...Then There Were Four

(Written over the course of the last couple of days...)

I am absolutely, positively, shell-shocked by how quickly our family became four yesterday.  It's already a blur today, and I don't want it to become more so, which has compelled me to document it now despite my sleepy fog...

Yesterday morning, I woke up at the first sound of my alarm to jump in the shower and begin to prepare to get Emmy to Mom's Day Out.  I felt a strong urge to pack a go-bag for Emmy and to get the last few items in my own.  I know how important it is to listen to these urges, because it's usually God giving me direction.

I got Emmy to school with just enough time to get to my 9:10 am doctor's appointment.  I plopped down in the waiting room--grateful to be sitting--and feeling hopeful that some significant progress had been made.  In the last few days, I had started feeling increasing contractions and uncomfortable cramping and general fatigue.  I just couldn't imagine carrying on feeling like that much longer.  I had joked with Nick earlier that I hoped Dr. Anderson would tell me that "he couldn't in good conscience send me home."  After sharing the good news about my "status," "stripping my membranes," and acknowledging my discomfort, Dr. Anderson gave me his personal number to text if I changed my mind about induction, since he was on-call for the night.  He reassured me that we had options, that didn't just involve hooking me up to pitocin (something I was hoping to avoid this time around.)

I left the appointment and called Nick immediately.  He didn't answer his work line (and his personal cell phone doesn't get service in his building), so I hung up and called Kris as I was rushing off to a coffee date with my good friend, Chelsea.  I guess I had turned my ringer way down while at my appointment, because I missed all five of Nick's return phone calls, which then prompted him to call Kris.  I find great humor in the exchange that they shared:

K: "Are you at the hospital?!?!?"
N: "Should I be?!?" ( while turning on the ignition to his car)
K: "Wait, have you talked to Ali??"
N: "No, I can't get ahold of her, that's why I'm calling you..."
Luckily, before the conversation went any further, they were able to get on the same page, and not long after I got to weigh in.

Pretty immediately after Dr. Anderson "stripped my membranes" I started having fairly regular contractions.  They continued throughout my coffee date, but they weren't intensifying (I was still able to talk through them.)  By the time Nick and I connected on the phone, I was hopeful that I was in the early stages of labor.  He told me he was coming home, and we decided to set a time, that, if the labor wasn't progressing we would text Dr. Anderson to go in to the hospital and induce (or as I chose to think of it "help things along.")  I chatted with Lindsay about our plan when I picked Emmy up from Mom's Day Out and we were good to go.

After putting Emmy down for her nap, I climbed on the treadmill for the first time in roughly five months (I have PTSD from Emmy throwing things at me mid-workout).  I knocked out 2 miles, while watching the first snow fall of the season.  I was successful in ramping up the contractions...until I stopped walking. :-/  The contractions were pretty regularly 3-5 minutes apart but there were some 10 minute or so gaps between contractions.  When I wasn't walking they reverted back to the mild belly-tightening contractions I had been having before.  So, I climbed back on the treadmill to cover another mile and a half.  I found myself in a similar predicament after the last stretch of my treadmill trek as I did the previous one.  To compound my situation, I realized that, should I deliver anytime after midnight, our sweet little miss would have a birthday of Friday the 13th.  I'm not a hugely superstitious person, but as a mom hoping to give her daughter the best start possible, I really preferred that she not kick-start life on a notoriously cursed day.  So, we decided to text Dr. Anderson to admit us into the hospital at 5pm to "induce."

After a quick shower and throwing all of our bags and our teething-ring-bracelet toting Emmy in the car, we were hospital bound.  It didn't take me long to notice that the contractions were back and ramping up again, only this time during my inactivity.  I took this as a good sign that we made the right choice to proceed to the hospital.  Lindsay met us in the hospital parking lot and after giving kisses and waving goodbye to our Emmy girl we were off to our room.

The contractions kept coming as we got situated into our room.  By 6:15pm, my IV was in and fluids were running.  By 6:30pm, Dr. Anderson had come in and confirmed that I was 4cm and 80% effaced and broke my water.  My epidural was placed and working beautifully by 7:15pm.  It all went to quickly and so smoothly!  I had time to kick back and update my cheering section, catch up on some celebrity gossip, and chat with my Nick, of course.  Around 8:30pm or so, I started feeling a bit nauseated, which was tolerable when I laid back and closed my eyes.  I figured I'd overdone it with the ice chips.  At 9:10pm or so, one of the Labor and Delivery nurses came in to "check me" for my primary nurse (who happened to be in a c-section with another one of her patients.)  All I know is that she said I was "ready to have a baby" and started turning on all the lights and bringing in lots of equipment.  I was still dumb-founded by my rapid progression when Dr. Anderson arrived from home at about 9:25pm.  He threw on his gear, and, after two contractions of pushing, Hannah was born at 9:33pm.  Watching the aftermath unfold from my perch was surreal.  I just couldn't believe how quickly and seamlessly the entire experience had played out.  I was mesmerized by the beauty of my newest little angel and in awe of how quickly the heart can double in size.

After we briefly met Hannah's acquaintance in the delivery room and snuck in a feeding, she was off to the nursery for bathtime.  It struck me very early on just how much better I felt after delivering Hannah versus delivering Emmy.  There's a lot to be said about your body being ready to deliver and not relying on medication to get the ball rolling.  Noted.

We decided that we would divide and conquer caring for our girls on both the hospital and home fronts.  Nick took over Emmy duty from the wonderful Head family on Friday morning while I enjoyed my hospital vacation with Hannah.  I was sure to cherish the alone time with Hannah, knowing that it would be more difficult to carve out having big sister Emmy to keep up with at home.  From the time that we've had together, I can say that Hannah is one sleepy little peanut.  She is a master-cuddler and her cries are only to call attention to her immediate needs (usually a diaper change or wanting to cuddle, as she's still a sleepy eater at this point.)  I had forgotten how incredible it is to cuddle a newborn and to feel their soft skin and drink in their sweet smell.  Amazing.

Come this morning (Saturday the 14th) I was very ready for our family to be reunited!  The Andrjeskis so kindly took Emmy girl in for a few hours so that Nick could come bring us home.  From the time Emmy climbed into the car, her face lit up with excitement and was singularly focused on giving Hannah kisses.  Once we arrived home, Emmy was eager to show Hannah all of her toys, particularly her blocks, stuffed octopus and, of course, Bobby.  Hannah hasn't shown any interest in the pacifier, which is a complete mystery to Emmy, who keeps trying to force it on her.  The dogs are also intrigued by Hannah, and doing their best to get close to sniff and lick her.  I understand completely that it's going to take some time for everyone to become accustomed to our new normal, and when we do, it will be so much greater than we all could have ever imagined.  Honestly, it already is.

Emmy and Dane playing during bathtime! (I stole the next few pictures from Lindsay! Thank you!!)

The two Emmy's playing before bed. :)

Emmy meets Hannah through the window! She was too young to come visit us in Post Partum.

Not really sure what to make of all this.

Wearing the same outfit Emmy wore in the hospital.

Sleepy girl.

Ready to go home! Just waiting on everyone else!

First breath of fresh air!  Finally made it to the car.

I stole the next pictures from Derek and Mel, and I will also steal their captions, because they couldn't be said any better (and I laugh each time I think about them :-P):

"Haley and Emmy on break"

"She eats. She works. It's that simple."

"Cheese unites all people.  Write that down."

Finally, Baby Hannah fills her carseat.  Emmy's been telling everyone she crosses paths with about Baby Hannah's carseat.

Yay!!!

Their first cuddles!

All three of my loves.

One of many, many, many kisses Hannah has received from Emmy today.

All clean!

Pre-bedtime story.  We read "On the Night You Were Born" in honor of Baby Hannah's birthday.

My girls!!!