The Story

*Disclaimer: If you do not like to hear people's labor and delivery stories, don't read this post. If you don't like to hear stories of women who have easy labor and delivery, you probably shouldn't read it, either...

On Monday, January 3rd, I went to the hospital at 6:30 am for an amniocentisis. They are done routinely here, if the doctors plan to induce you before 39 weeks. By some miracle, the first IV they put in worked and all appeared to be going smoothly -- except that this baby was our most active in the womb. As they were prepared to draw the fluid, the baby kicked and almost hit the needle with his knee. The doctor moved the needle rather suddenly, and I about passed out. At the same time (probably due to my lack of oxygen) the baby's heart rate dropped from the 140s to the 60s. It stayed down for about a minute. (It felt like forever.) They rushed me to the OR and prepped for an emergency c-section. Thankfully, when they got the monitors back up, the baby was fine, so they proceeded with the amnio, instead. The second time they were ready to draw fluid, the baby tried to get the needle with his head. Luckily, third time's the charm and I went home with only 5 needles (2 numbing and 3 amnio) stuck in my belly...

Tuesday night, the doctor called to tell me that the results were in and we were clear to start the induction. Could I come in now? Because I know how this hospital works (10 rooms, dozens of pregnant women due to pop at any given moment, routine inductions obviously come as last priority), I said we'd be in as soon as we could make arrangements for our other kids.

We arrived at the hospital around 8:30pm. After another successful IV, my pit was started at 9:20. I was 2cm dilated and about 50% effaced. By midnight I was 5cm dilated and still 50% effaced. I promised the doctor I could give him half an hour's warning before the baby actually came. Forty-five minutes later I finally started feeling the contractions pretty strong and I felt like vomiting, so I asked for anti-nausea meds. They checked me, because they were all excited thinking I was in transition. I was 6cm dilated and 90% effaced. I was still walking and talking and feeling pretty good. I decided that I was going to have one baby without the pain and suffering, so I asked if I could still get an epidural. The doctor replied, "It's never too late for pain management." Derek was standing in the background making comments like, "The baby will come before the epidural does." None of us believed him. By now, it was nearly 1 am.

Over the next few minutes, the nurse started another bag of whatever fluids they give you and was adjusting things to be ready for the anesthesiologist. I went to the bathroom one last time, since I figured I wouldn't be able to walk for a while. Then I started pushing. At first I didn't even realize what I was doing, but Derek did. I knew something was up when he jumped up out of his chair to stand at the end of the bed. Meanwhile the nurse was too busy with other things to notice what I was doing. Derek told her the baby was coming. She kind of blew him off, then looked at me and asked if I felt like pushing. I sort of moaned a yes as I pushed and breathed (that made her happy). Derek suggested calling the doctor. She decided to check me first. When she hit the baby's head, she called the doctor. When he walked in, the baby was crowning, and Derek contemplated asking if it was too late for pain management now, but he resisted. I was thinking how ticked off I was that my pain was not managed. A couple of contractions later, at 1:20am, Daniel screamed his delight at the new world he was part of.

Epilogue: Once the baby was pronounced healthy and passed off, the doctor's first comment to me was, "That was not half an hour." What can I say? I was just glad the pain was now managed. And I was relieved that it hadn't required any large needles.

Daniel Roy Curtis Is Here

Born at 1:20 on the 5th of January, Daniel weighs 8 LBS 4 OZ and is 19 inches long, Jenn and baby are doing great and are expected to be home in the morning.

Our summer honeymoon

Derek and I went to DC for his little brother, Trevor's, wedding in August, then we spent a few days in New York. It was fun, but I admit, I thought way more about the kids I left in Alaska than I had hoped to:)

Our second baby is turning 8!

Janina has a birthday tomorrow. I can't believe she's already old enough to be baptized. Unless her baby brother messes up our plans, she'll be baptized New Year's Day. I think that's pretty cool:)

Probably because I'm about to have my last baby, I've found myself reflecting on my other kids' births and all that's changed since we began this journey. It's hard to believe I'm the mother of six kids -- in 9 1/2 years. We've lived in 9 houses in 2 countries -- 4 states. My kids have seen almost as much of the world as I have. I never imagined raising them like this, but I can't imagine not doing it now.

I'm scatter-brained and it's late, so I'll cease rambling now, but I am excited to see what the future holds for my little ones!

My poor, abandoned blog

Obviously, I cannot catch up on my blog. I'm sure it doesn't matter much anyway, since I imagine any readers I ever had have given up on me, but I wanted to put a few things on here.

I think everyone knows that we're expecting a baby soon! Our 4th little boy should be joining our family by January 5th. That's when I will be induced (if things go as planned) unless I go into labor sooner. I finally ordered a baby bed and have a few clothes, so I guess we're ready:) We gave all of our baby stuff away when we left Oklahoma, so we're getting to start over fresh. Pretty lucky sixth child, if you ask me, that doesn't have to use hand-me-downs.

We're still in Alaska. We'll be here until the end of 2012. The weather and city have not grown on me over the past year, but the people (especially in our congregation at church) are some of the most wonderful we've ever known, so we're happy here. I asked my kids if they wanted to stay here, move to Duchesne, or move to Sheridan when Derek leaves. They all chose stay. I guess I'm happy about that. I've known since we arrived that that's what I needed to do. I wish I could say I've learned to want it, too. If only winter weren't such a horrible creation! Nowhere else that I have ever lived do people say things like "at least it's only 16 below today."

Derek leaves for Afghanistan next spring. It's starting to feel really close. I expect we'll start hearing actual dates soon. I guess I'm glad of that. It's going to happen one way or the other and it will be nice to start planning more specifically. Right now, I'm just in the dreading-it state...

I shall try to get back to blogging more often. We'll see how I do...

Funeral Information

Patrick's funeral will be this Friday, 1 pm in Duchesne. There will be a viewing at 11 at Hullinger Mortuary in Roosevelt, Ut on Friday as well. (I got this info from his sister's facebook page. I'll verify it with my family, but I wanted to get as much out as we can, so that people can make plans.)

Many thanks to all of you for your prayers and your love!

Update: The viewing will be at the church in Duchesne prior to the funeral.

My love and prayers for my sister

This is the hardest thing I have found myself writing about. Sharing it publicly makes it even more difficult, but I know that there are many who will want to offer their support and love and I know that it is needed.

Last night, as he was returning home after spending several weeks helping his dad in California, my brother-in-law, Patrick, was killed in a car accident. At this time, I don't know any details. My heart is breaking for my little sister, Beth. Thankfully, Lil was with her when she found out. Nothing makes this easier, but knowing that Heavenly Father put Lil in the right place at the right time brings me some degree of comfort. And now I cling to my testimony of the plan of salvation, while part of me hopes against all hope that this will all turn out to be a huge mistake.

Death is a part of life, that, while I understand in purpose, I struggle to accept in practice. No matter how much I remind myself that it is part of God's plan and essential to progression, I cannot erase the pain it leaves for those that must continue this phase of life. I also have to think that Patrick must also be suffering as he watches his most precious ones' sorrow. My heart, my mind, my body, all ache for my little sister. I would do anything to take away her pain, but that is beyond my power. I know that Heavenly Father will comfort her, but I know that she will suffer beyond my comprehension in that process. I know that she will grow and be a stronger, better woman than I can imagine, but how desparately I wish she did not have to learn those lessons this way. I'm sure we will never fully understand in this life, why Patrick had to leave her and their little son at this time. I pray that she will feel our Savior's love in every dimension of her soul. I pray that comfort will come to her as she struggles to find some new normal in her life. I pray that she will be given the strength she needs for herself and her baby. Please think of them and pray for them. They need all the love they can find right now.