I started writing out Elsie's birth story/family update when she two months old. She is now over 3 months old and I am attempting to finish. Wish me luck!
Three months.
How is that possible? Also how have I survived three months without sleeping?! So many times I have wanted to write out her birth story so I wont forget, but I just havent been able to. Mostly because of time, but also because I could almost cut and paste Christopher's story because they are so similar.
Before Elsie was born, we both wondered how Christopher would do with a new sister who required much of the attention he was used to getting. And while we all had our moments of adjusting to this new change, Christopher surprised us all with how great he did. He has been such a good big brother and loves to give Elsie kisses and hugs. I melt inside when he asks to hold her. This time around is flying by. I can't believe she is three months old. It has been hard. Much harder that I thought it would be. But seeing my two babies together is worth it. Sleep is needed. The dishes pile up. The floor is covered in toys. Going to the store with two kids is no longer fun. But both of my babies are growing up right in front of me. Most days I count down the minutes until Chet gets home for a bit of relief, but I get the joy of being home with them all day.
Christopher is speaking full sentences and is blowing us away with how smart he is. Elsie is his biggest fan and whenever he is in the room with her, he is all she looks at. Christopher has started to speak to her in grunts and she responds with the same.
And while I know all kids are different is it fun this time around to have a comparison of sorts and see things develop early on that have become part of who they are. Christopher was grabbing and holding things with his hands at about two months. And even now he is always "working" and using his hands. Elsie could care less still. Christopher wouldnt crack a smile until he was between 3-4 months old. Elsie has been throwing them out left and right for a couple months already. I cant wait to see how her personality develops. And I hope and pray that they will continue to love each other they way they do now.
And now for the real reason I am writing this:
My pregnancy was as smooth as could be. It felt much harder because I had a very active toddler to chase and carry up and down the stairs. For the first time, basically ever, I started an exercise class when I was about 20 weeks. I was desperate for a few moments to myself as well as some adult interaction. That class has turned into much more and I have no doubt it made it easier to keep up with C. I even managed to go up until the day before I went into labor.
A week before my due date, I woke up with extra strong and more frequent braxton hicks contractions. I called my mom and put her on alert as they werent scheduled to come up til the end of the week. They were my child care. Mom and Dad must have heard the panic in my voice and Dad flew up that day to be here when it was go time. Of course, she didnt make her entrance until the end of the week, but I was able to relax so much more knowing that C would be taken care of.
We went about our usual business that week, just with some extra contractions. I woke up on the 17th, my birthday, to some cramping. I told Chet it felt different. I called mom and dad and said "Maybe?" Chet went on to work but by 10am I knew they were real contractions and texted my midwife. Chet came on home, with my birthday cake, which came in handy. :)
Dad got to the house in the middle of the afternoon and the contractions were still about 8-10 minutes apart and I was able to do most things in between them. Around 6:00 pm they really started to get stronger and closer and I didnt do much else besides kneel next to the bed and sway.
By 8pm, they were really intense, around 6-7 minutes apart and I had to have Chet put pressure on my back. Midnight rolled around and still 6-7 minutes apart, but now I was starting to throw up. We were waiting until we got to about 5 minutes apart and by 1 am we still just werent getting there, but the intensity kept getting stronger and I continued to throw up. The same thing happened with Christopher so I was hopeful at least some progress was being made. I called my midwife and she said to go ahead and come on in. We got to the birthing center around 2 am and after a quick check of vitals I climbed in the tub. I really hoped I would be able to deliver her in the water, as I needed to get out with Christopher. I was in the tub for about an hour when I felt I needed to start pushing and I just couldn't get in a good position. I labored at home on the birthing ball and found that the most comfortable (as comfortable as one can be), so I asked them to bring me one and used that.
I watched a live homebirth a few weeks before and for the most part she labored and pushed in silence. How anyone can do that is beyond me. I was screaming and yelling and telling them to get this kid out of me. At one point they said, "We can see her head" and I asked, "Can you really see it or are you just telling me that to make me feel better?". They really could see her head. It was right around that time that my water finally broke and ten minutes later, after an hour of pushing, Elsie Jeanne made her debut at 3:54am on October 18th. She is a smart girl and didn't want to share her birthday with mama and held out until she got her own day.
They gave her to me and did their initial check on her until my placenta was about ready to come out. They left us to just be together for a bit. We had pretty much decided on her name, but spent that time discussing to be sure. Elsie started to nurse right away and has been a nursing champ ever since.
Our midwives came back in about 30 minutes later and had Chet cut the cord. They then took all of her measurements. She was a whopping 8 pounds 6.5 ounces and 20 inches tall with a head full of hair. A few weeks before my due date, I met with my alternate midwife and she told me I hadnt gained enough weight. If you know me, you know I dont shy away from food. So it really was stressful work to try to put on a few pounds, so when they told me her weight I had to laugh. And I made sure to add that .5 because I worked hard for that!
It was at this point that I really regretted not bringing some of my cake with me. 20 hours of contractions. 1 hour of pushing. Let me eat cake!
It was my turn to get checked out and stitched up. They then left us alone to get some rest for a few hours. Which really meant, Chet and Elsie got to rest. As exhausted as I was, there was no sleeping for me. I was starving (still am) so they brought in a big breakfast for us.
We tried to rest for the rest of that day. Elsie continued to nurse well, which was a huge relief as I struggled early on nursing Christopher. More food was brought in. Mom and Dad brought Christopher over that afternoon and he was a bit unsure about his new sister but warmed up to her by the end of the visit.
We broke free that evening as I wanted to be home to put Christopher to bed. Those next few weeks (months) are a blur as we had little sleep and lots of visitors.
Our little Elsie Jeanne is a joy and we cant imagine life without her!
