Four years ago right now, I was a nervous wreck. Literally, a wreck; ugly crying…snot streaming out the nose…inconsolable… I was (very) pregnant with Sawyer and was scheduled to be induced at 6:00 p.m. and I was scared to death.
Her due date was August 9th so she was already nine days overdue at this point. I knew she needed to come out and I was sooooo very ready to meet her, but I’m not a big fan of the unknown.
Being induced wasn’t part of “THE PLAN.” Oh goodness, how often is that true? THE PLAN was to go into labor naturally (and let me tell you, I tried…all of it…spicy mexican food…a bumpy trip across the pasture checking cows…extensive walking…all of it. Except castor oil…that didn’t sound fun). THE PLAN was to start having contractions and then get up and get ready and go get a pedicure with momma Jeanie and Tredessa. THE PLAN was to eat a leisurely lunch and then head to the hospital and welcome my sweet girl to the world. THE PLAN did NOT include an induction.
My sweet momma Jeanie came over about this time and talked me off the ledge I was perched upon so clumsily. I made it through the morning, had lunch with my honey and then cried some more. (It was the hormones!!) *ahem*
We met momma Jeanie at the hospital and checked in at 6:00 on the nose. We got settled in, began the induction and then Wrex fell in love with the contraction tracker. He’d sit there and say, “Did you feel that one? That was a big one! Here comes another!” It was so cute…and not annoying at this point. 🙂
Poppa Dave showed up and brought Chick-fil-A and Mt. Dew and we partied with Tredessa and my sweet “sister” Tara until midnight.
I was not in active labor at this point, but it was fun to pretend! So glad my feet were clean…
Honestly, it was one of my favorites nights EVER! There was so much excitement and encouragement and love; it was the perfect way to welcome our sweet Sawyer.
Dave and the girls left around midnight and Jeanie stayed with me as I tried to sleep. That’s always such a joke to me. Sleep…during contractions…yeah, ok. I was in for a natural labor so sleeping through contractions wasn’t gonna happen…
Everybody reconvened the next morning and I kept them waiting. I was progressing, just pretty slowly. I contracted and walked and hugged toilets and got into all kinds of weird positions that I’m still so sad that Jeanie and Tredessa had to witness – ha!
Wrexy broke down about 4:30 that afternoon; he was so worried about his girls and he hated seeing me in pain. It was a sweet moment that actually kind of re-energized us. At about 6:00 pm, it was time to push! I was absolutely exhausted at this point…
I was so hot (surprise, surprise) and there wasn’t a fan in the room so Wrex was fanning me with an instrument packet. I remember that he kept hitting me in the face because he was in deep conversation with our doctor about the differences and similarities between a human birth and that of a cow. *ahem* Farm wives, you know exactly what I’m talking about…
This part of her birth was quite supernatural for me. I don’t remember just a ton during this time; the Lord was my strength, no doubt. We had gone through three or four shift changes of nurses, ten other babies being born, codes over the loud speaker…and I remember hearing this cry and I asked, “Was that Sawyer?” I was so delirious I didn’t know if some other lucky duck had their baby or if it was actually my turn…
Three and a half hours of pushing later, she was here! 24 hours of hard labor later, my angel was here!
They put her on my tummy and I got to gaze upon her sweetness in exhaustion. Jeanie spoke the name of Jesus over her and then handed her off to daddy. Those brave souls that lasted long into the night joined us in our room and sweet Sawyer had quite the welcoming party! She deserved it!
We slept about four hours that night…
and partied some more the next day; we had a ton of sweet visitors – LIFE is worth celebrating, you know?
Let it be known, that this woman is a saint! There is no way I could’ve made it through this labor without her by my side!
It was a sweet, sweet few days – some of my favorites, no doubt. It just sure doesn’t feel like it’s been four years since I birthed this sweet baby girl…
They say the days are long but the years are short. Tis true…
Your Grandma Cherry did the castor oil thing with your mom, Paula. She hid behind a door and drank it, threw up, pooped for hours and still did not have her! Glad you didn’t try it!!
BAHAHAHAHAH! I didn’t know that!!!! Hysterical…and sad!