Three Years Today

Born on her due date! Well to be fair, Kate had three due dates. December 13th, 16th, and 19th. At the beginning of my pregnancy no one told me which was the official due date. And so every time I went in for a prenatal check up, the nurse, ob-gyn, and I would have a discussion about how I had three due dates. On Friday December 12th, the doctor and I decided to go ahead and schedule my induction for December 16th. Once again I had hoped that I would go into labor on my own but it wasn't looking good. And I had been very concerned at the time that if we waited too late I would be in the hospital during Christmas, which I really didn't want to do because of Jonah and Caroline.

So the very next morning, Saturday December 13th, I began having contractions around 4am. I had had lots of contractions for weeks so I didn't really give them much thought. I remember David asking me if he should stay home from work and I told him to go, that I would call him if they progressed.

The contractions didn't stop. But didn't get any worse either. Later that morning I decided to walk Caroline to the playground to help pass the time. (You know I can't remember where in the heck Jonah was. Maybe at a friend's?) While we were at the playground the contractions started to get stronger and closer together. I got worried and decided we better get back home quick, and even cut through our neighbor's yard to get back to our house.

We got back and Caroline was hungry for lunch. So I decided I'd make us lunch (I know now that they won't let you eat once you go to the hospital) and put her down for a nap. We ate lunch okay but when I started to put her down for a nap the contractions started to get really strong and painful. I would have to stop, hold on to something, and just breathe. I started to pray too. C finally went to sleep and I called David. Come home. NOW! The contractions were only ten minutes apart but extremely painful. I remember he kept calling me back to make sure I was okay but I couldn't even talk while I was having a contraction. I remember I just whisper screamed at him JUST HURRY!

He finally got home and wanted me to call the doctor. No I hadn't called him yet. The funny thing about contractions is that in between them I felt perfectly fine, so I didn't think I should call yet since they were still ten minutes apart. CALL, David insisted. So I did. I told her that my contractions were only ten mins apart but extremely painful. Is this your first? she asked. No third. Uh you better come to the hospital and let us check you out. Once again our good friend Phil came to watch the kids so we could go to the hospital.

Once at the hospital, they signed me in, hooked me up, and discovered I was 8cms. Wow! This was going to be quick. The nurse asked if I wanted an epidural. Isn't it too late? I asked. I've never had one. What?! Oh you have to have an epidural, said the nurse. Sounds good to me! So I got an epidural ASAP and almost immediately after I had to push and out came Kate. We were at the hospital for less than two hours. The dr told me that Kate had been in the posterior position also called "face up" or "sunny side up," and that if she hadn't been we never would have made it to the hospital. Thank goodness for D!

And so my sweet little Christmas baby Kate Noelle was born. My smallest baby at 6lb 9oz and 19 ins. with black hair and super dark eyes. Beautiful. And then the real parenting adventures began! Happy Birthday Kate!!! We love you very much!