ALERT: The following is an account of my labor and delivery story in not so graphic detail, but if uninterested or if you are a person who feels that that is TMI (too much information), please skip this post and just look at the pictures. :)
On Tuesday, December 23rd at 11:32 am, Solomon David Schmidt was born. My last planned day at school was Monday the 22nd and my sub came in to meet me and get the low-down, so she was with me until 4 pm. If you know me you know that I don't like to leave things unfinished once they are started, so I stayed late at school for like the bazillionth time to work on lesson plans, update grades, organize my desk, etc. I got up to leave at 8 pm and felt a gush of warm fluid run down my legs. I figured my water had begun to break, but knew that it hadn't completely broken in comparison to my experience with Senate. I was a little nervous and excited, but still had to get copies from the library copy machine, so I walked down there, then called the nurse, my mom (who had Senate), and Ben. Ben was at basketball practice and did not pick up the phone even though I lectured him several times on how he needed to be available in the event this occurred and I wasn't with him. Men...anyways, the nurse told me to stay put, but if you know me you also know I don't like to be covered in "school germs," so of course I wanted to go home and shower before going to the hospital to have a baby and not be able to shower for a day or so. So, I packed up, walked out to the car and began to drive home while waiting for the nurse to call me back. It was a brutally cold night but I barely felt the cold with the adrenaline rush I was on. Meanwhile Ben finally called me back while I was driving and I asked him to pack a bag for me, as I was ill-prepared in this regard. When I arrived at home he was even more nervous than me, flying around the house throwing stuff in a suitcase for me. What did he choose you might be wondering-knee high softball socks, sweatpants, sweatshirt, and boy cut underwear. Now, clearly if you've ever been pregnant and had a baby you would maybe appreciate the sweats and sweatshirt, but who can bend over to put on knee high socks, and how inappropriate are boy cut underwear following delivery? He tried though so I shouldn't complain. It's my own fault for not having the bag ready to go. We headed out for the hospital and arrived around 9:30. I was starving and should have eaten more than just a protein shake and peach cup on the way there, but I was envisioning a super fast labor and delivery and didn't want to waste any more time than I already had getting to the hospital. The strangest part of it all is that I had not had contractions all day and the contractions still had not begun even after my water broke. One positive about this is that it made for a comfortable ride to the hospital. After arriving they did a non-stress test and confirmed my water had in fact broken and then admitted me. I had tested positive for Group B strep and needed to have IV antibiotics, which they wanted to administer 2 bags of 4 hours apart. So they basically wanted me to lay around and try to rest until 3 am when they would induce my labor unless my body began contracting on its own. Needless to say I didn't get much of any rest, I was still hungry, and my body didn't start contracting on its own, even after being administered Pitocin. Ben being the wonderfully sensitive husband he is, left me at the hospital around midnight to go to Taco Bell and get food for himself. He ended up going to McDonald's, and on the way there he was pulled over by a police officer for making an illegal right hand turn. He was somewhat excited to be able to use the excuse that his wife was in labor. Luckily for his own good he ate in the car as he drove, but I made sure to be sleeping when he got back to the hospital. I may have had to attack him if I had to smell and see food that I couldn't eat. At 6:30 am my doctor came in to check me and I was only 3 cm dilated. I started walking the halls and was having fairly strong and uncomfortable contractions that were only 2 minutes apart. By 9 or so I was only 4 cm and at 11:00 I was only 5 cm. I thought I was in for a LONG day, but all of a sudden things really started happening and I dilated from 5-10 in less than a half hour and after only about 4-5 super strong and extremely uncomfortable contractions, I was pushing and almost delivered Solomon without the doctor who was doing her office visits a few blocks away. The nurse literally held him in while encouraging me to resist the urge to push (easier said than done). After the doctor arrived, and only 3 or 4 pushes, Solomon arrived at 11:32 am. So, while labor itself took about the same amount of time as it did with Senate, it was night and day different (literally) and delivery was much, much, faster. You really can't base your subsequent births on the first one I guess. We are so glad he's here weighing in at 6 lbs. 13 oz and 20 inches long. Another big surprise after his brother was over 9 lbs.
I know it's hard to read, but by the word GOAL one of my nurses wrote "have a baby." I guess they were sick of hearing me say, "I just want the baby to come out."
Just born, cleaned up and put under the warmer.
Christmas day getting changed to be discharged. Oh so cute in his candy cane socks and hat that said, "Special Holiday Delivery." I guess this is what Barb, the nurse who taught our refresher course meant when she told us we would get extra presents if we were in the hospital over Christmas.
The knit hats are nice, but they never fit right-who's head do they use as a model when making those things?
Sleeping soundly-always with his hands near his face.
Overjoyed (and a little tired) Mommy.
Proud daddy.
Ready to go home and celebrate our first Christmas as a family of four. What a great gift. :)
The nurse who wheeled me out to the car looked at me VERY strangely when I told her I wanted to stop by the tree on the way out of the maternity ward to take a picture-doesn't she understand I scrapbook and it was our first Christmas and we did spend half of it in the hospital?
Grandma Heinen
Grandma Schmidt
Grandma and Grandpa Schmidt
Friends Michelle and Faith Sommerfeld (2 1/2 yrs old)
Friends Emma (9 months) and Lee Sommerfeld
Auntie Patti, Uncle Tim and Jaylee (14 months)
Auntie Patti Jo
Cousin Delanie Jo (3 yrs old)
Uncle Tim and cousin Delanie
Auntie Rachel Ann and Aaron
Grandpa Heinen
Grandma and Grandpa Heinen
Cousin Jenny
Great Aunt Rox
Cousin Mackenzie (cousin Benners came too) :)
Mommy's friend Laurie Bertrand-her daughter Autumn came too :)
Great Aunt Rox and Great Uncle Mike
Cousins Tony, April, and Shelby (1 yr)
"Auntie" Jamie (cousin Rylie came too) :)
Cousins Jenny, Lindsey and Tanner (ages 7 and 4)
Friend Mallory Kane (almost 4 months old)-her mommy Kari came too :)
