How It All Went Down OR The Arrival of Baby

When I gave birth to Maxwell, almost 12 years ago, my mom was in the room nervously pacing and taking copious notes on every, single, little detail--human, medical, or otherwise.  Doug has since tried to fill her shoes by jotting some notes throughout my subsequent labors/deliveries.  It's a good thing, 'cause once the baby is here a lot of what happened is a big blur.  My sister Laura also added to the list.

[My mom used to admonish my siblings and I to write in our journal's by saying "If you don't write it down, it didn't happen!"  I had forgotten all about that until about ten seconds ago.  It's 2 a.m. and I've just been woken by a squeaky baby wanting to nurse.]

Notes from Doug's Phone...
With a *few* additions from me...

(For the record:  I was supposed to get the Cervadil around 5p.m. Wednesday Sept. 24.  Have that all night.  Get Pitocin in the morning.  Have that all day.  Be delivered by my Dr. sometime Thursday afternoon or evening.) 

Wednesday Sept 25, 2013
5:00 pm checked in for induction
5:03 Em's sense of humor is determined to be missing  (Doug was joking with (at) a nurse who was staring at him blankly.  I was so tense worrying I'd be sent home, I almost punched him.)
5:08 brought to room to begin.
Nurse Danielle
3 new IV tries  (They put the IV into my hand and it was digging into a bone.  Since I knew I'd have it for a few days, I made them take it out and do it again. A few collapsed veins later...)

Giving birth in a gown someone died in yesterday.
Much happier now that I know I get to STAY!

8:00 Swirls brought by Jeff and Laura. Emmy downs a peanut butter/chocolate frozen yogurt with plentiful Reese's peanut butter cups on top.  (No judgement!)
9:20 Moved to new room.  
9:30 Finally gets Cervidel.  (After only 4.5 hours of waiting!!!)
9:45 Jeff and Laura leave so Doug and Emmy can watch an episode of "Castle" and get a good night's sleep! Ha ha.
10:00 contractions coming 4 min apart  (Yep, it started working super duper fast.)
10:30 3 min apart and she asks for epidural
10:37 "why is their pain behind my knees?!"  (Well?  Why?!?)
10:45 50% effaced and 3 centimeters dilated. Things are moving fast. She's in pain and wants an epidural now!!
They are coming fast and not much time in between.
10:45 (Laura) after being home for twenty minutes drove like a bat out of Hades to get back when Em texted me that contractions were 2-3 minutes apart.
11:00 Anesthesiologist is finally here!! Hooray!
11:02 Emily moaning. Sounds just like her mama. (Evidently, just like my mom sounded when she was dying.  A little morbid Laura!)  They are giving the epidural so hopefully she'll be out of pain soon. She's telling anesthesiologist that she has a low pain threshold! In other words, hurry up!!!!
11:10 still working on epidural. (It took a long freaking time and a lot of "pressure" and multiple pokes!  Sorta hard to "hold completely still" when the contractions are coming right on top of each other with no break in between.  And did I mention my VERY LOW PAIN THRESHOLD!?!?!?!)  
Ashlin went to sleep at W's so Doug's mom (Susan) could come to the hospital. She should be here soon.
11:15 pain is lessening already. Yay!  
12:00  Doug and Emily fall fitfully asleep for a few hours.  Laura and Susan wait and pace and freeze in the icy cold room.
315 water breaking?
332 dilated to 9
405 cervix is gone (never did like that cervix!)
Doctor is stuck in OR--says not to push
425 doctor coming  (I think he came and checked on me and then left again.)
429 started pushing
At this point I should mention, every single time a new nurse or Dr. came in, they asked if I had any concerns.  I answered (over and over) "Yes, I'm concerned the cord will be around his neck.  It's happened three times before."  Each time I was reassured that a) someone would check...later or b) they'd be able to tell as things progressed.
As things progressed, I pushed and pushed and pushed.  His little head would come down, and then go back up.  I said, "THE CORD IS PROBABLY AROUND HIS NECK!"  (for the 87th time.)
Around 5:55 a.m., I (FINALLY) pushed his head out.  The Dr. had not yet arrived.  The cord was so tight around his little neck, it had to be cut off.  (As opposed to just unwrapped like on Max, Sam, and Gray.)  I'm told to STOP pushing and wait for the Dr.

6:00 a.m.  The resident Dr. rushes in (not my Dr.) and I push the rest of the baby out.  He is limp and blueish-purple.
Initial Apgar is very low.  2 or 3.  Five minute Apgar is also low but a little better.  Maybe 4?  Laura and Susan are freaking out but trying to stay calm.  Doug and I...well, we're pretty used to it by now.  By 15 minutes he's doing well.  Still a little labored breathing, but color is much better.  Definitely looks beat up with blood shot eyes and lots of bruising on his tiny face.  BUT, otherwise healthy and doing well.  They finally bring him back to me to hold.  He's finally here!!!

Official stats:
8 pounds 12.6 ounces
21.75 inches

Little Bruiser

He started out the color of my nails.  Looking much better at this point a few hours later.
Also, not fond of this nail polish color anymore!