A Night (and Morning) to Remember

This time around was similar and different to our other experiences... The biggest difference--much faster! I finished typing my Valentine Blog (I really wasn't in labor yet!) and went to bed around 10:30. I had my alarm set for work in the morning and was fully planning on going! As I was laying there trying to fall asleep I started having some small contractions. I didn't pay too much attention b/c it felt similar to what I'd been experiencing over the last few weeks. Eventually I noticed that they were continuing to come. I tried not to get too excited in case it wasn't time yet.

I tried to relax and fall asleep, but I couldn't help watching the clock. I noticed they were 4-5 minutes apart. This was really unexpected b/c my other two labors started w/ contractions that were 20-4o minutes apart. I decided to go downstairs and get my bathroom bag ready. At that point, I was pretty sure that this was the real deal, but I didn't wake Marc up yet. I wanted him to get as much sleep as he could and I wanted to try and time the contractions for an hour or so. As I was getting things ready they started coming 2-3 minutes apart. At one point Wrigley started barking and Marc got up to check. He saw me on the computer and said "What are you doing?" I answered "Not going to work today!" He replied "Really?!? In that case I'm going back to bed to try and get some more sleep."

I decided to lay back down and see if they slowed at all. When I lay down in bed they slowed to about 5 minutes, but became pretty painful. By 2:30 I was waking Marc up and ready to get going! I didn't think I could last until 5 or 6 to wake the kids up, so we called our sitter and she came over to stay with them until morning. By 4:00 we were out the door to the hospital.

We had to enter through the emergency room; therefore, I had to be escorted up in a wheelchair, which I thought was ridiculous (the lady did ask us if it was our 1st.) When we got up to L&D we found out they were pretty busy. They put us right into a delivery room and once I got checked found out I was almost a 7. After that I had to negotiate with my nurse to put my regular clothes back on to walk around (she ended up letting me!) We walked for awhile and then I sat on the ball (I was predicting 8:30--9:00 baby would be here). By 6 I was ready to get in the jacuzzi tub--my favorite part!
This was my last pregnant picture--just a few hours before meeting my baby girl!
I stayed in the tub for at least an hour and could tell that I was fully dialated. At that point I changed my time prediction to 7:30--8:00. I didn't want to get out of the tub because I was dreading the next part... Really REALLY dreading it! I got out and asked my nurse if I could walk a little more, she said yes, but told me not to have the baby in the hallway! Walking was pretty painful at that point, so I sat on the ball some more.

Finally I agreed to get ready to push. My nurse said I was very ready to go, but I had a hard time motivating myself (even though I REALLY wanted to know if it was a boy or girl. Dr. Tieman and my nurse were both very calm and patient as I sat in bed for 30 minutes breathing through all of my contractions. (Dr. Tieman was crocheting a hat.) Finally I decided to try a push. My first push broke my water and it shot across the room. I remembered looking at the clock--it was 8:36 and I was really hoping the baby would be here well before 9! I breathed through a few more contractions and then finally decided to push this baby out. I once again did not get to be one of these women who push their babies out in 2 or 3 pushes, but it wasn't too long. When I could feel the head coming out, I reached down to touch it and I could feel my whole baby turn toward my touch--it was pretty cool. Dr. Tieman said "She's looking for you!" Once her head was out I was thinking I was pretty much done and I was surprised at how hard I had to push to get her shoulders out. Our Dr. held her up right away for me to look and I smiled at Marc and said "It's a girl!" (8:44) I was very relieved it was done and super excited to snuggle my little girl!

I looked at Marc and said "Is her name Macey?" He shook his head yes and we had a bit more discussion on the middle name...

I held her for awhile, but was also eager for them to weigh her because she was the hardest to push out. The nurse picked her up and guessed 7lb. 4 oz.--she put her on the scale and laughed saying "I was only off a pound!"

Macey was very quiet when she came out (just like her big sister.) She snuggled on my chest. When they took her to get weighed and measured she decided to test out her lungs!

Marc got to hold her and then she nursed for awhile. At this point I was beginning to realize that I was exhausted and very hungry, I was also ready to get cleaned up! I ate some breakfast in the delivery room while I was nursing Macey. Once they took her for her bath, I was really ready to get to my regular room. As soon as I got there I kept bugging Marc, "Go get Macey. Will you please go check if she's done yet. I'm ready to see her again!"

My little princess... I am so thankful that God allowed me to have this amazing experience three times! Sadie loves hearing her birth story (as well as Kinnick's and now Macey's!) I am looking forward to sharing Macey's story with her!

Our Adventure

I have been wanting to write more about our experience ever since we got home from the hospital... (For those of you who don't want to read it all--skip to the pictures.) Now that I've had some more time to reflect, I'm glad that I didn't write this post sooner. With Sadie's birth I was able to immediately embrace my experience--I even remember telling Marc (right after it happened) that I knew without a doubt that I wanted to experience this again. This time around it took me several days to develop these positive feelings. I told Marc yesterday that I'm up for the challenge again. (Not for awhile however!)

One comment that I heard many times as I was pregnant is that "No two pregnancies are the same." I really understand that now! I was very prepared to have Kinnick early (2 weeks-like Sadie) and that certainly didn't happen. With Sadie it was just time to go to the hospital, there was no waiting, wondering, or second guessing. With Kinnick I thought so many times "Maybe tonight..." and then the morning would come. Even on the day of his birth I debated until the last minute if I should go to work or not. I kept thinking that if I stayed home he wouldn't come. I am however, very glad I did stay home! The morning of his birth was so nice--Marc and I let Sadie sleep in and after we dropped her off at the sitter's we went out for breakfast. Next we went grocery shopping and ran errands. We couldn't remember the last time we ran errands without Sadie and didn't feel rushed! When we finally got home I took Wrigley for a long walk (something else I hadn't done for a while). Marc made lunch for us and we sat down to watch TV. I finally decided it was time to go to the hospital but I wanted to finish cleaning first. I mopped the kitchen and Marc vacumed and mopped the wood floors.

My friend Liz works at the hospital and she was there waiting when Marc and I arrived. The nurses were expecting me b/c I had talked to my Dr. on the phone earlier in the day--they already had a birthing room ready for us! Although it seemed MUCH longer, it was only 3 1/2 hours of time at the hospital before Kinnick was born. This labor was much more intense then Sadie's. My favorite part was sitting in the whirlpool bath (I was looking forward to this before we even got to the hospital!) I layed there in my swimsuit sipping gatoraid through a straw--I told Marc "I'm pretending I'm on the beach..."

After the whirlpool, I bounced on a ball and Marc and I played war (we never finished our game, but my Dr. told Marc he was not allowed to win.) I remember at one point looking up at Marc and saying "We'll get to hear him cry soon..." That thought helped get me through the rest! When it was time to push, I really didn't think I could do it, I just kept telling myself it was almost over. Next of course--the best part of all, holding him in my arms--when I made it to that point I knew that nothing else mattered. Kinnick had arrived, he was perfect--the only thing missing was big sister. She got to come meet him for a few minutes that night. Tuesday, November 25th, 2008 is a day that I will always treasure!

Now for the pictures... We're off to the hospital!

Kinnick's debut--he came out screaming!

Marc cutting the cord...

Getting weighed & measured (an hour later!)

Sadie's 1st kiss!

After his bath (late Tuesday night)--I love his chubby cheeks in this pic!

Wednesday afternoon--Sadie comes for a visit. We got her a little baby doll stroller and she pushed up & down the hallway many times!

The nurses had fun doing his hair!

Our precious baby boy.

Mommy's little guy.