The big day...

So i figure it is about time to post on Juliana June's entrance into the world. First of all please note that this story may contain details that may be too much for some viewers. If you wish to remain ignorant of what happens during pregnancy and childbirth please don't read any further. Having said that... her arrival on October 25th couldn't have been timed any better. My parents were in town visiting and that provided my ideal circumstances.

That morning we were headed out for a full day of fun with Grandma and Grandpa. We started by taking a trip to Toys R Us. The boys love going and looking at all the toys. We spent awhile there walking up and down all the aisles. I noticed that I was very crampy but I figured it was just this polyp that I have had for a few weeks and it tends to do that. It really has made this last month pretty uncomfortable. On top of that, I get cramps and contractions all the time. So I go about my business trying to be excited with the boys.

Lunch time is around the corner, so we head over to the Pizza Hut for a buffet. There is nothing more appealing to a pregnant woman than all you can eat pizza. Especially now that my heartburn was gone. YUM!!

Ok, now on to more fun. Chuck E Cheese's. Even though both I and the boys are dog tired we go to Chuck E Cheese's because we told Addison that we were going there after lunch. He loves that place. But this is Saturday and it is super crowded and noisy. At any rate, while we are there I start up my Braxton Hicks contractions every 5-10 minutes on top of my crampy belly and back. I really feel pretty aweful, so I plop down on a bench and watch everyone have fun. I think to myself...maybe this is it! Isn't it weird that I am laboring in the Chuck E Cheese?

We go home and I relax on the couch. I am wondering what to do. Do I go into the hospital only to be sent home because my contractions taper off. They seem to have slowed down or gone away completely. The polyp I have is the size of Texas and it is making me miserable. So I call Labor and Delivery and ask them what I should do. They tell me to come on in and get it checked out. So off we head...fully expecting to be sent home and told to just deal with it.

When I get to the hospital at about 6:30pm they put me in a labor and delivery room. Check me out... I am 6 cm!! So I really was in labor. Ha, good thing I called. The contractions start up again only they are in my back. Ohhh...that is why my back hurt. They were 4-5 minutes apart. Immediatly I ask for the epidural, just to get everyone going that direction. I am not going to miss it this time. About a half an hour to 45 minutes later I still haven't had my epidural.. come on people we have limited time here. I have been laying in bed with the back contractions...which is not ideal and makes them hurt a whole lot more. I tell Nate that either they get here with the epidural or I am standing up... and I know fully well once that happens it is only a short time before baby will come. I ask everyone who comes in the room... can I get my epidural? Annoying...I know. They give me not one but two IV's. One for me and one in case my polyp ruptures and I bleed real bad. They even take some extra blood in case I need it. I HATE IV's!!!

7:30 and finally my epidural is here. It was quick and pretty much painless. I feel my body relax over the next half hour, even though I am still shaking all over. I can feel it go to my left leg...but nothing in my right. Oh no, it only worked half way. My doctor breaks my water and I know it wont be long now. But I really want to numb my right side too. I can feel the intense contractions in my right side, so I breath through them. It wasn't too bad really, I am thankful that I had at least half a numb body. The nurse pushes the epidural button about 5 times to see if we can get it to work. I look at the clock and tell Nate, this baby is going to be here by 9:30...it is 8:30 right now. It was amazing how I could actually feel the baby moving down the birth canal. So I called the nurse and told her I was feeling lots of pressure. When she checked I was at a 10 and ready to push. In come the doctors and nurses. He tells me to push, so I do...3 times and then he says... oh push one more time lets get his baby out!!

Up she plops on my belly. And at that moment all of the past nine months seem to make sense. The sickness, the hip pain, the stupid polyp, the weeks of contractions, the sleepless nights, the shortness of breath...it all makes sense. I get this precious little baby out of the whole ordeal. Somehow I forgot about that part. It sounds silly to say and may be even sillier to read. It was the most unreal birth I have had yet. It is like reality slapped me in the face with this beautiful baby girl. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. And at that moment I felt like I could have a million more.

Juliana June
October 25th, 2008
9:12pm
8lbs 11oz
19" long

The ticking time bomb

So, here I sit 37 1/2 weeks prego and my body is one raging hormone. When did that happen? I have done so well this pregnancy keeping my cool. We moved, had a busy summer and just now I am feeling at the end of my rope. Go figure. Everything in my body is telling me that it is time for this baby to come. I have contractions every time I move...literally. Sometimes they last for an hour or two and then disappear. It leaves me anxious and tired, irritable and at a loss for self control. Last night I slept all of 20-30 minutes at a time. Between being uncomfortable and this little girl flipping around I couldn't manage to sleep much. I know, blah blah blah -- boo hoo hoo. This is what I wanted, be thankful that I have this precious one growing healthy inside of me. I remind myself of these things every day and that is the only way I can make it through. I really try not to complain, but this is my blog, so I figure I should be honest here.

So where does that leave me...a ticking time bomb. I never know if the contractions will continue. If I will actually make it to the hospital in time for an epidural, since I actually want one this time. Do I risk it and go to my due date, knowing that this could be another 9 pounder that rips me inside out. Whoever told me that it hurts the same if it is a 5 lb baby or 9 lb baby must have never had a 9 lb baby. Because those bowling ball heads can do some damage. Or do I schedule an induction a week early just to get it all going with a slightly smaller baby? Does a few ounces really matter? I am currently 3cm dilated, so really it shouldn't take much to get things rolling. So many thoughts...I just haven't made up my mind yet.