Meet...

the newest member of our family.

Our pride and joy.

Jaiya Ivie Johnson

born December 1, 2010.

7 lbs. 8 oz.

20 1/2 inches.

Sleepin' by Daddy.

Our little princess arrived on the 1st at 7:18 p.m. She was as healthy as could be, and we could not be happier.

Monday, the 29th of November, I went in for yet another appointment, and the news was the same as it had been for the past month! No change. Still dilated to a 1, cervix STILL tilted back and high. I was hoping so bad that I had changed since the week before. I was beginning to think this little angel wasn't ever going to come out, but live inside of me forever. Not that I didn't enjoy her inside my tummy, but I desperately wanted to meet her. The excitement is almost unmanageable the last couple weeks.

I joked with the doctor that I thought he should start me. I was just about to my due date and, your risks do go up again after you have hit 40 weeks. Doc agreed considering I wasn't changing on my own. He debated between starting me that night or waiting til Friday, the 3rd, unless something happened in the meantime of course. All things considered he decided that I should go in that night at 6 p.m, and they would give me a medication, Cytotec, that attaches like tape to soften my cervix and hopefully help me progress. (nurse 1st night: Angie Powell) The next morning they removed the Cytotec, and started me on the Pitocin that helps contract the uterus. I was on that all of Tuesday, and it only helped to dilate me another centimeter, so doc decided to take me off of the pitocin for the night, and start back up Wednesday morning. (Nurse Tuesday day: Michelle ???) So, Tuesday night, we enjoyed some pizza, and visited with family, hoping that the next day we would meet our little angel...(Tuesday's night nurse: Shelbie Lund)

Wednesday morning, we woke up and Barbara Hyett, our nurse for the day, started me on the pitocin for the 2nd time. I was so happy to see Barbara. I have known her my entire life, and it meant so much to have her there on what was about to become the BIGGEST day of my life. She told me- there is no reason why we shouldn't have a baby today...- best news I had gotten in 3 days.

Between about 2 and 4 in the afternoon, (can't remember what time) I had dilated just enough...almost a 3...and was able to get my epidural. Dr. Judy did the epidural himself, and he did a great job. It took about a half an hour to do it, because he said there was something blocking the needle/wire from threading through. He kept asking if I had ever had a back injury, and to my knowledge I had not. Just my car accident in 2003, and no back injury was ever diagnosed. But after staying hunched over, head down, and enduring my strongest contractions, the epidural was finally in. Dustin, in the meantime, didn't do so well with me getting an epidural. I couldn't see him, since my head was down, but Barb and my mom said he turned white as could be. Barb kept saying- do you need to sit down?- So he decided to hold my hand, instead of my shoulders where he had been at the beginning, and Barb and my mom took turns with my shoulders. I must say, epidurals are amazing! From here on out, I was as happy as a clam, while having contractions at the same time!;) I don't take medications well, because I never take any, and the epidural had numbed me clear up my right side. My eye was drooping, my chest was numb, and I was kind of getting nervous...but they propped me up on my left side, and while I visited with Lily and Rolf, my numbness eased up quite a bit, and eventually went away!

At about 5-ish, Barb came back in to check to see if I had progressed any. At first she said- Wow, you are at a 9, if you feel the urge to push let me know...- and she went about rushing to get the room set up for delivery. I was so excited, and yes, very nervous too. She checked me one more time and decided I was in fact only at an 6 almost 7, so she had enough enough time to call Dr. Judy in, and by 6 we were ready to start pushing. We had my mom, Dustin's mom, and my sister in the room with us. Doc said the baby had a pretty big head for the size of my pelvis, so we may need an episiotomy and maybe the vaccum to get her out. I pushed for an hour and twenty minutes, and I was able to get her out with the help of an episiotomy and NO vaccum.

Everyone did such a great job with the delivery. Dustin was amazing. He was so sweet and so supportive. He kept telling me that we were getting close, that you could see all of her hair!!!

Dr. Judy and Barbara were amazing as well. I couldn't have asked for a better doctor and nurse. I also couldn't have done it without my amazing mom, who counted to 10 a gazillion times as I pushed...;) Love you guys.

The next morning at around 9, Doc came in to check on the baby and I, and he said all looked good so we were free to leave...YAY! Less than 12 hours in the hospital and we get to go home!!!

Our little "Diva"...already has the paparazzi after her...;)

Getting ready to head home...