Saturday was our due date and it didn’t look like Link would be making his debut anytime soon so we decided to have a nice “chill” day. Chris’ mom (who had been staying with us since the 3rd) was visiting her sister (who also came down to visit and see the new addition to the family) and the girls were with their dad, so we decided to make a trip down to Tampa and hit the mall (it’s rare we go anymore since there isn’t one within 45 minutes of us). I had been wanting to get the girls a “Big Sister” gift from their new brother. I settled on engraved bracelets from Things Remembered which read their name on one side and “Love, Link” on the other (so cute). We got some food, then shopped for a bit and finished up our Kevin Smith collection with the last two movies we needed. We also met up with one of his friends for a minute (work related) and later headed back to Spring Hill to visit Chris’ cousin. It was cool, we didn’t stress about the baby coming, we weren’t in any hurry to get stuff done (a rare treat anymore) it was just a day like any other we used to have.
I had been having contractions on and off all day but nothing abnormal. When it seemed like they started to get more frequent we started timing them. After 30 minutes or so they started getting further apart so I just figured it was false labor. It did motivate me to finally pack my hospital bag, so I did a load of laundry and watched a movie. I was still having them when I went to bed but again, that was normal. I figured I would either wake up in labor or just suffer another sleepless night.
At 3:30am they were getting pretty bad. I tried to sit up instead of laying down thinking that may make them less painful but I was WRONG! Still not convinced I was in “labor” I went into the living room to watch TV and time contractions again, 4:04, 4:07, 4:11, 4:13…I decided to wake up Chris. I was also really nauseous and I remembered from Milla’s birth that when I started feeling like I was going to puke I was in transition (final stage of labor) and should probably go. I thought it was too early for that but still… He started loading up the car and we went. I told him not to call anyone yet because I was so afraid I’d just get sent home to progress there and didn’t want everyone waiting around for me. From past experience there was no hurry.
Because my last two deliveries had been so long (Riley 47 hrs, Milla 13 hrs) I had not expected this to go fast but contractions were coming pretty steady. When we got in the room they asked me if I wanted the epidural and I wasn’t sure. I had hoped to go natural but the pain was so bad and so intense I was considering it. I wanted to be checked first. They checked me and I was at 3cm and 100% effaced. Relief! I had been at 1cm and 50% effaced for the last couple weeks so it was good news to hear I’d already progressed this much. They’ll administer the epidrual at 5cm so I still had some time to make my final decision about whether or not to get it. It couldn’t have been another 15 or 20 minutes when contractions were so bad I was trying not to cry through them. Breathing through them was no longer an option although the nurses seemed to think they were. They were bad and one on top of the other. I could hear Link’s heart rate increase right before each one so when I would hear it I kept thinking “again…so soon?!!” They checked me again and I was at 8cm. Yes, from 3 to 8 in less than 20 minutes! I believe my water had also broken on it’s own.
I was ready to push 10 minutes before the doctor got there. It was happening so fast we weren’t sure she’d make it. The nurses kept telling me to breathe or pant through them (pretty sure they were just stalling so they didn’t have to deliver me) but at that point I was (near crying) telling them I didn’t think I could NOT push anymore. I think Chris was ready to start slappin’ people 
Finally the midwife came in and told me to start pushing. After two really big pushes he was out. I won’t describe what it felt like when he came out but it wasn’t a pleasant feeling I’ll give you that much. She told me to reach down and grab my baby (I’m not sure if he was all the way out at that point or not) but I was excited I got to hold him that second. He came out arms flailing around, crying and all pink (scored 9′s on the Apgar). Then they took him over to the warmer to clean him up, do footprints and Chris got to cut the cord while I delivered the placenta which my doctor showed us (I think they love doing that . She said “do you want to see the placenta?!” I was like “uh, okay…” LOL it was gross but kinda cool
There were no complications, I didn’t tear or need stitches so she said I could leave the next day. My doctor couldn’t have been there more than 30 minutes total (fastest money she’s made). The nurses cleared the room soon after and it was just us . I wasn’t down long either. They told me the first time I got up to use the bathroom I would need to call them to help so I did that quickly to get it over with but after that I was up and around like it was nothing (an advantage to not having the epidural)
A few hours later they moved us to the Mother and Baby section of the hospital which was cool because as nice as the birthing room was, the TV had no a/v plugs so we couldn’t hook up the DVD player. The new room did, SCORE! The next day we were released at 1:30 after the pediatrican looked him over. The poor baby was so sick of being man handled. We could hear him crying down the hall :’( It was allI could do not to burst into tears (although I did get teary eyed). While he was gone I packed us up and we were ready.
He did AWESOME on the ride home. He slept the whole way. The girls screamed the entire time we brought them home so this was a nice change
The next morning his circumcision was scheduled :’( I was a wreck. Overwhelmed with guilt but certain it was the right choice. We went to my doctor who would be performing it and as the nurse was explainging it to me my eyes were welling up. I asked her to just tell me that they do this all the time and he’d be fine. She was great though, she said he would be, they’ve done at least four of these a week for years, that the worst part for the baby was that they hated being strapped down. When she brought him back to me 10 minutes later he was fine. It didn’t look like he was upset or had been crying. He was perfectly calm. He did cry on the way home but I assume the bumps weren’t pleasant. It was the longest ride ever!
He’s a great sleeper! He sleeps a lot during the day but still does well at night. The first two nights he only woke up twice each night but my milk came in the other day and he’s having more and more wet diapers so it’s waking him up a bit more now.
Speaking of my milk coming in, DAMN! My boobs are HUGE!! And HEAVY!! If my belly was gone I’d be taking pictures of these mommas Unfortunately he’s not eating as much as I’m producing so I’m engorged which hurts! I tried pumping but my BRAND NEW pump doesn’t seem to be working right. It’s not a complicated machine so I’m not sure if it’s just a POS or what (it’s a Medela so it shouldn’t be). I’m annoyed and in some pain nonetheless. I’ll figure it out though.
Everyone’s gone now. Chris’ mom left Tuesday and now the girls are with their dad for the weekend, a day early too because it’s his birthday. I admit it’s nice not to have anyone around. I need the break. Summer vacation is going to be long this year
I have to say, the timing on this couldn’t have been better. We had flown Chris’ mom is specifically for this and since I was only a few hours past my due date she didn’t miss anything. The girls were with their dad for his weekend anyway so it wasn’t like we had to drag them out of bed at 4:30 in the morning. Labor went quick so it didn’t even take up all of our Sunday which was also convenient because his aunt was leaving that day anyway a few short hours after he was born so she didn’t miss it either. We haven’t been overwhelmed with visitors which is also nice. I do wish my mom could come 
She’s been really sick for the past few weeks and obviously doesn’t want to pass it around here, but it’s so strange for me not to have her around. She was always the first one at the hospital for my other kids so for it to be days after he’s been born and her not be here sucks. We’ll see her this weekend though (hopefully she’s better by then).
Thanks for all your support during my pregnancy. I made some pretty cool friends during it too! Special thanks to my husband who has made this whole thing a great experience. He was at every appointment with me, fulfilled every craving I had, never made me feel guilty when I was too tired to cook or clean or just get out of my chair. He never made fun of me about the 3lbs of baked potatoes I ate for breakfast every morning 
He has always been very supportive over everything and I’m just so glad to have him in my life. Our baby is absolutely amazing. We finally have our missing Link and now our family is complete . I couldn’t be happier with my life.
