In Case You Care...: June 2016

Gotta knock this out quick while it is Sunday and Taylor is holding one sleeping baby, and entertaining Kinley and Tyson. Side note: Taylor has been the dreamiest husband and father in the world since Sadie's arrival. I cannot thank him enough for everything he has done to help me and the children into a smooth transition from 2 to 3 kids. Bless his soul. I am not looking forward to the fall from Heaven come tomorrow when he goes back to work.

This third pregnancy was a beast. And by that I mean just the last couple weeks. It was hot, HOT here in Vegas. I had swelling this time around, carpal tunnel in my hands, and a not very helpful bad attitude to accompany it. I wanted/needed this baby to come out ASAP so I could breathe again, hold my other children, and just feel better. I got my membranes stripped at 38 weeks. It didn't do a single thing. Then again at 39 weeks (the 20th). Basically I hadn't made any progress in that week and I walked out of that appointment with a sad, poor me disposition. I called Taylor and told him the baby probably wasn't coming until next week and I was rather discouraged about it. He understood everything I had been feeling and offered some comforting words. I picked up the kids, we went shopping, and went home. Once Taylor was home, before we put the kids to bed, we went on a family walk. It didn't seem to be doing much, and I really didn't want to wear myself out for nothing. We got the kids in bed and sat down to watch some TV together. Periodically I would get up and do some squats and whatever other shenanigans I could come up with.

I was having Braxton Hicks, very mellow tightening that I wasn't even positive was anything but seemed to be coming about 20 minutes apart. Eventually we went to bed. Lying in bed I thought, "I do NOT want to be pregnant another week." So I got up and did more squats. Eventually I started feeling more intense contractions closer together and at 1:15 I called my parents to let them know we were going to go to the hospital. My contractions were anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes apart. I was nervous because I didn't know for sure that I would be admitted, but I wanted so badly to be admitted so I went for it. Taylor and I got everything together then headed off.

We got to the hospital about 2:30 and I was hooked up to some machines just before 3. About 3:15 they checked me and I was a 3 and 80% effaced. They left to call my doctor to see if he wanted to admit me and then it was like my contractions just slowed WAY down. I flipped sides and moved around to keep them coming. They admitted me about 3:45 thankfully.

I made sure to let my nurse know that I wanted my epidural right away. I did not want to be waiting on that epidural in the midst of horrible pain, so I figured if I'm going to get it, might as well get it before the pain gets unbearable. They got me my epidural real quick as it was in by about 4:45. But by then my contractions had still not picked up again and I was only dilated to a 4, so they wanted to give me pitocin. I wasn't super fond of the idea, and asked instead to have my water broken. They agreed to wait about an hour and check me and see from there.

So 6:15 I was barely a 5, they broke my water. I took a nap. I'm telling you, epidurals are lovely, especially when you haven't slept in over 24 hours. I thought this was going to be the LONGEST labor of my life because my contractions had slowed and I was progressing so slowly. With my other 2 once contractions started, my body just ran with it. The agreement was to let my cousin (the photographer) and my sister both know when I was at a 7 so they could come. Well 7:00 am the nurses do their shift change, so my nurses came in to switch over and said they would check me soon.

I told Taylor since everything was taking so long and we were still a long ways off he should run and get our stuff from the car and get some breakfast so at least he was well nourished. He fought me on it, but I said, hurry and go now and you will be happy and full.

At 7:45 my nurses came back and Taylor comes in just a minute after. She checks me and tells me I'm at a 10 and baby is ready! I couldn't believe it. In a short hour and a half I had gone from a 5 to a 10. I was in shock. I called my cousin and my sister to come down. My Dr. was called and we all waited. The Doctor got in rather quickly, he was already at the hospital. They finished preparations and then I was told to push. I didn't think I was going to push because I could not feel anything, and contrast to last time, my epidural was working amazingly. Sadie came out in one contraction. I heard Taylor saying "We were right." Just as I was noticing she was a girl. I was like, "It's a girl Taylor!" He thought he "saw something." Pretty sure it was just the umbilical chord. Lol. We were shocked that we were having a girl. This whole entire time, even before we got pregnant, we thought baby number 3 was going to be a boy. It was quite a fun surprise. My cousin and sister got there just shortly after she arrived and we got some beautiful pictures. It was such a quick, painless delivery. I loved it!

Sadie Jean

7 pounds 6 oz

19.5 Inches

8:14 a.m. on June 21

I am incredibly grateful to have 3 beautiful, healthy children. These little babies coming into this world are such a wonderful miracle and a blessing and I am so grateful to have them. It can be overwhelming to think of the responsibility I have being their mom, but I love them so much and hope that I can do everything in my power to help them be good people.