Ellory is HERE!

One week ago today, Jim & I welcomed our little bundle of joy into the world. Ellory Faith Plohg was born Tuesday, March 10, at 1:03 p.m. weighing 6 lbs. 11 oz. and 19 1/2 inches tall. What an amazing experience!!!

We went to Baylor Medical Center on Monday evening at 7 p.m. to be induced. Jim & I ate our last meal as non-parentals at Vickery Park. Dr. Brothers suggested I eat heartily, because there would be no more food until after the baby was delivered! As soon as we got to the hospital, 2 very nice nurses set us up in a room. I changed into the oh-so-sexy hospital gown and then started to answer the endless questions about me, Jim, our health, etc.
At around 8 p.m. the resident doc came in to insert the cervidil --- which is supposed to soften/ripen the cervix. That was honestly the most uncomfortable part of the whole labor experience! Once that was finished and the IV was inserted, I could relax. Until the contractions started, a few hours later. Jim & I got maybe 3 hours of sleep that whole night, between contraction pains and nurses coming in every 10 minutes to check you and your baby's vitals. Fortunately, the cervidil worked and by 7 a.m. the next morning I had dialated to a 3/80% effaced! They then started the pitocin drip --- which made the contractions even more painful. I wanted to hold out as long as I could before getting the eipdural, but then realized I declined to enter the "who has the highest pain threshold" contest. So as soon as I saw that anesthesiologist, at about 8:30 a.m., I said NUMB ME! Jim watched the process (sitting down) and was fascinated by it. He spared me the details, by request. :) Post-epidural, things were smooth sailing. Although to monitor Ellory's heart rate (which kept dropping during the back-to-back contractions), they inserted a monitor which attached to her head. (!)

Mid-morning family had started to show up. I dozed in and out that morning, and when Dr. Brothers checked me at 12:30 p.m., she said, "she's ready!" I remember her flipping on the overhead lights and yelling, "I need a baby nurse!" while the nurses whisked the family out of the room. Jim grabbed the camcorder and asked if he could record it. Why not? Unfortunately, in the ecstatic frenzy, he forgot to push the 'record' button. Oh well. They told me how to push, when to push --- I felt confident and ready. In just 10 pushes (a little over 10 minutes), Ellory was born at 1:03 p.m. Seeing her for the 1st time was indescribable. Tears started flowing immediately at the sight of our perfect little daughter, who instead of yelling and screaming, gave out a little "eh" as she was placed on my chest. What a peaceful sound! She latched on immediately, and it was the most amazing feeling (mostly relief!).
Jim, Ellory & I bonded as a new family for about 2 hours (which seemed like 20 minutes) before being whisked away to the post-partum room. Family was waiting patiently, and it was so wonderful introducing them to the new miracle member!