Happy Birthday Sophia Ayva Thatcher

Sophie surprised us Wednesday morning, my contractions were present all night. It seemed like they were coming every 40 min, 30 min and 20 min intervals, I didn't sleep well and toward the morning hours I was actually rolling out of bed and standing up until they passed and then would crawl back into bed and go to sleep. At 6:30 I finally just got up to get ready for work, at this point it seemed they were showing up every 10 min, but they weren't terribly uncomfortable or painful. I still didn't even consider I was going into labor, because this same thing happened with Emmy and they ended up stopping.
Usually I pack the kids up and we are out of the house by 7:15 a.m. to drop them off at Melissa's, but since 7:00 a.m. my contractions were every 5 min, and still not terrible enough to be painful. I decided to let Dan take them to Melissa's and I got into the bath to shave my legs and thought maybe the warm water would help with the contractions. At 7:41 a.m. I called work and said to Jan "I am still at home, I haven't gone to the hospital yet but my contractions are 5 min apart...I am not going to make it today!" Then went back into the bedroom and said to Dan we might have a baby today. If I would have known within the hour she'd be here I would have hurried a little more!
I tried to get some toast for the kids but just couldn't, at this point the contractions were getting mildly uncomfortable where I really had to breath and walk around, so I went into our bedroom told Dan to grab the toast and then tried to put a hospital bag together (this is why they say to prepare your bag early) and did manage to grab the camcorder and camera. We jumped in the car, drove to Melissa's and dumped the kids off as fast as we could, Melissa ran out water and two Tylenol for me, and the contractions were still coming every 2 min. Dan said to me "Don't have this baby in the car!" I said "Why would she come that fast the two before didn't!"

We made it to the hospital quite fast after Dan decided yielding for red lights was better than stopping! He ran in to find me a wheel chair which was not available, so as soon as my contraction stopped I knew I had 2 min to walk into the building into the elevator and up two levels before the next one began, and sure enough as soon as I walked out of the elevator another one began, and I knew she was close. Three nurses ran out with a wheel chair, and took me back, Dan checked in at 8:32 a.m. and 9 minutes later Sophie was born at 8:41 a.m. If it wasn't for running those red lights we may have had her in the car! I was so lucky my Dr. was just upstairs in recovery visiting patients, all he had to do was come down the elevators put on a gown and catch Sophie. When they paged him the nurse said..."You'd better run!" I had to wait through one contraction where I could feel Sophie crowning and the nurses telling me..."don't bare down...don't push!" I'm thinking, my body is taking over there is no way I can tell it to stop pushing. Finally Dr. Kirkman made it and two contractions later Sophie popped out!
After Sophie was born the nurses were able to get us to sign papers and answer the questions they put in to the computer, like if your allergic to anything, what medications your taking etc. One nurse asked if I'd taken in medication, I said only prenatal pills but Dan said, "She took two extra strength Tylenol this morning." The nurse said, "Did she have a headache?" Dan said "No she took them for the contractions!" The nurses then all started laughing, because that is all the pain relief I got for that delivery!! Hey maybe it helped take the edge off!!
Sophie had some merconium in her bag of water and cried the second her head came out, the NICU nurse sucked out 10 cc's of green fluid out of her tummy! This made her so mad, she didn't stop crying until we were headed to our recovery room. I've never had such a mad little baby, but it was good the crying helped clear her lungs as well.
Big yawn! Sleepy girl!Emmy, baby sis and Grandma Brenchley. Grandma was so awesome she came and brought Emmy and Brody some gifts (which I think really helps them in this new little transition of adding a new little one to the pack!) Then she vacuumed my house for me...which I didn't get to do before Sophie came! Emmy loves Sophie, but I can tell she is just a little unsure of her new role and place. She likes to do things after I do them to or with Sophie. I gave Sophie a bath in our little infant plastic tub and after I got Sophie out, I hear I little body jump out of the the big tub and I turn around and there is my biggest baby curled up in this tiny little blue tub, she barely can fit, it was so cute and of course I had to take a picture! I am being extra careful with her, she has had a cold and ear infections so I've tried to keep her from touching Sophie's mouth and face, it's hard and there is that fine line of helping her still fill comfortable, and not left out.
My Big Baby!

Sophie's first bath at home!

In the hospital still!

Emmy trying out mom's uncomfortable bed.

Brodyn has been so amazing with Sophie, such a great big brother, he has asked to hold her more than anyone else!

Dad, Brodyn and Sophie.

Me with my new brood of three!

Grandma Thatcher visiting with baby Sophie!

Sophie 19 inches long!

Sophie was 7 lbs. and 3 oz our biggest baby!