My little Lily...

Lily Ann and her daddy in the hospital just after her birth

One of Lily's many expressions

Lily and her mommy taking it easy

Our happy family (not pictured: Jack and the kitten)

Welcome to the world, Lily Ann...

I did it! On September 13, 2005, with the help of one excited daddy, and a few dozen doctors and nurses, I successfully brought the most beautiful baby girl into the world. Lily Ann McDonald was born at 7:22 PM, weighing 6 pounds and 8 ounces, and measuring 19 inches.

Our adventure into parenthood began on Monday, when Doctor Green called and asked if we would like to make an appointment to induce labor the next morning at 10 am. Since I was almost a week overdue, and ready to hold my little girl in my arms rather than my tummy, we nervously accepted the appointment. We were told to spend the rest Monday getting rest…instead we went to McDonalds for some healthy eating, and rented a couple of movies - we decided to spend one last night just enjoying each other’s company before our life changed forever.

We arose the next morning, and made our way to Columbia Regional Hospital. We arrived at the Family Birthing Center just after 10, where we checked in and were settled into a delivery room. I then changed into a gown, and was soon hooked up to two monitors – one measured my contractions, and the other monitored the baby’s heart rate. We soon found out that I (completely unaware) was already having contractions, though they weren’t quite strong enough to make baby come out. Aaron and I spent the next couple of hours relaxing, watching TV, and coloring while a team of doctors and nurses closely watched the baby and me. Around 1, they finally decided to administer Patocin through my IV, which would make my contractions become stronger, and hopefully help the baby begin to make her way out. The next couple of hours were spent watching a movie, while my contractions began to get stronger. Then around 4, the real pain began – the doctors decided that it was time to break my water. As soon as my water was broken, my contractions became extremely strong, and were coming every 2 minutes. It was not much later that I told Aaron that it was time for an epideral. He called the nurse, who called the anesthesiologist, who came and eased my pain. I spent the next 2 hours having contractions (nicely lightened by the medicine running through the tube in my back), talking with Aaron, watching TV, and waiting for my little girl to make her way out. Suddenly, around 7, the nurse announced that it was time to start pushing – my baby was ready to come out. The next 22 minutes were spent bearing down, blacking out, and pushing…it was a repetitive process, that became increasingly difficult as the baby made her way closer to my arms. Finally, at 7:22, Lily Ann McDonald graced us with her presence. After she was cleaned out and up, and after I was stitched back together, I was able to hold my daughter. I have been living on cloud nine since that very moment.

My parents and my grandma had just arrived at the hospital when Lily was born, and they were able to come and meet their granddaughter mere moments after she was born. We spent the next hour together expressing our joy, and gushing over precious, perfect, Lily Ann. They then took Lily to the nursery, and mom, dad, grandma, and Aaron were able to watch through the window as she was poked, probed, and tested for every sickness known to man. While they did that, I was prepared for my move to a new room.

We all made our way to room 3306, where they soon brought me my daughter, and I was able to examine her perfect inch by perfect inch. Lily has dark brown hair with blond highlights, and big, gorgeous, blue eyes. She has her mommy’s round face, her daddy’s feet and hands, and her own perfectly tiny body.

Lily has been a joy - I keep asking myself how God could bless me with such a pleasant, sweet, perfect child. I thank him for her every time I look at her and think of her. I couldn't have asked for anything better than my darling Lily Ann. She is truly the child that every mother dreams of...and for some reason, God gave her to me.

September 13, 2005...

The sun'll come out, tomorrow! Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there'll be sun...

Tomorrow (Tuesday) morning at 10am Aaron and I will be checking into Columbia Regional Hospital, where hours later (hopefully not too many hours) we will meet our daughter for the first time. We welcome anyone who would like to visit to do so, though it would be better to wait until Wednesday...she probably won't be born until late tomorrow anyways. Please keep Aaron and I (and our little one) in your prayers!

No, not yet...

I have been holding off on updating my blog/xanga sites until after the baby came, but she is taking a little longer than expected. I was due Wednesday (Sept. 7), and it is now Sunday (Sept. 11). I have been dilated to two centimeters for quite some time now, and as of my doctor's appointment last Tuesday I was still at two centimeters. At that appointment, Dr. Green told me that if the baby doesn't come out on her own by my next appointment (Tuesday, Sept. 13) they will schedule to induce. So, in less than a week, Baby McDonald will be here! In the words of Aaron, "Holy crap!"

Unable to put it off any longer, Aaron and I traveled to our local Wal*Mart a couple of weeks ago and purchased a crib, which happened to come with a matching changing table and dresser. We promptly took our new baby furniture home, and spent the next three hours setting it up. The baby room is finally starting to look like a baby room! Just in time...

I have come to realize that I somehow failed to mention my little brother's entrance into the army last month. On August 9th, Private First Class Chris Beaverson left for Fort Benning, Georgia, where he soon began his basic training. Basic will last six weeks, and he goes straight from there on to more training. He will be training to be in the Army Special Forces, an elite group of soldiers, to say the least. His total training will last about eighteen months, and he is committed to Army service for the next six years. It has been hard for my family to see him go, and we are ecstatic when we receive a letter or phone call from him. He sends my parents letters quite often, and he even sent his sister and brother-in-law a letter! We did find out recently that Chris gets to come home for Christmas for two weeks, so we're all pretty excited…it will be the first time that he meets his new niece! Please keep Chris in your prayers as he goes through his training.

Please pray for our growing family's financial situation. In order to pay our rent this month, we may be putting ourselves on a strict peanut-butter sandwich and Mac-n-Cheese diet...which doesn't sound so bad right now. Please also pray for our health...Aaron and I have both been sick for the past two weeks, and we've been working hard to get the germs out of our bodies and home before the baby comes. Above all, please pray for the safe arrival of our little girl.
I will do my very best to update my blog/xanga soon after Baby McDonald is born. I'll at least take the time to display a picture or two for all to see! Until then, God bless!

PS Do you remember where you were on September 11, 2001? I will never forget...it was my last semester of high school, and I was in honors debate with my good friend, Meghan Walter. We watched with our mouths hanging open as the second plane hit the tower, and as the building collapsed. What a day...