Crew is here! I literally get giddy saying it. He arrived July 21, 2016 at 2:37
Weight: 7.1 (we were shocked!!)
Height: 20 inches (well 19 3/4 but they didn't stretch him out all the way haha)
After going into preterm labor at 32 weeks we were very excited to make it to 38 weeks. We had some back and forth about the due date (either August 9 or July 31) July 31 was my last period but he was measuring a little small at the first ultrasound so my doctor went with August 9 but after convincing her that the girls were a little small at the first ultrasound but we always went with my last period we changed it to the July 31, which after seeing him and having him weigh 7.1 we know now that was correct haha. (details below are more for our journal so sorry if there is a lot)
Wednesday- I went in for my appointment. Monday and Tuesday I had been having lots of cramping so I figured I have dilated some but of course not gone into labor. I was excited to go to the doctor that morning but was pushing it by scheduling it for 8:20 am. Chase was scheduled to take his second CPA test that day so we joked he would probably come that day cause it was the most inconvenient. I got myself ready, got the girls ready, opened all the windows in our apartment (seems like a stupid detail but just wait) and took the girls to my mom. I got to my appointment and with a shocked look she said "you are a four and he is in the birth canal. He will be here by the weekend". Keep in mind with gracie and hadlie I went from being 2cm and 50% effaced to full blown labor. So being at a four was weird. She then stripped my membranes and told me to have a good day! I went back to my moms and decided to stay there for a little bit so Chase could do some extra studying at home. We then decided to go shopping and get some lunch. I finally decided on a cute outfit to bring Crew home in (I had gone 4-5 times and always left empty handed). We spent the afternoon with my mom and Mia and headed home for naps. By this time it was 2:00 pm and 100 degrees outside. I swung open the door and BAM. I left the windows open and had turned off the air. It was 84 degrees in our house and I wanted to die. haha I laid the girls down and turned on the air. Chase got home around 4;00 and the house wasn't cooling down past 81. Chase made us some dinner, which made it worse haha We usually go to the gym after dinner so we all got ready and headed out. I did the stair master for 20 minutes and then walked on the treadmill for about 30 mins. (I think the stair master is what really made things go) We got home and it was still 81 degrees, but on the bright side I started having faint cramping in my back (which for me always means real labor) But I told chase I am not staying here it's to hot I will die. So we packed up and went to my parents. I was still kind of having some cramping but nothing painful. BUT that's what how I felt with hadlie and I was at 10cm haha so We laid the girls down (this is where the AC being broken was perfect, the girls were already there to sleep and be taken care of). We got to the hospital and I said I think I am in labor haha At this point nurses don't believe you really could be. But they checked my cervix and sure enough the faint back cramping was doing something I was at almost a six. So they called my doctor and we were admitted. I couldn't stop smiling I knew no matter what we were having a baby tonight. My mom came twenty mins later and the excitement was in the air! The lady in the room next to me was screaming bloody murder and moaning with pain. I felt awful for her and just kept saying "Come on now, just get the drugs! It's not worth it haha" Just like with Hadlie I told them I would be having Crew Naturally. My nurse looked really nervous about this haha I told her not to worry last time it was super easy and not painful- she still looked like "this is going to be a long night" haha
Thursday- We got to the hospital close to midnight so Thursday came fast haha My contractions weren't painful at all. I was up smiling, laughing, and talking to my mom. I knew I was stuck. So I called for the nurse and had her check after being there an hour. Sure enough I was almost a six still. My doctor came in and said "Let me break your water, he'll be here within the hour if I do" With laughter I said "Uh no" haha I know labor is suppose to be worse if they break your water. But long story short she broke it. Now the hospital rule is they have to monitor baby for 30 minutes after breaking your water to make sure he is okay. So I started the timer. I sat there, the first twenty mins weren't anymore painful. Then I got a pretty painful one. I sat there quietly and my mom said "are you okay, that looks like a big contraction" My reply "Yeah it's slightly uncomfortable" The next one was worse but I could still sit quietly. The nurse came in at about 25 minutes since breaking my water and said "oh dear your at a 9.5" to which I replied "No wonder it's starting to hurt. I don't want to do this anymore" haha She said well stand up for a minute. Here is the thing gravity works great in labor when standing. After about 40 SECONDS of standing I said "He is coming out get me to the bed" Chase helped me lay down on my side, the doctor came running in trying to get her gown on, as I said "I can't do it" my doctor said "well that's his head so I think you can" Then out he popped. Just like with Hadlie- no pushing laying on my right side he came out about 15 seconds after I got to the bed and laid down. 30 minutes of active labor isn't to bad 😁 My mom said he came out on the bed and the doctor picked him up from there. I was still laying on my side when I rolled to my back and they set him on me. My doctor later told me she can't believe how well I handle natural child birth. She said "I kept expecting you to say it's so painful or scream or something but you were just so clam I could never have a baby naturally" haha I am honestly a wuss when it comes to pain but labor doesn't really bother me. I would say I really only had two painful contractions. Crew has the sweetest spirit. Each of our kids have had different spirit and it's so fun to watch them grow and see that spirit develop.
All of our kids have been awesome babies but Crew takes the cake. Boyfriend never cries, not when he needs a diaper change, not when hes hungry, nothing. He is so patient when Gracie is constantly in his face telling him how much she loves him and saying "your my brother baby Crew". This has been my easiest recovery. We were only in the hospital for just over 24 hrs and made our way home, later that day I even went to Target to run errands haha The third baby is SO different. Your life really does have to go on and because I have felt really good and normal it's gone very smooth. (But i'll get back to you on that one cause Chase goes back to work tomorrow haha)
One of the most beautiful things to see is the relationship grow between Gracie and Hadlie even more. I will always be grateful we had two girls in a row. That sister relationship is something I hope the cherish forever. It's so fun to see Gracie take Hadlie by the hand and watch them run around, Gracie is always so worried about Hadlie's well being and has this pure love for her sister. Chase and I towards the end of this pregnancy really wondered if this was it. If this was our last kid. But as they set Crew on my chest I heard the spirit loud and clear "Your are not done, I'm still waiting."
