Mikelle Faith Rhoton

Mikelle was born December 23rd at 12:41 am. She weighed 6 lbs 12oz and was 17 1/2 inches long. I was hoping she was going to be here on the 22nd, but she wanted to be born on Joseph Smith's birthday.

At 3:00 I got my cerclage taken out. I had to get a spinal (it took them 3 different times to finally get me numb) and they also put in a catheter for an epidural. As soon as the doctor cut the cerclage out I dilated to 4, so I thought I was going to have her soon after, but I was wrong. It took about 7 hours to finally dilate to 6. My contractions were pretty bad so I had them add medicine to the epidural and it worked so I thought I was good to go, but when the doctor came to break my water and check my cervix, I felt it. The doctor was surprised and so was I, but he didn't act like it was a big deal. I felt tons of pressure and pain as she was dropping down. I kept telling the nurse I didn't think the epidural was working, but she just said it was normal to feel that. Finally at 12:10 I started feeling tons of pressure and feeling like I was going to die, so the nurse checked me and I was dilated to 10. I was really surprised and happy because the nurse kept saying it would be 3:00 before we had her. She had me do some practice pushes. I only did a few before she was ready to come out. So the nurse hurried and called the doctor and instead of pushing I just had to wait for the doctor to come. I actually thought I was going to die. Finally the doctor showed up and she was born about 5 minutes later...and I felt EVERYTHING! And to make it worse I tore very badly. As the doctor was sewing me up one nurse whispered, "Ouch," to the other one. So I knew it had to be bad. I was pretty angry I went through all that without an epidural even when I kept telling them it wasn't working. I was just glad to finally get her out of me! I'm so glad she's here and healthy. Everyone at the hospital was nervous about her only being 36 weeks, but she is very healthy.

We love our little girl. She hardly ever cries, only when she's gassy. She doesn't even cry when she's hungry. She just starts sucking. I can't wait to take her come to my house. By the time we finally get home it will be about 2 months since I've been there.

We took tons of pictures the last few days, so here are a few of them.

This is right before they took me to take out the cerclage


One of the times I was throwing up. Jory couldn't handle it.


At least he still likes me


Jory putting on her diaper


He's so happy!


Grandma Daley (she's trying to think of a good name for Mikelle to call her, Grandma Daley sounds old)


She was covered in the nasty white stuff because she was early


Grandpa Daley- he loves her and might not let me take her home with me


Our first family picture


They brought her in a stocking after they gave her a bath


Grandma Rhoton








Merry Christmas!