Birth of Nathan

It really is something how every birth experience is different.

I had a lot of contractions for a few days.  One an hour and occasionally, every 20 minutes.  Early Sunday (November 17) morning, the contractions were every 6-8 minutes.  My OB had said once things had gotten regular not to wait to go in.  So I decided to get moving.  I was going off my previous birth experiences, when active labor had started with them they were fast. (Read Liam here and Miriam here) So Bill and I got the kids in the car, dropped them off at Brenda and Joes and headed into the hospital at about 4am.

Everything was so layed back.   Since my contractions were not particularly painful, just a bit of pressure, we were able to check in slowly. I was about 5cm dilated.  Once we got down to my room we got the IV started and my blood work off and I knew within an hour I could get an epidural.  Which was crazy to me, because I didn't feel like I needed it yet.  But, we were still expecting my labor to pick up all of a sudden, and I didn't want a crazy painful birth expereince either, so we went ahead with it. 

It took effect and we tried to rest.  I don't remember sleeping much.  At about 10 am they wanted to break my water, because my contractions were still about 5 minutes apart and I hadn't really made any progress.  I was a little nervous, but at 11 am I let them do it.  It made my contractions come more frequently, and I progressed to 7cm.   Also in this time we kept calling the anesthesiologist back down because my pain level kept going back up.   I was poked a prodded a lot as she tried to tell what was working and what wasn't.  I had pain meds pumped into me a couple different times.  It would take the edge off for a while (I got a 20 minute nap!) and then I would start to feel them again.

I don't remember what time it was that I was checked again and was still 7cm.  No progess.  I was afraid of this senario too.  What if I didn't progress? They started me a on a little pitocin at some point (another thing I was not very fond of).   The nurses were wondering if he was "sunny-side" up, or just positioned badly.   I'm thinking it was probably close to 3pm that we rolled me on my side and put this pillow thing my nurse called a peanut in between my legs, trying to encourage baby to move.  Soon enough, we could tell that he moved out of my right side into a more central position.

All of a sudden I felt what seemed like a really forceful kick (exactly the same thing that woke me up in labor with Miriam) and I had a contraction that was considerably more painful.  They had just given me a dumbed down version of the stuff they give people having C-sections, but it did not work!  My contractions got really hard.  I was pretty much hanging onto my husbands hands/arms  trying to breathe through contractions.  It was hard work!  I was sweating up a storm.  I really can't even begin to describe how difficult it was to work through those contractions.  I felt them in all their horrible glory.  I made Bill stand/lean just so the whole time.  He and all the nurses were very supportive, that much I know, but everything they said was sort of in the background.  I was also vaguely aware of all the activity going on in my room as everyone (I was the only gal on the delivery floor) was getting ready to deliver the baby.  The time in between contractions was a wonderful rest time.

Finally time to push the baby out!  I pushed through one contraction and had a rest, but I could tell baby Nathan was right there, ready to be born.  My doctor said, lets push him out on the next one.  I think I said  "Okay."  And I did! One benefit to that was being able to tell just how much farther we had to go and just pushing that baby out! They say he jumped out of there.  Amazing how as soon as he was born, all the horrible pain was gone! He had a great healthy set of lungs! They let him rest on my chest for a good long while.  Daddy cut his ambilical cord.

I guess it's true about the rush you get right after, because I really felt good!  We had his name picked out and written on the white board in the room.  Nathan Eisen was 6lb 14oz, 20 inches long, born at 3.55 pm.
My sister in law had reminded me many days before that it was all part of his story.  He is already his own person with his own little history.  We made it and he was healthy. 

*Part 2, recovery story coming soon!

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I don't have enough

Yay, our baby is here!  He's got a story all his own for me to write another day.  He is doing well, except yellow with jaundice.  His siblings love him and try to be helpful with him.  I am adjusting and really wishing I could take more time off work then I am going to get.

With this first week of being home, I realized pretty quickly that I don't have enough. 

I don't have enough arms and hands.

I don't have enough hours in the day.

I don't have enough sleep.

I don't have enough patience.

I don't have enough composure.

If I were to analyze things in this way, I would find that I am lacking in just about every way.

The only thing I currently have is plenty of room in my heart.  That will have to be enough to make up what I do not have.

Pregnancy Update

November 15!  Only 15 days away from my due date.  Yesterday at my Dr. appointment he told me that I was 3 or possibly 4 cm dilated.  Still only maybe half the way effaced etc.

It creeped me out a little.  I've been having a difficult time with birth anxiety.  My random boughts of anxiety that I get normally with pregnancy have pretty much all centered on birth in the last couple weeks.  I went to Facebook and asked my friends (many of whom I know deal with more severe and more debilitating anxiety then I ever have) what they do.  Bless all of them for being so honest, forthcoming, willing to share and praying.  I almost feel like I don't deserve it, getting anxiety about (mostly) birth.  I mean really. 

Last night I woke up with some more painful contractions, but only 15-20 minutes apart for maybe 2 hours.  Then I was able to go back to sleep.  Interestingly, I feel a little better this morning.  Once of my friends was absolutely right.  Sleep helps preggo anxiety a lot.  Its not gone.  But the light is coming out and I do feel slightly better.

Dr. said that if I started having regular contractions not to hang around the house.  But we knew that!  He also told me, that at or after 39 weeks (so next friday or saturday), if I wanted, I could be induced.  He said, I bet we break your water, use a little Pitocin and you would have a baby in a few hours.  Since that describes Liams birth almost to a T (except I refused to let them break my water), I know he is right!

One thing I have noticed that is different this pregnancy is my lack of pregnancy "arthritis".  Both with Miriam and Liam I would wake up with sore still fingers in the morning.  I don't have it this time.  I keep asking about my blood pressure because with Liam that is why I was induced.  But it's normal.  Crazy how each time is a little different!

I look at my little monsters and I know that it is worth it.  I was so freaked out about being induced with Liam, but I remember looking at him right after he was born and being in love with him right away.  

These are my daughters drawings of our family.  I feel like she started drawing pictures overnight.  It's one of those things that makes me happy in the morning getting ready for work. 

Speaking of...time to go

Baby Shower #2

 Wow!  How is it that on my third baby I got multiple showers?  It might have been on account of my mother in law, who really isn't able to travel, but still.  Really nice of my sister in law and mother in laws friend Barb.
I have lots of other pictures from my other shower and things like Miriams armor to put up, but these were copied and pasted from Facebook and somehow that is easier then locating my camera right now!

 This bug was made by cousin Whitney out of the fuzzy pipe cleaner like things that were wrapping the prize gifts.  I might hang it in the babies room.

 Kids chowing down on some cake

 The cake before it was destroyed

 All the littles at the party.  6, 5, 4 (almost) 3 and 2.  haha

 Mommy with kiddos

Me at the table before it was taken over.

It was a nice shower.  Thanks guys!

I love a long weekend! Ups and Downs

Oh the last couple days.

Sunday, Miriam woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

Bills mom had these muscle spasms that eventually landed her an ambulance trip to the ER (since she isn't ambulatory, it was the better option then trying to get her in and out of the car.  twice.).  It was hard for Bill.   He went with this dad to the hospital to be with his mom until things settled down.
              *on a side note, all those people that tried to encourage me to do nursing when I was going through some of my college crises.  I think I chose the right thing by NOT doing that.*
Missed my aunt and two uncles visiting in Spokane, which was fine, we needed to stay longer in Tri Cities but I was still bummed about it!

Monday morning, Liam cut himself with a pair of sissors.  Honestly, as silly as this may be, it made my whole day hard.  I felt bad about it.  He cut himself pretty good.  He's going to be okay and all that.

Birth anxiety!  I follow this Facebook page called Birth Without Fear.  There are some amazing stories on there.  Really.  But I've decided Birth without fear for me, right now = doing the best I can until I can get my darn epideral.  I also remind myself about having anxiety before.  The truth is, once you are in labor, there is no room for anxiety.  So that's good. 

Leg cramps that make it so I can't walk around!  They only happen when I am standing or walking (thank goodness).  They are starting to get pretty painful.

Tuesday.  Back to work.  

Trying to turn this around a bit.

Saturday.  I had a nice baby shower with (mostly) family.  We had a good time (sorry still have to unload pictures).  I also took a nap in the afternoon.  Liam fell asleep on my legs.  Miriam got to play with Grandpa.

Sunday (before the chaos)  I got to play bubbles with my kids outside.  Can I just say my daughter really is ingenuitive?  We had no bubbles so she made some and found a straw cap with a small hole to use as a bubble blower.  And it worked.

Monday, breakfast with my Veteran, who let me lay down for an hour or so.  Running some fun errands.  Spending time at my friends house.  We made bean bags for the birthday party this Friday.  I enjoy being crafty, even if it is cutting and filling bean bags. 

Tuesday.  Back to work. 

Kindergarden Halloween Songs

Miriam came home from Kindergarden with some little songs and rhymes this season

To the tune of I'm a little Teapot:

I'm a little pumpkin, Orange and Round
Here is my stem.  I grew in the ground.
When I get all cut up don't you frown (or shout)
Just open me up and scoop me out!


5 Little Pumpkins sitting on a gate
The first one said, "Oh my, It's getting late!"
The second one said "There are witches in the air!"
The third one said "But we don't care!"
The fourth one said, "Lets run run run!:
The fifth one said, "We're ready for some fun."
Out went the wind.
Then out went the lights!
And the five little pumpkins, rolled out of sight.