Yay for birth stories!

I have heard the awesome comparison that birth stories are like war stories, every woman that has one, loves to share it. I am no exception. I am a birth story freak! I love to tell and listen to them, every mothers is so very different.

With my son, it was an induced labor. I was dilated 4 cm two days before his due date, and having miserable regular contractions. My doctor was finally kind enough to put me out of my misery and induce me. I cried. I didn't want to be induced, but knew that it was probably best.

Little tidbit about Kate- I am 5'2" and because of complications from birth control I gained a large amount of weight in a very short time and had some minor health complications because of it. So to put it simply, I'm short and slightly over-weight. I have very little room to hold a baby so I carry those suckers WAY out front. I love the miracle of pregnancy, and get sappy at the miracle of life, but my friends, towards the end... I become a crazy, psychotic, miserable, crying beast, and struggle to be patient for baby to come.

Back on track... I was torn over being induced, my psyche and body were ready... baby boy was just taking his sweet time, so I finally came to terms. I had a quite pleasant induced labor of 6 hours and one of those heavenly ( in my opinion ) epidurals, then little Noah was here.

It's safe to say that the second time around it felt all too familiar, with some new twists. I thoroughly enjoyed the misery, but by 37 weeks, and at that time I again was about 4 cm dilated and 70% effaced, I was SOOO ready to have that baby. at 37 1/2 weeks I was on my hands and knees scrubbing every rug in my mothers house, cleaning everything in sight, eating copious amounts of eggplant and parking WAY out in parking lots all in attempts to go into labor. Just like with my first, nothing worked.

Finally a couple nights later while enjoying some sweet episodes of Lost, I noticed that I was having intense Braxton Hicks exactly 10 minutes apart. I timed them for a good 2 hours... nothing changed. I decided to take a night time stroll with my mom, hoping that IF I was in labor that it might kick start it into gear. Nothing changed. I went home and went to bed, STILL timing the stupid Braxton Hicks. In the morning I woke up with not so much as tightening. I was so mad. So I went downstairs to continue watching Lost.

I had not more than sat down when out of the clear blue came a very painful contraction, suddenly another one came five minutes later. If I were a sane human, I would have thought, yup, I'm in labor, but I'm not. I sat there experiencing increasingly painful contractions every 3-4 minutes for over an HOUR just to make sure, before I even woke my husband up.

By the time I decided it would be a good idea to wake up my husband, I knew we had to get to the hospital fast. He got up, we got all the last minute things into the hospital bag, packed a bag for my son so my mom could come and get him. As I'm getting ready to get into the car my husband decides to ask if he could take a shower.... men... needless to say, I didn't let him take a shower.

We drove to the hospital in silence (at least I think it was silent, I was preoccupied) while I tried to breath through contractions that I was just certain were going to tear me in half. When we got to the hospital I was dilated to an 8. IT WENT FAST! that simple.

Timeline:

8:30am- first contraction

9:30am- wake up Jordan & Noah

10:30am- at hospital, dilated to 9cm, I get a partial spinal because there's no time for an epidural

11:17am- after three pushes during ONE contraction, Aurora May Adams is born.

Yeah... it went fast

 And she's here.

Noah meets Rory

Time for an update.

This blog has been quiet for over a year! Why you ask... Because I have been extremely busy learning how to be a mother to two human beings.

If you have read any of my previous posts you know that I was one of those littler girls who dreamed of being a mother since I was born, and my road to motherhood was less thank ideal. If you HAVEN'T read my previous posts, well then... I have dreamed of being a mom since I was born, and my road to motherhood was less than ideal... my husband and I tried for nearly two years to conceive and eventually underwent fertility treatments before becoming pregnant with our precious son Noah. Then when he was three months old, we very surprisingly became pregnant with out beautiful daughter Aurora. That was quite the blessing in disguise since we had been previously plagued with infertility. We were ten weeks pregnant before we even knew we were expecting again and Rory joined us two weeks early at a healthy 7 lbs 12 oz. It was clear that a higher power knew it was time for her to join our family, and join it in a hurry.

Never in my wildest dreams did I know that my most desperate desire would be my biggest struggle. Mother is the most prestigious and heavy title I have ever had the honor of bearing. It's been a shock, but in the best of ways.

Before I had children, everything I did was selfish, I had no one to worry about but myself. I am astounded that every move I now make is aimed at the well being of someone else. Every grocery I buy is intended for little mouths, I gladly go without so that they may have. I spend hours on my knees praying for little spirits. Every news article I read suddenly becomes personal because "what if it were my kids." I have never worried more in my life for another human being. I often feel like a failure simply because I was not able to stop accidents from happening or tears from falling.

I remember every Sunday as a child, my brothers and I would ask "are we going to church today?" Not once was the answer no. In youth I didn't value the gospel as I do now. It was just something we did. Now I know why the answer was always yes, we are going to church. Nothing weighs heavier on my shoulders than knowing that it is my job to get these special spirits back to my Father in Heaven. It is my job as their mother to teach them and help them to have he understanding and desire to live life in a manner so that we can all be together for eternity. My heart breaks at the idea of not being with them for eternity, and failing at such an important task.

To build, create, and carry another human being within myself is the most powerful, and life changing experience I have had. I feel as though I am so strong and yet so weak. I can do amazing things and step over every physically boundary to protect and care for my children, yet I find myself crying almost everyday for them, every frown tears me apart inside, but I wouldn't change anything for a minute. Every smile and giggle far outweighs any pain I have felt. The warm touch and smell of my baby's  skin makes me forget any of the heart ache. Every second spent with them is a second not wasted.

Learning to be a mother has been a whole body consumption and changed me for the better, I only pray that I will always continue to learn and adapt... and hopefully find time to update my blog every now and again. :)