Ian's Birth Story

On Tuesday April 5, at 3am I woke up with strong menstrual-like cramps.  They were strong enough to keep me awake, so I decided to pack my hospital bag (no, my hospital bag still had not been packed!), and then I thought I should paint my toenails.   So as I was painting them (at 3am in the bathroom), Isabel walks in from having had a bad dream and asks if I could sleep in her room.  I thought, "Why not?  I might as well lie in there for the next few hours since I can't sleep anyway!"  I ended up falling asleep and was awoken at 6am by my water breaking!  It wasn't a huge gush, but enough to make me realize this was it!  It continued to trickle for a few minutes and so I decided to take a shower and get ready because today was Baby Day!  By 6:30am I was having regular contractions 4-5 minutes apart.

My mom had come into town on Sunday (anticipating the big day!) and so she took the last picture of the three of us, before we headed off to my regular OBGYN appointment at 8:30am. 

We got there and the doctor checked me (I was 3cm!) and agreed that I had ruptured my bag of water up near the top, which is why it wasn't a huge gush, and that they would still rupture my bag a little lower, once we got to the hospital.  She called ahead to let labor and delivery know to expect me, while Rob and I quickly drove next door to McDonald's to eat something before I would be stuck not eating anything!! 

When we got to the hospital it was about 9:30am and we were quickly checked into a room, and admitted.  They hooked me up to an IV and said I could walk the halls.  Here is a pic of me getting ready to walk the halls....I was really happy at the point (in between contractions) :)

We started walking the halls and that lasted all of 10 minutes before my contractions were so awful I needed to return to my room!! LOL!  (We did NOT take a picture of that!)

At noon I got my epidural and then I was in heaven...it was by far the easiest and best epidural I've had.  I think I was 4cm at that point.  Then by about 2pm I was 8cm and by 4pm I was 10!!!!!

Can you tell I was excited??? :)

I pushed for about 10 minutes I guess....it was 2 contractions worth of pushing, so maybe not really 10 minutes.  And little Ian was born at 4:15pm! 

Proud Daddy! 

That was pretty much it!  We were discharged from the hospital about 26 hours after he was born!  More pics to follow! :)

Sorry it took so long to post all this!  I've been in baby bliss for the last week!

He's here!!!!!!!!!!

Ian Gerard Holmes

April 5, 2011

4:15pm

8 pounds, 8 ounces

21 inches

Ian = "God is gracious"

Gerard = St. Gerard Majella's birthday is April 6th (my due date).

We are all doing great!  Can't wait to fill you in on the birth story! :)  Thanks for all the prayers!!!

I'm in Labor!!! *update 3pm*

Will try to update!  Had doc apptmt at 8:30am and she admitted me at 3cm.  Walked halls for awhile and got epidural at 12:00pm.

12:30pm:  4cm   Feeling great with my epi :)

***Update***  2:30pm:  8cm!!!!!!!!!!!!!

39 weeks and everything's big!!!

On Tuesday I went for my "39 week checkup", except according to my OBGYN, I was 38 weeks and 6 days, and she would not do a membrane sweep since I was not 39 weeks.  I was a little perturbed....she laughed that I "probably wanted to smack her right now" and she couldn't have been more right!!!  So I guess God really didn't want me to have it done...because if I haven't gone into labor by my next appointment, what's another few days??

I argued that according to my dates, I was really 39+2 weeks, but she wouldn't hear it.  So we did a cervical check and the normal heartrate, blood pressure, weight check, etc. 

If she hadn't told me that I had made progress....(I am now 1.5cm, 70% effaced and baby has moved down a tad to -2 station)...then I would have lost it.  Despite the happy news that I am progressing down below, I was an emotional mess on Wednesday...crying over pretty much everything.

It seems pretty pathetic really.  I have mood swings that take me from "why can't I just have go into labor now? I'm going to be pregnant for-ev-er!!!!!!" to "Hey, it's not like I can be pregnant for more than another week and a half!  We are sooooo close!"   And I can't help it....it's just one moment I'm feeling optimistic and dare I say patient, and then the next I'm an impatient little mess of a child. 

My opinion on this is that first of all, most women around these last few weeks have a natural inclination to want to "be done" and meet their baby.  You're tired, achy, emotional and want the baby out.  It's hard to wait.

For those who have lost multiple pregnancies, I wonder if this time is even more difficult.  Finally, I am really, possibly on the verge of meeting a baby who we have waited for... for well, about 3 1/2 years!  We started losing babies when Isabel was 1 1/2 and now she is just about to turn 5!  It's mind-blowing.   And the last three weeks have been wrought with a renewed fear of "I'm so close....what if something goes wrong in these last few weeks?"  "What if something goes wrong, and we could have taken him out early...like at 37 or 38 or 39 weeks?"  I've been having to recommit myself to handing this over to God....in many small steps throughout each day.  But to say that it's not been extra-emotional would be a lie. 

Everything else from the appointment was great...except my weight gain!!  *blush*  I'm up to 53lbs gained so far!  Oh boy....and you can see it ;)

Still, why deny it???  It's just the way I grow babies I guess ;)

Why pregnant women shouldn't hold containers of flour...

Seriously???

I made Isabel take a picture of me and my mess...

Oh don't mind my disturbingly disheveled pantry....I had to reorganize it after I vaccummed out all the flour.

It was in every crevice, nook and cranny.

I blame my slippery pregnancy fingers.

38 week appointment and preparing.

My 38 week appointment was more of a disappointment!

To hear that I am still 1cm, 50% effaced and -3 station for the THIRD WEEK IN A ROW was a bit frustrating, to say the least.

I know...quit complaining!  The baby will come when he's ready!

In the meantime I feel like I need to prepare...
But lately I've been having thoughts of a different preparation.
Of course I have my lists for preparing for baby to arrive....all the things that are left "to-do" and of course the stuff that I make up to-do, so that I don't run out of things to-do!!
But yesterday as I was watering the grass by hand with the hose, this passage from the bible came to me:

³⁷"For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.  ³⁸"For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
 ³⁹and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 

I stood there watering and thought that it could be just like that....I could be doing a regular everyday task...just like I was then....watering the lawn.  Am I prepared?

And not even spiritual preparation (although I would argue that is the most important), but considering recent natural disasters like the earthquake and devastation in Japan, or the tornadoes last night in the midwest....am I prepared to deal with something like that? 

Do I have food, water, batteries?  How would I contact my family or friends if cell phone communication went down?

Preparation.

Is it stupid to be prepared for something that may or may not happen?  Is it illogical to have a basic plan in the event of an emergency or natural disaster? 

Some would argue "yes". 

I happen to think it's smart. 

And while I may be prepared to meet this baby, I am certainly under-prepared to meet some of these other circumstances. 

It's time to start preparing.

Quick Takes Friday

Wow...Friday again??  Where is the time going??

1.  First, Rob is doing quite a bit better....I think yesterday (Day 8 since surgery) he started to turn a corner!  Which is really good since his meds are starting to run out!  He was up quite a bit yesterday, and talked more than I've heard him talk in the last week!  He even was able to eat a little bit of pad thai!!  Go baby! :)

2.  Today is Rob's birthday!  Happy 31st Birthday, Sweetie!  Now we are on our way to 40!  Okay...well, 35! ;)

3.  I made a cheesecake for his birthday (thought it might be soft enough for him to have a few bites and it looks beautiful!  I'm super excited about it!  Maybe I will post a pic tonight once it's all chilled and birthday-ready with a candle!  I hope it's delicious!  I happen to LOVE cheesecake....who's birthday is it again?

4.  I am sooooooo ready for this baby to come out.  The newest thing going on with me is a sharp, searing hot pain in my right hip when I cough....lovely.  And sometimes when I'm just sitting or standing around.  Maybe I could cough the baby out....hmm....I'll have to try this!

5.  My brother and his girlfriend brought me dinner last night (sooooo sweet!)....I chose sushi.  Really good sushi.  Yes, I know I shouldn't be eating raw fish when I'm pregnant...it was a roll and I think it had eel in it.  And it was delicious...I do not feel guilty.  It was so nice not to have to make dinner!!!  Thanks Matt and Cassie!

6.  The weather is GORGEOUS today....the high is supposed to be in the low 80s!!!!!!!  I've been trying to do a little re-landscaping outside to put me into labor ;)  And I'll have to get back out today and do some more! 

7.  This morning has been soooo productive!  I'm really into productivity!  I got up and showered, made coffee, made 2 batches of homemade potato soup  (1 for us for dinner and 1 to take to a family who just had a baby), then I simultaneously made birthday pancakes for Rob as well as started the cheesecake!!!  Oh wait, and I forgot that I made a chocolate pudding pie for the family who just had a baby, as well!  Busy, busy, busy!  But feels so good to get all that done and now I've got the rest of the afternoon free until I need to deliver the dinner tonight!  Go me!  Maybe all this action coupled with the supermoon tomorrow night will do the trick!