We are pleased to announce the arrival of the newest member of the Achatz family, little Eden Rae. She was born on June 18 at 1:10 pm and weighed 7 lbs 1 oz. Here is the story of her birth:
I had TONS of contractions with this pregnancy, so I thought there was no way I would be late like I was with Bennett. Also, I was already starting to dilate and efface at 35 weeks. With each week that the baby didn't come, I walked more . . . but I couldn't seem to go into labor. I was dilated to almost a 4, 60% effaced, and with baby in a really low station for a few weeks. I thought the baby was going to fall out at any second. My doctor asked me if I wanted to be induced, but I felt confident that my body could do it on its own at any time. But when labor had still eluded me at 40 weeks, I changed my mind, and we scheduled an induction.
I was going to be induced on a Monday morning, and I slept poorly the night before because I was going to have a baby the next day!!! Soon after I woke up, though, the hospital called and CANCELLED on me. I guess everyone who was able to go into labor on their own had the day before, and the hospital was too busy as a result. UNBELIEVABLE!!! They told me I might have to wait until THURSDAY to be induced. As if I hadn't walked enough that week (like 20 miles, I'm not kidding), we went to the mall, and I walked up and down the stairs all morning. Still nothing.
After all was said and done, I decided I just wasn't supposed to go into labor on my own because of how quickly it went once I was induced. They were able to get me in the following morning, Tuesday the 18th. I was now 5 days late and BEYOND READY. It was definitely a different experience than with Bennett. It took the spontaneity out of it, but it was still AMAZING. We walked into the hospital, and they prodded my body into labor with pitocin.
Waiting for something to happen . . .
They checked my progress after a few hours, and I was a 5. The doctor broke my water around 11:30 or 12. Ryan suggested I get the epidural BEFORE they broke my water, but I decided to wait. It didn't take long, though, before the contractions became really painful, and I remember thinking "huh, this feels like when I was an 8 before we got to the hospital to have Bennett," but I thought there was no way I was that far. But, sure enough, the next time they checked me, I was a 10. The doctor said, "Well, you can start pushing if you want." WHAT?! After all that waiting, it happened so quickly. On my first push, they said, "There she is! She has dark hair." She practically fell out after that, and I couldn't believe it. Several pushes and less than 5 minutes later, we had our baby girl in our arms. Piece of cake! And she was so beautiful!
She looked so much different than Bennett, and if I hadn't seen her come out, I would have thought she was someone else's baby. She was PERFECT, though: lots of dark hair, good coloring, all her parts, and a perfectly round head since she'd come out so easily.
7 lbs 1 oz of perfection
"I love you, and I am so glad you are finally out of my body."
My sister Amber had been watching Bennett and brought him to the hospital to meet his baby sister. It was a special moment. Look at our family of FOUR!
"Cute baby. Baby night night."
The proud papa.
Amber brought the kids to the hospital again the next day. Little did Bennett know that the cute baby was going to come to our house . . . for good.
We had a hard time deciding on a name. We had several in mind, and she didn't look like the one at the top of our list, the one we'd had in mind for most of the pregnancy. We finally resolved that she looked like Eden and made it official the next day.
Bringing home this little princess has been such a blessing. Bennett loves her and always says, "Ahhhh, cute baby." It will be an adjustment for him (and all of us), but we are so blessed to have another special spirit in our home. I am so grateful that she is healthy and that she's ours!
The first day home. :) Many more to come . . .
