Ok birth stories, I’m sure for some this will be more than they want to know but i am not good at holding descriptions or opinions behind so if I hit TMI (to much information) land for anyone I apologize in advance.
I was woken by labor at 1 in the morning on the 8th. I actually was thinking that it was fake so I got up and decided to let Jeff sleep some more and wait until “something more happened”. At about four the contractions were coming every 3.5-4 minutes apart lasting about 1.5 minutes long. So I woke Jeff up and told him I was in labor. He started making all the important calls in our first round of contacts. Right after he got off the phone with Jesica my water broke. Boy did that feel weird. I knew I would feel it but it actually squeemed me out. It felt so odd. Oh well here was the “something more” I had been looking for. Now I knew that I would be holding my babies sometime today.
Tiernan’s Birth Story:
The posse arrived and started filling up the pool while my Mom kept me company in the other room. I was pacing and rocking through the contractions. Right as I was going to ask if the water was ready Jesica came and asked if I wanted to get into the pool, I think my whole face lighted up with that. I was sooo looking forward to the water and the continuation of labor. Jesica and Sonya Esme checked me at some point and told me that Tiernan was coming butt down. Which I wasn’t expecting since in the last ultrasound we had showed him as head down; but he did what all babies do, and moved! Part of me was glad since after watching the Psalm and Zoya birth; felt that a breech would be easier than a head down. The easier part is comparative I guess. Oh and of course Jennifer has been hoping for a breech for her twin video, I’m glad I could oblige. 
“zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz”, Yes i actually fell asleep just before really pushing Tiernan out. Can I tell you how odd it is to be completely asleep then have a contraction where I had to push a little and then start snoring again? My Mom thinks I am weird., which of course I am but this just proved it to her. Oh well it was kind of nice to have the sleep and then start pushing some more. And then the hard work started.
Time became relative, at some point Jesica told me that I may want to try pushing from my knees with my back straight and not leaning on anything. And I could feel him move more with each contraction. I was told not to push unless my body did it reactively. That was hard but I grit my teeth and about every third contraction I would really have to push. After one particularly strong one Jesica said that I could probably feel him. And sure enough after the next contraction or two i reached down and in and I could feel him. Of course I said I can feel his head, right I know anatomy… I think I pushed another 6-10 times and I could feel him starting to exit. It felt so odd having him slide out. I felt his butt come out and got my hand down and supported his body through the last of the pushes. It only took three more to get his shoulders and head out. I pulled him out of the water and held him. He looked at me with his eyes and I turned into a blubbering mass. Here was the first of my babies, and I had pushed him out and caught him. I did it no one else! Ok a brief moment of self congratulations. There had been parts of me that wasn’t sure it could do it and yet here it was, the proof that I could and did.
The Calm Before The Storm:
This is where things start getting fuzzy for me and I am not as clear on the things that happened. Jesica (I think) started feeling my belly so we could decide how Caulla was going to come out. I was still sitting in the pool and enjoying holding my son. it was amazing looking into his little eyes. Then the contractions started back up . I was sitting there thinking ok I have time, she won’t come immediately. Boy was I wrong. Then the next minute the contractions got so much stronger. They felt 100 times stronger than what I had felt with Tiernan. I remember saying something’s happening. I don’t know what but something is.
Caulla’s Drama (Birth) Story:
I had a really hard contraction and felt Caulla’s water break. Then there was another strong contraction and I had something else sliding between my legs. So much for my chance to get a break. I was thinking that I would have a chance to catch my breath for a little while and enjoy holding her brother. Oh well. Back to work.
Jesica and Jen were still trying to figure out what position Caulla was in when her foot decided to come out with the next contraction. At that point Jen and Jesica decided that I should get out of the pool. I sat on the birthing stool and pushed when I was told to push. I started feeling weak and tired, and my baby wasn’t coming out. Jen and Jesica decided I should stand up and push. I said that I couldn’t stand and Joey became my tree. She wrapped her arms around me and I held on for dear life as I tried to push Caulla out. Eventually I wound up on the floor on my knees with my head down. Everyone was shouting encouragement and telling me to push. I at one point asked them to just pull her out. Good thing they didn’t listen to me. The next thing I know Caulla was born and being resuscitated. I was told to talk to her. Then the paramedics showed up. They took Caulla and my husband and her Grandfather. While I, Tiernan, and Grandma stayed at the house. I don’t remember pushing out Caulla’s placenta.
At St. Vincent’s, Caulla had x-ray’s to her head to see what was going on with it. I didn’t have a clear view of what happened to her I just knew that it was necessary. Jesica and team worked on cleaning me up and getting me to bed. Tiernan came to bed with me while I rested. Now while this ends Caulla’s brith story it doesn’t stop her drama story.
Caulla was then transferred to Doernbecher’s at OHSU where she needed to be looked at by a neurosurgeon. It was then decided that she needed to have surgery to have her skull fixed. The surgery was scheduled for 7 on Friday. We showed up at 6:30 so that I could see her. Up until that moment I really didn’t have a clear view of what she looked like. Turns out she looks like I did when I was born and Tiernan looks like Jeff. The surgery lasted for two and a half hours and was a success. It turns out that the surgeon was able to just do a small incision and slide an instrument along the indentation to pop it back out. The later told us that it was a 20% chance of working and that the last study on the type of denting was over ten years ago. Here yet again my daughter is making the odds and being turned into a learning experience. First for Jen’s twin video and then for teaching opportunities in the surgical realm.
Caulla’s Hospital Stay:
Her birth story has ended but her drama story is still on going at least until she gets home permanently.
On Saturday I was able to try to breast feed her. Which given that it was the first time she was being offered food she did really well. She sort of latched on but mostly licked and nuzzled. So I authorized having bottles and formula to given to her so that way she could get food and her weight going. I was given a breast pump kit to work with the electric pump that the hospital had so that we could supplement some of the formula with my milk. Her blood sugars were going in and out but have since started to stabilize.
On Sunday I again breast fed her. She had had no pain killers so she was more aware and did actually nurse, which felt like heaven to me.
Monday: we have called the hospital and her blood sugars have stayed within the normal ranges and she is consistently eating 2oz ounces of food at each feeding. There is even potential talk of her coming home today. They are currently waiting for post operative instructions for us here at home. I can only hope that it is either today or tomorrow. I want my family home and together.
Tuesday: I woke up this morning to an excited Papa! He decided to call the hospital and get an update on Caulla. He was also told to bring a second car seat. We finally get to bring her home. So he spent much of the morning calling family and sending out emails to say that she was coming home. He’s not at all excited about her or her coming home. His friends are warning him not to get an ego the size of Alaska.
Wednesday: we slept together as a family for the first time last night. It feels so good having both my babies with me. Caulla is running on the hospital schedule so that will take some time for her to adjust and for us to adjust to. Tiernan slept so well last night I don’t know if it was having Caulla home or a very full belly. Probably some combination of both. So now we are all together and hopefully will have no more drama for quite a while. I will be quite happy just skating by and enjoying my two gorgeous babies.
