Baby Eva Mae

There are no words to describe the intense feelings you feel when your brand-new baby is placed in your arms for the first time. It is an overwhelming and immense feeling of love for this beautiful new being and gratitude to Heavenly Father for entrusting you with one of His children. And so without further adieu ......... presenting .......... Eva Mae Bluhm.

(ISN'T SHE JUST THE SWEETEST?)

I am just so in love with my new little angel! She is beautiful! She arrived on Friday, June 25th at 8:22p.m. She weighed 7lbs. 14oz. and was 19" long. I was scheduled to be induced on the 26th (my due date) but she decided that she wanted to be born on our 6th wedding anniversary. What a special day for her to born--the anniversary of the day her mother and father were sealed for eternity. :-)

It was Friday morning at 10:00a.m. and Brandon had just left the house with the kids to pick up some things at the store. I was putting away some games we had played the night before. As I climbed on a chair to put the games on the top shelf of the closet I felt a trickle, then a huge gush. It took me by surprise but I knew exactly what was happening.....my water had broken! I quickly called Brandon, who had only made it down the street, and told him to come home! He was as shocked as I was and Brenna and Ethan were ecstatic that Baby Eva would finally "come out of mommy's tummy". Brandon's grandma and sister were so kind to watch the kids while we dashed off to the hospital. We were so excited knowing that our little princess would be born that day. I was having some small contractions but nothing serious. We got set-up at the hospital and just waited. The contractions were getting stronger but after about 2 hours they just stopped completely. Because my water had broke, they wanted the baby to be born within 24 hours so they had to induce me. I was trying to avoid the dreaded Pitocin needed to induce my labor. I've had to be induced with all 3 of my labors and it is not fun! Within an hour of receiving the Pitocin, my contractions began to intensify. I labored (without an epidural) for the next 5 hours. Brandon was by my side the entire time. He is an awesome coach--massaging me and reminding me to relax. I also had my mom, mother-in-law and sister-in-law in the room and they were massaging and helping me too. This being my 3rd delivery, I was hoping for a quick and easy labor. My wish did not come true....this was my hardest labor! I was not dilating completely because of the position of the baby's head (she was posterior or facing sideways). My labor was intense and I should have been dilated to 10cm but I was stuck at 8cm. The doctor was getting concerned because the baby was in distress (due to the cord around her neck) and I was not progressing. He began talking about a c-section or an epidural to help me relax. I didn't want either but, at that point, I was willing to do anything to get the baby out. I feel so blessed to have an amazing doctor who made smart decisions and helped me through the delivery. He felt that, even though I was only dilated to 8cm, my cervix was soft enough and I could push her through. He stretched my cervix (TMI, I know) and I pushed about 3 times and she was out, although the doctor had to cut the cord from her neck before I pushed her out completely. We were all so nervous when she came out pale and not breathing. It took a while (like an eternity to me) before she finally cried. What a relief! She was absolutely gorgeous! She has been an angel ever since. She hardly cries at all. The kids were beyond excited so they came to the hospital only an hour after she was born to meet her.

We've known for a long time that we wanted to name our daughter Eva Mae. It is a family name on both sides. Brandon's great-grandmother's name is Eva and his grandmother's middle name is Mae. My grandfather's sister is named Eva and my great-grandmother's middle name is Mae. We just love the name! :-)

I'm so grateful for the honor and privilege I have of being a mother. It is the most amazing, wonderful, fun, important, and the hardest thing I've ever done. I feel so blessed to have 3 healthy children. They are my pride and joy!

LABOR OF LOVE


INTRODUCING OUR SWEET EVA MAE


MEETING BIG SISTER & BIG BROTHER


MEETING THE GRANDMAS & GRANDPAS


PROUD BIG SISTER & BROTHER


MOM & DAD WITH EVA