Five months ago today I was 39 weeks pregnant wondering when I would meet the little man living inside of me. I woke up having no idea that it would be the day. I went to the gym and had an appointment with my mid-wife. After baby number one it is apparently difficult to tell what progress means. I had progressed from the week before, but that didn't mean anything...it could happen today or it could be a week or two. So, I went on my way. I sent out the usual text message to update everyone who wanted to know. I went home. I picked up Jacob. We went to the grocery store. We played. He napped. The girls came home. (Such a normal day for me.) I rushed around getting the girls ready for dance, getting homework done, and doing all of my usual Tuesday afternoon things.
I may have 4 kids, but before that day I had no idea what it felt like to go into labor. I was induced all three previous times, and hoped and prayed that I would not be induced with Ryan. That afternoon in the midst of all of my normal business I noticed I was having contractions. But hey! I have contractions all of the time. So, I take Lilli to dance, contractions. I take the rest of the kids home. Contractions. I pick Lilli up and drop Hope off for dance. Contractions. I go to the grocery store. Contractions. I take Lilli home. Contractions. At this point Chris was home and helping out, but still contractions. We got dinner ready, sorta. I went to pick Hope up from dance. Contractions. (If you were wondering, I was having contractions all of this time, but they didn't hurt. They were just contractions.) All this while I was back and forth on the phone with my Mom. "Am I in labor? I don't know. I've never done this before. But it doesn't hurt." ECT...
At this point I go home. Contractions. Maybe it's time to get out my handy cell phone and use that nifty contraction timer. So, I sit down. I keep track for about 40 minutes. Sure enough every 2-6 minutes I was having contractions, but they still didn't really hurt. I call the mid-wife. Contractions. "Are you contracting now?" "Yes." "Your voice isn't changing while your having them. Maybe its just irritation from the exam this morning. I'm at the hospital if they continue or get worse just come on up." "Ok."
So, maybe I'm not in labor. Contractions. I call my Mom. We go back and forth. "Ok Chris. Its 9 pm and I'm still having contractions. Let's pack up and go to the hospital. If this isn't labor then I don't know what is." We pack our bags and call our friends across the street. We get all of the kids in bed (I carried Jacob upstairs) and tucked him in. I make Chris coffee while he finishes packing. CONTRACTIONS that are now starting to hurt. Yup I can feel that. But hey, let's stop by CVS. We need snacks. Ok, this definitely hurts now. I make some more phone calls. I let everyone know that I'm going to the hospital. My parents are on their way. My Mom makes it clear that I better not have this baby before she gets there. We call my mother-in-law. She can't get off work. She won't be able to be there. :(
Ok guys. I have to get off the phone. This shit hurts! All checked in. I walk the long hallway down to the labor and delivery room, because walking felt better than sitting in the wheel chair. I went to the bathroom. I changed. I laid down and they check me. Eyes get big! "Um, your 8-9 with a buldging bag of water!" More nurses flood in, my mid-wife is by my side. (Of course, Chris is there through all of this helping me and comforting me.) It is then that I realize that I will not be able to get an epidural. I HAVE to do this on my own. And then I realized that my parents won't make it in time.
Shortly after that my water breaks and within 15 minutes I got to meet the little angel that is now 5 months old. He was so tiny, by far smaller than any of our other kids, weighing in at 6 lbs 14 oz. Honestly, he looked kinda funny at first, but I was in love. He melts me.
Fast forward to today... He is 5 months old. He laughs. He smiles. He sleeps through the night. He grabs things and passes them from hand to hand. He rolls over. He "talks" to me when he wants my attention. He will bat at me when he wants my attention. He is teething. He is the happiest and most content baby I have ever known, and we love him more and more everyday, if that is possible.
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