The Down and Dirty

Both of my girls arrived fast and furious, labors from start to finish in under 4 hours.

Boys are different, so I've been told, and oh boy this one started mucho different.

I won't start with the distinct differences during pregnancy, or the months of cramping and contractions (you call them "practice" all you want, this time around they hurt). Nor will I go into the false labor I experienced for the first time. I will begin this story with Labor...kinda.

I have a wonderful midwife. I met her in 2007 at one of my SIL births and I said then "If I ever get remarried and have more children I want her." No one else would do. And so when I got re-married and found out I was having another child I called her right up. She was unable to attend Jubilee's birth due to a series of unfortunate events, including but not limited to: I went into

labor early, I was at my SIL's house which is an additional 30 min from mine (she already lives close to 2 hours away) and she had never been there, it was snowing heavily, and she wasn't called till about an hour before Jubilee came.

6 months later I am calling her again, I told you no one else will do. Truly, I'd rather have her there after the birth then a different midwife during.

Now we'll get to the labor...Sunday night I was once again experiencing cramping, I was tired and so finished. Frustrated with all the pain and discomfort with seemingly nothing to show for it. Everyone kept saying "It's doing something." but I couldn't see what it was doing and had no idea how long my body would just keep doing something. I figured I should call my midwife, before it got too late that night and let her know what was going on. She assured me she was staying in town, which means less the 30 mins away, and to not hesitate to call her.

Isaiah stayed home from work the next morning and our big hic-up was Jubilee happily bathing my phone in the toilet, the result was a completely dead phone and all contacts lost. Meanwhile my concerned midwife was trying to reach my now trashed phone and just getting voice mail. Around 1 or 2 that afternoon as I was trying to get some rest she stopped by and asked if I wanted her to check me. When she did she exclaimed I was at a 4-5! Boy did that put a smile on my face and filled me with renewed energy, nearly halfway there, the easy half granted, but on my way. I jumped up ready to walk the baby out.

We walked and I got tired, came home and rested, walked some more, rested. Slowly others

began showing up. Besides my midwife, her assistant, and an extra midwife that was getting certified and needed another birth, I had invited 3 of my SILs, 6 neices, and my mom who was staying with us.

Throughout the day I was having contractions, but it didn't seem to be really moving. I walked, rested, rolled around on a yoga ball, and did it all over again. Finally around 10pm I was ready to try to get some sleep, midwife checked me again, easily stretched to a 7. Yes. Really. And I was ready to go to sleep! So I did, for about 5 hours. As for the full house, some went home and some settled down to sleep.

On Tuesday morning I woke up around 3am with cramping again, the morning was more of the

same, moving and resting. Around 10-10:30 the 3 midwife ladies said they would leave to give some space but not be too far. I asked if I could take some castor oil at this point, my midwife didn't have a problem with it. She even had a recipe to make a milkshake, saying that it binds with the dairy, with less cramping. The recipe called for 4oz, we did half that. The shake wasn't bad tasting, just a little funky aftertaste. Thankfully, I didn't get any crazy cramping, about two hours later I went to the bathroom once. I came out and told Isaiah to call the midwife back.

I quickly moved into some real and HARD contractions, as I quietly worked through them, tears fell off my face. "I did NOT want to do this", I said over and over, even though I knew it was a little late, I just wanted it to be done. When I began involuntarily pushing everyone quietly arranged themselves in my bedroom (16 bodies, not counting my own) and I sat on a birth stool in the corner with Isaiah behind me. As I sat on the stool I remember saying "Get this baby OUT!" It

seemed mere moments before my body began convulsively pushing again. Providence who had wanted to catch baby was pushed up to the front as my water bags emerged, slight pause and it broke as head came, another slight pause and body came out. As baby was handed to me I announced "It's a boy."

My reward: Asaph - 11lbs - 23 3/4in - born March 15th

41 Weeks Past

I have now been pregnant approximately 41 weeks (ok really 39 because the 40 week pregnancy wheel really starts at last cycle meaning conception takes place at week 2 of pregnancy) but for the sake of using the 40 schedule, because I have been, I am now 41 weeks. This is when I gave birth to Providence, a 9lb 12oz baby by the way. I think this one is going to top her, IF he/she ever wants to come out.

I think this feels so stretched out because I've (along with everyone around me) been ready and waiting for this baby for the last 4 weeks. Yes FOUR! I did that stupid thing I was saying over and over I wouldn't do- thought I would have the baby early, now baby's getting even.

I have a midwife appointment today, we'll measure this sucker and see that I'm still indeed growing (along with baby). That baby is doing fantastically well (seriously, how can baby move so much still, THERE IS NO MORE ROOM!) And that I could go at anytime. Guesses anyone?

Providence took this picture and I really liked it even if it's {just} a bit blurry.

Due Dates and Sisters

Jubilee absolutely adores Providence. She follows her around the house and wants to do everything she does. Sometimes she will even refuse to give me kisses, instead bestowing them on her very willing sister. I love that they can, and do, play together. Providence doesn't seem to mind the copy-cat, yesterday she even picked out "matching" outfits for the two of them. Later I caught them spinning around in circles till they fell down in the living room. Their giggles are infectious, and I'm sorry you can't hear them.

Today is my semi-official due date. I've thought this is a boy nearly the whole pregnancy, and would really like to add some testosterone to our estrogen filled house. Watching the girls together however makes me think throwing another one in the mix would be fun too (not to mention the convenience of clothing). Thankfully I don't get to choose, God in His infinite wisdom does and we'll joyfully receive the blessing He gives.

False Alarm

2am Saturday morning I awaken with contractions, an hour later although things hadn't progressed I was having regular contractions every 10 minutes and unable to fall back to sleep. Considering that both of my other labor and deliveries were about 4 hours from beginning to end I thought I should call my midwife, and make the other calls when I was unable to rest in bed through the contractions. I then lay in bed thinking about this little one I would be holding as the sun came up.

Then the sun came up, no change. My midwife suggested taking a walk so I walked around and around the block making calls and telling others it might be the day. While I definitely had stronger and more frequent contractions on the walk it would slow right back down to every 10 mins once I returned home. Mid-day no change, evening no change. I felt the fool alright every time I had to call someone to say nothings changed.

Finally around 8 two of my sister-in-laws decided to take their children home to bed. We then put our own kids down and watched a movie. I fell asleep around 10:30 and slept right on through (minus bathroom breaks) to the morning. I awoke to cramping gone and regular contractions gone.

FALSE ALARM! I didn't think my body did that.

Pregnancy Dreams

This baby is still holding on, 1 week left till due date, but my guess is I'm going past that. So still being pregnant I am still having pregnancy dreams. Truly I have these kind of dreams even when not pregnant but for some reason while with child they're called "pregnancy dreams."

Last night Providence got attacked by a cycloptic octopus while we were living in a tree in the middle of an ocean. It was really scary. When I woke up with a pounding heart I told Isaiah, no details or anything, me just saying the dream aloud makes it more dreamlike. He assured me Providence was fine.

Marching On

Although everything else is ready, I think I have a 40+ week baby here, which means waiting for March. All supplies for the birth have been sitting out ready to go for a couple weeks now.

And me, this is what I can see, belly and more belly. Legs and feet are a thing of the past, in fact the only reason I know I still have them is because they hurt!

I do have to admit I love watching and feeling baby move, and somehow this little one still finds room to do it, a lot!