Alanna's Birth Story | Part 2

Start with Part 1

If you made it through Part 1, you are amazing.

"Part One" was long for me too. But it also flew by. The older I've gotten, the quicker those 10 months go by.

So the story-telling left off at the first attempt at birthing this baby.
Labor stalled.
Came home empty-handed.
And then had a very uneventful  next week.
VBS had wrapped up. We didn't get another Bible School baby. 

 

I was so tired. I was big. Couldn't breathe. My feet were still really swollen. My face was fluffy. I wasn't sleeping well AT ALL. 

My smiles had turned to something a little like this... half-hearted.
Grateful for a baby baking longer. But half-hearted.

^^

^^^^^More CookOut shakes! Yum! Anything cold and wet and unhealthy right?!

So the two weeks prior, I had been losing my mucus plug slowly over time. It wasn't like with Jasper coming as one big glob (sorry, entirely way TMI!). Everything was throwing me for a loop this time. But I had made it to 37 weeks. That day at work, I again started having some mild contractions. I honestly didn't think too much of it because of all of the BH contractions I had had over the months and the previous week of labor stalling. I told everyone that I was NOT going to the hospital unless I was fo' sure in labor. Like, can't breathe, crying, hurting labor.

Well that evening when I got home from work, we decided to work in the garden a little bit. I helped weed and water the garden - dead of June - it had to be done. Watering the garden wasn't hard work but it was hot, that's for sure!

While watering, the contractions started feeling a little different. It only took me about 10 minutes to do that so once I was done, I went inside and changed out of good clothes into my maternity/nursing comfy nightgown and some tennis shoes. An obvious wardrobe choice. And decided to go for a walk. We were going to see what these contractions had going for them. I wasn't going to sit around for another night of worrying and obsessing over contractions that were coming too close, too soon, too early. I was 37 weeks. This baby could come. I was full term.

Joshua and I walked while his mom and dad drove in the Baccamobile with the kids. The contractions were definitely getting more intense but they were not that bad. His mom and dad decided to take the boys with them that night just in case something happened. We knew from previous experience, I like to go into labor around midnight.

So that night, contractions kept coming, things were looking promising but they were just not coming at any frequency that seemed worthy of the real thing.

I decided that I would try to go to bed. I figure, if history repeats itself, around 11pm or so, I'd wake up with some nice contractions and we'd rush off to the hospital. Before going to bed that night, June 25th, I took a photo of my belly. I had definitely dropped. My belly button was the nice blue color it always turns when I'm so stretched and full of life inside.

^^^Pretend that's a bathing suit!

The next morning I woke up at 5:55am. I looked at my clock and sighed, I had slept all night long. Midnight had come and gone. But something strange....had I dreamed that I had just had a nice strong contraction or was it real? I decided to trudge downstairs to pee - I had gone all night without - which was the first time in quite a while that I hadn't made a nighttime pit stop!

While using the potty, I had another nice contraction and then there bright red blood and lots of it. I was a bit concerned. The show that I had been having earlier was nothing like this. I knew bright red blood wasn't the best sign so I called Dr. A. and she said to go ahead to L&D. I called my mom, hands shaking....this time this is real. The finality, the rush, the excitement and anticipation, nervousness & some fear flooded me.

Contractions were picking up after losing, what I believed, was the last of my plug. Joshua got dressed while I packed the last few items and paced the living room. I still believed that somehow the contractions might die. Once my mom and Doc got there, we took off toward the hospital.

This was our "It's a good morning to have a baby!" sunrise. God welcomed us by way of sunshine and clouds, drawing us toward the hospital. It was the calm before birth.
 

On our way, we stopped at McDonald's to grab breakfast. Food is important to us. Even when having contractions strong enough to catch my breath. I still wanted food because you never know how long it will be until you can eat again.

Let's be real....
This was how I felt.
And it wasn't the hot biscuit sitting on my lap either.
And yes I was taking selfies while having a contraction.
I'm ridiculous sometimes!

Once we made it to the top of the parking deck, I knew we wouldn't be sent back home this time.
This was it.
I was having a baby.

We started using the Big Bertha camera at this point.

Part 3 to come....

What do Roofing and Box Cutters have in common?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

They do not go together.

Not without gloves. Protective eye-wear. And chainmail!

The project started out innocent enough. Just needed to roof the small area of what was the front porch (I'm assuming), now sunroom/bedroom/front-whatever-you-call-it room!

That's about as close as I could get to the edge. I'm deathly afraid of heights. I'm surprised I could even get through the window and muster up the courage to step onto the rough. But I had my big girl undies on and did it! Go me. ::shivers::

On the other hand, my big boy is just slaving away acting like he doesn't have a care in the world that he could seriously slip at any given moment and roll right off that stinkin' roof. No joke. It's not funny either. The heart palpitations, sweaty hands and numb feet are enough to send me into a state of shock. Much less seeing my first-born just feet away from death. Or at least broken limbs. ::shivers::

Well in the meantime, the girls and little bitty feller went downstairs and worked on taking pallets apart. We could only entertain the little guy with suckers for so long before he wanted to go "help". Yeah mommy can't handle that. You never know when a mighty wind might hit and blow you right off that daggum roof. Not to mention the fact that it is clearly obvious that men cannot be trusted alone with kids and sharp objects. ........

.......Because this happens........

I hear "AMMMAAAANNNNDDDAAA.....Get up here right now!"

Sigh. I was secretly panicking but holding it in as I trudged up the steps. I got up there and my husband is lying on the floor. He had basically fell through the window trying to get inside to avoid passing out on the roof.

This is why I say roofing and box cutters do NOT go well together.

He's gripping his hand, feet up on the windowsill....I know it isn't good but I stifle my giggle because here's my manly husband, white as a sheet, I know he's about to pass out. So I quietly ask him "You ok? What happened?"

He was cutting the shingles, which, I mean, you have to do. I understand that. But his knee-pads had shifted and he slipped and cut right into the fatty part of the base of his thumb. I take a peek. Gross. It was deep and I was afraid he had hit a tendon or nerve. So my reaction of course is "Do I need to call an ambulance"? You know, because he can't drive now. He had to bring me back to reality "Um, no, you can drive me...just get me something to stop the bleeding". Duh. I didn't realize I was a little panicky until then so that brought me back to reality. I went on the manhunt for something to "stop the bleeding" and all I could find was a diaper. Because you know, who keeps a first-aid kit at a remodel site?!?! (NOTE: First purchase of a remodeling job...a First-Aid Kit. You WILL need it!)

Anyway, long drive to the Urgent Care later, we get there, they see him quickly. He gets about 4-5 stitches and we are good to go. Bless his heart. He hates blood. Hates needles. But he's my hero!!

He looks like he's dying. I assure you he's ok. This might be blackmail one day!

And I post these pictures because I love him so dearly and he really looks good in blue!! ;)

Stitches always bring you closer together! ;) (pun-intended!)

So there you go folks. Wear gloves when roofing. Don't use box-cutters without ample supervision. Because clearly this wouldn't have happened if I would've stayed on the roof with him. Clearly.

But the leaks are gone.
The roof is nice and purdy now.
And my son is all-the-more-brave now because of this little project.
...and I now also know how to roof although I never plan to ever use those skills ever again!