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(If birth stories aren’t your thing, you can scroll down to the bottom and read about how we chose her name. )
Let’s rewind 25 weeks….
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This was after walking up and down the most enormous hill we could find in town. |
We asked Doctor P if we could go in on Wednesday evening to be induced, but when he told us he would be gone and would have to request another doctor, we decided to schedule the induction for Tuesday night, with the hopes that we would have a baby by Wednesday morning. Wednesday was the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, and that actually gave me a sense of peace as we moved forward.
Me: “Hey! PJ pants are on sale. What size do you wear?”
Him: “Let me check… hold on a second. Large I think, yes Large.”
Me: “Michael?”
Him: “Yes?”
Me: “My water just broke.”
The house is a mess!
What is the baby going to wear when we go home?
Heck, what am I going to name this baby?
What if this baby doesn’t get the right name?!
I’m hungry. I haven’t eaten since lunch.I can’t eat! I’m having a baby.
But I should eat.But I can’t!
Right about the time we were packing the car was also when those contractions kicked in.
Oh boy.
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Time to get this party started! |
But after about 4 hours of tears, I knew that the only way we were going to progress was if we got the epidural.
But then the epidural went in…
And I’m pretty sure the heavens opened.
Let me mention here, my Mom is amazing.
Not only did she stay in the waiting room praying throughout the night for us, but she was affirming and encouraging throughout the entire labor. And she even held my barf bag when Michael left, so she gets major points in Heaven for that ;).
My epidural was just wearing off, so could feel enough pressure to push, but there wasn’t any pain.
I had two nurses on my left, Michael on my right, and Dr. P ready to catch. I remember thinking that I had a “good” nurse and a “bad” nurse… but really they were both just encouraging me in different ways, and I needed both of them there.
I pushed. Nothing.
I pushed again. Something, but not enough.
About 4 or 5 pushes and I realized this was going to be one of the hardest things I had ever done (Again, silly aha moment).
Dr. P finally said, “If we can’t get the baby out on this next push, I’m going to need to help things a little bit.” Pretty much all I heard was “I will cut you.”
Um.. call those the words of inspiration that I needed because with that, I pushed like I had never pushed before, and all of a sudden… I could breathe.
The doctor had told me the night before that once baby came out they were going to need to suction the baby’s lungs before handing the baby to me because of the meconium. I’m really glad that he had prepared me for that, otherwise I probably would have been scared and worried that he wasn’t handing me my child immediately.
I waited for someone to shout “IT’S A___” but no one said anything. I remember feeling like things had gone quiet for a moment… then I heard the baby cry… but no one said anything to me. Finally, I turned to Michael and asked “Is it a girl or a boy?” “Umm.. I don’t know yet…” he said, and then finally Dr. P jumped in, “Oh I’m sorry! Not doing my job, it’s a GIRL!”
It took a few moments for them to give her to me, but when we finally met, it was love at first sight. You can read about that moment over here. But long story short, meeting my daughter, seeing her for the first time, was like getting just a tiny snapshot of the infinite and miraculous love of God.
Mind. blown.
Baby Johnston Gets a Name
The meanings of her names are what I like the most. When I hear “Defender of Mankind” it makes me imagine how God will work through her as she grows. And the meaning of Elise, “pledged to God” reminds me that my prayer from day one has been that she will be the woman God created her to be.
Usually the first question people ask me after I tell them her name is “What are you going to call her?” Five syllables is a lot for one kid, I know. Still, we call her Alexandria (the Great). It’s a big name, but I have a feeling it’s going to fit her just fine :). Some folks call her Alex, my family calls her Lexie, but her Dad and I will most likely always call her Alexandria….
….at least until we mix her name up with her siblings!
And there you have it, the story of how Alexandria the Great came into the world and got her name!