December 13th, 2010
What a first day! Just when I thought she was going to make us wait past her due date of December 16th, little Madeline America Olmstead made quite a speedy appearance. Here's the story...
Monday evening some contractions began around 5:30pm. I had been having similar contractions for weeks so I didn't really think much of these. But by the time Chris got home from work at 6:15 I had a feeling we might be in business. We left the kids with my mom, who thankfully had arrived the day before, and headed to St. Mary's Hospital. Our taxi picked us up at the flat at 7pm exactly.
From there we had a 10-12 minute drive to the hospital. Once we arrived they got us into a room rather quickly and things just kept moving along. Of course there were two important priorities for ME, the epidural, which I was convinced I couldn't live without, and getting prophylactic antibiotics to treat a positive Strep B test. As the nurse and midwife worked on both of these my water broke. When I arrived I was checked around 7:30 and was 3-4 centimeters dilated. After my water broke they hung the antibiotic and checked me again and at 8pm I was 10 centimeters!! Unbelievable!
The midwife looked at me and said "we're not going to have time for the epidural." I was so scared. Having had it with Josephine and Chris I really wasn't sure I could do it! Then she got this really calming way about her and said "Meredith, this baby is going to be out in less than 2 minutes." And I said "ok." And she was right, Madeline America Olmstead was born at 8:10pm on December 13th 2010. She weighed 7 lbs 1 oz, and we haven't gotten her length measured just yet.
The entire delivery was by far one of the most amazing experiences of my life. To think that I walked into the hospital and less than an hour later was holding my new little girl in my arms was mind-blowing. I was so happy and I still haven't stopped smiling. (Well, maybe not so smiley as I spent my first sleepless night at home.) The other fun tidbit to mention, we left the house at 7pm on Monday and we were home with Maddie by noon on Tuesday, the very next day! We were out of the house for about 15 hours! SO funny! The NHS doesn't mess around with long hospital stays. I guess with it being our 3rd baby they figured we were better off at home. Obviously they've never met Chris Jr. who has been pawing at his new little sister since we walked in the door! lol
And here is Josephine, who is just the most loving and adorable big sister. She came to see me in the hospital and wasn't allowed on the ward due to her recent case of Chicken Pox. But she insisted on coming anyway and got all dressed up to meet her new sister. She was only able to look at her through the glass doorway and the expression on her face the first time she saw Madeline will be with me forever. It was a five-year-old look of total unconditional love and amazement. Truly, these are the moments that make my life worth living. To see my oldest daughter meet her little sister with so much compassion and joy... it was incredible.
That said, we are now officially out numbered! God, please help us! :)
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