Sunday, August 31, 2008

Labor


Merritt was due on July 1, 2008. However he chose not to be born until July 7. This is the story of his much anticipated arrival! On Saturday Mark and I went for a long walk in Boulevard Park while dad and mom Rooks drank coffee and watched the sailboats coast by at the "Woods." Evidently this was what started the process-I went to bed with a lot of cramping. In the morning we chose not to go to church since I was still very uncomfortable. That afternoon it seemed like a good idea to start timing the "cramping." By 5 pm it was becoming unbearable and Mark drove us to the hospital. I was only dilated to one, but was 91% effaced. The doctor chose to admit us. We were given Fetanyl and shortly after an epidural. The epidural was sheer bliss! We spent from then until 2 am sleeping on and off as the nurses came in and out. At 2 am I started to feel downward pressure. The nurse checked me and said "Wow, there's the head! Don't push; I'm going to call the doctor." The doctor got there around 2:30 and we pushed and pushed. Finally baby Merritt's sweet face arrived at 2:59 am on Monday July 7. He was 8 pounds, 12 ounces and 22 inches long. That's how I remember it...Mark may have a different story since he wasn't on drugs....