Gwyneth

Gwyneth (I want her middle name to be Isabelle, but Lyndon wont consent yet) Tyler was born Tuesday December 11th at 10:32 am.

 I was bound and determined to do this labor drug free and did just that. I know you must think I am absolutely crazy, but despite how painful it really was, I am glad I did it. I had an awesome midwife and the labor and delivery nurse was also a birth class instructor and was incredible at helping me focus and 'feel good'.

I had to be induced on Monday afternoon due to a long weekend of having the stomach flu. The midwife sent me to the hospital to check fluids and monitor the baby a bit to make sure all was well. The heart rate was low for just long enough that I was admitted and put on cervidil (which is waaay better than pitocin...it takes a long while to take effect and labor felt like it came on naturally and slowly). I got to chill out in the jacuzzi tub once labor really started and was pretty successful at my hypnobirthing. I visualized light shooting from my fingers and (sounds so hoakey, I know, but it works) and thought of being here..... Guilin China. I visualized everything I could remember about that place. I thought, "yeah I can do this."

Then my body turned things up 100 notches and by the time I was on my side and pushing the baby out all I could see in my mind was this......

No...really...I felt like I was in a dream and my mind had flames and pain in it. Pushing without an epidural waaay different than with. Yes, more painful, but I felt like I was more in control of my body and could feel what was working or not.  I also screamed like a banshee. I imagined the mother across the hall thinking, "whoa, sooo glad I have my epidural! Listen to that woman yell!"

I was amazed that the midwife didn't bother "checking" how dilated I was after her initial check once things got started. They could just tell where I was at based on my moans and groans and grunts....yes folks it was animalistic.

I cried saying goodbye to the nurse and midwife when it was all over and I was off to recovery. I felt so so grateful to them. They had helped me battle a storm by constantly massaging, or pushing on pressure points or helping me visualize "melting like butter". They didn't make me feel stupid for all my moans. It was the most incredible care during labor I have ever had and for that matter needed.

The other incredible woman that made this labor manageable was Mom. I cried when she left too (do I sound emotionally unstable?). She took my kids from me when I was sick before labor, she stayed with me at the hospital till Lyndon could get off work and help me, she fed my kids, took Claire to and from school, made every meal (steak and all the good stuff), did my laundry and folded it every day, made the girls beds, cleaned the house and bathroom, entertained Sydney, and made Gwen a hat while doing all of it.

This bucsomey picture was not intended, but let it be known here and now, that at one point in my life I did have a chest and then it was gone....how I wish it was actually gone right now. Engorgement is no fun.

Lyndon loves the fact that he has so many girls. No really he does.

Claire loves to hold Gwen and asks to do so right after school while she watches her shows. They both can't stop kissing her and loving her (thank goodness...we'll see how long that lasts)

We all love her. So happy she is here and so happy she is ours. I wish I could stay in bed all day and just snuggle her and smell her. Welcome to our lives baby Gwyneth!