Still having 1 week and 5 days to go before my due date and adding that with the fact that Elle was 6 days late, on Tuesday, when it was icy and cold, I happily worked from home and even kept little Elle here expecting the schools and daycares to close early.
But as it seems, life had different plans for me... at 11:15 I sneezed, and heard a loud pop from my belly. It was so surprising. I sat there wondering what it could have been.
... then about 5 minutes later.... water...
Oh My - My water broke!! My heart started to pound... wait, I thought, am I sure?
Is that what it was?? Like it was possibly something else... and of course like most things, it was not like the movies or shows, as there was no need for me to scream in pain or to save Elle and our pets from drowning in my leaking water.
But, it was real... my water broke.... I looked at the time and thought 11:27am - the clock's started, knowing full well he would have to be here within 24 hours, or it was a c-section for sure. Interesting the things we think when in these types of situations.
I stood up, walked to the bedroom, now trembling in all the excitement and fear, called my perfect husband. It only took me saying, "yes I am sure", "no this is not a joke " a couple of times before he was on his way home. I then walked back to the living room and asked my Elle Bug if she was ready to meet her brother, and told her that we needed to get dressed (both still in our Jammie's). She dressed right away and I started to pack the few last things for the hospital.
As I walked around the house, cautiously, Elle would run to me and say, "Can I take my purse to meet the Baby Brother?" or "Can I where these shoes to meet Baby Brother?"..... she was so sweet and such a delight. Truly excited!
Daddy made it home despite all the ice and we headed to hospital Elle, Jay and I. We of course made it before Mimi or Grandpa, who were to watch our Elle. I changed to my gown and Elle whispered and sat quietly in the room, waiting. I really think that she thought a baby was going to brought in to us at any moment. She kept telling us all to "shhhh", nicely of course but forcing everyone to whisper.
Soon there after Julia, Grandpa and Mimi arrived, everyone went the waiting room and Jay and I started to time our now started contractions. Elle arrived within an hour of making it to the hospital, so everyone, of course expected this birth to go as fast.... and well... it wasn't. My contractions weren't severe and I was only to about 4 cm at 2:30. Things were happening but slowly. I wasn't yet mentally prepared, I thought I had time, had been sick and swollen for days and was just tired... and feeling the strain of being trapped in bed... soooo the Dr started a light dose of pitocin. This alone was always a huge fear for me, as I did not want to need pain medication. I always believed Kordell's birth would have gone better without the pain medication, and in return he would be normal... so as with Julia and Elle, I was going to have this little boy without pain relief. Everyone always told me that being induced was worse than any natural labor. And perhaps by the power of suggestion, appeared to be the case.
I spent the next 2 hours, in hard hard labor, and well just in overall pain. I know.. its called labor for a reason, but I definitely saved the hardest for last. Despite the stress and pain, I made it and birthed our perfect son Liam at 5:38pm, 100% natural. Yeah me!! Poor Jay looked wiped out and I could never ever have wished for a better man to be at my side during the birth of our child. I am so blessed. 
This year Elle is really exciting about Christmas, and the presents Santa is bringing. We tracked Santa all night online and the girls really worked hard on making him these scrumptious cookies. Mmmmmm, Santa is going to love them!Elle loves to sing and she does it all the time. Everything from Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to the Clean Up song. In fact the only other person I have known to sing as much as she does, is my nephew Christopher. Must be genetic. Personally, we like to think its because we always sing to her.
It's one of the greatest things in the world!
Adding to our adoration, our little Elle already knows her entire alphabet, and she isn't afraid to show off on camera. I filmed this tonight and just had to share. My favorite part is when she gets confused and sings the whole thing again.
This is really a great and fun age!
http://picasaweb.google.com/KrisDugan/December2008?authkey=IukSlVhsIBQ#5278234439736447330
Julia as a Hollywood Starlet and Elle Bug as a Bug Fairy
Elle at her School Halloween Party.
Julia looking way too big and pretty in her costume.
