Love, Faith & Dreams...it's our story!: Special Delivery!

Been a while since I've made an entry and I've been dying to do so. But once again, time has whithered away and I'm left wondering where it's gone!
Both girls are asleep and I'm sitting in front of a warm glowing fire...so this is the perfect time to blog!

Almost two weeks ago we lovingly welcomed Aubree Claire Schraceo into the world. She weighed a whopping 7lb. 4.1oz and was 18 1/2 inches long! Everyone in the delivery room was in astonishment at how "big" she was. We were all hoping for a mere 6lb. baby and man-oh-man!! Did we get that!

The difference from experiencing labor with Autumn and then with Aubree was like night and day. Not one thing about it was the same...with the exception of the epidural and the labor pains of course. With Autumn I was in labor for almost 19 hours...with Aubree I was in labor only 5 1/2 hours!! I had an epidural with both kiddos and am ever so thankful that I did. Even though the girls weighed at opposite ends of the scale I really never knew the difference...which is what the doctor told me to expect.

We arrived at the hospital at 7am and they immediately got me all hooked up to the monitors and got the i.v. flowing. I was already having frequent contractions that morning we went in for the induction. By 7:45am they had the pitocin dripping and gave me an extra bag of fluids at "high speed" just in case I wanted to get the epidural faster than I expected. I was dilating at a good speed and they really didn't know how long things would take...but didn't think it would be incredibly long this go 'round. Sure enough by 8am the contractions hit me full force. There was no turning back and they weren't backing off. I was shocked because there was no gradual easing into labor like I did with Autumn...it was just BAMMMMM! This baby is coming and quick!

By 8am the doctor came in and broke my water. I was already dilated a little more than 4 1/2 and he said I was making great progress. By 10am the epidural had finally arrived. I made sure to ask for it early this time instead of waiting until it was too late...I was not going to endure the pain any longer than necessary. A 45 minute wait on the drugs was 40minutes too long for me.

Just as everyone, with the exception of my sister, had went downstairs for lunch right around 12:30pm the doctor came in to check me one last time before he went in to start his scheduled c-section at 1pm. Come to find out he would soon delay his surgery and be delivering our little sweet pea! I was in shock that I had dilated so quickly and she was ready!! FINALLY ready! It was at the moment that I realized it was finally happening & it seemed all a bit unreal. I couldn't believe Autumn was actually going to be a big sister. Seemed like just yesterday we were in the room right across the hall welcoming her into this world. I started pushing with Aubree at about 12:50pm and she was born at 1:27pm. From the first breath she took she was screaming & we knew this girl would have a good set of lungs to her & that she does. She can cry with the best of them! A much stronger cry than that of what her sister had. There was no cord wrapped around her neck & she was a nice color...not purple like Autumn, which was so amazing. It was at that point that I seen her & heard her cry that the water works began. I was able to hold her, love her and caress her before they swept her away to the scale & to be all tidied up.

I saw the huge smile on daddy's face and how much he was already in love with his newest baby girl. That is enough to melt my heart forever! We finally were able to bring Aubree home after a few extra days spent under the phototherapy lights for her high jaundice levels. Autumn and Daddy made many a trek up to the 2nd floor Labor and Delivery. He brought me snacks, dinners, and love from my big girl that I just wanted to hold and kiss sooooo much. This was the first time I had been away from Autumn for that long with out being able to love on her and give her the normal amount of "mommy" time she was used to. She so enjoyed being able to climb up in my hospital bed and sit with me. At night when she went home she gave the biggest hugs I had ever gotten from her along with a sweet kiss.

I look at pictures of Aubree's delivery and of Autumn being in awe of her. I can't believe it's already been almost two weeks. She is changing so much and is already growing a lot. I think I'm a little bit more prepared now in realizing just how fast time was going to go and how much I must cherish and soak in EVERY moment (especially the newborn ones). Who knew you could be so madly in love with someone you've never meet yet would instantly give every ounce of your heart up for and give your life for. There is nothing on earth that could make me more proud than to say I'm the mom of these two beautiful and loving little girls. They make me who I am and I'm indebted to God for that forever.
From here forward we're on a journey and roller coaster with these two kiddos and we're soooooo ecstatic to see where we end up.

Taken the night before I was induced (Jan. 5, 2012)