I'm home!!!...
Posted By: Kerry and Matthew:)
Wednesday, 28 July 1999, at 2:59 p.m.

First things first! Matthew weighed in at 9 pounds 0.5 ounces (Think DH mentioned that) he's 21 inches long and his head circumference is 14.5 inches:) He's got dark hair and dark grey-blue eyes and he has LONG fingernails (well not anymore:)!! LoL He's got the cutest little curled up ears! They're totally smushed up:) (I'll post the pics as soon as I get them developed) Dr says they'll flatten out on their own. He's also very wrinkly and is peeling cause he's overdue:)

Ok Now the juice!! LoL So as you all know I went in at 8pm to be induced. Well I found out I could have gone in Mon morning instead cause 2 of his scheduled inductions went into labour on their own! Oh well:) I got to see the Muppet movie with Sean instead:)

So we went in and he put the first dose of gel in at about 10:30 (seems I had dialated a bit since Thurs!! I was at 2cm and soft). So we hung around and watched TV and nothing was happening so I sent DH and my Mom home to get some sleep promising to call if anything happens:) So I lay around trying to sleep......I didn't:) LoL Then the Dr came in at 7am and put in another dose of gel (when he put this one in he was kinda rough! OUCH!)

So I was still at 2cm and soft! After the gel was in I had to stay lying down for an hour with the monitors on. I was filing my nails (LoL) and my back started hurting and I had to go pretty bad(you know what I mean! LoL)

So I kept bugging the nurse to let me up and she said nope:) MEANY!! LoL She asked if I was having contractions and I said I dunno cause Matthew was moving and I wasn't sure if the pain was just from him:) I was in denial cause the contraction monitor thingie wasn't picking up my contractions (did the same with Sean! LoL). Eventually I was allowed up so I went to the bathroom and was much happier in that department! LoL DH, Mom and my brother showed up and asked why I didn't call! LoL I wasn't allowed up and I couldn't reach the phone and I didn't think I was in labour dammit!! LoL Some people!

So I was having contractions sitting cross legged on the bed leaning against DH's belly (now I know why he padded it so well while I was preggo! LoL). I was making a low, loose moaning/groaning sound during the contractions and the nurse said that that was what she liked to hear:) I couldn't tense while I was making that sound:) I was having the contractions quite close together right from the beginning (probably only a minute or 2 apart) so the nurse checked me (probably around 8:30-9) and said I was 3-4 and I could have my epidural! (wait before you say yippee!!)

So the guy came to give it to me and he couldn't find the right spot!!! So he put it in and then looked and saw it wasn't right (felt like it missed my spine all together!) so he took it out and tried again. LET ME TELL YOU!!!!! He stuck that needle in and started scraping against my bone trying to find the spot!!

So I starting screaming ouch and he pulled the needle out and put more local in. Then he starts scraping around again!!! So I'm there screaming and crying and trying not to move cause I like to walk sometimes and my Mom is outside the door about ready to come in and hit the guy!!! He gets it in and I lie down and wait for it to start working........waiting.....waiting......screaming that it's not working.....waiting.....it didn't work at all!!!! Not amused! So I wanted to cancel labour then:)

LoL I was stuck lying down cause of the epi that didn't work and my body started pushing without me!! So The nurse checked me and I was only at 6cms!! Luckily I didn't have the uncontrolable push at every contraction or I would have been in even more trouble!!

So I kept moaning and panting when my body was pushing and generally trying to stop myself from fighting the pains:) Then I started screaming that I couldn't stop pushing and all of a sudden a bunch of nurses run in and start getting everything ready for delivery. I still wasn't ready (I'm kinda hazy on this but I think I was around 8cms and stretchy!LoL)

So they took my out of the stirrups again and I started telling them to knock me out! LoL I even begged for a C-sec at one point! LoL Then I started screaming again and the Dr said to just let me push cause I was really stretchy (I'm the amazing rubber woman! LoL) so I started pushing! I pushed for about 10 mins (kinda hazy there too! No sense of time when I'm in labour!) thinking that it wasn't working the whole time! LoL Then all of a sudden they said don't push!! I was like why??!!! What's wrong!!! Then I realized that Matthew's head was out and they were suctioning him and rotating his head to get his shoulders out! LoL I was amazed! LoL So I pushed the rest of him out at 11:06am!! 4 hours!! Thank goodness it wasn't longer cause I was losing it! LoL

So I have a small tear that seemed to take forever to sew up and I'm VERY crampy and my poor bruised pincushion of a back is KILLING me!! It feels like someone was sticking a big metal spike into my back and wiggling it around!!......Oh wait!! Someone did that!! LoL Other then that I'm fine:) Just tired:)

Matthew is an angel!! He's only cried a couple of times and only for a second each time! He's a squeaky baby though:) LoL He's already found his hands and he sucks on them more then on me!! Weird thing though! I fed him this morning at about 8:30 and then we were waiting to be discharged and he slept the whole time. Ended up I had to wake him up when we got home around 2 and he still didn't really want to eat!!! Totally opposite of Sean the little piggy:) Breastfeeding is going slowly cause he has a little mouth (don't know where he got it! LoL) and I have big nipples:) LoL He also falls asleep all the time while I'm trying to feed him! We're concentrating on latching on and trying to get my milk in right now:) His pipes are definately working! He's done SO many poops already! LoL And he's sprayed his daddy too:)

Sorry this is so long! I'm gonna go find some tylenol with codiene to try to get rid of these cramps:) I'm SO happy!!!!

Even though I had unvoluntary natural labour:) LoL Mwah!!!

Kerry and Matthew:)

Our Gift from God has arrived!!!......very long...
Posted By: Jill - Mom to Wakeman Lee - 8/12/99
Tuesday, 17 August 1999, at 7:07 a.m.

Well he made it here!! Wakeman Lee - born on 8/12/99 at 10:12 am - 8 lbs 5 oz, 19.5 inches long! He is so beautiful!

Last wed night i was at my brothers softball game and was having contractions but that really was nothing new since i had been having them for 2 months everyday. But when i got home i decided to start timing them cuz they had been constant for several hours - since about 7:30pm.

So at 9pm they were about 8-10 min apart lasting about a minute. That kept up and at about 1 am i started thinking about when i should call the dr - they were about 5 min apart at that time. So we took Gabriella out to my parents house and i called the dr at about 3 am. He said to go to the hospital.

We got there at about 4 am and the contractions now were getting really strong and were about 3 min apart. Got admitted and checked - NOT dialted. I about died - i had wondered my progress cuz this time i hadn't lost my plug or anything - just having the contractions. So i was pretty upset - knowing i probably couldn't get anything for pain for quite a while.

I started crying and was very scared and was debating my VBAC decision. So dh and i talked and i decided that i would ask for the c-section since i had made no progress and had been in labor for 9 hours and was not dialted a bit. I just couldn't believe i was having contractions 3 min apart lasting a minute and there was no progress. So the dr came in knowing i wanted the c-section and checked me (this was an hour later) and i was at 5-6! holy cow - so he said why don't we try an epidural and take it from there - i agreed. Got the epidural - a walking epidural so i had complete movement of my legs and that helped - the pain was bearable - still had a lot of pressure but it was bearable.

Then towards the end when i was getting close to 10 the pain was back and it was hard but i knew the end was near. Started pushing at 9:30 and he was born at 10:12!!!

It was the greatest experience to deliver vaginally - as soon as his head came out he was screaming!!! Then they delivered the rest of him and laid him right on my tummy.

I felt sooo good after he came out i really couldn't believe it!! They let him lay on my tummy for 20 minutes without even touching him! I ended up having a midwife deliver - she didn't clamp the cord for at least 20 minutes and then my husband cut the cord. She didn't give me an episiotomy either - she let me tear - which was not bad - it was a bunch of little tears that were not deep. The worst part of it all - and this is bad - is my hemorrhoids - they are bad. But i suppose i can live with that!

So they gave me the choice of staying in for 1 day or 2 and i picked the 2 and am very glad i did! When we got home i felt fairly normal - a lot better than after the c-section!!!

I'm a very happy mom! And Wakeman is soooo good - never crys. I thought for sure he'd be born with a big cone head and bruised but he was just perfect! He's so precious and we are sooo lucky!!!! I'll be sending some photos to momma soon!!!!

love
Jill and Wakeman Lee

Posted By: Sandrine, Maman d'Emilie!!
Monday, 6 September 1999, at 2:09 p.m.

Epi was almost a piece of cake. The doc had me sitting on the side of the bed and told me not to move. That was the hardest part because contractions kept coming. The nurse was in front of me and let me lean against her chest which was nice of her.

The area was numbed so I kind of felt when he first stuck me with the needle, but not in a painful way. They cut me so I wouldn't tear. The nurse said that I would have torn if they hadn't and I wasn't going to argue with that. Emilie is doing better with her bf. I just have to pump about 1oz every time, before I nurse from the breast I'm using to soften it. Now if I could just get her to remember that I like to sleep at night instead of having to soother her every 5 minutes I'd be doing wonderful!! LOL.

Enjoy your nights while you have them! Dh is so proud that he is besides himself! Every time she makes a noise he jumps to go look at her and see if she needs anything.

It's just so sweet!!

Em's Birth Story of Alex

Ok, here goes.. .After getting up way too early on Sat. spent the day thinking about having Alex.Did try and sleep for an hour , before putting kids to bed, but really wasn't a good nap. Got kids fed, and put to bed.

Had Brad's sister come over. Called OB office, said thought I was in labor ( this was the plan I made with her, we knew she'd be breaking my water) She called me, and we planned to meet at hospital. I got there at 9;30 and was seen by resident on call. I told her was having ctx on and off and thought this was it. She checked me, I was 4 ct dilated and called OB. She said to admit me (she did tell resident later what we were doing ) OB came and at about 10 broke my water. Ctx started picking up around 11:30, spent the time walking around. We went to look at nursery, place was packed. But that was depressing, babies laying in 900 watt lights, half of them crying, and 2 nurses sitting in office.. Geesh, don't know how anyone can leave their babies... So I was progressiing right along. Ctx weren't bad, and got checked at 3 am, and was 8 ct. Still was walking around. I must of had a ton of fliud becasue with evry ct I would gush more water. They had me on belly monitor every hour to see what was up. But as soon as I layed down, ctx would slow. So I'd get up and start walking again.His HB was fine though, and we figured we would just wait a bit.

By around 6 am I was pretty tired. Had been walking all night, and hadn't eaten since 6pm. Got checked again and was 10 ct. Walked some more and ctx picked up, thought ok this was it. Tried to push a bit, but really had no urge. (OB said because I was so tired, and also because my poor old uterus was beat)She wanted to give me some pit. I really didn't want to, was afraid of the pain, and did not want to medicate, plus not able to really give any thing, that late in the game.

Walked some more, took a hot shower to try and relax, and they picked up again. Finally said ok to the pit a little after 8. So they put in an iv, and started it. Well that did pick them up. A LOT. OB nurse said to try squatting, which I did (had tried that earlier but ctx weren't steady enuff) but by then was just to exhausted even with the stool.

Tried laying an a bean bag on my tummy,, which was working, and I was able to give a couple of good pushes. But the ctx were so strong and I was so tired, I just wanted to give up. I ended up turning around, and had half of table put down, so I was sort of on a ledge. Ted and OB nurse helped me and held my feet and legsto my chest. I had the bars to hang onto, and was able to give some really good count to 10 pushes. Ted ws great, between him and OB nurse they talked me through the 6 or 7 pushes till his head finaaly came out. I was in the middle of one when Ted yelled to stop. Cord was around baby's neck . I 'm glad I was so focused at that point, because I did , even though I wanted him out so bad. They unwrapped cord, and said push again. I did and One more and shoulder came out, then 2 more and out he plopped.he was laying on the ledge under my legs ,on second part of bed. he wasn't crying loud, but was breathing. they cleared his mouth and he did. OB checked him over quick, gave him some oxygen, then gave him to me. Took another 20 minutes for palcenta to come out, finally did when he started nursing on me...

We were able to leave hospital at 7:30 sunday night,less than 10 hours after having him. Ted went home around noon to pick up the kids so they could come and take home Alex and mom.

em

Well, I think I have time to type out the birth story...

Posted By: Kelly - Mom to Gabriella and Olivia
Tuesday, 7 September 1999, at 7:47 a.m.

As you all know, I was on bedrest and home monitoring for contractions. Last Friday, (the 27th) I monitored. Sent in the data. The co. called back to say I had 5 contractions. I'm allowed 4, then have to re-do. I didn't feel any contractions. I re-monitored. This time, my back was killing me. I figured this was it, and when I sent in the data, they would tell me to go to the hosp. They called back saying no contractions. I called my OB to tell him this. he said to go to the hosp. sometimes, the monitor doesn't pick up back contractions.

Got to hosp at 1:00 I was contracting 7 min. apart. Wasn't really feeling bad. Doc. examined me at 3. was 3 cm. and 80 effaced. Was shocked when he said I was going to have the babies today!!!! He broke my water at 5 pm to move things along.

WRONG!!! At 7 I got the epidural. YIPPEE!!! Don't know why I held off that long!!! What a difference. I dilated to 4 cm. and stayed there most of the night. The contractions were 2-3 min. apart, but couldn't feel them. Spent the night not sleeping or eating!!! The nurse and doc. came to check every hour or so. Couldn't eat in case they had to do a c-seciton to get baby b out. So, now I"m starving, tired and weak!!

At 6:30 am was 10 cm. pushed for 2 hrs. So hard. couldn't feel anything and again, on bedrest fo r2 and half mos, tired and hungry. Asked them to ligten up on epi. so i could feel to push. OUCH!! Asked for epi again. Finally doc used vacuum to help out baby A. At 8:53 Olivia Jean was born. 6 pounds, 6.5 oz. 19 and half inches long. Doc was going to let me labor with B for a while. She was in the right spot. Unfortunately, her hb went down. Within seconds, he was using forceps to help her out.

At 9:11 Olivia Reagan was born. 5 pounds 0.6 oz and 18 in. long. The next few days were a whirlwind. Everything hurt. I was released from hosp. on Mon. They kept the girls due to jaundice. Olivia more so than Gabriella. Leaving them in that hosp. MOn. night was the hardest thing I ever did. I knew they were better off, but they were with me for 8 mos.!!!!!! Olivia was on a bili blanket to help get rid of the jaundice. ON wed. they were both released. I was so afraid they would release Gabriella and not Olivia. But, that didn't happen!!

Gabriella is nursing very well. At every feeding!! Olivia is starting to get the hang of it. Her mouth is just so small, she was having a hard time latching on and sucking. I've been pumping for her, and giving her a bottle. She is getting better with the nursing, although I am still giving her the bottle. I think within a week, she'll have it as well as her sister. So, I feel like I have triplets. I nurse Gabriella, hand her off to someone (my mom was here the first week, DH's parents are here now). they burp and change here. I start to nurse Olivia for about 10 min, then give her the supplement bottle. burp and change her.

Basically, everything is going very well. They aren't criers. Hardly ever scream. they wake up, lay in the cradle, finally cry, feed, pee, poop, then go back to the cradle to lay and look around.

The good news is I only have about 10 pounds left to loose. Can't believe how much came off. I actually think the pounds are in my boobs, they are HUGE AND SORE!!!!

gotta run, can't believe I"ve been away from them this long. Can't wait to read how everybody else is doing, and find out who else had their angels.

Kelly

Hello!
Sorry I am so late getting Taylor's birth sstory here, but my modem crashed. Well, she was born about two weeks early.
She was due 8/10/99 but born 7/28 ( 6 days after my birthday) I went to the doctor Monday, the 26th, and my blood pressure was up.
HE decided not to worry about it, and if she wasn't born by 8/5, he would induce. I woke up about 8 in the morning Wednesday the 28th with contractions. I took a shower, ate a bite or two of cereal, and then we went to the hospital. When I got there, I wasn't dilated at all from Monday, but my B/P was 158/100.

They kept me and started that lovely pitocin drip to get my contractions going. I had an epidural about noonish, but it only took on one side. (They were making me lie on one side, which inhibited it from taking on the other, lucky me!)

Anyway, I dilated steadily, and about 3:20, I was fully dilated. Well, my doctor was across town performing a c-section so I had to pant with a halfway epidural! YIKES!

He got there at 3:40, and Taylor Nicole came into this world screaming at 3:46. She weighed 7 pounds 3 1/2 ounces and was 18 inches long. SHe is almost one month, and doing wonderfully! We count our blessings every day!

THanks for letting me share

Theresa