I just wrote 5 pages worth on the baby story including the pregnancy, the awesome labor, and her name. I will print that and put it in her book. But here.....I'll make a long story shorter.I decided to see what I could do to go into labor on my own, since I've been induced all but once. And that once, they ended up rushing it along with pitocin and breaking my water anyway. So for three days I took Evening Primrose Oil and drank Red Raspberry Leaf Tea. I was already dilated and my body was getting ready. I think this just helped it along.
On May 24th, John and I went for a long walk while the kids rode their bikes with us. Around 10:30 P.M., contractions started. They were painful and lasted 30-40 seconds every 8 minutes all night long. At 1:30 AM, I got up and finished washing baby stuff and folding the rest of the laundry. I went back to bed at 5:00 A.M. and the contractions continued.
I woke up again at 8:00 A.M. to nothing. The contractions stopped. So I got the kids ready for school and sent them off. Then I showered and cleaned up and took Jack to school. From there, Sam and I went on a long walk to Target (about 2 miles away). We stopped at Dairy Queen for lunch and a Georgia Mudd Fudge then headed to Target. I bought a couple last minute needed items and some thank you cards. I then called John from Target and told him which road I would be walking home on and to watch for me.
We left on our walk at 12:45 and John picked us up at 3:45, 1 mile from home. I had irregular but painful contractions throughout the day and 'signs' of something going on at 11:00, 2:00, and 4:00. Contractions were slowing picking up. At 4:30 my mom told me to go to the hospital but I didn't want to yet because I didn't want to be in the hospital and stuck to a bed. At 6:30, contractions were every 2 minutes and lasted 40 seconds or so. I was in a lot of pain but didn't think it could be real labor because I thought if it 'was time', the pain would have been even worse. Until suddenly I felt like I needed to go to the bathroom and thought pushing sounded kind of nice. :)
John told me to lay down on the bed but I told him if I lay down, I will be having the baby on the bed and we needed to get to the hospital. So we got Thomas and John ready for baseball and left Emily home with Jack and Samuel. Emily asked if she could come with us but we told her she needed to stay home and we would call her.
We dropped John and Thomas off at the baseball park for their game at 6:45. I moaned the entire way and told John to call the hospital and tell them I was on my way. We got there at 6:55. John pulled up to the drop off at the front of the hospital and I jumped out and went in. John not knowing what to do, left the car and followed me in. We got on the elevator with some other guy and went to the wrong floor. Oops. They saw the pain I was in and grabbed a wheel chair for me. We made it to the 2nd floor, quickly went down the hall to my room, and the nurse tried to get me to undress but I told her no, slipped the gown on over my clothes and sat down on the bed. Her and I got my pants off and then we waited. She checked me and I was ready to go. I just wanted to push and get the baby out but I had to wait for the doctor to get there. It was horrible during contractions but I felt great in between and would joke and talk with John and the nurses. John was pretty excited and was filming me labor. That should be pretty. The room was full of nurses and even with the pain, it was exciting.
I asked when my water would break, since it had been broken by the dr. my first 5 labors. They said it would break on it's own. Next contraction there was a gush and I announced that my water broke. One more contraction (and it was way more painful without the water) and the dr. walked in. I told him to hurry up and he did. And suddenly there was no contraction. We waited a minute or so and finally he told me to push. And keep pushing.
I had no idea the pain that would be felt when the head came through. Lisa told me it is called 'the ring of fire'. WOW. I screamed and kept screaming. And then she was here. And it was wonderful. They put her on my stomach and I said "She's here! I'm done." I couldn't believe the JOY I was feeling. I felt great and we mentioned that I could make it to the boys baseball games! Everything was quickly cleaned up, the doctor shook our hands, and that was that.
She's beautiful and really pink and we all adore and love her so much.
We called grandma C. and John's parents and they all came by to see her. John went out to move the car that was still at the front doors and Emily called and asked if I was going to have the baby. John told her she was here and grandma went and picked up all the kids and brought them back to the hospital at 9:00 PM. What a wonderful feeling. We had our first family picture and the kids each got a picture with this little bundle we have been waiting for for so long.
Lori and Scott and Lisa came by to see her. I talked to them earlier in the day and they were encouraging me to do whatever it was I needed to do and I was so grateful for them. They helped me get through.
One night Lisa and I had a long talk about doing it 'natural'. I had never had any desire but at the end of our long conversation, I felt something different I had never felt and privately from there on out quietly thought about trying it. The pain that was felt, followed by the amazing joy is indescribable. I know our moms and grandmas and so many others have done it 'natural' but to be able to have an epidural and decide if there is something to take away the pain, why not use it option, I've always taken that option. But this was pretty cool and a very personal and amazing experience with feelings I have never felt before.
Jack came within an hour of getting to the hospital and I had the epidural right before he was born. I remember feeling that 'fire' but it must have been dulled a little because of the epidural. But I do remember feeling so great right after he was born. Just like this time.
I had strep B and since I wasn't able to get on any antibiotic, they wanted to keep the baby in the hospital for 48 hours. I was ready to go home the next day but was convinced it would be best for the baby for me to stay. So we stayed for 36 hours then went home.
We do not have a name for her yet. We made a list after we found out she was a girl and would talk about it at times. We'd start over, try new baby name books, but always seemed to go back to the same 10 or so names we loved. It slowly narrowed down and in the hospital, we finally wrote the names on the white board in our room.
Ruby, Elizabeth, Leah, Jane, Ellie, Elle, (and Lucy and Heidi were on there for a time). We knew one of her names would be Leah or Colleen, after my mom. Emily's middle name is Maude, after John's mom and we knew our second daughter would be after the other grandma. So here we are still trying to decide.
The morning of the day we left, we easily narrowed it down to Elle Colleen or Leah Tawnie. We left the hospital without a name and they gave us until Tuesday to call and tell them what it would be. The kids have been calling her Ellie. Little John likes Leah. I think Ellie is so cute. She looks like an Ellie and I love the name (after my grandma Ellen Jamison) but I just can't settle on it. I think Leah is a very pretty name but isn't as spunky and cute as the other. So we are stumped. My mom doesn't like the name Colleen so as of this morning, we've taken that out. One way or another....first or middle...will be Leah. We just have to decide which it will be.
Everyone is at church and here I sit in silence with a sleeping beautiful baby and making homemade macaroni and cheese for the family for lunch........waiting......hoping for inspiration. And even more, hoping John comes home with some. :)
I woke up again at 8:00 A.M. to nothing. The contractions stopped. So I got the kids ready for school and sent them off. Then I showered and cleaned up and took Jack to school. From there, Sam and I went on a long walk to Target (about 2 miles away). We stopped at Dairy Queen for lunch and a Georgia Mudd Fudge then headed to Target. I bought a couple last minute needed items and some thank you cards. I then called John from Target and told him which road I would be walking home on and to watch for me.
We left on our walk at 12:45 and John picked us up at 3:45, 1 mile from home. I had irregular but painful contractions throughout the day and 'signs' of something going on at 11:00, 2:00, and 4:00. Contractions were slowing picking up. At 4:30 my mom told me to go to the hospital but I didn't want to yet because I didn't want to be in the hospital and stuck to a bed. At 6:30, contractions were every 2 minutes and lasted 40 seconds or so. I was in a lot of pain but didn't think it could be real labor because I thought if it 'was time', the pain would have been even worse. Until suddenly I felt like I needed to go to the bathroom and thought pushing sounded kind of nice. :)
John told me to lay down on the bed but I told him if I lay down, I will be having the baby on the bed and we needed to get to the hospital. So we got Thomas and John ready for baseball and left Emily home with Jack and Samuel. Emily asked if she could come with us but we told her she needed to stay home and we would call her.
We dropped John and Thomas off at the baseball park for their game at 6:45. I moaned the entire way and told John to call the hospital and tell them I was on my way. We got there at 6:55. John pulled up to the drop off at the front of the hospital and I jumped out and went in. John not knowing what to do, left the car and followed me in. We got on the elevator with some other guy and went to the wrong floor. Oops. They saw the pain I was in and grabbed a wheel chair for me. We made it to the 2nd floor, quickly went down the hall to my room, and the nurse tried to get me to undress but I told her no, slipped the gown on over my clothes and sat down on the bed. Her and I got my pants off and then we waited. She checked me and I was ready to go. I just wanted to push and get the baby out but I had to wait for the doctor to get there. It was horrible during contractions but I felt great in between and would joke and talk with John and the nurses. John was pretty excited and was filming me labor. That should be pretty. The room was full of nurses and even with the pain, it was exciting.
I asked when my water would break, since it had been broken by the dr. my first 5 labors. They said it would break on it's own. Next contraction there was a gush and I announced that my water broke. One more contraction (and it was way more painful without the water) and the dr. walked in. I told him to hurry up and he did. And suddenly there was no contraction. We waited a minute or so and finally he told me to push. And keep pushing.
I had no idea the pain that would be felt when the head came through. Lisa told me it is called 'the ring of fire'. WOW. I screamed and kept screaming. And then she was here. And it was wonderful. They put her on my stomach and I said "She's here! I'm done." I couldn't believe the JOY I was feeling. I felt great and we mentioned that I could make it to the boys baseball games! Everything was quickly cleaned up, the doctor shook our hands, and that was that.
She's beautiful and really pink and we all adore and love her so much.
We called grandma C. and John's parents and they all came by to see her. John went out to move the car that was still at the front doors and Emily called and asked if I was going to have the baby. John told her she was here and grandma went and picked up all the kids and brought them back to the hospital at 9:00 PM. What a wonderful feeling. We had our first family picture and the kids each got a picture with this little bundle we have been waiting for for so long.
Lori and Scott and Lisa came by to see her. I talked to them earlier in the day and they were encouraging me to do whatever it was I needed to do and I was so grateful for them. They helped me get through.
One night Lisa and I had a long talk about doing it 'natural'. I had never had any desire but at the end of our long conversation, I felt something different I had never felt and privately from there on out quietly thought about trying it. The pain that was felt, followed by the amazing joy is indescribable. I know our moms and grandmas and so many others have done it 'natural' but to be able to have an epidural and decide if there is something to take away the pain, why not use it option, I've always taken that option. But this was pretty cool and a very personal and amazing experience with feelings I have never felt before.
Jack came within an hour of getting to the hospital and I had the epidural right before he was born. I remember feeling that 'fire' but it must have been dulled a little because of the epidural. But I do remember feeling so great right after he was born. Just like this time.
I had strep B and since I wasn't able to get on any antibiotic, they wanted to keep the baby in the hospital for 48 hours. I was ready to go home the next day but was convinced it would be best for the baby for me to stay. So we stayed for 36 hours then went home.
We do not have a name for her yet. We made a list after we found out she was a girl and would talk about it at times. We'd start over, try new baby name books, but always seemed to go back to the same 10 or so names we loved. It slowly narrowed down and in the hospital, we finally wrote the names on the white board in our room.
Ruby, Elizabeth, Leah, Jane, Ellie, Elle, (and Lucy and Heidi were on there for a time). We knew one of her names would be Leah or Colleen, after my mom. Emily's middle name is Maude, after John's mom and we knew our second daughter would be after the other grandma. So here we are still trying to decide.
The morning of the day we left, we easily narrowed it down to Elle Colleen or Leah Tawnie. We left the hospital without a name and they gave us until Tuesday to call and tell them what it would be. The kids have been calling her Ellie. Little John likes Leah. I think Ellie is so cute. She looks like an Ellie and I love the name (after my grandma Ellen Jamison) but I just can't settle on it. I think Leah is a very pretty name but isn't as spunky and cute as the other. So we are stumped. My mom doesn't like the name Colleen so as of this morning, we've taken that out. One way or another....first or middle...will be Leah. We just have to decide which it will be.
Everyone is at church and here I sit in silence with a sleeping beautiful baby and making homemade macaroni and cheese for the family for lunch........waiting......hoping for inspiration. And even more, hoping John comes home with some. :)
Wednesday, June 2nd:So after a few days, and deciding to name her Ellie Leah, it has changed again. We just weren't feeling confident with it and knew it was Leah Tawnie. So finally, after many discussions and thoughts and feelings, that is her name. I've struggled with naming her after me but this morning Jolie said when they named their daughter after her, she felt the same way. Now Jolie, Ryan, and I have all named a child after ourselves. Kind of cute.
The kids told their friends it was Ellie and when they got home from school, we told them we were thinking of changing it. Earlier in the day Jack said "I'd be okay with that." Later John told me he talked to lil John and he said "I'd be okay with that." I thought it was cute they had the same reaction. Thomas has just kind of been himself, indifferent on anything. And everytime we ask Sam what her name is, he holds up one finger and says 'ONE'. Emily was sad. She really liked that they would be Em and El. Later I asked her what she thought and she said "I really want it to be Ellie but I feel like she is suppose to be Leah." It was very sweet.
I visited my grandma Jamison for her 92nd birthday and she was begging me to name her Ellie. In the end, we tried. We called her Ellie for a week and loved it and wanted to use it but it wasn't who she is. So we are happy and confident now and more than anything just so happy to have another sweet little girl in our family.
