1 week later...

We did it

Neve Aisling Dawes
7lbs 7ounces
Friday September 22 2006 12:52pm

and what an adventure it was. I think Paul gives the best succinct description of the event:

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Hi all,

sorry for the delay but the last three days have flown by.  On 9/22/06 (Friday) Janie gave birth to our new baby daughter: Neve Aisling Dawes (irish names, pronounced Neev ASHling)

Neve was 7 lbs, 7 oz and 19.5 inches at birth.  Both mom and daughter are doing great.  Janie went into labor Thu night (21st) immediately following her celebratory birthday dinner in Half Moon Bay. We were just finishing when she leaned over and told me, "We've got to go".  I said, "No problem, I'm just finishing paying," when she said more urgently, "No, I mean to the hospital. Now!"

I had taken a driving course earlier in the year, and so we made it from the restaurant to Sequoia hospital in a very short amount of time.  Janie says I was trying to get pulled over to use the 'get out of jail free--my wife's having a baby' card.  No luck, and then Janie was in labor for another 12+ hours before Neve decided to show at 12:52 PM on Friday.

So anyway, the whole family is doing great, and the kids are thrilled with the newest addition.  Grayson was even OK when we told him Neve was a girl (and not the brother he was hoping for).  He just grinned and wanted to hold her in his lap.  "Dad," he said, "Now we're really outnumbered (4 girls to 2 boys)"

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the only thing I have to add is what an amazing job Paul did driving back and forth managing me at the hospital and the three kids at home, guess those driving lessons really did pay for themselves afterall :-).

All is well, almost 1 week after her grand entrance we are slowly getting things back on schedule and the kids enjoying all the gifts, flowers, balloons exclaim that having a baby is like "having a bonus Christmas". So much so that they are already trying to prime Paul and I for having another (sorry kids out of luck on this one).

The newest princess beckons, so until next time...

3 cm 3 weeks to go

After a long night in the hospital on Friday in labor, I was discharged with everyone scratching their heads saying "what the heck". Once again I have stumped the birthing experts.

I entered the hospital 2 cm and contracting every 3-4 minutes. Being my 4th kid, and with the speed on which Anna delivered (42 minutes) the nurses all but jumped through hoop trying to get the room ready for baby, no chance they were going to turn me away. (note: I did warn them that I typically stall out between 3-4 cm)

Several hours passed by, not much changed, our wonderful doctor suggested Pitocin to "keep the momentum going", and decided to start at a level 1, which he was sure would be more than enough, especially since this was our 4th child. It was now somewhere around 8pm.

Pitiocin goes in, nothing changes. Up the pitocin, nothing. pretty soon we are at level 8 and not a whole lot has changed, we are now closing in on the wee morning hours and decide that my time would be better off sleeping if I can. Amazingly I am able, Pitocin still dripping.

5 am I am up after a couple of fitful hours of rest. After checking that I am now at 3cm we decide at 7 am to steadily increase the pitocin. Every hour or so we up the level, my body does a couple strong close contractions then just as quickly metabolizes and gets back into the 4 minute pattern. We get to level 18, same story - I am being to wonder how high can we go!

Time for a game plan conference, it's now around noon. We decide to turn off the pitocin, give my uterus a break and then plan on starting up again in the evening. Pitocin goes off with all expectations that i'll go back to my original pattern (which isn't far off from where I am on the pitocin). Labor as we know it completely stops.

I expected to be disappointed or emotional but discover that more than anything I just kind of laugh. This baby is obviously not ready to come out, it is three weeks early after all why push something that just isn't happening. The discussion comes up about breaking my water (which was never successful at doing anything with the other 3 so I am hestitant) Pretty unanimously we opt not to, since doing so makes delivery iminent, which based on the current scenario makes me worry that my 4th might be a csection.

After "recovering" for a couple hours we change plans again, I am missing the children horribly by this time and not real eager to spend another night plugged into monitors and ivs so we decide to discharge me. There was a part of me that felt worried about all the time and effort wasted by everyone, a part of me worried that I hope I am able to read the signs correctly and make it back to the hospital on time, but the biggest part by far was relief - was going home and couldn't wait to see the kids!

The kids by the way were being cared for tag team between Paul and Rosie, and as it turned out managed just fine without mommy, even Anna whose never been apart from me at night, managed to snuggle up next to Paul during his short night in bed. It's hard to know that things can go so smoothly without me there, but also nice to know I'll have one less thing to worry about when this baby does decide to come.

In the meantime it could be hours or it could be weeks before we get to finally meet "snowy" (the kid's nickname for the baby) and knowing exactly where I stand makes me feel like I am living hour by hour right now (I imagine after a couple quiet days that feeling will fade). I am amazed on how organized I can be when I need to be. I have everything for tomorrow (including dinner) ready in case I am not here.

The kids are sort of out of sorts, tired, disappointed that Snowy's not here yet, and vulnerable now knowing that any day now mommy might not be there for night time. Guess we'll have to see how this plays out.....