A little after Midnight on August 18 (6 days before my actual due date) I started to have contractions. At 4am I woke Jeff to tell him I was having contractions. I took a shower and waited in bed timing my contractions with my new iPhone app (gotta love technology). Contractions were manageable until my water broke at 8am and everything immediately got very painful. We got into the car and headed for the hospital…of course during morning rush hour traffic. Thank God traffic was not bad because the pain was unbearable. Jeff was in such a rush he drove into valet parking the wrong way but the attendant understood why after she took one look at me. They took me inside on a wheelchair because I could not stand let alone walk. I was 7cm dilated at the hospital (no wonder I was in so much pain). The epidural could not come fast enough. Everyone says your second child comes faster then the first and they are absolutely right. Four pushes and Baby Isabella was here.
We chose the middle name Grace because grace is what got us through this pregnancy. This was one of the hardest times of my life. I was sick for almost 5 months and had to get an amniocentesis because my first trimester down syndrome screening test came back high risk. This pregnancy was a lot of sleepless nights, crying under the covers in the dark…a test of any marriage. Only grace.
Isabella completes our family. I wanted three kids, then I had Olivia, and realized I really only wanted (or could handle) two. Jeff would have liked to have a son, but the thought of having one more child and it being a girl would be way too many daughters for him. We are so blessed to have two healthy girls and so happy to be a family of four.
Isabella Grace Jee
August 18, 2011
8lbs 6oz
(pictured: Isabella at 1 week old)
