This is just the beginning of all the pictures!

So who do you think she looks like?

Ellianna Jean is here!

Thursday afternoon the doctor said, "yep, no progression Mrs. Buchta. All is well." Benjamin was not supposed to fly that night, but he had to for extenuating circumstances. After the doctor appointment and also after Ben had taken off for the evening flight, I had some random contractions that didn't seem out of the ordinary or important. I laid down to go to sleep at 1130 and the contractions started to feel very intense, and as I stood up to go to the bathroom I felt a gush of water. I called my person for the week, Aubrey (the wife of one of Ben's fellow workers), and told her what happened and asked her to meet me at the hospital. Meanwhile, the evening flight just landed. As Benjamin climbed in the van he got the message, "your wife's water just broke", he called back and told me he was going to be driven back to Valdsota and would leave within 30 minutes. I drove myself to the hospital after throwing bags in the car, feeding the dogs, and putting a towel down on the front seat. I was checked into a bed at 1245am, and the contractions were very intense/painful around 1am. As I dialated from 2.5cm to 8cm, without knowing such progress, Ben was about 5 hours from arriving. The contractions became unbearable and close together so I couldn't really stay on top of them, so the nurse came in to check me to see if I was ready for an epidural. This was before 3am and she said, "you won't be having an epidural because she'll be here within the hour." Aubrey called Ben to update him and by 3am I started to push. Ellianna came into the cold and bright world at 0347 September 28 2007. She was a little out of it at first and has slept 97% of her life. Ben was driven by a friend through the entire night, he arrived at 630am in a flight suit to meet his daughter for the first time.
As far as the rest of the hospital visit goes we caught up on sleep and practiced breastfeeding. And ate some Zaxby's. We just got home this afternoon, so stay tuned for details of life at home with little Ellianna.
Love,
The Three Buchta's
(plus two doggies)

A season change is due

3 weeks, 4 days and counting... You know for how much waiting around I'm doing time sure seems to be flying! I can't believe September is going to be over soon! I'm dialated a few cms and 70% effaced and she's way down there (reminding me everyday where she is). Doc says I could have her in the next 2 weeks if I keep progressing! But as we all know from our own story or someone we know, the first stage of progression usually stalls untill you're overdue. I'm at complete peace with the whole thing though. Ben is out of town all next week (last week of September), the soonest he could be home if I go into labor is like 5 hours. So that's a little nervewracking. He's been staying very bust at work as the scheduler for the squadron. He has a very important and everchanging job. The wives from the squadron threw me a most unexpected and very sweet shower yesterday...we are truely surrounded by some really great people.
Family arrives October 8th and we really want everyone to be here when she's born. But the Lord knows when she's ready and all the details that surround that day. Untill then it's just sitting on the couch, cleaning when I have bursts of energy, hanging out with friends from church and walking the dogs every morning. Today there was this amazing breeze telling us that fall is near. Doesn't beat fall in the Evergreen State though or Kenosha Pass when the aspens turn. Nothing here beats anything in either of those places...except my little family that is springing up here. Nothing can, nor ever will replace that. I live a priceless and most blessed life and I have a feeling it's about to get better. Stay tuned to see what happens next in this about to be very eventful little life of mine...

Welcome!!

Hey everyone!
I copied this idea from some friends in WA (thanks Josh and Sarah). Since we're so many miles away from everyone and time zones conflict with phone dates we thought we'd get a page of updates going so you all can check in on us and what the latest is. So far most of you know I'm pregnant...34 weeks tomorow! We're having a little girl and her name will be Ellianna (Ellie) Jean! The pregnancy has been pretty smooth sailing thus far. Just some of the usual, swollen feet, sore back, the exhaustion is back, growing belly. Um that's about it. The Lord has blessed me indeed. But I am so ready to not only not be pregnant anymore but just to meet our little one. The nursery is ready, the house is clean, the bags are packed, family trips are booked and it's not getting any cooler here!!!! We're ready!