A Baby's Story

Taking advantage of an unusually still moment, I want to give a few more details about our new little friend. At about 11:45 last Friday night, after burning the midnight oil to finish my bookgroup book, I settled in to sleep and was interrupted almost immediately by really hard contractions that were about 5 minutes apart. Allen was blissfully asleep, having had a really rough night the night before, so I didn't want to wake him. After going to the bathroom and walking around and getting a drink, the contractions were still coming really hard and regularly 5 minutes apart. I decided that I needed to wake Allen. He was pretty confused for a minute there, but quickly caught on to what was happening and was remarkably cheerful about getting dressed and helping me put the last few things into my hospital bag. We called Bethany to come over since we figured she was probably not asleep yet and the kind neighbors who'd offered to stay with the girls probably were. The contractions were so hard though that we decided to just leave for the hospital before she even got here (we hope child protective services isn't reading this) since one of the grad students in Allen's department had just delivered their baby while driving down 1230 North earlier in the week. We got to the hospital at about 1am and they measured me at a 5 and called the doctor. Things continued to progress and the doctor broke my water thinking that would get us the rest of the way. Well, it got us to an 8.5 and then we were stuck. The contractions were still incredibly hard and poor Allen was wearing out his hands massaging my lower back and applying counterpressure during contractions since that was where the pain was focused. After an hour and a half in the same place, the doctor determined that the baby was posterior -- explaining our stalled state. It seemed like the head was turning sideways (transverse) as it came into the birth canal, so she thought we might be able to go forward without trying to turn the baby. During my next contraction, she pushed the last bit of cervix out of the way and we were ready to push. It took me a contraction or two to remember what "push" means, once we figured that out we were golden. About 4 pushes (and some panting in between to get the head turned right) and she was here at just before 4am.  We were all glad to be able to sleep after that!

We have been so wonderfully taken care of by friends and neighbors in the intervening week.  The kids have been invited over to play with different friends every single day this week, we've had fabulous dinners brought in all week, on friend came and cleaned the kitchen on Monday, two others came by today and cleaned the bathrooms, did the dishes, and vacuumed the main floor, someone else is coming to get the laundry on Monday. One friend has picked up Ella from preschool (Bethy did this one day too) so I wouldn't have to load the tiny baby up into the cold car.  The other moms in my carpools have taken over my turns.  Others have stopped by with gifts and treats for us.  One neighbor plowed the snow from our driveway after the big storm we had this week.  Allen has drastically reduced his time at work so he could be available to help and smooth things over.  I've been truly overwhelmed by the love and concern that have been showered on us.  I've learned a lot about love and service from these friends who have so willingly insisted on helping us.  How blessed we are!