She's Here! Baby #3 born

I had planned to post the final segment on the dollhouse, but ended up going into labor last Tuesday!

I was shocked, as it was 2.5 weeks early and I've never gone into labor spontaneously.

At 4pm I started having contractions and thought "Crap!  I'm not ready for this!"  

As much as I was thrilled to no longer be pregnant, I still had a whole list of things I wanted, or felt like I needed to do before she came.

But she was ready so she came!

We got to the hospital at 9pm after my husband got home from work and arranging for our other kids.

She was born at 11:30 pm, so a pretty quick, routine delivery overall.

I did hyperventilate during transition--which was weird.  I was sitting on a birthing ball and had a monster contraction that lasted forever, and I guess my breathing  got too shallow and fast because all the sudden my arms and hands went numb, followed by my face.  Then they started yelling at me to breathe slower and that helped.  Luckily my husband was behind me and I didn't fall backwards off that birthing ball or something.  I guess whatever happens during birth, I don't want to become a funny story that lingers around LandD nurses for years to come!  So that turned out OK once I decided breathing should be a top priority.

After the monster contraction, transition was actually over and I crawled back into the bed and rolled on my back, as my water exploded all over the bed, splashing onto the doctor and the floor, kind of reminding me of this scene from Coneheads,  Luckily for the doctor, she'd already put on the gown when it erupted.

Then little Isabella was here in 2 contractions and our family went from four to five.

Here's the token "swamp hag" picture.

My friend said once she feels like such a swamp hag right after birth and I thought it was an accurate description of how I feel physically.

Some women look beautiful with right after the birth, but I never have styled hair or makeup. 

 I always look...like I just had a baby a few minutes ago, sweaty, worn out, but full of joy.   

Despite not being a glamour shot, it's one of favorite pictures from having a newborn.

For me, it captures one of the best moments of my life to really hold my baby for the first time.

There's a side of so much relief, physical and emotional that she's here and safe and healthy, then just the overwhelming love of seeing your baby and looking in their squinty little eyes for the first time.
All the months of barfing, exhaustion, discomfort, physical deformity, and pain all become worth it in one moment.

 

The kids have adjusted well.

We were most concerned with Ellie, but she's been either loving or indifferent, so it's been good.

RJ's pretty excited to have another baby sister, but still mentions the "next baby is going to be a brother".

Mom's not even thinking about a next baby to further that conversation.

Here's the two sisters:

So little Isabella's almost a week old now and we're doing great.

My mom came up the day after she was born and takes care of pretty much everything.

I've recovered physically so much faster this time around.

I usually don't get out of pajamas for weeks, but on Sunday I actually got dressed and did my hair.

Shocker!

So we are doing great and have had such a happy week welcoming Isabella into our family.

We're looking forward to her due date next week because my husband only got the one day off to get me home from the hospital, and had to go right back to work.

He has an entire week off after the due date, which we're all excited for, and another reason my mom saves the day again!

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I do have some baby projects I started before she was born and will hopefully finish to post soon...or whenever it feels more interesting than cute little baby hands and feet!

We tried really hard to get a picture of me with all the kids, but this was probably the best in all honesty.

I can't believe I have three kids!

I've just felt so happy and grateful these this last week for the blessing of three healthy kids, and an amazing mom and husband.

We've just been living in this happy bubble of the new baby and family this last week and I hope it continues to last...although I haven't had to take them all with me to a grocery store alone yet.

And I still haven't figured out how to manage three kids alone at church when my husband has to work weekends...but I have a little time to figure out that one.