Today celebrating my daughter's first birthday is causing me to reminisce about what happened one year ago and the craziness that ensued.
April 9, 2011
6am I woke up on a Saturday and felt contractions. I was only 36 weeks along but I knew right away I was in labor. I felt the exact same pains with our first daughter 2 years earlier. I woke up Dave and he did not believe it and told me to go back to sleep. I grabbed his phone, downloaded a contractions app (best app ever) and starting timing while I laid in bed.
8am When the contractions had not stopped and were now every 7-10 minutes apart. I got into the bathtub hoping to ease the pain and failed. When I got out the contractions were 5-7 minutes apart so I started making calls. I paged the doctor, called my mom, my sister and best friend Abby to ask if we could take our 2 year old over there. When the on call doctor called me back and I described what was going on and I had a pretty intense contraction while on the phone she told me that if I wanted to get an epidural (which I DEFINITELY wanted) then I needed to come in. Dave FINALLY got out of bed and started to run around. He threw a few things into a bag because of course we had not packed anything yet. (Later in the hospital I realized he had managed to pack himself a few nice outfits, comfy clothes and everything he needed but failed to bring me any shoes or even a shirt a fit! Never let someone else pack your hospital bag.) I tried to put on some makeup and dry my hair in between calls but was struggling to breath or concentrate anymore and Dave told me it was time to go.
10am With damp frizzy hair adn little makeup on I reluctantly went along. We dropped off our oldest at our friends' house and started on the nearly 30 minute drive to the hospital. Dave hit every bump and pothole on 465 along the way. I called my sister who was in the room when our first was born and wanted to be for this one too. I told her to get in her car because she lived almost 2 hours away. I then called my girlfriend Kristin to try and distract myself from the pain.
11am When we arrived at the hospital we spent a few minutes getting checked in and headed to triage. I begged Dave to go get someone as they left us in there alone and said the doc would be in to check me soon but the contractions were getting worse. He was his usual relaxed everything will be fine self and told me they would come as soon as they could. When the doc finally arrived 10 minutes later and checked me. I was 4-5cm dilated already. She confirmed I was in labor (DUH) and told them to send me up to labor and delivery.
12pm I got to my room and asked everyone I could find to please get the anaesthesiologist. She is in another room and will on her way soon I was told. I began begging and pleading. I was in a lot of pain and no one seemed to understand. I looked at Dave and said "I know I am not going to get an epidural in time. I need drugs. I cannot do this. Get her!" Again, Dave told me she would be there as soon as she could and I would be fine. When she finally came into the room the doc said she wanted to check me again before they started. I was 8! I knew it. This baby is moving fast. I sat on the edge of the bed and as the anaesthesiologist began to work I started to cry that I could not do this. I needed to lean back. I was feeling pressure. LOTS of pressure. Everyone told me that the baby was not coming. I was only 8. But I knew. "Please I have to push" I begged. I was warned that if I move I could harm myself because she was inserting the needle. I tried not to move but began yelling that I HAD TO PUSH. She said she was in. I rolled back on my back and a beautiful tiny baby girl came right out with less than half a push. No one was ready and the doctor was shocked. She was still in her sack because my water never broke. The doctor broke open the sack and it seemed like a lot of chaos and I was in a bit of shock. Did that really just happen? Roughly an hour after arriving at the hospital I had a baby? And with no drugs? A few minutes later my legs started to go numb as the epidural started to kick in. SERIOUSLY!?! It did not last long as she did not get much in. The doctor looked at Dave and told him that she hoped he was taking notes because at this rate I would be delivering my next baby at home. Dave then headed down to park our car and get our bags because it was still pulled up to the front door where we left it as we jumped out just an hour earlier.
We spent the next 3 days relaxing in the hospital and celebrating with family and friends.
April 15 We loaded our trailer and moved to Fort Wayne to be closer to Dave's work so he would not have to commute 2 hours anymore. Listed our house and moved in with Mom.
June 1 Sold our house.
June 18 Dave was offered and accepted a promotion back down near Fishers starting immediately.
July 1 Closed on our house and started house hunting
November Found a house and made an offer.
February 27 Closed on the new house and moved back to Fishers.
It has been one crazy, fun, chaotic year and Adalynn has rolled right along with it.
We are looking forward to year two of her little life. Hoping for just as much fun but maybe a little less chaos.
