Birth Story: Oliver Lee

A few weeks ago, I was DONE with being pregnant. I had the urge to nest, which came and went. I finished up all appointments, lessons, recitals, concerts. My body ached, I was tired of gaining weight, leg cramps, constant trips to the bathroom, etc. I was having some spotting which made me feel like something was going to happen sooner than later. I wrote on this blog that I was going to have this baby early! Monday and Tuesday night I read "Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way" which made me feel a little more prepared, since I had done no reading about it since being pregnant with Brooke!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010 I woke up at 5:30am with light contractions every fifteen minutes. I realized something was different about this morning, but it was still seventeen days before my due date and this was exactly what I experienced last time. It must just be me and my nerves. I wasn't going to tell Kent until I was sure this was worth mentioning, but before he left for school I did. He put his cellphone on vibrate and promised to call after every class.

The contractions were short (20 seconds long) and happened every 20-45 minute. Very irregular and not very painful, so I spent my morning doing dishes and cleaning. I cancelled going to MOPS with Whitney even though I was her ride. She came by to borrow a car seat and I got to watch Riley for a couple minutes. We both laughed at how I watched her child while I was in labor! Luckily during this time, I had no contractions!

Around 2:30pm things became a little more serious. Contractions became more regular (15-20 minutes apart still) and more painful. Kent flew home on his bike after school and we got the car seat ready, bags packed, etc. A call to the midwife put us on edge because she was still waiting for the delivery of a baby in Leavenworth (a home birth). I remember her comment about me going into labor, "This could be problematic." We really wanted to avoid a hospital birth, but we would have to go there if she was not finished at the other birth.

Kent and I laid down for a few hours in the downstairs bedroom timing contractions which were still 20 minutes apart but more painful. I decided to get up and walk around a little bit. Once I stood up, the contractions became six minutes, four minutes, five minutes apart and for fifty to sixty seconds in length. We made a quick phone call to our midwife and decided it was time to drive the twenty minutes to Wenatchee. Caitlin called and told Kent to GET IN THE CAR, NOW! Laurie called two birth assistants (EMT trained doulas) and had them meet me at the birth center.

We pulled into the birth center at 8:55pm. I remember sitting on a very hard uncomfortable stool while one took my blood pressure, temperature, and whatever else; I was in lots of pain. I finally got to lay on the bed as they rummaged around, preparing my jacuzzi water (which was never used), listening to the babies heartbeat, feeling for his head, etc. They assured me that the midwife was driving as quickly as she could, but it seemed to take forever. At 9:35pm I felt my first urge to push and I told the ladies this. They told me to breathe through the contractions which was the worst feeling in the world! Many contractions later I heard Laurie's car pull up and her enter the room. It was 10:00pm.

Finally we could get moving! The contraction at 10:02pm broke my water... I could no longer not push. Laurie had time to wash her hands and come to the bed before I began really pushing. My first comment was, "That feels soooo much better!" It was 10:03pm at the start of pushing and with a few grunts, out came his head followed by his body at 10:06pm. Oliver was placed on my chest and I can't even imagine how to describe the feeling. Instantly in love with this beautiful baby.

The doulas called me amazing. They did not realize the seriousness of my comments (such as, "I need to push") because I was not screaming them! The Bradley Method was such an amazing way to view labor, it was the best thing for me to ever read. The only issue is that you may not get taken seriously because they may not believe that you are in such serious labor!

My mother flew in from California to surprise us and met me in the hallway around 11:30pm. She had ice cream for us and a hamburger for Kent. Ice cream never tasted so earned and amazing. With a healthy baby and mother, we were given the mandatory two hours at the birth center and let go! We arrived at home at 2am.

Oliver, Day One!

Brooke got to meet Oliver today! She gave him a sweet hug!

Grandma Carol surprised us by flying up from California yesterday! She's been a huge help with Brooke... giving her complete attention so we can bond with Oliver.

Oliver has been the most amazing baby so far. Today he slept the entire day and is nursing very well. He seems to have no problem filling those wet and poopy diapers too!

Kent is so proud of his baby boy. It's hard to believe this little boy was inside my belly just hours ago! He's so precious we can't stop staring at him!

Introducing...

Oliver Lee Norgaard Chalmers!

Born: April 28th, 2010; 10:06pm

7lb, 19 1/2 inches

I'll write up the birth story sometime today when it's fresh in my memory. It was quite the day and night! Almost identical to Brooke's birth almost two years ago.

Kent holding his son for the very first time. He doesn't have the deer in the headlights look this time!

What a perfect little baby!

Here we are, after a little cleaning up (well, at least Oliver!)

Laurie, our wonderful midwife performed all the newborn screenings. Oliver performed very well and got to go home with us about 3 1/2 hours after he was born. He's such a calm baby! Very good at self-soothing, just give him his hand/fingers and he'll calm right down. Perfect latch right away, so nursing is going well. Not much sleep last night, but it's all so exciting it's hard to sleep for very long. I'm planning on resting for the next few days, so I'm sure I'll catch up. Wow, what an experience!

Spring Photos

We took a walk in the hills to see the flower... sadly, our favorite spot didn't have the flowers that we usually see. We'll have to find another spot, because we see loads of beautiful wild flowers in the hills when we are out driving.

Brooke loves her Auntie and her friend Maisy!

37 weeks! Only 19 days to go!

We have to take Brooke on a hike (a more safe trail next time). She wanted to RUN up and down the hill chasing Maisy. As soon as we got back to the car, she wanted to run up the hill again!

Cute!

Horn Studio Recital

Today I had my first French horn studio recital. I was so excited for my students to have an opportunity to demonstrate their progress. All of them have come so far this year. Each student played a solo and a duet with me. I'm so excited that they are all interested in continuing lessons next year! We'll see what it's like to plan in these lessons with two little ones in our family!

The girls and Henry (just try to make me smile)!

Parade

We had a great time watching the youth parade today. Brooke REALLY didn't like the sirens of the trucks at the beginning of the parade, but as soon as they passed she was great. She enjoyed the large costumed animals, bands, and especially a stick she found on the street (playing with the dirt on the sidewalk).

Look at that little Scandinavian!

My garage sale find (car seat was already mine). I'm not sure what I want/need when it comes to double strollers, so I spent a whopping $15 on this one. Got it home and realized there is no sun shade for the front child, but I guess that will be okay because Brooke is great at wearing hats. Maybe I could buy one... but it would probably be more expensive that I bought the entire thing for!

Thoughts for the Day

Big day ahead of us... the start of Apple Blossom Festival in Wenatchee! The first Saturday of the festival is the youth parade. Kent's middle school band is playing his arrangement of Beatles' tunes and is near the beginning of the parade. Brooke and I will be making our way to Wenatchee this morning to cheer them on.

I've reached 37 weeks in my pregnancy today. Thankfully, my week of heartburn and feeling like the baby was high enough to be in my throat has all changed. I'm feeling happy and more content than I have been my whole pregnancy (despite waking up every 2-3 hours in need of the bathroom). I feel like this baby will be early, but maybe it's just hopeful thinking. I have a little anxiety for labor because I know the pain involved. I know I can do it, but that doesn't make things easier. Kent and I both talk about how excited we are to meet our little boy. Now that we have a daughter, for some reason the birth will mean so much more to us. The first time you are experiencing "shock and awe", the second time you want to soak up every moment because you know the moment will only last so long.

I've been thinking about Brooke and all her changes in the last few months. I need to be more vigilant in recording those funny things she is starting to say and do.

A few things I want to remember are:

1) Brooke at a garage sale yesterday broke into "The Farmer In the Dell" at the top of her lungs.

2) New phrases are coming up each day. "Daddy's toothbrush" "Mommy's hand" She has always been interested in who owns what. I wonder if this eventually turns into the "MINE!!!" of the 2's!

3) "Dura" is her favorite of all time (Dora the Explorer). As I type this, she brought in a dress that has Dora on it and said, "Cute!" I wonder who she learned that one from!?

4) She loves "Baw-nee" (Barney, the purple dinosaur). She loves to sing the "Baw-nee song" which is the favorite "I Love You" song. It always makes me laugh when she sings it because her version is, "I love me! I love me!" instead of "I love you, you love me!"

New Quads

Click Here to read an article on Kent's new set of quad drums that he helped a student make out of sewer pipe.

Two New Videos

Fun in the backyard! Boy, we need to give our lawn it's first haircut!

"W!"

and another wonderful set of words she learned from Kent tonight... dang it, Daddy!

Brooke at 20 Months

"Ride Maisy!"

All fun has to come to an end...

Brooke is really into climbing. She has learned how to stand on her stool in the bathroom and turn on the water and climb up on couches and chairs. A few days ago this is where I found her! She was pointing to some dried bits on the counter saying, "yuck, yuck!"

Brooke loves to help in the kitchen. It's a special treat to be up on the chair at these counter tops. Tonight we made spinach quiche and she helped mix the milk and mayo!

She was so proud of her cheese pile!