And then there were Four

It's 9 AM, I have Jack and Dan in bed watching baseball, Mickey Mouse, something for "just the boys." Nora and I are spending some quality girl time. Life is wonderful this Saturday morning.

Nora slept 2-4 hour stretches last night. That would be only 1 middle-of-the-night feeding, if I wanted to get up at 6:30 AM, but I didn't. Jack slept until 8:20.

I have been kind of vague on my blog about my pregnancy, just because. But here are the stats. I was due April 2nd- TODAY! We chose not to find out the sex of the baby, only because we considered it with Jack but Dan needed to know if we were having a boy, or to prepare if we weren't. But he got his boy, and I am often a "Why not, it could be fun" type of person. So, after 4 ultrasounds- the TEMPTATION to give in(I had 2 late in pregnancy because I always measure small but the baby measures big. They always check that there is enough fluid and baby is healthy) it was still going to be a surprise. I was pretty excited, and getting anxious near the end just so I could get my house ready. Would the kids share a room (the blue room?) or I wanted a girl in the green room. Do we move Jack up to the twin bed now, or after the baby, etc. I just wanted to do something, but there wasn't anything I could do.

For those of you who want the birth story: Of course, my stories are never short and I always give a little background.

Last week, Tuesday night, Dan went on a visit with the Missionaries. He came home and informed me that he was giving a talk at a baptism on Saturday. He then asked me "do you want to know who is giving the other talk?" I said "sure." He said it was going to be me. I broke down and cried... I told Dan that I had my schedule free after our Friday night cookout & marshmallow fight, and I was planning on having a baby on Saturday. (This is how it worked with Jack, I threw a baby shower for my sister Miriam on Sat. the 14th, and within hours I went into labor with Jack.) Dan went to bball on Wed. night and told his friend this, and on Thursday this friend and his wife both asked me about having a baby on the weekend. I started to feel I was crazy, so I told Dan not to tell anyone else. OBVIOUSLY, I AM CRAZY!

Saturday I spoke at the baptism. On our way home we went to the grocery store to pick up some snacks and a red-box movie. While doing self check-out, my vision went blurry. Kind of the start of a migraine. By the time we made it into the car I was having contractions (4:10 PM) Contractions were 6 min. apart. By 6 PM, they were 4/5 min. apart. I made a lasagna, we went for a walk. And then we decided to call our parents and make arrangements for Jack. We went to my parents house to watch a movie and put Jack to sleep there. We knew it was a matter of time before we went to the hospital.

Contractions were steady for over 6 hours, so we went to the hospital. I was a "2." SO we walked, rechecked- "2". Walked, rechecked- "2." I wasn't progressing so they gave me the option to still walk or to go home with a sleeping pill. (SAME as with Jack.) We opted to walk because we just knew we would be right back. So, after a 3rd time walking, still no progress. It was 4:30 AM so we went home. My only question was "when do we come back?" They said "before your water breaks." Easier said than done...

We drove home (I drove home) and we pulled into the driveway. Dan said he had to go to the bathroom, asked if I had to go first. I said no, stood up and said "well, I didn't think I did." I had wet my pants... We went inside, Dan got in bed to sleep for the little time he could and within minutes I was in shock, laughing at the irony of the situation. My water had broken so we were back at the hospital within minutes of leaving the first time.

I got hooked up to an IV for fluids & an antibiotic for Strep B. and my contractions were now 8-12 minutes apart and strong, but not terrible. (They are never terrible, just close and getting stronger.) And then we wait. It is maybe 6 AM. I told Dan to sleep on the couch (I'm sure it's so uncomfortable to prevent Dads/coaches from snoozing on the job.) and I just flipped channels for a while. At 7:30 I tried to sleep- maybe 20 minutes later I wake up. The nurse unhooks my IV and I start walking the halls. When I am up on my feet the contractions are 2 min. apart, but when I am sitting, no change. Still not terrible, but strong contractions.

The nurse was very up front that if contractions didn't kick in again she had an order for pitocin at 11 AM. I decided to start calling my sisters- I called Michelle and told her my water had broken and I was going to have pitocin by 11 if I didn't start having contractions again. I started crying as soon as I said pitocin- she told me "Pitocin is great! But, you can't do it without an epidural. But an epidural is not bad either." I just cried. We ended the call and I decided to text the rest of my sisters.

Well, 10:40 comes around and I get the pitocin, with the thought that I will see how long I can make it without the epidural. Contractions started going- and they were painful and close together. I make it through this until 12:30ish. My doctor is on call, and she comes through to do a check. She says I am a 5-6, maybe stretch to a 7. That's kind of disappointing. The nurse tells me that if I wanted an epidural, I had to do it then because 2 other ladies want one and the anesthesiologist would be busy possibly. After talking to Dan, he asks the doctor how much longer. She said 1 maybe 1 1/2 more hours. I asked the nurse if she was going to turn up the pitocin any higher, she said no. So I decided I could do it. No epidural, no pain meds, just me and my CRAZY self.

2 contractions later, I yell to Dan "I have to push I have to push" so he radios the nurse, and I'm pretty sure I was screaming in the background as he tells them that I had to push. My nurse runs in, she checks and we have a head. My nurse pages my Doctor. The baby's head is out on the next contraction (I don't recall pushing-I think my body just did it naturally at this point) and the cord is wrapped around baby's neck. She, very calmly is telling Dan what to do, calling for ANY doctor to come in, and 1-2 other nurses show up. My nurse clamps and cuts the cord, and baby is out on the next contraction. Baby was a little blue, so Dan was checking on her. Finally I asked, "Is it a boy or girl?" Baby starts breathing, and Dan calls out "We have a baby girl!" It was so exciting!!!
My doctor made it in time to deliver the placenta. She assumed she had at least 30 minutes, so she (a nursing mother) went to pump a bottle. She didn't even get started and she heard the page. Baby was delivered by the nurse and Dan the Man. Pretty exciting!

And that's the story. That is how we got our Nora Ann. I am still in shock that she was only 6 lb. 14 oz. (Dan has caught me telling people he was 8 lb. 14 oz. Only because I never thought that we would have a little/petite baby.)


While we were in the hospital, Jack stayed with Grandma & Papa Wilson. He would come visit us in the afternoons and into the evening. I thought he would love to snuggle and take a nap with me. I WAS WRONG! So, we watched a movie and had popcorn.

Getting ready to go home.



Jack really likes having a baby around. Usually it's just a curiosity or poking at her nose, mouth, eyes, but he does want to hold her in the mornings. I probably could have left them in the love sac like this and Jack would have gone back to sleep. He was so tired after 4 days of fun with Grandmas and Grandpas, aunts, cousins, and visitors.


The other cute one- I was folding laundry and Nora was sleeping in the bouncer. Dan had just left to go watch baseball with his cousin-I told Jack that Dan had to go to work because he could understand that, he was so sad to see his daddy go.
I saw Jack sit by Nora and started talking to her, he said his usual "Dad work. Papa Work. Play." and just was telling her all about life. It was very sweet. He loves to give gentle kisses too!

And our little Nora, after her first bath at home. She is very sweet.