Its amazing.  I can't describe the out of this world emotions I have encountered in the past week.  I never knew I could love something SO much.  It has been such a busy week, so I apologize to those I haven't updated or written to.  Quickly, before my precious angel is hungry again, I'll give you a run down on the events of last weekend.

Friday 11th - Had my 40 week prenatal.  Doc said I was 70% effaced and only 1 1/2 cm dilated.  He said he didn't want to see me go past Wednesday of the following week so we scheduled an appointment for then to discuss induction if Meghan hadn't come by that time.  I went to work.  While driving home from work,  I sneezed - hard.  I felt something squishy down below and was anxious to get home and check things out.  When I got home I immediately went to the bathroom and discovered that I had lost my mucous plug.  What I thought I had lost the weekend before was just the beginning.  There was no doubt about it this time - I had lost the plug.  YUCK and YAY!  For this meant the time was near. I wasn't sure how much time we had left before labor started, but knew to just be ready.

August 12th (Saturday) - Woke up went and ran errands with Mike.  I told him we had to get the oil changed and the car seat in because I didn't want to have to worry about the car stuff when we needed it to get to the hospital.  Throughout the day I had cramps and mild contractions but they were what I had been experiencing before and weren't timable (so I thought).  So, I thought nothing of it.  We went to lunch at 3 Margaritas and I had some spicy tamales in the hopes that it would help trigger something - anything as I was growing impatient to see our baby.  After lunch we decided to come home and relax the rest of the day.  I

8:30pm - I was laying on the couch watching TV when I felt a vibrating pop inside me.  Again, not knowing what to expect (and feeling something similar several weeks ago), I thought nothing of it.  I did tell Mike, "I just felt another vibrating pop", and went along watching T.V.  A few minutes later I felt like I had to go pee and  got up to go when... **GUSH**!!  I looked at Mike (with shock on my face) and said "honey, I think my water just broke."  He looked at me, then at my pants (that were quite obviously beginning to soak through) and said "yep, sure enough - here we go honey!"  I guess those hot tamales really worked! 

8:45pm - I went and put on a comfortable skirt and grabbed a towel.  I kept leaking lots of fluid so I had to put a towel down there to prevent from dripping everywhere!  Something I learned that I didn't realize and a little tidbit for those still pregnant - when your water breaks, it doesn't stop until the baby moves down and plugs your cervix (which wasn't until 4cm dilated for me).   Mike quickly freshened and brushed his teeth.  I consistently pestered him to go, as I kept leaking fluid and was afraid if we didn't get going we'd have Meghan in the car. Silly me!  Mike grabbed our bags, and the car seat (that we ended up not being able to install).  I looked quite funny walking out to the car with a towel between my legs.   Off we were to the hospital.  I was so excited and nervous at the same time.  I called the doctor to let them know we were on our way.  Mike was a little nervous too, the traffic didn't want to cooperate and he knew how anxious I was to get to the hospital.  He remained so calm though!  So, here we are driving to the hospital.  Contractions are now starting and I think to myself "so that's what contractions feel like."  They are now noticable and timable. 

9:15pm - Got to the hospital.  I remember walking in to the ER with a towel in my legs and people looking at me like I was crazy!  We checked in at the ER and were wheeled up to labor and delivery.  I loved the labor and delivery nurses I had.  She got me all cleaned up, in a hospital gown and gave me some HUGE diapers to wear for the leaking.  She informed me that the continuous leakage was normal (relief), and got me hooked up ready to go.  She gave me an IV hookup for fluids in case I decided on an epidural for later.  I told her I wanted to go as long as possible before discussing any pain meds.  She checked my cervix and I was only 2 cm dilated - we definitely had some work to do!  She then told us that some nursing students were there for the night for training and asked if I would mind if one of the students sort of shadowed her and watched.  I didn't mind as I feel (based on my personal experiences) that learning it in class and actually viewing it are two very different things.  The nurse then told us that she'd check my cervix again around 11:15pm so she said we could do what we wanted until then to help with contractions.  So off Mike and I went walking our laps around the labor and delivery ward.  

11:15pm, Auntie Andrea and Big Brother came.  We told them what was going on and they went out to the waiting room.  Nurse came back in and told me I was still 2 cm dilated .  I was having lots of back pain and the nurse said Meghan was probably "sunny side up" and to continue walking as it may help turn her.  The contractions were still bearable, so up we went to continue walking.  The contractions started getting harder and longer.  I remember on one of our "laps" we went into the waiting room and told Auntie and Big Brother that it was going to be awhile and to go ahead and go home and we'd call when Meghan was almost here. 

August 13th (Sunday) - About 2am the contractions were starting to hurt so I wanted to try a hot shower to help relieve the pain.  However, the room we were in the shower head was broken so we ended up having to move rooms.  I thought the new room was better as it wasn't back in the corner and it seemed bigger.  I got undressed and hopped (stepped actually, hehe) into the shower.  It was a removable showerhead so Mike took it off and stood there waving up and down my back and tummy (Mike was so wonderful).  This helped me get through A LOT of contractions and made them quite a bit easier. 

2:30am - After getting out of the shower they noticed on my towel that I was leaking meconium (the babies waste).  They said it wasn't of great concern, but when the baby comes out the nursery staff will be there just in case she had swallowed it and couldn't breath.  Then they would have to take her and pump her stomach.   I remember saying a quick prayer that it didn't happen and if it did that the Lord would keep close watch over her.  At this point I noticed my contractions were STRONG and very close together.  I kept my breathing up but remember feeling SO exhausted.  The nurse was ready to check me again and asked if it was time for pain meds.  She said she could check me before to see how much I've progressed that way it may give me more strength to continue on without meds OR she could check me after (which would be more comfortable) if I decided on meds.  I remember telling Mike that I didn't want him to think I was a wuss, but I thought it was time for an epidural.  He laughed and said that he'd never think that about me and that I've done such a great job so far.  I remember the pain being so intense.  It felt like an extreme charlie horse that was 10 times worse and wouldn't go away.  I thought my uterus was going to explode!  The contractions were hard to get through and I remember thinking that I wouldn't be able to push if I continued on being this exhausted, especially after no sleep since Friday night and no food since those hot tamales at lunch!  Although I would of loved nothing more than to do this all on my own,naturally, I decided I'd need the sleep and energy when it came time to push. 

3:00am - Anathesiologist arrived.  The epidural administration made me nervous - but the contractions kept my mind off what was going on back there.  Mike wanted to watch but he stayed right in front of my face guiding me through the contractions.  I had to stay so still and sit up in a moon shape so that the epidural cathater could be put in.  It was so hard to stay still with the pain of contractions but I just breathed through them with Mike.  I remember feeling a sharp jolt down my left side from the epidural but I thought it was part of my contraction - the doc said that was normal.

3:30 - Tthe epidural was in and I started feeling relief within about 10-20 minutes.  I literally felt no pain - but could still move my legs and shift about on the bed.  It was the oddest feeling.  My legs felt very heavy, I could still feel them, but definitely wouldn't be able to walk on them.  I did feel a little panicky after the epidural administration because I didn't know what to expect.  The nurse then got me situated, the IV fluids attached (to keep my hydrated), and the blood pressure cuff going (because epidurals sometimes increase blood pressure so they had to constantly monitor blood pressure).  I hated the blood pressure cuff as it got so tight when it was checking my blood pressure (which seemed like every 5 minutes). 

4:00am - The nurse (why I can't remember her name is beyond me she was the best too  ) checked me again and I told me that before the epidural I had contracted natrually to 4 cm.  I was proud that I had at least made it that far on my own.  Shortly after she checked me she inserted a catheter which I didn't feel a bit because of the epidural.Mike and I slept for the next 3 hours. 

7:00 am - My wonderful nurse checked me again to see if I had dilated further - 7cm!  Woohoo!  She said just relax and hopefully soon I'll be to 10!  She also said that there was a shift change and another nurse would be coming in to check on me.  I was sad that she was leaving but she assured me that she'd hook me up with the best nurse on this shift.  Boy was she right!  We got lucky with another wonderful nurse who was great and later answered alot of my questions about breastfeeding (her mom was a lactation consultant).  Mike and I then went back to sleep.

8:30 am - I woke up feeling LOTS of pressure in my pelvis and southern region.  I thought either I had to poop or it was almost time to push.  I pushed the button to call the nurse.  She came in and checked me.  Sure enough I was 10 cm with just a little lip on the top of my cervix but that I'd be pushing really soon!  She went to go get the doctor.  At this point I was so excited and refreshed from sleeping.  I knew we'd be meeting our daughter soon.  Mike called Big Brother and Auntie and told them to come on back that Meghan would be born soon. 

9:00 am - Just before I started pushing the doctor (Lisa Lewis) came in and informed us that she was just about to go into an emergency c-section and wouldn't be out for awhile.  So we were in sort of a bind - do I start pushing and hope I push longer than the time she's in the c-section OR do I start pushing and hope I get her out right away before the c-section?  I told them I couldn't wait, that I had to start pushing because the pressure was getting more intense.  So we opted to start pushing and have the mid-wife come in to help deliver if it was quick.  Let the pushing begin!!  That had to be the hardest and most tiring part of the whole process.  At that point I was SO glad that I had decided on the epidural and conserved my energy.  Mike was great - he held my legs and pushed them close to my tummy to help.  He also got a washrag and rinsed it in cold water to put on my head and neck.  He did this every few minutes to help keep me cool.  When Meghan started to crown they set up a mirror so I could see what was going on.  It was AMAZING to see with every push the progression of Meghan's head further down.  I could see her dark hair!  WOW!  I can't even describe the feelings of amazement.  Meghan was sunny side up so the bigger part of her noggin' was coming down first and made it harder to exit the pelvis, which in turn made pushing harder and longer.  I started feeling a burning sensation and remember reading that I had to push through the burn.  The nurse told me the same thing.  She told me to use the pressure and contractions as ques to push that baby out! 

10:30 am - I gave one final hard push (Mike said I had veins popping out of my forehead he never saw before).  Out popped her little head (or big depending on if you're the one giving birth).  They told me to not push and breath and with the next contraction slowly push the rest of her body out. 

August 13th at 10:32 am Sunday morning Meghan Lanai Scruggs was here!  They immidiately suctioned out her mouth and Meghan let out the most precious sound I have ever heard - a scream!  They didn't have to have the nursery staff come in as she could obviously breath!  They immidiately laid her on my tummy cord still attached.  I got to kiss her and wipe her off and cuddle with her.  Mike cut her cord.  They warned him that it looked like a squirter.  He cut and it and sure enough *SQUIRT*.  Too bad it missed him, hehe.  They then took her over to weight her. She weighed in at 7lbs even and 19 1/2 inches long.  Her head was 13 inches.  Brown hair, longer in the back than the front, blue eyes and absolutely precious.  She is the most beautiful little girl!   

As she was being weighed my placenta came.  It came within 10 minutes.  The doc was just sitting there holding on to the cord waiting for it to come out - I thought that was funny.  The mirror was still up so I got to see that - GROSS - but it looked like a big ole red blob.  Everything looked great she said.  Then she pressed HARD on my tummy to get all the other water and gross stuff out.  GUSH!  I thought "geez how much more water and gunk could there be in there?"  Then she stiched me up - I had a second degree tear.  I remember feeling her stiching me up, so she told me to push the button for my epidural but I was all out!  So, Doc gave me a local anasthetic which worked great!  Meghan did great breastfeeding for the first time.  She latched on within 20 minutes after being born.  YAY!  And to think I was all freaky about it!

Then Big Brother and Auntie came in and met Meghan.  Then it was time to move to the post partum wing.  First they said I had to get up and try to tinkle.  I couldn't do it!  She even ran the water.  It was at this point that I started feeling the pain and soreness.  I got to the post partum suites and it definitely wasn't as nice as the labor rooms , but it didn't matter, there was one little precious person that had all my attention!    We had lots of vistors, nurses, doctors, pediatrician, hospital volunteers to take her first pictures, Grandma K, my Uncle Rollie & Auntie Marlene, and my cousins Jessica, Cami, and Sara.  By the time Monday rolled around we were ready to go home.  We could of stayed another night but it seemed like we weren't getting much sleep with all the nurses/doctors/hospital staff coming in and the cots for Dads wasn't very comfy.  So we packed up, got Meghan dressed in her coming home outfit (which was a newborn size and didn't fit by a longshot) and headed home.  Good thing the hospital had a program that helps install carseats correctly!      

Mike was so wonderful, he was the BEST coach - breathing through my contractions, walking around the L&D floor, encouraging me and supporting me.  I love him so much and couldn't of done it without him!  Since then it's been a hectic week full of surprises and little sleep.  She loves sucking on her hands and is doing great breastfeeding (even though I was a little sore, which I was told is normaly for the first couple of weeks).  She barely fits into her newborn clothes, which aren't many (time to go shopping).  We plan to just hang out, relax, and get to know one another.  Meghan sleeps alot and has the LOUDEST poops.  Her two week check up she weighed 6lbs 10 oz (doc said it's normal to loose water weight the first few days) and should be gaining weight here in the next few weeks.  She's healthy and beautiful!  How blessed are we huh?  Pictures are posted (more to come) and I'll write soon.  Baby Meghan calls.  I love you all and hope to write and/or talk to you soon!