3 hours and 20 mins...

Yup, 3 hours and 20 mins....that is how long my labor was! Can you even believe that?

If you guessed...here is the birth story for my little Gracie Jade.

It was 3 am.....and Allie had just crawled in the bed with us. She woke up in the middle of the night...in usual fashion...to get her cuddle on. But...as soon as she woke me up I started having contractions. These contractions were not painful at all....but they were regular. I then started to have to go to the bathroom like every 10 minutes.....and then the contractions did get a little stronger. By 4 am I wake Ervin to let him know that I might be in labor. I tell him to start writing down every time I have a contraction.

The contractions were about 4-9 minutes apart and Ervin is urging me to go to the hospital.

I am not ready for that yet! The contractions are still far apart! My water did not break. No bloody show. I am still in early labor. I am not going to show up at the hospital and then be sent home! How embarrassing would that be! I am a labor and delivery nurse!

An hour goes by...the contractions are 4-5 minutes a part and stronger. I decide to call work and see what they are up to. My friend Sarah answers the phone.....are you guys busy I ask.....not too busy she says.....are you in labor? I don't know? Maybe!!! I think! I tell her I may or may not be in... I call my doctor 20 minutes later because my contractions are getting worse. I am ok in between them...but when one comes I am really breathing through them. I tell my doctor I am having contractions and he advises me to go to the hospital. He is already awake but at another hospital with another patient.

By the time we get all our stuff together and the kids ready and in the van my contractions have doubled in intensity. Ervin starts the van and says.......uh oh.......we are out of gas....." are you f-ing kidding me!" Why oh why I didn't have gas in the van is beyond me! That was stupid!

We had to stop for gas! I did not want to be stranded on the side of the road, out of gas...in labor...and deliver on the highway! He puts just enough in to get us back on the road.

The van ride was HORRIBLE! Each contraction was pure hell! I made Ervin run all the red lights....and speed like crazy.

By the time we get to the hospital, the contractions are 2 minutes apart....and even more intense. I had 8 contractions from the garage to the labor room. By the time I get into the labor bed I am completely dilated. 10 cm! Thank God! My water breaks and I push the baby out. Ervin announces that it's a girl!

My doctor didn't make it. The on call doctor delivered her. I arrived at the hospital at 6:10 am and delivered her at 6:20 am.

The cool part about this delivery was that Jacob and Allie and Maddie were there. I wasn't planning on them being there...it just happened so fast...we didn't have time to drop them off anywhere. I had prepared them in advance that I was going to be in pain and that it was normal....and that I might be loud. Allie really really wanted to be there....and so I am happy that they both got to experience this birth.

AND.....the irony!

The on-call doctor that delivered me has made it clear that she is totally against VBACs.....and she happened to be on call....and deliver....a VBAC....

surviving week 1 post partum

Life has been just a little interesting the past few days. Exhaustion in addition to hormones makes mommy just a little emotional! I took Gracie to the doctor the other day and for no good reason I started crying....I mean bawling in front of the doctor! and then all the way home....and then again when I got home!

I am in much better spirits now. Breastfeeding has been going great this time around. Gracie is a champion breast feeder! I finally have a baby that knows exactly how it is supposed to be done! It is great! This time around I have no stress about how many dirty and wet diapers she has had, how long it has been since the last feeding, if she is getting enough....if she is gaining weight.... When we left the hospital Gracie weighed 6 pounds 10 oz. down from her birth weight of 7 lb 6oz. and when we went to the doctor she had already gained 4 oz back. She eats every 2 hours...which is fine with me....I mostly breastfeed her in the side lying position so we can both get some rest. The only thing with Gracie is that she does not like to be alone....she does not like the bassinet.....she likes to be right next to me......ALWAYS! But I am not complaining...I guess I should just enjoy it while it lasts! Before I know it she will be all grown up!

Maddie has been outstanding with Gracie! She LOVES her! I am so so so so happy about that! She loves to kiss her and is very concerned when she cries. She wants to hold the baby and take care of her. Jacob and Allie also love the new baby. They have been great with her as well. They both fight over who gets to hold her first.

I will have to post the delivery details soon..... in the meantime.....here is some love...

She's Here!

Gracelyn Jade was born @ 6:20 am today! We are doing great!

39 weeks

Wow, I made it to 39 weeks...I have never been pregnant this long! Last night I was having some good contractions.....and then they just fizzled out.....and then again this morning I was contracting every 2-5 minutes.....and then they went away. I had another Dr. appointment today which went well. I am dilated to 3 cm and the doctor says my bag of waters is bulging. He thinks I will go into labor this week some time....

Who knows, I will probably still be pregnant next week! lol....

The baby's movement has slowed down a bunch.....and I feel lots and lots of pressure....

Maybe it will be this week....

I have to work a 12 hour shift tomorrow....maybe that will put me into labor!

Sometimes I am ready for the pregnancy to be over.....and sometimes I wish I could just stay in this pregnant state forever. I am getting nervous about labor....I hope I can stay strong. I hope my labor goes fast....

I can't wait to meet my new little baby....


Gosh, I am all over the place in this post.....I blame it on my pregnant brain.

World A'fair 2010

The World A'fair was a huge success this year. Jacob and Allie did a fantastic job dancing! I was so proud of them...I had tears in my eyes. Not long ago, I was the little girl dancing the folk dances, and now my children are filling in my shoes. It feels good to pass on our Philippine heritage to my kids. It feels darn good!

Here are a few pictures:

38 weeks

38 weeks and counting...

• Made up for my 1 pound loss last week with a 5 pound gain this week! AAAHHH!
• having sporadic contractions
• my cervix is finally dilating...2-3 cm and 60% effaced
• feeling pretty good
• lots of pressure though
• still not ready to have this baby yet
• the suspense of when labor is going to begin is kind of fun
• daydreaming about how my labor will go is fun
• I think I forgot about how painful it is going to be
• that kind of makes me nervous
• my fingers are like sausages
• going to get my hair did today
• still need to pack my bag for the hospital
• I sure do hope I don't deliver on Saturday...my doctor is going out of town
• and the kids are dancing at the world affair...and I have to work on Saturday
• still loving every minute!

Maddie's Birth Story

I have to say that Madelyn's birth story is my favorite...maybe because I had an incredible VBAC...

It all started one early Saturday morning. I was just laying in the bed, snuggling with my baby girl Allie...we were talking about school and life...I was enjoying our little conversation and quiet time together. Ervin had just left to find us some breakfast. I roll over to change positions and all of a sudden I feel a "pop" and then warm fluid in my underwear....my water broke! I stand up right away and feel the trickle down my leg. I run to the bathroom just to make sure that it is not pee I am feeling. NO....that is amniotic fluid for sure! I call Ervin and calmly tell him that my water just broke...and so he rushes home. I was kind of bummed because I knew my doctor was out of town and I would be delivered by the doc on call.

I was not feeling any contractions....and since I was a previous cesarean section, I thought I should call the doctor. He tells me I should go into the hospital to get checked out... I decided he was right....I thought since I was a little high risk I should make sure everything is ok.

My water broke around 8 am and we got to the hospital around 10-11ish. I was totally wishing that my contractions would start already!

They checked me in and they waited for the doctor to arrive. The doctor checked my cervix and said I was 3 cm. He wanted to start pitocin because my contractions were non existent. He also put in an intrauterine pressure catheter....it is an internal monitor to monitor the strength of my contractions.

Shortly thereafter, the nurse starts the Pit and I start having regular strong contractions. I labored mostly in a rocking chair . I tried the birthing ball for a few minutes but was not a big fan. Once the pain started to get bad I was checked again and was 5 cm and 0 station. Less than an hour later I was ready to push. I pushed maybe 5 times and she was born! The pain was outrageous....I think I may have said the F word....maybe.... just once : 0 ) But...

It was the most amazing experience of my life! I had natural childbirth! I didn't have any pain medications through my IV and I didn't have an epidural. I was so proud of myself. It gave me a high that I really cannot describe. It was amazing! The best part was that I was awake to see my baby! and I contributed to getting her out! No feeling of helplessness this time!

Madelyn Justine

Born October 18, 2008 @ 2:50 P.M.

7 pounds 11 oz. 19 in. long

Our first pic together

Jacob, Allie and Daddy peeking in on our new little bundle of joy!