How old am I?

Funny how time flies...hard to believe that just a year ago I was in the hospital.
This time last year Steve wrote his version of baby Gabriella's birth...so here is mine and be warned it is very long and I probably ramble.

It was a 7/10/06 a Monday, I remember because I went into my old job that afternoon to help out with some paperwork and submit some insurances. I had been invited to a baby shower for that coming week and stopped by TJMaxx to get a gift. That night we had pizza and Steve had gotten home late from work. I think it was around 8:30-9pm when I went to the restroom and then it happened...a sharp pain almost like a side cramp and then my water broke. I called the number for the on-call doc and it just so happened to be mine. He asked why I thought I needed to go in and once I told him he said come on down. I had packed a few things that morning just in case something happened and while I was stuck in the bathroom waiting for Steve to get the rest of our stuff I decided to make a few calls, (I figured why not). I called both our parents and a gal from my old job to tell her I wouldn't be in the following day. The drive down to the hospital seemed to take forever...I don't think I had ever felt such pain and the urge to push (even though I don't think I was dilated very far.)

Nurses thought she was breech and the doctor confirmed it. I remember how hard if was to hear we would have a c-section, that was the only childbirth class we missed. I cried and could see Steve's face full of worry. I was able to muster up the strength to sign all the paperwork for the surgery in between contractions then I was prepped for the OR. As they wheeled me out all I could think of was Steve sitting in that room and of the baby. Once in the OR I got a spinal block which is a bit different than an epidural and the anthologist was very kind to me. While lying on the table Dr. Graham said she would either come before midnight or after then Steve came in. All I can really recall after that is that she came, Steve cut the cord, he took some pictures of her and off they went with the nurses. But before Steve left he did show me her picture on the little screen of our digital camera...I sure wished I had my glasses on. She looked so pretty and little. Born 7-11-06, 18 inches long and 5lbs .6 ounces.

That week was scary,and painful but my good friends came to visit and take care of me. I felt so blessed to have such good people in my life and for the love we had coming from both our families. Although things didn't go the way I planned, life rarely turns out the way we expect, at least for me. In this case things turned out better...I found out before I left the OR that the cord had prolapsed, whether it was from her being breech, my water breaking or a combination of the both a c-section was a blessing in disguise. Isn't that how it goes sometimes...blessings come in the most unimaginable ways and I couldn't be happier to have Gabriella as our little girl forever.

Here is how she has grown...