A post I wrote back a month ago and forgot to post....
One week ago today my mom arrived to be an amazing helping hand with my crew. We were all so excited to have her be here, especially because it meant it was time for baby to come!
I was due July 15th, but have been 11 days late with my last two babies so we weren't expecting his/her arrival on time. It just so happened my entire crew had VBS this week which was an unexpected gift to have some mornings to spend with my mom, walking the beach, enjoying breakfast out, coffee dates, and organizing the house without 5 kids under foot. One of my twins doesn't normally do well in camp type settings, new leaders, new kids, new places but I, along with many others, were praying that the Lord would calm her heart and allow her to enjoy the fun of VBS and fun did she have! I was so proud of her and how well she did every day as she came out with a huge smile on her face telling me how great she did and how much fun she had. I love seeing them succeed and also finding joy in having a good day. We woke up Thursday morning brought the crew to VBS and came home to get some last organizing/cleaning done. We picked everyone up at noon, had lunch and put littles down for naps. I had a scheduled weekly checkup with my midwife at 3 that I was getting ready for. About 2:00 I noticed every once in a while some pains in my belly but didn't think anything of it because I had all back labor with my first two babies, which for those of you who have experienced it is a whole different ball game. I left the house at 2:30 for my appointment, but as I was driving the pains were getting a bit more intense and I had to actually focus some breathing through them. I walked into my birth center still not thinking too much of them. I had my check up and she said I was 3cm almost 4cm dilated and then asked if I was having any contractions. I told her I wasn't sure if they were actual contractions but I was having pains. She put my on the monitor and told me that she believed I was in labor. Me, I was still in denial. I texted Rob to let him know he might want to head home from work to get our bags packed. I got my IV put in, being strep B positive I needed a dose of antibiotics, since I needed the meds for 4 hours before delivery. They asked if I was good to go home, which I said I was and I headed out. The way home my contractions definitely became more intense and closer together. Once home we packed our bags, took a shower and got some food. For the past month my eldest daughter, Allie who is 7, has been asking to be at the birth. This wasn't something we took lightly and had many conversations over. I knew my labors normally were very fast, and sometimes intense, but I also knew that being a water birth and one at this beautiful center it made for a much more peaceful/comfortable birth. After watching a few water births with her and talking about the exciting and scary things that can happen, we decided to let her come with us. Allie packed up her things and we loaded in the car. At that point my contractions were 3-5 minutes a part but still not nearly intense as my other 3 labors. We arrived at the birth center at 6:45, got ourselves settled into our beautiful birthing suite that resembles more of a master bedroom with a large birthing tub, queen bed, leather couch and large bathroom. My midwife, midwife in training and a nurse were there to help in the labor. I spent the next hour walking the room, chatting between contractions and still in my mind thinking I wasn't very far along. at 8:00pm she checked me and to my surprise I was 8-9 cm dilated. Each of the women guessed the baby would be no more than 8 pounds, Rob and I laughed because that was the guess of Izzie and she came out 9.8 pounds! So we were anxious to see how much this one weighed. They filled the tub and I was more than ready to get in. Allie was just the cutest thing through labor. She was so excited and just full of joy. Her little feet couldn't stop moving and she just hung back watching. I hopped in the tub, which is my happy place. One of the sweetest memories from my labor was in between contractions in the tub I would look up and see Allie kneeling near the tub with the biggest smile on her face watching me. About an hour past and I still kept thinking that the midwives thought I was further along then I was because I am not nearly in the amount of pain I was with my others. but then 9:15 hit and my body was ready to get that baby out. Normally I do not like Rob in the tub, I don't like a lot of physical touch while in labor, but I couldn't get comfortable in the tub to push and so Rob hopped in to help hold my back and let me lean on him. Allie was right behind him and I think if I would have said yes she would have jumped in the tub with him. One and a half pushes later at 9:34pm a sweet baby entered this world. I grabbed him and put him on my chest and saw that yes It was a BOY! Allie and Rob were right behind me with pure joy on their face.
After a few minutes the midwives asked Rob if he was ready to cut the cord. He looks at Allie and said "Do you want to cut it". I realized we hadn't talked about this step, but she excitedly said "YES!" She came around the midwives, grabbed the scissors and cut it like a champ. They took baby Joshua from me as I moved from the tub to the bed. The did his vitals and measured him at a whopping 23 inches! 2 inches longer than my other 3 babies. Then moved him to the scale and weighed him at 9 pounds 13 ounces. Rob was a tad disappointed thinking he was so close to 10 pounds! Everyone else was shocked, I just laughed. My beasty boy. He was placed on my chest, Allie snuggled in next to me. I asked her what she thought and she says "It was just so exciting I could barely stand it". I was so proud of her. Proud that she was so brave, that she wanted to just be in the moment even when it was scary. She says, "It was only a little scary when you were pushing him out, but mom that is a big baby to push out of a little hole." I could only laugh and say yeah thats what I think too. Rob and I were so glad we decided to let her join us. It was one of the sweetest labors I have had and I love that she got to experience it with us, something we will all never forget. It was looking like we would head home by 12:30 that night, but had a few complications with my stinker body, but thankfully were able to head home by 3:30am. We arrived home, parked ourselves in bed, fed baby Joshua and got a little sleep.
8:00 that next morning my crew woke up not knowing the baby had been born! They came into my room crawled on the bed. I told them to turn around and look in the baby bed. The looked at him shocked then each one said "Can I see your belly?! The baby came out?". Of course Jake says is it a boy or a girl? A boy! yay! I was so happy we could come home so soon after the birth to experience them hearing of Joshua being born and them spending the first days with Josh and I in bed. I parked myself in my room for the next 48 hours. So thankful my mom and hubby were home to wrangle my troops and help take care of me and baby. Some of the sweetest moments were to have each of my kiddos come into my room at different times of the day snuggle in next to me, hold baby Josh and just chat. I love hearing their thoughts and questions of the baby and just life. It was a great chance to slow down and just be. Just be with each of them and give them their own time. Each one of the kiddos just adores him and is so excited he is here in our family. The twins have been so excited about him as well, which was an answer to prayer. So here I am 3 days after welcoming him into this world so thankful. Thankful for an easy birth since Allie was there and she was able to witness the miracle of life. Thankful for this family that is so full of love. Thankful my hubby has been home all weekend and so thankful for a mom who will be here for 2 more weeks to help me figure out life with 6 little people. Thankful. Blessed. Welcome to this crazy, fun, silly, joy filled family Joshua Jon, hold on for the ride.
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