Monday, November 22nd, I had an appointment to see the "high risk" doctor from Pensacola to see if he thought I was doing okay or if I should be induced. He determined that with my blood pressure that I was needing to be induced that afternoon. He wanted me to go to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where he had a say and could "make them" induce me but we wanted to stay in town at the local hospital. We took all of my paperwork, and his recommendation to our local hospital saying that he wanted me to be induced. They told me that they would run separate tests and determine for themselves if I needed to be induced or not. We decided to instead go to Pensacola hospital and not be strapped with a huge bill for just tests.

I had my friend, Zulma take me to the hospital as I told Shannon to stay at work and not bother coming until I knew what was going to happen for sure. We got to the hospital around 5:30pm and I was sent to have tests run. By 11pm, they had run a bunch of tests that all came back "normal", they felt that there was no reason to induce me. The doctor who originally sent me to be induced was no longer on call so he wasn't there to explain as to why I needed to have my baby. In the time I was there, I had effaced a little bit so we thought it would be great if I just went into labor then. The doctor wanted to have me spend the night to run more tests. Shannon put his foot down. We didn't have the money for just tests. We couldn't afford coming back to the hospital every day for tests. Since I had effaced a little, Shannon requested that we stay for another half hour to see I would progress any more and if not, we'd go home. With Jehovah's divine intervention, the doctor who had wanted me induced was finally reached and he was able to explain to them as to why he wanted my baby out. Since our area does not have the facilities to manage and regulate my blood pressure, he felt it would be safer for both Lani and I if she was born.

By midnight, I was being induced. I was already at 1cm when we got there and progressed to 2 cm on my own. They then inflated this balloon-thing in my cervix to make me dilate more. OUCH!!! They told me that it's one of the most painful procedures! I believe it. By 2 1/2 cm (and had labored for 6 hours), I asked for drugs. Within seconds of getting medication, I was knocked out. I slept from 2-5 cm and didn't feel a thing. When I woke up, I was able to get my epidural (wonder drug). After 16 hours of labor, Leilani Rochelle Merritt was born at 4pm (on the dot), weighing 7 lbs, 1oz and was 20 1/4 inches long. My blood pressure and temperature were too high and Leilani's heartbeat was irregular so they pulled her out with force grips and I had an episiotomy. Thankfully, I only had to push for 4 contractions, for a total of about 15 minutes! WAHOO!

I had been having contractions for a few days but nothing very consistant so I was getting antsy and frustrated. Friday, February 16th, arond noon my contractions started coming on very strong and relentless. At 1pm I started to time them and they were coming at 3 minutes apart and stayed consistant. Shannon was home for lunch at the time along with our good friends Isaac and Monica. Shannon had to run back to the job site he was on to clean up and so forth and I had Monica drive me to the hospital. Thankfully, our friend Erika was watching Leilani at the time so we didn't have to worry about her.

We arrived at the hospital right around 2pm and I was at 3cm dialated. My contractions were coming very strong and right on top of eachother so I was given a drug called Nubain to take the edge off the contractions. It made me loopy and helped but I was definatly still in pain. It was so much fun having Monica with me because she has a fear of needles and pain so I was able to laugh and joke with her and able to take some of m focus off the pain I was experiencing. Shannon arrived very soon afterwards. I was checked again at 3pm and had progressed to 5cm dialated! The anestesiologist was called for my epidural but he was in surgery and I had to wait. Since I was progressing so fast, I just barely was able to get it.

The next time I was checked, I had progressed to 6cm, and a little after 4:30 I was at 10cm! My doctor wasn't there yet so I was instructed not to push which is SO much harder to do than actualy pushing. My body really wanted him out. He was finally born at 4:53pm with 3 pushes within one contraction. I tore slightly and needed a couple stitches but nothing major. It was all so fast and unreal to me. I couldn't believe he had arrived so quickly! Excitedly, we called everyone we could to share the good news. Erika arrived with Leilani just 10 minutes after he was born. She simply stared at him and drank her juice, not really sure of what to think.

It was one of the greatest experiences in my life and if I had to do it all over again, I would want nothing to change. Now we are blessed with this beautiful miracle and joy.