Home Sweet Home with the Sedas: Meet Our Sweet Madelyn Grace Seda

I can think of no better way to start blogging than with the story of the arrival of our sweet Madelyn Grace.

I just knew that Madelyn would be an early bird like her mother, so at 37 weeks I was convinced that she would make her appearance. But, to my dismay, 37 weeks came and went...as did 38, and 39 weeks and still no Madelyn, only more swelling around my ankles! As we approached 40 weeks, I was now convinced that they would have to induce for her to make her appearance. So, on Saturday night, April 6th, 39 weeks and 6 days (but who was counting), Robert and I said, as we had the last several weekends, "Let's go out for dinner, it may be our last for a while!" So, we headed out to Christopher's Italian Restaurant. The owner is always so nice to us and even treated us to a dessert. I think she felt bad for my swollen ankles, too! We arrived home and went to bed soon after (for some reason I was more tired than usual...and more swollen). Then, in the still of the night (11:50 pm to be exact) the flood gates broke loose, literally! My water broke and I had tears of joy because I knew Maddie was FINALLY coming...and ON her due date?!

We quickly got dressed, and yes, I did put on a little makeup and this sweet little necklace my parents had gotten me for Christmas with Madelyn's name on it. I had been waiting to wear it for this very moment. As I got ready, sweet Robert picked up the house (which we avoided doing because we KNEW Maddie was not coming this weekend).  We then headed to Methodist.  In the last five years I have made this trip what seems like a thousand times, as has Robert, so we were good to go on directions!

We arrived at my home away from home and checked in.  I arrived dilated at 3cm.  To be honest, I was disappointed, as I had been dilated at a 2cm since 37 weeks, so I hoping I would be a LOT farther along than that!   But, I was very fortunate because from that point forward it was a whirlwind. Thank goodness I know all of the anesthesiologists and all knew I wanted an epidural! :) So not long after I checked in, they came up and put in an epidural in no time. Ahhh, the miracle of modern medicine! It did not take completely on my left side, so I had just enough feeling to be grateful for lack of feeling on my right side! There was no time for adjustment, however, because at my next check I was dilated to 8 centimeters. A few bouts of emesis (so much for that little bit of dinner I had earlier) and I was ready to push.  Robert was a sweet little coach...and I think I was actually nice the whole time! Within the hour, we met the most precious little being we had ever laid eyes on. In that instant, God gave me the gift of knowing the love of mother for her child.

And because a picture is worth a thousand words, a novel from our hospital stay...

Waiting on an epidural...notice my death grip on the bed (at least it wasn't Robert's hand!)

After my epidural, "Contractions, what contractions?"

Daddy cutting the cord

Meeting my baby girl for the first time, my heart runneth over.

Finally a family of three.

Madelyn Grace Seda

Born on Sunday April 7th, 2013 at 0706 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center

6 pounds 5 ounces, 19 inches long

Daddy's Girl

Getting her footprints made

First Bath! Baby girl did so good.

Wiped out after my bath!

Look at that clean hair!

Still in awe of my angel.

Waiting to meet the grandparents! Being 15 hours from home makes it hard for family to show up after a moments notice! But the second we called Nana and Papa they were working to book a flight! Poor things had been waiting by the phone for the last 3 weeks. They joined us in the afternoon which was as quick as Delta could get them here. Robert's parents drove from Oklahoma and made it that night. While waiting, Maddie got all cleaned up with her first bath and we all took a nap so that everyone was bright eyed and bushy tailed to see everyone! We kept Kaimi up to date with LOTS of texts and pictures. We missed them and knew we would have to schedule a visit as soon as we could!