My baby! You are 6 days old today and I cannot believe I am sitting here writing your birth story already- the week has absolutely flown by! Last Sunday, July 2nd, I went into very active labor and you were born at 1:35am on July 3rd. This labor was really interesting and I am not even sure when it started really... I had been having Braxton hicks for several weeks already and I felt like they were getting stronger- more noticeable and uncomfortable. I had an appointment with my midwife on Thursday, June 29th and I told her I felt like you were coming really soon because you had dropped so low and the Braxton hicks were coming strong and often- probably at least 2 or 3 an hour all day- more if I was very active or got dehydrated or had to pee ha. I wasn't sleeping great- was up from 2:30-4:30 most nights and just was feeling intuitively that you were coming soon. All your siblings had been 3-4 days early, so I knew my body tended toward early anyway. We went to a wedding for one of your daddy's cousins (Leily) on Saturday evening and I was feeling great- we took some belly bump pics with the beautiful background and enjoyed the long drive to talk because with so many kiddos we rarely get date nights ;) but after the dinner and while the dancing was starting, the Braxton hicks were strong- I had been on my feet a lot that day cleaning the house and prepping at home before grandma got there to babysit and then for a long cocktail hour and in line for the food, etc. It didn't feel like active labor, but they also were pretty uncomfortable and we were joking around a little bit about you coming really soon. We enjoyed the rest of our night and went home and went to bed- nothing out of the ordinary! I woke up around 2am like normal Sunday morning and had been dreaming that I had been having lots of contractions... I probably had haha. I was up for a while- pooped several times and ate a large snack- and went back to bed. And then I was up at 5am again with lots of Braxton hicks, diharrea, and bloody show! Bloody show is pretty much a guarantee that labor is coming within the next day! and the diharrea is a super encouraging sign of labor too- your body clearing out for birth. I knew at this point that I was in early labor and began timing the contractions- they were about 15 mins apart. At 7am, I woke your daddy up and let him know that I didn't want to go to church because I was probably in early labor and you just never know how quickly things can ramp up so I felt safer staying close to home. I was still having contractions every 15 mins or so, but once the kids woke up they slowed down to like 20 mins apart. I decided to try to get through the last of my "to-do" list that morning so that I could really relax at rest time and see if they picked up then! I had been praying for a day time labor/delivery so that the kids could really experience it- in my perfect scenario, labor would really start during rest time and then have the baby before dinner and get the girls off to bed haha wouldn't that be something? That was my mindset- so your dad cleaned the chicken coop and watered the garden well and I cleaned the bathroom and finished all the laundry and got the house ship shape. I had been reminding your dad to have the camera ready to go for a few weeks (we wanted some video of the birth this time around since it was our last and we wouldn't have the chance again- throw modesty out the window, right?) but he announced that the big camera on a tripod was no better than his phone and he wanted to get a go-pro. I had a bunch of bags to donate to goodwill and a few bottle drop bags I wanted to clear out before you came home too *nesting* so we piled everything in the car and went to run errands. i stayed in the car with the kids timing contractions- they were coming around every 8 minutes at this point. The kids were SO excited! or at least Jo&June. I am not sure Zeke or Ellie understood at all. They kept asking me questions about EVERYTHING. It was pretty cute, but I was finding myself getting annoyed and a little snippy- I wanted to go inward and be alone and start focusing on my labor, but I couldn't. When we got home, it was really important to me to take some photos of the kids with my bump before I never had a bump again! So, we did that and it was really sweet! then everyone laid down for rest time. Jesus was nervous that things would move fast and had insisted that I was reaching out to grandma (who would have to drive an hour+ to come babysit Z&E during the birth) and the midwife that morning so I checked in with them and let them know I was resting and would let them know if things picked up while I was quiet and relaxed! but I had too much nervous energy running through me and couldn't sleep- I was timing each contractions and just wanted to chat with your dad. We turned on our show and ate lunch- Costco seared salmon plate with cheese and crackers yummmm! and then watched another episode while laying in bed. The contractions spaced back out to 20 mins apart. There was supposed to be a family dinner at the farm store that evening- Sammy and his new girlfriend had come to town for the wedding and was leaving back to Florida the next day. But then they announced that the party was actually coming to our house. I felt panicky and annoyed. I wanted my house to stay perfectly clean ha. Jesus was in charge of bbqing because everyone else had worked a super long and hot day. I didn't want him bringing dirty bbq dishes in, etc. so he promised to use all stuff from upstairs and he did *bless his heart* I really don't like it when people know that I am in labor- it just stresses me out and feels like it puts pressure on me. not sure why, but i have always felt this way and never announced labor- just told people after the fact with a pic of the baby haha. I was confused if I wanted to stay inside and labor alone or go out and enjoy the company and food. I was having strong enough contractions that I was starting to have to focus through them a bit. I couldn't keep talking while having one anymore. I knew that people would notice something was up and I didn't want everyone and their mom knowing haha. but I went out and was sitting with Jesus and Sammy and his girlfriend while he bbq'ed. I had a contraction and closed my eyes and tried to let it just open me up. Sammy saw and asked if I was ok... I just said yeah. and Jesus later said he told Sammy because he was concerned haha. and then I got a watermelon and was cutting it upstairs to add to the spread and had to stop cutting a few times to work through a contraction. I had been alone in the kitchen, but enough people were coming in and out and Jess and Mari saw me and knew too. and then I was eating my dinner outside with Blanca and Tia Rosie because I wanted to be around the fewest people possible haha and had another contraction strong enough that everyone noticed and asked if I was ok and knew I was in labor hahahah my nightmare- everyone knew. Thinking back on this labor is hilarious. I clearly felt trapped by the family dinner and wasn't sure how to feel safe and peaceful with everyone there and everyone knowing I was in labor. And there really wasn't anywhere I could have gone or any way I could have slipped away without people knowing either. This clearly shaped my labor and stalled it alllllll day long haha. The contractions weren't painful at all most of the day- just a pressure wave and I relaxed in and let it work. but they were getting painful by the evening dinner party. Jesus and Sammy are so sweet together- they had missed each other so much and Sammy brought his girlfriend down to get some of Jesus' famous coffee and she sat and talked with me about birth while Jesus and Sammy talked golf and then we went out to watch Sammy hit golf balls and Jesus was instructing him. I went in to lay down and finally called Jesus and said sorry you gotta get the kids to bed so I can fully relax pleeease! and so he said goodbye and got the kiddos to bed! It is now 9pm and the contractions are coming sporadically- 8 mins here, 5 mins there, 15 mins there. I let my mom and the midwife know that I fully expected to wake up to active labor in the middle of the night, but was going to try to go to bed. and *BOOM* contractions pick up to every 3 mins hahaha. immediately my body let go of the hesitation and moved right into active labor. by 10pm, we texted the midwife and let her know it was go time and we got the girls up- they had just gone to sleep ha. poor June was laying on the dog bed so sleepy. The midwife said we should wait another 20 mins to make sure I didn't scare away the contractions by moving out of my safe place into the car, but we already had the kids buckled up and so we just went on our way and said we would sit around in the car if needed. Contractions did slow to about every 4-6 mins while in the car, but we let our midwife know that we were going in anyway and we were happy to labor outside in the moonlight for a while- such a gorgeous night! Blanca had been awake when we left and so Z&E were safe with her and we let my mom know she had to be at our house by 4:30am when Blanca would leave for work. My mom got to our house by 11:30 haha- she had been waiting all day on high alert! We got into the birth center- the midwife was a little grumpy- I asked how she was and she said "Tired. We had another middle of the night birth 2 nights ago." That made me feel bad...I was 15 days early and she wasn't expecting to even be on call yet. oh well, what could I do about it? She also asked if I always went to the hospital at this point in my labor- probably because the contractions were like 5 mins apart and I was just humming through them with some counter pressure from dad- they didn't seem urgent and strong. Kind of rude, but I knew my body and was confident. She placed some doubt in my head though- at one point, I was able to fall asleep on the recliner chair in between 2 contractions and I said oh no theyre spacing out and we got everyone up and came out here nooo. Jesus was always encouraging and gentle with just the right things to say. We got the very excited girls settled- so many Qs. We told them to go to sleep and we would wake them up when it was time and they snuggled up on the bed and sure enough fell asleep right away. I was thankful because it allowed me to relax more and feel at ease. They slept through all of it til the very end when we woke them ha. The midwives told me to just do my thing and they would be sleeping in the other room and to wake them when I felt "pushy". It was beautiful- no cervical checks, no iv, no monitoring the baby all the time- they came in maybe once an hour and listened to your heart rate. I for sure was trying to push them away the few times they did ha labor got intense quickly! The contractions started to feel overwhelmingly painful and I was getting discouraged. Jesus was so sweet with his encouragement and we put on Christian hypnobirthing soundtrack which was wonderful. It was reminding me over and over that my body was made to do this- perfectly designed by God. that I could open my body and every time got me closer to meeting my baby. and I had my favorite little sleeper that I would look at and hold and picture you in. I got a picture in my mind of what i just knew you looked like (not quite right ha, but it encouraged me along!) and would think about your little face. I was laboring by leaning against the back of the bed with Jesus applying counter pressure- usually all weight on my right leg with my left leg bent forward. It is so funny how we just know exactly what our bodies need position wise when we don't numb anything with pain meds. My labor pattern tended to be one really strong, hard contraction and then one lighter, quicker one. Over and over. I guess I should be thankful for the little rest huh? I decided I needed some pain relief and I didn't think the water would slow me down at this point, so we started the bath and it was a welcome change, but I didn't feel like it relieved anything haha. The contractions were so hard to work through- really painful! I would lean against the side of the tub and Jesus would apply counter pressure. I was often telling him to be softer. He said he could feel my hips changing to let you through. At one point, I felt hot and we put some cool water in and that felt good. Lots of asking for a drink between contractions. I was pretty loudly moaning through most of my contractions- I remember saying that being loud and releasing that noise was the only thing that helped with the pain ha. I also remember telling Jesus after several contractions that were really intense that I could really feel your body moving down with it! It was actually super cool! I really enjoyed the whole process of not knowing how dilated I was- I was having to be super in tune with my emotions and how I was handling contractions to be aware of where I was in labor. I knew exactly when i was in transition- I started thinking, "this is too much. I can't handle this pain anymore". I voiced to Jesus that I knew I was in transition because i was starting to have doubtful thoughts. I was praying during contractions, "Please, Lord, let this be quick! I can't handle this for very long!" and then one contraction turned into pushing half way through! Jesus didn't believe me because i wasn't acting like I had in other labors- I wasn't saying "it stings" is what he said haha. I told him to go get the midwives and he was really hesitant to bug them knowing they were tired haha. but in they came and I was trying to figure out if I should wake up the girls now or wait a bit longer because sometimes pushing can take a while. It is actually amazing they were still sleeping at this point anyway- I certainly wasn't being quiet. She was asking me if my body was pushing or if I was pushing with it and I couldn't quite understand or answer the question in between the contractions. She asked me to reach down and see if I felt anything so I did and said it felt like maybe the umbilical cord? it was a bit of poop...so that was fun. and then I could feel your head. It was so fast- maybe 5 minutes? Less? I don't know- I guess at that point, I was in labor land and no concept of time. It felt fast. And in between 2 contractions, I told Jesus I wanted the midwives to wake the girls because I needed him next to me. and so they did and June just laid there and I was telling her to come over here or she would miss it haha sleepyhead! and then I was yelling and I heard the midwife say, "Crowning" and "Is that a butt?" and I replied that you were certainly not breech- turns out it was your forehead- they were confused by a patch of skin instead of the top of your head haha. then, "No, I see an ear!" and then your head was out! You must have been in an awkward position inside with your neck arched back and your hands up by your face because that was how you wanted to be the first few days. and I wonder if that positioning made labor so long too? Who knows? Anyway, your head was out and they were counting a bit and couldn't really find your heartbeat- they were feeling around in my hips. The midwife told me I needed to get up into a lunge position and push without a contraction because your heart rate was dipping. So, I did! and one more big push and there you were! It was so perfect! And beautiful! I hadn't anticipated a water birth, but I wouldn't have changed it for the world. The midwife just pushed you forward a bit and told me scoop you up and put you on my chest! I hadn't thought I would want any interventions at all, but I promptly told the midwife to give me a shot of pitocin to get the placenta out because I just really didn't want to even worry about a possible hemorrhage and wanted it over with. Out came the placenta and I just kept saying how badly my butt hurt! So, they got me out and into the bed! Much better! we left the placenta attached for quite some time to make sure you got all the blood and that did make maneuvering you a bit difficult. You had very little vernix for being 2+ weeks early! and you were large- 8 lbs 11 oz!! so I wonder if my due date was off? According to last period, it was 7/17. so who knows? I am thankful you came so early though! I don't know if I could have handled another 9+ lb baby haha.
Here we are, a week later, Sunday again. Let's get this finished today!
The girls were so excited and wanted to hold you and ask a million Qs, but dad told them it was my time to hold you and that they had to get to sleep or he would bring you home so they went off to the chairs and promptly fell asleep again. You nursed for the first time and we snuggled and then we got your newborn check-in. Then, the midwives left and said they wouldn't be back until morning! So, everyone got to sleep. but I didn't really sleep much- too much oxytocin and excitement still. Ita texted at 5am and asked me to wake up dad to ask if he turned the irrigation off the night before... farm season... Around 7, dad took the girls home and brought back your carseat. I slept and had breakfast and enjoyed you! Then dad was back for a while and then he went to give golf lessons haha. It was a peaceful day of just you and me napping and resting together. My only complaint about the rest day postpartum was that I wasn't really checked in on enough- that probably would have annoyed me too haha. but she only fed me breakfast and lunch (@11:30) and then didn't offer me any snacks all day and didn't bring dinner until 7... and I am 90% sure that they had said that for dinner, they would bring me a meal from the restaurant of my choice. and I had been so excited to ask for sushi! At around 5:30 the midwife, Emerald, said she was going to Burgerville and if I gave her some $ she would pick me up some food too... I didn't even have my wallet on me and your dad was at work so I said no..plus I didn't want a burger and fries. Anyway, that was disappointing. We ended up with some blah bean burrito and lentil soup for dinner- not enough for 2 people. so dad stopped by Burger King at 10:30 pm on our way home haha. We had to wait until 9:30 to do the heel prick newborn screening- tests for genetic diseases- so it was a late night. The bandaid came off your heel right as we were putting you in your car seat and got blood on the carseat and all over the bed sheets and floor haha. i was a little happy about that because it left a bit of a mess for Emerald who didn't feed me hahah your mom is just a little crazy ;)
The next morning, Zeke came in around 6:30 a.m. haha and he was sooo excited to meet his brother! There were lots of sweet moments of everyone meeting you and loving on you! Grandpa Rick brought pizza for lunch and some fireworks for the big kids (4th of July), but we couldn't set them off that night because everyone was starting work at 3am the next morning haha. again, farm season baby = lots of crazy and work! I spent most of that day resting in bed- took 2 naps! dad had that day all the way off because no one wants to take lessons on a holiday i guess! it was nice!
Then, life kind of moved into normal... dad purposefully kept quite a few lessons during the time that Grandma Sandee was staying with us because that is our primary income for the year so he was off and running. Luckily, I had a very easy postpartum recovery this time around and was able to keep up with quite a bit of the normal housework while also getting a nap every day, etc. I tried to take it easy, but that is a feat with 4 other needy kiddos, chickens, a cat, a dog, office work, etc. haha.
3 days postpartum, there I sat with you in the office trying to get a mountain of work done. it was near impossible though and so I had to pass you off to grandma/dad whenever I could. every time someone would bring you up to nurse and then take you away, I would tear up. all the postpartum hormones ;)
anyway, it has been a very sweet 2 weeks with you! You are a little charmer- chill and sweet. You grunt and I feel like I can understand what every little grunt means. You love to snuggle and clearly prefer mama over all and will whine when your siblings hold you and stop immediately when I pick you up haha. We had to move you over to your pack'n'play a few nights ago because you do this little grunty snore thing and I could not sleep ha. your blue eyes are so perfect and you are so alert and just looking all around. You are pretty awake a lot of the day in the chaos and noise- but will take amazing naps when I whisk you away to the quiet of our room. You seem to love the ergo and I love snuggling you in there while you nap. You rolled over 2x already when we put you on your tummy- you're super strong and arch your back and hold up your neck. The nurse actually said, "Oh wow he has abs! Was he super active in the womb?" haha. You came out with really really dry skin- like it was all cracked and open sores the first week- we were lathering you in coconut oil and breast milk and it is finally looking better! You have also had a really gunky eye- I believe a clogged tear duct. The midwife said that is pretty common with water births- lots of breastmilk in the eye and it is just about cleared up now too. You have been pooping like crazy- 12x one day was the max so far- and you have a very red bum poor bubba. Eleanor loves to hold you the most and will say, "You ok, you ok, you ok" any time you fuss. You are still barely in newborn size clothing, but we just started cloth diapers 2 days ago so it is about time to bump you into 0-3 month size.
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