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A Star is Born…

Checking into the hospital at 2:00AM Eastern, Christine and I found our accomodations suitable to bring a baby into the world.

It took until about 5:00AM to get her first dose of medicine, Servodone (I think that is the way it is spelt). Up to this point she was only dialated to a 4 and 70% effaced, an increased change of 20% from the day before when it was a 2cm dialation.

By 8:30AM, she moved to a 5cm dialation and effacement was increasing as well, although the doctor didn’t say how much at this point. She was really surprised. She expressed this in saying we might deliver by early afternoon rather than that night as expected during the check-up appointment the day before. Christine was experiencing a little more contractions than previous to the application of the medicine and they were getting stronger. The labor had begun at this point for me because up to this point, she hadn’t had much pain at all and then it started for her and she let me know it. When the doctor made this prognosis, I decided to go pick up Christine’s father at his hotel and bring him to the hospital.

Hitting traffic at every occasion, I received multiple calls from Christine asking me how long until I arrived. I didn’t want her to go through with the epidural until I got back. I hoped that by asking this of her, it would help the labor progress much further than she would have allowed before the epidural, because she was waiting on me.

Shawn, her father, and I arrived around 10AM and then just about the same instant, in came the chattiest doctor I have ever seen. He was to administer the epidural. He asked, upon barging through the door, “Who needs and epidural?” I had to reply, without hesitation, “I do, I do,” while raising my hand jokingly.

The doctor said that this was the best epidural he had administered in all of his 30 years and he pulled me around to see his work. I must say, it was rather clean. Christine was a champ and held her own. She jumped for a second or two, but I think it was because of the pain that she still suffers daily in her back from a car accident from 1999 or so.

Once the epidural set in, she started to become numb, but in a good way. She didn’t seem to be drugged out at all and was a real trooper because she was on potocin (this stuff is potent and is supposed to bring on the most severe of contractions) since about 10:30AM and didn’t reveal any pain following the epidural.

While waiting, I also jokingly asked her to go over the script of what she could and couldn’t say while pushing and she chuckled a bit and rolled her eyes at me. I think because of things like this, in how I handle a situation like this, it is the reason why she married me. But I will probably never know, because she most likely won’t admit it.

Around 3:00PM she was told to start pushing. She, according to the Midwife, Karen King, who ended up delivering our baby, said she was one of the best “pushers” she has seen in a first-time labor. Maybe, this was her karma coming back from how much she had to endure during her pregnancy.

In all, it took about 1 hour and 12 minutes for us to meet Ainsleigh after she began pushing. Christine never shouted any obscenities, but only once when I said “push through the bottom and not through your face,” she snapped and yelled, “I’m trying.”

After that, Karen took over in calling for the pushes and Christine handled everything so much better than I had ever anticipated. I am really proud of her and I helped her through the contractions by holding her legs back and saying encouraging things.

At 4:12PM Eastern we had the most fortunate of opportunities to meet our daughter, Ainsleigh Madelynn.

I got to cut the umbilical cord. I must say to those men reading, this is one of the happiest experiences of my life, although thinking back, those scissors got really close to my fingers. It happened in an instant, but fellas, make the time and take the second to impress this memory into your head, because… it will be with you when your child walks down the aisle, leaves for college, heads off to their first day of Kindergarten. Need I say more about this event?

Ainsleigh then went to the warmer and Christine said, “go, I got to be with her all this time and now you can spend time with her.” This is the point when I just absolutely broke down and every time I think about it, I almost tear up again. I looked at her and then back to Christine and my lip quivered. I smiled and I ran over to Christine and just cried and kissed her and thanked her for being my wife and said, “You did it, we have a baby girl.” This was, I think the most beautiful moment of my life up to this point. I can’t see anything topping it. Although, watching Christine walk down the aisle comes pretty close or even ties it. Wow (taking a breathe here).

Now this thought goes contrary to what I thought when we heard the news that it was going to be a girl. I thought then, when I heard the words, “Congratulations, it’s a girl.” some months ago probably the most inappropriate thought, but it was my first thought and I am admitting it here because it probably happens to most guys. My honest response was, “damn weddings!” But yesterday, that all changed. strongI hope Ainsleigh has the biggest and best wedding and everything she could want./strong But that isn’t for some time, however. Until then, I am going to hope she dresses like a boy until at least… 18 years old. We don’t need any perverted boys showing up and trying to date my daughter (gentlemen, you know what I’m talking about).

From there we took some pictures and a short video of her getting her measurements. Now you can hear her and see her in action. Click on any photo to see the larger version. Thank you to everyone for your support and cheers from the sidelines. Christine and I couldn’t have done this without you, knowing the love you have for us in this happy time in our lives.

/objectbr /Baby Ainsleigh Madelynn Hullbr /getting measured for the first time.

The Mother in Laborbr /The Mother in Labor

The Grandfather in Waiting, Shawn McMenomybr /The Grandfather in Waitingbr /Shawn McMenomy

She just went through labor for 14 hours and what a smile, thank you Mrs. Hullbr /She just went through labor for 14 hoursbr /and what a smile, thank you Mrs. Hull

The Father Staring Contestbr /The Father Staring Contest

The Close Up, Ainsleigh Madelynnbr /The Close Upbr /Ainsleigh Madelynn Hull

We’ll post more pictures later,br /but for the ones that are loaded so far, please go tobr /a title=”View our photos on flickr.com” href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/21358387@N02/” target=”_blank”http://www.flickr.com/photos/21358387@N02/>.

a title=”View our online birth annoucement, click here” href=”http://firstannouncement.com/announcement.php?a=f0789eb144584190388″ target=”_blank”View our online birth annoucement, click here/a.

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Will Hull, MPA

wrhull@gmail.com

Front-End Web Developer, Nonprofit professional, SigEp Alumnus who holds a Masters in Public Administration living in the San Diego, CA Metro Area

16 Comments

  • UCP Iamp;R Coordinator

    Reply

    Congratulations! So glad everyone is doing well and please thank Christine and Ainsleigh for holding out until AFTER the conference!

    June 26, 2008 at 8:17 PM
  • Anonymous

    Reply

    She is beautiful, the spittin image of you, Christine, when you were born, except she has hair!

    June 26, 2008 at 8:18 PM
  • Jamie Agee

    Reply

    Will, your blog brought tears to my eyes – tears of joy of course. You did such a good job writing that – I feel like I was there. Ainsleigh is so beautiful. I can’t wait to meet her. BR/Just out of curiosity, is that blood on Christines shirt in the picture of her holding Ainsleigh? If so, where did it come from?BR/Jamie

    June 26, 2008 at 8:50 PM
  • Will Hull

    Reply

    Jaime,BR/BR/It’s from when the baby was placed on her stomach right after she came out, just before they took Ainsleigh to clean her off.BR/BR/Thanks for the kind words. Talk to you soon.BR/BR/For me, it’s back to the hospital.

    June 26, 2008 at 8:54 PM
  • Winston Family Blog

    Reply

    she is so beautiful! i am so happy for your christine! enjoy your precious baby girl

    June 26, 2008 at 8:57 PM
  • Anonymous

    Reply

    Thanks for the great pictures of my first great grandchild! I keep playing the video over and over to hear and see her. She is so nicely filled out and beautiful. I love the little rose bud lips. The hair looks like yours Chris when you were born. Thanks Will for giving us a play by play description about yesterday. We, the other great grandmother Penny McMenomy and I, were getting really upset when we hadn’t heard anything by afternoon, our time. Although looking at pictures is not nearly as nice as holding her, the pictures sure help close the gap of great distance.What a blessing she will be to you and all the rest of our family. Chris I know it was a long, sick 9 months for you but look what you got from it!Love to all, BR/Nana Jean

    June 26, 2008 at 9:23 PM
  • Blakeley and Brian

    Reply

    Congratulations Will and Christine!! Ainsleigh is beautiful!!!

    June 26, 2008 at 10:21 PM
  • Lauren Bradfield

    Reply

    Congratulations Will and Christine! We are both so happy and excited for you!!! She is such a beautiful baby girl. What gorgeous lips 🙂 Will, thank you for the informative blog. I know those that couldn’t be with you both really appreciate it! It was truly beautiful. Guys, your baby is amazing and you both are going to make fantastic parents! We couldn’t be happier for the both of you and cannot wait to meet the newest member of the Hull family!!!!BR/BR/All our love,BR/BR/Lauren and David

    June 26, 2008 at 11:06 PM
  • Jill

    Reply

    Congrats! She is beautiful! Having the baby always makes the nine months of not feeling so good worth it doesn’t it. Grandma Mc called and is so excited. Enjoy her and all the amazing moments and experiences she will bring into your lives!

    June 26, 2008 at 11:42 PM
  • Sandy

    Reply

    Children are the most amazing blessing in this world. Way to go Christine and Will, congrats on such a wonderful birth and a lovely little girl.

    June 27, 2008 at 1:04 AM
  • Jessica

    Reply

    She is GORGEOUS! Congratulations!!!

    June 27, 2008 at 11:18 AM
  • Anonymous

    Reply

    Christine, HOORAY!!!! I am so happy for you both, welcome to the “official” mama club my sweet friend!! Nicolette

    June 29, 2008 at 3:22 PM
  • Anonymous

    Reply

    CONGRATS!!!!!BR/BR/So much for keeping the blog updated. LOLBR/BR/Terrie

    July 1, 2008 at 7:56 PM
  • Grandma Goo

    Reply

    Thank heaven for little girls! Enjoy all that lies ahead! I truly loved the newborn stage, they outgrow it so fast! Hope all is going good all of you! Sleep when the baby sleeps, Love Sharon

    July 3, 2008 at 7:03 AM
  • Sara McGinness

    Reply

    Congratulations!!! Will you did an amazing job writing the post, you made me cry describing what you were feeling. I am so happy for the two of you. I can’t remember how I found your guys’ blog awhile back (I think your myspace or facebook account) but I am so glad you kept it updated- it has been great to watch you guys go through the pregnancy and welcome Ainsleigh into the world. Again, Congratulations!!!!!

    July 3, 2008 at 6:11 PM
  • Will Hull

    Reply

    Thanks for the kind words Sara. We really appreciate it.

    July 7, 2008 at 1:49 AM

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