Emmy has been sick since Sunday morning so we have really been splitting up and dividing and conquering!

I have no idea how to post photos using my ipad so I’ll have to figure that out.

So, here’s the story that started the morning of December 26th and ended with the birth of our little man, Keane Mercer.

We were told to check into the hospital at 7am. So we dropped the girls off at L&L’s. It was somewhat sad that they couldn’t be there with us but we knew it was really going to be a long day and really for the best.

We dropped off videos at the gas station and filled up the van. We walked into the hospital around 7am and checked in.

We were directed to Labor and Delivery. They had us down for an aversion. Which is basically when the doctor tries to flip a baby. Uh….NOT US!? So, they finally figured it out and discovered that was another patient that was to be checking in! *gulp*

The doctor strolled in at around 9:30am. He asked what we were doing there? He did a quick bio-physical of the boy. He wanted to make sure that there was plenty of fluid, that he was moving around, and that he was breathing. He said if we wanted him to start the gel he would do it but really only gave it a 10% chance of working since I was ZERO cm’s dilated. Closed up like Fort Knox!

So he inserted the gel which was like a gigantic tampon with thorns all around it. It hurt going in. Once it was in I didn’t feel anything. I expected things to work pretty instantly. So by 2pm when I wasn’t experiencing a thing I thought we might be going home that evening.

The gel has to stay in for 12 hours and typically, they pull it out if it hasn’t worked and you come back to the hospital another day. When your body is ready or if you’ve started dilating the gel works best and pushes you into labor.

At 3:20pm Margot and Jason asked if they could go geocaching. Since nothing was going on I said “sure”. I took a little nap. Then I woke up to contractions. I texted Jason and Margot and told them I was having contractions so they came back.

5:30pm the contractions were 3-4 minutes apart.

I went in and out of the tub a few times. The only thing that felt good was hot water around my body. I even ate my dinner in the tub.

By 8:30pm I was pretty sure I was going to be checked in and having a baby. I spoke with our midwife friend on the phone and she thought I’d be 5cms when they checked.

By 9pm I told the nurse I couldn’t have the gel in anymore that it hurt too bad. She gave me the choice that she could take it out and check me. I took her up on it. I waddled back to the room from the tub room.

When she checked she said I was 3-4cm and that she would call the doctor. She came back to the room and said that the doctor was NOT going to admit me and just wanted to see how things progressed.

At that point I asked for drugs. Basically, something to take the edge off. She couldn’t get the IV in so she had to get the other nurse. At this point my contractions were AWFUL and unbearable. I still didn’t have meds and they were coming 1-2 minutes apart. The nurse called the doctor again and said he was on his way.

Doctor got there at 9:45pm. He checked me and I was 6. The baby’s heartrate kept going down with each contraction. We were worried but he reassured us that he would take care of it and to let him be the one to handle it.

I really wanted an intrathecal but the doctor said that it could affect the baby especially since the heartrate was dipping with contractions. So he suggested doing a shot of nubain to take the edge off. Within minutes I was a bit more calm. I still felt all of the pain but the anxiety was a bit better.

By 10:55pm the doctor checked and asked if I felt the need to push. I did, however, I waited for a contraction.

It took ONE push — and the boy came flying out!

It was so fast Margot missed it and Jason was barely able to get out the video camera to tape it!

Keane came out with the cord wrapped twice around his neck and poo all over him! He cried and cried.

He was perfect.

The doctor put him right on my belly and I just couldn’t believe he was here. He was healthy. He was my son.

The doctor kept checking his cord to see if it had pumped all of the blood. After about 3 minutes he clamped the cord and let Margot cut it.

We held our son for around an hour before they took him to clean him up. It was amazing. He looked at us and was so alert. We put him on the breast and he latched on.

I birthed the placenta and I required a single stitch on my bits. Really not much damage considering.

It’s been a long, long journey to get our family….but I can honestly say it was all worth it. I love this little man more than anything. The way the girls interact with him makes my heart melt.

Dearest son,

I can’t believe that within 36 hours I could actually be holding you and seeing your face for the first time. 7 years ago we were blessed with your oldest sister, Grammy. She’s an amazing girl who I know you will love instantly. She already loves you so much.

I must say your other sister, Emmy, has been waiting for your since we announced she was going to be a big sister. When it’s time for Emmy’s nap she lies next to you and no doubt within 30 seconds you manage to kick her. HARD. Just a kind gesture, I know…but she thinks that you should have to go to time out.

It’s already been a long haul, my boy. I felt like after Emmy was born that our family wasn’t quite complete. I wasn’t sure I wanted to biologically have more kids but I knew some how we would add to our family.

When we decided to try “one more time” neither your mother or I thought it would work. In fact, the odds were stacked way against us. But, we agreed - one try and whatever happened - happened.

That would be where you latched on.

And hung on.

And on.

And on.

Which leads us to tomorrow.

It’s been an incredible 39 weeks. I’ve loved watching you move up and down, thump, hiccup in my belly. You already have quite the disposition, little man.

We can’t wait to meet you and welcome you into our family.

You were meant to be and we love you already.

Love,
Your mama

P.S. Please remember, head down and easy on the departure.

These seem to be the same ones that I had very early in labor when I was pregnant with Emmy. Hopefully within a few days the boy will be here. If not, I’m going to be exhausted!

Will post more as I know!

First off, Thanksgiving was PERFECT! We had friends over and Margot did an amazing job with the turkey. It was so good. We’re still eating leftovers!

Time is going FAST! This weekend Margot worked on shelves for the garage, we cleaned the house, did laundry, and I put the pack-n-play up in the dining room. Margot also put the Christmas lights up on the house!

Now, I’m just working on the fine details of things I need to do when I go into labor. I figure I’d save shaving my legs. God knows it’s going to take forever and it might take my mind off of the pain! Then again, I might end up with endless cuts?!

The boy is doing great. He’s kicking all of the time and getting bigger and bigger. He’s head down and I feel his kicks on the left side pretty constant. I still feel like he is really low…but at times I feel like he’s super high too because his butt is right under my boobs.

At most…I have 4 more weeks! My next appointment is Wednesday and then I go weekly til he makes his appearance.

I need to hit up the grocery store and figure out a meal tonight for me and the kids. Margot’s traveling for work today. More than likely this will be her last trip away and overnight before the boy comes.

The kids were great and our friends came over with dinner last night so that was helpful. The kids were exhausted and they ended up sleeping in my bed last night. They were fine, however, the whole bathroom break every 1.5 hours gets old. But if it isn’t the bathroom break I’d have to get up anyway and switch sides because my hips are hurting.

The boy is moving less … I’m assuming it’s because there’s much less space. I feel his legs rolling and moving often and sometimes I feel his fingers moving at the same time.

At some point he’s going to have to go down and enter into my pelvis. I figure I’ll give him a few more weeks before I do acupuncture. As he gets bigger at some point he’s got to run out of room, RIGHT?

He’s been moving less and less with the big kicks. I feel a little roll here and there - but that’s about it. I also feel tapping.

I’ve tried so many times to get the great belly hopping photos that I got with Emmy … but the second I push record - he doesn’t move!

This weekend Margot has been mad at work trying to fix the bathroom fixture in the main bathroom. It has been leaking for ages and we wanted to do a single fixture instead of a hot, cold, and shower. To say the least…it’s all taken apart, and since access is in the girl’s bathroom - it’s a mess in there too.

Tomorrow my first call is to the plumber in hopes that he can come out in the next few days to fix the damn bathroom. Ugh.

The next few weeks need to be PUTTING BACK THE HOUSE and GETTING READY FOR BABY. No more demo. No more shit breaking!

I had a really bad sinus infection this week so went to primary doc and got good ole’ zithromax. That stuff is incredible and within 48 hours my green snot had turned clear again and I feel 94% better.

I can’t believe it’s November 8th. Before long it’s going to be Thanksgiving — then after that I feel like it’s really going to start going fast!!

Remember last post when I talked about how the boy was mild, calm, and easy going… He is starting to prove me wrong!

I don’t feel the blatant resistance that I dis with Emmy though. Typically, when I push against his leg or bum he withdraws.

I’m feeling good except for a cold and the restless nights of hurting hips and frequent pee breaks.

I am finished with work and it has been nice to have some time to keep up with the house, kids, and laundry!!

Graem got her cast of last week and was so happy she doesn’t have to wear a walking cast. She was tested for wading last week and read a fourth grade book to her teacher. She’s so smart! She also loves to play the piano. She comes home after school, grabs a snack, and runs in to practice piano.

Emmy is doing good too. She started with a new OT who is really helping her work with some of the strong behaviors that we see at home. I didn’t put Emmy in music this semester because she said she wanted gymnastics. After the first lesson ended in screaming she said she wanted to go back to music. So I was able to get her a single class and we will have to wait til the January session starts to reenroll.

The next few weeks are going to go fast! They moved my due date to January 29th and on that day they will start inducing him in the hospital if he hasn’t come yet. Supposedly, they have had bad stuff happen to IVF babies that stay in later and just don’t want to take any chances with us. We are also going through the OBs now and not the midwives.

Just 6-8 more weeks and our little man will be here!!!