On Thursday, the 20th, I went to bed with an upset stomach. It hurt all night long. It felt like I was going to be sick but didn't know which way it was going to come out.
On the morning of the 21st, I finally got sick. I was laying in bed when all the sudden, I grabbed my barf bucket and ran for the bathroom (thank goodness I had Steve bring me a barf bucket)! I was so sick! My wonderful mother-in-law heard it all happening and came in to help. She helped me get cleaned up and clean up the bathroom. It's a little humbling to have someone help you get cleaned up after you get totally sick and I'm so lucky to have a great mother-in-law!
So, I threw up exactly 45 minutes after I took my anti-contracting medicine... and I threw up so violently that my whole body was tightening up. I was worried, so I called the doctor's office and they told me that I should be fine, but if my contractions started earlier than usual that night, I should take my medicine a little earlier. I slept the whole rest of the day and only ate animal crackers and drank (sipped) water.
I was starting to get hungry around dinner-time, so I came out and had some chicken & rice soup. I started having contractions while I was sitting at the table, so I went over to the couch and laid down. They kept coming, but were irregular still. I was timing the contractions. By 7:30, I took my medicine. By 8:00pm, when my contractions had not slowed down and were under 5 minutes apart and lasting for almost 2 minutes each, I told my mother-in-law that I needed to go to the hospital. I didn't have time to wait for someone to come sit with the kids... we had to go! We threw the kids in the car and started our 40 minute drive to the hospital. The kids cried almost the whole time because they were way tired... and I may or may not have been squishing Ruthie with my seat leaning all the way back. I couldn't turn around to look. I talked to Steve and told him to stay at work and meet me at the hospital when he was done (at 11pm... remember this). He didn't listen to me and drove to the hospital right away. My mother-in-law dropped me off and a L&D nurse wheeled me upstairs. Steve got to the hospital right after I did.
I got to my room and changed into the gown and a doctor came in to check my progress. I was between 4-5 dilated. I told the nurse that I didn't want an epidural and I suffered through the contractions. About 30 minutes later, I broke down. I told Steve "I am so tired. I am only at a 5. I need an epidural. I can't do this. I need rest." I told the nurse I was giving up and I wanted the epidural! She said, "you have done this twice before! You can do it again! Let me check you before I call the anesthesiologist." She checked me and I was at an 8! No wonder I was in so much pain! I decided that since I was so far along, I could do without the epidural (not like I had the option at this point anyway). They called the doctor and she came and broke my water. She stayed in the room the whole time after that, expecting it to go faster than it did. The "rim" of my cervix was really holding on for a while... and by a while, I guess I just mean it felt like a while because this whole process went pretty quickly. I had no idea what I was doing, even though this is my 3rd time around. The nurse kept asking me questions and giving me options and at one point I said, "I don't know. Just tell me what to do!" I know it sounds dumb, but I felt a lot more in control once she was telling me what to do and not giving me a million options!
Elizabeth Anne was born at 10:52pm. That's about 2 hours after I was wheeled onto L&D! Boy am I glad Steve didn't listen to me when I told him to stay at work (remember that??)! I hoped that since I was 35 & 3 that she would avoid the whole NICU situation, but she was breathing pretty heavily and they had to take her back. After 6 days of the CPAP and oxygen, she was weaned down to room air! On day 8, they asked if we were ready to take her home!! So that night, we slept at the hospital and Elizabeth came home to two excited siblings on Sunday, 11/30!
She's such a sweet baby... even though she likes to be held ALL. NIGHT. LONG. The kids love her and we're so lucky that she's ours!
Here are some pictures, out of order...
Elizabeth Anne was born at 10:52pm. That's about 2 hours after I was wheeled onto L&D! Boy am I glad Steve didn't listen to me when I told him to stay at work (remember that??)! I hoped that since I was 35 & 3 that she would avoid the whole NICU situation, but she was breathing pretty heavily and they had to take her back. After 6 days of the CPAP and oxygen, she was weaned down to room air! On day 8, they asked if we were ready to take her home!! So that night, we slept at the hospital and Elizabeth came home to two excited siblings on Sunday, 11/30!
She's such a sweet baby... even though she likes to be held ALL. NIGHT. LONG. The kids love her and we're so lucky that she's ours!
Here are some pictures, out of order...
