Quincy Jane's Birth Story

You know the part where life gets so good that you have to pinch yourself over and over to make sure it's real?  I'm there.  All the pieces of the puzzle seem to have come together and I am as content, happy and complete as I've ever been.  Which has left me savoring every moment and putting off blogging about any of it!  But, here we are on her due date and she's already 15 days old, so it seems an appropriate time to add the story of her origins to the blog.  Let me start at the beginning.

I went in for my 37 week appointment on April 4th wondering how much progress all of the contractions I'd been having had made.  Quincy was so low, it seriously felt like she could pop out unannounced at any moment.  I was crossing my fingers (and legs) that she'd wait until my mom arrived on Thursday, but all signs were pointing to "any moment now."  In fact, I even snapped this picture of my belly before I left the house, thinking it could be the last belly shot.   ...and a shot of my gloriously unswollen feet!  It was a first for me to not be a little swollen in the ankles at the end, so it seemed noteworthy!  Basically, I knew something was up.

After sitting in the crowded waiting room at my OB's office for three hours, I was finally called back.  Tired and a little mind-numb from sitting for so long, I really wasn't prepared for the reaction I got upon examination.  Apparently, I was SO effaced that my Dr. thought I was complete for a few seconds and thought she may be catching a baby right there in the exam room!  That was amusing.  In reality, I was 5cm, 100% effaced with the baby below 0 station and my water bag bulging.   Basically, I was a ticking time bomb and she was shocked my water hadn't broken in the waiting room!  I started getting excited that the time was near, but was not quite prepared when she said I should head to the hospital right then.  My mind went a little ..........                                                         ............ blank.

I told her I was confused why I should go to the hospital if I wasn't in labor and was totally prepared to head home and say "no thanks."  But, there was a huge storm headed our way with potential for very high winds, golf ball sized hale and tornadoes and some certain heavy rain and thunderstorms.  She was very concerned that my water would break, send me into a quick labor and find me unable to get to the hospital in time.  Then she threw in that they could just break my water the next morning (if it hadn't broken on it's own in the night) to send me into labor and have me delivered the next day.  I wasn't so hot on that part of the plan until she added that she was leaving town on Thursday morning and wouldn't be able to be reached to consult with the on call Dr who would deliver me if I happened to somehow stay pregnant for three more days.  Which basically meant, either I deliver with her in the next couple days, or I wait and potentially secure myself a visit to the OR for a c-section with the on-call who'd almost certainly section me.  I told her it was a deal and left the office stunned.  After covering my seat with the garbage bag and towel I had waiting in my car "just in case," I headed home and called Dustin to fill him in.  It was go time!

After an hour or so spent lining up help with the kids via our amazing friends/neighbors, the Maples, and gathering items, we snapped a quick "final family of four" photo, got the kids to bed and headed off to the hospital.  Between the thunderstorm and knowing we were about to have a baby, it was quite an exciting ride!

Dustin stuck around long enough to see that I was settled in then came back home to be with the kids and get some decent rest before "showtime."  That night involved a lot of poking and prodding to get the IV started, the blood tests ran, the monitors hooked up, etc.  My first nurse failed miserably at getting my IV placed and after ruining three perfectly good veins and filling my forearm with IV fluid, I was stuck getting my IV on my hand.  That was "unfortunate" as the nurse put it.  I concur.

This became my bathroom buddy as I found myself pulling it in there with me about a dozen times during the night.  Oh, joy!

I woke up at 6am the next morning, water bag still intact, feeling anxious and questioning my decision.  I kept coming to the same conclusion though.  I would rather kickstart labor slightly early and ensure a decent shot at a VBAC, than wait, somehow make it a few more days until my OB was gone, and end up with a c-section because of an unwilling doctor.  I was pretty sure my water would be breaking on it's own any second anyway, so it didn't really feel like cheating.  Around 8am, Dustin showed up again and we waited.  By 9:30am, in came my doctor.  Ten minutes later, my water was broken and the real wait began.  So, I did what anyone waiting for contractions would do.  I took pictures to document.

The man.

The soundtrack.  A little Innocence Mission and The Civil Wars.

The refreshments.

My feet.... obviously bored as the contractions weren't exactly picking up from the water breaking.  So, we started a very slow pitocin drip around 1:15pm.

A little nap on his part as the contractions picked up.

Dustin went for some lunch and I took the final belly shot while listening to some Innocence Mission on the iPod.  Contractions were about 5 minutes apart and easy to breathe through at that point.  It was one of my favorite parts of labor.

Soon, they were spacing about 4 minutes apart and getting some work done.  I went from a 5 to a 7 the first hour on pitocin and was still texting and laughing and feeling AMAZED at the ease with which I was progressing.  Though I was well aware it would get harder soon, labor was going perfect and I was enjoying every second of it.

I asked Dustin to take a picture, but by the time he got the camera ready a contraction was about to begin.  This is the look of "Seriously, you're going to take it NOW?"

And this is what a contraction looks like.  DEEP breathing as we approached transition.  The doctor said I looked like I was at a yoga retreat when she walked in the room in the middle of one.

The rest of the story unfolded rather quickly.  I ended up on all fours with the lower section of the bed dropped down as I neared transition and the contractions started hurting across my back. I think it was nearing 5 o'clock at that point.  No stranger to back labor, thanks to Naomi's birth, I knew just what to do... and luckily, so did Dustin!  He was the BEST birth partner ever. Seriously.  So good that while I was at a 9 and between contractions, I told him he was doing so good, he deserved a motorcycle.  He was THAT good!  He pressed on my back as hard as he could each contraction, which didn't make it painless, but certainly took the edge off.  He even rubbed my back a few times between contractions and helped with the bed pan while the nurses left us to ourselves (best nurses ever).  I had about a dozen pillows I was using to support my belly that he kept helping me readjust and I'm pretty sure he'd have fanned me off with a giant leaf if I'd asked him to.  He was perfect.

I remember being checked a few times and the Dr. popping in to see how things were progressing.  At that point I was feeling a lot of pressure with the contractions, was at a 9 with just a lip of cervix left and we knew it was close to time.  She asked for five minutes of warning to make it back from her office across the street and left.  I spent a contraction with my head in a bed pan feeling nauseous, but I never actually threw up.  Thank goodness!  The nurse was watching the monitor from the nurses station, which left Dustin and I to ourselves.  The pressure suddenly got serious.  Next thing I know, I feel like I need the bed pan (not to throw up this time...).  The nurse could see that I was starting to push during contractions, ran in and started panicking to get the dr back up to the room.  The rest is a blur.  A contraction struck as I was still on all fours, which was great for me, but not preferred by the staff, as it's a little trickier to catch the baby.  I seriously thought I had to poop (sorry to be blunt, but I'm sticking to the story the way it was!).  So, with the bed pan ready to go and a big urge to push, I hear the dr. burst into the room and I can hear someone saying "Pant!  Don't push!" to which I remember yelling "I HAVE TO POOP!!!!!!" really loud and next thing I know Quincy shot out in one big push and nearly landed in the bed pan.  Everyone was slightly shocked - Quincy and I most of all.  After some interesting maneuvering to get myself sitting back up on the bed (not easy with an umblical chord hanging from you, an internal monitor and an iv), the dr handed me my tiny little girl.  Bliss.

I literally feel like I won the lottery with her labor.  I started out at a 5 and spent just under 5 hours laboring (really only about two of those feel like they count, since getting to an 8 was a total cakewalk) and had my baby girl on the 5th, not the 10th.  Which, is actually perfect and seems so obvious to me now since her name is Quincy, and that means "fifth."  I should have known!  She really is sassy.  I got to VBAC without an epidural like I wanted and really only gave in to the pitocin part of the equation, which ended up just fine and really felt right at the time.  I did find out they stuck me in a usually unoccupied room in the far back corner as I warned them upon arrival that I was pretty noisy the last go around.  The cleaning staff filled me in on that little tidbit, which I thoroughly enjoyed.  Turned out I was only noisy that last contraction or two, but I also never heard anyone else, which is nice.  I loved my nurses and the dr, had great support thanks to Dustin and have been completely blissed out on a birthing high for close to two weeks. The tiredness crept in a few days ago, but it's not too bad and it's for a GREAT cause.  The kids absolutely love their new sister, especially Naomi, who is weirdly gentle and attentive to her and not the slightest bit jealous at all.  I thought she'd be a jealous little monster and was prepared for the worst on her part, given her age and everything, but it's been such a pleasant surprise!  I think I paid my dues with the first two births, but it's almost gross to me how perfect this all has been.  I'm totally in love and happier than ever before.


He's pretty smitten, too.

And so is he....

And so is she.... she decided Quincy is her "pretty little flower".

Yep, my little Quinny Mini came just when she was supposed to and has filled our lives with so much more happiness and love... and a little sleep deprivation.  My mom is here helping (hallelujah!) and Dustin's parents will be here in a week to help out and meet Quincy, too.  Then comes my sister and her baby boy, Aiden.  The good times just keep on rollin'....

 Welcome to the world, Quincy.  You are so, so loved.

Shuffling Round the Lake

 Dustin got home early from work today, which was a nice surprise!  He was coming in the door right as we were heading out to play for an hour or so before nap.  So, instead of the usual walk around the block, then head to the backyard to play with trucks routine, we went to the lake about a mile up the road from our house.  I did get a little more than I bargained for, as I was not intending to walk around the whole darn lake, but I survived and it appears Quincy is behaving and won't be born on April Fool's Day, despite her father's best efforts.  Lawson ran his little balance bike around the lake, up and down hills, around corners and over little foot bridges, which were "kind of dangerous."   Naomi enjoyed her ride in the Bob compliments of dad then got out at the end to explore the boat at the dock.  It was a great way to kick off April!  Much better than having a baby the day before a full-body massage!  Priorities.

DING!!!!!

Fully cooked!  Quincy is officially full term today.  Basically, all this means is that I am "allowed" to go into labor any time now and no one will try to stop it.  It also means that it feels like I am smuggling a bowling ball between my legs.  But, I'm not complaining!  I still want her to stay in there for another week and a half as I have a few things I'd like to check off my to-do list.  Massage?  Yes, please.  Haircut, yes please.  My mom getting here first?  Yes, PLEASE.  Waiting for the 10th so I can be disgustingly pleased with the "orderly" way in which my children enter the world?  Bonus and yes, please.  Lots of recipes call for baking your dish with the lid off for an extra 15 minutes or so to brown the top.  I'd like to do that!  Brown up a bit, Quincy.  ...Well, don't really brown up.  That would raise some interesting questions that I'd have no good answer for.  But, you know what I mean.  Feel free to keep cooking!

I went in for my 37 week check yesterday, which went well.  As well as an appt can go when you wait an hour to be shuffled into a room, told to remove your pants and then sit there for an hour, sans pants, waiting to be "checked."  I always love the apologetic nurse that pokes her head in after 45 minutes to say, "everything going okay?  She'll just be another minute!"  Uh, yeah!  It's great.  I'm just chilling out here with no pants staring at the wall.  I'm goooood!  Anyway, eventually the Dr did come in and the progress report was 3 cm, 50% effaced, almost 0 station and s o f t.  Making some solid progress from week to week.  If I keep this up and get my wish of delivering on the 10th, I'd be nearly 5cm and "ripe" by then!  Even being at a 3 to start has me thrilled to bits already!  It took 12 hours with Naomi to get to a 3!  Which reminds me of my favorite part of the appt.  My OB is totally convinced that not only will I be able to VBAC no problem, but she thinks I'll have a fast labor.  A fast labor!!!  I wanted to hug her!  I'm not going to anticipate her being correct and set myself up for disappointment at hour 2 when I'm still laboring, but maybe she knows what she's talking about and I can get a little bit of a break this time!  Heck, after my body about killing itself and getting knocked out for a c-section with Lawson and a 32 hour natural VBAC of Naomi's sunny-side-up, back-labor-inducing little body, I deserve a fast one! Yep, I'll take one of those!  One super fast labor on April 10th with a corkscrew pop to follow, please!  Are you allowed to bring champagne into the labor/delivery room?  Adding that to the hospital bag.....

Quincy, Your Nest is Ready!

I sleep with my babies.  I got a crib for Lawson (because "that's what you do!") that he didn't use until he was a year old because it turned out, I wanted him right next to me at night!  I slept with Naomi, too.  Actually, at that time, we were renovating the upstairs of our house in Washington, so she was in the bed with me and Lawson's toddler bed was right next to our bed, so it was "family bedroom" more than a "master bedroom."  I loved it!  Dustin was a good sport.  Now Naomi and Lawson share a bedroom across the hall and still wake me up quite a bit at night between teething and bad dreams.  My guess is that as much as I'm going to want to snuggle Quincy up close at night, she may have to reside next to me in her own little nest, to keep from being disturbed every time I have to get up with the other kids. 

I already had a soft little bassinet that I used with Naomi, but I didn't just want her plopped down on the floor by the bed.  So, Dustin built a simple, perfect little piece of furniture to make the bassinet into a co-sleeper.  I love it!  It currently has four wheels on the bottom, but I'm thinking of switching one side to regular feet and adding a handle, so it's more of a "cart."  Right now, the kids think it's fun to push the "train" around and I'm not a fan of that.  A baby cart seems cool, anyway!  Mobile when I need it to be, stationary to keep the kids from driving down the hall with their sleeping sister!  Either way, I love that it's handmade with love by dad!  There's room for lots of baby items down below in the shelves and baskets and I envision that it will re purpose as toy storage easily later on. 

Thanks for making our little girl such a great, cozy nest, Dustin!  It turned out perfect!  And Quincy, I think we are officially all ready for you.  Your bunny is waiting for you to join her in your bed.  If you don't mind, though, feel free to leave her waiting a little while longer.  I've got a massage and haircut on Saturday that I'd hate to miss, your Mima will be here in just a week and a half and I'd really like her to be there for your arrival... and then we're only three days away from the 10th and THAT would be the perfect day for you to come!  Deal? 

Without further ado, here's it is, complete with Naomi's stamp of approval!

As good as it fits down at the bottom of the bed, she'll be up at the head of the bed with me at night!  Easy access is key for night-feedings!

Sass Baby Jane

36 week appointment?  Check!  All looks good!  The strong Braxton Hicks contractions that have been making me short of breath the last couple weeks have been doing good work it seems.  I'm already 2 cm dilated and "soft."  I haven't started effacing yet, as she's still -1 station, which means not quite dropped yet (still LOW though, trust me.) but we're making progress and the doctor is really confident that I'll do fine with another VBAC.  YIPPEE!!!  I'm feeling strangely great, which is not what I expected after a less-than-comfortable second trimester.  I am still about ready to be done, but I feel really good for being this far along.

Normally by now, I'd be huge, swollen enough that I'd be rockin' a big fake rock on my ring finger, have slightly elevated blood pressure and be doing my best "beached whale" impression much of the day.  This time, I'm less huge (I still feel huge, but it's all relative), not swollen, still wearing my wedding ring and my blood pressure has stayed down.  A likely culprit is the constant chasing of children and insane cleaning/reorganizing binge I've been on.  It's like an all day workout and far from a beached whale!  Surely it's not the cakes I've baked (and eaten most of), the cookies or the ice cream I indulge in on an all-too-regular basis.  I've literally gained nothing since the end of December or so.  I gained a pound a month ago, but it disappeared again.  I'm told the baby takes what it needs.  I think she needed what I was packing on my thighs and behind, because the maternity pants I'd sworn off for being too tight, suddenly fall off of me now.  I'm not complaining, but all of that, combined with measuring a couple of weeks behind at this appointment had me slightly concerned I was growing a miniature baby.  Luckily, a quick peak with the ultrasound revealed that all is well in the belly.  Miss Quincy looked great and on the smaller end of normal, which is fine by me (although, Naomi was supposedly going to be huge and she came out 7lb6oz, so who really knows.).  She did not appreciate being jiggled around by the ultrasound tech to get her hand out of the way for this profile picture.  I got a nice kick in the ribs for it and I'm pretty sure she's blowing a raspberry in this shot, which has earned her a new nickname, compliments of Aunt Kelly.  Sass Baby Jane.  Kind of perfect.

So, that's that.  All is looking good and I'm making slow progress toward a hopefully smooth delivery in the next few weeks!  I'm also making slow progress on my to-do list these days.  I did manage to go through all my clothes yesterday and get my closet ready for the transition phase we'll be starting in a few weeks.  I got rid of some that I've not worn in years, put my winter maternity clothes away and got the clothes I'll want to slowly start wearing again this summer ready to go in some bins at the top of my closet.  That feels good!  It was much easier now than it will be in a month when I'm hot, frustrated with my clothes, looking for an outfit I haven't seen in a year and wearing a baby.  The hospital bag is nearly packed, complete with a "kids schedule" to give to whoever ends up helping with the kids when the big day comes.  I do need to get some snacks and take-out menus ready to go (one word: hospital food), but I'm just about there.  There's still a lot I want to do, but really I'd be okay if she showed up today.  I am about as prepared as I can be, I just can't seem to get that across to the OCD nesting pregnant brain I have right now.  Which would explain why I'm about to go organize the kids closet.... again.
 

One Month.... Or Less

36 Weeks.  One month to go.  The final countdown.  The homestretch.  The end.... or the beginning.  However you'd like to put it, it's just about time.  I never made it to 36 weeks with Lawson and Naomi came at 38 weeks on the dot.  I'm guessing we've got a few weeks left before our fifth, and, likely, final member of the family makes her debut!  Which leaves me feeling like I'm about to dive off the high dive.  Totally thrilled and a little freaked out! 

Because my water just broke on it's own with Naomi to kickstart labor, going out in public is getting a little nerve wracking.  I have towels and trash bags in my car due to the visions I'm having of my water breaking in the middle of the grocery store and hearing "clean up on isle seven" as I slosh my way out to my car, leaving some poor high school guy to clean up my amniotic fluid next to the chips.  Horrifying!  I'm actually feeling pretty good right now!  Looking back at my other two pregnancies, this is definitely the most comfortable I've been this far into it.  I've gained a good 10 or 15 lbs less so far this time, which probably has a lot to do with it!  I guess when you are cleaning and chasing toddlers all day long, you have a little less time for lounging and snacking!  My ring even fits on my finger still, which is also a first with only one month to go! 

I'm in preparation mode right now, which is slightly different from nesting.  I'm making lists, packing bags and over-preparing for the month of April.  We have our sixth anniversary on April 15th, Dustin's 30th birthday is on my due date, the 20th and Easter is right behind it!  I've got most of my Easter loot ready to go and gift ideas brewing.  Hopefully I will get that all finished before she arrives and leaves me sleep deprived and unable to pull myself together, let alone Easter or a birthday!  I have stockpiles of toilet paper, paper towels and creamy tomato soup because one day that seemed really important.  I even stocked up on toothpaste, dishwashing detergent and teething tablets, so clearly, I am ready for her arrival.  I may not understand the way my own mind works when I'm pregnant, but I will have clean teeth and dishes... and tomato soup for lunch.

The kids are getting really excited for Quincy to come out!  Lawson tells me often throughout the day, that Quincy is getting really big now and he's SO excited for her to come out.  My belly gets countless kisses and hugs and "I love you's" from him and Naomi every day.  Almost enough to rival the kicks my belly gets from Quincy!  I feel pretty lucky that they are so happy to be having another baby girl around and am just hoping that sentiment remains when she is no longer just a big, round belly that moves!  Time will tell!

For now, the camera batteries are charged, the bags are nearly packed and the toilet paper is bountiful at our house!  I'm still predicting April 10th will be the day, which leaves me exactly three weeks.  Or I could be wrong, and she could be here sooner..... later is not an option.  (You hear me Quincy????  Okay, good.)