Ali's Birth Story

A little back ground here: About a couple months after Jane was born I decided to not take birth control because part of me felt guilty for preventing a pregnancy especially since it took us 4 years to get Jane. So we decided if we got pregnant right away then oh happy day!
It wasn't until July of 2013 that I found out I was pregnant 8 weeks pregnant! We were super excited that it didn't talk very long to get pregnant with our second. Jane and this new baby would be exactly 2 years apart! Perfect, I thought! And my due date was February 28, 2014. Only 2 weeks after Jane's birthday. We really didn't care if we had another girl or this time a boy, but deep down inside I was hoping and actually praying for a girl. I already had girl clothes... TONS! And since we were planning on buying our first home and trying to save all we could for that purchase, and starting to pay back our student loans, It would just be perfect if we did have another girl.

At my 20 week ultrasound they asked us if we wanted to know the gender. Of course! Was our reply. She had me look at the screen and guess and I shouted a boy! But the girl said, nope, its actually a girl! I was so so dang excited to have another girl! I remember Alex saying right after she announced it was a girl... "Well, guess we'll have to try again!" We both actually were so excited and what a blessing it was to know it was another girl! The pregnancy went smoothly and I absolutely LOVE being pregnant!
I was scheduled to be induced 4 days before her due date because I wasn't progressing fast enough and was 2cm dilated and 50% effaced for 3 weeks. So ReNae came and took Jane on Sunday night (Feb. 23,23014) and it was so fun to be by ourselves and relax and not have to worry about a thing!

I never knew what it was like to go into labor on my own because I was induced with Jane as well. So Sunday night Alex and I were talking and watching some sort of movie, when I started to have frequent and hard contractions. It was around 9:30pm and we counted the contractions for an hour and they came every 3-4 min and were hard but not too painful. We decided to wait it out and go to bed since we had to be up by 4 to get ready and call the hospital to see what time they wanted us there (the earliest would be 6am). I couldn't fall asleep thinking I was going to have this baby right here since the contractions were now very painful and every 2-3 min. I woke Alex up around 12:30am and we called the hospital to talk to one of the nurses, only to find out they don't answer questions over the phone anymore and if we had questions we needed to come into the hospital and be evaluated. I didn't want to really go in, so I took a shower and felt better, but only for an hour before the contractions started again. I didn't sleep at all and took another shower at 4am, and got ready. By the time I was done I didn't have anymore contractions but my body was super tired from being up all night. I called the hospital at 6am and they told me to not come in until 8am... they didn't have room for me since they had some come in the night and some scheduled earlier than me. So, I tried to sleep, but you know how that goes... All I kept thinking about was having this baby and so excited!

This is right before we left! Its go time!

We got to the hospital and as soon as I was in my room and changed into my gown my Doctor, Dr. England came in to check on me! He is and was such a great doctor! He checked me and I was actually dilated to a 5 and 80% effaced! (So I had been laboring that night). He broke my water and he said as he was leaving " I'll see you again this afternoon to deliver your baby"!  The nurse was so kind and did not start pitocin because she said if you want an epidural, there are about 5 other mothers ahead of you for the anesthesiologist, and said she didn't want me to be miserable. So once I got the epidural she started the pitocin and 4 hours later at 12:22pm little Ali ReNae was born!

 She was 6lbs 13oz and 20in long! As soon as she was delivered the doctor said the cord had been wrapped around her neck 2 times and when he handed her to me she was so grey. The nurse quickly took her and tried to do all she could to stimulate her and get her breathing. She finally did, but it took her a long time to come around. They said her body was in shock from the delivery but eventually she came around after lots of suctioning and chest rubs to stimulate her.

She ate like a champ and I fell in love with her as soon as they gave her to me a second time!

Proud, proud parents! 

We couldn't wait for Mom and ReNae to bring Jane to the hospital. Mostly I missed her like crazy and I was so excited for her to meet her sister as well. She was a little nervous at the hospital but she has been the best big sister ever!

Everything went well at the hospital and we were able to leave 24 hours after I had Ali. 

It is so nice to be home in your own home and bed and to finally bring another child into our home! I am so grateful for the gift of procreation and as I have nurtured these two sweet girls I now understand the kind of love Heavenly Father has for us. I love these two girls so much and would do anything for them. That is how our Heavenly Father is to us and I am thankful for the sweet tender mercies I see each day from my children.