On Tuesday September 2nd, Jord and I went in for an appointment with the doc to get my membranes stripped in hopes of getting that little one to finally come. I was so excited and so anxious, I had our hospital bags packed for about 2 months already. We loaded everything up, car seat, bags, and ourselves in high hopes that 'today is the day!' The sun was shining, the tank was clean, what could go wrong!? The appointment and the day in general were pretty anti-climatic compared to how I imagined it going despite being dialated to a 4. We didn't want to go home so Jord and I decided to walk around the outside of the hospital for about an hour to give our little boy one last chance to make an appearance before we called it a day. Bummer.
September 3rd, Wednesday: (this is where stuff actually starts to happen in the story, don't worry)
Another appointment with the doc to do the same thing. Nothing changed except that I was now dialated to a 5. We were staring to think that we would be going home empty handed again-but to our surprise he told us to go out for a few hours, get something to eat, enjoy some time and then come back to the hospital to get admitted and he would let them know we were coming later that afternoon. Keep in mind I was supposed to get induced the next day, and possibly the day after (which was my actual due date) because labor and delivery at the hospital was so busy. I mean, I've never done this before but I don't think that very many doctors would do a favor like that just to save a girl one more day of being prego.
I can't tell you how excited I was, knowing that TODAY is the day!! I've never looked forward to being in pain before, it's a weird feeling. Nonetheless, an amazing and rewarding thought that the wait is over. We hopped in the car and found an Iceberg close by and decided on corn dogs, cheese fries, and a shake to share. Sitting there with Jord, I felt like I was finally going to be able to start the next stage in life and fulfill the role that I've anticipated for so long. I don't know if most people get to have time like that to really soak it all in before having a first child like that, knowing when it would happen etc. It's like I was retiring my old self and accepting my new full time job as a mommy. I remember talking with my friends all throughout growing up about how crazy it will be someday when we will be married and have kids. And now it's here!
We decided not to wait any longer- it had only been about 45 minutes but there was no need to take any more time, we were so ready! We approached the call button at the Labor and Delivery unit and I was a little confused on what to say because I wasn't really in labor and I wasn't scheduled to be induced yet. My doctor told us several times half-jokingly to make it our little secret that we planned this, due to the fact that they were already full and would most likely send us home otherwise. I wasn't sure how serious he was though. So to avoid lying and saying I was in labor, I pressed the button and told them we were there to get admitted. It probably seemed a little weird to them that I was totally calm, and when the nurse asked me how far apart my contractions were I hesitated, looked at Jord, and coolly told them about every 15 minutes. I'm not sure they bought it entirely. But after being put in triage, sent out to walk for an hour, and not showing any progress, the nurse put a call in to the doc and he pulled through and told them to keep us. Yes! We were officially in, no more holding our breath.
To speed up the dialation process and regulate contractions, they ended up giving me the pitosin. I was completely content just watching the little print out show my contractions and not really feeling them much; I thought this whole thing was going to be a lot easier than I thought. But to my dismay, the doc came in and broke my water - and that's when I realized that I would probably rather die than go any longer without that epidural. I think I was a little out of it at that point from the pain because the only thing I remember while the anesthesiologist was giving me the epidural was the nurse asking me what kind of mascara I use because she had never seen it run like that before. Oh, and my leg tingling.
After about 7 hours of waiting, and seeing my pink shake again, it was finally time to push. Jord and the nurse were great coaches and I miraculously got that baby out in about 45 minutes. It was all pretty surreal and Jord was an amazing support and was right there by my side throughout the whole thing. All I can say is that it was hard but it was so worth it. Simon Jona Hamren was born at 3:01 am on Thursday September 4th. He is a handsome little guy and we are loving being parents.
Cake pops that I made to bring to the hospital for Simon's birthday party.
Waiting in Triage
I didn't expect his toes to be so long, so the shark booties I made for him didn't fit!
Ready to go home!
Posing all on his own.
Under the lights for his jaundice.
