Happy birthday, Baby! (What a difference a year makes!)

This story actually starts more accurately 1 year and 9 months ago...

He-Man and I decided to move the kids and me early while he finished school and board exams up North. We spent weeks packing and scrambling to get everything done because moving in October was a relatively last minute decision. A few days before we left, I was running with my fabulous running buddy, Stacy and remember saying, "I'm so glad I'm not making this move, living without my husband for 2 months, while pregnant." He-Man and I discussed baby planning previously and made up our minds that post grad school would be a perfect time to add to our family.

And so the girls and I hit the road, at times singing at the top of our lungs as the landscape changed before us. We were set for an adventure. We were relocating, moving into a huge house and eager beavers looking for fun. The move went really well and everything went according to our plan except...

I was missing He-Man so much and was seriously emotional about it. Plus, I was ravenously hungry 75% of the time and repulsed by food 25% of the time. That should have been a clue, but I was too busy moving.

About Mid-November, it hit me that something was a little off. I was starving, a little (A LOT) emotional and had this lingering upset tummy. After two other children, I really should have picked up on it sooner...but there I was hit by the brick that I could indeed be pregnant. I wasn't in the position to buy or take a test at the time the idea crossed my mind, so I made the decision to get one the first thing in the morning.

I woke up early, grabbed my sleepy kids and ran to Target. Much to my chagrin, it was closed until 8:00 and I REALLY had to go to the bathroom...needless to say, I should have thought to leave a specimen for laboratory use and go to the store without an over filled bladder ready to spontaneously combust...but I usually don't consider the most logical way to do things.

So, onto to Kroger where my restless kids were bribed with really big donuts if they cooperated. I grabbed a package of 'buy 1 get 1' pregnancy tests, a few delectable donuts and what little dignity a person doing the potty dance at the grocery store could have left and scrambled home. There as the girls contentedly scarfed down pastries, I sat in the bathroom awaiting the results.

It didn't take long for the test to come back positive. I was pregnant. What?! My husband wasn't even in the same state!

The morning sicknesses soon followed, but He-Man didn't. Unfortunately, two months turned into 3 and half months. Lucky for him, this pregnancy seemed to be about 6 months long.

He came home and things progressed. I was convinced this baby was a boy and was utterly shocked and confused when the ultrasound tech told me otherwise. I actually needed a moment to compose myself after the shock...I was so sure.






Fast forward to 35 weeks. My midwife expressed concern because my belly wasn't measuring right and they started giving me stress test to make sure Button Nose was alright. They threw out words like IUGR and incompetent Uterus. I was getting freaked out really fast.

The decision was made to induce labor a week early to avoid the risks of IUGR...which can get ugly.

It was a year ago tonight when I was so scared. I had never been induced. My water broke with both my previous labors. I couldn't sleep so my visiting mom rubbed my back, my husband and I talked and prayed, and I tried to stay as calm as possible. The next morning I woke up and went to the hospital.

The doctors gave me pitosin and my labor started at 9:00 a.m. Button Nose was born three hours later surrounded by my very best friends. She was perfect. There were no signs of IUGR and she came in weighing 6 pounds 3 ounces. I loved her even before I saw her.

Now, on the eve of her first birthday, I am completely and utterly delighted by this sweet little girl. She brings happiness to all of us as she mass produces joy. This little one makes me want to have a dozen. Unfortunately, I probably ought to have got crackin' a little sooner.