A Little Love Will Go A Long Way....

So here is the story...As I have explained in previous posts. My pregnancies are less than normal. In the past two, I have delivered very early. 5 weeks early for Felicity and 7 weeks early for Malachi. This pregnancy went NOTHING like planned either.

Norah: 6 days old
There were many scares...the first of many was dilating too early. I was on restricted activity for a the first few months. During this time, I tested positive for warning signs of Down Syndrome. After a couple weeks of waiting, two expensive ultrasounds, and a unquestionable knowledge that any child that was sent to our home would be loved and cared for, results came back that virtually eliminated the likelihood of Downs Syndrome. Shortly after this, my cervix began shortening and my uterus was beaking. These are the early warning signs of an early delivery. I was quickly put on bed rest, and weekly doses of progesterone shots. It seemed that these things slowed down the progression of my pregnancy, but then, more bad news....I tested positive for Gestational Diabetes. This was a difficult thing for me, because I hadn't gained much weight and diabetes in primary controlled by food and exercise. Unfortunately, I was restricted from activity (bed rest...). So, my food needed to be controlled. Mostly, I had to eat protein with EVERY meal...yuck.

At week 34, Jared and I decided to stop the progesterone. Supposedly, after 10 days of stopping, one should go into labor...but no, not me....So, apparently the progesterone hadn't helped me after all. Two weeks later, the doctor took me off of bed rest. She said that within two days (if I was really active) I would go into labor or my water would break...but no, not me!

After all of this, I began to question the size of the child inside of me. My mom had huge babies...and my brother and his wife also had huge babies...my stretch marks were growing, I couldn't sit or stand comfortably....so I asked the doc. We decided to set a date to induce - I was hoping to just go into labor naturally.

We had such a busy week the week of Thanksgiving. Jared's father passed away after battling with Parkinson's for 10 years. It was a bitter-sweet ending. We are incredibly grateful that his suffering is over and that he can leave his broken body and reunite with his son who passed on 13 years earlier. We were so busy with planning the services, and I prayed that I wouldn't deliver during the three days.
The services were beautiful. The four kids sang beautifully..and I didn't pass out while playing the piano and organ. Jared gave a beautiful tribute to his dad (read it on his blog). We were both exhausted by Wednesdays, but we managed to enjoy a TSO concert before heading home.

For Thanksgiving, I decided there was no way I was going to cook or have company. We met up with his family at Chuck-o-rama...and Felicity and Malachi thought it was great...all you can eat Thanksgiving dinner. It worked out wonderfully for this year, but I look forward to something more traditional next time around.

My sister, Kristi, came over late Thursday night to help with Felicity and Malachi. And Jared and I woke up bright and early Friday morning to work on our Black Friday Special!

We arrived at the hospital at 7 am. At 8:30, they started me on a pitocin drip to help regulate my contractions. I slept on and off from 8:30 until about 12:30 pm. The contractions were very mild. "Law and Order is a great sedative," as Jared said... At 12:30, the doctor arrived and broke my water. Almost immediately, my labor went from mild to HOLY COW. I was ready to push within 45 minutes...but heck, the doctor was no where to be found. She walked in right as I was telling Jared that I "had" to push. The pain was the worst I've ever felt...but it was incredibly quick. Oh, did I mention, I went naturally? After a couple pushes, we delivered our baby.

Norah: 6 days old
Jared was shocked! I was shocked too! Jared was positive we were having a boy. He was ready with a name and everything. My shock? Did I just push out that rolly polly chunk of a baby? How big was she? She was just perfect. Our perfect baby, Norah Rose St. Clair, 9 pounds, 21 1/2 inches.

Norah: 6 days old
About an hour after delivery, I was able to get up and walk around. The recovery was so quick, and I have felt pretty good over the past week. We brought Norah home with us 24 hours after she was born.

Norah: 4 days old
She is a very well tempered baby. She eats well, and sleeps pretty well too. Unless she has a gas bubble...lol

Norah Rose and McCartney Sue...Best Friends & Cousins

We are all so happy that she is here. The four kids think she is the best thing ever. And they spend their afternoons touching and holding her. She has such a special, uniting spirit. She will be spoiled, I'm sure. We are so excited to show her off, and life is starting to return to normal...well, as normal as it can be with four kids and 1 newborn. Her spirit radiates, and our home has been incredibly blessed since she arrived.

All 5 of my kids...they LOVE their new sister...