Emmeline Linda

After visiting the doctor for my 40 week appointment, we decided to go ahead and schedule an induction, just in case. Nate and I, and really everyone else in the world, were quite surprised when the induction date came and we still hadn't had the baby! Nate's dad had come for a visit and since had to head home for work, and Nate's mom had been there for several days, and still nothing! The doctor called me on Monday to let me know that the induction was scheduled for Wednesday, July 25, at 8:00 p.m.. The p.m. part nearly pushed Nate and me over the edge into the loony bin. We were so anxious to move forward, get out of the holding pattern, and meet our new daughter!

Cutting the grass the Saturday before she came in hopes that it would get things moving. No dice.

Yep, I was ready.

Wednesday evening came and I was getting nervous and emotional. Having given birth four times before, I knew what I was in for and I was scared. And it's always difficult for me, knowing what sorts of adjustments are coming for my other kids. I had a tearful conversation with my mom on the phone, where she said all the right things, which gave me the courage to finish packing my bag and get ready to go. We had dinner as a family, started getting the kids in the tub, and got a call from the hospital saying they could take us a little early. I was really struggling to keep it together as we squeezed each of the kids and loaded up the car. Nate's mom was very encouraging when she heard the waver in my voice and saw me getting all misty. Moms are the best. We left the other four in her capable hands and were off.

It was strange to be heading to the hospital with no contractions, but it was also such a relief knowing that it was finally time! We got the hospital and got checked in, and I was changed and started on Pitocin by about 7:30. The nurse said I was dilated to a 1+. Ugh. So Nate and I settled in for what seemed like it would be a long night. We were both tired because of the time of day, the loooong wait for the baby, and the end-of-pregnancy sleep situation. Things got moving pretty quickly, and the nurses got a little worried about the baby's heartbeat, which was quite high. So I was freed to get out of the bed and move around, thank heavens, in hopes that it would help. There's nothing worse than being in labor and not being able to get up, so I welcomed it. I walked around the room a little, visited the little girls' room several times, and finally got comfy on a birthing ball. I sat by the bed and would rest between contractions, and then as soon as one would start, Nate would apply counterpressure to my hips while I rocked back and forth and breathed. It was a good little system. The baby's heartbeat was in much better shape by that point, so we were left to labor for quite a while.

I was tired, and it was painful, and it was looking like it would take a while. So Nate and I started talking about an epidural. We'd make it a goal to get through the next half hour, and then talk about it again. Around midnight I was dilated to a 5, and we decided to take the plunge and get an epidural so that I could labor more comfortably and be able to rest a little. Also, I wanted to have a little energy left when it was time to push and to finally meet our baby. I'd had to push forever with Leah and also with Asa, so I knew I needed some gas in my tank.

I was really scared about getting the epidural. I'd had one with Addison, and it had been a pretty rotten experience, and I'd also had one with Bryn, and I remembered hating having it put in. They got me all prepped, and Nate was right there with me, and the anesthesiologist did it pretty quickly. I hate the shocks it sends all over your body. They're terrifying and they don't feel great. So by the end of getting it put in, I was wiping away some tears, but glad to have it over with. It only took a few contractions for it to really kick in, and it was a great relief from the pain of the contractions. Nate and I decided at that point to move things along as quickly as possible, since I was pretty comfortable. So we had the nurse go find someone to break the water. About this time, I started feeling some serious side effects from the epidural. I was shivering uncontrollably, and my teeth were chattering like crazy. I tried to breathe and calm down, and it would work for about three seconds, and then the shaking would start again. And I just generally was starting to feel like garbage. Really lightheaded, and my breathing was weird. I did not feel like myself, and I did not like my inability to control my body. Nate was very cool and collected through it all, but I could tell that he was getting really worried.

My nurses were awesome, and were very attentive and assured us that things were fine. My blood pressure had "bottomed out," whatever that means, which was why I felt so terrible. One of the nurses gave me some medication through the i.v. to help with my blood pressure. It did improve the way I was feeling, but it did not stop the shaking, which was wearing me out! And I was biting my tongue like crazy with my chattering teeth. During all this, a doctor had come in and broken the water, which looked great, and things had really started to move. I dilated from a 5 to a 10 in about 15 minutes! They called my doctor and told him to get his tushy to the hospital. With each contraction I felt like the baby was about to just come out without any extra help from me! They called in the on-call doctor just in case mine didn't get there in time.

Dr. Wheelwright got there just in time, took one look and told me that on the next contraction I was going to have a baby. So we waited, the contraction came, I pushed twice, and there she was. Our perfect little daughter. An answer to our prayers and a dream come true. I got to hold her and get to know her while Nate cut the cord and the placenta was delivered and the stitches were done.

And that's the story! She was born at 1:57 a.m. on Thursday, July 26th, exactly one week overdue. We jetted out of the hospital at about 10:30 on Friday morning, because it was Bryn's birthday! We've spent the last week and a half loving on our little girl and teetering around trying to figure out how to balance life in our new version of normal. Nate still hasn't gone back to work, which has been so wonderful! She's as sweet as can be and is a good eater and sleeper.

And now a billion pictures:

Emmeline Linda (Emmie for short), July 26, 2018, 1:57 a.m., 7 lbs 9 oz, 20.5 inches long.

We named her Linda after Nate's sweet mom, who shows up when there's a need and loves without judgment.

With Dr. Wheelwright. We like him a lot.