Around 12:30 in the morning (after going to bed at 10:30), on February 14, I woke up with some pretty consistent contractions.
I remember thinking- if they would only start to get a little painful, I could know I was in labor.
Laid in bed for a while.
Then I guess they did get a little painful, but weren't as consistent.
I couldn't sleep.
Got up and took a shower.
Thought it would relax me so I could go back to bed.
The contractions started to get closer together.
Tried to fix my hair.
Simon woke up crying.
Tom got up and changed Simon and his sheets- diaper malfunction.
Told Tom I thought this might be it.
He decided to get his stuff together.
Folded laundry. Really?
Contractions getting closer together. Stronger.
Told Tom I really thought it was time.
I found him about to wash the crockpot from the night before.
THOMAS! I AM IN PAIN!
He woke up his mom to tell her we were on our way to the hospital.
I kissed our bigs goodbye.
Got to hospital around 4:30.
In triage, they told me I was 5 cm and 75 %.
It was go time.
I told them that if I could have a fast labor like with Simon, I would not like an epidural... let's just get this over with.
Ooo weee, those contractions were getting painful.
They went ahead and put in IV just in case.. but didn't hook me up to fluids. Thank goodness!
Man that lady who put it in talked A LOT... tried to be thankful and focus on her chatting instead of my pain.
Once I got to my L&D room, they took me off the monitors and said I could walk the halls.
I was just fine in my room, but so very very very thankful not to be stuck in bed.
Around 5:30ish, I asked my nurse to check me.
I had only progressed to a 6.
I was kinda discouraged seeing that I had given birth to Simon within an hour of arriving to the hospital.
Trying to decide if I wanted an epidural or not...
Took pictures of the room, trying to get my mind of pain.
At one point, I was on all fours trying to "breathe"....
I'm pretty sure it was at this point when I decided to get an epidural.
But guess what?
The anesthesiologist was in surgery, of course.
He got there maybe 10-15 mins later???
As he was getting set up, I started to feel pressure with the contractions.
Asked my nurse to check me again.
An 8,
Asked the anesthesiologist if he could just wait.
I'm sure he was so annoyed with me.
REALLY REALLY painful contractions.
Pressure.
Checked me again.
A 9.
Asked her to please page the doctor.
Let's break my water and get this over with.
Doctor had to be woken.
AHHH.
Sent the anesthesiologist away.
She came 5-10 mins later???
Broke my water.
I was complete.
Pushed through 1 contraction.
Then God gave me a rest.
Started to push through the next contraction,
I think it was here I yelled "GET THIS BABY OUT OF ME!"
The doctor politely reminded me that I had to do that. ha.
During my last push, doctor said something urgently.
Nurse laid me on my back.
Started pushing on my belly.
Doc calling for Peds.
Tom has a look of concern on his face trying to figure out what was going on.
Man that nurse was pushing hard on my belly.
I'm picturing the worse had happened.
They get Camille out and rushed her over to the table.
(her shoulder had gotten stuck)
Checked her out for less than one minute, then brought her back to put her on my chest.
She was fine!
Whew, that was scary.
I kept telling her how glad I was that she was finally here!!
Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!
I remember saying "whoa, she's big!'
I'm sure she'll love hearing that when she gets older.
We snuggled for a while before they weighed her and all that jazz.
So thankful to be finally holding our sweet Camille!
Dr. Margaret Boozer delivered Camille.
When I asked her to take a picture with us, she said "I just woke up!"
I said "I just had a baby! Who looks worse??" ha.
8 pounds 6 ounces
20 1/2 inches
My nurse, Julie.
Love. Love. Love.
Got moved up to postpartum around 9:30???
She looks like all of our children, bundled up in one!
Spent the day resting and loving on our 4th child
my favorite snack- PB and graham crackers
Lunch... food wasn't bad
Around 4, Tom went home to bring back the troops.
(Side note- Henry's school had a class competition that day. His class were the Munchkins and the room mom had made them all shirts- even painted socks for them!....
I had thought about asking Tom to put the kids in something coordinating, or at least decent, but then decided to trust his judgement.
When Henry walked in, I just laughed to myself... Really, Tom??
I guess with the 4th kid, you just get over these things.)
They were so thrilled to meet their baby sissy!
My biggest and my littlest
Mosey Gray admiring her little sister
Simon was pretty cautious...
Well, I guess not here...
Funny thing, he was so obsessed with her "belly cord"... couldn't stop talking about it and asking to see it.
Such joy
Yay for PatPat!
I think Camille has her eyes.
Herndon is her maiden name.
Simon asked to hold Camille, then immediately tried to get rid of her. ha.
Lovely. ha.
My girls
The kids and PatPat left to drive home in the rain and enjoy a heart shaped pizza from Papa Murphy's.
Tom and I ordered our "Celebration Dinner".
Glad it could double as our Valentine's Day Date. ;)
Sparkling Grape Juice. Fancy. ;)
The petit fours I ordered were pretty precious
Cheers!!
Love this man.
Got an OK night of sleep...
The next day, we decided to try to "break out" around noon.
Camille got cleared from her pediatrician.
I got an OK from my OB.
When it was time for Camille's hearing test, she was not happy at all.
The audiologist tried to soothe her with her pinky...
She couldn't get a good reading because of Camille's cries.
Tom, being awesome, suggested we swaddled her up.
Worked like a charm!
Genius.
Getting ready to go home...
So not happy... ha
Guess she didn't like her bonnet either...
Camille- you are our true Southern baby- had to get a bonnet!
It's here that we realized she does not like being on her back!!
Got her final check from Nurse Anna and we were ready to go!
PatPat and the bigs came to pick us up.
Another funny thing-
as we were loading up the car (circus clown style) we noticed a man waiting outside the hospital.
Tom and I couldn't place our finger on how we recognized him..
Then it hit me-
It was the anesthesiologist!
Ha- our grand exit probably explain my indecisiveness to him.
The kids ran to get her blanket and lovie for Camille.
Home sweet home with our little love.
Man.
This pregnancy wasn't easy.
I had nausea for 20 weeks.
So so tired.
My sniffer was so sensitive I couldn't go in our basement for 5 weeks.
Thinking I was in labor.
Camille being breech.
My mom being here for 2 weeks.
Crazy weather.
Major anxiety about who was going to keep my kids when I went into labor.
PatPat coming to the rescue.
Wow.
The whole time I tried to remind myself that God was faithful in bringing my other children to us in His perfect timing.....
And guess what?
He was faithful then, and He was faithful bringing Camille to us at the right time!
He will always be faithful.
Why do we ever doubt Him and make our lives crazy?
Thank you, God, for our sweet 4th child.
All Glory goes to You.
