A year ago versus today:
1)After a late night of cleaning and nesting, I woke at 3am with intense back pain, slept fretfully off and on/ Today: After a late night of assembling the fabulous kitchen my dad sent Betty for her birthday(watching Dave assemble it, that is), I woke at 4 to Betty's persistent demands (actually Dave put her in the bed and she head slammed my nose, so I fed her).
2)In the morning, I packed the kids lunches while trying to ignore contractions. Totally in denial, didn't tell Dave, but packed my hospital bag and put it in the car "just in cases"/ Today: Packed lunches while spooning oatmeal over the counter into Betty's face.
3)Dropped kids off at school and Henry at a friends house so I could go to the DMV and the library and grocery shopping - sucking in air while I took my license renewal test, but after each contraction was over, I astoundingly dismissed it as indigestion. I decided to skip lunch though, as I sensed my time was precious and I still had errands to run. I needed to print off a form for the DMV at the library, and as I did so, definitely scared the homeless looking guys next to me with my groans. As I walked out of the library, I barely stifled a yell, but still, drove on to the store. When I discovered I was too cramped to physcially step out of the car, I decided to call Dave, "just in case" and ended up yell/crying into the phone and we decided to meet at home and he'd take me to the hospital. Just. In. Case. hahah/ Today: Dropped the kids off at school, took babies to the gym where we arrived for my class early so I took a power nap in the front seat while they watched Charlie Brown. After the gym, nursed Bet in the front seat so she could start her nap on the way home, picked up an ice cream cake from Coldstone on the way, got home and transferred her to bed and fed Henry lunch.
4)Concerned I was going to deliver on the toilet, I screamed Dave's name when he walked in the door, yelling for him to bring me some pants (my water broke when I got out of the car), he slid down on one knee through amniotic fluid in the bathroom, and helped me put my feet into pajama pants and, in between contractions, we ran for the front door. But I had to stop because the pants were on backwards and falling off. I sat on a towel on the way there and Dave broke the speed limit, which he never does/ Today: took a nap.
5) Again, racing contractions, I ran into the hospital, made it almost to the front desk before one hit and I hunched over on a chair and groaned and hit my head against the chair back till it passed. A fabulous nurse ushered me back and didn't quite get the privacy curtain drawn before I jumped out of my pants because I was sure the baby was about to come. I was right. I didn't mind the "ring of fire" as much as I thought I would - I was just so ready to end contractions. She crowned just as the doctor walked into the room to deliver her. Thanks Doc ;)/ Today: Lifted a smiling Betty out of her crib and made her a batch of her favorite egg scramble. She insisted on feeding herself; it was messy.
6)Perturbed that delivering the placenta is an additional discomfort, I let Dave hold her till all that was past and then came the good stuff. Sooo snuggly. We moved into the mother baby room and introduced Betty to her 3 siblings and most adoring fans./ Today: Riley had an afterschool activity but Joe comes home and asks if we'd started the party yet? We go downstairs to play with the new kitchen. We'll have spaghetti later, an extra fun baby meal, and sing her happy Birthday before letting all the kids blow out her candle. She won't understand or remember it- this won't even be her first sugar (fourth child we're talking here).
But, oh Betty: you are so so loved. God bless you, baby girl! A moment with you is worth every pain or lack of sleep parent could be called to endure.
But, oh Betty: you are so so loved. God bless you, baby girl! A moment with you is worth every pain or lack of sleep parent could be called to endure.
