Becoming Seven

 So, finally, the Baby's birth story. (he'll just be Baby for now, since I'm still trying to figure out a blog name for him. My MIL gave me a great one which I planned on using, but after he was born, the name just didn't suit him. Suggestions?)
Anyway, Tuesday morning, the 21st, I was scheduled for an ultra-sound. The plan was to induce Thursday, and they wanted a guesstimate on his size and presentation so there were no surprises during delivery.
Guesstimate: 10lbs. 6 oz. I wasn't worried, I've had big babies with no problem. (Unless of course you count their pension for flip-flopping around)
Came home, decided against taking the kids out to the fair for lunch (we were going to go in the evening and I wanted everyone napped), got them fed and bedded, made myself a full strength iced coffee to try to combat a headache that had been nagging all day, went out to the garden, made pesto, cleaned up and looked forward to walking around the fair.
My weekly Dr. appointment was scheduled for 4:30, with an OB instead of a midwife. It started raining while I was there. Hoped we wouldn't get stuck in the fair's parking field later. The nurse asked me if I'd had a headache that day. Aww, wasn't that nice of her? It must have shown on my face that I'd had one. It didn't. It showed in my blood pressure 150/92. The Ob took one look at it and sent me to the hospital to have blood work done and my BP monitored for a while. 1 of 3 things was causing it and 2 of those things would get me induced that night.  She was excited though, because the Pitocin, being my 5th baby, and the fact that I was somewhere between 2 and 3 cm. meant it would all go quickly. And she had no doubt that even though he was measuring big, delivery would be a breeze. I fully expected to be sent right back home after they checked me out at the hospital.

A call to B. on the way to the hospital about what was going on and I would be home a little later than expected.

 I finally was able to call him again at 9pm from the delivery room. "Call someone to stay with the kids and come down here. My BP is still up, I'm here already, they aren't going to wait 'til Thursday, and they are about to start the Pitocin." B. got there about 10. I rested while I could and once the contractions started getting a little uncomfortable, I walked the halls for about an hour. I made B. stay in my room and nap while he could, since it was going to be a long night, and I was fine walking. Actually, the walking was great, and since I was aiming for NO pain killers (epidural, etc.) I was kind of enjoying myself. A check showed I was at 6. Rock! Once I hit 8, things go fast, this will be over and done before I know it! (Baby wasn't dropping BTW.) I rocked in the rocker for a bit. When that got bad I stood and cut off the circulation to B's arm and hand for a bit. Helloooo transition. Knelt on the bed and cried my eyes out. (I don't recommend being up for nearly 24 hours once you hit transition labor, if at all possible) Laid on my back and cried some more. Nobody would listen when I told them I was all done and that I couldn't do it anymore. 8 cm. had come and gone. Baby was still not dropping. I was too tired, we were just going to have to stop. Made perfect sense to me. I've done all I can, it's someone elses turn now.  Finally I felt the need to push. Pushing was messy. I apologized repeatedly for all the trouble I was causing. And then the glorious "There's his head! One more push!"
He'd been posterior and rolled over on his way out. That was why he wasn't dropping. It took a little bit to get him all cleaned out. I didn't get to hold him as much as I wanted because I was shaking so bad, I was afraid of dropping him. And I had been awake for over 24 hours. B. held him and promptly conked out. Once they checked Baby's sugar, I was a little more relaxed, and he nursed like a champ for the first time. I cat-napped my way through the day, B. went home. put in earplugs, turned up the fan in our room and crashed. He brought me a fair gyro that evening after dropping off the kids and picking up my sister to help shuffle cars around. It was delicious. (I want another one now)

 The kids came Thursday

 And they adore Baby

 And told me all about the fair (they stayed with my family there off and on)

 Beans seems huge. Well, he is, but seems even more so now

 And despite his 9 lbs. 13 oz. Daddy's hat actually fit him. Didn't fit his 2 older brothers when I brought them home!

 Waiting for Daddy to spring us from the hospital

Fell asleep almost as soon as this was taken. And there's the story. And yes, we did ALL go to the fair later, but that will have to keep for another day : )

P.S. thank-you Sarah for updating for me, and congratulations on baby V.!