Well, I have survived being alone with all six kids, and we haven't even been tardy (yet) this week! We were blessed to have my mom with us for a full week after Baby G's birth, and it was so helpful!
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Time to document this little one's arrival! I had a checkup on Apr. 25 (38 weeks and 1 day) and was dilated 2-3 cm. I didn't get too worked up about that--I have been dilated that much for several weeks before birth before. I was expecting hoping to go early again (the latest I've been is 1 day before the due date), but usually average one week early, so I thought Wed, May 1 was probably the earliest to hope for. Friday the 26 I just felt kind of icky, had some contractions that felt a little more uncomfortable, but went to MOPS and just carried on with the day. Hubby was at a track meet that evening, and while I was making supper I thought maybe I should start timing contractions, just to see if anything happened. Due to weather, Hubby got home earlier than expected, which I was thankful for. We discussed plans for the next day--he was supposed to go pick up a load of cattle for his dad--2-3 hours away. I was a little nervous about him being so far away so close to my due date, but there wasn't really anything I could do about it. (except go into labor! ha!) Contractions continued through the evening, and we got ready for bed. I prayed that I would have some other signal besides contractions that this was really 'it' and not just early or false labor. I have so many braxton-hicks throughout my pregnancies it's hard to tell. Before I went to bed, I noticed some bloody show, so was thankful for that other sign I had asked for! But I was still doubtful--I fully expected to fall asleep and wake up in the morning realizing contractions hadn't continued through the night. (I've done that before.) Not so this time--contractions were strong enough to keep me awake. I decided to start timing again--still hoping to get some sleep, even though I had my phone, a pencil and paper in hand in bed, writing down times. :) Hubby got a little bit of sleep, but said that my breathing during contractions started waking him up. I don't know, maybe around 1:30 am he called his cousin to come over to stay with the kids and we made preparations to head to the hospital.
Here's a final pregnancy pic: around 2 in the morning on Sat. the 27th.
Our hospital is 45 min. away, and in the past my doctor has had me call him directly because things tend to go fast once we get to the hospital. I didn't want to call him at 2 in the morning, so called the hospital to say we were on the way, and that I usually delivered quickly, and asked if they were going to call the doctor. It sounded like a young girl, she asked if it was my first, I said, no, my 6th. As usual, on the way, I felt fine between contractions and wondered if I was indeed that far along in labor. But, about halfway there, contractions got stronger and closer together and I encouraged Hubby to speed a little. By the time we arrived, I was panting through contractions, kind of afraid that if I relaxed with them my water would break in the suburban! (no thank you.)
We got to the hospital around 3, the OB nurse was waiting to take me back and was just kind of chatty, saying when they heard it was baby #6, they were getting ready. (But. they hadn't called the doctor yet, and didn't have everything ready to go in the birth room!) Anyway, I put on a gown, was supposed to pee in a cup (hard enough when you're 9 months pregnant, nearly impossible when you are also in labor!) The nurse got the monitors set up, I can't remember if she checked my progress before or after she got the IV in, but when she checked I was complete and she used the intercom to tell them to call our doctor. My water broke soon after, around 3:12, I think. My contractions were not as intense or close together as they usually are after my water breaks, but my doctor arrived, they got everything ready to deliver, and I was instructed to start pushing. I had to do more pushing without the help of contractions, but soon our 5th daughter was born--3:23 to be exact. Always such a relief to be done and meet this new little person. It's always so amazing to me that all of a sudden, there is this new person on earth who wasn't there before. What a privilege that God lets us bring new life into the world! It's also always hard to believe that I was carrying this 8 lb, 9 oz babe inside my tummy!
2 tired parents!
They started pitocin in my IV to make sure my uterus contracted, and that pain kept me awake most of the rest of the night and morning--the nurses kept telling me I should be asleep, but ouch!
Hubby went home around 6 or so to have breakfast with the kids and bring them back to meet their new baby sister. We settled on a name fairly easily, and the kids even liked it, too! I feel like God was so incredibly gracious to me this pregnancy, and without trying, her name and even middle name reflect that! My mom met us at the hospital and they all went to A&W for lunch (a new baby tradition). They brought me a strawberry shake. Everyone held Baby G some more, then my mom took them home. It was kind of nice to have time with Hubby--not quite like a date night, but close! We played Scrabble on the kindle before trying to get some sleep that night. We came home from the hospital Sunday just after noon. The kids were so happy we were back, and we heard from the ones that missed us so much that they cried a little before bed Sat. night, or during church. :) You can tell that we are not away from them much! It's nice to be loved and missed. :)
