Introducing Pepper!

I really should have written this about a month ago, but you know how it is with a house to run. I'm not sitting at home eating mountains of fruit snacks and watching Dexter reruns ALL day. (okay, maybe I am a little.)

So without a further ado, duh duh duh duh.....

MEET PEPPER!

Last Christmas, Aaron's aunt asked when we were planning to have our next baby. We looked at each other bewildered. We already had two and had quietly discussed a third but were pretty sure we couldn't afford to have another one. Auntie said she had been praying for us and God had showed her we were going to have another baby in the next 12 months. Hmmm....

My brother and I were speaking on the phone in late January. He told me I was pregnant and was going to have another girl who looked similar to Scout. I laughed because there was no way I was pregnant.

Two weeks later, a missed period and home pregnancy test said, yes, you are indeed pregnant. Guess Auntie and Brother were right...

The doctor originally said I was due October 9, but later changed the date to October 20.

Sunday, October 13, I woke up feeling funny. I couldn't quite put my finger on it but something was off. I kept wondering if I was in labor but I wasn't in any pain. I was just feeling "icky". I took Scout and Shaver to the apple orchard and shopping that day. We had a normal bed time because of school the next morning, and I went to bed thinking I was going to work in the morning.

I woke up about 12:45am with a contraction. Whooo.... am I in labor? I wondered. I hadn't packed a bag for the hospital yet. When I had another contraction 7 minutes later, I decided to get up and pack a bag. I was wide awake and figured, "Why not?"

Between then and 3:30, I packed my bag for the hospital and clothes for the children. I took a shower. I had some coffee. I had some Gatorade. I sat and rested occasionally. It finally sunk in that I was in labor.

I sat on the edge of the bed and called quietly to my husband. "Aaron?"
"Yeah?"
"I think you may have to call in to work today."

He was up immediately, reaching for his phone, searching for the phone number of his employer. He began pacing, fumbling for his coat and cigarettes. "How much time do we have?"
"I don't know. I'd say a good three or four hours before we have to go to the hospital."
"How far apart are your contractions?"
Hmmm..... I hadn't been keeping track. "Eh, every seven minutes or so."

After calling his boss, I told him to take a shower.
"Do I have time to make coffee?"
"Make your coffee... I could use some too," I told him.

At 4:15 my contractions were heavier and Aaron asked what we were doing with the kids. "Are you calling someone or are we taking them to the hospital with us?" he asked. I dismissed him, saying we had time. "No, I think we better go soon," he insisted.

Sure, sure.

I arranged child care and called the hospital about 4:30am. After we dropped off the kids, I asked Aaron if I could swing by work. My boss was out of state for the rest of the week and I wanted to put the phone on call forwarding.
"SERIOUSLY?"
"It'll take 2 minutes," I said.

After my stop at work and a brief lecture from my employer, we were on our way to the hospital. We left our bags in the truck because my contractions were getting heavier and I was really starting to feel nauseous.

Now, when I had my first two children, I had them at the same hospital. I had been met with a wheel chair and had completed my entrance information in my room. Not this time!

We waited for a few minutes for a receptionist....
And then they weren't sure which patient I was.
Breathing heavily, unable to speak, I nodded or shook my head as they asked me questions to confirm my place of residence and phone number. Did I have my insurance card? Let's go ahead and scan that... And we need you to sign these waivers. By this time, I was nearly hysterical. The contractions were hard and fast and I was gasping for air. I wasn't in a lot of pain but there was a tremendous amount of pressure.
I thought my body language signaled urgency but I wasn't able to speak. Everything seemed surreal.

"Troy?" the receptionist called to the security guard, "Do you have time to take these folks up to Labor and Delivery?"
Troy sauntered over. "Sure..."

We walked towards the elevator.
About fifteen feet from the reception desk and just out of eye sight of the emergency waiting room, I paused with an especially  heavy contraction, leaning up against the wall for support.
Suddenly, "Oh F.....!" I yelled.
I heard a splash and looked down. My water had broken. I looked to my husband for help, and he looked to Troy.
"I'm going to go get a wheelchair," he called, walking quickly away.

A nurse opened a side door from the emergency room and asked if we needed help.
I couldn't answer. I looked up at the wall in front of me and stared at the letters on the sign of the billing department.

All I could feel was pressure, pressure, pressure. I closed my eyes and waddled towards the elevator. The wetness was making me hysterical but the pressure had me frantic. I held my breath, hoping that would help.

Suddenly there were nurses running down a stairwell. Aaron and Troy tried to get me in the wheelchair, but I couldn't sit. There was a nurse yelling for gloves and a bag. "I need gloves, NOW!" she yelled.

I looked at her face and knew that she knew what was happening. "The baby's head is out," I managed to pant through clenched teeth.

I don't know exactly how it all happened but the following occurred in a matter of seconds.

That nurse ripped my pants and underwear off, another nurse grabbed my leg and told me to hold it up while the first nurse did something down there that made me feel like they were pushing the baby back in.

"No!" I cried.
"Yes!" the second nurse directed.
"I need a good push," the first nurse directed and then yelled, "Someone get down there so this baby doesn't hit the floor!"
I closed my eyes and pushed. And there she was.

The elevator doors opened as Pepper and I locked eyes for the first time.
I was completely overwhelmed.

"Time of birth... 5:12 am," the nurse announced.


I'll leave the story at that for you.

Later we had to make the calls.....

Hey, Brother! Guess you were right......

We sat and admired the beautiful baby.

7 lbs exactly, 19.5 inches long

We had visitors. Scout was very excited to get a baby sister.

Scout is in love

Shaver groaned when I announced the gender. "Really, Mom? Ewww.... Come on!"
"Hey, she's pretty special," I told him. "She was born in the elevator!"
He seemed pretty cool with her after that.

Shaver is proud, even if the baby is a girl....

And by noon the next day, we went home.

I wonder what future adventures we'll have together...

Baby Girl's Birth Story

Warning: There's about to be a whole lot of cervix talk. Still want to read on????


Last Friday, the 29th, I saw my doctor and he dropped the "i" word: Induction. This baby was not coming out on its own.

At first, I was relieved! My doctor was leaving for South America, so I would get to pick who would take over my case. I could pick my baby's birthday, arrange for care for my little fella, and even make sure the house was clean and everything was exactly as I wanted it before I left.

Then, I started thinking. And I got this terrible knot in my stomach. I was very uncomfortable with the thought of an induction. So what did I do? I prayed. A LOT! And God kept saying, "Wait." That's all I heard. No, "Hey, no worries!" or "This baby's going to be here by such-and-such day." Simply, "Wait."

Aaron and I made the decision together, and, against my doctor's advice, we postponed the induction. (For those of you who don't know, the optimal date to deliver is apparently by your due date. The placenta has a shelf life. If the placenta stops doing its job or dies... well.... I'm sure you don't need much elaboration.)

The induction had been scheduled for 12:05am August 3rd. Tuesday, I started to panic. I was incredibly anxious and worried. What if something went wrong with my placenta? Did I make the right decision? What if the baby died and there was something I could have done to prevent it? Not to mention all the "Where's that baby?" questions that were just pushing me over the edge. I asked several people to pray for me that day. Thank you to all of you who did! (Especially Precious, who was able to remind me to trust the Lord and get my head back in the game.) I truly believe the prayers Aaron, our friends and family, and I said helped!

I woke up the morning of August 3 feeling funny. I was crampy. Was this the day? Nah.... I had even started to joke that I was going for a world-record gestational period. This baby was staying in!

I lost my mucous plug and went into early labor around 8am. My contractions were 10 min apart, and I was fairly comfortable folding laundry, talking on the phone, and moving around the house. I even went into the doctor's office around 11:30 and when she checked me, I was exactly where I had been Monday morning. No progress. She said she'd see me tomorrow but if my labor progressed to go right to the hospital, as my son's labor and delivery had been so quick.

Here's where it gets really nice.

Aaron and I went home and were able to rest. My contractions were about seven minutes apart from 2pm to 3pm. Then it started getting serious. The contractions were suddenly two or three minutes apart and my hospital is almost 30 minutes away. It was time to move!

I was in a room by 4pm and was only 3cm dilated but 90% effaced. At 4:30, they checked me again and I was only 4cm dilated and 90% effaced. A new nurse was coming on. (I'm going to go ahead and call her "Hero" for all intents and purposes.) Hero said she was only filling in for about an hour, but the nurse she was taking over for joked that she'd probably still be there for my delivery.

At this point my contractions were hard and fast. I'm wasn't sure I wanted anything for the pain. I'm breathing through it. Hero is telling me that I'm doing great, I'm a pro! A little encouragement helped me to keep going.

About 4:40, I slapped my arm and asked if it was too late for the nurses to hook me up with a little IV assistance. It took about 5 minutes for the nurse to return and hook up an IV. Once the IV was started, I sort of barked that she better check me because I needed to push, now! Keep in mind, my contractions at this point are about a minute apart, I'm fighting the urge to push, and where is my Demerol?!? so my eyes were closed. Aaron says the nurse hit a button, ran out of the room, and suddenly there were four nurses in by us. Hero was dressed in a gown and mask and gloves. I know another nurse grabbed my leg and was giving Aaron directions.

Over the course of a few seconds, I apologized several times. "I know I'm not supposed to but I have to push!" I kept fighting my body but Hero looked me in the eye and said, "The baby's going to be here before the doctor. Don't worry; we've all delivered before."

I stopped fighting my body and just pushed. And in one fluid movement, the baby was out. She literally was out of my body before I even realized what was really going on.

Now, I'm panicking. I look down and there's a baby laying on the bed, and it's dark purple. I'm getting a little hysterical. The nurse explains that they haven't cleaned the baby's airways yet, but then it should be fine! "And Dad? Can you tell her what it is?"

It's a girl. 6 lbs, 10 oz, and 20.5" long. The nurses kept calling her a little dolly and peanut. She's just a tiny little thing!

Now if you know anything about having babies, you know that it's not over just because the baby is out. Mom has to deliver the placenta and then they have to assess the damages. I'm literally just sitting there waiting for my placenta to plop out. They offered to give the baby to me, but I was a bit distracted. All I could think was that I'd given one good push and a baby had just sort of fallen out of me. I'm awake, I feel good, and I want to get up, but I have to wait for this darn placenta and stitches!

Aaron held my hand and Hero kept me distracted until the doctor arrived. She told me how great I'd done and that in her nine years of working here, she'd never seen a delivery as fast as mine. She talked to me about how much better it was for me to have waited to have the baby naturally than to have been induced earlier that day. She said I was a natural--I was born to have babies. I kind of chuckled to myself. Afterall, she doesn't know what a hag I've been for the last 41 weeks!

All I've been able to think about is how gracious God is. He guided me when I was scared and unsure. He gave me a safe and fast delivery. He gave me a healthy daughter. What more could I ask for? (Besides a name...)