Birth Story

Doug took the kids to go look at yard sales. So instead of cleaning, I am going to do this :) I had an appointment on Wednesday morning and found I was 4cm dilated, 90% effaced and -1 station. They asked if I wanted to have my membranes stripped on the next appointment but I declined because I have heard it is very painful and not a guarantee. I still felt it was going to be a while. That morning I threw up and felt nauseated most of the day. After we got the kids to bed, I started cramping around 8:30. I honestly just thought I was getting sick. Anyway, they started hurting more than I thought they should so we started timing them. Lo and behold, every 2 minutes. By the time we found someone to watch the kids and head out, it was 10 o'clock before we made it to the hospital. They checked me and I was still the same that I was that morning. I was dissapointed. I figured they were going to send me home again. But they said since I was contracting that frequently, they wouldn't send me home and if I didn't start making progress they would break my water. I wanted to do this whole thing completely naturally so I was a little frustrated about that. After about 45 minutes of contractions, I asked them to check me again. I was not handling the contractions as well as i thought I was going to, and wanted to make sure they were doing something now. I was at a 6, and was very discouraged. I know now that that is not bad progress for 45 minutes, but in the moment I could not see it. Anyway, after a few more contractions I begged Doug for an epidural. He knew I wanted to try it naturally and was torn between helping me do what I wanted to do and what he knew would help. The nurse who had been helping me said that she would check me again just to make sure. I was at a 9. I said, "Oh crap." The midwife said "What?" I said, "Now I have to do this naturally." She said, " I thought that was the plan all along." Haha, I didn't think that was funny. I started pushing and my water broke. There was meconium in her bag and they wanted me to push on the bed. At this point I was standing next to the bed. I tried to get up onto the bed but it hurt way more, so I said sorry not happening. And they started to put towels down on the ground. Yup, I was that earthy chic. I pushed again and felt that ring of fire sensation they talk about but it felt wonderful to push. Two pushes later she was out and I had delivered my baby next to the bed. The best part was that I didn't tear or get an episiotomy. Recovery was a breeze. She was born at 11:06 pm and was 7lbs 2 oz and 18 1/2 inches long. She is so little. It is wonderful! I'm sure that had a lot to do with not tearing, too. She, like her siblings before her, had some wheezing when she was born and spend an hour in the special care nursery. The meconium turned out not to be a problem, thank goodness. No, we do not have a name. Yes, we know that makes us bad parents. I have never actually left the hospital without a name before. I forgot the wonder that is babies. I love everything about her. I love her smell. I love every sound she makes. I love cuddling her. I could watch her for hours and wish sometimes that she was my first again so that I can actually do that. My kids are doing great with her. I told Doug we should have 8 more of them and I honestly wasn't kidding at the moment. There is something magical about babies. Anyway, here are some pictures


Here she is with her proud big sister who loves to hold her as long as she isn't crying


Can't get enough of her baby sister


Here is the proud big brother



My sister Nicole who was a pro with her. Cami, on the other hand, much prefers older kids. They both came to visit me while at the hospital and it was great. This is the first baby I have had surrounded by so much family and it has been wonderful to share the joy with everyone


Here's the angry newborn picture! The hospital has a lojack system for the babies. Step past a certain area and a huge alarm sounds. It was pretty interesting. Anyway, name coming soon. We are almost there!

As much as you'll get for the moment

Go to HospitalPortraits.com and search April 29, 2009. Ours is the one that says Baby Girl B. No, she still does not have a name.....But isn't she precious? More later

Not a birth post....

I know you guys are getting excited, but we did not have a baby yet. Somehow I do not think I'm going to have this baby until my due date, May 8th. I have had some contractions and some cramping, but not enough of either of them.



We had our monthly get together with Doug's side of the family today. I forget how much fun they are until we have them. Charlotte ran around with her cousins all evening. When the kids were getting ready to leave, Charlotte's cousin Lizzie (who is all of 5 years old) grabbed Charlotte's cheeks, pulled her really close and said "Just follow your dreams." Not just once, but at least three times she grabbed Charlotte to tell her that. When they actually left Charlotte came sobbing downstairs because her friends had left. She is lucky to have such wonderful cousins.






Here is Charlotte being Mom coming home from an appointment while chatting on her phone



We could not find another cell phone so I was very lucky that Ben preferred a plastic snack bag for his phone.

We got Ben a scooter at a yard sale this week and he cannot get enough of it. Anytime anyone comes over he says I show you my scooter. You come see my scooter and he will bring it right to the window. We got it at our first yard sale and every stop after that we had to take it out of the trunk and and scoot around. It's good when you get a kid a toy and they actually enjoy it. Especially when it only costs $3!

Update

Went to the dr today. Had high blood pressure, 140/something but I think it had more to do with the fact that I waited for an hour before I got in than anything else. I am 3cm dilated, 80% effaced and -1 station. As I am leaving she says you can make an appointment for next week but I doubt you'll need it. I don't think they realize they curse me when they say that. I will, of course, now make it to my next appt. Oh well. Feeling pretty good. I will be 38 weeks on Friday. We had some friends come over and play today and the kids had such a good time. We had so much fun with Kelly and her kids. Took the kids swimming the other day, I could not believe how much fun they had. But I didn't bring the camera because I was sure I would have dropped it.

Pictures

Charlotte is 4 now, though she's so mature that it doesn't seem like such a big deal that she is finally older. Here is a fun picture of her running around. She now loves to wear dresses and I love that she loves it. She had a great birthday. We had the usual family party on her birthday and then on the Monday following we went to the bounce house with her good friend Nicole.
That is a great example of Ben's smile. Anyway, they were all excited to be there.





They had a great time together and I was glad it was just one more kid that came with us.


after the 12th snowy day in a row (yes, I'm exaggerating) we decided to bust out the swimsuits and blow up pool. The kids had a blast.



This is Collin with her babies. It is crazy how instinctual they are with their mothering. Ben is really good with them. He will stand right by her box and say, I no touch your babies Collin. I no touch your babies. He is fascinated by them. She had three, though one is very much the runt. We hope she will make it.


I cannot find my Easter pictures and I'm rather concerned. Oh well, another day. The kids had a great Easter and I love that they are not old enough to expect certain things or think they are not getting enough.

Cerclage

Ok, so I am cerclage free. This was by far the easiest removal, though I'm sure it has to do with the fact that this one was not embedded in my cervix and I was not contracting. Doug missed this one by about 10 minutes. Nothing exciting on the baby front though, I am a fingertip dilated (can't remember if that even counts as 1cm) and at -2 station. When my cerclage came out with Ben I was +1 and 3 cm so this could take a while. Anyway, that's my update!

First time for everything

Not the best picture or anything but I figured you guys would bear with me! This was just a few weeks ago



And this a cute picture of my sister and Charlotte. Charlotte cannot get enough of her. She'd kill me if she knew that I was posting this. Good thing she's not a blogger


I will be 36 weeks tomorrow so today we got the hospital bag packed and pulled out the baby clothes and set up the crib. I've been realizing this is the first pregnancy since losing Evelyn that I've actually been able to be excited about. We were terrified with Charlotte that we were going to lose her the entire time and could never be truly excited. With Ben, we had Charlotte and were worried that this new baby would take away the love and attention we could give to her. Plus, we were on bedrest with him too, so there was always that fear that something would go wrong. I have been blessed to have no bedrest with this baby and hardly any problems. I actually am excited to have a baby. I went through those clothes today and thought all about the happy memories we have of Charlotte in those clothes and the good memories we will make with this baby. I honestly can't remember if I've mentioned it, but it's a girl! I will not name names as to who blew it. But no one gets to know next time!

We have taken in a few stray cats, why I do not know. But it is what it is. One of them who was named Colin ended up pregnant. We have yet to switch the name. She had her babies this morning and I can't believe how excited I am to have kittens. Also, it has helped to get me thinking about the fact that we are actually going to have a baby soon. My cerclage removal is scheduled for Tuesday but I am going to try and reschedule because Doug has a dr's appt that he can't reschedule. Charlotte had a birthday and we went to the zoo and the bounce house and I promise to blog about all that soon. But tonight I am finishing a movie! Hopefully getting ready for the baby does not mean that she will grace us with her presence soon.