Cassidy Reese. 1/23/2013.

     So many of you know that Cassidy (Cassie) was born last Wednesday night, but none of you really know the story.  The story starts a few weeks before birth.  See at about 37 weeks pregnant I developed horrible pelvic pain that was debilitating most of the time.  I had a hard time washing my own feet because I would be in so much pain.  I almost peed the bed one night because getting out of bed was the worst thing in the entire world.  This pain never went away and I started begging my doctor for an induction at about 38 weeks.  He said no and there was nothing I could do.  But at my 39 week appointment, the doctor I saw was on board for an induction considering that I was already dilated and over 39 weeks.  And much to our surprise we were able to go in for induction THAT VERY DAY, about 2.5 hours after my appointment.
     After the appointment, Scott and I came home from the hospital and got ready.  I showered.  He handled a few things at work.  We ate lunch- corn dogs and chips (which by the way is not a meal to eat before an induction or labor because about 4 hours into the process I was starving).  We took Maggie to her friends house for a sleep over and then we were on our way.  We left home at a little after noon and arrived at labor and delivery at about 12:35.  We went straight into a delivery room and got the process started.
     I started receiving pitocin at the lowest dosage at about 1:45.  They then increased the dose every 30 minutes or so, unless my contractions were in the correct pattern.  I immediately started feeling contractions, but labored through them pretty easily until about 7:00 or so.  Although I could breathe through the contractions, they were starting to get annoying.  So at about 8:00, I ask for an epidural and received the epidural at about 8:20.  Now the epidural, that process SUCKED.  First off, the insertion of the epidural was pretty painful and took FOREVER.  Then the epidural didn't take on my right side. To get the epidural to take on my right side, I had to lay on my right side.  Then once my right side was numb (or nearly numb), I started getting this HORRIBLE pain in my left side that was not a contraction, but labor related.  This was because the epidural then wasn't working above my belly button on my left side because I was laying on my right side.  Fun stuff, right? (I believe I was still at 4cm at this point.  I honestly don't remember.)
     At 8:51, the doctor broke my water.  This was horrible.  I had soooooo much water that it leaked all the way down to my feet.  The corpsman and mamasan (the cleaning staff, Japanese term) had to change my sheets and such.  After the rupturing of my water, the contractions really picked up and the pressure was ridiculous.  Almost immediately, Cassie descended into position.  Because my epidural pretty much sucked, I had to hold Scott's hand, hold on to the side of the bed and REALLY REALLY concentrate on breathing.  It was the worst pain I have ever been through and hope that I ever go through.  Because these contractions were intense and Cassie moved down, I progressed really quickly.
     Because the pressure was so intense after they broke my water, I did not get the urge to push at first. The doctors and nurses knew I was transitioning to push because I was throwing up (the same thing happened with Maggie).  So at 11:28pm, I started pushing.  I pushed primarily on my own need, as I felt the urge.  I did not need much coaching.  Also, because my epidural sucked, I was able to feel exactly what I was doing (on a reduced scale from an unmedicated birth).  It was intense, but I really concentrated on getting her out.  I wanted the pain to go away.  And so after 17 minutes of pushing at 11:45, Cassidy Reese entered the world with her eyes wide open and screaming her little head off.  She was beautiful and so little!  She has a cool birthday and time (in military time).  She was born 1/23 at 23:45 (all sequential).  
     She was 7 pounds 10 ounces and 19.7 inches long.  (Please remember this is little, Maggie was 9 pounds 6 ounces and 21 inches long).  She was taken to the warmer and cleaned up.  She was given to me at about midnight or a little after and latched perfectly and easily for her first meal.  She received 9 out of 10 on her APGAR tests.
     The best news of it all came the next morning when we finally met with a pediatrician.  The pediatrician told us that Cassie DID NOT have club foot.  The ultrasounds were all wrong and we really have a perfect little girl.

     She is now a week old.  She eats perfectly, although sometimes does not like to latch for a few minutes.  She is already back up to birth weight.  She lost her umbilical cord and so she will receive her first bath tomorrow.  She sleeps wonderfully and loves her bouncer.  Maggie is a huge help and loves her little sister, but refuses to hold her (other than the 60 seconds we got her to hold her in the hospital). She does give her kisses and hugs all the time.  When Cassie cries, Maggie comes running "What's wrong with my baby?".  Maggie also loves getting diapers and wipes for us during changing times.
     Our little family is complete and we love it.  I could not ask for a better husband or better daughters. God has truly blessed me.  And I want to personally (even if through the internet) each of you personally for the thoughts and prayers for Cassie's foot.  It is because of your prayers that she was born without the condition.  Without you guys who knows where we would be right now.