Kaia's First Week

Meeting Uncle Seth.

So cozy!

"Helping" Auntie Jenny make brownies!

Starting to wake up.

I also got a great photo of Craig & Jenny that I just can't share. They went on a 4-wheeler ride & got caught in a downpour. They were sopping wet when they came in. I was tempted to post the photo, but I figured Jenny wouldn't appreciate it too much. Seeing as how she was here helping with everything for two days I don't want to offend her! Thanks to everyone that came to visit & for all the help we've gotten.

Yet Another Post About Giving Birth

This is the last one I promise.

Those of you following along might realize this photo was taken on Monday night. The night we spent 6 hours at the hospital to find that after being there through the night & walking & walking waay to early in the morning that it just wasn't happening. At least not right then. We went home after I had only progressed to 4 cm. We got home at 7am & crashed until early afternoon. I took an hour long nap in the late afternoon & then made supper & got the kids ready for school the next day & bed as usual. Craig & I were in bed by 9:30 thinking that nothing was happening at all. By this point my contractions had all but stopped. Imagine my surprise when I rolled over at 12:30am & felt a small gush of water. I jumped out of bed & told Craig I thought my water just broke. I repeated myself 3 times as he kept asking me what over & over. Finally he got the picture & jumped out of bed too when I said, "I. THINK. MY. WATER. JUST. BROKE!!" I called my midwife & told her that it had indeed broken, but I wasn't having any contractions & that we were tired of making fruitless trips to the hospital. She strongly suggested we come in anyway, so we thought we'd slowly get ready & head in. When I was talking to my mother-in-law I had my first contraction. When I was talking to my doula I had my second & third. At this point we decided we better call the neighbors again & head out to the hospital. I continued to contract the whole way there with water gushing out at each contraction. Craig wheeled me up to maternity, not because of great pain, but because I didn't want a water trail left behind me!

Here I am 2 hours after my water broke. It looks real this time, doesn't it? I have to admit that an epidural crossed my mind. This was going to be my last birth. I deserved to at least try an epidural once, right? Marjan said, "Well you can get one, but you won't get to have a water birth then." Oh yeah. Speaking of water birth it didn't exactly happen. By the time the tub was filled & I got the go ahead the contractions were fast & furious. I was in the tub for 10 minutes when I was told I needed to get out, because the water was too hot & they needed to get the temperature down. I swear all I did was get on my knees to get out & I had to push right then. So, imagine how fun it was climbing out of the tub at that point! I spent two pushing contractions on my hands & knees on the bed & two on my back & Kaia was born. Two hours after arriving at the hospital! Good thing we got there when we did!

Kaia makes her debut.

Marjan gives her the first bath.

Meeting Micah and Ayla.

Kaia Rose.....

Born a mere 2 hours after we arrived at the hospital for the final time!

4:07am September 17, 2008

7 pounds 3 ounces

19 3/4 inches

Blecch!

This whole labor & birth thing is really getting on my nerves. We had ANOTHER false alarm last night. I started having regular contractions so I called my mid-wife & she wanted to check me. We got there at about 11pm & by mid-night we knew that although my contractions were strong & 5 minutes apart I was still only dilated to a 3. We slept (ha! have you ever tried to sleep in a hospital bed, hooked up to a monitor while having contractions?) for 2 1/2 hours & then the nurse came& checked me & I had progressed to a 4. We slept for 2 more hours before my mid-wife checked me to find that I was still at a 4 & that the baby's head had actually moved up a bit! Oh & my contractions had moved to 9 or 10 minutes apart. So next up, 1 1/2 hours of walking circles in the hospital hallway. Next check I was still a 4 even though baby's head had moved down & I was feeling lots of pressure & more intense contractions. We talked about breaking my water, but that just wasn't something I felt comfortable with being that I was only a 4 & still 3 weeks from my due date. We finally decided to head home & get some "real" sleep, so that's where it stands. I'm sore all over & my contractions have slowed to about 3 or 4 an hour & they aren't nearly as intense as they were last night. Sigh! This is getting old fast. At this point Craig, my friend Marjan (who is being my doula) & my mother-in-law are all here twiddling their thumbs. I guess it's back to life as normal tomorrow unless we have progression today. Hopefully the next post on here will be a photo of this baby that seems to be so comfortable in my belly!

False Alarm

Well guys, we're home again!! There has been no change since my appointment on Wednesday as far as dilation & effacement goes. We hung around town all day today just in case. At first there was more plug coming out, more intense pressure & some cramping, but all that has stopped for now. We decided to come home & rest. The kids are having a sleep-over with some friends & get to see the Blue Angels performance tomorrow, so no worries about them. We're looking at today & tonight as our last date for a while. The other piece of good news is that after midnight tonight I have the hospital's go ahead to have a water birth. If I had been in labor today it would have been against the rules since I'm not quite 37 weeks yet. So, although we're a bit disappointed to be home and STILL pregnant it's actually all good. Thanks for the comments & well wishes, we'll keep you updated.

Going To The Hospital

We're on our way! My contractions are irregular, but I lost my plug. So, going by how fast & relatively painless Ayla's birth started out to be we're taking this as our cue to head out. More later!

Giving Birth

I think it might be soon. I still feel good, but I just got back from my latest ob check. I'm already dilated somewhere between a 2 & 3. I know that doesn't mean much for some, but for me it means a lot. When I was pregnant with Micah I was dilated to a 1 at my 40 week check. When we arrived at the hospital about 12 hours later I was at a 9 & had him a few hours later. They stopped my labor with Ayla at 35 1/2 weeks when I was dilated to a 1. Three days later I went for my 36 week check & was shocked to learn I was at a 6. I had her 4 hours later! So, I'm thinking we could be holding a baby by this weekend. We'll keep you updated!

Home Alone

I don't feel sad and that makes me feel strange. Maybe it just hasn't sunk in yet. Both of my babies are gone! Micah got on the bus at 7:25 & won't be home until 3:40. I dropped Ayla off at preschool at 8:30 & will go back to pick her up at 11:30. I guess it helps that Traleigh will be here at 9:30. She'll keep me in practice until our little one arrives.

Waiting for the bus.

Getting on the bus.

Arriving at preschool.

Saturday Evening Bonfire

Last but not least, our very own booty-butt babe's booty!

I Don't Know Where She Gets It From

Craig started back to school tonight. The days that Craig has school after work are soooo long. I usually have the kids in bed by 7:30. We have an early supper, play a game or two and then read together. After our game of Trouble I told the kids to go get the chapter book we've been reading. It was upstairs in Micah's room, but you'd think I asked them to walk to Alaska by the reaction I got. OK, no book then, no big deal to me. Of course that didn't fly either. Micah dragged himself up the stairs complaining the whole way, "It's not fair, I'm the one that always has to go get the book, whine, whine, whine." Ayla's response? A very pathetic sounding, "That's because everything hurts on me." As in all her body parts. Maybe you have to know Ayla to find this funny. Micah and I laughed until Ayla started crying. That really isn't as mean as it sounds. It doesn't take much. She is the most dramatic, funny, cute, pathetic thing. I don't know how else to describe her. I really wonder how preschool is going to go. Guess we'll find out soon.

The Best Part Of Vacation

Is snuggling with my two little alarm clocks.

I missed this the most when they were gone. I'm really going to miss it when school starts next week. Extra snuggle time is just one thing to love weekends for. What do you love the most about weekends and vacations?