the day our Viola came along.

viola cruz, coming home.

I've already been told that I shouldn't tell my birth story. Fair warning... if you had a rough time in your labor/birth you might find this a bit irritating... but it is still my (our) story to tell and I think it was pretty cool/amazing how everything turned out.

I've always heard birth compared to a marathon, and while I can completely understand that statement, for me it was like a car crash.

As most of you know, I had been in early labor for about 2 weeks. I felt regular contractions/rushes and was told that I was dilated to 4/5 cm. I wasn't in any pain, so we waited. Walk after walk, night after night we waited for any sign that our little girl was on her way.

Friday the 17th I woke up at about 6:30 am with a pretty strong rush. Again there wasn't pain but I could feel the rush opening my cervix for sure. I feel back asleep only to be awaken 7 min later to another. With this one I woke Naz up and we started to time them. I looked at him and said "I don't think you're going to work today."

We were up (including my mom who had just flown in), eating breakfast, calling our doula Shelia, calling my sister Jamie to get up here from SD, and standing during each rush. They were about 5-7 min apart but I knew we didn't have much time. I began to get in the "zone" during each rush. Standing was the most comfortable for me with Naz or my mom squeezing my hips in.

We left for Cedars Sinai at 9:20 am during morning traffic. A 10 min trip to the hospital was now going to be at least 30. I kept praying for strength to endure since I figured at any point on this car ride things could get a whole lot worse. I was uncomfortable and irritable, but I was focused on keeping my cool and relaxing. I just kept thinking: 'at any point the pain will come and I need to be ready.'

When we got to the hospital I remember saying sternly to Naz "valet!" as we drove into the parking garage. As we were getting on the elevator our doula was right there walking into it with us (awesome). Of course we just needed to go up 2 floors, and the elevator kept going to different floors and people getting on and off. "There's no other elevators for you people to be on?" I still had my sense of humor... good sign.

We got to the check-in desk, bypassed the exam room, and they took us to our labor room. It was about 10:30 am. I remember being so stoked that we got a room with a great view of the Hollywood hills. Just like the one we saw on our tour. It was beautiful. They had me to get on the bed, put on a gown, and get hooked up to the monitors... and thats when I felt pain. Any time I was in a position that wasn't comfortable for me I felt the pain. After the nurse checked me (I was at 8/9 cm and 0 station which meant the baby still needed to come down some ways) I stood right up and said that they were going to have to find a way to monitor me while I stood. My doctor, Suzanne, came in and told the nurse to just use the doppler on me. Bonus! I went to the restroom to go potty and I felt a pop and water gush. Suzanne wanted to check me again now that my water had broken and since I had told her I felt like my body was pushing. I was now at a 10 and she said I could push if I wanted, but of course reminded me that first time moms can push for hours. With that, she left the room.

My sister came through our door all smiles at about 11 am, so glad she didn't miss it. So was I. Even though I was down to business, we were so happy in that room; talking and enjoying the time. I felt really comfortable on the toilet, so back to the restroom I went. I wasn't feeling any pain. none. I felt my body pushing with each rush so i just bared down with each one and moaned to keep my body loose. Naz and our doula Shelia kept rubbing my shoulders down to remind me to keep from tensing up. And though the nurse was obviously uncomfortable with me sitting on the toilet, she still thought that I had a ways to go. (Ha!)

As I sat there between a rush, I felt to see if I could feel anything. I know they said that I could be pushing for a while, and that she was still a little high... but I just knew she had to be closer then they said. Sure enough I could feel the top of her head. I whispered to Naz that I felt her, so he felt her too. I knew if the nurse knew how close I was that she would make me get on the bed. I was much too comfortable where I was. Even when I began to feel a slight stinging. At this point Jamie and Shelia knew I was close. I kept thinking there had to be more... but sure enough...

With a sudden "pop" (for lack of better expression) half her head came out. At this point I thought it was ok to tell the nurse. She yelled "GET ON THE BED NOW! YOU CAN NOT HAVE YOUR BABY IN THE TOILET!" um yeah lady "duh doy"... so I waddled over to the bed with half her head out and got on my knees and elbows across the foot of the bed. I was really calm considering the nurse had run out of the room looking for my doctor. Jamie just kept saying... "don't worry we won't let her fall on the ground" I wasn't even aware that she was almost out with no one behind me to catch. Shelia was ready to catch her when a nurse midwife ran in just in time for the next rush that pushed her out all on its own. I could hear her crying but was always expecting more pain so I couldn't believe that the cries I heard were of my own little girl. They handed little Viola Cruz LaMay to me through my legs and I was finally able to hold and see the face I had dreamed about. It was 11:52 am.

Its hard to believe that she's here. The same girl the pregnancy test I took in a Target bathroom on a Monday morning 9 months ago was telling me about. Nazareth and I are in awe of Gods provision and guidance through the whole pregnancy, and the ability to have given birth exactly how we wanted. And now we have a daughter! Who by the way is ridiculously cute. We fall in love with her more and more each day, and can't wait to see all the ways God will work in her life.