Ok, so this is probably two weeks over due, but I know you'll cut me some slack. Anyway, here is the whole story about Ruthie's birth:
So we had been to the OB/GYN earlier that week and it was decided that they would do an induction on Wednesday morning at 6 am (or there about's, depending on how busy they were in the maternity ward at that time - we were supposed to call ahead and check). So we went home and made all the arrangements. We had talked to Cheni about being there and she was all for it, so she had to clear it with her teachers and everything.
Sometime during the night on Tuesday, Anna starts having contractions. She'd been having some pretty strong ones off and on for more than a week, so she didn't get too excited about it, especially since we were going to the hospital in the morning. Morning finally arrives and the contractions are getting REALLY strong. So Anna calls the maternity ward. "Can you come in later? Your doctor had a busy night." Anna says "Umm... I'm going to come in anyway because I'm pretty sure I'm in labor and if I wait it might be too late." Reluctantly the floor nurse agreed.
Since, technically, I am under doctor's orders not to drive, Anna and I argued about her driving herself to the hospital. My argument was that I COULD drive, even though I shouldn't. I lost. Anna, in spite of the contractions, drove herself to the hospital.
We got to the hospital and proceeded to unload. Me limping along on my cane, Cheni carrying two cameras, a tripod, and Anna's overnight bag, and Anna - by now in SERIOUS labor. After checking in at the emergency room desk (it was 5:30 in the morning and the front entrance wasn't open yet) they said GO, so we took the elevator to the 5th floor (ask any woman whose had a baby and they'll tell you how much fun that is in the last few days of pregnancy) and made ourselves at home in the labor and delivery room.
Anna got set on the bed while Cheni started freaking out and I set up the cameras. The nurse reminded us we were early and that the doctor wouldn't be in until later. But, then she checked how far along Anna was.... and called the doctor to come right away. That was 6 am.
At 7 am the room got crazy. There were a couple of student doctors there (they asked us if they could observe - since they were more interested in the baby than getting in the way, we agreed.) The doctor came in and checked and said "well, what are you waiting for, let's have a baby!" So they got the stuff all set up and the lights on and all that fun. Anna's water never broke, so the doctor had to do that for her. Less than 5 minutes later, we had a baby!
I got to cut the cord - which is both nauseating and exhilarating at the same time, but in a way gives me a connection to the baby that no one else has, I think that's awesome. We left Cheni in charge of the camera, but she was kind of freaked out so we didn't get too many pictures of those first few moments. When it was all said and done, Cheni vowed she would be an advocate for abstinence from now on (can I get a big HOOOO-RAH!!)
The rest of the hospital stay was pretty uneventful, other than the fact that I stayed with Anna and Ruth the whole time. Not that I had to... well I kind of had to, since I shouldn't drive. Also, we normally bring the rest of the kids to the hospital to visit their new sibling, but that wasn't do-able this time. Cheni got a ride home that night.
Another fun thing: I just happened to have an MRI scheduled that evening. Since it was a real pain in the patookus to get scheduled, and since it was right there at the hospital, we decided that, unless there was some reason to stay with Anna that I would just go downstairs and get it done. So, I did. I left Anna and Ruth in their room and went downstairs and got my brain scanned. Is that weird? Maybe, but it was like 10 hours after Ruth was born and they were sleeping pretty soundly, and it only took 15 minutes or so.
And, just like she drove herself to the hospital, Anna drove herself home, too.
That was two weeks ago. Ruth had her first doctor's appointment yesterday, and even though she's lost a little weight since she was born (typical of breastfed babies - provided it's only a few ounces) the doctor says she's doing great, as is Mom.
And now you know the rest of the story.
