Monday I went to my doctor's for a regular check-up. I was at a 2, but not much else was happening so she stripped my membranes. That afternoon and evening I was crampy and started having "real" (though infrequent) contractions. They lasted all day and all night and I knew that I was going to have a baby by the morning. And then morning came, and they stopped.I was SO mad. and frustrated. So started the week of thinking I'd have the baby by "the next morning". My due date came and went (Wed, Oct 1st) and it wouldn't have been a big deal for me if I hadn't been tricked into thinking he was coming early!
Finally, Friday morning I woke up around 3:30 with pretty rough contractions. They were far apart, but strong. I woke Adrian up and asked for a blessing; I needed help getting through some of them. We had a few last-minute things to pack and I labored around the house. At around 4:00, I wrote an email to my sister, Gina. We are currently living in a duplex-style house where our family lives upstairs and her family lives downstairs. We had decided that if I went into labor in the middle of the night, I would email her to let her know we were leaving. My kids knew that if they woke up and we weren't home, that we were having a baby and that they could go downstairs and Gina would help them get ready for school. In the email, I mentioned that I was in labor but didn't know when we'd be leaving for the hospital, but that regardless of how "ready" I was, we would be gone before my kids woke up. I knew I would have a much harder time focusing if my kids were awake and needy.
At 4:30 I was bouncing on an exercise ball, not knowing when we should go to the hospital. I didn't want to go too early, but I also didn't want to have a baby in the car (always my dilemma with a hospital birth!) . I couldn't quite think straight and asked Adrian what we should do. He suggested we wait another hour (since the contractions were still pretty far apart) and for me to get in the tub to labor for a while. I bounced through another contraction and told him I thought we should go (so much for asking his opinion!).
We got to the hospital around 4:50 and after too many questions and having to be hooked to the really annoying monitor (grrr!) they checked me and I was at an 8. I just remember thinking that it took them a ridiculously long time to finally get me into a room. Then I labored. From where I was on the bed, I could see the clock too clearly and after seeing the hands move from 5:20 to 6:00, I made a comment to Adrian about how much I hated that clock because I kept looking at it and it just reminded me how long it was taking! ha!
Soon after, I was dilated to a 9 and asked to have my water broken. The contractions never really got much closer (a few minutes in between each) and I complained to my doctor "Why is it taking so long?" "Why are my contractions so far apart?" "When is he coming??!". And within minutes and one big push, he was born at 6:39 and I was so happy.
When they put him on my chest, the first thing I noticed was SO. MUCH. HAIR! Now, it might not seem like much for those who have had babies with hair, but none of my other kids were born with much so I instantly fell in love!
He is such a sweet, mild-tempered little guy. I am completely smitten. He tends to sleep best during the day, if he's being held, or if he's cuddled next to me in bed (all things that make it slightly difficult for me to get a good rest, but oh well). The kids think he is the best. Claire has become a little mommy and wants to help with anything that Luke might need. Adam is also quite enthralled with this new little being and frequently pokes, prods, and kisses him. He is also well aware of any noise that Luke makes and is quick to repeat the noise to me (in case I didn't hear it the first time!).
My mom took these pictures when he was 5 days old...and he already looks so different to me. We are glad he is here and part of our family! Here's to figuring out a new "normal" and making it all work!
