I am tired. I am very pregnant. I am nearly disgusted that I am 38 weeks plus 4 days pregnant and having no labor signs. No contractions. No Braxton Hicks. No nothing. It's going to be a long 10 days to get to my due date... I'm so disgusted I decide I deserve a manicure and pedicure. It is delightful, especially because it involves an hour or two of toddler free time as Adalyn has been acting extra "terrible" as she approaches her second birthday.... or maybe it's her sensing her time being an only child is drawing to a close. Either way, I sit in my massage chair and enjoy having someone dote on me for a short while. On the ride home it hits me. BAM! One very large, very strong contraction. And then there is nothing... I race home to beat the storm rolling in and arrive just in time. Shortly after my arrival the power goes out. Fabulous. 38 weeks pregnant and no air conditioning. Two hours later God answers my sweaty pregnant prayers and turns our power back on. Now I'm even more disgusted as that one singular contraction was just a tease. Nothing else has happened since this. I think to myself "I'll show you uterus" and load up Adalyn in her stroller and begin the kinda long walk to the beach in our development to watch the fireworks over the lake. Scott meets us there with the car... We will not be walking back home in the dark with the recent bear sightings in our development.
Adalyn loves loves loves the fireworks. She's clapping and cheering and smiling from ear to ear. Me, I'm not enjoying them so much. Why you ask? Out of nowhere I'm having contractions. Strong contractions. I don't have anything with me to time them, so I'm not sure how frequent they are coming and going. After the grand finale I ask Scott how long the fireworks were going off. He estimates they lasted 20 minutes. Fan-freaking-tastic. I've had three strong contractions during that time. That means they are coming at least every 7 minutes.... we need to get home. Now.
Addy is tucked into bed and Scott's mom is on her way to our house to stay with her. It's after 11 PM. They are now 4-5 minutes apart. We need to get to the hospital. I'm frantically throwing my last minute items into the hospital bag. At last we are on our way...
We arrive at the hospital and get checked into a Labor and Delivery room. It's 11:50 or so.... maybe this baby can hold off ten more minutes. He does... I look at Scott and smile. Looks like we are getting our anniversary present after all!!!
July 8th, 2012
I'm dilated to 5 centimeters. I tell the nurse I want to walk... I remember how well this allowed my labor to progress with Adalyn. They hook up my IV and Scott and I are pacing the hallways for all but 15 minutes and the pain is intensifying. He's rubbing my back as I cling to the railing in the hallway during the contractions. It seems like they are coming pretty quickly now. Maybe it's time to head back to the room. We were right. 15-20 minutes of walking and I'm now at 9 centimeters and I'm oh so ready for that epidural. Yes, please and thank you. I'm not a superhero. I tried natural drug free childbirth with Adalyn... and ended up begging for an epidural at 7 centimeters... I feel like a champion for making it to 9 and just need some relief. I've been up for 21 hours straight. I'm tired and the pain is draining me more. Epidural is in place and it's time to push. My contractions slow down and my water hasn't broken yet. Finally everything is a go and its time to push. Little man enters the world at 5:21 AM at 7 pounds 15 ounces and 20 inches in length. He is beautiful and perfect. He is born into this world on one of my most favorite days... July 8th. The day I married his father and promised to love him "with all the madness in my soul." Now I have another fabulous guy in my life and I couldn't be any more blessed than I am at this moment...
We instantly fell in love. You really are amazing and we are so lucky to be able to call you our son. Grammy and Pop Marek and Nana and Pappy Keiper came to visit you in the hospital, along with your sister Adalyn who instantly became smitten with you and insisted on holding you and kissing you from the moment she met you.
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