[hopefulmama]

I'm posting the link to the photographers web site (the blog). If you scroll down she is the infant in the photos with the "frames" around them plus she is further down (along with a blog entry about our family) after the pic of the 1 yr old girl.

Stephanie Massey Photography » I …life as it happens

[Curlgirl503]

Oh Audra, how beautiful!

[dlrust1]

Originally Posted by hopefulmama

I'm posting the link to the photographers web site (the blog). If you scroll down she is the infant in the photos with the "frames" around them plus she is further down (along with a blog entry about our family) after the pic of the 1 yr old girl.

Stephanie Massey Photography » I …life as it happens

Audra- She is so beautiful! And the picture of Emma and the boys is awesome! I love the style of the photos. They have such an artistic touch to them.

[bgk]

while my baby is sleeping (first time in 24 hours that we are home) i"ll post my birth story.
I went to sleep on Friday night tired, but had no signs of labor. I had a dream that my baby jumped in my stomach and it was very painful. So I woke uo. It was 3 a:m. It wasn;t a dream, I was really in pain and it was real contractions. I woke up my husband. He packed some stuff for us while I called a Dr that we are coming.
We decided to call ambulance because the hospital is far away and on ambulance it will be faster. We waited for them for 20 min outside the house already. They came and they didn't want to take us to our hospital, only to a nearest hospital. My husband started screaming on them (and usually he NEVER scream on anyone, he is so noce and calm guy), After 5 min of staying in the ambulance we diceded to take a texi. Poor guy didn't know what he was going in to (my husband was scary to drive byhimself in case he will have to help me on the way). We drove on all red lights etc. In the middle of the way I felt a burning pain in between my legs and started screaming: the baby's head is coming out.
it was 7 min drive from the hospital . Teh Dr was calling me every 3 min on my self to see how far we are. She knew it could turn this way. Anyway... in the end right next to the hospital we missed the right exit. Had to make U turn in the middle of highway. And I was screaming about baby coming out.
Thanks G-d my friend tought me DOG BREATHING to keep the baby in. I started breething.
We came to the hospital and all the stuff waited for me outside. They put me on wheelbad and Dr started screaming: take her to delivery room RIGHT NOW!!!!! Everyone started runnig including Dr to the elevaitor. brought me to delivery room. 3 nursees helped me to undress and put a gown. They helped me to move to birthing chair and... 3 min later from the first contraction and first push my baby was out screaming. They putted him right away on me and forgot to tell me if it's a boy or a girl (they all were in a schok and they thought I know the gender).
Baby was 9lbs9oz and 22,5 in. Everyone was shocked that such a huge baby was born so easy and fast.
I woke up at 3 a:m and he was born at 4:01 a:m

We are home already. Yestarday the first night at home was terrible. He didn't sleep at all and nursed 24 hours non stop. Today was much better already. My milk came and he had a few 2 hours sleep.

[cheffren]

Well I'm in the beginning stages of labor, contractions are not progressing very good. Went to L&D after the contractions were 8 mins apart for around 8 hours. Upon arrival the doctor and nurses were concerned about my HR as it was running higher than the baby's (baby was 142, mine was 150) was given some morphine as I'm having back labor. The dr checked me and said that there wasn't alot of change in my cervix from two weeks prior. Contractions slowed down to every 20 mins, we were given the option of staying or going home. We chose to go home so that I could try to get some sleep (had been up for 33 hours due to contractions). Nurse said that they expect to see us back tonight as when she checked my cervix I was still at 2 cms however I was almost fully effaced and the baby's head is directly on my cervix. So we went and got something to eat and came home. We alerted a few family members that we were in for a long night. So I laid down to sleep while the morphine was still in effect. Woke up about 3 hours later to have the contractions back as strong as they were prior to the morphine. They are back to 8 mins apart and we are waiting at home still to see where they are going to go from here.

So all in all, this labor has lasted 27 hours and not a lot of progression on contractions. I'm going to try and stay home and deal with the pain as best as I can. (It is easier to deal with them knowing that they are actually labor pains and not just my back acting up). So send me some that we can get these contractions closer together and this baby decides to come soon.

I will send Amy a text once the baby is born and keep everyone posted.

[amybeth]

Courtney!!! I was just thinking about you and Jen and wondering how our April girls are doing!!! I was up feeding Billy and am so glad to see this! I'm sorry your labor has been so long, and hopefully it will speed up soon for you!

I can't wait to get your page! I'll be home all day and will post the news as soon as I get your message! Good luck Courtney!!!

Any news on Jen or is it still a go for the 27th?

[hopefulmama]

Courtney GL - Can't wait to hear that your baby has arrived!

bgk What a birth story!! I thought with ambulances that they would take you to the hospital of your choice if you signed a waiver. That stinks that they wouldn't do that for you. How scary for the baby to be coming in the taxi on the rd! The taxi driver must have been freaked out! I'm so glad that the Dr was waiting and had everything ready!

Deanna and Angela Thanks for the compliments on Emma and the pictures. I love the photographer. After she was there for our son William she is like a member of the family. She's very talented - it's so special that she took those photos. She also took photos of our boys around 10 months ago on the beach - those were awesome. Too cold to take pics of Emma outside though. We are using the close-up of her face for our announcement and are buying that one and the one with the boys. I love the nude pic also but dh isn't into it. What do you guys think? I think it's sweet.

[amybeth]

Hi everyone! Just a quick update... I haven't heard anything from Courtney yet, so please keep her in your thoughts and prayers! From what she said earlier it sounds like she was in for an unfortunately long labor! As soon as I hear anything I'll get it posted!

Audra: Wow, the photos are beautiful! I agree with you and love the baby-butt picture. There's something beautiful about that pose! DH and I have one of both of us like that from when we were babies (but not as artistic as yours).

My sister and her family are in town! They surprised me with a visit so they could meet their new little nephew and cousin!!! They should be here within a few hours as they were staying in downtown Chicago so they could take their kids to the aquarium and other places. I was so suprised and am so excited!

Anyone hear anything from Jen (ladybug027)?!?!

[dlrust1]

Courtney- Good luck with the delivery of your LO. I hope that things get moving for you.

Audra- I love all the pictures. I think I would have a hard time choosing. Can you purchase a CD of all the shots? That's what we did with Blaine's newborn pics. I didn't like every shot but there was enough that I did like that it saved us money. We only professionally printed one shot and I will print the others for his baby book.

bgk- Wow! What a birth story! He was such a good size baby. Sorry to hear about the lack of sleep. I like to say it gets better but, we are struggling with sleep as well. Blaine is eating all the time. Last night he was up at 1:49, 2:21, 3:28, 4:30, and then again at 5:10. I was so glad that he fell asleep for a few hours after that but, after a night like that a few hours of sleep just doesn't cut it. Sleep when you can!

AmyBeth- How is Billy's Jaundice? Are you feeling any better?

[Curlgirl503]

Audra, I like the naked picture! I love naked babies though!

bjk, what a crazy story!

Courtney, good luck!

[BabyOBabyIWantABaby]

Courtney-Good Luck
Viki-All I can say is,WOW!
Audra-Emma is beautiful!

[cheffren]

Well still in labor and it is not progressing very good... If the baby doesn't come tonight, than we are to be at the hospital at 6:30 am to be induced!!!!! Yay an end is in site or as my doctor put it, it is time to get out the dynamite!!!

[ladybug029]

I'm still here...awaiting Monday with no signs of labor! I had my OB appointment on Wednesday and my OB said he kept looking for me all weekend. I told him that I didn't think these babies wanted to come out and if we didn't have the c-section planned for Monday, I think they might stay in there forever!

So here's a question for all of you who have delivered...DH and I have tried for so long to get pregnant and we've been waiting so long for our babies to arrive. I had been so excited, but now that the big day is only 3 days away, I'm not sure how I feel. I just don't feel excited and am scared about having the c-section. I feel like I could just cry any minute...and sometimes I wonder if getting pregnant was a mistake. Maybe I just am not meant to be a mother and that's why I wasn't getting pregnant. It's been DH and I for so long and our lives are about to change forever. We will have not one, but two little people to care for and be responsible for. I worry that maybe I won't love the babies since I'm not excited. What if I can't handle taking care of two babies at once? I've suffered with depression and anxiety in the past and I worry that I may have problems after the babies are born since you have all those fluctuating hormones. I'm ready to get the babies out and stop being pregnant, but the delivery scares me and I don't want to do it! I'm afraid I will panic during the procedure. I've changed my mind! I know this sounds crazy, but it's how I've been feeling. Is this normal???

[dlrust1]

Originally Posted by ladybug029

I'm still here...awaiting Monday with no signs of labor! I had my OB appointment on Wednesday and my OB said he kept looking for me all weekend. I told him that I didn't think these babies wanted to come out and if we didn't have the c-section planned for Monday, I think they might stay in there forever!

So here's a question for all of you who have delivered...DH and I have tried for so long to get pregnant and we've been waiting so long for our babies to arrive. I had been so excited, but now that the big day is only 3 days away, I'm not sure how I feel. I just don't feel excited and am scared about having the c-section. I feel like I could just cry any minute...and sometimes I wonder if getting pregnant was a mistake. Maybe I just am not meant to be a mother and that's why I wasn't getting pregnant. It's been DH and I for so long and our lives are about to change forever. We will have not one, but two little people to care for and be responsible for. I worry that maybe I won't love the babies since I'm not excited. What if I can't handle taking care of two babies at once? I've suffered with depression and anxiety in the past and I worry that I may have problems after the babies are born since you have all those fluctuating hormones. I'm ready to get the babies out and stop being pregnant, but the delivery scares me and I don't want to do it! I'm afraid I will panic during the procedure. I've changed my mind! I know this sounds crazy, but it's how I've been feeling. Is this normal???

You are completely normal! I told DH that I wish there was a way they could just beam the baby out. It is scary because of all the unknowns and you simply don't have any control over what is happening to your body.
I think just about everyone (especially with the first child) worries about how they will handle all the ups and downs of parenthood. Your hormones will fluctuate and at times you will be at wits end thinking you can't take one more minute of feeding, changing, and soothing another human being but, somehow you will manage.
With twins it is going to be hard. Just remember it won't harm your children for them to cry a bit. Ask for help when you need it. Laundry, sweeping the floors, the dishes sitting longer than you would like aren't disasters in parenting...they are the norm. Do what you can and pamper yourself from time to time.
You will be a great mommy to these babies! And you deserve to be a mother. I think the mommies who have had to struggle just to get pregnant understand the gift they have been given so much better than those who never have to struggle and therefor make better parents.

[amybeth]

Oh Jen, what you are feeling is totally normal! I felt the same way the whole week before my c-section was scheduled! Then when I went into labor, I felt like I had done something wrong and this was God's way of telling me that things weren't meant to be done on my terms. I was afraid I couldn't cut it as a mother, and that I was going to do something wrong. When we first found out Billy had jaundice, I freaked as I figured it was something I did wrong. My only advice to you is to take it one day at a time. Enjoy every moment, as scared as you may be. Each one is precious and not only do you have the love to share with one little one, but you have enough love to share with two!!!

Regarding the c-section, I know it's hard to imagine this now, but once it's done it won't seem like it was a big deal at all! You are completely numb from about the ribs down, which is probably the worst part, as even though it's good cuz you can't feel anything, it's weird because you can't feel anything!!! You know that what they are doing to you should hurt, but you can't feel a thing. You can feel some tugging and it almost felt like I was being lifted off the table a few times (even though I wasn't). When you hear that little one scream for the first time it's such an amazing feeling. And just think, you'll get to hear it twice!!!

Hang in there. You have given these little ones such a great home for so long, that it may seem like they want to stay in there forever. But even though you've given them such a great home these last 9 months, you will be able to give them an even better home in a few more days!

I've heard that motherhood is an instinct. I never believed that, until I first held my little son and gazed into his big eyes and heard him cry. The minute I was able to provide him warmth against my skin and milk, my heart just melted and all my fears, although still there inside somewhere, seemed to have drifted away!

You can do it. We all can. We all will make amazing mothers.