Our “Precious Sweetie Pie” is three today. It’s cliched, but it is hard to believe. I can barely remember yesterday, but I can remember all of our children’s birthdays. Abbey was born on a Sunday evening. I was sitting in church when I noticed the first contractions. I smiled thinking today might be the day. I didn’t mention anything to anyone. I wasn’t really hurting at all…yet. After church we went to Applebee’s. It was during lunch that I noticed the contractions were regular. Not really in much pain or discomfort, I played the “I think I’m in labor” card to get the waitress to hurry up anyway. We went home and I tidied up a bit while Karl called family to find out who could come to our house to stay with the other three kids, who were 4, 3, and 20 months at the time. Aunt Terry came to stay until Grandmommy and Granddaddy could get to our house.

I don’t know why, but I hate riding in the car when I’m in labor.

It is so true that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. We stood around in the ER waiting for someone to come to the desk (so that I could check in) FOREVER. Thanks to t.v., everyone expects women in labor to be screaming and cursing at their husbands. I never did any of that. I suppose I should be thankful that it took a while, as I prefer to labor standing and walking around. Once you’re noticed, they sit you down and treat you like you’re sick.

We finally made it to the maternity floor where I was hooked to all sorts of medical equipment and sensors and told to lie down and relax. It does no good for women to tell nurses that they know they are in labor, they have to wait for the computers to tell them. Once the monitors confirmed my “suspicions,” I was escorted to my labor and delivery room.

Again, I was in a very good mood, talkative, laughing, etc. They called my doctor to come to the hospital. He o.k.’d me to walk the halls. Karl and I started walking. I could tell things were moving along, so I wanted the nurse to check me again–7 cm. With me dilated that much they would not let me walk anymore! Laying down made the labor slow down, so doc broke my water. This is the point where I stopped enjoying labor. The contractions hurt so much worse without that water! I found my comfortable position and breathed and moaned (I hope this isn’t too graphic for some of you). 10 minutes later I was ready to push. Actually, I was ready to be finished! No more, thank you, I’ve had enough. Doc and the nurse came back in. I was 10 with a “little lip.” It was like pushing against a brick wall. I had to wait through a few more contractions. Again, no need to scream. The nurse was completely amazed. She rarely sees a laboring women without pain meds. Doc o.k.’d me to push again. Abbey’s head came down. One more push, she crowned. I pushed again. Head out. The shoulders got me with each child. I hate pushing the shoulders out! It is the worst pain I have EVER felt…four times. This is the point where I screamed for the doctor to just pull her out! This is the point I stop remembering as well, too. I recall looking at Hubby, reaching for his hand or something, but he was too far away (down where the action was), cheering for me to push again one more time and she’d be out! Big PUSH, high-pitched scream, BABY! Relief!

Here are the stats: Helen (in honor of my precious grandmother) Abigail (because I pray she is wise and marries a man after God’s own heart), pink skin, black hair, 6:31 p.m., 7 lbs. 3 oz., 19 3/4″, 38 weeks. We call her Abbey and chose A-B-B-E-Y rather than A-B-B-Y because Hubby loves the Beatles and “Abbey Road” is a one of his favorite albums.

Now we can’t imagine life without her. Since she’s three, here are three things I love about Abbey:
1) She loves her family and gives lots of hugs and kisses to us
2) She insists on wearing a dress every day
3) Full of personality and spunk, she is downright fun to hang out with!