New Decade, New Year, New Baby!

Has it really been a whole week? It’s weird how it feels as though the world pauses when we have major life changes, but really it’s only our world. The kids at school are still learning, people are still shopping, lives are still being lived, but somehow ours are paused—focused on this little life that has forever changed our family. And what a beautiful change it is! A fresh start to a new decade, a new year. A reminder of God’s mercy and love—our sweet Juliet. Before we get whiplash as we’re zipped back into the mainstream of life, I thought I’d try to document all the NEWness.

As much as I tried to get our little one out on MY terms, it didn’t seem to work. She was staying put until she was good and ready to come out—and wouldn’t you know that was approximately 10 hours after my (well, technically the government tax board’s) deadline. She’s worth every penny we could have saved. The two days before Juliet’s arrival, I had noticed some changes. I was SUPER tired—like couldn’t keep my eyes open, MUST take a nap, TIRED. I was also having some irregular contractions. I tried to get those contractions more regular by WALKING, walking, and wAlKiNg some more.

On New Year’s Eve I had a super yummy and enjoyable breakfast with some amazing women. I was pretty sure that no baby business was happening, but by the evening I wasn’t feeling up to going anywhere because I was sooooo tired. We opted to go over to Justin’s parent’s house and have some fondue and crab legs and wait for Kurt and Alisha to come hang out. After a little Wii Resort, I was feeling some contractions and had noticed some other signs that *could* mean labor, but could also mean labor in a week, so I wasn’t sure what to think. I did call my sis and tell her because it was worth mentioning. We considered having Aubrey stay the night with Justin’s parents, but I was trying not to get my hopes up, so we all headed home at about 9:30. All contractions pretty much stopped, but I was hoping for an early morning wake-up call from my body. Sure enough, at about 2am I woke up with cramps—intense period like cramps. YES! I recognized these from Aubrey and my miscarriage, this was the real deal.

My contractions weren’t coming at regular intervals yet, but I was sure that it was the real deal, so I decided to take a shower, do my hair and make-up and, OF COURSE, get on facebook (because what else is there to do when you’re in labor at 2am). At about 3:00am the contractions started to come at more regular intervals and get more intense, but I still thought I’d try to wait as long as possible before waking up Justin. I cleaned a little, stop to breathe through a contraction, switched laundry, breathe, facebook, breathe… you get the idea. I started timing the contractions on the computer at 3:30am and after a half hour of tracking woke Justin up at about 4am. I told him to shower and get ready, but I think he was doubtful. He got ready, but then upon looking at my timing chart, was worried we wouldn’t be admitted (He didn’t think the intervals were exact enough). I called the Dr. anyways (I felt bad waking him up so early on New Year’s morning) and he told me to head to the hospital. Grandma Kim literally FLEW over to our house to stay with Aubrey and we were off to have a baby!

Our drive to the hospital was full of fog and drunk drivers. Literally, had I been a cop, I could have TOTALLY arrested at least 3 drivers on the way there. Luckily, we arrived safely. We got checked in only to have my contractions STOP. WHAT?! No, NOT AGAIN?! With Aubrey I had a similar experience and they sent me home because it was false labor. I was nervous that this would be a repeat and to be honest, I think the L&D nurse was pretty sure that was the case also. I guess I was a little too chipper to be in REAL labor. She hooked me up to the monitors and told me they would monitor me for the next 30 minutes to see my contraction pattern and then check me before I would be admitted. I joked that I better get these contractions back in action and Justin gave me the look, like, not again. First 7-10 minutes…NOTHING, and then, BAM, some contractions that made up for the long pause in contractions. They were intense, but soooo much better than pitocin labor. I got a break in between these contractions and that break was AMAZING. The contractions kept coming and seemed to get more intense each time. I was ready for an epidural, whether or not this was false labor ;) Finally, at about 6:15 the nurse came to check me. I was hoping, praying for at least a 3 or 4cm so they would keep me. To both of our surprise I was at 6cm and 100% effaced. WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A BABY! We started making some calls and I immediately asked for an epidural. Unfortunately, they were having a hard time getting the anesthesiologist to answer his phone. Apparently, he had a little too much fun on New Year’s Eve. Finally, he and my OB arrived around 7:45 and he started to prep me for my epidural.

The contractions had proceeded to get more intense, but I had gotten into a good groove with my breathing. Still, I was SOOO HAPPY to see the anesthesiologist. By about 8:15 they were done with my epidural and Alisha, Kim and Papa CC arrived. I was a much happier camper. It was the perfect epidural, just like with Aubrey. Enough to take the edge off, but not be numb. As we chatted, I noticed that I was having to breathe through my contractions and they were getting MUCH closer together. I felt a lot of pressure, but it had only been like 45 minutes. I didn’t want to be overreacting, but finally decided to have the nurse check me. Everyone left the room and she checked. I was a 10…I WAS READY?! The Dr. had gone to check another patient, so they prepped the room. The baby was still high (0 station), but they thought that was because my water was still intact. The Dr. would break it when he got there (he was checking on another patient).

10 minutes later, in walks Dr. F. It was all a whirlwind. It seemed to happen so quickly. He broke my water and told me I was ready to push at the next contraction. Three pushes later out came her head and then the rest of her. I looked down as the nurse told me it was a girl. My first words, “she’s a peanut”, ironic considering my first words with Aubrey were, “she’s huge”. They put her on my chest and I was instantly in love. I couldn’t figure out where this tiny little baby came from, but I was oh so thankful she was ours. Thanks to a new hospital policy, I got to be a baby hog and snuggle with my little lady for the next 1 ½ hours. Family and friends came and left and soon Grandpa Brad brought the most important visitor of all, Big Sister, Aubrey Paige.

The hospital and the fact that I was laying down nursing Juliet side to side (part of the hospital policy), was all a bit confusing to her, but she was still so affectionate and sweet. She didn’t like the idea of us having to stay at the hospital because—in her words, “I just love you and the baby so, so much. I want you to come home with me”, but once she realized she was going home with Auntie Christy and Bubba and Papa Steve would be there to play with her, she was happy to go. She came back with Christy later to visit and was able to hold her sister for the first time. The rest is all a blur of a sleepless night and an adrenaline high because little Miss Juliet Noelle was the newest member of our family and she was absolutely perfect.

Thank you, God, for this New Year’s blessing!




....and thank you Lorie Chambless for the precious pictures.