called Ben right away and paged the nurse. Ben and Dad arrived in a jiff with their half eaten food in tow. Then the nurse quickly came and I told her I think the baby's head is crowning. She examined me and said it isn't out yet, but right at the door and she could easily feel it. Then she hurried to get Dr. Martin and started setting up the stirrups and all of the delivery instruments and tools. Ahh! It's go time!!!

Dr. Martin got there very quickly and the first thing he said is, "there is my favorite patient!" Ha! favorite because I am a quick induction case...thank goodness! I apologized to him for not introducing my husband and dad to him earlier and he laughed and they all joked around for a bit. Then he asked me if I want my dad to stay. Normally I would say no, but because this could possibly be my last delivery (if you ask Ben, it is, if you ask me, we have one more waiting to come to our family...we'll see what happens;)) and we (me and my sisters) haven't let him stay in any yet, I thought it was his time as long as he behaved and didn't look at anything down there. He agreed and was super excited! He turned his chair so his back was facing me and started iPadding (is that a word?). He felt really special to be there and he made everything very light hearted and fun with his joking around with the nurses and Dr. Martin...very good energy. I love my dad so very much and everyone seemed to like him being in there so it was a good call. Jen and Julie were home watching my kids and I wanted them both there too, but they have been there for my other deliveries and now it was my dad's turn. My dad, Jen, and Ju's sacrifice to be there for me and my family was so incredibly appreciated especially now that we live in different states. I know it wasn't easy for them and I am so thankful! 

Now it was really go time and I REALLY felt like I needed to push (this was a new feeling too due to this amazing epidural where I could feel without feeling pain...love it!)! I told Dr. Martin and he said then let's push! He put my legs in the stirrups and told me how to breath while I pushed. We waited for the next contraction and then he quickly said push!!! Then...GAH...I peed on the doctor right in the face...Oh YES I DID!!! SOOOO embarrassing!!! That was a first, but not to Dr. Martin! He said it happens all of the time and it is good because it means I am using the right muscles to push. Ok then, after a million apologies, it was time to push for the second time. Whilst through my pee push her head came out and with my second push almost her entire body came out. Then the doctor asked me if I wanted to deliver my own baby? I was like, ok, but a little nervous. Then he told me to reach down and put my hands under her armpits and pull her up to my chest and I did just that! It was incredible!!! I just pulled my own baby out of me (Kourtney Kardashian style)!!! This was absolutely AMAZING!!! Suddenly all of the emotions in the world overcame me as my little GIRL was finally in my arms safe and sound! Truly the best feeling in the world!!! The veil is so thin at that moment in time and the spirit of peace, joy, and comfort is overwhelming! My slice of heaven was here! She has quite a set of lungs! She came out screaming! It was music to my ears! She was healthy, safe, and HERE...YEEEESSSSS!!! I asked the doctor multiple times if she was a girl. He laughed and confirmed it many times! I HAVE A GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot believe it!!! What an incredibly blessing!!! She is gorgeous and looked just like my mom when she arrived. It made me cry, she looked so much like her. My dad sobbed to at the resemblance. My mom was there stronger than ever and now my baby girl was finally here too. 

Wow! I never ever thought I would have a girl!!! I thought for sure, I was going to have all boys and have grown to accept and love that. I seriously ADORE my boys with all of my heart and feel soooo blessed and thankful that I get to be their mommy, but I still yearned for a little girl to play dress up with, play dolls, go shopping, watch her dance performances, and do all of that fun girly stuff together forever. So, receiving the news that we were having a GIRL was an extremely exciting day!!! WOOOHOOOOO!!!! The much anticipated day has finally arrived, Hazel (we did not have a first name determined for her until she was 1 day old) Joyce Bryner joined our family 6/22/2015 at 12:30 pm at Summerlin Hospital. She weighed in at 7 lbs 5 oz and was 21 inches long. She did not like getting poked and prodded by the nurses and screamed the whole way through it. She was a feisty little one right out of the hatch, but once all of the chaos calmed she was sweet and angelic as ever. She is gorgeous and looks so much like her Grandma Joyce it makes me want to bawl! Oh my word, I am sooooo in love with this precious little girl fresh from heaven!!!