Gonna Wait till the Midnight Hour

and she did.

Monday, July 13 passed by with me feeling kind of sick and icky and dealing with REALLY bizarre cashiers at Price Smart Foods who clearly did not understand that interrogation is not the same as friendly banter with customers.  No, I don’t want to tell you the exact current location of my current children or their school or if they like it.  Nor do I want to tell you the names I have picked out for this child…believe it or not…your opinion will not count in this matter thank you very much.

Anyway, I went to bed with the kids and woke up around ten.  Had a drink and chatted with Patrick about sticking with a scheduled c-section on Thursday if nothing was happening and to just worry about getting the baby out safe and not worry about anything else..etc.

Said good night to him and lay down to read for a bit….

I kid you not….as the clock switched from 11:59 on July 13th to 12 am July 14th….as I lay on my side reading….my water broke.

All over the bed.   And it kept coming!`

I burst out laughing and started yelling for towels which then woke the kids up who couldn’t understand why their mom was standing clutching towels to her nether regions and yelling about the mattress at the same time.

So we called the midwife who had to decide WHERE we should be going and woke up mom too.

We had to go to the hospital that had a doctor on shift who was willing to at least try a breech delivery IF as the other doctors had said..that delivery went quickly and smoothly.

For the most part, I think mom and the kids had a worse time than we did.

Pat and I were calm and collected and aware of the decisions and issues at stake…we were also just relieved to have SOMETHING happening.

Mom and the kids were freaking out.  Mom was terrified for me and the baby.  Adam was anxious and feeding of my moms anxiety and so NONE of them could sleep.   They were up till around 6  am just freaking out….none of our progress calls were reassuring to mom.

My contractions started in the car down to BC Women’s Hospital…..I managed to survive the check in without massive pain and got through settling into being ‘assessed’ without them going crazy.

Unlike the poor first timer who came in with her mom right after me….ooooh she was in rough shape.

The contractions started to slowly build up though….and they got me into a labour suite asap.

The contractions sucked..they weren’t long but totally in my back, but was already at 5cm so I figured whoot..I can do this…..

hmmm not so much.

The focus of them right in my lower back was really getting to me.

The doc had also said that I ‘could’ have an epidural as if they had to move fast suddenly, at  least they would be ready…this stuck in my head.

They were also still only looking at a breech vaginal delivery if things kept hurrying along.

Well they didn’t.

And they really didn’t with the epidural..which I enjoyed….but I do think it slowed things up.

While the contractions were still fierce , our little breech bundle had basically crawled back up to my breast bone and was not moving anywhere NEAR my birth canal.

Being that the one Ob/Gyn who was comfortable doing breech delivery was going off shift in like an hour, I was out of options.

Aaaand being that I was feeling calm, new the baby was doing well….I just wanted her out and safe…said yes to going to going for a cesarean section.

That phone call sent mom into more of a panic.

So the new doc on call showed up with me as no. 1 on his schedule.

This was about 8 am.

She was delivered at 9:12 am.

C-Sections are weird.

Being completely numb is totally weird.

I was mentally MOSTLY calm.  But it IS an OR and they are doing strange things to your body and you have NO control over any of it.

They made Patrick wait outside while the prepped for a long time and I am sure that was horrid.

He was much better and for me when they let him in to keep me calm as I was starting to shake from nerves….well the very top of me was.

I didn’t care the moment I heard my baby cry though.

And seeing her there healthy and vibrant was enough for me while they did to me what they had to do.

She was 9 lbs and 7 oz., and 21 inches long.  Probably a good thing that I didn’t deliver her the ‘old fashioned way.’

Though I think poor Grace, our midwife who has delivered breech babies before was probably a tad disappointed, but she never showed it and was an awesome pillar of support for us.

Having her there made such a HUGE difference in our fear factor and worry level.

Thanks Grace.

My poor mom and kids.

Had been pretty much awake all night.

Came down to the hospital ony to be told that they couldn’t see me till I was out of recovery….and they wouldn’t let me out of recovery right away since I was bleeding a bit more than they liked.

So they saw daddy, but had to go home…I don’t think they were too happy

They did finally get to meet the new addition to the House of Crunch ( to be named shortly – don’t ask) and it was an emotional meeting…..between nerves and lack of sleep and missing mommy…pheeyuuuuu.

She is almost a week old already.  It has taken me THAT long to write a post.   I am anemic apparently and while  the pain hasn’t been horrid, it sure takes it out of you.  Feel weak and stiff.  Combine that with trying really hard to produce enough breast milk for my large and voracious feeder…..I have been a wee bitty tired.

And lets not forget my other poor children.  Who are feeling all mixed up and a tad left out and bitty rebellious…in the heat we are having…it has made things quite the roller coaster ride since we got home.

However….my wee boy is still madly in love with his little sister.  He can’t get enough of her.    Caity too…they love to watch her and talk to her and take turns holding her.

I would like to not look and feel still pregnant…but get that I just need to be patient and take care of myself and move slowly.

Patrick has been my pillar.  He is there for me and the baby when I need it…not matter what time it is or what is going on.

He has walked her to sleep, rocked her to sleep, and learned the intricacies of 24 Hour Shoppers Drug Mart and breast pumps, bottles and formula,  all on little sleep.

Mom has been our rock…she comes over and helps with the kids, holds babies when needed, washes dishes and did all the amniotic laundry….and there was a lot!!!

I really don’t know what I would have done without her…and neither does Patrick….thanks mom.

And thanks to all my well wishers.

And thanks MaryAnne for the yummy fruit…it was MEGA welcome and needed.  And the hugs and love too.

Right now I am just in love my with my new cutey pie and trying to feel my way through the feeding and no sleeping thing.

We will figure out what works for us and be happy with it….My milk has come in, and I can pump which is great and she does okay switching between boob and bottle in between massive wigouts…but massive wigouts and being eating machines runs in our family and the first two turned out alright.

Callie the dog is fine with the new addition, but so neglected.  Mind you..we wouldn’t be out with her much in the heat anyway..night walks is it for her.

All the cats just come and stare at me like ‘why?????’

I am still in awe that the baby arrived on her due date….and that my water REALLY broke and broke right on midnight.

That is a lot of fluid my friends..a lot.  Eeeech.

So….I have a feeling that posting may be a tad sporadic while we get into the groove here.

But the internets is still my life line while I figure out the fantastical concept of leaving the house with a baby and clothes that don’t make me look like the swollen ankled bag lady I resemble…I will be here when I can.